Pity and Promise
Rated: T (for language)
Pairing(s): Faberrittana, Finchel (implied)
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the songs used in this story.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviews, favs, and follows. c: This isn't really my best chapter, but I'm trying to improve so we'll see how it goes.
"Has anyone seen Rachel?"
The concern was shared between both Will and Finn, and he seemed to know that Mr. Schue was asking him. They had both seen her behavior the day before, and now the rest of the glee club looked like they were curious as well. They all shook their heads.
Santana did speak up though. "I saw Berry this morning. But she looked a little... different." She smirked.
"How so?" Will asked.
"Well, I saw the hobbit walking in this morning and she looked... I don't know... depressed?" Santana shrugged. "I had nothing better to do so I asked what was wrong and she said nothing. Voice kinda cracked though."
"I noticed that yesterday." Finn chimed in.
"Quiet, Finnocence, I wasn't finished." Finn put his hands up in submission and allowed Santana to continue.
"Anyway. I just figured you did something to piss her off again." Finn scowled. "She didn't say anything about you though. I saw her walking to class and then she got slushied by Karofsky. Red is not her color." Kurt and Mercedes rolled their eyes and Finn grunted.
"Then I kinda lost interest when she went to clean up in the bathroom, but when she came out she was dressed like a gothic prude.
"Like what?" Will looked confused.
Santana looked up and pointed to the door. "Like that."
Everyone looked up and couldn't help it when their jaws dropped. Instead of the reindeer sweaters they were used to seeing, they saw a white tank top following by a black jacket. She wore a black skirt to go with it, and her hair was pulled up. Another thing to notice was the darker eyeliner she wore that made her brown eyes seem brighter.
"Uh..." Finn was at a loss for words.
"You look hot, Berry." Puck laughed before his best friend punched him in the shoulder.
"Thanks." There was the same scratchiness as yesterday. Will was certain that was all that was wrong, but now the clothes?
"Oh my god." Mercedes said, while Kurt only stared without saying a word.
"Trying out a new look, Rachel?" Quinn asked sarcastically.
"Glad you like it." She shot back with an unusual fierceness. Quinn pulled back in surprise and whispered something quietly to Santana while Rachel took a seat next to Finn.
"Okay..." Will said, still finding it hard to take his eyes off of Rachel. She had come in last, too, which was not like her. Maybe he should ask her again if something was wrong. But not now. They had to continue the assignment.
"We'll be continuing the assignment today. Quinn, why don't you go first?" Will suggested.
"Actually Mr. Schue, I think Rachel should go first." The look Quinn gave Rachel could be mistaken for anger, but instead it was highly curious and suspicious.
"Okay." Rachel agreed, standing up to go to the front.
"Rachel, that might not be a good idea... I remember you telling me that you lost your voice." The look the other kids gave him made him realize that she must have not told them.
"Whatever." Rachel sat down, looking a little disappointed, but she got over it when she leaned her head on Finn's shoulder. Even her attitude seemed different.
Simply agreeing to not go up and sing made the glee club even more confused. Usually Rachel was the one begging for the spotlight, and now that she had the chance to go first, she denied it.
"Alright Quinn, you're up." Quinn looked at Rachel again, this time confused, and then walked up.
The music started and the blonde kept her eyes on Rachel before she started the song.
You've got a face for a smile you know
A shame you waste it when you're breaking me slowly
But I've got a world of chances for you
I've got a world of chances for you,
I've got a world of chances,
Chances that you're burning through
Will smiled at Quinn's song choice and the others seemed to be enjoying it too.
Oh, I'm going my own way
My faith has lost its strength again
Oh, it's been too hard to say
We've fallen off the edge again
We're at an end
We're at an end
The music played while Quinn paused to take in a breath.
Maybe you'll call me someday
Hear the operator said the number's no good
And that she had a world of chances for you,
She had a world of chances for you,
She had a world of chances,
Chances you were burning through
Chances you were burning through
Chances you were burning through
You've got a face for a smile you know
Quinn smiled when the song finally ended and everyone lightly clapped. Brittany gave her an enthusiastic and Will congratulated her performance. Mike and Tina proceeded with their song together, and Mercedes and Kurt went soon after.
When the bell finally rang, everyone looked around confused at the fact that Rachel had all but disappeared. They had seen her walk out, but everything seemed to be normal. It wasn't a normal Rachel Berry storm-out, but it was unusual that she didn't say anything.
Even after she left the room, the whereabouts of Rachel Berry were still unknown. Spotting Finn, she knew there was something he knew that the rest of the gle club didn't. She was going to get to the bottom of this, and maybe have some fun in the process.