September, 17 2015
"Are you okay? I didn't see you."
Quinn said upon running against someone. She didn't see who it was as she was picking up from the ground a bunch of sheets.
No one answered to her question, which gave her time while picking the sheets to read 'Script' and something else, like a familiar name 'Rachel Berry', she immediately stood up.
"Rachel?"
Once again no one home.
"Rachel, it's me, Fabray. Quinn Fabray, I was supposed to be your Psychiatrist, we met the other day, remember? Is everything ok?"
Finally Rachel looked present, finally it seemed someone was there after all, she looked nostalgic in front of this building on 243 W-47th st.
"Here. I have your sheets." Doctor Fabray giving them to Rachel, who finally said a word.
"I used to be here all the time. This used to be my home. Not my second home but my main home to be honest." She looked lethargic.
That used to be her home indeed, when she portrayed Fanny. Not anymore.
Doctor Fabray grabbed her hand quietly, trying not to make any sudden movement.
"Rachel I feel we started with the wrong foot, and I still feel I can help you with whatever you are going through right now, let me try."
Rachel felt lost, she could take some guidance right now, if not concerning her decision at least concerning a restaurant... somewhere away from that place... she needed to rest her mind, her spirit, and that was exactly what Fabray proposed.
"I know a restaurant not far from here called 'Tasty Salad', I don't know about you but I could have some tasty food right now, in a relaxing environment, away from all this New York buzz, what do you say?" Fabray tried to look casual and friendly so assure that Rachel would come with her instead of running away like last time.
And so they did. It was modern but also cozy. And contrary to most New York restaurants in that particular area it wasn't crowded, noisy or full of people in a rush.
"I don't know what you usually eat but I think this is a place where you can relax and take some time to ease your mind, to think about things more peacefully or to not think at all, we can just eat and relax. Whatever you want Rachel."
"I guess I could eat something and relax, yes, definetely." Berry said.
"There it is. So, take a look at the menu, what are you eating?" Fabray asked.
"Well, I guess I'll just have... a salad." Rachel said laughing maidenlike.
"Of course, what was I thinking? I brought you here." Rachel smiled gently, suddenly her mood was lighter, and so Quinn continued. "I'm glad to see you smile for once, you'll smile more after you have a taste, their food is great."
Rachel nodded. They had all types of salads, it was more of a restaurant that had everything from beef to fish alongside salad, it was really good, good ambiance, great food, cozy, nice staff.
They talked a lot, keeping all the stressful issues aside, they talked about one another, not deep issues but things like food, life, music, they got to know a little more about each other.
Quinn told Rachel how she loved Billy Joel and also Sting and that she was after tickets to see Billy in a concert he was going to have in a few months, but how she couldn't find any.
They laughed, ate, they drank, they talked, everything was going smoothly.
And so Quinn felt like it was time to ask her again.
"I don't want to bother you Miss Berry but..."
Suddenly interrupted by Rachel. "I thought we had overcome that... it's Rachel, please."
"Of course, sorry." Laughing, Rachel liked Quinn's laugh. "I guess it's just how my brain works... when the subject is more professional I tend to be more formal with people. That must be it."
Rachel got apprehensive when she heard the ' professional subject ' part... but she remained calm and let the conversation continue.
"So, I hope you're calmer now and I also hope now that I brought you here and we talked for quite some time about more personal things and not so much about what led you in first place to meet me... I was hoping you let me understand your concerns, worries and maybe try to guide you throughout the whole process and help you come to a decision.
Or have you already decided and let them know what's your final answer?"
Rachel sighed. "I haven't. Not yet. That's why I have the script with me. I started to read it this morning, once again, but somehow I ended up in front of the theater where I used to portray Fanny..."
Quinn nodded and let Rachel do the talking for a change, she was finally opening herself again, she thought. " I see..."
"It wasn't planned... it just happened. But yes."
"Yes?" Quinn asked not sure what Rachel was referring to.
"Yes. Yes I could use some help and guidance, I like you Doctor Fabray, you don't look at me as some spoiled girl, some spoiled decadent actress, so I guess I feel comfortable to at least give it a try and talk to you about my concerns and fears, again."
Quinn remained cautious, yet hopeful. She tried her best to not ask her right away but it was stronger than her. "Rachel I've got to ask, and of course we will get deeper into the subject when we schedule an appointment at my office, but... what's... the main reason for you to have second thoughts on taking that part?"
"I guess... I can try to..." Just when Rachel was about to answer, a song started playing and it was enough to make everything change. "Oh no, this isn't happening..." Rachel said while covering her face with both hands. "...I can't take it, not now, not yet."
It was Barbra Streisand's ' I'm the greatest star ' song... from 'Funny Girl', not the show but the
movie.
"Calm down, everything will be fine." Fabray said looking at Rachel who was already standing up to leave, when Quinn hold her arm tenderly. "Please don't go, wait a minute."
She went to the counter and talked to a man, in his mid thirties. And so she returned to the table, the song was over.
"What did you tell him?" Rachel questioned surprised.
"Nothing really."
"You must have said something, the music stopped immediately after you talked to him."
"I..."
"Now who's having difficulties in expressing herself?" Rachel teased.
Quinn laughed through her nose. "I... just said that my friend wasn't comfortable with that song, for personal motives, and if he wouldn't mind changing it to a completely different theme. Which he did."
"He... did, indeed." Fabray said 'friend'... were they friends now? It seemed comforting and satisfactory to have someone she could call friend at that point of her life, even more if it was her Psychiatrist, her therapist.
It only took seconds for that peace to disappear. "Miss Berry? The greatest talent of this generation?" A man in a brown checkered suit, in his forties, perceptibly happy and enthusiastic asked. "Sorry to bother you Miss Berry but I couldn't leave without meeting you."
Quinn encouraged her to take the compliments with a nod towards her. To which she agreed.
"Thanks for your kind words, Mr?" Rachel already speaking with him.
"Oh, sorry. Richardson, at your service. I had the priviledge to see you as Fanny many times, and let me tell you something that you must be tired of hearing from people but it may not be enough, you Miss are a delight to see and to hear. It's an absolutely pleasure to have you around, such an enormous talent."
Rachel blushed but at the same time was clearly sad, although tryingto hide it. They took a photo, the man, Mr. Richardson had a polaroid, so Rachel also signed it. As he was saying goodbye he whispered in her ear. "I'm sure there's still a lot to come, a lot to see from you Miss Berry, and I tend to be right most of the times, so don't let me down. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again in the future." He winked to both of them and left.
"Sorry. I'm very sorry. I have to leave this place. Now." Rachel said looking very upset and emotional.
"Wait Rachel, what did that man say to let you so upset and anguished?" Quinn asked, genuinely worried.
"I just... can't. I can't. I'm sorry to leave you this way. For the second time."
"But.."
"I'm sorry." And so she left the restaurant in a hurry, leaving Quinn Fabray for the second time in the space of only a few days.
It was starting to become a pattern she thought, although she wasn't mad at her, she was worried with Rachel.
She did care for this girl, what Rachel could not see in herself anymore,Quinn could, she saw the best of Rachel and was willing to show her that exact side of her. She wasn't planning on leaving her side, she was planning to fight for that girl , so that she would overcome that stage of her life, it was going to be tough and toilful but she wasn't planning to quit.
Not so fast.
