DISCLAIMER; I do not own glee.
Romania was certainly an experience! Drunk for the first time on some drink called Palinka with 40 – 70% alcohol haha. I'm amazed I wasn't slapped by my friend for all the flirting I was doing with her.
I never heard the end of it, the rest of the trip. They even got video evidence of it all… It was a good laugh though and we managed to get a good chuck of work done before a team from OSU took over.
Rachel Berry was very good at planning. In fact she was so good that she had events management lined up should her Broadway career ever fail.
Yes, surprisingly to most people Rachel did have alternatives; she recognised that the future is unpredictable so she had her fail safe- because she's a planner.
She derives great satisfaction from watching her individual strands weave together into a nice plait... (metaphors are important to her, don't judge) and she also enjoys the feeling of control.
Don't get her wrong she likes to let loose just as much as the next teenager- well, as she glances to her right she rescinds that statement- Noah lets loose a little too much. Pondering that thought she then glances to her left at David... He didn't let loose enough. She again revises her statement, she likes to let loose in the correct dosages in accordance with the general adolescent population.
Back to point; control. Rachel particularly likes control because she hasn't had much of it in her life. She was unable control any of her parents' leaving her... She couldn't control he peers negative perception of her... And she couldn't control her relationship with Jessie.
In retrospect, it was wrong of her to even attempt to do so. She could accept that if it had not been for her manipulation of the alpha males in the show choir circuit, she and Jessie could have parted ways as friends. Amicably.
Control was not all it's cracked up to be.
She always admired Quinn for her sense of control. She could wrangle even the most unruly Cheerios to perform flawless acrobatic feats; she could wrap the boys of McKinley around her pinky finger with just a glance, and scare of the beefiest jock with that hot glare- ahem! Terrifying glare that had people quaking in their sneakers, not have their knees weakening in desire... Uh Uh. Nope. Definitely not.
What was she talking about again? (Yes, she rambles in her own head! At least she doesn't talk to herself.
Well, there was that one time...
Shut it!
Jeez sorry okay!)
Anyway! Plans! She could make intricate ones that were planned down to the last microsecond, or just general plans like for college.
This plan-considering she had minions (don't tell them she said that) - was rather simple.
She wasn't making a point about her friends' intelligence, she knew they were both highly intelligent people, but it came back to control.
The fewer variables that entered the equation, the less room there was for error. (Again, with the metaphors).
She had devised a five step plan.
She respected that sometimes the simpler things in life were superior. Rachel gave a nod of her head, pleased with herself.
STEP ONE: Plough the earth.
STEP TWO: Sow the seeds.
STEP THREE: Observe growth.
STEP FOUR: Harvest and kill pests.
STEP FIVE: Reap the rewards.
STEP ONE: Plough the earth
It was midnight in Lima Ohio. All was quiet in the sleepy town. The stars were twinkling in the night sky and the majority of the population were tucked up in their beds.
However...Outside the local school, there were three individuals that were most certainly not in the land of dreams but were decked out in black garments with a rucksack fastened to their backs. They were attempting to blend into the night as they aimed to fulfil their mischievous purpose.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Dave asked as he watched Puck deftly pick the padlock connected to the red doubled doors sealing the entrance.
"The ends, justifies the means." Rachel replied.
"Yeah, totally." Puck grunted, there was an audible click, "Bingo."
"The game is afoot!" Rachel giggled. What fucked up planet was he on? "Everyone got their radios tuned into channel 5?"
The boys murmured an affirmative. Rachel really had thought of every detail... She had purchased 3 two-way radios on-line and then travelled to various stores out of town for any equipment that she wasn't already in possession of, so that this wouldn't be traced back to them. Which honestly wasn't a lot, why Rachel already had an abseiling harness, they did not know.
"Alright... You know your missions, synchronise watches!"
"Rach, we already did that three times before we left."
"Don't refer to any of us by name until we are home safe! The airwaves are monitored Noah. "Rachel scolded; it wasn't her fault that she needed to re-check things! Well, okay it kind of was... But, now was not the time to slack off!
"Chillax Shark Bait. We get in do our thing then get out, we have twenty minutes." Puck said.
"And if we aren't done by then, abort and reconvene at the burrow." Dave finished. Apparently, Rachel really likes the Harry Potter franchise...
"Okay. On three? One... Two... Three!"
"All for one and one for all!" They whisper yelled, before dashing into the building, flashlights at the ready.
-/-
STEP TWO: Sow the seeds
Step two was simply magnificent because it organised itself.
All the jocks had training at the same time and whilst normally overcrowding of an area used for sanitation purposes would concern Rachel, this time it made for the perfect drop zone.
Noah and Dave had managed to be excused from training due to Rachel's spectacular acting abilities- Sam wasn't the only one capable of doing impressions you know- and were therefore given a suitable alibi. Tooth aches were very disruptive to one's routine: not that Rachel would know because her vegan lifestyle and rigorous dental cleansing regimen insured that it wasn't something that would ever affect her.
Rachel was of course immediately exempt from any suspicions that she would be behind the prank because of her obviously being a member of the female species and therefore not allowed to be in the boys' locker room and also because who would think that Rachel Berry was capable of having a backbone after having Finn Hudson walk all over her.
Rachel only lashed out when she felt threatened. Finn Hudson was incapable of inspiring such an emotion in her. He was a gullible soul, and easily led. Once Rachel had sorted herself out she would try and befriend him again. He was a good guy deep down, but loses his way sometimes. She'd need to write out a plan for that too…
With the jocks, she felt her friends being threatened, and one thing that should be understood is; that when it comes to people she cares about... You don't mess with Rachel Barbara Berry.
-/-
STEP THREE: Observe growth
Rachel was a genius.
Dave wasn't scared to say it. Rachel Berry was an evil genius. Thank god she was on his side. Or should he say Yahweh? That's more respectful right?
The outcome of their prank was almost immediately visible.
The screams were the first things to be heard before all the jocks fled the locker room in towels. Into the crowded corridor.
Laughter erupted from all around.
Not only were the sportsmen only covering what very little modesty they had, but they were covered in a suspiciously translucent white fluid and sparkling. "All we have to do is unscrew all the shower heads and fill them with this," Rachel gestured to the bottles of PVA glue that she'd mixed with glitter," Then screw it back on. Simple yet effective." -/- END FLASHBACK -/-
-/- FLASHBACK -/-
Unfortunately for the boys, red faced in their towels that wasn't all Rachel had done.
Whilst they had dashed out in a panic, she had taken the time to activate part two of the prank.
The thing about the boys was... They were simple. They liked things to be within reach and so they would dump their clothes in a pile close to the showers. The same spot every time.
Unfortunately for them, Rachel had made use of her harness and rigging to string up a bucket of slush that they had stolen out of the Big Gulp machine in the cafeteria, and when the time was right, she pulled a cord and it dropped onto the clothes.
Suffice to say, the football players were hugely disgraced. They had to walk around in all the clothes that were left in lost and found. Three words: skinny jeans and vests. The 'and' didn't count as a word in that.
-/-
STEP FOUR: Harvest and kill pests.
"Why am I here?" Rachel asked.
"Because, Miss Berry," The blank faced man droned, "You have made numerous complaints against the athletes that were assaulted today."
"I thought slushies were not considered a form of assault?" Rachel crossed her arms in her chair. This was typical Figgins, protecting his investments… Shame he invested in the wrong ones.
"That rule was recently reviewed. Where were you when the attack occurred?"
"In the corridor, my next lesson is just passed the boys' locker room and I was aiming to arrive my usual five minutes ahead of the late bell. However, due to the chaos that took place and shambolic handling I made my entrance to the class only one minute before the bell sounded."
"How convenient Miss Berry." Rachel stood from her seat and promptly set her hands on her hips. Figgins actually had the audacity to roll his eyes at her. Oh he has this coming…
"Are you insinuating my participation in a cruel act against my fellow man, without any evidence? How dare you! This is defamation of character, and I will not stand for it." The principal sat there unaffected and Rachel inwardly smirked. "I could sue."
Bingo.
"Ah, hold on a bit Miss Berry." Figgins flapped in his leather chair. He would just have to grit his teeth and bear it. Damn that girl…
"You have an apology for me?" Rachel said, far too innocently, folding her arms once more.
"I am ever so s… so… soorrrry." He spluttered, Rachel grinned.
"Now that wasn't so hard was it? I accept your apology Principal Figgins, don't let this happen again, otherwise we'll be having words and some steps may be taken to ensure this behaviour doesn't continue. Now, I'll see you bright and early on Monday morning. Have a good weekend sir!" Rachel turned and left the office, smile firmly in place.
As the door swung shut, the man sat in a daze in his seat. "What just happened?"
-/-
Rachel ticked off the fourth point in her checklist with her glittery gel pen. Now all they had to do was celebrate and the plan was complete.
"You did it, didn't you?" Rachel jumped at the sudden appearance of Quinn.
"I have no idea to what you are referring Quinn, now if you will excuse me I'll be on my way."
Rachel went to move passed but was stopped by a gentle grip on her arm. The singer paused, staring at the pale hand, with a frown. Quinn hadn't actually touched since that day freshman year. Her hands were still really soft.
Quinn, embarrassed by her actions, let her hand fall away. Rachel didn't want to admit that she missed the warmth.
"I wasn't going to turn you in or anything, I just wanted to say... T-that was pretty amazing Rach-el."
Rachel quirked her eyebrow up at the slip and found it incredibly endearing at how the blonde turned red in the face.
"Well, if I had happened to be involved in whichever incident that you happen to be referring to; I would say thank you very much and it's nice to know my efforts were appreciated."
Quinn smiled in amusement. Rachel felt her breath catch in her throat as she felt herself being catapulted back in time. She nearly laughed in spite of herself as she realised that she was in the exact same hallway that they had first met in.
-/FLASHBACK/- Rachel was There was Rachel turned the corner and was knocked to the floor. She rubbed her elbow which seemed to have absorbed the brunt of the impact and was about to give a stern lecture to the bumbling buffoon that had almost inflicted damage to her person. Imagine if she had screamed! Her voice could have been Rachel shoved herself to her feet and looked for her attacker, only for the fight to immediately leave her. Apparently, the girl she ran into was worse off than her, and still on the floor. Rachel crouched down in front of the blonde and felt a wave of sympathy at the tear tracks marking her beautiful face. "Hey, are you okay?" Rachel delicately rested her hand on the girl's shoulder and fought down a gasp as the most beautiful hazel suddenly snapped open and were trained on her. "Y-you aren't going t-to slushy me?" The raspy voice tugged at her heartstrings and Rachel knew she was in trouble. First day of school and she's already crushing on a girl. Noah was going to have a field day with this. Rachel chuckled at the question," It's only my first day; I guess it's yours too?" The blonde gave a hesitant smile, "You guessed correctly." Rachel easily returned the smile before noticing the girl was still on the ground. "As much as I enjoy finally being taller than someone else, maybe you should get off the floor?" The blonde turned red and nodded, accepting the hand Rachel extends to help her up. "Thanks. I'm L-Quinn. Quinn Fabray." Rachel noticed the slip but shrugged it off. High school was a new start for most. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance Quinn, I'm Rachel Berry." "I'm sorry for knocking you down, I got lost and... There are a lot of people." "I don't mind, but I'll have you know I'm quite good with directions. May I be of assistance?" Quinn grinned before ducking her head shyly, "I'd like that." She whispered quietly, glancing up through her lashes. Yep, she was a goner. -/END FLASHBACK/-
Quinn watched as Rachel gave a little jolt, coming back out of her head. She had to say, this corridor held a lot of memories for her. She never forgot the adorable brunette that helped her find her way.
Quinn thought it was ironic that Rachel had helped her find her way again without knowing it.
"Well, I have some prior engagements to attend to, have a pleasant day Quinn." Quinn gave the brunette a smiled in response, and watched as she walked away, down the deserted corridor.
She hoped that this was the beginning of something between them. She had bowed to others will for far too long, it was time to be herself again.
-/-
I woke up yesterday to a text message telling me the sad news about Cory Monteith. I'm still having trouble believing it… He seemed like such a good guy, and it's sad to see such a bright talent extinguished far before its time. My thoughts go out to his friends, family and of course Lea.
So…
What did you think? Was it worth waiting for? Reviews are, as always, much appreciated.