A/N: Not a huge fan of this chapter, but it's kinda necessary. Also, I'm sorry about how long it took to get this one up. Real life got in the way, haha, but thank you for still reading&reviewing&following&favouriting. You guys are awesome!
Rachel was halfway through her main course, which was absolutely delicious, before she realised that this was her first time properly meeting a boyfriend's parents. And it was going great. Thad's sisters were possibly the sweetest girls she had ever met, and they begged her to help them improve their singing, which Rachel had happily agreed to.
"So, Rachel, what colleges are you looking into attending?" Ed questioned over their dessert. Thad shoved a spoonful into his mouth to stop himself from groaning out loud, why his dad had to choose to talk about college was beyond him. Especially as college was such a sensitive topic between Thad and his parents.
"NYADA. It's been my dream since I was old enough to understand what college was," Rachel replied, seemingly unfazed by Ed's question. Thad figured that Rachel was probably so used to talking about college that it didn't bother her in the way it bothered Thad, or Thad's mother.
"That's an extremely competitive college, from what I've heard. Although if what Jennifer and Danielle say is true, then I've no doubt your talent will get you an admission in no time," Ed smiled, before re-focussing his attention onto his dessert. Thad caught Rachel's confused expression and quickly swallowed his mouthful.
"They've been watching your Myspace videos religiously," he announced, grinning at the blush that started to form on the twins' cheeks.
"Only because we didn't think you could possibly be as good as Thad said you were," Jenny grumbled.
"And then we found out you were so much better," Dani finished, looking up at Rachel with a small smile.
"Well, I think it's fantastic that you wish to make a career out of your hobby, Rachel. So many people force themselves into jobs that they really have no interest in doing," Sharon announced, catching Ed's eye as she rose to clear the table. Rachel's offer of help was quickly turned down, and Thad took that opportunity to show Rachel around the rest of his house.
"You never told me you had a music room here!" Rachel announced as Thad opened the door to the final room in the house. He had planned on saving this one for last, knowing that he would have never been able to get Rachel to leave once she'd entered.
"Well, most of us are musical, so it makes sense, I guess," Thad replied, taking a seat on the piano bench so he could watch Rachel move around the room. Once she'd inspected every nook and cranny of the room, she sat down next to him and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
"I've never heard you sing, not properly," Rachel said, spinning around on the bench so she was facing the piano. The two would occasionally sing a ten-second snippet of whatever song was stuck in their head at the time, and Rachel had loved what little she had heard of Thad's voice. "Sing me your favourite song."
Thad paused for a second, before standing up and closing the door. He slid in front of the piano, lifting up its cover and placing his hands on the keys. Taking a deep breath, he began to play.
"I can't believe it's over, I watched the whole thing fall," he sang, much to Rachel's delight. She hadn't expected him to choose Michael Bublé, but the song suited his voice perfectly. Rachel studied his face, smiling as she noticed Thad's closed eyes.
"'Cause you are not alone, I'm always there with you, and we'll get lost together, 'til the light comes pouring through." Thad opened his eyes and stared directly at Rachel as he sang, hoping she was enjoying his performance. He continued playing and singing for Rachel, never breaking eye contact as he did so. Once the song finished, he quickly covered the keys again, almost too afraid to find out what Rachel had thought of his song.
"That was amazing," Rachel whispered, leaning closer to Thad so she could kiss him. Relief poured through him as he kissed her back, he hated performing solo almost as much as he hated French homework.
"Your voice is exceptional. The Warblers are lucky to have you." Just as Thad was about to reply, the door to the music room flew open, and Ed stood on the other side.
"Doors open at all time, please," he announced, glancing at the teenage couple, who simply nodded in response.
"I'm so glad it's not just my dads that do that," Rachel announced as soon as Ed had walked away. Thad merely grinned in response and turned his head, wanting another kiss. After a lot more goofing around in the music room, it was time for Rachel to leave and head back to her home. Jenny and Dani only let her leave after she promised to visit them again soon, and start their singing lessons. Sharon had insisted she take some leftovers from the meal home, so both Rachel and Thad exited the house carrying tubs full of leftover vegan food.
"You know, I never knew vegan food could be that good," Thad commented with a smile, loading the tubs into the backseat.
"Your mom is a great cook. You really must thank her again for me," Rachel replied, walking into Thad's outstretched arms. "You give good hugs too."
Thad breathed out a laugh, kissing the top of her head, before pulling back slightly and kissing her goodbye. Rachel unlocked her car and Thad opened the door for her, leaning in to give her one last kiss before she set off back home. After he'd watched her car disappear down the end of the street, Thad turned and walked into his house, grinning from ear-to-ear at just how well the day went.
Rachel could barely wipe the smile off her face as she drove home; Thad's family seemed to like her! All of her previous worries seemed trivial to her now, she realised, as she pulled onto her driveway. Hiram opened the door to greet his daughter, his smile widening into a grin as he saw her carrying several tubs of food from her car.
"It obviously went well then," he commented, closing the door behind him when they were both inside.
