Quite a short update today, this chapter features more Shelby and Rachel than chapter 2. Thank you to everyone who reviewed.
Disclaimer: I do not own glee etc.
The next day was a Saturday yet Rachel was still obligated to go to Vocal Adrenaline rehearsal. Rachel groaned and rubbed her aching joints as she recalled the rehearsal the night before. Last night's rehearsal couldn't have been more than two hours long while today's would be going on from nine in the morning until six o'clock at night. Rachel cracked her neck in frustration before stepping out of her shower's warm spray.
As she opened her closet door Rachel bit her lip in her dilemma normally she would wear baggy comfortable clothing to dance lessons and rehearsals because it was more practical and comfortable. She didn't have anyone to compare herself to then, Tina and Mercedes dressed similarly to her and the cheerios were rarely out of the uniforms. However when Rachel was at rehearsal she found herself comparing herself to the athletic Vocal Adrenaline girls in cropped tops, sports bras and legging. She distinctly remembered Finn's wandering eyes on his scantily dressed partner. Rachel picked out a pair of black leggings and a black dress with lace sleeves, the dress ended a few inches above her knees and moved around her as she turned making the outfit perfect. She fixed her hair before nodding at her reflection in approval.
Rachel skipped down the stairs and hopped into the kitchen, she spotted her fathers sitting at the kitchen table, Leroy with a newspaper propped up against his coffee mug and Hiram had his laptop open staring into with a look of concern.
"Morning Daddy, Morning Papa" Rachel cooed kissing each of them on the cheek retrospectively.
"Morning Sweetie, you off to rehearsal" Leroy said cheerfully.
"Yes Papa, although I wish I didn't have to, my back still hearts from yesterday"
"But it will all be worth it when my baby's on the New York Stage in less then two months time" Hiram said, pulling away from his work and pulling his daughter into a one armed embrace.
"Oh did you get the tickets yet?" Rachel enquired happily
"I ordered them yesterday" Hiram beamed "Your first night in Ohio and you're last night in New York"
"You don't need to come twice Daddy" Rachel chuckled.
"Our little girl is performing in New York City. We wouldn't miss it for the world" Leroy chimed in.
"Ugh I gotta go or I'll be late," Rachel groaned dragging herself away from her fathers.
"I made you some Lunch" Leroy said gesturing to a brown paper bag on the table Rachel smiled picking up the bag and placing it inside of her pink satchel. She thanked her fathers with another peck on the cheek each before showing herself out.
Rachel climbed into her small car and began the drive to Carmel High.
Three quarters of an hour later found Rachel walked into Carmel High's enormous auditorium with a grin.
Jesse was sitting amongst a group Vocal Adrenaline members on the edge of the stage, he spotted her and grinned pointing at her, before his finger gestured like it was a hook beckoning her towards him. She rolled her eyes but walked over nonetheless, she hopped up onto the stage beside him and smiled cheekily.
"I see you've updated your wardrobe." Jesse smirked breaking away from his friends slightly and focusing on the petit ingénue beside him.
"I thought we were making Finn jealous" she smiled at the handsome boy beside her lazily.
"Huh, I thought you were trying to impress me" he smiled affectionately.
"As if." She muttered but she couldn't help the deep red blush that crept onto her face. Jesse grinned a brushed his thumb of her flushed cheek with a look of light satisfaction.
Shelby entered with a blonde women walking slightly behind her. "New Directions, this is Cassie, she is Vocal adrenaline's chorographer, and she will be working with you a little later on.
"It has come to my attention that we have wide range of vocal abilities and dance abilities and it's best to access that before we rehearse than after, I had expected better dance skills among the new direction but was sadly disappointed, I need to know more about your skills so I can figure out how to utilize you and present you in a flattering light." Rachel looked at Jesse nervously; he smiled back reassuringly and nudged her shoulder with his.
Across the room Finn raised his hand cockily "Shouldn't the Vocal Adrenaline lot audition as well?"
"If it is any comfort then yes any Vocal Adrenaline members who would like to prove their skills and possibly earn themselves some more solos can audition as well. Now since you have so much to say on the matter Mr Hudson why don't you start us off?" Shelby suggested coolly.
Finn swaggered onto the stage and stood center stage. "1,2,3 hit it" he bellowed but no music came.
'You didn't say which song, moron!" Jesse muttered, Rachel gave him a reproachful glare and the curly haired lead piped down.
"'I Predict a Riot' by Kaiser Chiefs" Finn muttered irritably.
Watching the people get lairy
It's not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
It's not very sensible either
A friend of a friend he got beaten
He looked the wrong way at a policeman
Would never of happened to Smeaton
An old Leodensian
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I tried to get to my taxi
The man in a tracksuit attacks me
He said that he saw it before me
And wants to get things a bit gory
Girls scrabble round with no clothes on
To borrow a pound for a condom
If it wasn't for chip fat they'd be frozen
They're not very sensible
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
Who that doesn't want to be out there
Watching the people get lairy
It's not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
It's not very sensible
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
Who that doesn't want to be out there
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
Finn finished his song and smirked at the audience as if expecting praise. Shelby sat up straighter at her desk and leant towards her microphone, "Not bad, you have decent basic skills but you're song choice didn't highlight much skill or show a vocal range." Finn shuffled off the stage awkwardly and went to sit next to an uncomfortable Mr Schue who immediately began to appease his male lead.
Rachel was about to follow her boyfriend when Shelby called into the microphone "Rachel if it's okay with you I'd rather we use you're time later for vocal training and testing out songs, as I've already seen you're abilities" Rachel nodded and sat back down.
Jesse rubbed her back comfortably and whispered "She does the same with me, it means she's intending to use us in group numbers and solos"
An hour had passed since Shelby had dismissed Rachel and Rachel had long since gotten bored and opened a book. Jesse found other forms of entertainment in finding ways of irritating Rachel. He played with her hair experimenting with how hard he could tug it before she got annoyed; he rested his head on her shoulder in boredom, played with her fingers etc. She glared at him and pointed at him threateningly put couldn't seriously be angry with him because it felt nice to have someone paying so much attention to her and he was doing it purely so he focus would be on him and she wanted someone to want that from her.
Eventually the auditions were over and Shelby was ready to rehearse with Rachel, she looked at the girl and nodded her head towards a small music room next door.
Shelby's POV
Shelby followed Rachel into the room and sat down at the piano "Shall we start with warm ups" she said smiling warmly. Rachel warmed up until Shelby was satisfied. "You have an impressive range, you're probably not surprised to know that you will most likely be the lead female soloist. You would be doing duets with Jesse, is that a problem"
Rachel ducked her head in embarrassment "No, we're friends"
"Hmm Friends. I think Jesse may have a slight crush on you" Shelby chuckled "the last time I saw him annoy a girl so much he was thirteen"
"I have a boyfriend…" Rachel murmur looking at her director with a nervous glance.
"I know Rachel." Shelby said comfortingly "I don't know how serious your relationship is but Jesse doesn't date, he never has. He's been with girls but as far as I know he's never been in a relationship, so if he tries to propose that to you, just know it's not a ploy. I've known him since he was twelve and I view like a son, so don't hurt him."
"We're just friends," Rachel squeaked "He's got this scheme about making my boyfriend jealous"
"Look Rachel, Jesse is a good kid and he is interested in you that way, then I will not separate you two, however if you lead him on further than you are willing to follow through on, you'll only hurt yourself and I don't want to see you hurt" Shelby smiled softly at her child. She realised she may have been slightly harsh but wanted her daughter, her only daughter to learn from her mistakes. Mistakes Shelby never recovered from.
"I'm not interested in a relationship with Jesse I have a boyfriend." Rachel burst "Is it so bad that I want someone to be on my side in all the crap going on"
"Do not swear at me I am you're coach first and foremost." Shelby glared at her, to Rachel Shelby was no more than a coach and if Shelby was put in a postion where she was unable to confess the truth to Rachel, it would cause Rachel more harm than good to speak to her directors in that manner"And I was simply pointing out that Jesse may not see the relationship the same way as you."
Rachel nodded reluctantly "Tell me more about Finn…"Shelby ordered softly.
"Finn is the high school quarterback, my co-captain of the New Directions…"
As Shelby listened to her daughter vent about her love life, friends and enemies she felt fulfilling warmth at giving her daughter advice and criticism. It felt good to finally hear her opinions on her life, know more about her interests, tastes and family. It both hurt and pleased Shelby to hear of Rachel's fathers. From the sound of things, Rachel adored her fathers, she wanted for nothing under their care however it did hurt Shelby to know that the loss of a mother hadn't greatly affected her.
Just as Rachel was packing away her sheet music a few words of thanks slipped out of her mouth that filled Shelby with so much hope and love that she may explode with the power of it .
"Thanks for this Shelby, it was nice to have some girl talk. I can't really openly talk about guys or sex with my Dads, their a little bit overprotective.
I'm sorry it's so short but I didn't want to drag the chapter on to much when ending it here felt right to me. I summed up the conversation with Shelby because I would like to show it in more depth from Rachel's perspective because I think it would be more interesting. Reviews are always amazing. Chapter 4 should be up in a couple of days. I have a blog which shows what the locations and clothes look like, there is a link on my Fanfiction Profile.