Hey guys! Thanks SO much for all your support of this story. I can't believe it's almost at 100 reviews. I absolutely love writing about Finn and Rachel, and I'm glad people like what I do with them. I just wish I owned Glee. If I did, they NEVER would have broken up. But I am excited for Glee to return on Thursday! I want to know what's going on with... well, the cliffhanger from the end of the last episode.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue! Thanks again for the support.
Chapter 7: Audition
"You need to eat something," Brittany said at breakfast.
"I'm not hungry," Rachel said. Today was her audition. She'd been up most of the night going over her audition piece. She was impressed that Finn, Allie, Kurt, Blaine, Brittany and Santana had slept through the night. She'd barely slept.
"Rach, you look so tired," Finn said. "Are you sure that you'll be able to try out today?"
"I don't think I can reschedule it, Finn," Rachel said. "They're coming to NYADA today."
"This is why Blaine and I decided not to try out," Kurt said. "Look how stressed she is."
Rachel groaned. "I guess I was wrong. I don't think I'll get into the show."
"Come on, Rachel, I'm sure the fact that you were in New Directions will give you an advantage," Blaine said. "Think about it. Four New Directions alumni go to NYADA." Which was true - Kurt, Blaine and Rachel were there, and Harmony, who Rachel and Kurt had met at the NYADA mixer their senior year, ended up transferring to McKinley and joining New Directions. Now she was attending NYADA, too.
"Yeah, but there's so many talented people at NYADA," Rachel said.
"Do you want to stay home this morning?" Kurt asked.
"No, I have class, and then I'm going to lunch with Katie and Anna," Rachel said.
"Are Katie and Anna trying out?" Santana asked.
"No, they're not musical theatre majors," Rachel said. She thought part of the reason why she, Katie and Anna were close was because they were all in different departments. Very few students were close to people in their department at NYADA, and everything at times felt like one big competition.
"Don't worry, Mommy," Allie said.
Rachel smiled and gave her daughter a hug. "I love you, honey. You be good for Daddy today, okay?"
"Okay," Allie said. Rachel nervously kissed Finn goodbye and said goodbye to her roommates, then began leaving for school. When she was little, she thought that the directors of the show would stop her halfway through her song because she was so good. But her years at NYADA and competing in Glee club had taught her that just because she was good didn't mean other people weren't.
She was glad that Cassandra July wasn't at NYADA anymore. Undoubtedly, Cassandra would have made Rachel feel bad about the upcoming audition. Rachel could barely focus in her morning classes, and she was glad when it was time to go out to lunch with Katie and Anna. She couldn't help but be jealous that her friends had already gotten their first performance gigs. Katie was an extra in a traveling production of The Nutcracker this holiday season and Anna had gotten a small recurring role in a new TV series on cable.
"Are you nervous for your audition?" Katie asked as the girls sat down.
"Yeah," Rachel said.
"Of course you are," Anna said. "When I went to the TV studio, I almost forgot my lines."
"You still got the part," Rachel said.
"A small one, but it's a start," Anna said.
"I was so worried I'd fall during my tryout for the ballet," Katie said. "Some of the other girls there were so much better than I am."
"You are from New Directions, remember that, Rachel," Anna said.
"Yeah, this is the first time in history four kids from the same high school have been at NYADA at once," Katie said.
Rachel felt her phone vibrate. She opened it and saw a picture of Finn and Allie. Finn had typed under the photo, "Good luck! We love you!"
"Awww!" Rachel said.
"What is it?" Katie asked.
Rachel showed the photo of Allie and Finn. "Allie's gotten so big, Rachel," Anna said.
"And so cute!" Katie added.
"You two need to come over soon," Rachel said.
"Want us to walk you to the theatre for the audition?" Anna asked.
"You don't have to," Rachel said.
"It's what friends do," Katie said.
The girls finished their lunch and then walked together to the theatre where auditions were being held. Rachel took a seat as she looked around, noticing some people she knew from NYADA and others who she didn't know. The casting director explained how the process would work today: at random, people would be paired up and sing a song from the musical together. The person who performed the song better would move on to the next phase of auditions. The pairs were announced and given their songs. Rachel and her partner would sing "Don't Rain On My Parade." The first pair sang. They were good. Feeling more nervous, Rachel sent Finn a text: "I can't do this."
Finn replied, "Yes, you can. Remember, this is your time."
Rachel sent Finn another text. "These other girls are really good." She listened to the pair that was on stage now; she was sure both of them would beat her without much trouble.
Finn sent back another text, "That's not the Rachel Hudson I know. You know you are the best."
Rachel sent a text, "I love you." Then she went to stand to wait with her partner.
"So I'm up against you?" the girl asked.
"Yeah, guess so," Rachel said. "I'm Rachel Hudson, I'm originally from Lima, Ohio. I go to NYADA."
The girl made a face. "Never heard of that city. I grew up here in New York, both my parents were on Broadway. I was actually just in a touring production of Next To Normal."
This didn't sound good. Rachel didn't want to let this girl intimidate her though. "What's your name?"
"Barbra Steiger," the girl said. "Named after Barbra Streisand herself. My parents know her, you know."
"That's cool," Rachel said. She already sensed doom. There was no way she'd beat a girl with Broadway in her blood. The girls were called on to the stage, and the music began. Rachel would be singing first, and that was nerve-wracking enough for her. As the music began, she closed her eyes, pretending she was just singing in her apartment.
Rachel: Don't tell me not to live
Just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Barbra: Don't tell me not to fly
I've simply got to
If someone takes a spill
It's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade
Rachel: I'll march my band out
I'll beat my drum
And if I'm fanned out
Barbra: Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn't fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it
Rachel: But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection
A freckle on the nose of life's complexion
A cinder on the shiny apple of his eye
Barbra: I gotta fly once
I gotta try once
Only can die once, right, sir
Rachel: Ooh, life is juicy
Juicy, and you see
I gotta have my bite, sir
Barbra: Get ready for me, love, cause I'm a comer
I simply gotta march
My heart's a drummer
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Rachel: I'm gonna live and live now
Barbra: Get what I want I know how
Rachel: One roll for the whole shebang
One throw, that bell will go clang
Barbra: Eye on the target and wham
One shot, one gun shot, and BAM
Hey, Mr. Arnstien
Here I am!
Rachel: I'll march my band out
I'll beat my drum
And if I'm fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
Barbra: At least I didn't fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it
Rachel: Get ready for me, love, 'cause I'm a comer
Barbra: I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Both: Nobody, no, nobody
Is gonna rain on my parade!
At the end of the song, Rachel knew that Barbra was better. She'd sung "Don't Rain On My Parade before, but she thought it was far from her best song. She went over her list of solos in her mind - Without You, Get It Right, How Deep Is Your Love, Here's To Us, Firework, Go Your Own Way, The Only Exception, Cry and O Holy Night had all been better. She knew right now she wasn't going to be in this revival.
x
"I hope things went okay," Finn said as Kurt and Blaine came into the apartment. He had no classes today, so he didn't have to worry about Allie being alone while Rachel was at the audition.
"We all know how talented Rachel is," Kurt said.
"Yeah, but still," Finn said. "We also all know how nervous she gets."
"Mommy good singer," Allie said.
Finn smiled. "Yes she is."
"When Mommy home?" Allie asked.
Finn looked at the clock. "Soon, I hope." He heard the apartment door open again and saw Brittany and Santana come in with Marley, Ryder and Jake. He'd almost forgotten that the three of them were now living in New York, as Ryder and Marley were going to Fordham and Jake was going to Brooklyn College. The three of them were living in an apartment with Harmony.
"Hey!" Finn said, looking up.
"Hey!" Marley said. She looked at Allie. "Hey Allie! Remember me? Wow, she's so big!"
"Yes she is," Finn said. "It's great to see you guys."
"You too," Ryder said. "We ran into Santana and Brittany at Times Square, and they suggested we come here and visit."
"Where's Rachel?" Marley asked.
"Oh, she's at an audition," Finn said.
"Funny Girl?" Jake asked. "Harmony was talking about trying out for that, but she decided not to. To be honest, I think the real reason she decided against it was that some bar asked her to perform tonight."
"Rachel was really nervous," Santana said.
"Is she okay?" Ryder asked.
"I don't know how it went," Finn said. "She was texting me about how good she thought the other girls trying out were."
The group heard the door open and Rachel came in. She didn't make eye contact with anyone, probably didn't even notice that Ryder, Marley and Jake were there. Finn did manage to see the look on Rachel's face. She looked like she was ready to cry.
"Mommy okay?" Allie asked.
"That didn't look good," Blaine said.
"I'll go talk to her," Finn said.
"I come?" Allie asked.
"You can come," Finn said. He picked up his daughter and went into his and Rachel's bedroom, where Rachel was face down on their bed. He didn't know what to say, but luckily, Allie took over. "Mommy?"
Rachel sat up. "Hi Finn. Hi Allie." Finn saw tears in Rachel's eyes. He put Allie on Rachel's lap, then sat next to his wife and put his arm around her.
"What happened?" Finn asked softly.
"I didn't get in," Rachel said. "I didn't even make it to the second round. They didn't like me."
"What did they say?" Finn asked.
"They said that my pitch wasn't quite right, and that I was breathing too heavily at times," Rachel said.
"They stupid!" Allie said.
Finn and Rachel both smiled at their daughter. "Every little thing matters," Rachel said.
"Rachel, it was only your first audition," Finn said. "This one didn't go well, but maybe your next one will."
"If there is a next one," Rachel sighed.
"There will be," Finn said. He leaned over and kissed his wife.
"I love you," Rachel said. "And I love Allie."
"Love you Mommy," Allie said.
"Rach, we have some visitors, how about we go say hi?" Finn asked.
"Really?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, Ryder, Jake and Marley are here," Finn said.
"They haven't been here since they moved to New York!" Rachel said. "Let's go." She picked up Allie and left the room, followed by Finn. This audition may not have gone well for Rachel, but Finn was sure there were better ones in the future for her.
SONG: "Don't Rain On My Parade" from Funny Girl