CHAPTER 6
"Great. Then we can focus on the presentation. So two weeks from now the world will get to meet Jerry!"
Rachel can't believe a week has already gone by since she heard that proclamation. Granted, she had used this past week to close some details with Kurt regarding the costume, learning to dress in it faster and more efficiently. Not only that, she had also used that time to plan how to communicate while in the suit. Even then she can't shake the feeling that, since that day when Shelby told her about this idea, she's been fighting against time and losing.
Then again maybe she's looking at this all wrong. She's here in the main court and the only thing she should be focusing on right now is her next appointment.
But her appointment is not here yet. So Rachel has decided to shoot some hoops while she waits.
This is her first time in the main court. And she tells herself that she has decided to do this as a way to get familiar with the court itself. But deep down she knows that she needs this to avoid thinking about her upcoming appointment with the choreographer that works with the cheerleaders. Because that in turn makes her think about her. 'And her hair, and her body, and her eyes and oh that voice...'
The distraction is clearly not working. But she can't accept that, so she pushes harder. In fact, she gets so into her "Mikan Drill" that she completely misses the arrival of the blonde that's now watching her.
"Oh my god you're an actual star!"
She turns around. And if she was surprised by the interruption, she gets even more so once she sees who's there. Is THAT woman. The one that gets to hug HER.
"When I came to the city everybody said it was going to be full of stars. But all I saw were good looking people with cameras following them around. But you really are a star, aren't you?"
And she wants to hate her, she really really does, but the way this tall blonde is now jumping around her all excited like a kid in a candy store seems to be her Kryptonite. 'Is she for real?'
Rachel worries about the amount of energy the blonde seems to be showing, it reminds her of a kid with a bad case of sugar rush. But then blonde seems to suddenly stop bouncing. She stops to think in the most dramatic way, like kids do when they want to show they are thinking hard 'Maybe she's a kid in a grown up body'
"So what's your name? Do you have a name? Oh, Can I name you?" And just like that Rachel is forced back into the conversation. Seeing that the blonde is getting all excited again she decides that she needs to answer.
Rachel makes a sign for the blonde to hold on. Luckily the other seems to understand. Then she goes to where she left her bag, leaves her ball there and retrieves her tablet. While approaching the blonde again she writes her first answer. "HI MY NAME IS JERRY"
After reading this the blonde looks confused. "Are you sure? You don't look like a Jerry?"
'She's intuitive I give her that' She stops a second to think. 'How do you answer to that? Is not like I can say "I know it's horrible but my boss chose it" even if it's the truth' And then it hits her. "MY FRIENDS CALL ME J.R."
"Can I call you JR?" And the blonde looks so shy and full of hope while asking, that in her head Rachel is Awing.
"OF COURSE" And she could almost swear that after reading this her eyes start to sparkle like in those anime cartoons.
Then Rachel remembers something "ARE YOU MARY?" That's the person she was told was going to meet her here.
And just like that the blonde in front of her seems to turn back into an adult.
"Oh no. I'm Mary's assistant Brittany. Brittany S. Pierce. She couldn't make it so she told me to come in her place. I hope that's not the problem"
"NO PROBLEM"
Brittany gets her phone and some speakers out of a bag that Rachel had failed to notice until now. She leaves the bag on the floor and positions the speakers carefully next to it. "We got your song choice. I like your pick" She's plugging her phone while saying this.
Before she can thank her, Brittany turns back around "Let's start".
Brittany first explains her how they came to think this choreography and what they were trying to show with it. Then she tells her how many are the other cheerleaders involved in this number and what everybody's places and moves are going to be. She says others because apparently, even though she's an assistant choreographer, Brittany still dances as well.
Once that is out of the way, she starts the song and demonstrates the choreography, explaining what will be the mascot's cues to enter. Rachel is admittedly impressed. She can now see why Brittany is an assistant. Not only is she a really good dancer but she is really good at explaining the steps as well.
"Should we go again JR? This time you can try your part. You just have to remember where the other cheerleaders will be, OK?"
"OK" She goes to leave her tablet back inside her bag and then goes back to the spot that Brittany designated for her.
"Ready?" Asks the blonde while next to her phone.
Rachel nods with her whole body. Seeing this the other hits play, to then jump to her own starting point before the song actually begins. One minute goes by and Rachel is mesmerized by how effortless the dancer seems to make the whole choreography look, when she knows by experience that that's not the case at all. Luckily she doesn't let this make her miss her cue.
She's now standing in the (imaginary) center spot. "And that's when they introduce you and everybody claps. Then we throw the T-shirts to the crowd and everybody loves you."
Rachel for her part is trying to take it all in, trying to imagine how this place will look when full of people (hopefully) cheering for them, for her. While she's trying to do that the other is picking back her things.
Suddenly Rachel feels someone hugging her through the costume. "It's was great to meet JR!" As suddenly as the hug starts it ends. Once she's finally able to react, she turns around to see the tall blonde that is now almost to the door. Said blonde shouts without even turning around. "Sorry to run but I'm late for Fondue!" And then she's gone and Rachel is left more confused than she was before. Still she can't help but smile.
Once alone and out of the costume, Rachel takes a minute to relax while having a much needed sports drink. At least that's the intention, relaxation is hard to come by while you are in Rachel Corcoran Berry's head.
That's when her phone starts to ring "Oh thank god!"
"Hello?" She was in such a hurry to pick the call (as a way to avoid her inner thoughts) that she forgot to check who the caller was.
"Are you alright Honey?" Shelby can hear that something in not right in Rachel's voice so she starts to get worried.
"I'm fine" 'OK. Not fine.' Shelby thinks.
"You don't sound fine" Decides to reply trying to use her most soothing mother voice.
"I'm telling you I'm fine." Rachel is getting aggravated and it shows in her reply. She's just so tired and so confused by her current situation, and the fact that she hasn't seen her again since that first time is not helping at all.
'Not fine but not ready to talk either' Shelby reassesses the situation and decides that a change of subject is in need. "Well, I was calling you to see if you were coming for dinner"
"Dinner?" Rachel retrieves her watch that she had left forgotten in the bag and is surprised to see how late it is. "I lost track of time. I'll be there as soon as possible"
"There's no need to hurry sweetie" Says the mother full of understanding.
"I feel bad to leave you waiting" And the tiredness in Rachel's voice becomes more obvious while she says this.
"I'll have dinner ready. And don't feel bad. I know how these things can be. How much time and effort they require. But next thing you know it will be the day and then all of this will pay off."
AN: I will gladly take suggestions for the song(s) Rachel should use during her mascot presentation.
