A million things were running through Rachel Berry's head as she walked towards center stage to step under that bright spotlight and take her final bow. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and her grin was no "show face". She was genuinely beaming out at the full house of people. She took a sweeping bow. People were clapping cheering and leaping to their feet. This moment was everything she could have ever dreamed. No, it was better. The curtains swiftly closed and her one of her co stars, and current closest friend, rushed and hugged her tight.
"OH my lord! Rachel you STUNNED tonight. I've never seen you so fierce! I mean, you're always great. But tonight you were like, in outer space!" Rachel smiled and hugged Tori tightly.
"Thanks, Tori! You were pretty on fire tonight yourself. That high note you hit in the last number? Oh my goodness! Perfection." Tori grabbed her wrist.
"Come on! We should get out to the closing night meet and greet. They'll all be clamoring for your autograph, Miss Berry. You'll be beating those boys off with a stick!" The two women ran, giggling and high off the rush of the stage, to the back door to go to the line of people waiting for the cast members. Right at the front, in the VIP section, were Rachel's dads.
"Dad! Daddy!" she rushed to them and hugged them tightly, and accepted the huge bouquets of red and purple roses they handed her.
"You did great, pumpkin." Leroy told her, grinning at his baby girl.
"As good a Fanny as Barbara herself! With a Berry twist, of course!" Hiram rubbed her cheek affectionately. Rachel thanked them, arranged dinner plans for the next day, and then turned to the crowd. She and Tori walked down the line, with the other cast members, signing programs, stopping for pictures, and talking briefly to the occasional friend or reporter. Rachel was positively glowing. After she had graduated from McKinley, she attended the prestigious performing arts program at Julliard and after graduation began ruthlessly auditioning for anything on Broadway. She landed a chorus part, then next a small part, and her third role she started hitting the big ones. She was Maureen in a three night Rent revival. Then she landed Elphaba. And by some miracle of show business, she was cast as her ultimate dream role. Single cast as Fanny Brice in a one month long run of Funny Girl. She'd called everyone she knew, even Finn whom she'd barely talked to since graduation, though they considered themselves friends, and told them the news. Now here it was. Closing night. She was exhausted but exhilarated. And while she would be glad to have time to rest, she was also heartbroken it was over. What seemed like an eternity later, she and Tori reached the end of the line.
"Hey, wanna crash at my loft tonight?" Tori grinned at Rachel and proffered her arm and rose an eyebrow expectantly. Rachel nodded, and they started towards where they could catch a cab, when someone shouted at them.
"Rach! Rach, wait up!" Rachel's eyebrows shot up at the sound of her old nickname…. It couldn't be…she turned, and it was. Her eyes widened and Tori looked at her, puzzled.
"…Finn? What are you doing in New York?"
"I had to see you rock it on stage at least once, Rach. This has been your dream forever. We're close friends, I wanted to make an appearance." He handed her a bouquet. Daisies. He would still remember she loved yellow daisies. She gave him a hug.
"thank you, Finn. It means a lot. When do you fly back to…LA? Or is it Berkeley now?"
"Not for a week. Figured I'd see the sights, maybe go to some gigs at clubs, coffeeshops, see if I can scope any talent." Finn was an up and coming producer, and a drummer in his own band.
"It's been awhile. We should have lunch. Not tomorrow, but Monday?"
"Sure! Here's the number of my hotel. I'm in… oh man. What room am I in?" he rummaged through his pockets. "Oh! Room 408. Call me sometime and we'll get specifics. You must be wrecked. You were flawless though, Rach. We're all proud of you. I'm proud of you." He hugged her again and walked to his rental car and drove off. Rachel laughed.
"I wonder how he managed to forget I have his cell number?"
"Who was that?" Tori had become extremely confused during Rachel and Finn's short exchange.
"I'll explain at your place." She linked up with Tori again. "In the mean time, let's find a cab, stop at that 24 hour kosher deli, and head home for the evening."
And with that they managed to hail a cab and head off into the glamorous gleam of the New York night.
