"Don't you understand? I want this more than anything! I didn't move out her to just idle by! I gave up everything because I'm serious about this! I'm willing to fight for it! I'll do anything!" The raw emotion in her voice reverberated off the walls and made an emotional echo across the room.

"When are you going to get it? You're not in the mediocre town anymore! Look around! Everyone here wants exactly what you think will just be handed to you! Sure, you've got talent. And, yeah, you're willing to go the distance to get to where you want to be, but there's a point where this goes from a passion to an obsession! You've more than passed that line. I promised I'd stand back until this was causing more hurt than it was good. This is that time!" He threw back with equal passion. He felt the familiar burn in his throat that came from yelling.

Tears built up in her eyes before she responded softly. "I don't know how to stop. I have to make it. If I don't, I'll just be exactly what everyone always said I would be. I can't let that happen."

He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, "I understand."

She cracked a small smile, "And scene."

He dropped his dramatic stature and returned her smile. "That was amazing. Outstanding, even. It was so real. All that emotion, it's like it's been bottled up in there your whole life. I can't believe you started crying. It took me months to pull out tears on demand. Rachel, you're really good."

"It wasn't to forced? I thought it came out a little fake towards the middle," Rachel frowned. She walked over and took a seat next to Jesse on the couch.

"Rachel," he laughed. "Trust me. If I thought it sounded insincere, I would tell you. I also wouldn't waste my breath giving you false hopes. I think you actually have a legitimate shot at getting this role."

"Can we run it again?" Rachel asked shyly.

"From the top," Jesse smirked, "and... action!"

The rest of the week flew by in a gush of sight-seeing, line running, and song choosing. Before Rachel knew it, it was Saturday morning and time for her to head back to Ohio. Though, Rachel felt a small bit of assurance over her sadness knowing that she would be returning in a little over thirty days.

When Jesse had hugged her goodbye outside his house he had whispered to her quietly that he would see her soon. So, with a slightly elated spirit and a stronger confidence, Rachel climbed into the limo, throwing a gleeful, "I'll be back" over her shoulder with a smirk that grew to a grin as she heard Jesse laugh before Rodger shut the door.

Walking into school the following Monday was still slightly nerve wracking. Like before, Rachel had abstained from using her phone while in California. So, when she turned it on Sunday night and saw the 20 missed messages, she knew that, once again, she would have quite a number of questions to answer. Not to mention having to deal with all of the comments that were bound to be drawn to her from a certain male acquaintance concerning her wardrobe. Today, instead of her usual skirt-blouse-sweater combo, she wore the most expensive pair of jeans she had ever owned and a deep purple t-shirt that held the I heart LA logo. Both of the from mentioned had been purchased for her by one Jesse St. James. After which, he had proceeded to dare her to wear them both to school as soon as she returned. At first, she had refused, telling him that her wardrobe was just one of the many ways she was establishing her signature. He had retorted that part of being a star is pushing your boundaries. So, she had ceded.

The stares that had halted a few days after her first return were back, but this time she embraced the extra attention and allowed her self to put an extra skip in her step as she walked down the halls. Again, nobody approached her throughout her classes, but nobody had slushied her either. And then glee came around...

"Halt it, Berry." Rachel heard when she stepped into the choir room.

"Welcome back to you too, Kurt," Rachel delivered with a smile.

"That's all you have to say?" Kurt asked.

"I like your sweater," Rachel added. She continued walking and took her normal seat in the front row. Kurt was quick to take the seat beside her, and Quinn moved down to the one on her other side.

"I see you've rethought some clothing choices," Kurt mused. He gave Rachel's outfit a once-over before commenting again. "I suppose a certain boy toy of yours wouldn't have anything to do with the sudden change in prejudice."

"Part of being a star is learning to expand from your routines," Rachel recited perfectly.

"I'm sure that's what it is," Quinn nodded. "But, seriously, how was California?"

"Amazing," Rachel sighed. "Everybody is just so confident and calm there. The views are gorgeous and-"

"Stop before you make me drool," Mercedes said, making her presence known from the row behind them. "Girl, I wish I could have been there."

Kurt and Quinn muttered their agreement.

"Do you think you'll go back?" Tina asked from her seat beside Mercedes.

"I am," Rachel responded. "Next month, actually."

"For how long?" Kurt asked. His interest peaked again.

"It depends," Rachel replied vaguely.

"On what?" Quinn pressed.

"If you must know," Rachel sighed. "I have an audition for a TV series."

The other three stayed silent in shock before Mercedes found her voice.

"Which one?"

"It's not a show yet," Rachel explained. "It just got picked up for a pilot, but they're having to recast the female lead and a few other roles. I'm not supposed to say anything else about it."

"Rachel that's-" Tina began with a genuine smile.

"Horrible." Kurt finished. The others gave him confused looks, so he continued. "If you get the part, you'll have to move to California. If you're in California, you'll have to withdraw from New Directions. And, as much as I have to admit it, we can't win Regionals without you. If we don't win Regionals, we lose our funding and glee club is over. Next thing you know, we're all back on the bottom while you're off living the good life in Hollywood."

Rachel froze for a few seconds. She honestly hadn't thought about her leaving having any affect on any of the team. She felt a bit of guilt seep into the excitement she had been thriving off of before.

"Look," Rachel said once she had decided on how to reply, "I'm not even sure if I'll get the role. We all know that the chances are slim to none, and while I have faith in my talent, I know that the odds are piled against me. This is my shout, though. How many of these am I going to get? If I don't get the role, then I'll be right back here ready to play my part in our Regionals victory. If I do get the role, I'm sure that Mercedes can serve as the powerhouse you need to come out on top."

"Whatever you say, Rachel," Kurt sighed. "I just hope this doesn't turn into something bad for all of us."

"Sorry guys," Mr. Shuester greeted as he walked in the room a few minutes late. "I was straightening out some stuff with Figgins. We've I was trying to get us some leeway with the whole placing first at Regionals bit, but he's not willing to move. That's okay though, because I believe in all of you, and I think that with all twelve of you giving this your all we can do this."

"All twelve of us," Kurt repeated.

Rachel sunk into her seat.

"Rachel! Rachel, I know you can hear me," Finn called to the retreating figure in front of him.

Rachel reluctantly came to a stop in the deserted hallway and turned to face her ex.

"Yes, Finn?"

He didn't answer until he had caught up with her and stood before her. "Um," he faltered before finishing his thought, "Mr. Shue said that we should start brain storming for our Regionals list. I thought maybe we could get together after school sometime and throw some ideas around."

"I don't-"

"I know that I really screwed things up between us, but I thought that you would always be willing to be friends. That's all I want, Rachel. I promise. I have no alterated motives."

"Ulterior," Rachel corrected automatically.

"Right," Finn nodded. "Well I have none of those, I swear."

"Okay," Rachel sighed.

"Okay?" Finn repeated. Shock showed on his features. He had truly thought it would take more than a mispronounced promise to get her to talk to him again.

"Okay," Rachel confirmed. She gave him a small smile that came off a little forced. "I have ballet this afternoon, but maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's great," Finn grinned.

Rachel nodded before turning and continuing her journey to the parking lot.

When she arrived home from ballet, Rachel headed straight to the living room and situated herself in front of the piano. She pulled out the music book that Jesse had leant her from his expansive collection and turned to the first page where a note fell into her lap.

Glad to see you're actually using this.

Just follow what I told you to do before you left, and you'll be fine.

If you get really stuck or frustrated, you know how to call me.

-Jesse

Rachel felt a smile tug at her face, and she reached for her phone. She dialed the now familiar number, and waited for him to answer.

I can just practice later...

Chapter 10!

Once again... it's not too terribly long... But, I did manage to update it quickly!

How you might ask?

I'll tell you!

Once there was a girl in Manhattan, who attends what is probably an extremely over priced private school, who got the flu from said private school. The former mentioned girl is now bed ridden for a few days with nothing to do but call for food and lay around in extremely comfy pajamas, sneeze, watch old movies, cough, watch reruns on day time television, wipe her watery eyes, type up some new chapters, sleep, do makeup work as it is emailed to her, and sleep some more! The End:)

Anyways... I've got some questions from readers to answer!

1) Some drama will be coming along soon!
2) Rachel will or will not get the role.
3) Rachel and Jesse WILL end up together romantically. I promise. I really, truly promise. I, much like our sixteenth president, cannot tell a lie.

Thoughts?