Julyberry Week – Day Three: Alternate Universe

Broadway star Rachel Berry ends up sitting next to Broadway has-been Cassandra July on the six hour flight from New York to San Francisco. AU. Julyberry Week – Day Three: Alternate Universe.

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So Kiss Me and Smile for Me

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After the Bloody Mary panic attack at 30,000 feet, Cassie didn't think she'd ever fly again. Yet, due to circumstances out of her control, she found herself buckled in and waiting for take-off.

Already, she had two Xanax in her system, but that was doing absolutely nothing to ease the nerves in her system. It felt like at any moment she was going to need to get the fuck out of there, and clearly that was not an option mid-air. So instead, the Xanax was to dull the take-off, and then the booze would keep her calm for the rest of the flight, if that was possible.

God, she fucking hated flying.

Sliding down in her seat, Cassie closed her eyes and tried to pretend she wasn't about to rely on a machine to keep her safe as they ascended above the country, and blocked out the sound of the other passengers on board. They hadn't even left the terminal and already she felt the need to run for the exit.

Going through all the reasons she needed to be on this flight, Cassie ran through the calming exercises her doctor had told her about. They weren't working, but the anger and venom she had towards the idiot who was convinced they would was distraction enough for a few minutes.

Her internal rant to the bumbling fool who barely looked thirteen was cut short when a bag was placed onto the seat next to her. Chancing a look at who would be joining Crazy July on this six-hour hell fest, Cassie's mouth just about fell open in shock.

She knew better than to show her emotions, and pushing her hair to form a curtain between them, Cassie took in the view outside the window. This could not be happening. This could not be happening. God would not be that cruel.

The short brunette who was getting herself set up into the seat next to Cassie, was none other than Rachel Berry. To the regular Joe, they might not know who she was, but to Broadway fans, she was a star – one that was taking the stage by storm.

Given Cassie's roots, and her partiality to the stage, she kept tabs on the Broadway community, so she knew exactly who Rachel Berry was. And without a doubt, Rachel would know who she was if she saw her.

There wasn't a graduating class out of NYADA that didn't know who Cassandra July was. Her Crazy July video was practically shown to every class at least once, to show what can happen if they don't keep their cool, if they were to let the pressure get to them.

And that was something that was always going to haunt her.

So, to see someone who made it, conquered the pressure where Cassie couldn't, it was hard. To be stuck next to her for six hours was going to be an absolute nightmare.

Rachel sat down and in a bid to be polite, she turned to smile at Cassie, just as she was readjusting in her seat to hide better, resulting in Rachel seeing exactly who she was seated next to.

Cassie was begging and pleading that she wouldn't speak to her, as she clearly knew exactly who Cassie was from that face she had just made. If they could just avoid talking for the whole duration of the flight, that would be great, and she was pretty sure she could pull it off as she did have that 'don't fuck with me' face on.

Rachel Berry being Rachel Berry meant that was unlikely, but Cassie didn't know that just yet.

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