Chapter 2: There's No Business Like Show Business

Rachel spent the next two periods jotting down dictations by her Science teacher from the back row of the classroom while finding time to glance at Finn Hudson every chance she got.

Finn – fit and athletic – was quarterback of the football team. His father died in the Middle East, so he grew up with his mother, which only enhanced his desire to make her proud of him to replace the lack of fatherly figure in their life. Part of the "in crowd", Finn also dated Quinn Fabray – captain of the Cheerios.

Rachel blinked, attempting to snap herself out of the daydream-like state. She sat alone during most classes – actually, in all classes – but it didn't bother her at all. She was used to it. And besides, it gave her more of an opportunity to admire Finn. It was as close as she'd ever get to the boy. She knew he'd never talk to her. Not in a million years.

"Okay," Mrs Evans tapped the chalkboard, which instantly drew Rachel back to reality, "who can tell me about the Meissner effect?"

Rachel's arm rose.

"Somebody besides Miss Berry?"

Rachel felt herself blush. She always answered the questions in class; but was it because nobody else knew the response or because nobody else cared?

"Mister Hudson," the teacher motioned to Finn, "care to explain?"

The boy seemed startled to have been asked at random, and he clearly hesitated to respond. "Um..."

Rachel rolled her eyes but maintained a sweet smile. "As if he knows the answer," she thought.

"Um, the Meissner effect causes a magnet to, uh, levitate above a superconductor," he said softly, "which gets rid of any magnetic change. I think?"

"Well done, Finn," Mrs Evans beamed, "it's good to know some of us are paying attention. Now, the superconductor does this by setting up its electrical currents near the surface, and..."

Rachel zoned out again. She kept her gaze at Finn, who was now slightly red in the face. "Cute and smart," she smiled, "can he get any better?"

Moments later, the class was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Mr Ryerson.

"I am so sorry to interrupt your class, Naomi," the man said unconvincingly as his eyes scanned the students. Rachel groaned. She knew he was looking for her. "I was just looking for Rachel Berry. I wanted a quick word with her."

Rachel tried to hide her face with her hand but failed miserably when nearly the entire class turned to look at her. Embarrassed, she stood up and headed for the door, leaving behind a murmur of giggling by the others. Mr Ryerson was never one to be discreet. As soon as she stepped into the hall and had shut the door behind her, Mr Ryerson grinned madly.

"Okay, so I was wondering how you'd like it if you took centre stage at the pageant."

"Sure, that sounds great," Rachel shook her head absentmindedly, "but, uh, I don't mean to be rude Mr Ryerson, but couldn't you have just asked me at glee tonight?"

"Oh no, I had to know straight away. I have a busy schedule and all." He snapped his fingers excitedly.

"Right," Rachel frowned, "yeah, that sounds fine."

"Terrific! I'll let Hank and the others know."

"I wouldn't really say 'others'," Rachel half-joked.

Mr Ryerson didn't understand.

"I'm sorry," she smiled to make up for her mumble, "I guess people are just getting to me lately."

"What do you mean, sweetie?"

Rachel took a moment to continue after being called "sweetie" by her male (and somewhat creepy) singing teacher. "Well, okay, it's no secret that glee isn't the most popular place in school anymore. I mean, there are only four of us in there, Mr Ryerson!" She paused. "And one of them is you!"

"Look, I know we aren't defying gravity here." He suddenly chuckled. "See my little pun there? Defying gravity?" He laughed, referring to the song 'Defying Gravity' from the musical Wicked. "Oh, I crack myself up sometimes."

"Okay." Rachel sighed. "Anyway, I'm being laughed at and I hate it. I mean, I'm over the fact that people don't like me around here, I really don't care about that, but..." She stopped to think. She was ready to give up on glee club altogether. Obviously it was a passion she held since forever, and she wasn't going to stop her talent from growing – her MySpace videos would help that – but deep down she knew that if she quit glee too then there was no chance of ever having proper experience for college. She sighed again.

"Fine, I'm okay. Never mind. I'll do the Christmas pageant with Hank. But it's not going to change the fact that we are the worst glee club in the state."

Mr Ryerson raised an eyebrow.

Rachel held up a hand. "Please let me say this. All you gotta do is take a look at the trophy case down the hall to see how far glee has fallen in the last few years. We're crap now! ...well, except me of-course. But despite that, glee club used to be the place where you went with dreams of being a star. Now it's just a place for outcasts."

"But Hank is far from an outcast, dear."

"But we all know why he's really still with us!" Rachel lowered her voice. "I'm sorry to rant, Mr Ryerson, I just feel like the only point of this club now is a place to keep us from getting beaten up after school. And it's not like principal Figgins cares much about us either."

Mr Ryerson remained silent for a moment. "Frankly, there's a fine, fine line here Rachel, and if you're willing to make it big then you're gonna have to stick it out whether you like it or not, I'm afraid." For the first time, Mr Ryerson sounded firm. "You know what they say, there's no business like show business."

Before another word could be said, the bell rang out, signalling end of class, and students instantly began spewing into the corridor.

"I'll see you later, Miss Berry."

Rachel groaned at her frustrated outburst and spun around to get her things from the Science classroom. As she turned, her face met with somebody's chest – hard.

"Ow, I'm so sorry," Rachel quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to --" Her words were caught in her throat as she realized who she'd bumped into. It was Finn Hudson.

"No problem, I hope you're okay," he said with a smile before walking away.

Rachel momentarily stood in shock. She had to literally stop herself from squealing with delight. As she practically ran back to the classroom she knew exactly what song she'd be singing on MySpace tonight – 'I Can Hear The Bells' from Hairspray.

To be continued...