Thanks so much for all your reviews on the last chapter, and I really appreciate your suggestions. I'll do my best to incorporate them. So, Glee's starting to get ready for Season 5 - so exciting. I just hope we get some Finchel spoilers soon. And today is the last day to vote in general categories for the Glee Fanfic Awards, so any votes would be appreciated. Finalists for character and ship categories are upcoming.
Enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue!
Chapter 43: Unsuccessful Auditions
"There you go Caylie," Rachel said as she took her daughter's diaper off and replaced it with a clean one. "But every now and then, would it be a good idea to save the dirty diapers for Daddy?"
Caylie giggled and looked at her mom. Rachel gave her daughter a kiss. "Daddy and Allie should be home soon."
Caylie rubbed her stomach. "Are you hungry, baby girl?" Rachel asked. "I'll get your bottle."
Rachel definitely missed having Finn and Allie around during the day to be with Caylie, but she loved spending time with her daughter. She put Caylie in her basinet and went to refill a bottle and then brought it in to feed Caylie. "Here we go."
As Caylie began sucking on the bottle, the phone rang. Rachel put Caylie back in the basinet and went to answer the phone. "Hello?"
"Is this Rachel Berry?"
"My name is Rachel Hudson," Rachel said.
"Rachel Berry on Broadway though, right?"
"Yes."
"Rachel, I'm one of the producers for Evita," the voice on the other end said. "We've seen videos of you when you were in high school on YouTube, and we also saw you in Annie and Phantom. You're very talented. We were wondering if you'd like to audition for the revival of Evita?"
Rachel thought for a minute. She'd loved the musical Evita when her dads showed it to her, but she wasn't sure if now was the right time to be in another show. She wanted some time to be with Caylie.
"I need some time to think about that," Rachel said. "Can I call you back?"
"Of course," the producer said before giving Rachel his name and phone number.
Rachel hung up the phone and went to join Caylie. "So, someone wants me to be on Broadway again, but I don't want to leave you."
Caylie looked up at Rachel. "When I'm on Broadway I don't get to spend as much time with you and Daddy and Allie," Rachel continued. Then she realized Caylie had fallen asleep. She took her daughter to her room and watched TV while she waited for Finn and Allie to get home.
"Hey babe!" Rachel looked up and saw Finn coming in.
"Hey sweetheart," Rachel said as she gave Finn a hug. "So, how was work?"
"It was fine, some of the kids were misbehaving today," Finn sighed. "So, how was your day?"
"A producer from Evita called," Rachel said before telling Finn what the producer had said.
"You told me that you'd like to play that role," Finn said to Rachel.
"Yeah, but I want to spend more time with you and the girls," Rachel said. "Speaking of which, where's Allie?"
"She went to Mia's," Finn said. "But the play isn't starting in a few months."
"Just try out," Finn said. "You'll have some time to decide if you want to take it."
Finn always encouraged Rachel to try out for plays. He really was her biggest fan. "Okay, I'll consider that."
"Rachel, you need to try out," Finn said. "And you should sing 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina.'"
"Did you know I sang that with Kurt once?" Rachel asked.
"No," Finn said. "When was that?"
"It was when he wanted advice for an audition for a solo with the Warblers," Rachel explained. "I'd kind of like to do a song I haven't done before for my audition."
"Working together, we'll find one," Finn said.
"So, did Paige give Allie any shit today?" Rachel asked.
"Not that I know of," Finn said. "She told me auditions for the school orchestra are coming up in a few weeks."
"Do you think she'll try out?" Rachel asked.
"She said she wants to," Finn said.
"She has talent in her blood," Rachel said. "She'll get in."
x
A few weeks later, it was the day of tryouts for both the school orchestra and for Evita. Rachel and Allie were both pretty nervous, and Finn had made breakfast for both of them. Finn was taking Caylie to Shelby's while Rachel tried out, and Rachel was taking Allie to school.
"Mommy?" Allie asked.
"Yes?" Rachel asked.
"Do you ever worry right before a tryout?" Allie asked.
"Of course I do," Rachel said. "That's normal."
Allie was glad that she wasn't the only one who worried. "What if the big kids laugh at me?"
"I'm sure they won't," Rachel said.
"Most of the kids in the orchestra are big," Allie said. "Little kids have to try out."
"Allie, your music teacher thought you were ready to try out," Rachel reminded her daughter.
Allie sighed. "I love you, Mommy."
"I love you too," Rachel said. "Allie, you're really talented. Don't forget that."
Allie gave Rachel a hug and went into the school. She found it hard to stay focused in class that morning. She saw how nervous her mom was before auditions, but she also saw how much her mom loved being on stage. When she was old enough, maybe she'd be good enough to play the music as her mom sang on the stage.
After lunch, it was time to go to the music room and try out for the orchestra. Allie immediately noticed that quite a few kids were there. Most of them looked a little older. Fourth and fifth graders automatically got in, but everyone else had to try out. One by one, the music teacher called the kids up to perform. There were all sorts of instruments, but Allie thought several of these kids were better at their instruments than she was. Finally, the teacher called her name. "Allie Hudson, you're up."
Allie went up to where the teacher was sitting with a few older kids. These kids looked like they were in fourth or fifth grade. Maybe they were the leads of the orchestra. Several of the kids who'd tried out already had left the room, but it was still full of people Allie didn't know well, and she was worried about them hearing her play.
"Are you ready?" the teacher asked.
"Yeah," Allie managed to say. She picked up her bow and played a few notes on her viola before she felt herself getting scared again. She stopped for a few seconds.
"Would you like to start again?" one of the big kids asked.
Allie didn't want to have to play for people she didn't really know, but she started to play the piece again. Again, she found herself getting scared and started crying.
"You're only in first grade," the teacher said. "Would you like to wait until the beginning of next year to try out."
"Yes please," Allie said. She was crying as she left the room. She really wanted to be in the orchestra, but if she couldn't handle performing for the teacher and a few other kids in the room, she couldn't handle performing for the whole school. At least not yet.
x
"Rachel Berry?"
Halfway across town, Rachel was preparing for her audition. She'd wanted this part for a while, but at the same time, she wasn't sure if this was what was right for now. She wanted to be with Caylie as much as she could, but at the same time, she didn't know when and if Evita would be brought back. She nervously handed her resume to the producer and told them the song she'd be singing. Then, the music began.
Rachel: What's new Buenos Aires?
I'm new, I wanna say I'm just a little stuck on you
You'll be on me too
I get out here, Buenos Aires
Stand back, you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of star quality
Fill me up with your heat, with your noise
With your dirt, overdo me
Let me dance to your beat, make it loud
Let it hurt, run it through me.
Don't hold back, you are certain to impress
Tell the driver this is where I'm staying
Hello, Buenos Aires
Get this, just look at me dressed up, somewhere to go
We'll put on a show
Take me in at your flood, give me speed
Give me lights, set me humming
Shoot me up with your blood, wine me up
With your nights, watch me coming
All I want is a whole lot of excess
Tell the singer this is where I'm playing
Stand back, Buenos Aires
Because you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of star quality
And if ever I go too far
It's because of the things you are
Beautiful town, I love you
And if I need a moment's rest
Give your lover the very best
Real eiderdown and silence.
You're a tramp, you're a treat
You will shine to the death, you are shoddy
But you're flesh, you are meat
You shall have every breath in my body
Put me down for a lifetime of success
Give me credit, I'll find ways of paying
Rio de la Plata
Florida, Corrientes, Nueve de Julio
All I want to know
Stand back, Buenos Aires
Because you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of star quality
"Thank you, ma'am," the producer said. But Rachel already knew how this had gone. She didn't even need one of the professionals to tell her that she'd wailed a little on that last note.
"You are talented," the other producer said. "But I don't think you're right for the role in this production."
Rachel nodded. She knew this hadn't been the best she'd sounded, but at the same time, it was a disappointment. "Thank you."
x
"I was too scared, Daddy," Allie said. Finn was fixing a snack for Allie and getting Caylie's bottle ready as his daughter told him about her audition for the orchestra.
"I'm sorry, honey," Finn said. "Not everyone's comfortable with performing in front of a lot of people."
"But I want to get to," Allie sighed. "I don't think I'll get to play my viola when Mommy sings on Broadway if I'm too scared."
"You want to play your viola when Mommy sings on Broadway?" Finn asked. He thought that was so cute.
"Yeah," Allie said.
"I'm sure you'll not be scared eventually," Finn said.
Rachel came in, and she too looked upset. "What's wrong, Rach?" Finn asked.
"They just told me then and there that I wasn't good enough," Rachel said. "I kind of messed up on the last note." She picked up Caylie and began cradling her.
"I'm sorry, babe," Finn said.
Rachel clearly didn't want to talk about it. "Allie, how was your tryout?"
"I got too scared to finish," Allie admitted. "I'll try out next year."
"Too scared?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Allie said.
"Until you're ready to try out again, I'm quite happy for you to play for me, Daddy and Caylie," Rachel said.
"I love playing for you guys," Allie said.
"And I hope you two know that Caylie and I think you are the two most talented girls in the world," Finn said.
"Bah!" Caylie added.
Finn, Rachel and Allie laughed. "Guess she agrees!" Rachel said.
Chapter 44 preview: Allie goes to summer camp for the first time. Will she have fun, or is she getting into it a little too early?
SONG: Buenos Aires from Evita (performed by Rachel Hudson)