This is 10 years after the graduation of the Gleeks from High School. This is a future event idea I had. In this story, Finn and Rachel never got together at the end of season one. I have no rights to the Gleekers, or to Glee itself. It's just all in fun.
Chapter 1:
Rachel Berry stood in the recording studio, trying desperately to not hurl her stool through the plate glass window that barricaded her from her producers. She was so furious that they were taking so long. Didn't they realize she had somewhere to be? She was the Rachel Berry! "I have a PLANE to catch you know!" She yelled. "We know." said a voice through her headphones. "We're ready," The playback of the song started to play, and Rachel was grateful to get back to work.
It had been 10 years since her and the other Glee kids had graduated high school, and she didn't kept in touch with any of them. Why should she? They never really liked her, and let's face it, she was obviously more talented than they were. She spent her time in Glee club just performing. After Finn and Quinn broke up, Rachel thought it would be her chance. But Finn never tried. He seemed to be lost in many ways after their break up. He dated a lot of girls, leaving a wake of broken hearts as his legacy. Rachel waited for him, but he never came to her. So she disconnected, and when it came time to leave after graduation, she left, without hesitation.
After she left Ohio, she had moved to New York, met a record producer while she was singing karaoke. She had been singing Toni Braxton's "Yesterday" when she was approached by Bob Stevens, the CEO of Records Inc. She remembered seeing him the audience while she had been singing. He had been this smoldering, dark, sexy guy who was just staring at her. She didn't quite know how to react. He was just staring at her. She still remembered her thoughts while singing to this day.
You, you are so yesterday (Who is the buffoon staring at me?)
Never thought you'd lose my love this way. (He's kind of sexy.)
Now, you've come begging me to stay (He isn't even blinking...)
All he seemed to do, through that performance, was stare into her. After words, he approached her and introduced himself. "Hi." He had this air about him that just reminded everyone of being smug, but it reminded Rachel of success, of determination, of confidence, that same air that made her so many enemies in Glee because it bred their insecurities and jealousy. "I'm Bob. Bob Stevens, CEO of Records Inc." He told her how great she was, how talented she was, and how she had the look that could go with the voice. Rachel had just melted like butter. Fame? Fortune? Music? It was everything Rachel had dreamed of.
He helped her, he trained her. He got her the best dance teacher, Mr. Step. He got her a great vocal coach. He got her great songwriters. Before she knew it, her first album, "Parade," sold millions, and her four singles went to number one on the charts, and stayed there for weeks. She got to perform on one of the VH1 Divas specials, duet with LeAnn Rimes at the Grammys, and even host Saturday Night Live. All before her second album. She released another two albums, before being offered the role of Elpaba in WICKED, a role that had always tempted her, since "Defying Gravity" was her go to shower song, and ringtone. She won a Tony for that role, adding to all the Grammy's and MTV Video Music Awards she'd won. She was so successful, yet heard nothing from the other Glee kids. They never once reached out to say, "Congrats" or "Way to go" or "Geez Rachel. You were right. You were always meant to be a star, and in your wake we really add up to nothing, and you have changed the face of the entertainment industry." Nope. None of that.
Now, she stood in the recording studio, recording a cover of Melissa Etheridges, "You Can Sleep While I Drive." She was nervous. Not because of the song, but because after, she had to catch a plane back to Ohio, for her ten year reunion. She wanted to go, if only to shove her success in the faces of those who shoved slushies in her face, or those who had pretended to be her friends, only to just abandon her. She knew, however, that she'd have to face Finn Hudson. That made her nervous.
The music played back into her headphones and she sang along. It was a song she'd always sang with one of her dads, and so she wanted to dedicate it to him.
Come on baby, let's get out of this town.
I've got a full tank of gas, and the top rolled down.
If you won't take me with you, I'll go before night it through.
Baby, you can sleep while I drive.
She couldn't help but be impressed with her version of the song. It was so pretty. She wanted it accompanied by an orchestra, and as she sang she could feel herself hitting it out of the park. She smiled, and the recording studio door flew open, and in walked Bob. "Hey baby. That was fantastic!" He said as he took her in his arms, and gave her a kiss. Last year, after being business associates for 8, 9 years, he finally told her he was "sweet on her." Rachel loved it, she was so lonely. Even now sometimes, there was a disconnect in her and Bob, and she would close her eyes and wonder about Finn.
"Baby, are you sure you don't want me to go to this thing with you?" He asked. She sighed and said, "No. It's ok, really." They grabbed their stuff and headed into the limo Bob had waiting outside for him and Rachel, so he could escort her to the airport. They sat in the car, and Rachel listened to Bob talk on his phone, all about how Rachel was taking over the world. She smiled, but she was racked with fear. At that time, the next day, Rachel would have to face her what if...Finn.
She got out of the limo, and she could see the fans screaming her name. "Rachel, we love you!" "Rachel, we need you." She went through security, and boarded her first class seat, and sat quietly as she flew toward a life she thought she was done with. Rachel Berry, the high school student with dreams of grandeur, Now, she was grandeur, but the fear of what once was seemed to take her over. The plane landed, and Rachel put her big sunglasses on and walked off the plane, listening to the fans screaming. As she looked up, she saw these two men, holding up a banner that says, "Diva baby." She had to laugh at her dads, because the sign was hokey, balloons and streamers and bubble letters. Her one dad had been calling her 'Diva Baby' since she was one. He tells the story of her being one, and doing show smiles, and even when crying, someone would take out a camera, and she'd be on point, smiling and cooing.
"Hey!" she yelled, as she grabbed her dads and hugged them. They brought her to her hotel. She had wanted to stay at home, as her dads wanted as well, but her new found fame and status would have drawbacks to staying at home. Paparazzi would line the garden, which would drive her tall dad nuts, since he put so much effort and work into his roses and his lillies. So she booked herself into the presidential suite at the best hotel in town, the local Hilton. She had tried to convince her dads to take the second bedroom, make it like a vacation! But they declined. They never were much for the fancy life. Rachel had tried to buy them a house, when she got her first big advance, but they wouldn't let her, saying it was her money. They wanted what they had worked hard for. She had her things sent up to her room, and she went into the restaurant with her dads. They got a table in a VIP room, since paparazzi's had had the hotel surrounded. Her and her dads talked about everything, from family updates, to careers, to who was really a super ego bitch behind the scenes of show business. Rachel loved every second of it, spending time with her dads. "So, Diva, what's the schedule like for the reunion?" Dad 1 asked her. She put her fork down, and she sighed. "Tomorrow night is the meet and greet, and the following day is the main event, where they have asked me, rightfully so, to sing a little ditty, to impress our fellow classmates, or make them pee themselves with jealousy! Whichever they so choose." Rachel and her Dads had seated themselves on the couch and were drinking tea. Rachel went to bed shortly after the catchup. She needed her beauty rest, and she knew that tomorrow would be the start of something very confusing.
The next morning, Rachel arose from her slumber, and dreams filled with Glee's past performances, and went straight to the gym to do her time on the elliptical. She came back and had a bite to eat. She then warmed up her voice for 3 hours. She kept picturing the past.
It was their first Nationals win. Rachel had captivated the audience with her rendition of Jewel's "Break Me." They were announced the champions and everyone hugged. Rachel stood and watched everyone else embrace each other, leaving Rachel out.
Backstage, everyone was glowing and screaming and laughing about their victory. "Guys!" Tina yelled. "We know who we have to thank for this." Rachel smiled. Leave it to Tina to single Rachel out as the reason they won. How sweet."Mr. Schu!" Santana yelled. Everyone applauded and hugged Mr. Schu. "OK, everyone!" Mr. Schu yelled as they piled into the parking lot. "Applebees! ON ME!" Everyone screamed and grabbed onto each other, some providing rides for others. Rachel went up to Santana, "Do you have room in your car?" Santana, without even looking at her, said, "No. Trix are for kids, bitch." She got in her car with Finn, Quinn and Mercedes and tore off. Everyone was suddenly gone, leaving Rachel behind. She felt a tear go down her right cheek, when she felt Mr. Schu's hand on her shoulder. "You ok?" Rachel smiled, and wiped the tear away. "Yeah. It's just pure jealousy due to my impending future." Mr. Schu smiled and said, "I'll drive you."
Rachel sat on the couch, with two different outfits for the evening. She wanted to make them green, make them wish they were her, or with her. She picked them both up, and held them to her in the mirror. Either way, she was going to make Finn Hudson wish she was his gold star.