Brand New Start
Chapter 11
Rachel POV
My stomach is actually in knots as we pull up to the theater for the first day of rehearsal. I know it's not a big play, but it's my first starring role. Of course finding out that Jesse was going to be the assistant director kind of put a downside on the whole thing, but it's only running for a few weeks and then he will be back out of my life for good.
"What time do you have to be in there?" Finn asks from beside me.
"In about ten minutes. I just need to go in and put my stuff away. I'll show you where you can sit to watch the rehearsal."
"Don't worry about me; I'll just be looking around."
"Finn…" I say concerned.
"What? It's not like I'm going to go find him and beat the crap out of him or anything. I just want to talk to him."
"It's not a good idea. Besides I'm sure he's busy with the play."
We walk in to the theater together and he reaches out and grabs my hand and pulls me toward him.
"Finn, I said I needed to get…." I look over and see Jesse coming out of his office and Finn's grip on my hand tightens.
"Well, I didn't realize you would be brining someone on the first day to rehearsal." Jesse says looking past Finn and walking directly toward me.
"Well he's not just anyone, and I already ok'd it with the director." I say quickly.
"Oh I wasn't going to yell at you Rachel. But I can imagine that Finn would be pretty bored with all this technical stuff."
"Standing right here!" Finn says looking directly at Jesse. "And I'll be just fine! But thanks so much for your concern for me."
I smile over at Finn who is still staring intently at Jesse.
"So Finn, you found your way out of Lima. Must say I'm pretty surprised, I figured you would already have some little blonde baby running around your front yard in diapers by now."
I feel Finn tense beside me.
"Nah, my life is with Rachel."
"How sweet of you to give up what you love for Rachel. The city must be so strange for you."
"I survive pretty well actually."
"Yes, Rachel told me about your little band." Jesse says laughing slightly.
"Well it's just something I do for fun. I'm trying to focus on my career right now. And being there to support Rachel in any way she needs me." Finn says leaning over and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I find myself smiling at how protective he is being. It's adorable when Finn takes care of me.
"Well I don't think Rachel needs much from anyone but herself. Depending on others only leads to disappointment. Right Rachel?" Jesse says turning toward me.
"Actually I find it kind of tiring to only depend on myself. I don't know where I would be without Finn." I say smiling up at Finn. "Now I need to go drop my stuff off and get ready for rehearsal. Excuse me."
I walk away from the two of them and turn the corner toward my dressing room as I hear Finn talking.
"And by the way, if you even look at her wrong, totally kicking your ass this time." I hear Finn say.
Jesse laughs "Gonna be hard for you to do from Lima don't you think? I hear I've got her all to myself for Thanksgiving. I would hate for her to spend it alone." I start to walk back toward them and I see Finn lean over so that he is towering over Jesse.
"Ok look I know what I said, but I really don't want to kick your ass because Rachel hates violence, but trust me when I tell you that you can't do anything to ruin my relationship with Rachel. You can try, but it won't matter. Rachel and I are solid. So out of respect for her I'm not going to hit you right now." I see Jesse flinch. "But let's not make this whole talking thing a habit between us, because I can only hold back for small periods of time around you. Enjoy your play Jesse." Finn turns and walks toward the auditorium and Jesse walks back toward his office with a frown on his face.
I head back to my dressing room smiling inside. My boyfriend really is all kinds of awesome.
"You ready Ms. Berry?" I hear Billy say from outside my dressing room. I open the door and smile.
"Billy dear, I'm ready as I ever will be. And how is my sweet Peter today?" I giggle and pinch his cheeks.
"I'm doing awesome. But have you seen that tall drink of water in the auditorium. Holy God he's hot."
"Excuse me?" I ask confused.
"When you see him, you'll know who I'm talking about. Six feet plus, reaching to heavens, eyes like chocolate and built like something I'd like to test drive." We walk into the auditorium and he points toward Finn. I giggle loudly.
"Yeah sorry, but that one has already been taken for a test drive and I'm not giving him back."
"Dammit he's yours? You sure know how to reel in the big ones my dear." He laughs and walks out onto the stage as I wave to Finn and take my place to begin rehearsal.
Throughout the entire rehearsal Jesse was in a terrible mood. Screaming out that we weren't saying our lines correctly or were out of position on stage. Sure it wasn't much different than his normal mood but I could see him glance in Finn's direction every time he would yell at me for doing something wrong.
"Dude it's our first day, don't you think you are being a bit hard?" Bill says after he is scolded for the fourth time for saying "Off to Neverland" in the wrong tone.
"Do you want this play to be the best or do you just want to do something people forget?" Jesse yells. "Take five! I need a cigarette."
I start to climb down from the stage and see Finn jump up and run over to help me down. "Thanks babe." I say as I lean down to kiss him as he picks me up from the stage and places me down on the ground.
"This play is brutal. I thought this was a kid's production. Jesse is running you guys into the ground."
"And I'm sure that had nothing to do with any pep talk you might have given him earlier right?" I giggle.
"What could you possibly mean? Besides, I said I wouldn't hit him, you never said I couldn't talk to him." He says winking at me.
The rest of rehearsal was pretty much the same with Jesse barking out our mistakes and sighing about how we needed extra rehearsals just to get things right. Luckily the director stopped by and told us how happy he was with our progress for the first day and Jesse seemed to remain quiet opting to return to his office for the rest of rehearsal.
As I'm packing up to leave Bill walks into my dressing room. "Ok introduce me now Berry."
I look up and he's standing next to Finn and biting his lip. "Ok Billy, relax and remember he's taken." I giggle and look over at Finn who is staring at me uncomfortably. "Bill this is Finn."
"Hey dude, nice to meet you. You did a good job up there. I'm a huge fan of Peter Pan." Finn says holding out his hand.
Bill grabs his hand and shakes it. "It's the tights right? Everyone loves the tights."
"Uh not really a green tights kinda dude, it was the not growing up part that was cool." Finn laughs uncomfortably.
Bill sighs disappointed. "Well I guess they can't all be fabulous like me." He smiles up at Finn once more and heads for the door. "Don't be a stranger; we all need someone out in the audience to keep us motivated." He waves and walks out the door.
"Uh he means for me to motivate YOU right?" Finn questions.
"I wouldn't count on that." I giggle.
"What it with me and gay dudes?"
"Well it's not your fault you were born this hot." I say as I walk over and run my hands up his chest. "Personally I blame your mother." I lean up and kiss him on the lips as he leans down and lifts me off the ground.
"I'll have to tell her that when I see her." He laughs in my ear.
"Was she upset I'm not coming for Thanksgiving?" I ask as he sets my feet back on the ground.
"Nah, she was sad, but she was really happy you got this part. She's sad she's going to miss your first starring role."
"Finn, it's a musical about Peter Pan for kids. It's not like I'm on Broadway." I start gathering up my stuff to leave and I feel him walk up behind me.
"I don't care what you do, you're still a star and you're only going to get brighter and brighter with every role until you shine so brightly that you will own this town the same way you own my heart."
I turn around quickly and capture his lips with mine. "I love you so much Finn Hudson. The way you believe in me, the way you support me, I'm the luckiest girl in the world."
He throws his head back and laughs, "Yeah, well don't you forget it babe. I'm quite the catch, or so I've been told." He winks and kisses me again.
We head out toward the car and I see Jesse getting into a cab outside the theater. He looks over at me and frowns. Finn quickly raises his hand and waves to him. I grab his hand and pull it back down. "Now you are just being juvenile." I laugh.
"What?" He smirks. "Can't a guy say goodbye. I'm just being….what's that word you use when you are being nice to someone you don't like?"
"Civil?"
"Yeah, I'm just being civil babe." He laughs as he opens my car door and I climb into my seat.
"So, Central Park?" He asks.
"That sounds lovely." I grin staring over at him. "Oh I heard from Sam, they are coming home for the holidays too. They weren't happy I wasn't going to be there for Thanksgiving, but they are staying for Christmas so at least I get to see them."
"That's cool. I'll tell mom to set two more plates then."
"Are you sure you are ok with me not coming for Thanksgiving?"
"Baby, I'm not happy about it because I would rather share it with you, but I understand why you won't be there. As long as I get you for Christmas, I think I can share you with the world for a day. I'm sure I'm going to have to get used to sharing you anyway once you are famous."
I laugh loudly. "Well don't go worrying about that just yet. I may be the one having to share soon after One night Stand plays for New Year's Eve. All the girls are going to be knocking me over to get to that hot drummer."
He parks the car and looks at me. "Yeah well I have it on good authority that the drummer only has eyes for one girl." He leans over and smiles at me.
"Oh really, pretty lucky girl then." I giggle.
"Yeah I hear he's pretty much in love with you or something."
"Me? Oh my! Well since you seem to know him so well, maybe you can introduce us." I giggle.
"I think I can pull some strings." He grabs me around the back of the neck and pulls me against his mouth and even after all these years I still feel the hairs on my arm stand up and my heart flutters and the world stands still just from one kiss. As much as I want the fame and the feeling of standing on the stage singing my heart out in front of a packed audience, nothing will ever beat this feeling of being held, of being loved, of being part of something special with Finn.
"I love you Finn." I whisper in his ear.
"I love you too babe. You'll always be my star." I lean back and look up at him.
"And you'll always be my hot drummer." I giggle as he kisses my neck.
"Yeah I've known that since 10th grade." He grins.
"What?" I ask confused.
"You said it in that song we did for sectionals. 'My hearts a drummer.' I pretty much knew from that day on that I needed it to be me." He leans over and kisses me one more time as I bring my lips to his ear and whisper.
"It's always been you."