Total Eclipse of the Heart Ch. 4
A/N: Getting back on track *insert smiley face here*
I love to see what you guys think! I was thinking on doing this thing for the next chapter, where people comment saying what their favorite ship out of the three is, and whichever ship has the most love, there'd be an extra amount of it in the next chapter. Anyone interested? Also, more love for my city-worn converse :P I'm guessing everyone has a pair in this story. I love them !
Since it was so early, they decided to get dressed and head out before classes started. They'd head to Lima; visit the Lima mall and to McKinley. Since Rachel knew the place more she was driving.
Rachel was wearing Nick's LAX hoodie and black skinny jeans with city-worn converse. Her hair was straightened and she had light makeup on.
Nick was wearing one of his many, many Dalton t-shirts with dark blue jeans and some city-worn converse. His hair was in the neat-messy way that it always was out of uniform.
Rachel hooked up her phone and was currently playing one of her favorite music playlists, one of which had limited musicals. She blushed lightly when a recording of the glee club went on and motioned for Nick to change it.
"Loser Like Me? Why would you call yourself a loser?" Nick asked, turning up the volume.
Rachel smiled and rolled her eyes from the memory. "It's called Loser Like Me because at McKinley, the Glee Club are at the bottom of the metaphorical food chain. We're the losers, the Cheerios and Jocks at the top. They call us losers because that's what we are, but we're proud of it. The song states that they're just jealous because we're gonna make it out of Lima and they're not." She shrugged and giggled at his confusion.
"Why would a cereal be at the top of the food chain?" Nick asked, clueless.
Rachel laughed. "That's what the cheerleaders are called. You'll see them, trust me." Nick smiled and looked out the window, enjoying the song choices.
They walked into the Lima Bean and got in line, Rachel smiled brightly when she remembered how home-y it felt in here. She'd always come here with Kurt.
"So, this is one of your favorite places?" Nick asked after he ordered his coffee.
"Yeah, my friend Kurt and I used to go here all the time, whether it be to just talk or whatever." Nick smiled at her and hesitantly took her hand, leading them to a table in the back.
"What brought on this sudden skip day? I mean, it's only your second day of classes." Nick asked. Rachel shrugged.
"At McKinley I was known as the goody-two-shoes who never did anything risqué. I wanted to start anew, start over. Dalton was perfect for that." Nick smiled at her answer.
"Are we going to McKinley today?"
"Of course."
They decided to head to McKinley during last period, but they'd stay there for Glee. Rachel missed them dearly, it'd be nice to see them all again.
Walking into the halls of McKinley, Rachel smiled. People were giving her second glances, along with strange ones because Nick and she were linked at the elbows and they were both sporting Dalton: McKinleys enemy.
Rachel stiffened when she saw David Karofsky heading her way, a grape slushy in his hands. Her eyes went wide and her breath hitched, which Nick noticed.
"S-slushy…" She whispered.
Nick heard her and stood in front of her when Dave came closer.
"Hey Dalton, move outta the way so I can welcome this Loser back to where she belongs." Dave sneered.
Rachel clung onto the back of Nick's shirt, scared of what would go down.
"Look man, you need to back off. She transferred because of you and she's here visiting her old Glee Club. Just, let her be, okay?" Nick defended and Rachel hugged him from behind. Dave stormed off and Rachel walked to the front of Nick to give him a proper hug.
"Thank you. You didn't need to do that though." She said, looking up at him.
"But I did." He said smiling. Rachel leaned up and kissed his cheek gently. She jumped when the bell rang, signaling the end of classes and the start of Glee.
Rachel smiled brightly and pulled Nick along, stopping at the entrance of the choir room. She listened intensely, smiling when she heard Mr. Schuester's usual speech and Santana's unusual comment. Believe it or not, she missed the girl that called her Berry or Hobbit.
Nick got an idea and slipped Rachels phone out of her pocket. Rachel turned around, shocked, and glared at him. Nick put a finger to his mouth and motioned that he was going to play her entry music. Rachel smiled and nodded, knowing he was going to play Loser Like Me. That had turned into his favorite song.
Yeah you may think that I'm a zero
But hey, everyone you wanna be,
Probably started off like me
You may say that I'm a freak show (I don't care)
But hey, give it just a little time
I bet you're gonna change your mind
Rachel walked in at that moment, singing the bridge, smiling brightly. Everyone in the room gasped and smiled brightly, they hadn't expected to see her. Everyone joined in singing, including Nick.
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
Finn smiled and took his verse, getting up and starting the round of hugs Rachel was going to get. Mercedes took over the bridge since Rachel was too busy laughing.
All of the dirt you've been throwin' my way
It ain't so hard to take (that's right)
Cause I know one day you'll be screamin' my name
And I'll just look away (that's right)
Rachel attempted to sing along as she hugged Tina, who was crying tears of joy and having the same amount of trouble singing.
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
Rachel finished the song and smiled brightly when she reached Puck and Kurt. She engulfed them in a big group hug before letting them all sit down and watch in awe.
"Alright, well, as you know, I am back." Everyone smiled.
"But only for today. I do not wish to spy or steal setlists for any competition. So, Mr. Schue," She turned to the curly haired man. "I was hoping that instead of finding songs today, if they just spend time with me? Maybe a little Q and A?" She asked, earning an enthusiastic nod from Will.
"Of course Rachel, the floor is yours." He sat down with the rest of the club.
"Okay then, does anyone have questions?" Rachel asked, feeling awkward. She pulled the piano to the middle and sat down on top of it, letting Nick sit on the bench.
"How is Dalton? Bet they're lots of guys there. Why did you leave us Rachie?" Brittany asked and Rachel smiled, she really did miss the blonde.
"Dalton is nice, and there is a lot of guys." She looked at Nick and smiled. "I left because the bullies were pushing me really bad, so bad that even with you protecting me Britt that they still hurt me." Rachel explained and Brittany looked sad.
"Well, lets brighten this mood. Got any eyecandy on your arm?" Santana asked, checking out Nick obliviously.
Rachel playfully rolled her eyes with a smile and took Nick's hand. Everyone gasped and Finn looked like he was about to storm out.
"Guys, calm down. He's my roommate." Rachel laughed.
"That's not what I heard earlier missy. I overheard Karofsky saying that he saw you kissing him in the hallway. I didn't think it'd be true." Kurt stated, sounding hurt.
"It was a kiss on the cheek because he had defended me when David tried to slushy me. You could say he was me hero." Rachel looked at Nick and smiled, he smiled back and she could've sworn she saw a flash of hope in his eyes.
"Well, do we get to know your not-boyfriends name?" Mercedes asked, giving Rachel a knowing wink.
Rachel giggled and urged Nick to get up and introduce himself.
"Alright, well, I'm Nick Duval, I'm Rachel's roommate and teammate when it comes to the Warblers." Nick explained. "I also play Lacrosse."
"Warblers?" Artie asked.
"Our show choir. A capella." Rachel explained, walking up to stand beside Nick and took his hand. It was a habit she hoped would catch on.
"Care to show us?" Quinn asked, making her presence known as the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
Rachel looked over at Nick and he nodded. She whispered into his ear a song that he might be able to take on solo for the background. He nodded, and started the beat.
"Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I told myself that you were right for me
I felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember"
She and Nick started the clap-and-pat beat and played it in sync as Rachel did the simple glistening part to his beat.
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
When I found out we could not make sense
Well you said that we could still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad, it was over"
The beat picked up and Rachel smiled, all her friends were speechless and their jaws hung in amazement as they continued, Nick pulling an awesome solo accompaniment.
"But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out it like it never happened and that we were nothing
I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
Guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know"
They went into basic Warbler position as Rachel joined in with the simple sha da da da dums until the next verse came in.
"Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
Wanted me believe that it was always something that I'd done
I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
No you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were over
I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
Guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Nick harmonized with Rachel at the necessary parts.
Somebody, I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
I used to know
That I used to know
I used to know
Somebody"
They ended in Warbler position with their heads bowed, earning a standing ovation.
"Guys, that was brilliant!" Will stated, standing up and giving Nick a high five.
"If you think that was good, you should see the whole group." Nick stated, smiling brightly.
The club laughed lightly and sat down, Will saying that they could be dismissed.
Rachel waited patiently to give each of them hugs before they left, promising that she would be back that weekend. Kurt was the last, and he hugged her tightly.
"Don't worry, I'll keep your little secret." He whispered in her ear making her give him a questioning look. He looked over at Nick making sure that he wasn't looking (He was busy talking to Puck) and made a heart with his hands, giving her a knowing smile and wink. Rachel rolled her eyes with a smile and walked over to Nick and Puck.
"Watcha talking about?" She asked, hugging Puck on the side.
"Just making sure that Nick here doesn't try anything dumb with my Jewbabe or I'll kick his ass." Puck stated, kissing Rachel on the head.
"Noah!" Rachel blushed lightly and slapped his arm before giving him a hug goodbye. She and Nick had to make it back to Dalton soon if they wanted to be there for Warblers practice.
The way back was spent discussing what songs they could do at Regionals based on the performance they did today and singing along to whatever song was playing on the radio. They made it to their dorm with a half hour to spare, so they quickly changed into their uniforms and headed out, Rachel running into Sebastian on the way out the door.
A/N: the songs used were Loser Like Me from glee and the A capella version of Somebody That I Used To Know. The version is on youtube, its by Matthias Harris.
A/N2: Mainly Nichel, but Smytheberry is definitely at the beginning of next chapter along with some Blainchel interaction at Warblers practice.