Chapter Two:
Stepping down from the platform, Rachel went to grab her bottle of water taking a swing of it. Sweat was dripping from her forehead, as they had been rehearsing non-stop for three hours now. Sitting down on the wood floor, Rachel wiped the sweat from her head the shirt. It's only been three days of rehearsals and Rachel was feeling it. Her calves were hurting and all she wanted to do was put up her feet. But she kept telling herself if she kept fighting through the pain than she'll be in shape in no time and will have down all the choreography.
"Hey!" Rachel looked up to the familiar voice of her old friend Grace. Standing up on her feet, Rachel was pulled into a hug.
"I'm all sweaty" Rachel laughed, embarrassed at how out of shape she was
"Honey, if you could only see what we all look like by the end of the night" Grace reassured her
"Thank you so much for putting my name in and getting me this role"
"Don't thank me, you did this all on your own. I only showed the director your home videos and auditions from before you ran off to Ohio"
"I appreciate it a lot Grace. This has been my dream since I was a day old"
"I know that, that's why your here with us. You've been working on this day since the beginning of your life. As soon as I heard they were looking for a young woman to play this role, I pictured you up on this stage. Granted the director had someone else in mind for the role as well, I'm glad that you agreed to the set up. This usually doesn't happen on a big show like this"
"It was quite weird when I heard the offer but the more I think about it, it's an amazing opportunity. I mean I will have a year off in between. When will I get to meet my other half?"
"Well that's the thing, I had no choice in the matter like I said. I don't want you to get jealous..."
"Please" Rachel laughed it off "Why would I get jealous, I'm just excited to finally get my start on Broadway. Who is it?"
"Please don't be upset"
"Grace" Rachel laughed nervously "Who is it?"
"Claudia"
Rachel's smile faded and looked at Grace with a serious look to her face. "Excuse me?"
"Rachel please don't be mad, I had no say in the matter. I promise you that I tried to root for you to be Elphaba the entire time not just one year off one year on. Claudia wasn't even supposed to be in the running until Kelvin, the director suggested it"
Rachel held up a hand to stop Grace "Just please tell me I don't have to interact with that...that... bitch ever"
"Not that I know of" Grace shook her head "Like I said she shouldn't be around here at all"
"I can't deal with seeing that girl" Rachel scoffed at the memories of Claudia which happened to be all bad memories.
"Let's have you all back up here to start back at the beginning" Seth, the choreographer shouted at the studio. Grace gripped Rachel's wrist before letting go and taking her seat to watch them rehearse.
Getting into position for them to start next to Vanessa who smiled at her. Vanessa and her were surprisingly getting along like they've known each other. Vanessa's personality was different than Rachel's but somehow they clicked.
"Alright I want you and Vanessa to do 'Defying Gravity' I need that number down by tomorrow because we are moving onto a new one in two days."
"We got this girl!" Vanessa smiled punching Rachel on the shoulder standing on her mark, on the wooden floors.
Lynn's voice in the background came up as she said her lines.
"Citizens of Oz, there is an enemy that must be found and captured! Believe nothing she says. She's evil. Responsible for the mutilation of these poor, innocent monkeys! Her green skin is but an outward manifestation of her twisted nature! This distortion... this repulsion... this... Wicked Witch!"
Vanessa held onto Rachel's hand tightly looking up fearfully. Going into character, Rachel squeezes back as Vanessa took on her lines.
"Don't be afraid"
Rachel held her head high and grabbed onto Vanessa's arm
"I'm not... it's the wizard who should be afraid ...of me!"
"Elphie, just say you're sorry before it's too late."
You can still be with the wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted...
"I know" Rachel nodded ever so slightly before picking up into song
But I don't want it
No, I can't want it
Anymore...
Walking across to the other stage marker Rachel looked out to the table sitting marking down things to be done and the pianist playing as she sang.
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
Turning her direction back to Vanessa singing to her
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game!
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes...
And leap
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
"Use the stage girls, don't be afraid to move" Kelvin yelled through the music, and as soon as he said that Vanessa came up to me and grabbed my hands.
Can't I make you understand
You're having delusions of grandure?
Feeling confident and determined to make them proud Rachel picked up her energy and began to use the studio as her stage.
I'm through excepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'til I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I'd lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
Waiting for the cue of the guards Rachel listened until she heard one of them
"Open this door, in the name of his supreme Ozness!" Hearing the unfamiliar voice Rachel looked up and saw a somewhat familiar voice it wasn't until she heard someone say her name that Rachel shivered.
"Claudia dear!" Kelvin smiled getting up from the chair rushing over to hug the young woman. Rachel stared at her, she still had that long black hair that Claudia dyed when she turned fifteen. Dark brown eyes, with her long eyelashes. Looking down, Claudia was still skinny with long legs but her eyes immediately traveled back up.
"She's pregnant" Rachel mumbled to herself but Vanessa had apparently heard her.
"Yeah... her and her husband got married about a year and a half ago and now she's seven months pregnant, soon to be eight in about a week"
"Wow" Rachel sat there awed
"Everyone is free to go" Kelvin dismissed us "Come back prepared tomorrow, nine hours instead of today's seven."
Going over to grab her belongings Rachel avoided Claudia as she slipped into the bathroom. Changing into a pair of black skinny jeans, black boots and plain pale yellow blouse. Putting her belonging into her gym back, Rachel snuck out of the bathroom and once again avoided Claudia as she snuck out the studio.
"Hey Rachel!" Vanessa yelled trying to catch up with her as she walked down the stairs to outside
Turning around at the stairs Rachel waited and than as Vanessa caught up they began to walk out.
"Where are you off to?"
"My boyfriend and my nephew are waiting for me, they came into the city to meet me for dinner."
"Awe that's so sweet" Vanessa smiled "How long have you been with your boyfriend?"
"Almost two years" Rachel smiled thinking of the time she's spent with Finn
"That's so adorable"
"How about you, any boyfriend?"
"I'm actually married" Vanessa brought up her hand to show her wedding ring off "I'm married to Vince, he's a writer for the New York Times we met when he did a piece on my off Broadway role a couple years ago. Our three year wedding anniversary was three weeks ago"
"Congratulations" Rachel smiled
"Thank you so much" Vanessa giggled "You know I like you Rachel, it's nice to see some fresh faces around here. I have a feeling we're going to get along just great"
"Me too Nessa" Rachel laughed "Wait you don't mind if I call you that right?"
"No it's super cute and it fits me!" Vanessa hugged Rachel
"Well my loft is right up this street" The blonde pointed to her right
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Defiantly"
Continuing on her way, Rachel took in New York. This was truly her city, the one place she was from but never thought would actually call her home. Even though she lived there for most of her life, Rachel never thought she would be back here.
Picking up her pace, Rachel turned the corner to find Carter and Finn standing outside of the building.
"Hey!" Rachel waved at them as they turned around and waved back
"Hey babe" Finn said but Rachel just wrapped her arms around Finn letting her head rest on his shoulder.
"Rough day?" He asked wrapping her close to him, feeling Rachel nod on him "Well how about we go in here and have a nice dinner that neither of us have to prepare"
"Sounds like an awesome idea" Rachel mumbled into his chest, kissing her forehead Rachel leaned back and than up to properly kiss him. Than looking down at Carter "Hey buddy, how you doing today?"
"Good" Carter shrugged
Linking her hands with Finn's he took the lead into the restaurant. Going up to the hostess Finn gave him their name and the woman let them know that they were still waiting on one table and that their reservation was next. Leaning against Finn's chest, Rachel closed her eyes letting her relax.
"Hudson" The women called out
"Babe, are you sure you just don't want to go home. You look exhausted" Finn asked worried as they started walking to their table
"No" Rachel shook her head "I don't want to go home yet"
Finn nodded as they were seated at the table.
"I want to sit next to Aunt Rachel" Carter called sitting down on the chair next to her
"How are you doing buddy?" Rachel asked running a hand through Carter's growing hair
"Good, Uncle Finn signed me up for baseball today. He talked to the coach and he let me on the team!" Carter said excitedly
"That's amazing Carter! I'm going to come to all your games when I can. Your going to be the best one on the team!"
"Uncle Finn says I have a good hand"
"I've seen you in action" Rachel nodded "You certainly do"
"So how did rehearsals go today?"
Seeing Rachel tense up after the question, Rachel was trying to find a way to avoid that conversation but she didn't have to try too hard because the waiter came up to them.
Ordering their drinks, Rachel opened to the dinner menu and started to look through it.
"I looked this place up and made sure they had stuff for you to eat babe"
"Thank you" Rachel smiled "I think I'm going to get the Organic mixed greens that include goat cheese toast"
"Ugh" Carter made a nasty face
"What's wrong with that?"
"Goat cheese sounds gross Aunt Rach"
"Don't hate til you try" Rachel shook her head
"I'm getting the ribs" Finn decided putting his menu down
"This all sounds gross" Carter decided scrunching his nose, placing his menu down on top of Rachel's
"Why don't you just get the ribs like me, you'll probably like them the best out of everything on that menu"
"Alright" Carter huffed as their drinks came
Finn ordered for the three of them as dinner carried on. Carter was pleased with his meal, surprisingly liking his ribs after he realized what they were. He made a slight mess on his shirt but nothing Rachel couldn't wash out.
Paying for the meal, the three of them made their way out.
"Do you want to take the bus or the train?"
"Let's take the bus tonight" Rachel linked hands with his as they made their way to the bus station. Printing three tickets they made their way to the terminal and just by the luck the bus has arrived. Giving their tickets to the driver Carter sat with Rachel with Finn on the other side of the aisle next to them. It wasn't more than ten minutes on the bus they arrived at the stop and got off. Walking down the street to their home, Rachel digging out her key to unlock the door. Kicking off their shoes Carter ran up to his room, yelling that he was going to play some video games. Dropping her gym bag off at the door, Rachel went into the kitchen grabbing a wine glass pouring herself a small glass. Sitting on top of the counter top, Rachel flexed her feet out in front of her taking a sip.
"So..." Finn said inching his way between her legs as she wrapped them around his waist. "How was rehearsals today?"
"You know... the usual" Rachel rolled her eyes taking another sip
"That bad?"
"No..." Rachel sighed "I just, I don't know. I saw Grace today and she told me that the director wasn't even interested in me from the beginning so that shot my confidence. Than she continued on to tell me that the girl who I will be flip flopping with is Claudia. The bitch, I can't stand"
"What a small world" Finn commented
"Your telling me" Rachel huffed "And get this, she's pregnant. Pregnant as in about to freaking pop."
"How does that make your feel?" Finn looked Rachel directly in the eye looking for the truth
"I don't know?" She shrugged "I mean this was supposed to be my chance and now I'm stuck with the same situation, years later. It's just this time I've got you and she's still got Jesse and a kid on the way."
"You've got me and Carter" Finn nuzzled his nose to her neck
"I know that and I'm happy..."
"But..."
"But, I can't stand to see her happy like I am. I feel like she deserves to be hurt like I was"
"I think you should just ignore her and make the most out of this amazing opportunity. She's not going to be around while your rehearsing, I wouldn't worry about her. Just think of yourself because it's about time that you finally do. Jesse was an idiot for letting you go, but I was the smart one for picking up the pieces."
"I love you" Rachel smiled wrapping her arms around his neck bringing him closer, leaning her head on his shoulder "Thank you"
"I love you, and you know I will always be there for you after a shitty day. Don't worry about that girl Rachel, she's from the past and your what the futures all about"
She nodded playing with the ends of his hair.
"You know what else will make my shitty day feel better?" Rachel whispered in his ear running her hands from his hair down his chest, lifting her head up to rest on his forehead.
"What would that be?" A smirk forming on Finn's face
"You know" Rachel winked letting a hand rest on the waist of his pants
"I'm down with that" Finn titled his head sucking on Rachel's bottom lip until she opened her mouth, but just as fast as she did she leaned back
"Later" She promised him, taking her glass and pushing herself down off the counter taking another sip "I'll meet you up there"
The sound of her bare feet hitting the tiled floor was the only sound heard as Finn turned and leaned against the counter. Before she went out the room, she turned and winked at him before giggling at his face and going up the stairs.
"She is so getting it tonight" Finn shook his head taking a drink out of the bottle of wine sitting on the counter before placing it back in the fridge, locking up and running up the stairs.
Sorry it's taken to long. I left on last Wednesday for the AT&T meet and greet with my three friends in New Jersey and I live in Maryland so we had to leave at 4 in the morning. But it was so worth it because I met Cory and Naya. Than me and my best friend won another meet and greet for the concert we had tickets to on Thursday and we got to get pictures with Kevin, Jenna, Naya and Cory! It was an amazing experience. Than we had another concert on Friday and we were right next to where the backstage was and Cory came to our section and pokes his head up and goes "Does anyone know what time the show starts" and freaking runs backstage. My friend and I got waves from Mark, Chord, Naya, Jenna, Kevin, Riker and Dianna. It was an amazing three days. Ryan Murphy was there, Gwenyth was there for 2 nights, Jane on Thursday. They were filming which means they sang songs twice on Friday not Thursday. So that's why I haven't had a chance to update.
P.S. Cory has the MOST gorgeous eyes ever. And he sounds nothing like Finn on TV, he's super quiet when he talks and has a gorgeous smile. AHHH! Love him
Well hopefully ya'll are still reading this.
Please review, at least five before the next chapter please! Tell me what you thought about the chapter!
Thanks!