A/N – Here's the next chapter! Thank you all so much for your reviews and for reading. I appreciate it so much. Your feedback is so important to me. I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer – I don't own Glee. I don't own anything to do with The View either.
Kurt was sitting in the corner of the choir room with his feet propped up on the seat of the chair in front of him. He had his phone close to his face and was watching it intently. He had found a live stream of The View and wanted to watch it now even though he was recording it at home. He was so jealous of Rachel and the fact that she'd been in contact with a real life dresser and make-up artist. She looked great in the picture she'd sent him.
He was really happy for her and was glad to have formed this friendship with her. He knew some people thought so, but it wasn't about the fact that Shelby Corcoran was her mother, even though that had given them the push to really start talking. He had found that he genuinely enjoyed spending time with Rachel. She got him in a way that many people, even those he was close with like Mercedes, didn't. He never had to once felt like he had to change or dream a little smaller when he was around Rachel because her dreams were just as large as his were. And god knows she didn't have any fashion sense and Rachel so it's not like she changed herself for too many people. Rachel had confided in him one night that she wished she was prettier like Quinn so that Finn would pay more attention to her. Kurt told her that she was beautiful and he had really meant it. Sure, she could get rid of the toddler clothes she clung to, but even they didn't truly reflect who she was. Kurt had discovered a big heart and a mischievous streak he never would have attributed to Rachel just two months ago. She schemed and manipulated and whined and generally drove everyone crazy, but Kurt could now see the girl behind all of that and that made her insanity quite endearing. And letting his critical eye fall over the picture she'd sent him, Kurt knew that Rachel didn't need to worry about being pretty like Quinn; she was beautiful.
"There you are," Santana said when she walked into the choir room with Quinn and Brittany following. Mercedes and Artie came in after they did. And then Tina.
"What's going on?" Kurt asked. The View had just gone to their first commercial break and Rachel and Shelby were coming up next.
"You're watching The View, aren't you?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah," Kurt responded.
"I told you he'd be in here watching it," Mercedes said. "We want to see it too."
"Why didn't you just record it at home?" Kurt asked.
"Why didn't you?" Santana shot back. "Move." She moved his feet from the chair he'd had them resting on and the wiped off the seat before she sat down. "Hold it out so we can all see it."
Kurt rolled his eyes but complied all the same. They formed a little huddle and waited for the commercials to end.
"Anyone know what she's wearing?" Quinn asked while they waited.
"Probably something with a puppy on it," Mercedes said. She smiled widely when that got a laugh from the popular cheerleaders in the room.
"Is it on yet?" Finn asked as he came into the room. "I want to see it."
Puck followed close behind him and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really care; I just don't want to be in class."
The two tall boys got in the back of the group and the phone was adjusted once again so they all could see.
"What is going on in here?" Mr. Schue asked when he stepped into the room from his office. "Why aren't you guys in class?"
"We're watching the midget on The View," Santana answered without looking away from the screen.
"Guys, you can't just skip-"
"Shhh, it's coming back on," Kurt interrupted him.
Will quickly crossed the room and stood in the back with Puck and Finn so he could watch as well.
Rachel and Shelby were waiting in the darkened area just backstage as they waited for their names to be called. Shelby looked over at her daughter and smiled. She could tell Rachel was nervous and she could tell that the girl was trying to hide it. Rachel looked up at her and returned the smile and bounced on her toes some in anticipation. How long was this introduction going to be? Shelby put a calming hand on her back and rubbed it some to try and soothe the girl's nerves. It was all going to be fine. They were only scheduled to appear for one segment and then she and Rachel could get out of there. Meredith had tried to get answers during the first commercial break about what the surprise was going to be, but she'd come up empty handed. That was the thing that had Shelby nervous; she did not need anything unexpected to deal with on live TV. She tried not to worry too much about it though and let out a sigh as she conceded. This was Barbara Walters they were dealing with and Barbara Walters usually got her way.
"So please welcome Shelby Corcoran and her daughter Rachel Berry."
Shelby took Rachel's hand and led her around the corner and out into the main part of the studio. Rachel was amazed because she could see Shelby change before her eyes as the woman put on an award worthy smile and strode towards the couches without a care in the world. Rachel clutched Shelby's hand and followed her mother's lead, or tried to as best she could. There were so many little things about being a star that she needed to learn.
Rachel took a second as they walked to imagine her life ten or fifteen years from now. She just assumed that she'd be back on this show one day as a normal guest because of the musical or movie or album she was promoting. They'd show a clip of this appearance and they'd all laugh at how young and nervous she looked. Rachel smiled at the thought. She couldn't wait to get there and show the world how far she'd come.
They sat next to each other on the couch. Shelby waited until Rachel was settled until she sat down as well. She noticed that Rachel was fidgeting a bit and so Shelby clasped a hand over both of Rachel's and stilled them in the girl's lap.
"We're so excited to have you two on the show with us today," Barbara said.
"We're very happy to be here," Shelby said.
Rachel tried to stay engaged as Shelby gave a brief rundown of their history and how this all came to be, but she was finding herself lost in her own thoughts as she looked out at the audience. They were all paying more attention than she was at the moment and Rachel soaked in the attention like she always did when in front of an audience. This was different, of course, because she was sitting next to a news legend and her mom was talking to Whoopi Goldberg. She was on live TV and her mom was talking to Whoopi Goldberg. God this was surreal. And awesome!
"Rachel, how are you liking having your mother in your life now?" Barbara Walters asked.
Rachel had to take a moment to focus because she had almost missed the question.
"It's amazing," Rachel said and then smiled over at Shelby. "I love her so much and I'm so glad that I get the chance to know her."
"And Shelby how is it to suddenly have a teenager?" Whoopi asked.
"It's wonderful," Shelby said. "All kids are a learning process and we are getting to know each other. But I have loved her very much since before she was born so having her in my life makes it feel more comfortable and complete. I am so honored to get to be there for and with her and that I get to play a part in helping raise her from this point forward."
The audience full of mostly women let out a collective aww and Shelby looked over to see Rachel watching her with wide eyes. She squeezed Rachel's hands before shifting her gaze to Barbara who was about to ask another question.
"Rachel, from what I understand, you have your sights set on Broadway as well."
Rachel perked up and nodded. She felt some of her nervousness start to vanish as they broached a topic she knew she could talk about for hours. And hours. Her dads knew that very well.
"I've known I wanted to be on Broadway sine I was a little girl," Rachel said. "I put in a lot of work towards that goal. I've got a ten year plan in place right now. It can be modified, of course depending on life circumstances, but if all goes as planned, I'll be on stage just like my mom."
"One day, you might even be able to star in something together," Whoopi said.
Shelby opened her mouth to say something, but Rachel was quicker.
"That would be incredible," Rachel said. "I was a fan of hers long before I discovered she was my mother. It would be a dream come true to get to work with her. And it would be even better now. We could do Gypsy! You'd be a great Mama Rose and I'd be perfect for Louise."
"Don't you think I'm a little young to be Mama Rose?" Shelby asked her daughter.
"Not really," Rachel said with a shrug much to the delight of the audience. Rachel looked out at them and smiled and fed off their feedback. "And when I play Laurie in Oklahoma!, you can be Aunt Eller."
"I am way too young to be Aunt Eller!" Shelby said with a laugh of her own as the audience ate it up. Rachel had officially won them over.
"Yeah…" Rachel agreed. It seemed to throw her life plans off for a moment and she turned and looked at Barbara. "Do you sing?" Rachel asked. "You could be Aunt Eller."
Rachel hadn't been thinking about what she said and so she didn't understand when the audience and Whoopi and the other hosts started to laugh. Shelby put her hand on her face and groaned good naturedly. Leave it to Rachel to call Barbara Walters old on her own show.
Rachel looked around at everyone wondering what she had done until it clicked and her eyes went wide and she looked from Shelby to Barbara. "I'm sorry," she squeaked out. She hadn't meant it as an insult about her age. To Rachel she was giving a compliment; Aunt Eller was a great character.
"No, young lady, I do not sing," Barbara said with a smile that both assured and reprimanded Rachel all at the same time. "But I know that you do. You're in the glee club at your school, right?"
"Yes!" Rachel said. "We're the New Directions at McKinley High and we just won our Sectionals competition."
The kids and Mr. Schue all started to whoop and clap at the shout-out they'd just received.
"Well, we set up a little surprise for you, if you're game," Barbara said.
Shelby looked at Barbara intently as she waited for the woman to reveal what it was. Rachel was practically dancing in her seat; she wanted to know so badly.
"We found a video of you singing in your glee club and we thought, if you wanted, we would give you the chance to sing here for us," Whoopi said. "One day when you're a big Broadway star, we can say we got the first song."
Shelby breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't some long lost relative or some other Springer-like surprise. She knew Rachel's answer before the girl even had a chance to say anything. Rachel was shocked, but happy and glowing with anticipation.
"What do you say?" Barbara asked.
"Yes, of course!" Rachel exclaimed. "I'd love to. Thank you so much!"
"It's our pleasure," Barbara said.
The show cut to commercial and Rachel could barely contain herself. Shelby thanked the women and producers for giving her daughter the opportunity and then went with Rachel over to the band leader who was supervising the quick set up of everything they needed.
"We saw your video," the band leader, Mitch, said. "We prepared 'Don't Rain on My Parade' for you, if that's ok."
"Sure!" Rachel said immediately.
Shelby had to admire her willingness to do this. It was an extremely hard song and it's not like Rachel had had a chance to warm up at all. And there wouldn't even be any time to practice. She glared back over at Barbara for a second. Great surprise. But it was an amazing opportunity and she knew Rachel was beside herself.
Shelby turned back to her daughter when she heard her quietly trying to warm her throat up. She ran through a few exercises and tried to get her head ready. Rachel sang every day and she'd been humming along on the flight. She'd even sung a few songs in the car on the way to the airport before her Daddy turned off the radio and decided to talk about things they'd already gone over ten million times. So she was fine. She could do this. She was going to be great.
"You don't have to if you don't feel ready," Shelby said to Rachel.
"I'm ready," Rachel said confidently. She would never pass up an opportunity like this. "I'm surprised they don't want you to sing with me."
"Oh, everyone has heard me sing," Shelby waved her off. "This is for you. You're going to be great."
"I know," Rachel said.
Shelby shook her head and smiled as she leaned down and kissed her forehead. A producer was ushering her off to the side because they were about to come back from commercial. Rachel waited while Whoopi Goldberg introduced her and the song and then waited for the music to start. She was ready. She was going to do this.
And do it she did. Rachel sang it like she had at Sectionals, with power and emotion. The camera caught a shot of Shelby standing next to Barbara and Whoopi and the rest of the ladies and there were tears in her eyes and a smile on her face as she watched her little girl. Rachel owned the song from start to finish and the audience was on their feet the instant it was over. Shelby walked with Whoopi and Barbara over to her and pulled her close.
"That was amazing," Whoopi said. "I know we are going to see you back here someday. Honestly. You are special."
"I couldn't agree more," Barbara said. "Thank you, Rachel."
"Thank you for letting me sing," Rachel said. "This has been really amazing."
"Shelby Corcoran and her daughter, who is most surely going to give her a run for her money one day, Rachel Berry!" Whoopi said. Applause filled the studio again and the segment went to another commercial.
Mr. Schue and the kids in the choir room had watched in awe. They knew what Rachel was capable of, but somehow it seemed different to see it on television and on display for the rest of the world to see. The chatter amongst them all started as soon as it was over.
"Rachel looked and sounded amazing."
"Who did her hair? It was perfect."
"Did you hear her?"
"Regionals, here we come."
Even Quinn and Santana joined in the chatter. They weren't exactly admitting out loud to anyone that they liked Rachel Berry, but the respect was growing. They couldn't wait for her to come back to school so they could find out what it was like to be on a TV show. Maybe they could hang out, even if Shelby Corcoran wasn't in town. Right now, Rachel seemed kind of cool on her own.
Shelby and Rachel arrived back at the apartment not long after they'd left the studio. They needed to shower and change and get back to normal clothes and not made-for-TV make-up. Rachel wanted to keep her face and hair as they were, but Shelby gently insisted she shower and change. She didn't want to spend the rest of the day looking like she was going to a photo shoot. Brian would be over after a while and then she had to get to the theater for her show that night. Shelby couldn't wait for Rachel to meet Brian.
"What are we doing the rest of the day?" Rachel asked while they were still standing in the dining room. She was doing everything she could to stall having to change out of the beautiful dress and make-up.
"We're going to hang out here until we need to leave to go to the theater tonight," Shelby said. "I got you tickets to see the show again."
Rachel's smile lit the room and she clapped excitedly a couple time. "Are they the same seats as before? Those were great seats. I love being right down front because I don't want to miss anything. I've never been to anything like that alone before. I won't really be alone because you'll be there, but it's different."
"You won't be alone anyway," Shelby said. "I've invited a friend along as well."
"Oh," Rachel said. She sighed and stared at her mother. "Did my dads tell you that I needed some sort of babysitter? Because I don't. I'm perfectly capable of sitting by myself in the theater."
"No, they didn't say that," Shelby said. Geez, where had that come from? "I just have a friend I'd like you to meet and he hasn't seen the show in a little while and said he would like to come."
"He?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Shelby answered. "My friend Brian. He's actually coming over in a little while. He's excited to meet you."
"Brian? 'It's complicated' Brian?" Rachel asked.
"What?" Shelby was confused.
"That night I first met you, I saw the flowers you had backstage and the card was signed by someone named Brian and when I asked about him you said, 'it's complicated,'" Rachel reminded her.
"Oh yeah," Shelby said. Rachel apparently had the memory of an elephant. She was going to have to keep that in mind. "He and I have been friends for a long time."
"You've been dating him for a long time?" Rachel asked.
"We've dated some, yes," Shelby said. "We're talking about it, but we're taking it slow. But however it turns out, we are very close friends."
"Oh," Rachel nodded.
Shelby wasn't sure what to say because she wasn't exactly sure how Rachel was feeling. She couldn't tell if the girl hated the idea of Brian coming over or if she was indifferent to it. She certainly didn't look excited by it.
"He's just going to hang out for a while and we'll make some dinner and then head to the theater," Shelby said. It was just after one in the afternoon and Brian wasn't expected to be there until three.
"Ok," Rachel said. Her tone was more amiable and she smiled for her mom. She tried to shrug it off, but Rachel was disappointed. She thought it was just going to be her and her mom today. Shelby had two shows tomorrow and they had to do the interview and Rachel was flying home Sunday evening. Not that she wasn't excited about the interview, but she hadn't planned on there being anyone else. But Rachel bit her tongue and nodded for Shelby.
"Ok," Shelby said. "So why don't you go and get in the shower first and get changed and then I will after you. Sound good?"
"Sure," Rachel smiled again and turned and headed towards her room, but was stopped by her mom.
"Are you ok?" Shelby asked.
"Yeah, of course," Rachel said. "I won't take too long."
"Ok," Shelby said again. She didn't know what else to say to Rachel's sudden mood change. Maybe she'd feel better after her shower.
Shelby waited until Rachel was out of the shower and dressed before she disappeared into her room to take one of her own. She had waited to make sure that Rachel didn't need anything and she smiled when the girl told her she was fine. Rachel said she would just watch some TV for a while. Rachel laid on the couch and texted with Kurt for a few minutes before eventually giving in to the early and full morning she'd had and falling asleep.
Rachel jerked awake when she heard someone knocking on the door. She sat up and waited to see if her mom was going to get it, but Rachel could still hear the water in the shower running. Rachel was met with a smiling man with warm eyes when she opened the door to see who was there.
"Hi," the man said when Rachel didn't say anything. "I'm Brian. You must be Rachel."
"Yes," Rachel confirmed.
He started to take a step forward, but she moved to her right a bit and blocked his path.
"Can I help you?" Rachel asked.
"I'm Brian," he said again. "I came by to see Shelby. She's expecting me."
"Oh yeah," Rachel said like it had slipped her mind.
"Is she here?" he asked.
"Yes, but she is currently indisposed," Rachel said. "And with all due respect, I don't really know you and feel uncomfortable letting you into the apartment while my mother is unavailable and I am alone. You can wait in the hall if you wish or you can go home and I will tell her you stopped by."
Brian stared down at this kid like she was crazy. He had a key to Shelby's apartment for crying out loud. He was a little early, he knew, but he was supposed to be there. He wanted to tell her as much, but he stopped himself. Rachel was standing up straight and defiantly and holding the door close so he couldn't get in. God, she looked like Shelby.
"I'll wait," Brian said.
"Suit yourself," Rachel said. "I'll tell her you're waiting."
"Thanks," he said sarcastically.
Brian watched as she shut the door and he heard the lock turn. He pulled out his phone and sat down on the floor across from Shelby's door. It was a lavish building with expensive apartments and he was comfortable enough. The last time he'd sat on the floor outside of her apartment had been eight years ago when she refused to answer the door after a fight they'd had. It was this apartment building though and people gave him funny looks as they passed by and saw him lying on his stomach near her door. He'd been pushing the petals from the roses he'd bought her under the door one by one and explaining why she was sorry. It took her five hours to open the door. He didn't know until sometime later that she'd been sitting on the other side listening and collecting rose petals. She still had a few of them. He hoped he didn't have to wait that long this time. He texted Shelby that he was waiting outside and would she please let him in. He figured he'd better let her know in case Rachel forgot.
Rachel went back to the couch and flopped down and shut her eyes once more. The water was still running in the background and so she got comfortable once more. Brian could wait.
Shelby took the time to dry her hair and put on a small amount of make-up before going back out to the living room to see what Rachel was up to. Brian should be there any minute now. Shelby found Rachel lying on the couch typing out a text. She looked like she'd just opened her eyes and Shelby reached down and moved some hair from her face.
"Are you sleepy, sweetheart?"
"Not really," Rachel shook her head. "I think I slept for a few minutes earlier."
"Well Brian should be here soon and we can all just relax," Shelby said.
"Ok," Rachel said and turned her attention back to the screen of her phone. She should probably mention…
Shelby left Rachel to her text and went over to the kitchen counter and picked up her phone so she could call Brian and see exactly when he'd be there. She had an alert and a text from the man in question, but her smile quickly turned into furrowed brows as she read it. She looked back at Rachel who was still looking at her phone.
"Rachel," Shelby said. "Is Brian here?"
"What? Oh yeah, he's out there. Or he was." She shrugged and went back to her phone.
Shelby quickly crossed the room to the door and swung it open and looked down at Brian who was sitting cross-legged on the floor and concentrating on a game on his phone.
"Shelby, hey," Brian said. "You're finally free." He closed out of the game and looked up at her.
"What are you talking about?" Shelby asked. She held her hand out to him. He grasped it and played like he was going to pull her down and she shot him a look so he let her help him to his feet instead.
"I was told you were indisposed," Brian explained.
"I was in the shower," Shelby told him as she led him into the apartment. "Rachel." She waited until the girl was sitting up and looking at her. "Why didn't you let him in? And why didn't you at least tell me he was outside?"
Brian was really glad he'd decided to send that text.
"I don't know him and I didn't think it would be safe to let a stranger into your house," Rachel said. "And I hadn't heard anything so I thought maybe he'd left."
"Rachel, I told you he was coming over," Shelby said.
"But I didn't know what he looked like," Rachel argued. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Brian said. "It's better to be safe."
Shelby looked at Rachel for a few more moments and then finally relented. Maybe she had a point. She hadn't shown Rachel a picture of him or anything.
"Rachel, this is Brian Bartlett. Brian, this is my daughter Rachel."
Rachel got up from the couch. She was trying not to show how displeased she was with this, but she didn't want him there right now. He seemed nice enough, but why couldn't she have met him some other time. It was just supposed to be her and her mom.
"It's nice to meet you," Rachel said flatly and held her hand out to him.
"Likewise," Brian said. "I've heard a lot about you." He shook her hand until she pulled away.
"I've heard that you're complicated," Rachel said.
"Rachel," Shelby scolded lightly. "I mentioned once that our relationship can be complicated at times."
His eyes danced with mirth and Shelby narrowed hers at him.
"I saw you on The View this morning," Brian said. "You were really wonderful, Rachel."
"Thanks," Rachel said. She was genuine now; she was never one to turn down a compliment after all. "It was a lot of fun."
"You really were great," Shelby gushed. "What did your dads think?"
"I don't know," Rachel said. "They're not home from work yet. But Kurt said it was good and he said most of the glee kids watched it together in the choir room. Even Mr. Schue."
"That's wonderful," Shelby said.
"It's pretty exciting," Rachel said. "I can't believe they all sat around to watch it together. They were all skipping class to do it."
"They wanted to see you," Shelby said. "It was pretty special. But they probably shouldn't have skipped class," Shelby added as an afterthought. She didn't want to encourage Rachel to skip any classes. Although she was here and not in school today, but Shelby decided that was beside the point.
"Everyone skips class once in a while, Shelby," Brian said.
They both turned to look at him and Rachel found herself nodding along. He was right. Not that she'd done it, but she wanted to reserve her right to do it in the future.
"They shouldn't," Shelby said. She darted her eyes over to Rachel so Brian would stop filling her head with ideas.
"I deal with students," Brian said. "They all do it."
Shelby just sighed and looked at Rachel. "What would you like to make for dinner?"
"I don't know," Rachel shrugged.
Shelby looked to Brian and he shrugged too. Rachel couldn't tell if he was mocking her or not and so she went back to the couch and sat down. "You pick, Mom."
Shelby was confused once again as she watched Rachel abruptly leave the conversation. What happened? They'd just been talking. She needed a Rachel handbook or something.
A little over an hour later, Shelby was just starting to cook. They had taken their time deciding and getting everything ready. For the most part, Rachel had stayed out of the way and out of the conversation no matter how much Shelby tried to get her to join in.
"Are you sure you don't want to help?" Shelby asked once again.
"No," Rachel said. She was sitting at the table playing with her phone and watching. "I don't think there's enough room for all of us." That last part was muttered only to herself and Rachel huffed angrily when she lost yet another game on her phone.
Rachel looked up when Shelby and Brian had their backs to her and she watched them. She'd been watching them for over an hour. She didn't see anything complicated at all. All she saw was two people who fit together perfectly. They moved together like they were dancing sometimes. No one was ever in the way and no one was ever bumped into. They seemed to be able to talk without actually saying anything out loud. This didn't look like they were taking it slow, as Shelby had said earlier. It reminded Rachel of watching her dads in the kitchen.
The only problem was, she didn't seem to fit in here. She was the one intruding on this life that her mother and Brian had. It didn't seem fair. She fit when it was just her and her mother, but now it wasn't. It never would be. That was a reality that Rachel hadn't really thought of before. Ever since they'd met, her mother had been focused only on her and their relationship. Rachel was jealous, but it felt like she couldn't explain it. Brian seemed nice and under any other circumstances, she knew she would like him a lot. But this was her weekend with her mother. Why did they have to spend time with him? Why did she have to sit next to him at the show? She wished he would have gone home instead of waiting in the hall.
The dinner was not what she expected and it took everything Shelby had to get her normally talkative daughter to open up and share in the conversation. Brian liked Rachel and was truly interested in her. He loved Shelby and he could see very clearly the adoration that the woman had for Rachel. He could tell that the girl was tense and trying to be withdrawn despite the best efforts of her mother. He couldn't presume to guess why though. He instead followed Shelby's lead throughout the evening; she knew Rachel better than he did.
Rachel did not want to hear that they had a couple hours to wait when they got to the theater. She didn't want to be crowded into Shelby's dressing room with Brian. It was bad enough she was going to have to sit next to him alone throughout the whole show.
"Mom, can I go out and walk around for a little while?" Rachel asked once they were backstage.
"Oh, umm, I don't know, Rachel," Shelby said. "I thought you'd want to hang out here."
"But you've got two more shows to do while I'm here," Rachel said. "I'll be here. Please, I just want to get out for a little bit."
"I don't know if you should go by yourself," Shelby said.
"My dads let me do it," Rachel said. "That's how I met you."
Shelby nodded and looked over at Brian. He was staying as far out of this as possible. Shelby knew that Rachel had been in the city by herself before, but now she had to worry about the paparazzi or anyone else that may try and stop her daughter to talk to her. She really had thought that Rachel would want to stay with her at the theater.
"Please, Mom," Rachel pleaded.
"Yeah… I guess so," Shelby finally said. "But you have to be back here well before the show starts. I want you in your seat at least twenty minutes before it starts."
"I will be," Rachel said.
"And don't talk to anyone and don't engage any photographers if they see you," Shelby said. "Keep your coat and hat and gloves on." She had picked up Rachel's knit hat and slid it down on her head.
"Mom," Rachel said in an annoyed fashion. She wasn't a child.
"Call me if you need anything. And if you can't come backstage really quick before it starts, text me when you get to your seat," Shelby rattled off more instructions. She was nervous about this.
"I will," Rachel said.
"You have your ticket?" Shelby asked.
"Right here," Rachel held up the little purse she was carrying. They had picked it up at the will call window on their way in.
Shelby grabbed her own purse and pulled out her wallet. "Here," she said handing Rachel $60.
"Thanks!" Rachel said as she put the money away. It didn't even occur to her to try and refuse it. Her dads had given her money before they let her go out in the city alone too. "I'll be back later."
"Remember to be in your seat twenty minutes before it starts," Shelby said.
"Ok, Mom," Rachel spoke as she looked over her shoulder at her mom. She was already on her way out the door.
Rachel walked out into the brisk evening and away from the theater towards Times Square. She was glad to have some time to herself away from Brian. She could stay away as long as possible and then she only had to get through the show with him and he'd go home at the end of the night and it would be back to being just her and her mom.
Rachel took out her phone as she walked and called her house. She wanted to check in with her dads and tell them about being on The View. They had to have seen it by now. She'd leave Brian out of it though. She didn't want to talk about him. The more she thought about it the more jealous and afraid she became. No, right now, she would just enjoy walking through her favorite city in the world.
Shelby hadn't heard anything from Rachel and she sent Brian out to check their seats fifteen minutes before the show started. He sent her a text when he got there that Rachel wasn't around. He suggested that maybe she was in the bathroom.
Shelby sent off another text to Rachel and then called her phone, but got no answer. She was beginning to panic. She should not have let her go out there alone. She had to go out and find her. She needed to find Lauren, her understudy, and tell her to get ready.
The chiming of her phone made her stop her actions and Shelby was relieved to see a text from Rachel.
"I'm on my way back," the text read. "I'll be there soon."
Shelby sent her a reply asking where she was and why she was late, but she didn't get an immediate reply. She sent another text to Brian telling him what Rachel said and to keep an eye out for her.
Shelby had to leave her phone in the dressing room a minute later so she could go and get in place for the beginning of the show. She wasn't very happy right now. She hated not knowing where Rachel was and found herself feeling angry at the girl for not being in her seat like she said she would. She better get there soon because Shelby did not know how she was going to handle it if she had to walk out of this show in the middle of it to find her kid.
Shelby was on stage when she the show started and she could see Rachel's empty seat next to Brian. She had to stay focused, but she was so worried. And really frustrated at the night's turn of events. What in the world was Rachel doing that she couldn't be back on time?
Shelby was on for another scene when she saw the light of an usher's flashlight escorting someone down the aisle. They were at least twenty-five minutes into the first act. She was in the background for this scene where Alison Young sang and so Shelby was able to watch as Rachel climbed over half a row of people with her coat and hat in her arms and finally settled in the seat next to Brian. She fidgeted for a few moments and then sat still. Shelby felt such relief wash over her as she turned her focused back to the show. She needed to brush the other feelings aside until she could talk to Rachel later, but right now she was just glad to see that the girl was safe in her seat and watching from the darkness.
A/N – I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Again, I'm taking it slow because I don't want to skip anything. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think. Thanks guys!
Oh and, I don't really watch The View and so I only really know of Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg on there. That's why they did all the talking. That and they're pretty cool ladies.
