It was opening night for the Lima Summer Playwrights festival. Rachel had insisted that all the glee kids participate to show their support for fellow artists. But of course, because Rachel suggested it, no one wanted to do it. To be honest, kids their age were usually too busy with summer jobs and social stuff for a play festival that was for kids anyway.
The only person who really showed an interest was Finn. He fondly remembers those summers when his mother would take him to see the plays when he was a kid. He was enchanted by the magic of theatre where people could be anything they wanted up on that stage. He dreamed that he himself would one day be on that stage. But he got older, football was great and theatre was gay, and that's what he tricked himself into believing for a while up until this summer. But he wouldn't do it without Mercedes.
"I don't know if I can do this Finn."Mercedes said as she paced back and forth in her pirate costume.
"What on earth are you worried about? You amazed crowds 100 times bigger than this at nationals." Finn said in his cowboy costume.
There were only about 12 people in the audience and most of them were the relatives of the people in the plays. But to Mercedes, it was like a full crowd at Madison Square Garden.
"I know I can sing in front of anyone, but I hate public speaking and acting is just over dramatic public speaking" Mercedes admitted.
"But why? Acting is great; they tell you what you are supposed to say ahead of time. Do you know how many times I wish someone told me what I was supposed to say?" Finn countered.
"Look, I know it doesn't make much sense, but I have very bad stage fright one it comes to public speaking. Public singing I got down pact, but just talking in front of a group of people scares the hell out of me. What if I mess up? What if I freeze out there? What if someone else forgets their line and we skip over an entire section? I can't do this, I can't go on!" Mercedes said in a terrified voice.
"I get that you're scared, believe me, I get scared before every performance. But I have a special trick that I use to deal with it." Finn said as he wrapped his arms around Mercedes.
"What is it?" Mercedes asked.
"I look over at you and I see this uber confident woman overflowing with suede-"
"-Swag" Mercedes interrupted.
"What?" Finn looked confused.
"Its swag boo, not suede."
"What the heck is swag?" Finn said looking really confused.
"Jesus, how white are you?" Mercedes teased.
"Very. But that's not the point. The point is that when I look at the woman I love and she isn't worried than I know that I don't have to be worried either. So just look at me and know that I know that you can do this." Finn said as he bent down to kiss his girlfriend.
It was a very sweet moment. But bitter Berry and her cowgirl costume felt like they needed to put an end to it pronto.
"Hey you two, it's almost show time! Finn, since we play a couple in the first play I think we should improv a date scene right now, just to prepare" Rachel said.
"But Rachel all we've done for the past month is improv, I've run out of things to say on our fake dates."
Mercedes eyes got very wide. She did not know about these "fake dates" at all. All Finn told her was that rehearsals were getting very awkward. She should have known better than to leave an unsupervised Finn with Berry.
"They weren't fake to me." Rachel muttered under her breath.
"And why are we in three plays together? And why are we a couple in all three of those plays?" Finn got a focused look on his face like he was suddenly putting the pieces together to Rachel's intentions.
"You should walk away right now" was all Mercedes had to say to make Rachel scurry away.
"I feel so used" Finn said.
"How could you not know what Rachel was up to?" Mercedes scolded.
"I…I thought it was just bad luck."
"Look at the program Finn." Mercedes handed her boyfriend the little folded program.
"Rachel Berry Presents: Lima Summer Playwrights festival." Finn read aloud.
"Now look at the three plays you are in." Mercedes said.
"Written & Produced by Rachel Berry" Finn read.
"She just won't quite! No matter how much we try to avoid her she always tries to ruin our relationship. I honestly think we need to stop talking to her outside of glee club" Mercedes said.
Finn thought for a moment.
"I can't do that" Finn said.
"And why not?" Mercedes said with a sassy neck roll.
"Well…look at her."
Mercedes looked over to see Rachel Berry talking to a little girl dressed like an Indian. The little girl gave Rachel the finger before storming off.
"People always seem to hate her no matter what she does. And even though she gets on my nerves too, everyone needs someone to have their back." Finn said.
Mercedes took a long look at Rachel; and she began to see what Finn saw. She had been so used to putting Rachel in the man stealing bitch category that she forgot that Rachel was still a vulnerable teenage girl just like her.
Mercedes began to walk over to Rachel.
"Don't slap her!" Finn stage whispered.
"Hush!" Mercedes responded.
Mercedes cleared her throat in front of Rachel. The smaller girl looked like she was barely keeping it together.
"So I guess you've come to gloat? Or possibly to punch?" Rachel asked.
"Do you think you deserved to be punched?" Mercedes asked.
"I would if I was in your position and someone kept trying to steal my man" Rachel admitted.
"Yeah well, I know he's not going anywhere so I don't even trip."
The two were silent for a while
"Hey, good job on putting all of this together" Mercedes said looking around at all the props and costumes back stage.
"Yeah well, I had to do something with my summer. It's not like I was going to have a social life or anything" Rachel chuckled.
The opening music for the first play started playing.
"That's my que" Rachel said as she hurried into position. "Thanks for participating Mercedes. Break a leg out there" Rachel smiled.
"You too Berry" Mercedes smiled back.
Finn gave Mercedes a huge hug from behind.
"Suede" he whispered in her ear before joining Rachel on stage.