A/N...thanks for all the reviews! Hope you enjoy this one! No, I don't own anything related to glee. Just Melody and Riley in this chapter.
Chapter 3: To Go or Not To Go, That is The Question
Melody blew out a breath and sent the pen she was holding across the table, where it proceeded to fall off the surface.
"I hope you're planning on picking that up" Rachel walked into the room with her empty coffee mug. She arched her eyebrow looking at her daughter who returned to the computer screen in front of her.
"Later" She mumbled, squinting her eyes. "Mom, how did you know NYADA was right for you?"
Rachel gave her daughter a curious look. "I knew I wanted to be in New York, come hell or high water and NYADA was the best school for the performing arts. It was Mrs. Schuster's idea, actually. I hadn't heard about it until she suggested it as an option for both me and Uncle Kurt." Melody looked at her with an almost bored expression on her face. She knew that story, how they had come to NYADA to get the best education in the Arts. She knew her Mom and Uncle were insanely talented. But neither had really gone on to do anything special with their education.
"I know that. But how did you know it was right for you?" Melody asked, impatient for an answer to her question.
"I didn't. I took a chance. And once your dad said he would follow me to New York once he got his acceptance to NYU, I knew it was right."
"So Dad chose for you."
"Dad chose what?" Finn asked coming into the room.
"NYADA." Melody answered as Rachel opened and closed her mouth.
"Nah, if I'd had my way your mom would have been barefoot and pregnant the moment we landed in NYC after graduation." That earned him a prompt jab to the ribs. "I was kidding, jeez. I didn't choose anything for anyone. Me getting into NYU just cemented the fact that your mom could have her dream while I had mine and we could still be together." He kissed Rachel on the head before going to sit down at the table beside Melody. "What's this all about anyway?"
"I'm trying to decide which offer to accept."
Over her four years of high school, Melody had gone off the beaten path of the family name so to speak and taken a real interest in Social Work. She belonged to the mentoring program that Riley had started in his senior year, running it after he had long graduated. She was following more in her Nana's footsteps, as she had been a nurse for years. Though the thought of blood made her stomach queasy. She just wanted to help people, more like her Uncle Blaine.
"Well, let's start with this question. Which ones did you get into?" He ran his hand through his hair. He didn't want to think about sending his little girl off to college or university. It was bad enough he was just now getting used to her dating that Schuster boy. He'd gotten lucky in that regard, only having to deal with one major boyfriend for his little girl. And he knew the parents well to boot. His little girl was more like her mother than she ever could understand. But university was a big deal. And he wasn't sure he was ready to let her cross the country. He knew she had applied to every social work program in the country, leaving no stone unturned.
"USC, NYU, Columbia and the University of Chicago" She read off the letterheads beside her.
"Well, we can take these two away..." He smiled, pulling away the letters of admission from the University of Chicago and USC. "They're much too far away from home."
She grabbed for them. "They are not. And University of Chicago has the best social work program out of all of them. AND they're offering me a scholarship for my work with the helping hands club." Finn dropped the paper.
"Fine, we can eliminate USC then. Keep Chicago."
Melody blew out a breath and looked at her mother for some help. "It does eliminate one of them honey, and you do have to make a decision soon. The deadline for accepting offers is next Monday."
"I know." She blew out a breath. "Fine, USC is eliminated. I didn't want to get tanned anyways."
"Baby, you take after your father, you would have burned the moment you stepped off the plane without sun block. Sorry about your luck" Rachel laughed, kissing her daughter's head. Melody grumbled.
She sipped her water as she looked across the table at her boyfriend.
"So you haven't chosen one yet?" He asked, knowing the struggle she was having in choosing a university. It had been easy for him, he'd wanted to stay close to home as his parents were getting older (he was their 'surprise!' baby, and had come when they were older) and he hadn't received any scholarships from any schools except for the university of Lima.
"No." She grumbled, looking down at the salad she had ordered for dinner. "But my dad did help me eliminate USC the other night."
Riley nodded. "Well, what are the other ones?"
"Columbia, NYU and Chicago. Only Chicago is giving me a scholarship."
"So why don't you choose that one?" He took a bit of the pasta he had ordered.
"Because it's not that simple." She groaned.
"Seems pretty simple to me." Riley shrugged.
"Do tell me then, why it seems so much more simple to you than to me..." She challenged, staring him down. He shifted in his chair.
"You lived in New York right?"
"'Til I was 8" She sighed.
"So why not choose Chicago? Somewhere different? Plus it's a lot closer than New York. We could see each other more." He smiled. "Plus, you said that they offered you a full scholarship. And the added bonus of kind of making your parents happy while not being close enough for them to barge in every five minutes. Voila, independence and happiness. Plus me." He grinned.
She sighed, leaning back in her chair a little bit.
"I guess you're right."
"I'm always right, haven't you learned that yet?" She picked up her napkin and threw it across the table at him.
"That's the thanks I get for being helpful?" He laughed. "Last time I help you out then, I see what it gets me..."
"Oh you'll see alright." She laughed at him and pursed her lips.
"So I think I've made a decision" She walked into her parents room after coming home from her date with Riley. She leaned against the door frame and crossed her arms over her chest. Both her parents looked up from what they were doing. Finn took off his glasses and placed them on the table beside him while Rachel put down her tablet to look intently at her daughter.
"Well?" Rachel smiled at her daughter.
"I think I've chosen University of Chicago. I'm going to take the scholarship. Plus it's closer to home then NYU or Columbia, but far enough that well...I can be my own person." She looked at her parents with a small smile.
"Awe baby!" Rachel smiled, she got out of bed and walked over to her daughter. "You're going to love university! We should plan a trip to go and check out the campus and the dorms!" Melody laughed at her mother's excitement. Rachel kissed her cheek a few times before letting her go. Finn smiled from the bed with tears in his eyes.
"My little girl, an official university student."
"Well it's only official when I click accept..."
"What are you waiting for?!" Rachel pushed her out of the room and down the hall to her bedroom where Melody had left her laptop.
"Alright, alright" Melody laughed and plopped down on her bed, grabbing for the computer. Rachel sat down beside her and clapped her hands excitedly. Melody pulled up the page and waited for it to load, logging in.
"Here we go..."
"You're absolutely sure this is what you want?" Rachel asked as Melody was about to click the 'Accept' button beside University of Chicago's offer.
"Yes." Melody nodded. "Riley made some good points at dinner. That we wouldn't have to give up too much of our relationship if I went there, that it was the best offer both scholarly and financially and that unlike NYU or Columbia, it would be a brand new experience for me."
"I knew I liked Riley Schuster for a reason."
"You mean other than the fact that he's head over heels for me?" Melody grinned. She turned her attention to the screen and clicked the accept button. "There, now I'm officially an almost university student" She laughed. Rachel laughed and leaned over to kiss Melody's head.
"Congratulations baby. I'm so proud of you, you have no idea."
"Thanks Mama." She smiled.
"I mean it. And not just because of your choice to go to university. You've done nothing but make me proud since the day you were born. You've made great choices, haven't compromised yourself, and while I know your dad will kill me for this, but I'm glad you've found a guy who loves you so much that he's supporting your dreams too." Rachel kissed her head. "Just don't get knocked up like Aunt Quinn and we'll..."
"Mama!" Melody exclaimed as she threw a pillow at her.
"I'm just kidding. I'm just too young to be a grandma" She winked. "Call Riley and tell him you did it. I'll tell your dad."
Melody nodded.
"Oh and Mel?" She poked her head back into the room. She looked up from her computer.
"I can't wait to go shopping with you for dorm stuff..." Melody grinned. She couldn't wait either.