A/N: The song featured here is "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin. It was used in the film Top Gun. If you don't know the song, check it out in youtube.
[ youtube . com/watch?v=WpIazkOqBVc ]
To read the complete version, visit my profile for the download link.
Chapter 1
Caroline Wheeler
Isolated footsteps sounded off in the hallway of William McKinley High. It's 4:20pm and only a few of the hall lights are turned on. Most of the students have gone home, making the classrooms much more solitary than the empty hall outside them.
From a distance, a faint music can be heard. The choir room's crypt-like atmosphere during that day has been transformed into the liveliest room in the building.
A female voice—it could have been an angel's for anyone who didn't know—perfectly spoke the melodic lyrics of an 80's popular movie theme. "Turning and returning to some secret place in time…"
As if it was a natural conversation, a male voice, in the same manner continued the song. "Watching in slow motion as you turn my way, and say…"
"Take my breath away…" an emotional convergence of lyrical symphony echoed as a chorus unmistakably joined in.
The sound of steady stiletto heels came nearer to the open door of the choir room. But no one could have possibly noticed it. When the members of the glee club sing a number, they take it seriously and let nothing else distract them.
The pair of red high heels stopped half a feet from the entrance of the room, still concealed from the inside. The brunette woman does a last minute check of her teeth and smile through her compact mirror. And as soon as the lead singer belts and lingers the last word of the lyrics, the brunette steps into view.
Everything about her appearance would make anyone stop to look, and inevitably stare. Her long straight hair draped on her back like a background of her neck. She wore skinny jeans that emphasized the perfect shape of her legs, which looked longer because she stood on her toes. Her deep blue silk top made her look classy and very, very sexy. Holding only a small clutch, she could pass off as a movie star on a red carpet of an informal event. Well, a T.V. star would be a more accurate term.
Stare, they did. The twelve kids were all stunned and speechless; their eyes almost popping out of their sockets. The brunette looked at them with a friendly smile, but her eyes were scanning. She searched every face in the room, and realized that the person she was expecting to see was not there.
"Caroline Wheeler." The whispered statement might as well have been a scream for all the silence that surrounded the atmosphere. It was Kurt who dared to break the quiet and breathe the brunette's name.
She stepped inside, very slowly. "Hi," she began. "I… was told that I would find Will Schuester here?"
As if a drug had suddenly coursed through her veins, the sound of the brunette's voice made Rachel slowly convert her shocked expression into a full grin. "He just stepped out. He'll be back," Rachel walked quickly over to the woman as she said this.
When she stood at a comfortable distance from the brunette, she held out her hand. "I'm Rachel Berry! Welcome to William McKinley High and to Glee Club!"
The woman looked at Rachel for a moment, Wow, she thought. This one must have had too much caffeine. She shook Rachel's hand after recovering from her one-second shock, "Hi, Rachel."
"Ms. Wheeler, in behalf of everyone, let me tell you how deeply happy and excited we are that you came to visit us. I'd like to introduce you to the members of the glee club."
Rachel excitedly walked on over to each member as she said their names, at the same time touching each one like a person would do when introducing her dear friends: resting her hand on Puck's shoulder, hugging Tina from the side, sitting on Artie's armrest as she touched his face (Artie couldn't have reacted, even if he wanted to. He was too star-struck.). The woman smiled and politely greeted each one of the kids, repeating their names as Rachel said it.
"And I'm Rachel Berry," she said as she settled on her original spot near the newcomer.
"Hi… Rachel," the brunette smiled as she repeated her reply the first time Rachel introduced herself.
And then, awkward silence again. This time, however, everyone didn't gawk. They all had a big, and obviously excited, grin that reflected Rachel's pioneer grin. It was mostly just awkward on the woman's part.
"Okay," the woman exhaled. "So… does anyone of you know when Will Schuester will be back?"
A tornado of response followed. The voices, quick and synchronized, almost sounded like white noise: "In a few seconds. Don't worry, he won't be long…" "Oh, he'll be here soon. Would you like to have a seat?" "He probably just went to the bathroom. Hopefully, not to do number 2…"
The woman was soon distracted by a voice that came from the entrance.
"Hey! Hey! Why don't I hear anyone sing— " Will stopped on his toes. "Carrie?"
It was unmistakable. The polite smile from the beautiful woman turned into a genuine gladness, like she's just opened her first present on Christmas Day. She moved towards Will with her arms stretched out. "There's my big brother!"