Hi Guys! After a long hiatus I'm back with a new story. I hope you enjoy and that I do it justice, both for you and to honour Cory.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
She slides open the heavy wooden door of the loft, feeling the tension of her day immediately leave her weary shoulders as the familiar scent of cinnamon and vanilla floods her nostrils. Home, at last. The light from the hallway barely illuminates the apartment. She frowns. Why is the apartment dark? It's only 8 p.m. Even if everyone is asleep, they usually leave some lights on. Unless, maybe, they're out? Or there's a power shortage? Maybe they forgot to pay their electricity bill? No, that's impossible… the landlord would've said something. Her tired brain conjures up even wilder scenarios. Maybe a thief came in, murdered everyone and is now waiting in the dark, relishing in the passing seconds until he gets his final victim. Maybe he's right next to her, or on the couch and she stil has the cross the entire expanse of the living room to get to the light switch. The lamp is closer, but not by much. She can't make it to either on time before being seized. Her heart starts pounding, shaking her entire body with fear and adrenaline. Before she can take action, she feels two strong arms enveloping her body. Hoping against hope, she screams with everything she's got while shutting her eyes tight.
All she hears is laughter, and all she feels is the tight embrace.
"You're such a drama queen." Says a very familiar and amused voice.
She opens her eyes. The light is back on. Right next to her is her best friend Kurt, hugging her tight. In front are Blaine and Santana, holding pizza and champagne.
"You guys almost gave me a heart attack!" she huffs "I'm too young and talented to die so simply, you know?"
With en eye-roll, Santana remarks "forgive us for trying to give you a surprise party, diva. Next time we'll just be horrid friends."
She looks around, taking in what they mean. The apartment looks beautiful. There are lights and food and pink balloons all over. Right in the middle of it there's a huge banner that says "Congratulations". Next to the words are two bright stars. Rachel releases a breath, getting rid of the last vestiges of her initial anxiety to let a huge grin make its way through.
"You guys rock" she says, moving forward to hug her dearest friends.
"We know"
"Also a bit presumptuous" she adds, "given that you have no idea how my audition went."
Blaine chuckles. "So? Tell us all about it!"
She steps back, looking at them seriously. "Firstly, I don't know what I'd do without you guys. You believe in me so much that you just assumed my audition would be successful-"
"No, but you probably wouldn't have let the director leave the theatre before showing off your complete repertoire so that he'd say yes out of pity anyway" Santana interrupts.
Rachel just rolls her eyes. "As I was saying – it means a lot. The audition wasn't easy. I mean, there's really so much talent in this business and it's really just an honor to be able to present myself before such a renown writer and director-"
"Berry, we're not interviewing you here. Save that crap for the paparazzi. What happened?"
She can't contain it anymore. She's home and all that she wants is to feel comfortable and be real with her closest friends.
"My final callback and audition is Thursday." She announced with a big smile.
Immediately, Blaine popped the champagne, Santana squealed and Kurt… well, Kurt made some sort of noise that sounded halfway between a little girl screaming and a whistle.
"I knew it! I knew it! The final audition Rachel! You'll get to work with Will Schuester and Shelby Corcoran. They're basically the King and Queen Midas of Broadway!" Kurt enthused, jumping up and down.
"Hope you introduce me to some hot celebrities when you're famous Berry." Santana added before smiling even more.
"I'm so happy for you" Blaine said sincerely. "This is yours Rachel."
She felt the weight in her heart back again. "There's just one problem…"
"I agree, we should definitely do something about your hair."
She shook her head, barely smiling. Her friends grew quiet fast, noticing she was actually worried. They looked at her expectantly, frozen.
"In the final audition, I'll be competing against none other than Quinn Fabray." She said quietly.
The three friends gulped.
The Broadway blogosphere has been buzzing ever since the news Schuester and Corcoran are putting up a new show leaked. We might not know what the play is about just yet, but this is just in: The lead role is between some new talent and the one and only Quinn Fabray. Given her successful career in Broadway and the West End, plus her three well-deserved Tony's, this blogger would comfortably place a bet on the beauty. But, things are never certain in this world. One thing is for sure: whoever this newbie might be, she'll have one hell of a time trying to steal the spotlight from Broadyway's sweetheart.
"I can't do this!" she exclaims, pale after reading the latest update of her favorite Broadway blog. "I might as well quit already. At least then my name will never leak as the pathetic, ugly Jewish girl that attempted to go against Quinn Fabray. You know, becoming a vocal coach might be ok…"
"Stop it. Berry, I've seen that Quinn girl live and yeah I'm not gonna lie. She can sing and I would not mind being between her legs-"
"Santana"
"-but you're Rachel fucking Berry and you're going to go there, give them exactly what they want and get that part."
"While your sentiment is very nice, I don't even know what they want." She replies, frustrated.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"I mean, they've made me sing… songs of my choice. I've had to act, but pieces of other plays. They're so secretive about this new play that I have no idea what the hell they're even looking for. Supposedly, we're finally getting a scene on Thursday. What if the script is way beyond my abilities? What if it's a role perfect for Quinn?"
"Are you serious? You have no idea what you're auditioning for?!"
"No." she answers, looking at the floor "even the scenes they chose so far are wildly different. No discernible pattern of what kind of emotion they might be looking for."
Santana widens her eyes in surprise. "Shit… well, think about it this way: whatever it is… you've clearly got it. Otherwise, you wouldn't have made it this far."
Rachel gulps. She prays that her best friend has a point.
She hates waiting. Rachel Berry is many things – talented, a fantastic baker, compassionate and organized. Patience? That's one virtue she's never had. As far as her memory allows her to go, she remembers never having been able to wait. Waiting is awful. You have to sit there waiting for things to happen while none of it is in your control. How can people bear it? Yet here she is, sitting in a plush red couch in a predominantly white room with red touches here and there. Kurt would surely love the décor. She couldn't care less. Before her stood the very doors that, once opened, would start her path to super stardom. Only if she remembers how to breathe of course, which she seems to be having trouble with. It really doesn't help her nerves to know that behind those doors sit William Schuester, Shelby Corcoran and Quinn Fabray. Her hearing has always been excellent, but even she can't distinguish a single noise. Not knowing what's going in there is excruciating. As far as she knows, they're already signing the contract and she's been forgotten.
She's even too nervous to notice a smaller door to the far right open or to hear the heavy steps approaching her. Her focus is entirely on her breathing.
"Hey, you ok?"
A warm voice wakes her from her trance, making her neck snap upwards to look at the source so fast her muscles protest a bit. Her eyes see legs. Long lengs. And a flannel shirt. Finally they land on warm brown eyes and a dimpled smile. Even with her nerves she notices that the man before her is very handsome in a boy-next-door kind of way.
"Oh hi… sorry. Yeah… a bit nervous I guess." She feels heat rising up to her cheeks and she knows she's blushing. Great, she can't even talk to a guy. How can she make it through this audition? "My future might depend in the upcoming minutes, you know?"
He smiles and sits next to her, extending his large hand.
"I know the feeling… and this might be like the worst moment to meet new people but hi, I'm Finn. Finn Hudson."
She extends her hand too, noticing how when they touch his hand seems to engulf her rather small one. She's always had a cool skin, and the warmth emanating from this man feels comforting during the second or two they make contact.
"Rachel Berry, future Broadway star."
He chuckles, scrunching his eyes and widening his grin. It's adorable.
"For someone who is so nervous you sure sound self-assured." He remarks.
"Confidence is key in this business, you know? Plus, I've known since I was a baby that my name will be in lights. Whether it's for this play or not."
"In that case, then I am sure happy to meet you Rachel. Meeting celebrities is cool."
"I'm not a celebrity"
"…yet. Right?" he says nudging her side a bit.
"Yeah" she says smiling, warmth spreading from her stomach. A simple conversation with this guy and she feels every ounce of her ambition and confidence returning in full force. He just winks at her. He doesn't even seem taken aback by her wild talk of her dreams, the speed of her words or the fact she looks like an oompa-loopa next to him.
At that very moment the wide doors open, revealing Quinn Fabray in all her beautiful glory. Her smile is wide and confident. Rachel feels small, especially when the green eyes zoom in on her.
"You must be my competition" a cold, soft voice says. "and your name is…?"
"Rachel Berry. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Fabray." She replies kindly, extending her hand.
"I'm sure it is." The blonde replies, lazily looking at her nails. "And I'd say good luck… but let's face it. You're going to need a whole more than that in there."
Finn clears his throat next to Rachel, allowing the brunette some relief as he calls the attention upon himself.
"Finn!" Quinn squeaks surprised "I didn't see you there… surprising really, since the dwarf can't exactly hide you. It's the nose I suppose…"
Rachel notices how Quinn's demeanor changes, how her long eyelashes bat at the man sitting next to her.
"I was thinking we could go out for coffee later? You know… I have a top-notch latte machine in my penthouse. I'd love it if you'd come?"
"I don't drink coffee." He replies shortly.
"Neither do I." she says winking.
"Then I guess it's a no." he shrugs. "What's the point if neither of us drink coffee?"
Rachel suppresses a chuckle at the man's naïve reasoning.
"Getting to know each other better, of course." The blonde continues.
He rubs his hand on the back of his neck "Don't know Quin… I don't have much time and all… Doesn't sound like a good idea."
Quinn smiles seductively "If I were you I'd reconsider… text me if you come to your senses. Will and Shelby have my number." She almost whispers, giving Rachel one more disdainful look and spinning on her heels to leave through the smaller door.
She just sits there confused. How the hell do they know each other? Why would anyone refuse someone like Quinn? How did Finn know Shelby and Will? The questions swim through her mind until his voice brings her back to reality.
"Listen Rachel I'm starving and barely have time to eat as it is. Nice to have met you though."
"Yeah… pleased to have met you too Finn." she smiles, still puzzled by the events that have taken place.
"See you around Miss Berry." He says before standing up and heading out.
She whispers a low "I hope so", missing how he turns back to see her or the little sideways smile that light up his face.
Back to waiting it is.
"Miss Berry, before we give you the scene we hope that you understand that regardless of the outcome of this audition, you are never to breathe a word of it's content. We have been very secretive about our play for a reason, and it is our goal that until opening night nothing but mystery veils this play. Is that understood?"
She gulps. Silence is the best weapon to create buzz in their media-dominated field and they expect that from her.
"Y-yes. Of course Miss Corcoran."
"Good. As you can see, the camera by our side is recording this audition. Hence, this verbal contract has been recorded and if you break your promise we will sue you." Will adds. "In order for you to understand the scene, we will give you some background to the play. No singing will be required from you today, as we feel the play's success truly hinges upon the quality of acting in certain key scenes."
"The play is quite simple, really." Shelby starts matter-of-factly. "It's about Stockholm syndrome. Were you to be the lead, you'd play Amy. Amy is a young shy girl right out of high-school with no family or prospects. One day she's kidnapped by a slightly older man named Mark and taken to a remote location. There's a few twists here and there, but the gist is that they fall in love thanks to the close proximity and sexual exploration, reluctant at first but then wholly consensual. In your application you did say nudity was something you're comfortable with. You have to know now that if that is not the case, this audition is pointless. The play requires a variety of nude scenes of a very intimate nature… even scandalous by some standards, and we'd expect you to act professionally. Is that understood?"
She freezes. She's comfortable with a little nudity similar to Breakfast at Tiffany's or Spring Awakening. Showing sex scenes on stage is beyond her area of comfort or expertise. But it's not like she can refuse such an opportunity. She's a professional and she'll just have to learn how to be comfortable on stage.
"Yes." She replies, mustering whatever courage is (barely) left in her "I trust that were I to be your choice, scenes of delicate nature will surely be for an artistic purpose and I'd be very happy to lend myself to it."
Shelby and Will look at each other impressed for a fraction of a second.
"Excellent. In that case, here's the scene you'll be preforming today. It's a vey simple one – Amy is trying to convince Mark not to restrain her anymore because she's fallen in love with him. It's the key scene to the play."
Rachel approaches the table timidly, towards Shelby's outstretched hand holding the papers.
"Another thing we must test is the chemistry of course" Will says "which is why today you'll be reading with the man who'll be playing Mark in our play and your potential co-star."
Surprise betrayed her features. "Oh… I… I wasn't aware that part was cast."
"Of course you weren't" chuckled Shelby "no-one even knows the part exists."
Will beckoned his assistant, a young looking man in a wheelchair that had been sitting quietly behind the camera so far.
"Artie, if you please bring our Mark in."
The man nodded, rolling towards the doors to open them.
Revealing none other than Finn Hudson on the other side.