Chapter Two -

What should she do? They both knew the other was in the room. There was no way to avoid the inevitable and getting it all out of the way would keep things from being strange later. It was like pulling off a band-aid. The trick was working up the courage to rip it off.

Brittany bounced on both feet, pretended to check her phone for something, pretended to type something into her phone, bounced again on both feet, took a deep breath and then started over to the other side of the room where Rachel was speaking to the shows writers and the man who was speaking when Rachel arrived.

Rachel reached over and took the hand of one of the writers. "I can't thank you all enough for bringing me in on this. It means a lot to me that you see me in this role."

Robert smiled in Rachel's direction and seemed, from where Brittany was standing, to squeeze her hand. "After Samantha signed on to direct, all we did was bring your name up. She was the one determined to get you to do it."

"That still means a lot."

Brittany didn't want to interrupt but luckily didn't have to when the shorter of the two writers turned to include her in their conversation.

"Rachel, let me introduce you to our dance captain. This is..."

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Brittany didn't even finish hearing Jeremy make the introductions. She was instead completely focused on being face to face with Rachel Berry after all these years.

"Hi Rachel." Brittany said frightened on the inside but still optimistically bubbly to anyone witnessing the reunion.

The shorter brunette took a deep breath and then pulled Brittany into a surprisingly huge hug. "Brittany, it's been way too long."

Rachel Berry was a great actress but there was immediate warmth to the hug, which lifted a weight off of Brittany's tiny shoulders and told her Rachel was being sincere. She was actually excited to see her.

"You two know each other?" Robert asked.

Rachel turned away from the hug but kept contact with Brittany by holding her hand tightly. "We not only know each other, we are very old friends. The two of us went to high school together."

The producer used the turn in the conversation to slink away in order to socialize with some of the others who still remained. The two writers seemed dumbstruck by the news. Jeremy, in particular, seemed very excited by the turn of events. "So Brittany here must know all the best stories."

Brittany felt Rachel grip her hand harder so she merely smiled warmly and giggled. The grip loosened, seemingly letting Brittany know she had done well with the deflection.

Rachel kicked up the playfulness despite, what Brittany could only assume was an aversion to his pointed statement. "Brittany knows all my secrets from back in those days and I know her secret's which is why you two aren't hearing anything from either of us."

Robert looked to his writing partner and smiled. "We should leave two old friends to catch up."

Jeremy nodded. "We will see both of you tomorrow at rehearsal."

"Absolutely." Brittany politely acknowledged their departure and then turned to Rachel. "It's good to see you."

If Brittany didn't know any better she thought she saw tears welling in Rachel's eyes. "It's really good to see you too. My show's dark tonight so I have the evening free. Want to go grab an early dinner? Catch up?"

There were dozens of ways the reunion could have gone but a dinner invitation wasn't one Brittany had concerned. "Sure."

"Wonderful. I know a great place not far from here."

Before Brittany knew what happened she felt herself being pulled across the room and out of the rehearsal hall towards the elevator.

• • •

As soon as the elevator door closed Rachel let out a subconscious sigh of relief, which didn't go, unnoticed. "Are you okay Rachel?" Brittany asked as she eyed Rachel intently.

"I was very nervous today and finally being out of there means our first day of school is over with and we can now concentrate on the work." Lighthearted laughter met Rachel's response and if it had been anyone but the woman standing in the elevator with her Rachel might have found it offensive. "What is so funny?"

Brittany's laughter stopped but the smile remained. "You called it the first day of school. That's what I always call it and especially today. When I saw you sneak into the back of the room I half expected to see Mr. Shue."

Rachel smiled back at the blonde. The rest of the way down to the ground level they enjoyed their own thoughts neither of them saying another word.

When they hit the street Rachel apologized and made a quick call. Brittany didn't mind because from the sound of it, it was very important. So as Rachel talked she took in the sights and sounds of the city. It was still rather cold, as winter hadn't quite left Manhattan, but despite the piles of snow it was sunny and the people on the streets all seemed to have an air of joy about them. It was like they knew spring was around the corner. It made Brittany feel warm inside and it reminded her of home.

Having left Lima for Los Angeles the summer after graduation Brittany hadn't seen snow in years and she realized that she had missed it. As she listened to Rachel speaking with her agent Brittany felt herself missing a lot of things, things she couldn't allow herself to miss.

...

By the time they had finished their first glass of wine the women had managed to cover just about everything that had happened since graduation. Rachel had told stories of NYU, her professional resume after college, and the night at the Tonys. She kept the conversation light and avoided talk of her current show as to not come off ungrateful. Brittany had made Rachel laugh more then once as she related tales of a variety of music video shoots and events she had done in LA.

Rachel picked up the bottle and refilled their glasses.

"Thanks." Brittany said as she put the newly filled glass to her lips and enjoyed a sip. "Do you find this weird? I find this weird."

"Weird?" Rachel said putting the now empty bottle down.

Brittany smiled warmly. "This is us, here, in New York, drinking wine like two old friends. Catching up on life as if no time has past. And yet, it's us."

Of course Rachel knew exactly what Brittany had been getting at as through most of high school they hadn't been what anyone would call close. In fact Rachel hadn't been close with any of the girls in Glee. She and Finn had been close but then they dated. And she and Puck had been close but then they dated too. Rachel internally rolled her eyes at that moment of personal observation. "She would have to remember this for when she met with her therapist next week." she thought as she took another bite of her meal. "You have a point Brittany but that was then. We are now just two adults who happen to come from the same place and followed similar paths. I know many friendships built on less stable foundations. Hell, I know marriages built on less."

Brittany raised her glass. "Here's to friendship."

"To friendship." Rachel agreed clinking glasses. "Have you heard or seen any of the old gang?"

"The last video I shoot in LA was for the first single off of Mercedes debut album. She was so sweet. Hunted me down and asked me to choreograph. I have some of that on my resume but not a ton. Usually I am the assistant or the lead dancer not the one inventing things but Mercedes wouldn't take no for an answer. She demanded I do it."

Rachel laughed. "Sounds like Mercedes. I see Kurt every once and a while. Usually at auditions. He has a place in Astoria."

"We should call him while I'm in town and grab dinner some night."

"That's a great idea. And I'm sure you know that Finn is in Cleveland teaching."

Brittany giggled at how obvious the football captain's life had turned out. "I think everyone, except Finn, knew he was going to follow Mr. Shue's example and going into teaching."

"Oh and I ran into Puck about two years ago when on tour with a show. He's happily married to a lovely girl and they live down in Florida."

"Did you get Artie and Tina's holiday card this year?"

"I did. And that baby is just the cutest thing on the planet."

"Without a doubt. Have you run into Quinn in the city?" Brittany asked as she took a bite of her salad.

"Quinn's here? Last I heard she was out west. Married some lawyer or something."

"They divorced this past summer from what I was able to piece together. We had lost touch but she caught a Facebook post I had sent out about being here for the workshop and sent me an email. Guess she got here a few months ago. Working for some fancy law firm. She sounded happy despite the breakup. I'm supposed to call her once things settle down with rehearsals. Maybe we get her to join us for dinner with Kurt. I'm sure she would love to catch up."

There it was, Brittany's naivety. It was only a matter of time before some hint of the old Brittany would appear. Rachel knew even if the bubbly blonde had grown up there would still have to be signs of the old Brittany around somewhere. It was nice to know this was one of the qualities that remained, that the girl that followed the pack still deep down just wanted everyone to get along. "That sounds nice." was all Rachel could manage.

The two of them went back to working on their meals and when neither one of them continued Rachel wasn't sure if she should acknowledge the elephant in the room or not. She opted to address things but keep it simple. "And have you heard from Santana?"

"No." the answer was short but the emotions that tried to peek out with that simple word were anything but and Rachel decided it was best to keep the evening light hearted, dropping any further line of questioning especially because anything more would have probably required more then one bottle wine.