Because Burt was a Senator, there had been a lot of press at Finn's funeral. A photographer that was there took a picture of Rachel kneeling in front of Finn's grave and soon it was plastered over newspapers across the country. Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle were using Rachel and her loss as a stepping stone for their agenda. People followed her everywhere she went, writing articles about her life without Finn. They didn't have much to write.
Rachel hadn't been able to stay in Lima, so she'd come back to New York with Kurt. She'd dropped out of school and didn't think she'd ever go back. Everything in her life was falling apart, and she couldn't seem to do anything about it.
Kurt made her eat, made her shower, and made her walk with him every day. He told her stories and watched Barbara movies with her, buying her clothes that would fit her ever expanding belly. Most nights found them on the couch, her feet in his lap, and both staring out the window instead of at the TV. She knew he was thinking about Finn, just like she was. But they didn't talk about it.
Hearing the door open, Rachel turned around from her seat at the window. Her eyes widened as she realized who'd walked in, her mouth dropping open. "April Rhodes?"
"Well hey, darlin'," the small blonde said, walking into the room. "Your friend let me in, told me what room I could find you in." She looked around Rachel's dark room, noticing the unmade bed and piles of clothes. "Well this is depressing."
"I'm sorry," Rachel said, shaking her head. "But I don't really understand…?"
"Oh, why I'm here?" April said, tossing some clothes off a chair and sitting down in it. "Well it's sure not for home decorating tips, I'll tell you that." Rachel didn't say anything, watching the woman. "Will called me," she told Rachel.
"Mr. Schuester? Why?"
"Well, it seems that everyone is in a tizzy, worrying about lil ol' you."
Rachel's forehead wrinkled. "But why call you?"
April picked up a picture from Rachel's desk. Finn smiled at her, wearing his football jersey and looking so alive and happy that it broke Rachel's heart every time she looked at it. But she couldn't put it away. She'd tried four times, and every time she found herself crying on the floor, clutching it to her chest. "He was a really nice kid," April told her, looking at the picture. "Immune to my charms, which could be perceived as a flaw, but a real nice kid anyway." She sat the picture down. "Will has been a good friend to me. You know I have my own Broadway show?" Rachel nodded. "I wouldn't have it if it wasn't for Will. So I owe him."
"Okay," Rachel said, still confused.
"You're good," April told her. "Not like this, maybe," she said, gesturing to Rachel's jogging pants and messy hair. "But you're good. And thanks to the newspapers, you've got a little publicity of your own."
"You hated me," Rachel reminded her.
"Of course I did," April said. "I was an alcoholic mess, pissing my life away. And you…I never doubted for a minute that you would make it. You'd do what I hadn't been able to."
"But I didn't," Rachel said. "I won't."
"You will," April told her. "And I can help you."
"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked her.
"Child, haven't you been listening to a word I say?" April said, hitting Rachel's leg lightly. "I have a Broadway show. I owe Will a favor. You're good. You're walking publicity."
Rachel stared at the woman, wide eyed. "You want me to be in your show?" she asked incredulously.
"Well not right now. I can't have a pregnant teenager waddling around on the stage." She thought for a moment. "Or maybe…no, no pregnant teenagers."
"I'm a nobody," Rachel told her. "I can't even finish school."
"Do you think I went to school?" April told her. "I moved to New York at 18, ready to take on the world."
"Weren't you scared?" Rachel asked her softly.
"Of course not," April said, snorting. "I was too stupid to be scared."
Rachel smiled a little at that. "I don't think I'm ever going to be okay again," she admitted, looking down into her lap. "I just have this hole in my soul now."
"Don't people say it gets better with time?"
"They do," Rachel said quietly. "But they didn't lose Finn."
"Well that's true enough," April said. She stood up and Rachel looked at her. "I told Will I'd help you out, and I will. Besides, you'll be helping me out, too." She winked at Rachel. "You call me when you're ready."
Rachel watched the woman walk out of her room and turned to look out the window. She had just been given the chance to be on Broadway.
Without Finn to watch her, she wasn't sure it mattered anymore.