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Rachel smiled brightly into the camera as she held the fanned out hundred dollar bills. It wasn't even close. Andrea was second and the General Larry was strangely third with 20. They must have given him points for his own music. When am I going to start writing my own music or my own plays. And I want to be on Broadway, why am I in Glee? Because Rachel, Drama club is a clique of that blonde Summer, Ragan and Brandon, the wiry Italian guy. For all intents it's a phantom club now. Just like Glee was until Mr. Schue resurrected it by becoming Facility advisor. She frowned, it wasn't fair. Nothing there was ever fair.
Mark stood beside the cameraman with a broad, devious smile. "Ready for some better news?" he asked as the cameraman departed.
The ladies perked up. Rachel, shoving the money into a pocket of her Linea Pelle Dylan Zip tote, grinned even broader, because she rarely got to take it out of the house. Its buttery soft scotch toned Italian leather was an instant target at WMHS. But at Forest Hills, it was safe. Or it would be if she took it.
"After much wrangling, I cut a deal with the Ohio Show-choir governing board to grant you and the rest of the club in the 'Push it dirrty' video a waiver." His smile became a smirk. "Rachel, yours and Finn's are until graduation or September 1st 2013, whichever comes first. The rest of the club is for that video only. They will allow me to use the rehearsals as videos but only that. Anything else isn't waved." Reaching into his briefcase, he withdrew a folder and handed it to her. "I am using this performance tonight as a recording. We have excellent acoustics here. What do you think of those songs? We need to do a recording soon." That generated a concerned frown on his lightly tanned face. Blowing away a blond strand of hair, he grinned charmingly at them.
Suddenly, Juicy J walked up beside him, along with Finn who seemed shell-shocked. Juicy J smiled at Rachel. "Our next superstar. I just dropped by to say 'hey' and give you this. Our tour is soon and I thought you might want to hang? Peace!" He then greeted Mark and whispered something into his ear. They stepped aside and talked briefly.
Finn looked at her, holding three all access badge lanyards. He seemed unsure yet smiled. Yet when Mark returned, Rachel hugged him. "Thank you so much, Mark. These are wonderful," She took the lanyards from Finn as Andrea shoved an empty chair towards him. Emily and Kaylie looked bemused.
"Can we be involved?" They asked.
Mark furrowed his brow. "Can you make it Saturday the 27th?"
They frowned. "That depends on when," Emily asked after glancing at everyone.
"Morning. I've got the Nine am slot booked." Mark looked to Rachel who seemed pleased. It's really happening! Now all I need is an opening on Broadway once I am known by everyone.
Finn caught sight of the sparkle in her eyes, took her hand and squeezed it. "Where?" And what happened to your wrist?
"Funny you should ask that. It's near the school. I'll call you Saturday," Mark responded before Rachel could. "Juicy also told me that Quinn is looking for you. I think you need to go."
Finn stared at the floor briefly then looked up at Rachel. "I'm singing tonight too. That's the reason we came here. I want you to know that the first song I sing is directed at you and the next is directed at Quinn." Because I know yours was directed at me and Quinn. With that he let go and walked toward the stage. As he ascended, the crowd hushed a bit. He approached the mike, tapping it.
The sound director at the back activated and he looked out at the corner, a mix of fear and strength. He found Quinn, smiled at her then found Rachel and held his gaze. To Quinn, it still looked like he was looking at her because they weren't too far away. There was just a wall of people between them.
He inhaled and gulped, willing the strength to do this in front of everyone. I have to say something. This is the only way without consequences.
"Hi, I'm Finn Hudson and I want to sing this first. It's a song my mom loves. I hope you love it too. It's dedicated to someone out here and she knows who she is. It's called 'Love is not a fight' by Warren Barfield."
'Love is not a place to come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you,
Throw away the key,
Work it out together,
Let it bring us to our knees.'
Finn saw Mark as he directed the cameraman to start recording the moment he got on the stage. He looked to Rachel who had the effervescent smile, unlike any he had seen in a while.
'Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave;
May God send angels to guard the door
No, Love is not a fight,
but it's something worth fighting for.'
'To some love is a word that they can fall into.
But when they're falling out,
keeping that word is hard to do
'Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave;
May God send angels to guard the door
No, Love is not a fight
but it's something worth fighting for.'
'Love will come to save us,
If we'll only call
He will ask nothing from us
but demand we give our all.'
'Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave;
May God send angels to guard the door
No, Love is not a fight
but it's something worth fighting for.
'Cause I Will Fight For You!
Will You Fight For Me?
It's Worth Fighting For.'"
As he sang the final line, He noticed Rachel's smile never change. She nodded slightly. Mark rose and left heading toward the cameraman. He paused briefly staring at the wooden stage floor as the song finished.
Smattering applause rose from the room to his surprise. A few hoots and whistles rose the area near the bar. Quinn held his gaze when he found it; pleased. He looked over at Rachel and she had risen. She and the other ladies waved as they headed for the door.
"I would like to sing 'November Rain' if no one objects." He said into the mike as Rachel paused in the doorway. The band, which had quietly formed on the stage while the applause faded started up, nodded. A soft sonorous melody rose up; the sweeping string arrangement, the piano notes softly in the background, guitar and drums. It sounded almost right. He could hear the track as well blending where the band wasn't. As it flowed from the speakers, a crack of actual thunder erupted. Finn sighed, casting his annoyance at the floor, and sang.
'When I look into your eyes,
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change,
And it's hard to hold a candle,
In the cold November rain'
Finn saw Rachel still in the doorway. A odd expression was on her face. A mixture of confusion and pleasure. But she was rooted to the spot, even when her friends tried to get her to come.
'We've been through this such a long, long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today,
Walking away'
'If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain'
He looked up at Rachel again. She was staring at Quinn, annoyed. The frustration was evident as was the annoyance. She didn't see it. I wish I understood how girls thought and why they hate each other so much.
'Do you need some time...on your own?
Do you need some time...all alone?
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know, you need some time...all alone'
Rachel was still there when he looked. The song was half finished. Being the second longest, I am running out of wind here. Yet, she remained transfixed by him. Her stare finally clicked. She thinks I love her and Quinn and won't choose. No, that's not it.
'I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you?'
'Sometimes I need some time...on my own
'Sometimes I need some time...all alone
'Everybody needs some time...on their own
'Don't you know you need some time...all alone?'
So when he looked at Rachel this time, he flashed a sign he saw Quinn always give on the field. It was a hand signal for 'I'm talking to you.' Combined with the Wolverettes sign, he hoped he would get the point to her and not Quinn. Quinn simply smiled at him, a floatly, dull smile she had when she was drunk.
'And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame,
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain.'
Don't ya think that you need somebody,
Don't ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one.'
The applause was much stronger this time and as Finn ran off the stage, he caught Rachel leaving the place. Running hard toward her and the escalade, he stopped as she got in, panting.
"I saw the sign. I thought the song was for Quinn," She asked flatly, confusion crinkling her eyes.
"It was until I sang it. Then I saw you." He huffed and puffed, unsure but knowing he didn't want to lose her. "I don't want you angry at me anymore."
"I'm not. Just disappointed that you haven't made up your mind." And with that she just the car door and drove off with him standing in the parking lot. Wandering back into the club, he saw Quinn still sitting then, pleasantly toasted. Sniffing the empty purple cup, he didn't know whether to thank Juicy J or punch him. He did know that she would have been screaming had she been aware.
She looked at him calmly. "Thanks. I do appreciate you taking me here. Will you stay if I am pregnant like a whale?"
Taking her hand, he looked into her blue eyes as he helped her up. "Yes, if it is mine. I want you to be well." Even if I don't want to date you anymore.