Chapter 3
The days ran by so fast it was Sectionals already, and a lot of things had happened in Glee. Kurt left McKinley and transferred to Dalton. Schuester already talked to Rachel to see if she wanted to have the duet with Finn, but to Schuester's surprise she refused. Since her fathers death Rachel never sang any solos or argued about either the music or the choreography. She was just there, doing everything that the director asked, but she never said anything even though the music arrangements were atrocious.
"Okay guys, Quinn and Sam will be singing our Ballad and the solo will be for Santana" Schuester said.
"What? Mr. Schue, why do we need to give the solo to Santana? Why can't I sing it?" Mercedes whined.
"Shut up! Mr. Schue gave it to me, so you can't do anything about it" Santana said while smirking.
"Mercedes, you have to understand that we need to give everyone a chance to sing onstage."
"Mr. Schue, I've been waiting for a long time to have my thunder, since the start of this club Rachel was always taking all the solos, and now she's not singing anything you give it to the mediocre singer? Santana I can accept since that slut can sing but Quinn and Sam? They don't even have chemistry on stage!" Mercedes said again.
"You called me mediocre?" Quinn said. She couldn't believe that she heard those words from Mercedes.
"I just did" Mercedes retorted back.
Rachel was just listening all throughout but never even bothered to look as she was busy reading the auditor's report of their company that her Aunt sent her. She still couldn't understand it but she'd been studying the figures for two days, but it seemed she's not even close to nailing it. She needed to find an online crash course on accounting.
"Well missy, suck it. We will be singing at Sectionals, you don't have a say on any of it" Quinn glared at Mercedes while she placed her two hands on her hips.
That was the scenario that Rachel saw, typical Quinn. She shook her head and massaged her forehead, then she decided to close the report and focus on what's the commotion.
"Why does Sam get to sing anyway?" Finn asked eventually. He felt bad since he would not be singing anything during Sectionals.
Schuester looked at Finn, and couldn't believe that most of them were just thinking about themselves, they didn't even know how to share.
"Look Finnessa, it was decided already, why do you guys need to question our director's decision? He's decided so move on. We can't practice anything if you guys keep whining" to their surprise it was Puck that said those words.
"Thank you Puck" Schuester said.
"So moving on, rehearsal everyday in the auditorium at 3:30, don't be late since we only have 4 weeks to practice."
"Rachel, I think as a Team Captain you have to set a good example" Schuester annoyingly said since his team captain didn't even say anything anymore.
Rachel eyed Schuester and said "what do you want me to say?" Rachel heard a growl from her team mates and when she looked around all eyes were on her.
"What now? I'm the bad guy? If I don't say anything all you do is give me a death glare, if I talk too much you'll insult me and throw back every idea that I have. Nah, Mr. Schue do whatever you want, the only reason that I'm still here is because you need a twelfth member, that's why I'm staying."
"There you go again, as if the whole team needs you? Didn't you just hear that Quinn and Sam then I will be singing at Sectionals? Your name is not on the list RuPaul so don't hope for anything, even when you leave we can find a replacement person that will be swaying in the background" Santana said smugly.
Rachel looked at Santana and smiled.
"I understand. Mr. Schuester, you heard her you can find my replacement immediately. And you found your new lead singer now, why don't you just give the Team Captain title to Ken and Barbie over there. And good luck with Sectionals" with that Rachel left the choir room with a bewildered look on her former team mates and director.
"What just happened?" Tina asked.
"I think she quit."
"Oh she'll be back" Sam said.
"I'm not sure about that, guys" Schuester said.
"What do you mean?" Finn asked.
"Mr. Schue if I may?" Mike asked.
"Go ahead Mike."
"As you noticed, since the start of this school year Rachel has changed. She doesn't wear her usual school dress anymore. She doesn't talk much and doesn't argue about everything whenever we have Glee; she seems to be a different person. She never criticizes our song choices or the choreography even though sometimes our performance is mediocre. She doesn't care anymore, considering that the Rachel we used to know was a perfectionist. She pushed us to our limits, but now she just doesn't care" Mike explained, it'd been a long time since he saw the changes in Rachel.
Every one was silent upon hearing what Mike just said, they knew all about it, but chose to ignore the changes.
"Because she's sad" Brittany said.
Everyone looked at Brittany.
"What do you mean sad B?" Quinn asked.
"When you look into her eyes you will see they are full of sadness. Sometimes I am ashamed to even call you my friends" Brittany left the choir room and looked for Rachel.
"Rach" Brittany called out.
Rachel was about to get in her car when she heard someone call her name.
"Hey."
"What are you doing out here?" Rachel asked.
"I followed you."
"That I figured. Do you need a ride?"
"That would be great."
"Rachel?"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you sad?" Rachel just looked at Brittany and smiled.
"You have to tell me where your house is" Rachel said eventually.
"Okay" Brittany said sadly.
Rachel looked at Brittany's expression and she just couldn't help see the pout on her friend's face.
"You want to eat dinner with us?" with that Brittany's face lit up.
"I'd love that."
Rachel smiled.
Three weeks after the dinner with Berry, Brittany S. Pierce grew closer to Rachel since finding out what happened to her family. Brittany asked Rachel to tell the whole club but Rachel refused to inform the rest of them since she was no longer a member of the club. The tall blonde respected her friend's decision but remained mum about the brunette's secret. Everyone thought Brittany was not that sharp but clearly little do they know and hardly anyone ever noticed aside from Quinn and Santana of course that Brittany was in almost all the same classes with Rachel since the diva is included in all the advance classes. Aside from being street wise Brittany was good in reading people's emotions, she didn't condone the violence and the bullying around the school but she understood it. Since her freshman year she tried her best to beg Quinn and Santana to stop but they never listened to her, until she got tired of reprimanding them.
Rachel got used to the presence of the tall blonde, most of the time after school when the Dutch girl didn't have any Cheerios or glee practice and they always hung out at Rachel's place since the diva's home had all the entertainment gadgets that were ever produced.
They studied together, watched movies, read stuff that was beyond their years and planed together for the future.
Nana Martha and Pap Simeon couldn't be happier seeing their little Berry laugh again, they knew that the young brunette was on the way to moving on. There are still some instances that the old couple can see. Rachel still had her depressed moods, especially every time she looked at their family painting hanging in the living room. Since the death of her parents and grandparents Rachel never shed any tears, she hadn't broken down yet and it was not healthy the old couple knew. They even discussed these things with Rachel's Aunt but Rachel remained mum about what she felt, she put a humungous wall up whenever someone tried to get her to open up. Even Brittany tried but to her frustration she failed.
Currently Brittany and Rachel were sitting on the diva's very comfortable couch watching some documentary about dancing.
"Do you think I could be like that Rach?" Brit asked without looking at Rachel.
"Of course Brit, you're one of the most amazing dancers that I've ever met" Rachel said smiling at her friend.
Brittany looked at Rachel and smiled.
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
"They were asking about you."
Rachel looked at Brit and stopped putting popcorn in her mouth when she heard the question.
"Who?"
"The Gleeks. I think they miss you; they just don't want to say it. It's totally different when you're not there."
Rachel took a deep sigh then put away the bowl of popcorn and turned off the TV. She knew that this conversation would take a long time.
"They made a choice and I made a choice, you know that right? And besides you guys don't really need me anymore since you have enough members already" Brittany noticed Rachel's sad voice.
"But they are not that good" Brittany pouted.
"Honey, you know that whatever you say can't really affect my decision anymore right?"
"I know, that's why I'm sad."
"I'm sorry Brit."
"It's okay, I understand" Brittany said while patting her head. Suddenly Rachel remembered her dads doing the same thing. Before she could even say anything she heard Brittany speak again.
"You missed your dads right? You know Rachel it will help if you cry, every time I felt sad I cry and it's really helped a lot."
"I know Brit, it's just that since they died I almost forgot how to cry, there are no tears falling down my eyes." Rachel said sadly.
Brittany crossed their personal space and hugged her friend.
"It will probably help if you can sing again."
Rachel smiled even though she was sad and kissed Brit's cheek.
"I don't know Brit; I just can't bring myself to sing" Rachel replied without looking at her friend.
"Rach?"
"Yeah" Rachel slowly glanced in Brit's direction, waiting for the tall blonde to talk.
"You never told me the reason, why did you stop singing? It's totally fine if you don't want to talk about it" Brittany gave her a reassuring smile.
"It's okay; when the accident happened we just finished watching a Broadway musical. Since my fathers knew how much I love RENT they decided to go to it along with my grandparents. After the show we drove around then I realized there was a scheduled fireworks display in Central Park. I begged them to drop me there since my cousins were already there, my dads didn't like to see me pouting so I did the famous Berry pout. On the way to Central Park the accident happened, my grandparents and I was in the passenger seats; the car smashed hard into another car and we were hit by another car from behind. My grandparents covered me with their bodies so I would not be harmed. My dads were DOA, my nana she spent a week in the hospital but wasn't able to make it and my grandpa died the day after the accident" Rachel took a deep breath with a very heavy heart; it was the first time that she told the story to anyone outside her family.
When she looked at Brittany, the tall blonde was teary eyed and look utterly sad.
"That's why I stopped singing and watching musicals. At first I blamed myself for what happened since if it was not for me and for my selfishness to watch RENT and see the fireworks display it was a good possibility to avoid the accident; but no I have to be a spoiled rich brat and do otherwise instead" Rachel huffed upon saying those things.
"But you know it's not your fault right?" Brittany asked her friend.
"I know, I understand now" Rachel gave a timid smile to her friend.
"Enough of this emotional stuff. So, you guys ready for Sectionals?"
"I think we are, but I still don't like the duet between Ken and Barbie. It's way better if it was you and Finnessa" Brittany giggled.
"Well my dear friend, everyone needs their chance to shine" Rachel said in return.
Unbeknown to Brittany, Rachel knew that she was being harassed by Quinn and Santana to speak anything regarding Rachel but the tall blonde was pretty much hard to break. She was very grateful to have Brittany as a friend.
