Opening night and Quinn couldn't help but hear the increase of applause as she took her bow. The cast party was at Rich's house. Quinn was wearing a form fitting scarlet dress. Her hair was curled like an angel's. Rich came outside to greet her.
"Quinn, darling you look amazing," Rich said and kissed her cheek. Quinn rolled her eyes, she knew that he wanted her but he was laying the charm on pretty thick.
"Thanks," Quinn muttered
"Shall we make your big entrance?" Rich asked.
"I don't want to take the spotlight away from Beth," Quinn said.
"She'll have the child spotlight, but we need an adult spotlight," Rich pointed out.
"I invited some of your friends," Rich added.
"Who?" Quinn asked. Rich nodded in the direction of Finn and Rachel, who both looked amazing. They walked inside without noticing Quinn.
"I hate her," Quinn murmured. Rich looked pained at this and ran a hand through his dark hair.
"Let's go in," Rich said. Quinn nodded. Rich walked in and held the door open for her.
The gasps of admiration were undeniable as she walked in. Then again, the sneer on Rachel's lips was just as obvious.
"Quinn! You made it!" Beth said happily.
"Can you sing for us?" Allison (who played Molly in the musical) asked. Quinn laughed and hugged them.
"Maybe later. Beth and I may have to duet," Quinn smiled.
"Quinn, care for a drink?" Marc (who played Oliver Warbucks in the musical) asked. Quinn shook her head and her curls bounced.
Quinn made her way over to Finn and Rachel.
"What are you guys doing, this is a cast party?" Quinn asked gently, even though she knew the answer. Finn smiled.
"Rich invited us. Let me get you a soda," Finn offered and disappeared.
"How's that Broadway career going?" Quinn laughed. She'd feel bad about being so mean, but this was payback for what Rachel had done senior year.
"Still sore about the stairway accident, I see," Rachel said boredly.
"You pushed me down those stairs! And this isn't about that. This is about spiking Finn's drink so he cheated on me and about trying to sabotage my audition for The Sound Of Music. Then again, I guess I shouldn't be so sore because here I am in NYC as a grand old theater star and you still lived in Lima until last year…when I helped move Finn out and then you moved in with him," Quinn said viciously. Rachel was shaking with envy and anger at this point but Rich came over and steered Quinn away.
"I think we should sing to our opening success," Rich said.
"Quinn, please do the honors," Rich added.
In the heart of little old New York,
You'll find a thoroughfare.
It's the part of little old New York
That runs into Times Square.
A crazy quilt that 'Wall Street Jack' built,
If you've got a little time to spare,
I want to take you there.
Come and meet those dancing feet,
On the avenue I'm taking you to...
Come and meet those dancing feet,
On the avenue I'm taking you to,
Forty-Second Street.
Hear the beat of dancing feet,
It's the song I love the melody of,
Forty-Second Street.
Little 'nifties' from the Fifties,
Innocent and sweet;
Sexy ladies from the Eighties,
Who are indiscreet.
They're side by side; they're glorified
Where the underworld can meet the elite,
Forty-Second Street.
Quinn stopped singing as the music came to a halt, she didn't want to sing the whole thing. The cast burst into applause. Finn was beaming and Rachel was well, trembling with envy. Quinn stared at Beth longingly. The poor little thirteen-year-old orphan. Quinn had learned that Allison was also an orphan. They had been staying with Rich for the duration of the play. The girls who played the orphans all went into singing 'It's a Hard-Knock Life'. Finn went to the bathroom and Quinn went over to Rachel.
"Just tell the truth for once: if you had the choice, would you have my career?" Quinn asked. Rachel glared at Quinn.
"Yes, I would. I do believe I have had more training than you," Rachel said menacingly. Quinn laughed.
"Rachel, I think I have more talent than you…considering that I have the career and you don't," Quinn hissed. Guilt at her heart, she had no right to be this mean.
"I'm sorry," Quinn said and then walked away.
Quinn watched everyone around her.
She started to cry when she saw Finn kiss Rachel. She cried harder when she saw Beth.
She may have had the career, but she didn't have Finn or Beth.