End of the World
Chapter 4
This chapter will be one of those in-betweeny sort of chapters. You know, the ones where nothing happens, but they're necessary to move the story along. However, I promise a huge argument in the next chapter, so just keep reading. Also, I'm working on a shiny new story which might be published today also, so keep your eyes open.
Also, I know the first chapter said it was post-episide 13... you've probably noticed that it's not, but my fics have a habit of going in a completely different direction to the one I'd originally planned.
I still don't own Glee. Which sucks, because I was hoping it might have miraculously passed into my possession overnight.
January 18, 2009
First Rehearsal
"Miss Berry?"
Rachel continued to gaze longingly into space.
"Miss Berry!"
Several people turned to stare at Rachel, who was completely oblivious.
"MISS BERRY!"
Rachel jerked out of her reverie.
"Yes?"
The play director turned to her with contempt.
"Miss Berry, I have been calling you for the last five minutes! We've reached your scene. Please can you pay attention! I can see now how right I was to keep the lead part from you."
Colour rose in Rachel's cheeks, and she didn't trust herself to speak as she flipped hurriedly through the pages of her script to the start of the second act, and began to read. She'd found herself doing this a lot since she'd declared herself "officially" in love with Quinn Fabray the previous week, but usually it was in the middle of a boring class, and not in her favorite extracurricular, play rehearsal. It wasn't like she wanted to keep dozing off and missing everything the teachers said. It wasn't like she enjoyed the fact that her hormones went into overdrive every time she saw the cheerleader walking through the halls wearing that tight, skimpy uniform. But she didn't have any idea how to stop it, either. One thing was for certain, she was never doing what she'd done last week again. She'd felt terrible about it ever since.
Rachel finished her scene, and there were a few halfhearted claps.
"Unsatisfactory, Miss Berry! Please work on that scene before next week, or I will give your part to someone else! I am starting to think that I made a mistake casting freshmen in the play!"
I won't cry, thought Rachel, trying to keep her face from crumpling up, all this is just so that I'll be a better actress. The best one in the play. There are no small parts, only small actors... remember?
But she couldn't make herself believe it.
January 19, 2009
"Rachel! Hi!"
Rachel turned to her friend Jane, trying to at least feel glad that she had heard her. But she wasn't sure she was able to feel glad about anything anymore.
"What?" Rachel replied dejectedly.
Jane, who never felt sad about anything, looked surprised at the tone in which she was being spoken to - by one of her best friends, no less.
"I was just... never mind."
"OK." Rachel shrugged and went on her way.
"No, Rachel, wait!" Jane called after her. She could never bear to part with someone on bad terms. "I was just going to tell you that we've got a shopping trip planned for Saturday, and to ask you if you were... if you were free."
Rachel pasted a fake smile on her face.
"Oh, I'd love to come," she told her, in as sweet a voice as she could manage, "but I have to go to this family event with my aunt. Next time, though!"
"Oh..." replied Jane, disappointed. "Well, how about we hang out this lunchtime?"
"Can't. The Black Student Union meets today."
Rachel fled before Jane could tell her that the Black Student Union only met once every two weeks, and that this week was not one of them.
January 25, 2009
Second Rehearsal
"Right... so we're all here. I hope you were all paying attention to what I said last week, and have been practicing your parts hard. We're going to do another read-through this week, with the tips I gave you last week, and then next week we'll start on stage with Act 1. We're going to start by reading through Act 2... Mike Chang, you're in this first scene... so are you, Molly... and you, Derek..."
Rachel pushed open the door and ran, sweaty, panting and out of breath, to a seat at the back.
"Miss Berry! Why are you late to rehearsal?"
Rachel cast around wildly for some excuse that didn't involve thinking about the taste of Quinn Fabray's lips.
"Let out of class late... and had to see my math teacher..."
"Sit down. You should know, Miss Berry, that this theatre has a policy - three strikes, and you're out. That is your second strike. One more, and you're not in the play - no exceptions. We're starting with Act 2. Take it away, Mike."
Three hours later
"Well done, kids. That was certainly an improvement on last week. You're all dismissed."
Rachel sighed with relief, stuffed her script into her purse, shouldered it, and jogged towards the door.
"Wait! Miss Berry! Stay behind, I want a word."
Fearing the worst, Rachel changed path, cutting through groups of chattering students, towards where the play director was standing near Quinn Fabray and Mike Chang. Quinn's perfect face was alight with laughter. Rachel forced herself back to reality and tore her eyes away from the sight.
"Rachel Berry. I must say, I expected more of you. The report from your middle school... told me that you had taken the lead in the school play for the past two years. That you were a professional, who had a lot of potential. But after what happened today... fluffing up all your lines, even with the script in front of you, coming in at the wrong times, cutting in on other people... I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Rachel's whole world tilted on its side for a moment. She gasped for air, unable to breathe. Kicked out? She had never, in her whole life, been kicked out of anything before. And she certainly didn't want to start now... She had to say something, anything, to make him change his mind.
"Please!" she gasped, "give me one more chance. I've had things going on... problems at home... but I swear, if you give me one more chance, I'll be so much better."
For a moment, the director looked as though he was considering her offer, but then he shook his head.
"No, I'm sorry, Miss Berry. If I make an exception for you, I'll have to make an exception for the next person."
Rachel stared at him with pleading eyes, unable to form words.
"Please, if you'll let me interrupt?" came a soft, breathy, musical voice from Rachel's left. Quinn Fabray had heard everything. Quinn Fabray had heard her humiliation... and she would probably laugh with all her friends tomorrow about how Rachel Berry had been unceremoniously booted from the play.
"Miss Fabray?"
"Give her another chance."
"I'm sorry?"
"Give her another chance. Seriously. This is the second rehearsal, and as this is her first play here, she's probably feeling a bit under pressure. Just give it a few weeks. It's only a small part to learn, so if she does continue to mess it up, someone else won't have too much trouble with it."
The director wanted to kick Rachel out anyway. In fact, at that moment, he wanted to kick both of them out, for daring to question his authority. But even a staff member could not disobey the orders of the head cheerleader.
"Very well, then," he said grudgingly, "but, Miss Berry, this time, you are on your absolute last warning. Clear?"
"Yes," Rachel replied, head bowed, hardly daring to believe it. As soon as he was out of sight, Rachel rounded on Quinn.
"Why did you do that for me?" she asked, accusingly.
"Well, if you're gonna talk to me like that, I won't do it again."
Rachel shook her head as though trying to extract water from her ears.
"I'm sorry. I just... meant... well, you're a cheerleader! And I'm just a freshman!"
"Believe it or not, the fact that I'm a cheerleader doesn't mean I'm incapable of being nice. I just felt bad for you, because you said you had problems at home. And I can totally relate to that."
Rachel gulped. The problems at home had just been an excuse to try and stay in the play.
"Tell you what. Why don't you come over to my house? Tomorrow? We can work on your scene, and you'll be able to get away from your family."
Rachel looked shocked, her conflicting emotions battling each other in her mind.
If she accepted Quinn's offer and went over to her house, Quinn would undoubtedly ask her about her problems.
But then again... she was in love with Quinn, which distorted her rationality. And she could always make something up.
And although Rachel didn't want to be so selfish as to think this, she couldn't help it: how often did the head cheerleader invite a freshman over to her house? Her social status would improve dramatically.
There was nothing for it.
"Sure. What time?"
So, last time I blackmailed you for reviews. That worked pretty well. This time, I'm bribing you: everyone who reviews this story gets a huge stack of cookies, and their name in the next chapter telling everyone how awesome they are. ^^
Also, the reviews I've got so far are great, but some constructive criticism is always welcome, too. (If there's a bit that sucks, tell me. I can take it. Just no flames, because only losers with nothing better to do do that.)
Misti xx