second fic! i am writing this for .Gleek, who requested it, ever so nicely! i love you guys and the feedback i got from the last fic! thank you so much! i usually update every night, so keep a look out!
disclaimer: I do not own glee. hahaha:)
Chapter 1: Pure Magic
Rachel ran her hands down her pleated, plaid skirt, straightening it carefully. Her knee high, matching green, plaid socks were perfectly straight, ready to perform. She tapped her black ballet flat impatiently. A song was hidden behind her lips, just bursting to come out. Rachel's thin fingers twisted through her glossy hair out of habit. Squirming in the plastic chair under her, Rachel's arm shot straight into the air. Mr. Schuester paused and looked at her.
"Hold on, Rachel, I'm almost done," He told her, interrupting his discussion about Regionals songs. I leaned further back into my chair, crossing my arms. I couldn't help but stare at her. Rachel was so brilliant, but her beauty was usually looked past once she started to talk. I didn't mind. Rachel was controlling, no doubt about it, but I couldn't help my feelings for her. Zoning, I thought about how a relationship with her would be. I imagined the cheesy things, late night phone conversations, walking side by side, hand in hand, singing perfect duets with her, amazing every time...
"Mike!" Mr. Schuester repeated himself, addressing me. I crashed back down to reality, embarrased. I could feel my cheeks burning.
"What?" I asked, wondering what he had asked me. Matt stifled a laugh behind me. I punched his leg. Matt was the only one who knew about my secret admiration for the perfect girl that sat a few chairs away from me. Rubbing his leg, Matt groaned. Rachel looked over at me, annoyed that I was postponing her performance, even if it was for only a few seconds.
"The song? How do you feel about it for Regionals?" Mr. Schuester repeated, referring to "Lean On Me," the song we sang for Quinn and Finn when she got pregnant. It was the first practice after Sectionals, I don't know why we were already talking about Regionals. Quinn sat her chair now, her hand resting on her potruding stomach. She sat straight up, her feet folded on the seat. We knew it was Puck's baby from day one. Puck couldn't keep his angst from us for long.
"Yeah, sure, sure," I said, indifferently. Mr. Schuester changed his mind every week of what he wanted for Regionals, so it didn't really matter what I thought about it. Mr. Schuester nodded and turned to Rachel.
"Okay, you can go now, Rachel," He said, getting up from the bright, orange chair he was sitting in backwards. Rachel stood up quickly, stepping in front of us all. She stood perfectly straight with her hands folded together.
"As you all know, I have the strongest vocals and stage presence out of everyone here," She started, speaking quick and light. Mercedes scoffed and crossed her arms. Ignoring the outburst, Rachel went on, "So, I think we should use my talent as an advantage to us," She kept speaking, using her hands to exaggerate her point, "I have a song prepared that maybe we could use later on," She finished, re-folding her hands together. Kurt rolled his eyes. Mr. Schuester waved a hand toward the piano. Rachel nodded and flitted toward it. Brad, the piano player, started playing a floating melody, carressing my ears. It was slow and magical, wrapping it's arms around all of us. I was pulled into it's lullaby. Rachel drew in a breath, building tension. The first words left her lips, igniting my soul. The room was warm and comfortable. My mouth probably hung open like a gaping idiot, but I didn't care. The words were so delicate and lovely.
Could we fix you if you broke?
Is your punchline just a joke?
I'll never talk again, oh boy,
You've left me speechless.
You've left me speechless, so speechless.
That's how I felt. Speechless. My thoughts were a jumbled mess. The letters bounced around my brain, not able to form any words. All worries flew out of my grasp, never to be thought about again. The last few words escaped her, frozen in her stance. The words came back to me, slowly but surely. Matt nudged my back with the toe of his sneaker. A few weak claps radiated from the audience, while Rachel applauded wildly for herself. I couldn't help but smile. She was the most adorable thing I have ever seen. I didn't care what anyone thought.
It's really weird how it all happened, the whole "liking Rachel thing". It started around the time I joined glee club. When I first joined, I thought glee club was a huge joke. I felt like a wannabe star. We sang all of these songs that had deep meaning, but never performed them. It felt like "counseling club". If I wanted counseling, I would have went to see Ms. Pillsbury instead of taking all this time to find songs that expressed how I feel. I was going to quit at first, but I started to enjoy it. I am a shy guy and singing really helped to get all of that emotion out. I didn't really get involved much until people started to call me "Other Asian". That's when I knew that I needed to break out of the tiny shell I lived in. Feeling trapped, I started to watch the other kids in glee, trying to figure out what they did to be noticed. Rachel seemed to be the most expressive of all of the glee kids, so I watched her carefully. At first, I thought that was a terrible idea. Rachel seemed like a terrible, obnoxious, controlling person. But, for the first time, I really listened to her sing. All of her notes were dramatic and bold, shoving their way into your ears, even if you didn't want to let them in. The melodies were perfect, swirling around you and making you feel...loved. I melted. That sounds terribly cliché. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all that "love at first sight" crap. I don't believe in that. She just lit a spark in me and who am I to not let it glow?
I don't think I have ever talked to Rachel other than the time I accidently knocked her over when I was getting too into my mad dance skills.
"I-I-I'm sorry," I remember stuttering to her as she brushed herself off. All she did was give me an angry look. Artie sat in the corner shoving a hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh. Tina giggled along with him. She leaned over, whispering to him, and they cracked up again.
First things first, I needed to talk to her. I wasn't quite sure if I could assemble sentences properly. Rachel just turned my head into soup whenever I looked at her. Baby steps. Rachel was single, but I had to act fast to capture her before Finn could. That sounded really bad, but it was truth.
Glee club practice ended, leaving me idle in my chair. Everyone filed out of the room, stuffy in the middle of the winter. As I picked up my stuff, I listened to Rachel badger to Mr. Schuester about how she needed more solos. What? Didn't she get all the solos (not that I minded)? Shifting the heavy textbooks into my arms, Rachel walked to pick up her pink bag, making a noise that sounded like,"hurmmph". My hands shook and felt clammy as I clenched them together. I let out a quivering breath. It felt hot on my cold lips.
"Uhh, w-what's the, um, matter, Rachel?" I stammered, grasping my books, white-knuckled. Rachel turned and cocked her head to the side. She looked thoroughly confused.
"I don't think I have ever heard 2 words from you that weren't "I'm" and "sorry"," Rachel said, remembering the time I knocked her to the ground. My face blushed furiously. She continued, "But, I am just a little bit angry that I am not getting all of the solos I deserve, that's all." I breathed a trembling laugh.
"I-I know, I haven't had a s-solo...ever," I told her, still sputtering. Rachel let out a breath and smiled a sweet smile. Ugh, that smile.
"At least I have some. I don't think I have ever heard you sing before," She said, slinging her bag onto her shoulder, "I hope that's a crowned jewel just waiting to be uncovered." Rachel grabbed the rest of her things and started to walk out the door. She waved a hand at me.
"See you later, Mike," She mentioned, her shining smile leaving me dumbfounded. Brain soup. I was just waiting for it to come dribbling down my ears onto my shirt. That was the most nerve-wracking thing I had ever done. Considering to be a success, I smiled brightly to myself.
Score one for Mike.
