Disclaimer : Unfortunately, I have no rights on Glee and its characters!
Thanks to my Beta: midnightwriter01
Thanks to auntdedra for your review!
Chapter 10: A part of herself
2 weeks later
The time had passed since Rachel's last interaction with the Glee-Club. She had not set foot in the rehearsal room since Finn had made it clear that he wanted to kick her out of the group. It is true that they always crossed each other at certain classes, but the willing Rachel, first in class, had given way to a young woman who had been shut up and solitary, almost no longer taking part. She arrived at the last minute and was the first to go out. It had become almost impossible for Glee Club members to talk to her. Anyway, she did not want it so much.
Kurt and Santana had always news from her, whether via the internet or SMS, but they could hardly talk to her face to face. Santana was doing everything possible to go home at the same time as the brunette to make sure she was doing well. She knew very well that it was not on this kind of trip that something could happen to her, but it made her feel good to be, in a way, helpful. From time to time she gave news to Kurt and Blaine who were the only ones to deserve this kind of information.
"How is she?" Kurt asked, taking advantage of the short time he had with Santana before the rest of the group arrived at the Glee-Club.
"I could not tell you ... I did not really know her before all that and it's not like we're talking a lot at night. It's more banalities than anything else."
Kurt then grimaced, it was not actually Santana who was best placed to notice the changes in character of the brunette. Their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of everyone in the rehearsal room. For about one or two days, Rachel's absence and her eternal motivation began to be felt. Nobody really understood how important she was before she actually was gone.
"I'm missing her long monologues ..."
"Stop, Tina", began Santana, "you and your little friends, you were the first to criticize her from the moment she opened her mouth, to sing or not."
"Because you treated her like a friend maybe?" Puck said, visibly annoyed.
"No, I never said that, but I do not take myself for a hypocrite like certain. Today I regret not having been her friend. But at least I did not try to fire her like some people and I did not let her down like others."
Silence then reigned in the hall until Mr Schuester arrived in the room, beginning with the theme of the week: cult songs. For him, those songs had become unmistakable titles in our societies because they were released at the right time by having touched the right people. Either through movies or inescapable words or even both. All this week was to find the song that, in their eyes, was worship for their own lives and for their future.
It was then Finn who started the week, he was as invigorated since the departure of Rachel which deeply irritated Kurt, Blaine and Santana. It was a profound lack of respect towards their friend. They did not move an inch and did not accompany him when he started singing Scorpions: "Still loving you". With the orientation of his eyes throughout the song, we could see than his performance was dedicated to Quinn.
/0/
Time, it needs time
To win back your love again
I will be there, I will be there
Love, only love
Can bring back your love someday
I will be there, I will be there
/0/
Fight, baby I'll fight
To win back your love again
I will be there, I will be there
Love, only love
Can break down the wall someday
I will be there, I will be there
/0/
If we'd go again all the way from the start
I would try to change the things that killed our love
Your pride has built a wall so strong that I can't get through
Is there really no chance to start once again?
I'm loving you
/0/
Throughout the rest of the song that seemed to continue for too long minutes especially for Quinn, Santana restrained herself from running towards the young man who did not lack a nerve. Rachel had dropped himso he was returning to the only person who had wanted him at some point. However, she knew that Quinn was no longer interested in Finn and was looking forward to the moment when she would make him understand that he was putting his finger in the eye if he thought they were going back together in the near future as distant.
They finished this session and Quinn tried to leave hurriedly to avoid having to meet Finn more than necessary but he caught up with her. Santana stayed away with Kurt and Blaine, all three curious to see what was going to happen. The blonde then clearly explained to him that she still preferred to sleep with Puck again rather than go out with him. She had been frankly disgusted by his way of behaving with Rachel when he had no certainty about what she had done in New York. Santana wanted to take Quinn in her arms just for the annoyed head that Finn had just shown.
-0-
The weekend was approaching and nobody was able to find the motivation. Mr Schue then decided to take them to the auditorium for a few sessions in situ, thinking it would help. The whole group then took the path of the place in silence. It was on their return that they had a big surprise, it was Rachel. She was present behind the piano playing some notes. Nobody said a word and the spotlight prevented the brunette from noticing them if she did not focus on them.
POV Rachel
I have to try, no, I have to do it myself. I can't let them win, I have to sing. If it's not for a career, at least to re-educate my voice a bit. I'm coughing too much right now and the meds help very little. It's my fault too, I prefer natural remedies that are necessarily less powerful. Come on Rachel!
"... Such a beautiful voice ..."
No Rachel, stop, you do not have to listen to these damn voices, you're the only one to lead your destiny and it's not those voices that will stop you. You know that you can line up more than one word on these notes, it was so easy in the past.
"... so bad we can't hear you singing right now ..."
No, no, no, it's like cycling, you can sing, no one is there to hear you, it's just you and your voice. Nothing can take you off the music, it's a part of you.
/0/
There's a fire starting in my heart
/0/
" … an other time … "
Shit ... I ... No ...
External POV
All were speechless in front of what they had just seen, Rachel had tried to sing but after a simple little sentence humming in a trembling voice, she had cracked. She had knocked on the piano, leaving a small shining tear in the spotlight, and beading on her cheek. Rachel, however, recovered quickly enough and went out without anyone being supposed to know for her passage. It was clear to all, if she did not sing, it was not that she did not want it but that she could not. For Santana and Kurt, this moment had broken them, seeing their friend in such a state was horrifying.