Shelby experiences what should be a wonderful moment in her life; taking Beth to New York City for her first Broadway show.
Sorry; if I owned Glee Idina Menzel would have stayed on the show, Puckleberry would reign true, and Mark Salling and Chord Overstreet would randomly take their shirts off in every scene.
OVERAGAINANDAGAINANDAGAIN
"Mom! Mom! Thank you so much! I can't wait! I'm so excited!", Beth squealed in the back seat of the yellow taxi cab as she bounced up and down in her seat. The cabbie gave her an amused look and turned back to the road ahead. Less than two blocks from the theater. Shelby smiled at her baby girl. She was fourteen now, this was her birthday present. After two months of saving for this trip to New York City (so they would have adequate) to see Beth's current favorite Broadway show. They had fourth row, orchestra seats; right in the center. The "best seats in the house" as Beth had told all of her friends (which she had many of) and of course she bragged about her lodgings. Not just everybody got to stay in the Waldorf Astoria.
Shelby grabbed Beth's hand; her skin was like Quinn's. Fair and perfect. Her hair was like Puck's. Dark and thick. She was beautiful with her light blue eyes and perfect figure. Beth was her baby. Her perfect baby. It had been nearly six hours since she thought of her other baby. Her first baby. The one Beth didn't know about. The one Shelby didn't plan on telling Beth about because that may ruin everything they had. It would screw with Beth's head. Just like Beth's adoption had screwed with Rachel's head.
Beth squeezed Shelby's hand as they pulled up to the theatre, and Shelby reached into her purse and dished out some money to the cabbie, murmuring a quick thank you and stepping out of the cab. Following Beth who was already standing on the street, nearly shaking with excitement, into the theatre. They went through the ticket line and to their seats as quickly as possible. They were a little bit late. The show would start in a matter of minutes, but, until then she would play solitaire with her phone.
Beth flipped through the playbill quickly, looking for where the names of the stars of the musical were located.
"Ha!", She exclaimed triumphantly as she began reading them off in a list like fashion. To see if her mother knew any of them. Since Shelby had a couple of her students make it into Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as members of the ensemble. She read them off, ensemble to major cast members. It was when she reached the female lead than Shelby dropped her phone. Eyes wide open. Jaw nearly on the floor.
"Read that name again please.", Shelby's voice shook, something which it almost never did.
"Carter-", Beth started, slightly confused.
"No. No. The female lead.", Shelby closed her eyes and inhaled sharply.
"Rachel Berry?", Beth asked tentatively. Shelby was quiet, she just nodded. Shelby was never this quiet.
"How- how do you know her?", Beth placed her hand on Shelby's.
"It's a long story.", Shelby tried to evade the question.
"I have time.", Beth raised an eyebrow and shifted in her seat. Shelby was near tears.
"No. No. No. Not here. Not now. Later. Later. Okay?", she repeated her words slowly. Beth let it drop. Moments later the curtain rose up and the opening number began to play.
It was breathtaking. That was her baby girl. Her flesh and blood up on that stage receiving a standing ovation and bowing next to an obviously gay cast mate.
"Wasn't that fantastic?", Beth gushed, as she nearly ran out of the large room.
"Yeah. It was.", Shelby smiled.
"Can we go meet the cast members?", Beth pleaded, knowing Shelby would probably say no due to her little outburst earlier related to the female lead (Beth's new idol).
"Please?", she followed up before Shelby could get a word in edge wise.
"I guess.", Shelby conceeded. Knowing that Beth wouldn't ever let it go. She was like Rachel that way. So they went.
Rachel was standing, signing autographs, and still in costume. Shelby could have cried right there. But, she walked up with Beth, who had her playbill at ready.
"Miss Berry, I am such a huge fan, could you sign my playbill please!", Beth got it all out in one breath. Rachel looked up, smiling at the girl.
"Sure sweetie. What's your name?", Rachel asked as she took the playbill from Beth's hand.
"Beth. Beth Corchran.", she offered. Rachel froze, and looked up, past Beth, to Shelby. Shit. Act professional. Offer to... Eat a late dinner with them? Yeah. That would work.
"You know. I think I know your mom. Would you mind if after I got this costume off we, I don't know, went out for a late dinner? Just so I could catch up with her?", Rachel asked calmly. Beth nearly screamed her response.
"Yes! Yes! That would be so awesome! Mom! Mom!", Rachel flinched at the last two words of Beth's excited speech, "Rachel wants to have dinner with us! To catch up!"
Shelby flinched as she met eyes with Rachel. But, instead of angry, icy eyes, Shelby was met with broken, tired ones. This was not the Rachel she used to know... This was not the firey, passionate girl who would fight for her cause no matter what. What happened? Did I do this?
THEMAIALINOGRAMMERCYPARK
"So. Beth, what kinds of things do you do at school?", Rachel asked, this had become a one sided pissing contest. So far, Beth was winning...
"Um... Drama, Choir, Cheerleading, and Volleyball!", Beth smiled and took a bite of her pasta. She couldn't believe it. No one at school will believe this! Maybe I should take a video? Yeah.
Rachel nodded and they fell into an awkward silence. Interrupted only by Rachel's next question.
"Shelby.", She said coldly, anything but emotion now. "Still teaching English at Carmel?", Rachel just gave Shelby a way out, Rachel knew what Beth didn't, and for some reason she didn't feel like tearing up their relationship today.
"No! No. Now I have a job at a record company.", Shelby gave a tentative smile, trying to send Rachel the message to not say anything.
"Oh. Well, I saw St. James yesterday. You know, now he's working as an assistant to my husband. It's rather comical.", Rachel smiled bitterly. Shelby went wide eyed. Beth looked confused.
"Okay. Not to be rude or anything, but, um, what is going on? How do you guys know each other?", Beth asked sceptically. Rachel leaned back in her seat and gave Shelby a smirk.
"Well, Beth, it's complicated... It's very, very complicated...", Shelby started. Husband? Rachel was married? Why didn't I know about this? How much of her life did I miss out on?
"Very complicated. But, I believe that I can properly explain it if your mother will let me.", Rachel looked to Shelby for approval, she just nodded. No use stopping this now.
"It is in fact a very long story, I think that I will be able to give you the basic outline of the events that took place my jJunior year of high school.", Rachel fell back into "big words, proper grammer" Rachel. Beth looked even more confused then before.
"I was the star of McKinley High's Glee club. Your mother was a rival Glee club coach-", Rachel started dramatically, only to be interrupted by Shelby who knew that if Rachel told the full story Shelby would look like a huge ass.
"Twenty-Nine years ago I had a baby Beth. Her name was Rachel. Fourteen years ago we met. It didn't work out. And, well, you know the story of your adoption, but, Rachel went to school with your parents. That's how I found out about you baby.", Shelby was in tears at this point. Beth was in shock. Rachel's face was blank. Pushing all of the memories back to the recess of her mind.
Beth let out a giant laugh.
"Real funny guys. Really funny. But, how do you really know her?", Beth's question was directed at Shelby. They couldn't be serious. No. No. No. No! Her mind screamed. Shelby looked at Rachel sadly.
"I'm sorry. But, I have to go.", Rachel stood up. Throwing a hundred dollar bill down on the table, it's intended use obvious. Shelby gave her a pleading look.
"You walked away twice. Now it's my turn.", Rachel turned away, Prada purse in hand she left the restaurant. Her heels making a clicking sound against the hard wood floors as she walked away.
Shelby's tears were pouring down her face silently. Beth was confused ans shocked. How could her mom do this to her? How? Why? What did she want to acomplish by hiding this from me? And Rachel said something about walking away. What the hell was that about?
"What did she mean, by "you walked away twice"?", Beth asked. Shelby shook her head and hailed the waiter over.
"Check please.", Shelby pulled herself together and ignored Beth's question. Not now. I can't do this now.
I really don't like this. But, I felt like I needed to post this. By the way. I am currently looking for a beta for a story that I am planning involving this story line. If your interested, shoot me a pm.
xoxoGeo