AN: Thanks for the great responses to Time To Let Me Go, this is just a little follow up sequel, to cover the day after Rupert and Rachel's encounter, and a few Pezberry friendship moments :)
On My Way
Rachel pulled her ear buds out of her ears as she stepped into the theatre, pausing the soothing sound of Ed Sheeran's voice.
Her nerves were a little frayed, hence the soothing music. The emotional rollercoaster ride she had been on over the last few months had culminated rather spectacularly over the last couple of days. The key features being her epic fight with Santana, which had caused her to move out briefly, and sleep with her director, after which she had decided to make up with her friends.
All in all, the last couple of days had at least taught her a few things, particularly to talk things through instead of throwing massive tantrums. She was sure she'd throw another diva fit before too long, but she was only human, and she was Rachel Berry.
There was one thing she had yet to finish processing, for even with the help of Santana and Kurt, she had no idea what to make of her night with Rupert.
Santana had been rather proud of her, for she was all for impulsive hook ups, go with what feels good, even if it was with their director.
Kurt had been a little more hesitant, it was his nature to be less impulsive. Both he and Rachel usually liked to play things safe with their romantic ventures, partially due to their personalities, and partially due to their experiences. Still, New York had taught them a thing or two, so Kurt had not freaked out about Rupert, and Rachel was following his lead.
Well, she had been, until she stepped into the theatre. Even if she was prepared not to make a big deal out of the previous night, she had no idea how to act around her director anymore.
As she slipped out of her tan coat, looping it over her arm, she set her lips determinedly. She was at work, this was her job, and she was professional. The night before had to remain separate from her life at the theatre, and surely that would be Rupert's approach too.
"Good afternoon," Rachel said crisply to Rupert, and the assistant choreographer, as she passed them on her way to her dressing room.
"Hi Rachel," they said in unison, with Rupert adding, "Where is Santana?"
She knew Rupert was fishing – he wanted to know if she knew the answer to his question.
"Oh, she's just on the next train, she had a wardrobe malfunction as we were about to leave the apartment," Rachel said casually. "She sent me a message to let me know she wasn't too far behind me."
"Okay, good," Rupert said, with a smile, then turned, indicating he was finished talking to her.
That suited Rachel just fine, as she needed to get to her dressing room to change from her street clothes into her rehearsal clothes.
Ten minutes later Santana stuck her head in and said, "So, did he say anything?"
Rachel jumped up from her seat in front of her mirror, grabbed Santana by the arm and pulled her inside.
"We can't talk about that now, Santana," she hissed urgently. "We're at work, it's important to be professional. I don't want anyone to overhear anything, rumours can kill a career."
"Okay, okay," Santana conceded blithely. "I'd better go and change quickly."
"You can change here, if you want," Rachel offered, continuing to extend the olive branch she had offered that morning. "I know what I said the other day to you was mean, and I was harsh. There is some truth to it though, we can't share a dressing room, it goes against theatre etiquette, and it could cause issues with other cast members. But for today, it's okay. And you can come by any time, you just can't use this room as your own."
"I get it, Rachel," Santana replied, tugging her skirt off and pulling on her leggings. "There are a lot of rules to working in the theatre that I have no idea about, but I know we can't share this room. I was just trying to piss you off the other day."
Rachel merely rolled her eyes at that.
"I'm going to head out to the stage, Rupert knows you were unavoidably delayed by a few minutes," Rachel said. "You know we're working on His Love Makes Me Beautiful from Act I?"
"Yeah, yeah," Santana said, hurrying to tug on her shirt. "Should I come out with a pillow up my shirt, or would that be too much?"
"Probably too much," Rachel answered with a grin, heading out the door.
Rachel found Rupert waiting for her in the wings.
"Are you able to stay back after rehearsal?" he asked quietly, placing a hand on her arm. "We should probably talk."
"Sure," Rachel said softly. "I've got time. Shall I head onto the stage? Santana won't be a minute."
Rupert nodded, and left, presumably to move down the front of the theatre, to supervise the rehearsal.
Santana joined Rachel before too long, and the too young women stood there, awaiting direction.
"As you both know, it's very important that we prepare Santana for the understudy of Rachel's Fanny as quickly as possible," Rupert began. "I just you've properly learnt His Love Makes Me Beautiful, Santana?"
"Of course," Santana assented.
"Good," Rupert said. "Today, you'll watch Rachel sing it, and perform the choreography. Then, you will run through it together a few times. Let's start."
For a couple of hours they worked through the number, Santana showing her natural talent with flare.
Rupert was pleased with his choice, Santana was undeniably skilled, and it was a benefit that she was familiar with Rachel's ways. Time was moving by quickly, and their opening night would be upon them before they knew it and he needed Santana to be ready at a moment's notice. She was obviously not as familiar as Rachel was with Broadway, and musical theatre, but she would pick things up quickly.
"Alright everyone, that will do for today, good work," Rupert announced, finishing the rehearsal session. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Rachel and Santana walked offstage together, discussing a step in the dance they had been doing.
"Do you actually bump forcefully into his body?" Santana asked.
"Only in the LimaHeights production of Funny Girl," Rachel teased. "No, he jumps back to make it look like we connect with a big bump, whereas the pillow just brushes up against him."
They reached Rachel's dressing room and Santana said, "I'll just grab my things and get changed in the group changing room."
"Okay," Rachel agreed. "Don't wait for me, I'll probably stay back for a little while."
"Ohh, going to talk to Rupert, are we," Santana needled teasingly.
"I'll see you at the apartment, Santana," Rachel said, shooing her away with a wry smile.
Santana was a very lively friend to have, much like a stick of dynamite. That was one of the main things increased the likelihood of epic fights between the two of them – they had quite explosive personalities, and had always been allowed to indulge in reacting as badly as they wanted to without many consequences.
Rachel sat down at her dresser, and pulled her hair out of the bun she had put it in for rehearsal.
Her hair fell into loose waves down her back and she brushed them out.
Rupert had not come to her room, or called or texted her so she decided to lock her door and change back into her street clothes.
Once finished, he still hadn't sought her out, so she gathered her things and headed out into the theatre to find him.
He was sitting at his desk at the front of the theatre, paperwork in front of him, staring intently at it.
"Hey," Rachel interrupted softly. "Did you still want to talk?"
"Oh, right, I completely lost track of time," he replied. "Give me five minutes? We really shouldn't talk here, though. Why don't we meet at that little coffee shop on the corner? You know, the one where Linda gets my coffee."
"Sure," Rachel agreed. "See you soon then."
Rachel walked down the sidewalk, making sure to concenrate on her surroundings, instead of overthinking what Rupert would say to her.
At the coffee shop she purchased a soy latte and sat down at a table for two.
She didn't have long to wait, and had only been browsing Facebook for a few minutes before Rupert showed.
He came right over and sat down next to her.
"Don't you want to get something to drink?" Rachel asked.
"You don't mind waiting more while I grab something?" he asked.
Rachel shook her head, and he returned later, grasping his own styrofoam cup.
"I'm sorry I had to leave this morning," Rupert said, as he settled into his seat. "I couldn't miss my meeting this morning."
"No, it's fine," Rachel said, brushing his concern off. "I'm an adult, we spent the night together, it doesn't mean I'm going to turn all clingy and expect things from you."
"So, do you want to pretend it never happened?" Rupert asked quietly.
"No, do you?" Rachel replied quickly, a little bit of alarm in her voice.
"No, no, I just thought that's what you were hinting," Rupert answered. "What do you want?"
"I don't know, exactly," Rachel said softly. "But I don't want to pretend nothing happened. Last night meant something to me, and not just the fact that we slept together. I really enjoyed dinner, and getting to know you."
Rupert smiled warmly back at her, and said nothing.
"What do you want?" Rachel asked, after he continued to be silent. "I mean, I know whatever happens can't be all about how we feel, we work together, we're professionals, we can't let anything affect our work. So, what do you want?"
Rupert leaned across their little table and kissed her quickly, leaving Rachel's lips tingling.
"I wanted to do that again," Rupert said with a grin. "You're right, we're professionals, we work together, but it doesn't mean we can't take this somewhere, if we want to. But you're right, it would have to be separate to our work."
"So, maybe we just see where things go, outside of our hours at the theatre?" Rachel asked tentatively.
"Is that what you want?" Rupert asked.
"Yes," Rachel said firmly.
"Then I'd like that," Rupert agreed.
"Well, then that's settled," Rachel said a little briskly. "I'd better head home, lots of things to do. Thanks for making time to talk about this."
She stood, as did Rupert, an amused expression on his face. He could never predict Rachel's reactions, just that they would be a little dramatic, or very dramatic.
"See you tomorrow, then," she said, about to turn and leave.
He grabbed her by the arm, pulled her close, and gave her a brief, but thorough kiss.
"See you tomorrow," he echoed, smiling at the dazed look on her face.
Rachel left, pondering over what exactly she had gotten into, and wondered what her friends would think. Well, it was nice that she at least could go home and talk to them about it, instead of wanting to yell at them.
The End