AN: Thanks for all your reviews, alerts and favourites! I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Chapter 25 – Got Me Feeling So Right
When Rachel arrived home on Wednesday evening she was tired after a long rehearsal for Evita. The musical was just over two weeks away and rehearsals were getting crazy, especially as she was now playing Eva. Rachel was very much looking forward to Christmas Break, the time off was just what she would be needing.
She went and set her things down in her corner of the apartment before returning to the main area where Kurt and Santana were.
It was at this point that she noticed their appearances. Both were dressed very nicely, a going out of the town kind of nice. Kurt was wearing a sharp, grey suit paired with a dark blue, patterned scarf. Santana was wearing a little red dress with black stilettos.
"What you two up to?" Rachel asked curiously, sinking down onto the couch and curling up.
"We're going out on the town! We're getting back in the game. It's this or sitting here eating chocolate like losers," Santana declared. "This girl at work told me about a bar around here called Metropolitan. It's a gay bar and it's supposed to be really great, so Kurt and I are going to check it out."
"Her friend even hooked us up with fake IDs," Kurt added excitedly. "So we don't have to rely on Santana's powers of persuasion, other wise known as her boobs, to get us drinks."
"Not that anyone could think you're twenty one," Santana told him dryly. "You barely look twelve."
"That's not true!" Kurt retorted indignantly.
"Yeah, he looks at least fifteen," Rachel said teasingly.
Santana laughed, a real laugh, something that had been missing since her break up with Brittany.
"So, want to come with us?" Santana asked mischievously.
"I love you guys, but I think I'll stay here. I'm exhausted and I've still got homework to do for tomorrow," Rachel answered. "But have fun, and don't do anything too stupid. You both have work tomorrow, remember? If I don't hear you come in by 3 I'm going to check up on you!"
"Oh, we'll be back by then, Rach," Kurt said airily. "Isabelle may be a great boss but I don't think she'd appreciate me arriving late and hungover."
"I hate to say it, but Kurt's right. We're just going out to get out of the apartment, have a bit of fun. I promise not to let Kurt, or myself get wasted," Santana promised seriously, her bright eyes twinkling.
Rachel was relieved to see them in such good moods and was quite grateful to have the apartment to herself for the night.
"Okay, well, have fun, and I'll see you both tomorrow!" Rachel said cheerfully, standing with as much energy as possible to go and get her homework.
"Bye Rachel," Kurt said, as he and Santana headed for the door.
"Bye Little Miss Overachiever!" Santana said cheerfully and they were gone.
Rachel ignored Santana's light hearted dig. So what if she was an overachiever? It's what made her successful, it's what would make her a famous Broadway access. She had dreams and goals and she worked for them, and nothing could get in her way, even Brody. Brody was proving to be a distraction, and an enjoyable one at that. There had been a time when Rachel thought that anything that distracted her from her goals was a bad thing, but now she was learning that having balance, and fun, in her life was important. Brody provided that and Rachel was very much enjoying it.
Now however, it was work time, and Rachel pulled out her sheet music for Eva's Final Broadcast and began to practice the song.
Naturally Rachel had learnt all the lyrics and music long ago, but she still had to work long and hard over every song to make her performance flawless, for she would be flawless. Fate had handed her the gift of the lead instead of the understudy, and she would deliver an incredible performance. NYADA would realise that she was a star, the audience would be in awe and Cassandra July would realise that she was one of the two who would make it.
The next day Rachel and Brody were sitting together, after their class with Madame Tibideaux. Rachel was leaning into Brody's side and he had his arm around her, and they were looking at one another and talking to each other as only lovers do.
"You know, rehearsals are so much better now that you're Eva, they're hardly like work anymore, especially when I get to rehearse kissing you," Brody said, placing a soft kiss on her lips to prove the point. "And watching you dance is so sexy. Seeing the look on Cassandra's face is almost as good as watching you. It's like she can't decide whether to be impressed with you, or hate you because you're so good now."
"Oh, stop it, you," Rachel said through lowered lashes, loving his praise. "I wish she'd just choose to be impressed, though. I don't want to hate her, but she makes it hard for me not to. I can't imagine why she persists in hating me, not when I'm making such a effort."
Brody's answer was to say, "Don't both trying to understand her, it will just make you angry and tired."
"That's very true," Rachel agreed with a small sigh.
"So I was thinking," Brody began.
"You were thinking?" Rachel interrupted, feigning shock. "Careful, don't hurt yourself!"
"Hey," Brody said, feigning a look of deep hurt. "But seriously, how about we go to Callbacks tomorrow night? Bring Santana and Kurt too. It'll be a great way to unwind after the week of rehearsals, and I can spend some time getting to know your friends."
"I don't think I should, Brody," Rachel protested mildly. "I have homework to do, lines to learn off by heart. I mean, there is no such thing as being underprepared. There'll be plenty of time to do fun things during the Christmas Break."
"Rachel, you're going to snap if you keep working this hard all the time," Brody countered. "You can take one evening off, you should take one evening off. You'll burn out if you don't."
"I won't burn out!" Rachel retorted. "I won't get where I need to be without hard work. No one became successful by having fun, well, maybe a few people did, but you know what I mean."
"Rachel, you work harder than pretty much anyone I know, and I've also seen people work without a break and they crash and burn in the end. I don't want that to happen to you. I just want to spend a few hours with my sexy girlfriend and her friends on a Friday night," Brody reasoned calmly.
Rachel took a few deep, calming breaths and remembered her rational thoughts from the night before about balance, then said, "Okay, going to Callbacks does sound like a good idea. I'll invite Kurt and Santana too."
Brody smiled at her then, an easy, relieved smile and said, "Great. I suppose you're just going to make me meet you there, instead of letting me pick you up?"
"You know I would love for you to pick me up, but it's just a silly waste of time," Rachel replied. "Do you want to meet for dinner before we go to Callbacks?"
"It's up to you," Brody said charmingly.
"Well, I might just have a bite to eat at home and we can all meet you there?" Rachel suggested.
"Sure," Brody agreed. "Want to go grab some lunch now before your next class?"
"Okay, but only something light. I don't really like to eat heaps before a class with Cassie," Rachel replied.
Brody and Rachel had lunch, then Rachel went to her dance class, then they had a rehearsal for Evita. The cast rehearsed all together Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday, and they did plenty of independent work and work in small groups as well. Opening night was almost two weeks away, so they were up to the stage where they rehearsed chunks of each act at a time, moulding the acting, singing and dancing elements together that they'd been working on separately.
Rachel got home and found Kurt and Santana home already, sitting in front of the TV, but not really watching it.
"You two look exhausted," Rachel greeted them cheerfully. "Big night? I heard you come in just before two."
"It was…interesting," Kurt said slowly. "And it's safe to say I'll leave late night for the weekend from now on. But it was good to get out of the house."
"Oh Porcelain, you didn't even really let loose!" Santana protested.
"Yes I did, I went out and talked to new guys! Just because I didn't makeout with someone, unlike you," Kurt retorted good naturedly.
"So, you had a good night, Santana," Rachel said with a smile. It would be interested to see what Santana got up to, now that she was out of the closet, single and in a big, new city.
"Yes I did," Santana said with satisfaction. "And I have a date for Saturday night."
"Wow, that was fast," Rachel said, trying to hide her shock.
"It's just a date, we're not getting married," Santana said pointedly.
"Okay. Well, Brody and I are going to Callbacks tomorrow night, and we wanted to know if you and Kurt would come too?" Rachel asked.
"Of course! I've been dying to go!" Kurt exclaimed. "Especially when I was planning to go to NYADA, but it will still be amazing."
"Sure, sounds good. We can show them how you sing a real duet, Berry," Santana said.
"Of course I'll sing with you," Rachel said, focusing on that aspect, rather than addressing the point that most people at NYADA were very good singers, and could sing a great duet as well.
Accordingly, Friday night found Rachel, Brody, Santana and Kurt walking into Callbacks together.
There was another good crowd, and a guy and a girl were singing Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by P!nk.
"This place is great!" Kurt exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's a pretty good spot," Brody agreed congenially. "Are you going to sing tonight?"
"I don't think so, but Santana and Rachel are. If you thought Mercedes and Santana were good together in Lima, wait until you hear these two. It's something else," Kurt told Brody seriously.
Brody looked at his girlfriend, who was busily talking with Santana. Rachel was wearing an embellished green mini dress with a pair of nude heels. She had been wearing a heavy coat over the top, as it was the last day of November, but she'd left that in the cloakroom in the front. Santana looked just as appealing, wearing a short, white pencil skirt, with a bright, floral peplum top and purple heels. Yes, the girls would make quite a sensation when they sang.
"So, what are you two singing tonight?" Brody asked the girls, as the four of them sat down at a table.
"Who told you?" Rachel asked disappointedly. "We were going to surprise you."
Brody stayed quiet and Kurt looked guilty.
"Of course it was Kurt," Santana said in amusement. "I mean, who else could have anyway? We're not telling you what we're singing, that can at least be a surprise."
Brody chuckled and said, "Well, who wants drinks then?"
"Oh, I'll have a Strawberry Daiquiri," Santana said immediately, and Rachel and Kurt added their orders after her.
When Brody returned to the table Santana said, "So, are you going to sing tonight? After hearing you sing with Rachel we should get to hear you on your own."
"I might sing something," Brody said noncommittally.
"Well, we're going to sing now," Rachel announced, finishing her drink.
Santana followed suit and walked with Rachel to the stage.
Santana spoke to the pianist and she and Rachel grabbed a microphone each.
"I'm feeling sexy and free, like glitter's raining on me. You're like a shot of pure gold, I think I'm 'bout to explode," Santana sang.
Most of the people in the room had trained their eyes on Santana, curious at who the new comer on the stage with Rachel Berry was.
"I can taste the tension like a cloud of smoke in the air. Now I'm breathing like I'm running cause you're taking me there. Don't you know? You spin me out of control," Rachel continued moving in time with the music.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. We can do this all night, damn this love is skin tight. Baby, come on," Santana sang, her hips moving invitingly to the music.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. Boom me like a bass drum, sparkin' up a rhythm. Baby, come on! Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh," Rachel sang, dancing a little with Santana.
"Rock my world into the sunlight. Make this dream the best I've ever known. Dirty dancing in the moonlight. Take me down like I'm a domino. Every second is a highlight. When we touch don't ever let me go. Dirty dancing in the moonlight. Take me down like I'm a domino," Rachel and Santana sang together.
The occupants of the room, particularly the males, were very much interested by the performance they were being given. Brody would have been very bothered by the lecherous looks on the other guys faces if he hadn't been so focused on watching his girlfriend and her friend sing.
"You might want to wipe the drool off your chin," Kurt said in amusement. "And wait until you home to finish whatever dirty fantasies you're indulging."
Brody looked like a child who'd been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. He looked as if he was about to actually wipe his chin, but stopped, realising Kurt was just enjoying giving him a hard time.
Kurt couldn't have actually known that Brody's mind was straying towards the gutter, what with his very hot girlfriend, and her very hot lesbian friend singing and dancing to a song like Domino. It was a pretty safe assumption that it was though, which was obviously why Kurt had made the remark.
"Every second is a highlight. When we touch don't ever let me go. Dirty dancing in the moonlight. Take me down like I'm a domino," Rachel and Santana sang together, as they finished the song.
There was plenty of clapping and whistling as Santana and Rachel walked back to Brody and Kurt, and Brody made a point of kissing his girlfriend thoroughly, both because he very much wanted to and to remind people that she was taken.
"Well Santana, I think you've well and truly made your mark on Callbacks," Kurt said dryly.
Santana grinned. There was nothing she liked more than performing to people who clearly adored her.
"So Brody, are you going to go and sing your song for Rachel now?" Kurt asked leadingly.
Rachel and Santana both looked expectantly at Brody, who just grinned.
AN: Thanks for reading :)
Thoughts? Any suggestions for what Brody should sing to Rachel? I have a song I can use, but if someone suggests something perfect I'll use that :)
Please review!