Disclaimer: Glee was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. The show airs on the Fox network.
AN: Listen to / watch the songs on www(dot)youtube(dot)com/view_play_list?p=3912F5460F34887B Just like Glee uses music in each episode, my songs and lyrics serve the same purpose. It gives the reader an emotional understanding of what the characters are going through. Let me know what you think about my story.
Lima, Ohio.
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009. 5 p.m. Rachel's bedroom, her house residing inside Lima Estates.
She sets up her tripod mounted video camera to record another song for uploading to her My Space profile. Before Rachel hits the record button, she flashes back to all that has happened to her since she joined the glee club and how it's changed her life for the better. There have been some rough patches and heartbreaking disappointments, but mostly great memories.
Rachel still can't believe that she sang her favorite Babs song on the fly at Sectionals for the team's ballad. There had been lots of crazy backstage stuff and stress going on. The fact that Mercedes and Kurt were finally behind her was very special. All her hard work and dedication had paid off as she briefly basked in the standing ovation. But Rachel felt the happiest when she sang the last two group numbers that won the trophy for New Directions.
Rachel had developed intense romantic feelings for Finn since they had met. He always believed in her and her talent, even when she had doubts. He was going thru a bad time now and she felt terrible. Even though she guessed the truth of Puck being the father and told him, it had almost cost the team their shot. She was willing to accept that because it was hurting her so much that Finn was walking around in a daze ignorant of the truth. Regardless of what he had put her through emotionally, he unfailingly supported her singing.
She understood that Finn had to work through his issues and pain. Rachel wondered what the rest of the team would think about all the new developments. Not just the baby and daddy drama, but Mr. Schuester and she had been working on the glee club's next public performance. They were going to present it tomorrow at New Direction's meeting. She berated herself internally.
Stop over analyzing everything. Let's do this. Get it out.
Rachel sings "Live to Tell" by Madonna.
As she performs, she does a montage flash between her bedroom, the school auditorium, and the school's hallways as she walks past all her glee club members.
I have a tale to tell
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well
I was not ready for the fall
Too blind to see the writing on the wall
Chorus:
A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me
I know where beauty lives
I've seen it once, I know the warmth she gives
The light that you could never see
It shines inside, you can't take that from me
Repeat chorus
The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again?
If I ran away, I'd never have the strength to go very far
How would they hear the beating of my heart
Will it grow cold, the secret that I hide? Will I grow old?
How will they hear, when will they learn, how will they know?
Repeat chorus
The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again?
Thursday, Dec. 17. 3:15 p.m. Choir Room, William McKinley High School.
Rachel sings the last part of the song. Finn overhears the lyrics and stops outside the door to listen.
Man, what am I gonna do? It's been two weeks since my life imploded. What a mess. Cool, Rachel's here. What's that she's singing? Just seeing her makes me feel better.
A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me
Rachel smiles with irony as she sings the last line.
The only thing burning inside me are guilt and self loathing.
But Rachel took comfort in the fact that she considered her family life pretty amazing. She had two loving gay dads who supported her in everything she did. From dance, ballet, vocal and piano lessons starting at an early age to her current adventures during her first year in the glee club as a sophomore. Rachel considered herself an exotic blend, resulting from her mixed ethnic parents.
She had an African-American and an Italian for dads, while they had told her that her surrogate birth mother was part Spanish. Rachel's light skin tone had a slight brown hue to it. To everyone else Rachel looked like she sported a healthy tan all year long. Besides her Broadway hopes and ambitions, Rachel dreamed that someday she would get to visit Verona, Italy. The reason was that her favorite play Romeo and Juliet was set there.
As Rachel finishes singing, Finn walks inside. His mind and heart are having an intense tug-of-war with his emotions. At 6'3" inches tall, Finn towered over Rachel's 5'3" stature. But in a lot of ways, Finn felt very inferior to Rachel's talent and level of enthusiasm about glee and life in general.
Finn has slightly curly short black hair while Rachel's long straight black hair falls to the middle of her back. She is wearing a dark blue short sleeved shirt with a big yellow bow tie picture on it, a dark burgundy skirt, dark yellow knee high socks and brown penny loafers. Finn is wearing a black and white buttoned polo shirt with blue jeans and tennis shoes. Rachel is slightly startled from her singing and internal musings when she hears Finn talking to her.
"Don't dwell on it, Rachel. I'm glad you told me. Otherwise I'd still be walking around like a chump, or one of those dudes in I, Robot. My first impulse when I see Puck is to go all MMA on him, but I'm working on it."
"So you don't hate me? It was making me miserable thinking about it. I guessed at the truth. Woman's intuition."
"I could never hate you, Rachel. You always stick up for me, even if you have to sacrifice part of yourself to do it. I'm surprised you're not mad at me for ditching you and the group before sectionals."
"You came back when we needed you the most, Finn. That's what matters. You pulled the team together and gave us the third song right when we were falling apart. I was a nervous wreck before my ballad but your encouragement gave me the confidence I needed to do it justice."
"That was an incredible performance, Rachel. I forgot to breathe for awhile there because I was in awe of you. Then singing with you and the group on a great Stones and Queen song in front of all those people will be a highlight of my life."
Rachel's face lights up with a smile she does only for him.
"That's the same way I feel. But really, how are you doing, Finn?"
"I'm not sure. Part of my life feels like one of those burned out futuristic movie cities. Rachel, you're the only person I can talk to. I can't relate to any of the others. Just knowing that you are there for me is cool. It's hard to put into words."
Rachel waits with her breath caught in her chest. Her heart is beating very fast. She can't seem to form the words she's thinking. After a few seconds she manages to get them out.
"Finn, what are you trying to tell me?"
"Here, sit down. Let me say it with a song."
Rachel sits down with much eagerness.
Finally, the ballad partner I wanted from the start. I'm so nervous.
Finn sings "Whataya Want From Me" by Adam Lambert.
Hey,
Slow it down
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
Yeah.
I'm afraid
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
There might have been a time
When I would give myself away.
Ohhhhh
Once upon a time I didn't give a damn
But now
Here we are
So whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
Chorus:
Just don't give up
I am working it out
Please don't give in
I won't let you down
It messed me up
Need a second to breath
Just keep coming around
Hey
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
Repeat chorus
Yeah.
It's plain to see
That baby you're beautiful
There's nothing wrong with you
It's me
I'm a freak
But thanks for loving me
'Cause you're doing it perfectly
Yeah there might have been a time when I would let you slip away
I wouldn't even try
But I think you could save my life
Just don't give up on me
(Ohhhh...)
I won't let you down
No I won't let you down
Repeat chorus x 2
When he finishes, Rachel nods her head in a daze. She sits there with a funny look on her face. Finn starts to worry.
Oh no, I hope I didn't hurt her again. You know, Rachel, your silly expression is kind of sexy. I think I've got things sorted out, but Dude be gentle with her. I'm gonna make it up to you, Rachel.
"Hey, you okay? You look kinda weird."
"What? Sorry, I drifted off there a bit. Finn, your voice gets better every time I hear it. You are a great performer. So your audience was very affected."
"I feel the same way about you, Rachel. Actually, when the meeting's over I'm resolving something. Then I'll go from there. I'll be rehearsing in the auditorium."
"I understand, Finn. I don't like seeing you so depressed. Yes, we do need to learn many new songs for Regionals. Okay, Co-captain, here's what the group is doing next."
"Sweet. Anything to get my mind off everything else."
"It's another show the glee club will be doing here at the school."
"Cool. Hey, Rachel? Can I have your cell number? Then we can talk anytime. Here's mine. I should have asked a while ago."
Rachel starts trembling inside.
Now where did I put my organizer? Don't freeze up now.
She manages to pull something out over at the podium and gives it to Finn without dropping it.
If he touches me now I'm going to lose it. Focus.
"No problem. It's one of my business cards. You never know when you'll need one for an audition or talent scout."
As Rachel walks back to the podium she hides a tiny smile.
There, I did it without sounding like a blubbering idiot. Concentrate on breathing.
"Thanks. Hey, come and watch the basketball team play tonight in the gym. I'll have a front row ticket waiting for you at the admission desk. My first dunk is dedicated to you, Rachel."
Rachel spins around in surprise. She feels a pleasant shiver go thru her body.
"Me? Thanks, Finn. I'll be there."
