Rachel walked into her loft after returning from the party. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and spend the evening watching Broadway classics on the television, the usual routine when she was having a lousy day. She would usually throw on her fluffiest pair of pajamas and wrap herself in a blanket cocoon on the couch, all of her favorite movies playing on a loop on the living room TV.

Just as Rachel was removing her shoes and dreaming on the movie marathon she was planning to have, she heard a knock at the door behind her. Confused by who the visitor might be, she turned around and opened the door, revealing Olivia.

Olivia's initial smile faded upon seeing Rachel's gloomy expression. "Hey, why the long face?"

Rachel shrugged her shoulders and stepped to the side so Olivia could walk in. "I've just had a pretty weird day, that's all."

Olivia walked into the room and placed her purse on the table next to the front door. She glanced at her phone briefly before turning to Rachel. "Well, then you're in luck. I have just the news that will certainly lift your spirits."

"I could use some good news," Rachel replied. "What is it?"

"Do you remember my friend Tom?" Olivia asked. "He's on the taller side and is always slightly overdressed?"

Rachel nodded her head, "Yeah, he was at your birthday party last year." She briefly smiled as she recalled Tom coming in a suit when everyone else was in simple casual wear. It ended up working out in his favor. A girl at the party who worked for the company that designed the suit was in attendance and they two ended up together. "Is he still dating that Ashley girl he met at the party?"

"Yep, that's him, and yes they are still together," Olivia confirmed. "Anyway, he knows someone who's planning on putting on a production of Wicked, and said that you'd be perfect for the job!"

"Really?" Rachel asked excitedly, "I've always wanted to be in Wicked!"

Olivia nodded her head, "Unfortunately auditioning is almost over and they're pretty sure they know who they want to cast as their lead, but they're willing to let you audition."

"So there's still a chance that I'll get it?" Rachel asked, receiving a nod from Olivia. "Okay. When's the audition?"

"That's kind of the catch," Olivia replied. "Like I said, it's nearing the end of the auditioning process. The audition is tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Rachel asked, "But that's so soon! I don't even know what song I should sing, or what I should wear!"

"Relax, Rachel," Olivia said calmly. "Just breathe. I'll leave you to it. You'll do great. Don't worry." She gathered her things up again, "I'll email you the information, like the time and place, when I get home."

"Okay," Rachel said, feeling overwhelmed. "Thanks, Olivia." She followed Olivia to the door and shut it behind her. Less than 24 hours to prepare for a big audition? Olivia was crazy to think Rachel would be able to pull off such a task. She supposed that she could use the same audition piece she did for Funny Girl, she still knew it like the back of her hand, and it already landed her one main role. It could most likely get her a spot in the Wicked cast.

Rachel headed to the spare bedroom, where she kept all her sheet music. She dug through her filing cabinet and pulled out the lyrics to On My Own. Yes, this would work out. This was her favorite auditioning song, it had to work.

The sound of her cell phone ringing back in the other room captured her attention, and she set off to answer it. She walked back to the living room and glanced at the caller ID, seeing Finn's name displayed across it. She inwardly groaned, not exactly wanting to deal with that whole situation, but knowing that she had to.

She pressed the answer button with her thumb and lifted the device to her ear, "Hello?"

"Hey, Rachel!" Finn cheerful voice came through, "What happened to you today? I looked all over for you until Sam told me that you left."

"Oh, yeah," Rachel replied, trying to come up with something on the spot. "Olivia called me and said she had something important to tell me and I needed to come home right away." She didn't see much harm in telling a little white lie, it was party true, after all. "I wanted to say goodbye, but I couldn't find you."

"Oh," Finn said, "What did Olivia have to say?"

"It turns out that our whole relationship to create publicity thing is working! I have an audition!" Rachel told him excitedly.

"Really? That's great news!" Finn said, "What is the audition for? Maybe I've heard of it."

"It's Wicked," Rachel answered. "Surely with Kurt being your brother you've heard it mentioned at least once."

"Yes, I've definitely heard of it," Finn replied. "It's one of Kurt's favorites. He made me watch it with him a few times before."

"Maybe you two can come and see the show together on opening night together," Rachel said, mainly hoping he'd come and see her on opening night. "Assuming I do get the part, of course."

"I'm sure you'll get it," Finn replied. "And of course I'll be there. And Kurt will too. Speaking of Kurt, he was pretty bummed he didn't get to say goodbye to you earlier too. I wish you didn't have to go so soon. You didn't even get to meet Quinn."

Rachel shifted around uncomfortably at the mention of Quinn's name. "Yeah, too bad. I did see a glimpse of her though, she was talking to Santana I think."

"Oh, you did?" Finn asked, "At least you know of her. I can't wait for you to actually meet her. I think you'll like her, she's such a good person."

Rachel fidgeted around, knowing very well that there was little truth to his words. She could hardly stand seeing him be used the way he was, and she cared too much for him to let Quinn lie to him in the way that she was. "Finn?" she said with determination, confident in what she knew she had to tell him.

"Yeah, Rachel?" he responded, and she noticed the calmness and happiness to his voice.

She sighed, knowing that Puck was right. Finn was happy at the moment, happier than most of the guys on the team. With the game only being about a week away, she couldn't ruin his spirits.

"Thanks for inviting me over today," she finally replied. "I had a wonderful time."

"Oh, yeah, it's really no problem," Finn said. "My mom was happy to have you over."

She smiled, even though she knew Finn couldn't see her face. "You have a lovely family, Finn. Don't ever stop appreciating that. It's very easy to be so unaware of what you have until you lose it, and I don't want to see that happen to you."

Finn obviously saw through to the meaning hidden within her words, "Rachel, don't let your dads get to you. If they can't see what a wonderful person you've become with Broadway in your life, then they don't deserve you, at all. Just look at how far you've come without them. You're amazing. A true inspiration."

Rachel couldn't help the blush from spreading across her face, "Thanks, Finn. Really, thank you. I know that this whole thing between us is only supposed to be a temporary thing, but I hope we can stay friends for a long, long time."

There was a pause on the other end of the line until Finn finally spoke up again, "Me too, Rachel. Me too."

Rachel arrived at the theatre super early the next day and prepared in the lobby as she waited for her time slot. After her phone conversation with Finn the night before, she practiced her audition song nearly a hundred times before she was satisfied. Being the lead in Wicked would boost Rachel's career even more. Though she just played Fanny Brice, she was still new to the Broadway circuit, and it never hurt to add even more to one's resume.

She felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket, indicating a new text message. She pulled it out and read the new message across the screen.

Good luck today, you're going to do great – Olivia

Rachel smiled before putting the phone back into her pocket. Olivia always knew what to say to make her feel better.

A woman stepped out from the auditorium and scanned a sheet of paper. "Rachel Berry?" She read out loud.

Rachel eagerly stepped forward, "That's me!" She gathered her belongings and followed the lady into the auditorium.

"So," the girl said, reading more off the paper in front of her. "You're auditioning for Elphaba?"

Rachel nodded her head, "Yes I am."

"And you plan on singing On My Own as your audition piece?" the girl asked, checking off a few boxes on the paper with the pen she held in her hand.

"Yes," Rachel replied, stopping with the girl next to a large black door.

"Okay," the girl said, finally putting her clipboard down. "Mr. Will Schuester is both our casting director and the show director for this production. When you see the red light turn green, that means that he is ready for you to audition." She pointed up towards a light on the wall. "Good luck." She grabbed her clipboard and walked away from Rachel.

Rachel gulped, Will Schuester? She had heard of him before, but what she heard wasn't all that great. He was an excellent director, but very, very tough.

The red light illuminating on the wall suddenly turned green, and Rachel took a deep breath. She pushed open the door and walked out onto the stage, looking at the magnificent theatre around her. She saw a few people seated at a desk a few rows back, flipping through paperwork rapidly.

"Hello, Rachel," a man's voice said.

Rachel stood in front of the microphone that was placed in the center of the stage. "Hello."

"My name is Will Schuester," the voice continued, "and these are my good friends, Emma Pillsbury and Shannon Beiste."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Rachel replied.

"You as well," Will said. "You may start when you're ready."

Rachel cleared her throat and began singing, hoping that Will was pleased with what she gave to him.

On my own

Pretending he's beside me

All alone

I walk with him 'til morning

Without him, I feel his arms around me

And when I lose my way, I close my eyes and he has found me

In the rain

The pavement shines like silver

All the lights are misty in the river

In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight

And all I see is him and me forever and forever

And I know it's only in my mind

That I'm talking to myself and not to him

And although I know that he is blind

Still I say there's a way for us

I love him

But when the night is over

He is gone

The river's just a river

Without him, the world around me changes

The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers

I love him

But every day I'm lonely

All my life I've only been pretending

Without me, his world will go on turning

The world is full of happiness that I have never known

I love him

I love him

I love him...

But only on my own..

Just like usual, she felt a tear drop roll down her cheek and she gently lifted a hand to wipe it off.

"Thank you, Rachel," Will's voice came through the microphone. "We will be in touch soon."

"Thank you," Rachel replied. She stepped back from the microphone and exited the stage. She hated to let herself get her hopes up, but she honestly felt like she did very well. She felt even more confident than she did during her Funny Girl audition, which turned out to be very successful.

As soon as Rachel stepped outside of the theatre, she called Olivia to tell her how the audition went.

She couldn't wait to get the call from Will with the results of her audition.

And after her good talk with Finn the night before, she couldn't wait to see him either.

Things were going good.

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