Chapter Four: The Perfect Storm Out
The next morning, Rachel was up and dressed, ready to start the day by the time her mother had breakfast nearly finished cooking. Shelby had told her the night before she had better not come downstairs in a skirt or she was going to take them and hide them from her. So, grudgingly, Rachel had put on a pair of dark washed skinny jeans and a red, long sleeved top with a white tank top underneath it, a red headband in her hair to match. She had even foregone a sweater because she felt they looked stupid under the jacket her mother was letting her borrow until Shelby bought her a new one. She hoped her mother would let her pick it out, though at least she knew that her mother had better taste than both of her fathers.
Walking awkwardly into the kitchen where Shelby was setting part of breakfast on the table, apparently she was going to cook breakfast every morning, and then she walked back over to the stove. Rachel stopped in the doorway, her hand trailing to the necklace that sat delicately on her neck.
Rachel walked over and looked at the stove and slowly, cautiously, slipped an arm around her mother and leaned her head on her shoulder.
"Thank you for the necklace. I really like it."
Shelby put her spatula down and turned towards Rachel, sliding both of her arms around her daughter for the first time. Shelby breathed in Rachel's scent, much the same way Rachel was breathing in hers. They stayed like that for several moments, both relishing in the fact they were sharing their very first hug, one that was well overdo.
And it was perfect. More than perfect.
"You are welcome, Rachel. You deserve it and more. I am going to do my best to be a good mother to you," Shelby whispered.
In that moment, they both felt they could stay in their hug forever. But they both knew it was impossible. Waiting until Rachel let her go, Shelby held on.
Rachel stepped away from her mother with a light blush on her cheeks, but a smile on her face.
"Go sit at the table. We have to go soon, so we need to eat. We have to be at the lawyers first, and then we have to go to your school. Since they are in opposite directions, it will take us nearly an hour and a half to get back to Lima."
Shelby placed a plate in front of Rachel. It had vegan pancakes with syrup on them and there was already a glass of juice already at Rachel's spot.
"Since we are going to be at my school this afternoon and since you won't let me actually go to school, can I at least go to Glee? Please? We just won Sectionals on Saturday. I want to go."
Shelby watched her and tried to decide whether it was worth the fight or not. She wouldn't have practice with the VA kids until after the New Year. So, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to allow Rachel to go to her practice today. Shelby could stay around until it was over. Perhaps even watch a little of it.
"Sure. We can stay until after your practice."
The smile Rachel gave her was totally worth it.

-Left-Left-Left-Left-Left-

The visit to the lawyer had gone well. Her attorney, Todd Brenton, had made copies of everything the Berry men had left her, as well as the papers Shelby had kept about the birth. She told him the things Leroy had told her before she had Rachel as well and he was going to file everything in the courthouse that afternoon. Once a judge signed off on everything, there would be no way that either of the Berry's would ever be able to get Rachel back even if they wanted too.
In fact, there was enough in the letter Hiram Berry wrote to have both of them charged with child neglect if they ever came back into the picture. Shelby wasn't so sure they shouldn't be anyways, but she did not want to drag Rachel through any trials. It wasn't fair to the girl who just had her whole, entire life uprooted and displaced.
Apparently, though, the Berry men had not been lying about leaving. When Mr. Brenton had called the firm in Lima where Leroy worked, he was told the man had left town with no forwarding address. He hadn't even given them two weeks notice. He had just left. That was good. Shelby really wanted to talk to them, but she definitely did not need to end up in jail when she had a child to care for. But oh how she wanted to talk to those men.
That was also the moment Shelby realized the men really were serious about not ever having anything more to do with Rachel.
What horrible, horrible men they turned out to be.
Afterwards, Shelby and Rachel stopped by the house and ate a quick lunch before heading to Lima, which was forty-five minutes away. Rachel hadn't really said anything since the lawyer. Shelby had made her sit out in the waiting room for most of it, just having her come in and talk to Mr. Brenton for a few minutes to tell him what her fathers had done when they left her at Shelby's. She hadn't wanted to talk about it, but in the end she had when Shelby had walked out to use the bathroom. Some things, Rachel was not ready for her mother to know.
"I need you to think about anything you need that your fathers didn't bring or that you need and they forgot." Shelby told her daughter while they ate lunch. Shelby had been trying to figure out if there was anything the teenager needed, but so far she hadn't come up with anything besides the pants, which they had already purchased, and a coat, which they were going to get later in the week when neither of them had to worry about school.
Rachel looked at her mother for a few moments. There were a few things she would like to tell the woman had not been sent, but at the same time she wasn't really sure if it was the wisest thing to do since their relationship was so new. And, what if her mother freaked out? So, instead, she simply shook her head no. She had only been with her mother for barely two days and she did not want to ruin any relationship they might be able to form like she had with her fathers apparently from the very start.
Not that she felt wholly to blame for her fathers. They were the ones who wanted a kid and then didn't want her after it was too late to back out of the decision.
Only, they had backed out. It had taken them fifteen years to do so, but they had in the end. Why couldn't they have found her mother ten years before? What type of relationship would Rachel have with her mother now if they had just given her back to Shelby? Or would she have chased off her too? Would she still chase the woman off? She had already mouthed off to her once. She had already been impertinent. Would Rachel be able to make it work this time? Were children supposed to have second chances with their parents?
Rachel honestly didn't know. She wasn't sure. She was positive they didn't have third chances though.
She looked across the table at her mother, but her eyes were unfocused. Shelby could tell the girl was a million miles away, her thoughts somewhere else. On another time, another place, another event.
"I want to go to New York when I graduate. I want to be on Broadway. It is my dream," Rachel whispered. Then she stood up and left the room, leaving Shelby there.
Shelby sat in silence for a few moments. Her daughter had just shared her dream with her. The one thing she planned on doing with her life.
It made Shelby happy, but the look in Rachel's eyes still haunted her just a little.

-Left-Left-Left-Left-Left-

Shelby talked with Principal Figgins while Rachel sat outside his office and waited. She hadn't really wanted to be in the meeting, but when her mother had told her that she wasn't allowed to be in this one, it had made her angry. She hadn't really cared at the lawyers, but here it was different. What were they saying about her?
Inside the office, though, Shelby was merely relaying a condensed version of the events that had taken place for the principal. In other words, she merely told him Rachel was now in her custody, her fathers, and if they were to show up, were not to have anything to do with Rachel and most certainly were not allowed to take her off of school grounds. In fact, the only people allowed to take her daughter off of school grounds, or to pick her up in case of illness or another necessary means, was Shelby and her sister, Kate. She also discovered her child was not in the ninth grade, like she had suspected, but in the tenth, a year ahead of what she was supposed to be because she had skipped kindergarten. The school system had tried to get her to skip at least one more grade, but her fathers had never shown up for the meetings. Shelby did not want her to skip another grade at the moment though. Not until she figured out where Rachel was mentally and emotionally.
"I am very serious about this Principal Figgins. No one is to take my child anywhere unless it is myself or my sister, Kate. She teaches fourth grade at the elementary and will be picking up Rachel every day after her Glee practice because I have my own practices to conduct and my sister is already here. If Rachel is ill, or heaven forbid, in trouble, you are to contact me and and if for some reason you are not able to contact me, you will call my sister. If someone needs to come and get her, I will decide whether it needs to be me or Kate. I will, of course, be available for any necessary meetings, but I will need advanced notice unless it is an emergency. Carmel is over an hour and a half away from here, so it is not a simple trip for me to make during the day. I can plan better if I have advanced knowledge. I would appreciate it if all of her teachers are made aware of the situation, but that they not make a big deal out of it. This is a huge transition for Rachel to make. Any notes home need to be addressed to me, and I wrote down my email address and our current home address if anyone needs it."
Principal Figgins had only nodded dumbly. Shelby could see right away that this man had no control over this school. She knew she was going to have to make sure she knew what her child was up to at all times because this man was a complete moron.
Before long, the meeting was over and Shelby walked out of the office. She could tell Rachel was not exactly happy about not being included in the meeting, but there were things she did not need to hear. She knew enough about the situation she was in, and Shelby did not want her to have to listen to it over and over. It would only hurt her, and Shelby did not want that.
"Show me the choir room. Glee will start soon," Shelby said. Rachel smiled, glad her mother had remembered her promise to allow her to attend Glee practice, and lead the way to the choir room.
"Here it is," Rachel said, opening the door to the empty room.
"Hey, I am going to go to the restroom while you wait. I will be back in a bit," Rachel said, leaving before Shelby was able to even utter a syllable. Rachel had places to go and people to see.
Shelby sighed. She kept getting this nagging feeling she was going to have to keep a close eye on her daughter, a child who was used to constantly getting her way if her fathers' letter was anything to go by. But, that was their fault. Shelby was not going to let a temper tantrum dictate the way she handled a child. Her students knew that she was no nonsense, and her daughter would learn that as well.
"Hello, may I help you?" a voice came from an open doorway off to the side of the room. Shelby assumed it was the man's office. She recognized him from the Sectionals competition that she had watched Saturday night. This was Rachel's coach.
Shelby walked over to him, her hand extended to shake his, and said, "I am Shelby Corcoran, I am…"
"I am Will Shuester. You coach Vocal Adrenaline, what are you doing here?"
Shelby raised her eyebrows at the man. Was that really a way to greet someone?
"Actually, I am not here in my capacity as coach, but for a completely different reason. Do you think I could speak with you in your office," Shelby said, her dominant personality trying to sneak its way out.
"Um, yea, sure," Will said. Shelby could tell that the man was nervous. He didn't understand why she was here or what she wanted. He was unprepared. Shelby made it a point to at least appear that she was always prepared.
Shelby merely smiled. She walked into the office and took the seat that Will offered her as he closed the door, and then he sat behind his desk.
"What may I do for you, Ms. Corcoran," Will asked. He was nervous. He had heard stories about this woman through the rumor mills and she was legend. She was also very intimidating.
"Rachel Berry…"
Will shot up out of his seat.
"You need to stay away from my star singer!"
"Mr. Shuester, if you would please sit down. I am here to talk about her, not take her from your group. Rachel is my daughter and is now in my custody for reasons which are not important to this conversation and none of your concern. As she will be going places with you because of glee, I want to make a few things very clear where she is concerned." Shelby stated, giving the man an unrelenting glare.
Will swallowed.
"Your … daughter?"
"Yes. As such, her fathers, neither of them, are to have any contact with her. Since she will sometimes be away from school in your care, it is important you realize no one besides me or my sister are allowed to take her from a school event. No one else will have permission unless I personally tell you otherwise. I want to know my daughter is safe."
Will nodded dumbly. His mind was racing about what he had just learned.
"I am sorry I assumed the worst about you, but excuse me for it taking me a bit to process this information."
"I understand. I have had to process a lot of information since Saturday, so I completely understand. I would like to stick around for your glee practice, if you don't mind. It is a forty-five minute drive back to my home, and it would be pointless to drive there and have to come back. Rachel wishes to stay and since I did not allow her to attend classes today, I told her she could. I promise I will not take notes," Shelby said jokingly in the end.
Will merely nodded again.
"Sure. I don't mind. We will probably sing a little bit, and talk about a school event Figgins asked us to sing at when school starts back. You can sit in here and listen. The kids will not even know that you are in here because they can't see through the glass, but you can see out."
Shelby smiled at him, "Perfect."

-Left-Left-Left-Left-Left-

Rachel's thoughts were nowhere but on her boyfriend when she walked back into the choir room. She had her arm wrapped his middle and he had an arm draped across her shoulders. He moved, and she moved and vice versa. They had just spent the last half hour making out heavily in the scaffolding in the back of the auditorium that usually sat vacant.
Noah Puckerman and Rachel had been dating since ninth grade. She had been only a few months shy of fourteen and he had been a few months shy of fifteen. Now they were fifteen and sixteen respectively, and they needed each other.
Both had gone through life so far with at least one parent who didn't want anything to do with them. They had been friends for longer than they had dated, but had decided to try dating after Puck had come to sleepover at her house in the middle of the night for the seventh time because she couldn't sleep. She hated being alone, and she was alone a lot at her fathers' house.
And, so far, it was working out. They had known one another so long that most of the time they didn't even need words. Puck sat down in a seat and pulled Rachel close to him. She sat down on his lap. Rachel wrapped her right arm around his neck and kissed him. She only stopped when Mr. Shuester cleared his voice when he walked in the classroom.
Obviously, Rachel was not aware that her mother was in his office, Mr. Shuester thought to himself. Or, maybe Rachel didn't care. He had told the woman he would not tell the other kids she was in there, mainly because Shelby wanted Rachel to be able to tell people on her own terms. Or, rather, the people she could tell. There were some people Shelby had to personally talk to about the situation whether Rachel liked it or not, which was why she had talked to Will Shuester and Principal Figgins.
Will clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. He really hadn't planned on doing much today; the kids were still on their Sectionals win high, add that to the fact there were only two days away from Christmas break, the kids were a bit rowdy.
"Okay, guys. I want to tell you all again, Congratulations on your win Saturday…"
Everyone clapped and shouted.
"Today, I want it to be a bit of a slow day. We have to figure out something to do for the assembly Principal Figgins is holding the second week we are back in school. So, Rachel, you usually have plenty of suggestions, do you have any ideas? Would you like to show us any of your ideas," Will asked her for two reasons.
One was he really would like to give Shelby a chance to see Rachel sing in her element and the other was because he really was at a loss right now, and Rachel always had ideas. Usually, she had a lot of ideas.
"Of course, Mr. Shue! I would love too. As you know, I always…"
"Blah, blah, blah, we know, Berry. You are always prepared. You are always fabulous. And you always get the solos," Mercedes said dramatically from her side of the room.
Rachel stood up from Puck's lap and put her hands on her hips. She was not going to let them talk to her like that today. She was not in the mood for it.
"I cannot help it if I am always prepared or if my voice outshines yours tremendously!"
"Oh no you didn't," Mercedes said, glaring at the girl.
"You can sing really well, Mercedes, but background is really your thing. I mean, not everyone can shine all the time and you really don't have the consistent pitch needed to sing solos."
"And, Little Miss I-think-I-am-Perfect, not everyone should always shine."
"As long as I have anything to say about it, I will always shine. I work hard at what I do, which is something I can't say about you, Mercedes." Rachel spouted off, her face contorting angrily.
"Chill out, Berry," Santana said. She could see this situation escalating, and she didn't feel like jumping into any fights today. And, really, whose side was she going to be on? She didn't particularly care for either girl. One was too bossy and negative and the other was too dramatic … though she had to admit, she did like Berry a tiny bit more than Jones.
"Yea, blame everything on me. You all always do. That is fine! I don't need to take this," Rachel yelled, turning and storming out of the room, slamming the door as hard as she could, in perfect fashion. It had been a good storm out even by Rachel Berry standards.
Will just shook his head. He was so used to these storm outs he didn't even try to figure them out anymore.
"Okay, guys, why don't we take a break. Stay in here. I will be back in a few moments." Will said. He needed to let Shelby out of his office through the hallway door because he was sure the woman would want to find Rachel despite the fact he knew Rachel would be back in ten or fifteen minutes. He didn't want to let the other kids go because he didn't want to break any fights up between Rachel and Mercedes.
Will walked into his office and shut the door behind him. The look he got from Shelby was not one he was used too, and, to be honest, it was quite frightening.
"What was that," Shelby asked with one hand on her hip and the other pointing out the two way glass that she could see out of, but no one could see in.
"What do you mean," Will asked.
"She just stormed out of there and you did absolutely nothing about it," Shelby deadpanned.
Will shrugged, "She does that at least two or three times a week. She will be back and sitting on Puck's lap in ten or fifteen minutes."
Shelby dropped her chin and raised her eyebrows. This was a normal occurrence? It happened two or three time a week?
"That is unacceptable. I understand that you are new to coaching show choir and teaching, but you cannot let her run off like that when she has a tantrum. She may be your lead soloist, she may be the best voice you have, but you also do not let her throw that in the faces of others who sing quite well themselves."
"I don't know what to tell you, Ms. Corcoran. I mean, I am used to it. I am not the only teacher here that is. Rachel likes to get her way. I know that that is probably not what you want to hear because she is your daughter, but it is easier to let her walk her temper off. She always eventually comes back."
"Well, as my daughter, she will not be back to Glee until after Christmas break for this little stunt. I will break her of this habit, and I ask that if she continues to storm out like that, please call me and let me know. I will not put up with the dramatics. She has a stable home now where the tantrums will not be tolerated. I will allow her to return after the break, after I have had time to discuss the topic with her at length."
Will nodded, thinking.
"I am sure we will be seeing one another in the future. I must go find Rachel so that we can go home and talk about this now."
Shelby picked up her purse and started towards the opposite door than the one that Mr. Shuester had come in earlier.
"Ms. Corcoran?" Will stopped her as she started to walk out of the door.
"Yes?"
"I am not going to lie and pretend I know why Rachel is the way she is, but I have suspected. She doesn't like to give up control, but sometimes…"
Shelby watched him. She was not sure she trusted him. There was something about him she was not sure she liked.
"Mr. Shuester, do not worry. I may not have expected this, but I am in this for the long run. She is my daughter, and you would do well to remember that fact."
With that, Shelby walked out of the office and, heels clicking, walked down the hallway. Just in time to see Rachel heading back that towards the choir room.
"Oh good, there you are. Let's go," Shelby said in a false cheery voice, causing Rachel to stop.
"I am going back to glee…"
"After that little storm out? Oh no, dear child, you are going home. You may return to glee after Christmas break. Let's go," Shelby said, gently latching onto Rachel's arm and guiding her out to the car. Rachel was shocked. She was so shocked she was not able to utter a single syllable.
She had just been told she couldn't go to glee. She didn't even know what to do. The ride home was eerily silent while both mother and daughter were lost in their own thoughts. Shelby was thinking about the way her daughter had acted in front of her school mates and teacher …and finding out it was normal behavior for her daughter … and Rachel was thinking about what she had done wrong.
She couldn't figure it out, but one glance at her mother told her that the woman was not all that happy.
Forty-five minutes later they pulled up at the house and then slowly made their ways into the house after Shelby unlocked the door.
"Go to your room until supper. Then we will talk," Shelby told the fifteen year old as they walked through the door.
"Why," Rachel asked, taking her borrowed jacket it off and laying it over the banister to the stairs.
Shelby narrowed her eyes.
"Because you are being punished. We will talk about it further over supper."
"I didn't do anything wrong!" Rachel quickly said, staring at her mother.
"You call what you did in Glee nothing?" Shelby asked incredulously.
"You weren't even in there!" Rachel shouted, trying to regain some control in this situation that she currently found herself in.
"Do not yell at me, Rachel. I was in Mr. Shuester's office. I saw the entire thing," Shelby said, taking a step towards her daughter.
"Then you should realize I was right! It was stupid! He was going to let me sing and…"
"Regardless of what was said, and we will be talking about that as well, you stormed out in a fit of temper, and come to find out, you do the same thing when you are supposed to be in your classes as well. Several times a week, always when things do not go your way. That is unacceptable, Rachel, because you are not a toddler."
"You don't have any right to send me to my room! It isn't fair! You are being completely unfair and ridiculous over this entire thing," Rachel screamed, her face turning red from the anger she was exerting through her screams at her mother, her fists clenched tightly at the bottom of her shirt.
Shelby was not accustomed to being yelled at, especially by fifteen year old kids. Normally, they did what they were told and obeyed her every word.
Her daughter had apparently not gotten that memo.
Shelby gently grabbed her daughter's arm and pulled her to her side. In one swoop, she landed a resounding smack on her daughter's behind and then turned her back around.
"If you do not want another, I would suggest you get up to your room like I told you. Now," Shelby told her, shocked she had swatted her daughter, but not shocked enough that she let on to Rachel.
Shelby's glare was unwavering, and Rachel looked away as tears pooled in her eyes.
"You are the worst woman on this planet," Rachel yelled, and then jerked her arm away from Shelby so that she could run up to her room.
Shelby closed her eyes when the door slammed shut. Obviously that was something else she needed to inform Rachel that she did not appreciate.
Shelby walked towards the kitchen shaking her head. It was almost as if Rachel really, truly, did not understand why throwing temper tantrums was not a means to get her way. Surely, it couldn't be quite that bad, could it? Surely she knew why she was in trouble? Regardless, they would soon be talking about it.
Upstairs, Rachel pulled out her diary and, through her tears, began to write to her mother for the first time since she had been in her home. She used to write to her mother nearly daily, but since she lived with her now, she figured that one day she would just go and tell her about the things she was thinking. They were not there yet, though. It was all too new.

Dear Mama, you just smacked me because I made you angry by yelling at you. You wouldn't even listen to me. You even sent me to my room for storming out of glee this afternoon…but Mama, I don't really understand why you are punishing me for something I do all the time…