Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and its characters.
Senior year had come. A lot of things to do would wait for the seniors in McKinley High.
On the first day of the new academic year, Rachel noticed that a crowd was drawn in front of the bulletin board when she emerged from a classroom for her lunch time.
She walked over towards the spot before elbowing her way through the crowd and glancing at a sheet of paper pinning on the board. It was the academic and career counseling schedule for seniors with an alphabetical order, which meant that Rachel was supposed to be scheduled tomorrow.
Although Rachel said that she was going to apply only to NYADA and NYU at the restaurant in China Town, Manhattan, she honestly was not sure that it was the right thing to do. Maybe she should ask someone's opinion like Jesse's. And if she would take that risk, she needed a great college admissions resume and recommendation letters.
As for her resume, there were some poor points. Her resignation from a co-captain of Glee might be a heavy blow. Could she take it back? Finn said that nobody knew her resignation other than Mr. Schue and him. She knew that she was selfish but she would do anything to be favorable to get in. She needed to take it back.
Determined, Rachel made her way to the teacher's lounge instead the cafeteria.
Rachel peeked into the lounge as she saw Mr. Schue chat with Ms. Pillsbury. "Mr. Schue." She waved her hand in the air. "Do you have time for me before today's meeting? There's something I'd like to ask." Rachel said, remembering she needed recommendation letters. "Hi, Ms. Pillsbury." She added with a smile.
"Sure."
"Thank you. See you later." Rachel walked off from the doorway of the lounge before she pulled her cell phone to send a text to Finn.
Are you there? Can I talk to you for a minute? – R*
Rachel and Finn hadn't had a talk properly since Central Park incident. They hadn't texted or called each other while summer holidays either. Thanks to NYADA summer school program, her reopened wounds were healing slowly but steadily.
Her cell phone buzzed as she began to walk over towards the choir room.
where R U? – Finn
Rachel informed where she was in her reply. Finn quickly texted back.
K. b there in 5 min. – Finn
Rachel pulled out her lunch while she waited for Finn. He entered the room thrusting his hands into his pockets as she was about to peel off a seal to put a straw into from her carton juice.
Finn, who had tried to call or text Rachel during the summer holidays, couldn't bring his encourage to do that since he didn't know how to put into words in order for Rachel to understand he really wanted to get back together.
Little did he know that Rachel had seen him with some girl in the mall after returning to Lima from NY. It would be lying if Rachel said it didn't hurt her. She subtly asked Kurt about it, but he seemed to know nothing. Then she thought that there was no more evidence that she was a rebound girl for him. So, Rachel decided not to look back over the past.
Finn cleared his throat before greeting, looking at her with a lopsided smile. "Hey."
Rachel looked up at him, trying to bring a smile on her face. "Hello, Finn. How was your summer?"
"Um, it's okay, I guess." Finn approached to her before he sat on a chair next to her. "How about you?"
"Busy." Rachel picked up a paper bag which her sandwiches were contained in and held it out to him. "Have you eaten your lunch? If not, you could have mine. It's not your favorite though."
Finn chuckled. "Actually I have. But thanks." He waited for her putting back the paper bag on her other side before asking expectantly. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"I'm asking Mr. Schue before today's meeting, but I thought I should ask you first." Rachel straightened up before she declared. "I want to get my old position back."
"Oh." Disappointed, Finn recovered himself quickly and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because," Rachel tucked a pile of her hair behind her ear, "this is my last year in high school. I want to be fully committed to everything and anything I'm engaging in."
Finn put his forefinger on his lips contemplating before he declined nonchalantly. "Hmm… no."
Rachel widened her eyes, taken aback. "What? Why?"
Finn crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I know I'm not smart, but I'm not that stupid, Rach. You just need it for your college application, don't you?"
Busted.
"That's a part of the reason, yes. I admit." Rachel half confessed. "But is that a bad thing? I thought you wanted me to take it back." She defended herself.
"Are you turning defiant?" Finn snorted.
Rachel closed her eyes to calm herself for a while before she resumed speaking. "Is this a revenge or something?" She asked.
Finn frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"A revenge. That I didn't tell you about my resignation, or that I hurt you." Rachel answered, frowning.
"You're off track." Finn pointed out.
"Then why did you say no?" Rachel demanded, folding her arms across her chest.
"Yes, I was upset that you kept your resignation from me." Finn admitted. "But don't you think it's selfish of you that you want to get your old position back only because of your college application?"
"I know I'm selfish, but you think that I didn't care about the glee club when I resigned co-captain? After my resignation?" Rachel retorted.
"No, I don't." Finn sighed. "Look, Rachel, if you want to get it back, put your money where your mouth is. When I see that, I'll give you a final answer."
Rachel stared at him pouting before she held up her hands in the air defeated. "Alright. Fair enough."
Having Finn earned an agreement from Mr. Schue, getting her co-captain's position back was shelved. Now Rachel needed to focus on extracurricular activity, which she and Kurt had been discussing during this summer.
Rachel, who had two gay dads, had worked as a volunteer with them at Equality Ohio, Lima branch since the organization was founded. She had also joined synagogue activities. She, however, thought that those activities weren't enough for her application to college.
For this reason, she needed to do something like community activity or charity activity. If she and Kurt managed to make successful a musical at the community theater and donate the gate money to Equality Ohio, they could kill two birds with one stone.
"I asked a manager at the community theater about available dates and rental fee." Rachel flipped through her binder. "Luckily, December 26 and 27th are available." She smirked at Kurt who threw a knowing look. "Yes, I booked and paid $100 for the deposit."
"Oooh, you've got all pumped up and excited more than your usual self." Kurt gulped down his popcorns. "What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing." Rachel dismissed him before she continued. "And we are categorized non-profit performing arts groups. Which means it costs $300 for five hours a day."
"How many seats are there in the theater?" Kurt asked.
"200. How much do you think it's reasonable per ticket?" Rachel sifted herself down on her bed.
"5 for adults, 3 for children?"
"And how much money do you need for production design and costume?" Rachel sat up and got off her bed before she walked over to her desk and grabbed her calculator.
Kurt stopped eating, tilted his head to one side, contemplating. "More than $800, I think."
"Okay, suppose it could be $1000… Considering all revenue generated by ticket sales will go to the organization and we have to rent a venue, hire a band and use a catering service for fund raising event…" Rachel, taking notes on her notebook and tapping her calculator frantically, "we'll need to fund raise more than $3500."
"Then we should aim to raise $6000 or more and donate the deduction all expenses from the fund." Kurt suggested.
Rachel nodded. "Yeah, the more, the better."
They continued to discuss their charity/community event for the next hours.
"Alright," Kurt stretched out yawning before he glanced at the clock on the night table. "I have to go." He gathered his stuff from the bed and climbed off.
"I'll make posters and flyers for audition and fund raising event by this weekend." Rachel walked Kurt downstairs.
Kurt paused at the front porch before turned around to face Rachel. "Do you really want to do this? Do you think she'll do this for you?"
"I don't know. But I need another recommendation letter other than from Mr. Schue anyway. Maybe I'll get lucky." Rachel shrugged.
Rachel waved a hand as Kurt drove off from her house before she pulled out her cell phone out of her pocket to text to Jesse.
Do you know Ms. Shelby Corcoran's phone number? – R*
Any thoughs?