Good morning starshines!

Well its 11:58 as I type this... cough.

'Sir – please, if you could perhaps consider me for the role I'm sure-'

'Listen honey, I tol' ya! You're not right for the part!'

'But if you would see me again I could prove-'

'Word on the street is Sutton Foster wants this role! Do you think you're better than Sutton Foster?'

'Well, I believe-'

'Lemme answer that: You're not. I gotta go, and if you know what's good for you you'll let me go.'

Rachel sighed and watched as the fourth casting director this week drove away from her, taking another opportunity with him. Living in New York is nothing like I thought, she thought morosely, taking her phone out and calling Mercedes as she hailed a cab.

'Hey 'Cedes,' she said glumly, climbing into the vehicle. 'West 42nd,' she told the driver.

'Hey girl! How was the audition? Did you blow their minds or did you blow their minds?'

'I didn't get it...'

'Oh, snap. You know there'll be tonnes of other opportunities, Rach, this is a huge city and-'

'I know, Mercedes, I've heard the speech. Listen; do you wanna get some drinks later? And ask the guys, I need a good time.'

'On it! I'll call Kurt and his new guy, and see if my boy wants to get his cute butt outta bed. You sure you're okay?'

'I'll be fine. I gotta call Finn, see you at the hotel bar tonight? 7:30?'

'Wouldn't miss it! See you!'

'Bye.' Sighing, Rachel speed-dialled Finn. 'Hey sweetie.'

'Hey – ah, you bastard! – Rach. Fuck off, I'm on the phone!'

'What's going on?'

'Matt got a hold of the soda gun at work; it's like full on diet coke warfare!'

'Oh.'

'What's up? –Stop it, dickwad!'

'I need cheering up, so I told Mercedes we'd be game for a few drinks at the hotel bar tonight.'

'Yeah, I'll be there!' He still sounded distracted.

'7:30?'

'Yeah, yeah – take that!'

'Bye.'

'See ya!' He hung up.

Rachel squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to cry.

'West 42nd,' the cab driver said, pulling up on the curb. 'Fourteen bucks.'

'Of course...' Rachel got her purse out and started digging around. 'Shoot, I could have sworn I had a twenty in here...' The cab driver rolled his eyes. 'Um, I only have ten dollars on me, but perhaps I could send a cheque to your company?'

'It don't work like that sweetheart.'

'Come on, you gotta let me off, I've had a terrible day-'

'I don't care, sweetheart. Either you pay me the full fare, or we come to an... arrangement...' he licked his lips, leering.

'Oh my God! No!' Rachel hurriedly threw the ten at him and jumped out of the car, running down the street until she was safely hidden behind a building.

Fuck, I had better get drunk tonight.

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Nope, not drunk yet. Somehow she had grown immune to alcohol this night of all nights, and was doomed to sit at the bar and watch her friends make out with their partners while sober.

'Girl, are you sure Finn knew you meant tonight?' Mercedes detached herself from her boyfriend's lips for a moment to glance pityingly at Rachel.

'I'm sure.'

'Maybe he's just forgetful?' Offered Kurt's partner of a week, Aaron. 'All the stories Kurt has told me about him tell me he's a bit lost.'

'I don't know.'

'Come on; get some alcohol in your system! If he forgot about you, forget about him!' Kurt pushed his cocktail across the table towards her. Rachel shook her head.

'I think I'm gonna call it a night, you guys. I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Are you sure? Happy hour ain't over yet.'

'I'm sure. Bye.'

'Make sure you give Finn a piece of your mind!'

'I will.' With that she turned and left.

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'Taxi!' she called, waving her arms up in the air. 'Over here!' She had been waiting twenty-five minutes for a car and was growing further impatient. She stamped her foot as she watched a couple who had arrived not thirty seconds earlier get into a taxi. Aargh! Just my freaking luck. 'Hello!' she stuck her hand out into the road one more time as she saw a taxi slowing down. If I don't get this, I'll walk. 'Yes!' she sighed with relief as the cabbie rolled down the window. 'Where to, hun?'

'24th street-'

'That'll be the Waverly hotel, please!' Some girl barged past her and leaned in through the window of the car.

'Um, excuse me? I had this taxi.'

'And now I'm having it.' The girl opened the door and started to get in.

'Hey!' Rachel pulled the girls arm back. 'This is mine!'

'Bitch, don't touch me!'

'Just let me have the car, please!'

'No, move your fat ass!'

'Hey!' Rachel forcefully pushed the girl aside. '24th street, please,' she said to the driver, climbing in. 'Thanks- Aah!' She screamed as the girl grabbed her hair and pulled her out of the car. 'Get off me!' The last thing she felt was a firm push to her side, so forceful that she fell onto the pavement, hitting her head with a sick crack. After that, just darkness.

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Bear with this terrible prologue, the story is quite alright.

Love, peace etc.

Reviews are awesome!

JTPH xxx