A.N. OMG! I'm not dead! Shocker. I am so sorry that I took so long with this update. This chapter is the beginning, really, to the rest of the story. It was necessary, and for some reason it was a bitch to write. Therefore, it is short and rough, but I think it gets what I need across.
So, this is kinda the chapter you've all been waiting for….DIALOGUE! *Gasp* you mean the characters actually TALK? Yep. Who'da thunk, huh? And some interaction between our lovely ladies. Although I will say, it'll be quite a while before the romance begins. Sorry…my story burns slow. ;) Also, this chapter is not the greatest. This summer I should have a lot of time to write, so I'll be hopefully posting more quickly, as well as working on updating another fic that I've had in the works for a while.
And, as promised….Pezberry land! This story will reside here for a few chapters (for good reason) and then we'll move on…probably Britchel (Brittany/Rachel).
On another note, this is the chapter where my inspiration for the story comes in; the song Concrete Angel by Martina McBride. I have a link on my profile, and I truly recommend you go and listen to it…even if you're not a fan of country music. This isn't country, this is…simply music. Listen to it and re-read the prologue.
IMPORTANT A.N:::: Due to all of the ff dot net crackdowns, and the nature of this fic, Angel girl is in danger of deletion. If this happens, I will post this chapter either on my livejournal account, or on Archive of our own and post a link to it on my profile.
I want to thank everyone who's been reviewing and sticking by me. You're all awesome and amazing and I seriously love you. I'm sending you tea and heart shaped crumpets in my mind. You rock my socks off. A special thanks and apology to Cassicio, who was awesome enough to PM me, but who I entirely mislead about an update...please don't hate me lol.
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or Concrete Angel by Martina McBride. Rose is mine though, so hands off. I am also broke, so no money being made. Cross my heart and hope to die….
Chapter 3: Concrete Angel
5:00am saw the sun beginning to lighten the sky as Rachel's alarm clock buzzed quietly to wake her. Rachel loved the early morning. It allowed her to spend precious moments in silence and peace as she dressed herself for her routine run to the school and packed her bags for the day.
All of the students of McKinley high thought she arrived to simply practice her singing, but the truth was that she had to get up early, before he woke up, and get herself to school. She enjoyed running because it took her mind off of everything except her pace, her breathing and the steady pounding of her feet on the pavement, so every morning she woke at the crack of dawn and ran to school, getting there early enough to sneak into the locker rooms, shower and change before anyone – even the janitors – had arrived. It was peaceful, and she loved it.
She never had time to do all of her homework at home, so she always finished whatever was needed in the two or so hours she had before the first bell rang. No one ever bothered her in the auditorium, and she was grateful for that. As much as it would have been nice to have friends, it would disrupt her rhythm, and Rachel liked her rhythm.
Today was Monday. Unlike the rest of the world's population of high school students, Mondays were Rachel's favorite day of the week. Mondays meant that she had 5 days of school left for the week. 5 days of Glee, 5 days of seeing them, 5 days of 12 hours away from him. It was bliss. Mondays always found her chipper and out to greet whatever came her way; slushies, insults, bring 'em on. She was ready.
She hunkered down, spread out her homework on the auditorium stage, and got to work, humming a tune under her breath.
Gathering her books and papers, she stuffed everything into her bag and set off for her first class of the day, AP Biology.
This was the only class she didn't have with any of her Cheerios. Quinn was in her AP Calculus, Spanish and AP Lit classes, Santana was in AP Lit as well as Spanish and Government. Brittany was with her in Gym, Spanish and Government. Not surprisingly, Spanish and Glee were two of her absolute favorite classes.
Ever since last year at sectionals, when Rachel had stood up for Santana and Brittany, the trio's attitudes towards her had improved greatly. Before that, their attacks had been losing their ferocity, but after sectionals they had become pretty lack luster. The names were still there, and the occasional slushy was to be expected, but it was almost as if they had finally come to a tentative truce.
Stopping by her locker to quickly drop off un-needed books and notes, she felt the room pressure shift slightly and closed her locker to subtly watch her Cheerios walk by. Stiffening as Quinn noticed her, her spirits dropped slightly as the shorter blonde sneered as she sent a withering glare towards Rachel. The diva sighed inwardly; it was going to be a long day.
A long day may have been an understatement. Quinn was apparently in a vicious mood this week, and had been determined to show little mercy to anyone…particularly Rachel. Scathing remarks were thrown in just about every direction; even Santana and Brittany had told her multiple times to - as Santana delightfully put it - "Calm yo tits, woman". Rachel spent most of her day avoiding direct eye contact with the blonde (she had seen a documentary in her science class in freshman year on predators, and had found it exceedingly useful when dealing with the volatile young woman), and to add to her bad mood, she found out that her ballet class had been canceled. She would be forced to head home straight away.
Rachel arrived at Glee that afternoon hoping beyond hope that her day would at least hold some relief before going home. Mr. Shue was supposed to be giving out random songs that related to this weeks' project and Rachel couldn't wait to get a hit of her drug; singing.
She walked through the door, nothing that she was late enough where just about everyone had already arrived and been seated. She took the last chair in the front row, sitting up straight and waiting intently for their advisor. She could hear the incessant murmuring of the students around her and relaxed by tuning out the words and concentrating on the rhythm of voices.
As expected, Mr. Shue breezed through the door 7 minutes late, and began removing a folder from his shoulder bag.
"Ok everyone, as you know, this week our assignment is Country Music…" half of the students groaned in annoyance "…so I've picked out some songs from well-known artists to get us started."
He walked around the room, handing each student a sheet of paper with the song lyrics on them. Once he was done, he stood back up at the front of the room and asked everyone to take a look at the song they had been given.
Rachel looked down at hers eagerly, and felt the blood drain from her face as shock traveled through her body. No. God no. This could NOT be happening to her.
"If you know the song, I would like you to sing it today. If not, go home, look up the rhythm and come ready to sing it tomorrow. I will give you your next assignment then. Also, as country music is a genre relying heavily on personal events and feelings, you must find someone to dedicate your performance to, or something in your life that you feel is important to you. Ok, who's first?" No one raised their hand.
Rachel quickly stood and walked up to her teacher, pulling him slightly aside.
"Mr. Shuester, while I appreciate that you are unusually well prepared for this meeting, I must request a different song. I cannot sing this song. I…I do not feel that it showcases my voice and talents properly. I will sing any other one, just not this one." She was determined….desperate.
"Rachel, this song is the one I have chosen for you and I would…"
She interrupted him, "Please, Mr. Shuester, I will sing any other song. Just please, please, don't make me sing this one."
He was becoming slightly annoyed with her. "Rachel, you have never turned down a song before, and as soon as I choose one for you, you try to get out of it. I'm afraid I must insist that you sing this song."
She was getting desperate now. "No, please Mr. Shue…"
This time, it was him who interrupted. "I don't want to hear it Rachel, you will either sing this song or I will pull you from the next competition solo. It is obvious you know this song, so you will sing it now. I don't want to deal with you being a diva right now. End of discussion." He turned away, and Rachel could hear some not-so-discrete snickers from the rest of the Gleeks.
Dread filled her as she took 'center stage'. There was no getting out of it; all she could do was pray that she held it together without making a complete fool of herself, but she knew it was pretty much helpless with this song.
As she went to nod to the band, she heard Mr. Shue clear his throat. She looked at him, confused, as he raised his eyebrow.
"Your dedication, Rachel?"
She just stared at him, treating him to an indignant, haughty expression.
"No dedication, no solo." He warned. More snickers.
She glared at him, and then looked away, hiding her pain.
"Fine. This….this song is for Rose… my Guardian Angel."
She nodded to the band, and the soft, melancholy melody began. Taking a deep breath and swallowing, she began to sing, her voice husky with untold emotion.
"She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linen and lace, oh"
Rachel's eyes close as she let the music flow through her body.
"The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born"
Her voice cracked and trembled softly as she tried in vain to hold back the tears threatening to fall down her cheeks. The club watched, dumbfounded, as their perfect leader broke down in front of them.
"Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved
Concrete angel"
Her tears fell unbidden down her cheeks, her voice steady once more. Three girls watched her in shock, her sadness and pain coursing through them as they tried to hold back their tears as well.
"Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late"
Anger, pain, regret. Loss. Memories.
"Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved
Concrete angel
"A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot
"Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved
Concrete angel"
Her voice trailed off with the music, tears still flowing freely down her cheeks. She opened her eyes, breathing hard, and realized the entire club was staring at her.
"I…I'm sorry….I…I-I-I need to go visit the ladies room. Ex…excuse me." And with that, she ran out of the room, leaving only silence behind.
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Well, there you have it! More tea and crumpets to reviewers. I promise to try and have another chapter out in a week or so. Hope you all didn't think it sucked too much! Love you all.