Disclaimer: I do not own the 'Glee' world.
A/N Hello! You want an update? Here you go!
Thanks for your reviews/alerts/favourites.
Chapter 16 : Audition
"Names?"
"Rachel Berry and Noah Puckerman." Rachel supplied to the kindly looking woman sitting behind the registration table for the singing competition. The fingers of Rachel's right hand were laced through Noah's left and she knew she was gripping his hand quite hard but she was too nervous to loosen her hold.
"You're audition couple number fourteen," the woman informed them, handing over a clipboard and questionnaire. "If you could fill this in while you wait to be called – it just provides the organisers with a bit of information about you both should you be put forward into the main competition."
"Sure," Noah replied, "Come on, babe, let's go fill this out." Rachel still felt her stomach feel light and her cheeks warm whenever she heard Noah call her by a term of endearment.
There was a large amount of chairs beyond the woman's table where other couples were waiting to be called for their audition. Rachel tried to surreptitiously check out the competition and she knew that the others would be doing the same. She looked over her shoulder and could see a long line of people waiting to be given an audition number. The variety of ages, races and sexual orientations in the room was clear and Rachel couldn't believe that this had all stemmed from a small contest a young couple had held between their friends fifty years ago. There were even a couple of television cameras being set up! The competition was much bigger than she had expected. And it was taking place in the Harris Theatre in Millennium Park – where the Chicago Film Festival was held! She shivered slightly with nervous excitement.
Noah led them over to a couple of vacant seats and Rachel located a pen in her purse to fill in the form. She assessed their seating situation and realised that they weren't being affectionate enough to each other.
"Put your arm around me," she whispered urgently to Noah and he quickly followed her order, wrapping an arm around her, pulling her a little closer. He dropped an awkward kiss onto her forehead for added measure and Rachel tried to not let her consternation at the obvious falseness of their relationship show.
A set of doors in the room opened with an audible clang and everyone looked in that direction. A middle aged man stepped out and looked excitedly upon the couples. "We're ready for couple number one," he announced.
A man and a woman of around thirty years of age got to their feet and sauntered over to the man, looking completely unruffled. Rachel had been to so many auditions and competitions that she was quite used to feeling nervous but the anxiety she felt today was far beyond anything she'd felt before. There was just so much at stake for herself and Noah…
The door banged shut behind the first contestants and nervous conversations rippled throughout the room.
"I suppose we'd better fill this shit in then," Noah muttered and Rachel swallowed nervously.
"Yes, it'll give us something to do while we wait for our turn. It might take them some time to get to us; we are fourteenth after all."
The first few questions were just about their names, dates of birth, addresses and contact numbers and were easy enough to answer. The next question asked for some background information on their relationship.
Rachel flinched as the third couple went through for their audition, the doors still banging closed. "What do you think we should put?" she asked quietly so that no one would overhear them.
"Well, we said we'd be as honest as possible," Noah shrugged, the motion causing her to be pulled closer towards him slightly.
"So, we first started going out in the fall?" Rachel suggested.
He nodded. "That is true. We're not lying there."
Rachel bit her lip. "We just won't say that we broke up after a week." She whispered.
"Exactly."
"I'll put something in about how caring for Evie together has brought us even closer."
"Are you going to say that she's yours?" He queried.
"Of course not! That's a deception too far, Noah." She chastised.
He held up his hands defensively. "I was just fucking wondering, Berry, er, baby." He corrected, frowning.
She sighed. The next few days were going to be hard work – providing they got through the audition to begin with.
She wrote a few lines about their budding relationship and tried to make the fact that they were bringing up Noah's baby with another girl not a big deal. There was no point hiding the fact that Evie was a part of their family because the little girl was going to be around them for pretty much the whole weekend. She was with Kurt right now, being pushed around the Park. Evie had not had the best night's sleep and Rachel wondered whether it was because it was the first time that she had slept somewhere other than the room she shared with Noah. Their room in the cheap hotel that they were staying at was certainly cramped with herself, Noah, Kurt, Evie and all their luggage with them. Kurt had been less than impressed with the screeching baby throughout the night but Noah had been quick to remind him that he'd demanded that they bring him with them.
The next question wanted their choice of song for each round and Rachel carefully penned in the titles and artist names of the songs they had picked.
"There. All done." She announced when their fifties song had been written. She placed the pen back and held the clipboard rigidly. She wished she hadn't finished so quickly as she had nothing to distract herself with now. She drummed her fingers nervously on her leg and went through the lyrics of the audition song, humming the tune quietly.
"Hey," Noah said softly, kissing her head, "relax. You're just going to freak yourself out."
"But there are so many couples!" Rachel exclaimed. "What if they're all amazing?"
"I don't know anyone who's got a better voice than you, Rach. We're going to kick everyone's asses."
She smiled at him and resisted the very strong urge she had to yawn. She was so tired. All the sleepless nights worrying about this competition and then how unsettled Evie was last night (not to mention that it was only half seven in the morning), had worked her into a state of near exhaustion. And the competition hadn't even started yet!
She rested her head on Noah's chest, wrapping her arms around his middle.
She could get used to this; having someone to lean on. This level of PDA she could handle – it was the more intimate kind she had an issue with. She frowned as she remembered Santana's insistence that they should look like they constantly wanted to have sex with each other. Not all couples their age engaged in physical intimacy. Love didn't have to mean sex. She rolled her eyes at herself. This thought process was bizarre. She wasn't even really going out with Noah!
The couples kept disappearing through the doors and Rachel could finally see an end to the line of applicants. She estimated that there were about forty couples auditioning for only eighteen places in the main event. That was a less than fifty per cent chance of getting through…
Couple number twelve went through the doors and Rachel extricated herself from Noah's embrace and pulled him to his feet so that they could warm up their bodies and voices before they were called.
Couple thirteen were called.
Rachel took a sip of water, instantly wishing that she'd gone to the bathroom earlier on.
But it was too late.
"Number fourteen?" The same man called. Noah grabbed her hand and they walked towards the door. She tried to look as unfazed as some of the other people but she doubted that she pulled the look off.
The man smiled warmly at them as they stepped through. "This way," he beckoned and Rachel and Noah followed him down a corridor and through a door to the backstage. They could hear a couple singing 'I'm a Believer' somewhere on the stage. "Do you have your music?" the man whispered. Rachel nodded and handed over a CD.
"Track one," she instructed.
"Cool." He replied. "You're on after these two are finished."
Noah turned his neck from side to side, clicking it and Rachel scrunched up her nose but said nothing. She knew he was just trying to get relaxed, she just wished she could do the same.
The preceding couple finished the song (on a slightly out of tune note, which Rachel was ashamedly pleased about) then they appeared, retrieving their CD and handing over the microphones to Rachel and Noah.
"Okay, you're on." The unnamed guy said.
Rachel gripped Noah's hand tightly and then they walked onto the stage together.
The lights were almost blinding and it took a couple of seconds for her eyes to get used to the glare before she could see a half dozen people sitting in the audience seats.
"Hello, give us your names and what you'll be singing, please." Called a lady with dirty-blonde curly hair.
"Hi, my name's Rachel Berry,"
"I'm Noah Puckerman and we're singing 'Always' by Bon Jovi. Well, a short version, because otherwise we'll be here for about five minutes."
The people laughed and Rachel found herself relaxing. She was on stage, where she belonged and she was going to be singing with her best friend. There was nothing to worry about really.
Noah nodded to the guy off stage to play the music and then he turned back to her with a grin. She knew that he felt it too – that being on stage was just where he belonged. He probably didn't feel it as keenly as she did but it was there within him, she just knew it.
The drums kicked in and Noah took a breath to get their audition under way.
This Romeo is bleeding, but you can't see his blood,
It's nothing but some feelings,
That this old dog kicked up,
Noah sounded amazing. His voice was actually causing her skin to show Goosebumps. They weren't doing any fancy dance routine or actions because it didn't really fit the song. They were just standing together and now it was Rachel's turn to carry on the verse.
It's been raining since you left me,
Now I'm drowning in the flood,
You see I've always been a fighter,
But without you I give up,
It was such a relief to finally be able to sing and despite the sombre mood of the song, Rachel wanted to grin as Noah took over again.
Now I can't sing a love song,
Like the way it's meant to be,
Well, I guess I'm not that good anymore,
But baby, that's just me,
Yeah I, will love you, baby,
Always and I'll be there,
Forever and a day, always,
Noah squeezed her hand and she needed absolutely no invitation to join in the singing with him.
I'll be there, 'til the stars don't shine,
'Til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme,
I know when I die you'll be on my mind,
and I'll love you, always,
They swapped turns for the second verse; Rachel started, Puck took over and then it was Rachel again.
Now your pictures that you left behind,
Are just memories of a different life,
Some that made us laugh,
Some that made us cry,
One that made you have to say goodbye,
What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair,
Touch your lips, to hold you near,
When you say your prayers, try to understand,
I've made mistakes, I'm just a man,
When she holds you close, when she pulls you near,
When she says the words,
You've been needing to hear, I'll wish I was her,
'Cause these words are mine, to say to you,
'Til the end of time,
Yeah I, will love you, baby,
Always and I'll be there,
Forever and a day, always,
Rachel was actually quite sad that they were coming to the end of the song. She and Noah sounded incredible (even if she did say so herself) as he joined her on the last part.
I'll be there, 'til the stars don't shine,
'Til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme,
I know when I die you'll be on my mind,
and I'll love you, always.
The music on the CD faded away, leaving Rachel and Noah grinning at each other. The people in the audience clapped and Rachel turned her smile towards them.
"Well done," the same woman who spoke before congratulated them. "We hope to be announcing the final eighteen around midday so make sure you are back in the foyer around that time."
"No problem. Thank you for your time," Rachel said sweetly before she and Noah walked off the stage.
They handed their microphones over to the rather green looking couple waiting and then took their CD back. "You two sounded really great," he complimented and Rachel nearly burst with happiness. "I wouldn't be surprised to see you back here this afternoon."
"Thanks, we certainly hope so." Noah said, pulling Rachel into a one armed hug.
"To get out you exit from the door we came through and then go right down the corridor. There are signs showing the way." He explained.
They thanked him and made their way out into the bright Chicago sunshine. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of them – they'd done everything they could so far and now it was just up to the judges.
"I told you we'd kick ass," Noah scoffed.
"I know, you were right but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves – we don't know how good all the other couples are yet." Rachel pointed out as she looked for her cell. "Let me just phone Kurt to find out where he is."
Kurt and Evie were in Lurie Garden and a after a brisk walk they were soon reunited.
"Now don't keep me in suspense any longer!" Kurt cried as they sat next to him on the bench. "How did it go? Do you know if you're through?"
"They're going to announce the finalists at around midday." Rachel answered as Noah fussed over his daughter.
Kurt's face fell. "But that's still three hours away!"
"Well that's how many couples there were." Rachel shrugged.
"Do you think you did well though?" he asked. She knew that he was just as anxious as they were for them to get through but that was more so that his outfits and styling could be put to use.
"We rocked." Was Noah's contribution to the conversation.
"I thought we sang very well," Rachel elaborated to Kurt. "I don't recall hearing anything out of tune."
"I think it was a good choice of song to show of your vocal abilities," Kurt said, "but you were right to reject it from your 90s choices – although it's about love it's about a relationship that's failed which is not something that's particularly promoted this weekend."
"Exactly, that's why it was removed from consideration." Rachel yawned, unable to stop herself.
"You can get some coffee over there," Kurt pointed behind them over the street.
"Thanks, I think I need one. Noah?"
"Yeah, let's go. Then I want to come back and check out the spitting fountain thing and that big shiny blob."
"You mean Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate?" Kurt asked.
Noah shrugged. "That's what I said."
They spent the next couple of hours exploring Millennium Park and its attractions; splashing each other with the water at Crown Fountain (which was only stopped when Kurt screeched that he'd dye all of their clothes if they got his hair wet), taking photos of their distorted reflections at Cloud Gate, walking along the slightly strange pedestrian bridge (and then straight back again) and checking out the roof of the Pavilion.
Evie then started wailing so they had to find somewhere to feed and change her and they took the opportunity to grab some food. Rachel checked her watch, it was nearly half eleven.
"I think we should go back." She announced. "They said 'around midday' so they could be posting it very soon." Her stomach started twisting into knots again and she wished she hadn't just eaten. They gathered their things and Noah carried a near-sleeping Evie in his arms back to the theatre.
The foyer was absolutely crammed with hopeful couples and they had to push their way through to eventually find a bit of floor space where they could stand comfortably together. Rachel saw a few people look their way, taking in their obvious youth and Evie, and their gazes would turn judgemental. She felt her cheeks glow with anger. Obviously, Evie wasn't her baby even though the other couples didn't know that, but they had no right to judge herself and Noah – people were allowed to make mistakes and quite honestly, Rachel thought that Evie was the best 'mistake' Noah had ever made. However, there were also couples that looked over at Evie with interest the way that babies were often a subject of curiosity and they'd smile at the sleeping little girl.
The minutes ticked by slowly, the crowd would go quiet, then conversations would start and then a hush would descend again in a never-ending cycle.
"Uh, this is killing me!" Kurt moaned. "It's much worse than the wait at regionals."
No sooner had the words left his mouth then the level of noise rose steeply and everyone started pushing in one direction.
"The list must be up," Noah muttered. Rachel could see that he looked much more anxious than before they'd sung. He obviously wasn't so confident that they'd get through after all. "I can't go and look like this," he said, motioning to Evie still asleep in his arms. "Rach, you go."
She shook her head. "No, I don't want to look without you. Kurt, you go."
"Okay!" he replied. "Good luck!" he squeezed their arms, turned and soon disappeared into the melee. Rachel could hear shouts of joy, angry exclamations, groans of disappointment and a couple of people sobbing. She strained her ears for any sound of Kurt's distinctive voice.
"Look, Rachel," she turned to look at Noah, who was gazing at her seriously. "I just want to say whether we get through or not, that you've been fucking amazing; getting us ready for this competition, using your savings to book us into that hotel, helping me with all this Evie stuff. Thank you."
She grinned. "You're more than welcome, Noah; you and Evie are very important to me." She leaned up very carefully to give them both a gentle hug and that's when she heard Kurt.
"You've done it!" His voice was yelling from somewhere. "You're through!"
A/N Sorry it's short – it's just because it's sort of an introductory chapter before the main competition starts. They should be back to their normal sort of length next time round. As mentioned above, the song they sing is 'Always' by Bon Jovi (I love that song!).
There's no point in me estimating when the next chapter's going to be out because I honestly have no idea. I think the amount of Finchel on the show is starting to affect me! I didn't used to mind it but it's just getting really boring now. I love how they've built up the Puck/Rachel friendship (that had better lead to something more!) and Rachel and Kurt are just too cute now they're friends. LOVE them! Anyway, I'm off to the Glee concert in London today so hopefully that'll make me glee-crazy for a few days and get me writing some more. Fingers crossed.
Thank you for reading!
Lots of love,
Lil Drop of Magic
xXxXx