Chapter 9

Rachel woke up feeling better. Maybe a good night's sleep without worry was what she needed. Then she remembered that she was worried. Not about her next audition, but about Quinn. She skipped her early morning workout and went into her living room. Her laptop was exactly where she left it the night before. At least she'd plugged it in so it would be dead.

She sighed. There still wasn't a reply. She wondered if she looked desperate because of the message that she'd sent Quinn the day before. She decided to go workout. She figured that she would work through the disappointment.

She went back to her room and changed into her workout clothes. She got on her elliptical and set the timer for an hour. She started her workout and let her mind go blank. She didn't want to think about Quinn or anything else that she had to do that week. She just wanted to let go.

After her workout, she took a shower and decided to really face the day. She saw that she had texts from Blaine, Kurt and Tina. She'd wait until she was done with breakfast to answer them. She went into the kitchen and started making her famous vegan pancakes when her doorbell rang. She dropped the spoon in the batter and answered the door.

She was surprised to see her friend and agent Tina standing there. She backed up enough to let her inside her loft apartment. Tina walked in like she owned the place. Rachel couldn't help but laugh, because she knew it was all act. Tina had come a long way since high school and the fake attitude was a reflection of that. Tina was still shy and nice underneath it all, but she had learned too quickly in the business that nice and shy will get you and clients nowhere.

"So, are you replacing me?" she asked as she whipped around as Rachel closed the door.

"Replacing you?"

"Are you going to make Blaine your new agent and manager or what?"

"Tina, you know that Blaine is a good friend of mine. He always has been. Hell, he's your friend, too. He is just passing along some opportunities. I am not giving you up. I like the way you broker my deals. He is just trying to help me further myself."

"And, I am not?"

"I didn't say that. You look out for me. So does he. You both just do it differently."

"So, you want to do movies now? Is that it? I can get you into the movies, Rach. All you have to do is tell me. I've got scores of studios looking for a Broadway connection. I've got musicals on my desk if you want. What is so damn important about what Blaine can get you?"

"Nothing."

"And, the TV show?" Tina asked.

"I'm not doing it."

"Why not?" Tina asked suddenly flipping gears from agent to friend.

"It isn't something that I really want to do. I thought about it after the audition. And, I realized that I wanted something different, completely different," Rachel told her.

"What about the audition next week?"

"I don't know, Tina. I just don't know. I have been on the stage nonstop for the last five years. I need something different. I want something different."

"You're having a midlife crisis at twenty-five?" Tina asked as she began pacing.

Rachel ignored the question. Instead she went back into the kitchen to finish making her breakfast. She stirred the batter some more and got her skillet ready. By the time the skillet was ready, she already had some fruit out of the fridge and washed. Looking up at an amazed Tina, who wasn't prepared for Rachel to ignore her completely like that, she finally decided to break their silence as Tina took a seat at a barstool by the countertop bar.

"Pancakes?" Rachel asked.

Tina just nodded. Rachel gave her the famous "Rachel Berry" smile and went to work. She made the pancakes and cut the fruit up. By the time she was done, there were two stacks of vegan pancakes and two small bowls of strawberries, grapes, and melon. She placed one set in front of Tina and the other in front of the empty stood beside her. She then walked around and joined Tina by sitting on the vacant stool.

"Rachel, I am worried about you," Tina finally said between bites.

"There is nothing to worry about. I am fine. I'm just thinking about doing this movie that Blaine got me the script for. He is bringing over the rest of it today. It is a small film with a small budget. I doubt that it is going to cause a lot of buzz and therefore I am not worried about it. If it does, oh well. It will be a lesson learned."

"They want to have it ready in time for Sundance. That doesn't mean that it isn't going to be big. Yeah, it is a small subsection of the studio doing it, but they've pretty much given them carte blanche to make it. Rachel, they are asking for you by name. You do know what that means, right? Please tell me that you do," Tina begged.

"That they like my acting?"

Tina smacked her head. For as smart as Rachel was, she really didn't have all the social ques down. This is why Tina handled most of her business. She made Rachel a star and she made Rachel money, and all Rachel had to do was show up where Tina told her to, audition, sing and act. It was a wonderful combination…until now. Rachel didn't understand how big her star power really was, but she was about to find out.

"Rachel, they want you for your name!"

"What would my name have anything to do with it?" Rachel asked.

"You are a Broadway sensation. You've done cameos on every New York City TV show there is right now. You have made a household name for yourself. You will bring masses to see the movie. The reason that they are using the 'independent' label of the studio is because of a) the subject matter, and b) you aren't a big enough film star to bring in the millions yet. This is basically a test run to move you into the movies," Tina told her.

Rachel dropped her fork. That isn't what she wanted. She wanted to act and sing, yes, but on a stage. She couldn't take months out a time to go film some money. That is why she did the cameos. It was a few days tops. And, Blaine had promised that the filming wouldn't take longer than a few weeks. Why was Tina so upset by that?

"I don't understand."

"It's like a test screening of a brand new play, except you are the one they are screening. They want to see how well you adapt to the screen, Rachel. They know how you look on stage. Hell, they know how you look on TV. This is big, huge…and you don't see it."

"It is just a little movie."

"Just a little movie that can turn into a really big deal. First Sundance, then Cannes, then Berlin…they are going to run the gambit with this film, Rachel. They are going to rack up as many accolades as they can and then they are going to market it, with your face front and center, and make it huge. This is what they do. The studio execs believe in this story for some strange reason and they know that it will sell. They add you, call it an indie film and viola, instant hit, lots of money for them, lots of money for you and you will have the studio calling."

"But, I don't want to do a lot of movies."

"You won't have to, if I get my way, but the contract maybe binding in such a way that you have to do more films, Rachel. Their lawyers are sneaky and they don't play by the same rules that Broadway does. They are for money and to make more. That is why you have me."

"I know that, Tina, but I want to do the film."

"Fine."

"You aren't going to fight me on this more?"

"I know how you are. I know how you think and once you've made up your mind there is no changing it. I'll call Blaine and get him to fax me over the proposed contract. But, if I don't like it, we'll have this discussion again," Tina told her.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Besides that, it is about time that we got you a new lawyer."

"A new lawyer? Why? What's wrong with Schuster?" Rachel asked.

"He's decided to go back to film school. Something about he wants to be a director. He has all the ideas…but no one listens. Anyway, I'll do some scouting around. Ask Blain if he recommends anyone. If you run across a good entertainment lawyer in your adventures, let me know. Until then, Rach, take it easy and finish reading the script. It might just surprise you."

Rachel just stared at her friend, agent, and manager as she left the loft. When the door closed, it was like Rachel could function again. She got up from the stool and cleaned up the mess from breakfast, all the while thinking about what Tina had said. She needed to find a lawyer.

"Too bad, Dad isn't in entertainment law. But, I am sure that he has friends that are. I'll call him later and ask," Rachel said aloud.

She walked back into her living room. She decided to read over the partial script one more time. She didn't look at her laptop. She didn't want to be disappointed again. She grabbed the script and sat down on the couch. But as soon as she got comfortable, she heard the ping. She dropped the script in her lap and saw the blinking envelope on the screen telling her that she had a new message. She sighed. She didn't want to get her hopes up as she reached over and clicked on the inbox icon to open the message.

The smile that crept across her face couldn't be helped. Even if she didn't want to smile, she would have because it was from Quinn. She read the note twice, memorizing it. It was short, like hers had been the night before, and it was apologetic. Rachel smiled bigger. Quinn felt bad for having stood her up on their messenger date. She covered her smile with one hand as she clicked on the reply icon.

A blank message window popped up and she just stared at it. She was at a loss for words. She didn't know how to reply to the apology. She wanted to be mad, but knew that she didn't really have a reason to be so angry with Quinn. They were just internet friends. She was torn as well. Quinn was reaching out for her. She needed help. Rachel could be the ear that listened. She decided to go with that.

Quinn,

I am glad that you are okay. I am sorry that you had a rough night. I assume by your message that you drank too much alcohol and not enough water. My suggestion is a good nap and large glass of water. Some aspirin couldn't hurt either.

As to the other part of your message, I thought that we were friends. You can tell me anything, as long as you didn't kill someone, because then I would have to report it to the proper authorities. Right now, I believe that would be someone in Hawai'i. Please don't make me have to do that.

On another note, I am here for you if you need to talk. I have these wonderful things called ears and two more interestingly enough body parts called shoulders. They have taken their fair share of long nights and are willing to help you if you ask for it. Besides I unloaded on you about the TV show the other day. It is only fair that I hear something from you. Just tell me. I'll listen. I'll try not to judge, but I can't promise anything. I'll try to be impartial, but I'll only have my limited experience with which to draw from to help you. I hope that it is enough for you.

I hope that you are on later. I've been given a new script and I'm not sure what to do about it. I really want to do the movie because what they are promising me, but I haven't read the whole script yet. What if I hate it?

Anyway, message me back,

Maria the Broadway Star

She sent the message. She stared at her screen for a few seconds before she realized that she didn't have anything to drink. She knew that to keep her voice in top form that she had to keep her throat happy, and the best way to do that was a drink. She went back into the kitchen and got some coffee. She reminded herself to reset the timer for the next morning as she poured her glass. It was the small things, but sometimes for her, they were the most important.

After getting her coffee, she returned to the couch. She sat down with her cup of coffee and the script. She read it again. The more she read it, the more she liked it. She sipped her coffee as she read each piece of direction. There was so much with the little bit of dialogue. She wondered how much of the movie she didn't have.

She sat the coffee cup on the table and made herself not look at her laptop. She decided that she needed something else to distract her. She needed music and not just any music. She needed the soundtrack to Funny Girl. She put the CD in her stereo and pressed play. As the soundtrack started filling the air, she smiled.

Rachel sat back down after getting another cup of coffee. She took a chance glance up at the clock on the wall. It was nearing lunch time. Her stomach growled just as her brain made the connection. She just laughed at herself. She knew that once she got back on stage she wouldn't be eating at regular intervals. But somehow when she wasn't on stage, her body knew when it was time to eat and when it was time to sleep. When she was on the stage, she ate when she could and went to bed in the early morning, only to wake around noon. She didn't like it because it through off her regimen, but she managed.

Each day was like the rest. Get up. Exercise. Take a shower. Eat. Head to the stage. Warm up and practice whatever scenes were slow or flubbed the night before. Eat again, something small. Get ready for the nightly production. Perform. Change and get ready to go to a club or late night dinner with someone from the cast or production. Eat, drink and be merry. Head home and go to bed. It was the same, day in and day out. She liked it because it was very regimental and she didn't have to think about anything but the productions she was in. It was an easy life and one that she had wanted since she was three years old. She'd been training for it since she was a child.

Now, she got up. Exercised. Took a shower. Ate breakfast and then sat around unless she had an audition. She ate when she got hungry. She didn't skip meals because she forgot to eat. She caught up on her reading. She listened to music. She took random dance classes to keep in shape and up to date on the newest moves. If she was being adventurous, she'd go out with Blaine and Kurt. If not, she'd go out on a date with whomever dared to take her out. But, today was not like that. She should have known that as soon as Tina showed up that morning.

She sipped her coffee, while mindlessly singing along with "Don't Rain on My Parade." She threw the script back onto her coffee table and fell back onto the couch. She wanted to go do something. She needed to go do something. She sighed. She wanted to do something totally touristy, but she didn't know if Blaine or Kurt were willing to go out with her.

She grabbed her cellphone and started to text Blaine. He immediately replied that he would be over sometime that afternoon with the rest of the script. She smiled. She hoped that he would agree to go out somewhere. She didn't know where and frankly she didn't care as long as they went somewhere in the City. She kept texting him and by the time she had a salad made in the kitchen, Blaine had committed to them going out to Craftbar. He would make reservations and make sure that they had a vegan selection for Rachel. It would be enough for today. Tomorrow, she would take a bus tour of the town and see how many tourists recognized her.

Then, her train of thought was broken by the tale-tell ping on her laptop. She turned to look at the screen. Quinn had not only sent her a message in response to hers, but she was also online. She felt her heart speed up. She didn't know why, but she slid off the couch and onto the floor. She put her legs under the coffee table and pulled the laptop towards her. She couldn't contain the smile that she had.

The more she thought about it, the more she decided that she needed to talk to Blaine and Kurt about it later. She shouldn't be so infatuated with someone that she really didn't know. She knew that, but she couldn't help herself. There was just something about Quinn that she couldn't shake. She wondered if Quinn felt the same way. She opened the message and her smile got bigger. Just as she was about to reply, Quinn messaged her.

LW: I'm terribly sorry about yesterday. I was an ass. Do you forgive me?

Rachel didn't answer immediately. She wanted to read the message first. She pulled the inbox screen to the front and read it. It was another apology. She shook her head. She wondered why Quinn was so full of self-depreciation. She hesitated for another moment and then she finally replied to Quinn's instant message.

MB: Tell what happened and I'll forgive you.