Just a short and quick one this time but more to come very quickly.
Chapter Four
''Miss. Berry, hi, I'm Jose Delano.''
Rachel smiled as she was approached by a middle aged well groomed and seemingly pleasant man. She took his outstretched hand when he was close enough to shake it; her eyes briefly scanning across the set for the photo shoot that was going along with her interview.
It had been an easy morning for her which was something of a novel experience. Working on Broadway was everything she had ever wanted and she loved it. She loved being on stage she loved getting to go to work and sing and dance and act. She loved the crowds the applause the fans waiting around outside. But she loved the little things too maybe even more. She loved the way that the stage smelt the narrow corridors that dancers and actors and crew scurried through during intermission or throughout the show as they got ready.
Rachel liked the way that it sounded when no one was there when she would stand on stage all by herself and no one was around. It made her feel so insignificant thinking about the ghosts that the stage held and thinking about just how many people had come and gone throughout the years. She liked to think about how many songs had been sung how many lines had been spoken. It made her feel part of something but it also made her feeling like she was part of something that she needed to respect and uphold. It grounded her in a way.
The brunette worked hard for her dream she committed herself to making it happen. She trained she rehearsed she put in the time she had to get her part down flawlessly. That work ethic made her a very busy woman and when the shows were running it was a very hectic lifestyle that she adopted. However when the shows finished their run she had time to relax a little.
It gave her a little freedom to step back and look over her life the people and the things in it. They became her reflective periods where she thought about what she would like to do next.
Her relationship with Quinn seemed to have timed itself well. It had been her last couple of months working Funny Girl which had been an ambition in itself for her to do. It had ended on a wonderful high and she had been thrilled to have taken part in it and had a lot of fun. Quinn and she had fit around both of their schedules which some days had downright sucked but now that the show had finished they were going to get a lot more time together. Especially given that they were going to be working together soon.
''Please, it's just Rachel. I'm pretty sure that Miss. Berry is one of my Dad's!''
The brunette quipped lightly as she released Jose's hand after shaking it. She knew that he had a good reputation as a photographer; he ran clean sets and refused to do anything other. Considering that she was going to be interviewing for a teen magazine and having her picture taken with a couple of contest winners she thought that was a good thing.
''Fair enough! So, the girls are here already. Their names are Hannah Silverman and Karan Heck. I thought we could get you guys settled and I'll take some candid's as you talk then get some specific shots for the cover.''
Rachel nodded in agreement her eyes flicking over to the corner where 2 girls were being occupied by who she thought would be a representative from the magazine. As far as she knew they had been running a competition for about a month for kids to meet her and get to interview her. They needed to pull together what they thought would be a good concept for an interview. She was interested what these girls would be asking given that she didn't know yet. The magazine wanted it to be more of a surprise. Surprise was just fine with her.
''Sounds great! Do I need to change or anything?''
She watched as Jose thought for a second before shaking his head.
''You look great as you are; I don't think they'd be able to do much more. As long as you're comfortable then we're good to go.''
He smiled warmly and gestured for her to proceed onward down the studio to meet her interviewers. Smiling graciously Rachel walked forward acknowledging and smiling at the people lingering around that she thought must have worked for Jose. As she began to approach the girls the lady that they were speaking to pointed behind them and they quickly turned around. Rachel was pretty sure that she heard a couple of 'oh my god's' from the kids.
''Hey girls, I'm Rachel.''
''Oh we know...we love you.''
Rachel laughed lightly as she offered them her hand. She would greet any other interview in such a manner so she wasn't going to make an exception because they were kids. They had paid their dues by getting through the competition so she was going to consider them interviewers.
''Well thank you! So whose Hannah and whose Karan?''
There was a dark haired girl and a red haired girl; both had pretty little faces and big eyes. In all honesty Rachel had always loved meeting the kids that seemed to like her so much. They were so sweet and they hadn't let the world crack their enthusiasm yet. They tended to remind herself of her at similar ages.
''I'm Hannah.''
The dark haired girl gushed shaking her hand with a big grin on her face. Rachel grinned and looked at the other slightly smaller girl with red hair and the cutest little freckles who jiggled on the spot as they shook hands.
''I'm Karan.''
''Well I'm very excited to meet you. Do you guys know each other?''
They nodded their heads quickly.
''We entered the competition together. We're from Chicago.''
''Yeah and we got to see one of your shows before it finished and we had so much fun!''
Rachel laughed at the speed the girls were talking as they nodded at each other and grinned up at her. The singer wondered if they were hopped up on sugar or if they were just that excited.
''I'm so glad you had fun. So do you want to sit down and talk about how you won the competition?''
They nodded eagerly but Karan stood fast as Rachel and Hannah turned. Noticing Rachel turned back to look at her.
''Can I ask you something first Rachel?''
The inquisitive girl asked with a small frown on her little face. Rachel nodded and crouched down so she was face to face with the girl.
''Sure.''
''I don't want to seem rude.''
Rachel smiled.
''Go ahead.''
''How come you didn't want to meet us before? After your show?''
Rachel blinked at the girl for a moment as she wondered what she was talking about. She ran the details over the agreement that she had with the magazine but she didn't remember anything about a meeting after the show she would have welcomed it if she had. Looking up at the woman Rachel posed the silent question.
''Originally they were supposed to come for a long weekend, see the show and have dinner with you then do this the next day. But we were informed after that you wanted to split the time and drop the dinner.''
The assistant informed the singer dutifully.
''So, you flew them out here then back, and waited to fly them back out again?''
The assistant nodded. Rachel took in a breath and ran her tongue across her lips as she tried her damndest to restrain the anger that flared up. Someone had spoken in her name and she hated that. It would have been much simpler to bring these girls out once and she would have loved to have dinner with them after the show. The disappointment was still residual on their faces and they probably thought she hadn't wanted to meet them or something like that. It pissed her off.
''Well, all I can do is apologise for what was clearly a huge mix up. And to make it up to you I would very much like to have that dinner with you. Are your parents with you this trip?''
The girls nodded quickly.
''Okay, well this lovely lady from the magazine will give them a quick call while we're doing our interview and then I will make a quick call and make sure you can see another show tonight. Sound good?''
Although Rachel was still seething that someone had spoken for her and ended up initially disappointing these girls on her behalf she was happy to see that they were happy and excited about her second offer. It was the least she could do to restore their faith in life they would grow up soon enough but she didn't want to be a cog in making that happen any faster than it had to.
Rachel smiled at them and then gave a smile to their chaperone as she guided the kids over to the little set up designed for them. It turned out that their topic had been about bullying. Everyone knew that Rachel had had a rough time during high school and she was an open voice on anti-bullying campaigns. They asked her about school and what happened and how she had handled it. They talked about the options that kids had and that they should always feel like they had the right to speak out. They also talked about the fact that a lot of bullies had something going on which made them act like that.
It had been a good interview in the end actually more intellectually stimulating than she had had with many adult reporters. The girls had thought out their questions really well and it seemed like a very personal cause for them.
They had done the photo shoot and said goodbye until later. Rachel had called her agency to cancel her appointment because she knew if she kept it then she would lose it with someone. Instead she made her calls in order to get her promised dinner ready as well as obtaining some tickets for the girls and their parents.
GGG GGG GGG
''So, who was it?''
Quinn asked before she took a sip of her water. Rachel sat next to her on the huge steps of the court building that they were filming outside of. She had her elbows propped on her knees and her hands cradling her glum looking face. Neither of them really registered the commotion continuing around them. The crew were reorganising the cameras and the extra that Quinn was working with on the scene was talking with the director further down to the bottom of the stairs. There were blockades stopping the interested people passing by or the fans that had bothered to wait around to see one of their favourite shows being filmed. The blonde had already spoken to some of them and signed a few autographs and she would probably do the same again when they finished.
Right now though she was trying not to look like she was trying to eat her pasta salad whole because she only had a limited lunch break before filming started again.
''I have no idea. I came straight here because I was so pissed off and afraid that I would end up firing somebody.''
Rachel glowered as she muttered petulantly. Quinn smirked, finding the glower and petulance truly adorable.
''Baby, if someone is speaking on your behalf and they do something without your approval that damages you, then you're allowed to fire them. It's sloppy work, anyone can get fired for sloppy work.''
Quinn reminded gently. Rachel hated firing people. It was because she always formed an emotional attachment and sometimes it was difficult for her to separate them from friend and employee. She was just good natured like that. She tried to come off as the dominant ball buster but sometimes if she had known someone for too long she just couldn't grind the axe.
''I know that. Someone is going to be fired, trust me. I just don't know how to do it without either throwing something or getting rid of them all.''
The blonde frowned.
''How many agents do you have Rachel?''
She squeaked in disbelief. She only knew of one. The one she hated.
''It's just Darren and his two assistants...and his sectary...who I'm pretty sure do most of the work.''
''Honey you don't have to stay with Darren for his staff. He's a toad and he looks at you like he's planning to put something in your drink to make you compliant.''
Shudders ran through Quinn as she sneered and got angry even though she technically had no reason to be. As Rachel's best friend and now girlfriend however she was insanely protective and she had seen the look before that Darren got around Rachel. It was a cold look that only saw what he wanted and how he could most easily get it.
He hadn't started out as such a creep but as he had built up his career he had just turned into a smarmy asshole that Quinn didn't like or trust. Rachel had waved it off as that he was just shark like about his work but she had admitted in recent times that some of the things he said were starting to make her uncomfortable. But because the singer couldn't get that image out of her head from when he had been a nice guy it was harder for her to do something about. She wanted to believe that he was still in there while Quinn was simply concerned with getting Rachel as far away as possible.
''Quinn! Can you not say things like that it freaks me out.''
''Sorry.''
She wasn't all that sorry.
''I have been getting increasingly frustrated and concerned about his behaviour however. I just let it slide because he was still a good agent but now? Blowing off kids in my name? I should fire him, shouldn't I.''
Quinn nodded affirmatively.
''Yes, yes you should. Right now. Do you want me to do it for you?''
Rachel looked at her girlfriend with a smirk growing on her face that turned into a laugh as she saw the mischief in her eyes. Quinn had always known what to do to cheer her up a little or make things seem better. It didn't take away from the fact that her response had been serious and she wanted her to fire him but it was sweet too because she just needed to chill out for a minute too.
Rachel stole the water bottle from next to Quinn and took a few sips as she looked around.
''Are you wrapping up soon?''
''Once we get this shot right. Why?''
''Will you come to the dinner later? I've organised a little surprise because I felt so guilty.''
Quinn smirked.
''Sure I would love to. Do I get a surprise after?''
She asked lecherously as she wiggled her eyes and nudged into the shorter woman a couple of times making Rachel laugh and try to swat her back into place.
''Stop it, Fabray! I may or may not fuck you senseless tonight, you'll just have to wait and see.''
Quinn laughed at the forwardness as she lifted her eyebrows and stared at her girlfriend. That was very much a reason to do anything that Rachel wanted.
''Quinn! We're shooting in 5. Hey Rach!''
Rachel gave Quinn's TV show creator Arthur a wave before he turned back to talk to the man behind the camera about whatever was going to happen. He was a nice guy and he had seen something in Quinn that he had specifically written her character around her. The more they did the more he pulled out of the blonde.
''Okay, well I suppose that's that. I'll meet you at the restaurant?''
''I'll send you the time and place. Have a good shoot okay. I love you.''
''I love you too.''
