CH 6: RAINED ON MY PARADE

—-

–RACHEL–

Rachel has a headache. And the sniffles.

Apparently that magical night standing spellbound in the cold rain over 72 hours ago has finally caught up to her. Last night's imbibement of tequila shooters and red wine isn't doing her any favors either (stupid Tina, what does she know; tequila does NOT have healing properties for tonsils! I looked it up!)

Rachel rolls over and sees the soft glowing green numbers from her nightstand. It's just after 9am and the loft feels very quiet and desolate. The morning outside is very dark and ominous looking; it appears more rain is coming. Tina has already left for campus where she'll be in classes all day, then she has a shift at the diner afterwards, so she won't be home until after 9pm, maybe later. That leaves Rachel alone to fend for herself for the whole day and most of the evening.

Many people would go stir crazy being alone like this in the big city, but not Rachel. She's already accustomed to being alone a lot of the time, and it's easy for her to fall back into old habits on days like this. Despite the possibility of illness she will find a way to make a productive day of it (and the next few days to come, as needed).

She's already made her list of things to keep busy which include reading lines for the play; doing some of her schoolwork online (as much as is possible); cleaning and reorganizing her closet; taking inventory of the pantry, refrigerator and bathroom supplies to check expiration dates; and scrapbooking. She'll find more to do; there's always more.

She doesn't get sick very often at all; she's very careful like that, leading a healthy vegan lifestyle with plenty of yoga and exercise. Being a performer and a professional, she's always prepared for anything. That means of course, she keeps a fully stocked closet of home herbal remedies at the ready to ward off any bug known to man in a hurry (including Brody? Should have thought of that sooner - maybe sage or St. Johns Wort. Yeah she has those on hand).

Of course, said closet is on her list of things to purge and organize.

To be safe, a call has already been placed for an appointment with Dr. Philpot, her ENT. She is very prone to tonsillitis and has a long time doctor/patient relationship with her ear nose & throat physician. She was told she should've had her tonsils removed years ago, but Rachel is terrified of surgery and what it might do to her voice. So she does her best to recuperate using her herbal remedies and prescription medications as needed, and simply waiting it out. It's not a full blown infection yet, but past experience tells her it means she needs to stay on voice rest until it passes, even if it isn't an infection yet. It's an inconvenient precaution, but she's used to it. Her dads used to joke that they should all learn ASL for just such situations.

Maybe worse than missing a few days of play rehearsals and school is missing her opportunity to search for 'Errol Flynn.'

As much as she tries not to dwell on it, she can't help herself. The thought of his gaze still makes her skin tingle and she still searches the deepest recesses of her memory to find the corner where he's been hiding in the shadows - because there's such an feeling of familiarity with him that she just can't explain. Even her sixth sense is failing to provide her any clues. He's still percolating through her waking moments and possessing her dreams - that is, dreams afforded to her in the few hours of unconsciousness she can enjoy lately.

She's still not sleeping very well. She's hoping that her big F.-U. drunken text to a certain sneaking lying manwhore in the middle of the night would help her in the sleep department as well, but it hasn't had the desired effect so far. To be honest, she's a little worried he still didn't get her drift, and now that she's deleted and blocked him, there's really no way to know for sure.

However, she's pretty sure the insomnia thing is probably not about Brody Weston, at least not anymore.

She's been armed with that bus schedule and a promise from Blaine to help her with her crazy Dora the Explorer style expedition to find Mr Sexy Eyes for several days, but her fear of throat infection and Moses forbid, potential surgery has her on a self-imposed lockdown right now. No one in and no venturing out. It may be a few more days before she thinks it's safe to be out in public, especially on any forms of mass transit - there's just so many germs out there! Why risk making it worse by cramming herself onto a NYC bus right now?

With time to kill at home, she decides she can safely handle a few texts, starting with Blaine.

** Hi Blaine! I'm sorry to tell you I'm coming down with a possible respiratory condition, which for me - as you know - could become tonsilitis, therefore as a precaution I'm on vocal and house arrest. At least for a couple more days. That also means my hope of checking out the bus route again on this Thursday is on hold this week, for me anyway. Unless you can go without me? If you do, and you see any sexy giants fitting the description, try to snap a picture - discretely of course - for me! I WILL require photographic evidence to avoid any uncertainty! You're the best Blainey Boo! xo - R **

* * * glee*glee*glee * * *

Let's see, who's next? I've already alerted NYADA that I'll be out the rest of the week. I haven't returned daddy's call yet, but his voice message didn't sound like anything that can't wait until I'm off voice rest, so maybe I'll postpone that call for now…

So that just leaves Noah.

I really do want to see Noah soon, it's been entirely too long since we've had a chance to hang out and I miss him. I'm still a bit hesitant about filling him in on my pursuit of a certain mystery guy, but Noah's family, he loves me and he'll do practically anything I say!

Oh hell, who am I kidding. He's family and he loves me and he's so over-protective he'll defend me to the death (of others) - even when those actions, while chivalrous, may be completely unwarranted. That's why I didn't mention the whole Brody breakup thing yet. True I wanted rid of Brody, but not in the sense of attending his funeral or Noah's manslaughter trial that would most certainly follow.

Well, maybe for now at least I'll just touch base with him. Noah being Noah, he's probably either glued to a COD tournament or Facebook fantasy football league thing right now. Let me check the chat rooms and see if he's online… found him!

RB - Hello Noah! What are you up to on this rainy day Monday?

NP - hey lil' cuz! nada jus pickin teams, FF leegue crap. y, U ok? U dont usually do chats. its weird. spill, wassup?

RB - No, nothing wrong, per se; although I'm at home on voice rest right now, otherwise I would be calling you instead of chatting. :)

NP - y voice rest?

RB - Nothing too serious, I have a slight respiratory thing developing; just me being cautious as usual - you know how easily i can develop tonsillitis!

NP - yea true, srry to hear that. Hop u felz bettr soon

RB - Aww thank you Noah you're so sweet!

NP - so is that ur only ish, ur lonely on house arrest today? nobody's messing with u r they, U know theyd getta puck sized beat down! Whabout that grody dude bin hangin all over u? I need to hav a TALK w him yet? introduce him to guns of puckeronne heheh

RB - NO Noah, my goodness and people think I'M the drama queen in the family!

NP - wellp, if it walks like a duck and sings like a duck and stormouts like a duck… QUACK QUACK :D

RB - NOAH! How rude! I'm NOT a duck - and I certainly don't sing like one!

NP - LOL j/k cuz. Sorta. But u on voice rest and sick, mayb 2day u do? LMAO

RB - HAHA very funny!

NP - yes i am, tyvm! But serius. Grody dude still around?

RB - You can be such a caveman. And by the way his name was BRODY; but no, you don't need to worry about him either. It's over, I broke it off. So you can keep your "guns" holstered!

NP - I NEW IT! he messd wit u? What that douche do? Cheat? Ray Ray if he laid a hand on you i sware i'll kill him. I never liked that fake piece of shit. He was nevr good nuff for my baby cuz from the start

RB - Oh my gosh Noah calm down! NO he didn't lay a hand on me! I'm perfectly fine and capable of handling my own adult relationships! You always still seem to regard me as a little girl, but that just isn't the case you know. Also I took self defense classes remember! You're such a caveman!

NP - B. ur my fav lil cuz, and PS ull ALWAYS b my LITTLE cuz. face facts - ur teeny tiny! :P and thers just way too many scummy jerks who can take advantige of girls like u. I no u think ur badass cuz BLAINE teach u to box n stuff but that might not be enuf. Long as im around no creeps gonna mess with u

RB - Well I really truly appreciate the love Noah, I do. And I wholeheartedly return the sentiment - you're my favorite BIG cousin too! :) But I'm serious, you don't need to worry, certainly not about Brody. He's harmless. But I am glad to know you'll always be here for me. It means the world to me.

NP - sure B. thats what family is for. if ur havin probs u no u can count on me, anytime always.. Well, til tomorrow anyway ;)

RB - Why, what do you mean 'until tomorrow'? You're not going anywhere are you?

NP - nahhh id nevr leave u here alone... but lil Berry, ull b so proud, im startin a new job!

RB - REALLY? Oh Noah that's wonderful! I AM so proud of you! What's the job, tell me all about it! Does that mean you're quitting you're bartending job?

NP - nahh Callbacks is only part time gig anyway, so i can do both. New job is mechanic at hummel's atomotive

RB - Mechanic? THAT'S AMAZING! I'm so happy for you Noah! You'll finally get to apply your education! I know you've been a bit blue since you graduated trade school and were having trouble finding something, but this is why you should never be discouraged! Persistence pays off!

NP - tru dat, plus they just saw how awesom the puckasoris is! Lmao, esp bc my fav teacher helpd pull strings, hes buddies with the owner burt. Burt is cool, met him last week. But hes not there all the timm its his kid or stepkid, whatevr i guess b runnin things mostly.

RB - Well that's terrific you've met the owner and not just a manager or assistant manager. And it's a family run business, so it sounds like a great place to work and a good fit for you! How lovely of your teacher to help, I do hope you sent a proper thank you for getting this opportunity?

NP - . . .

RB - Noah?

NP - . . .

RB - NOAH! Are you serious?

NP - whatdya expect ima send flowers?

RB - Well no, flowers are maybe not the most appropriate sort of thank you gesture for this particular situation, but certainly a nice card and/or perhaps an edible arrangement is in order?

NP - ok B i'll think abt it. listen FF group needs me, gotta roll soon.. U sure ur good, nothin else u needin 2chat bout?

RB - Well there might be something I may need your help with, but we can talk about it another time. It's not urgent at all. Maybe we can do lunch Friday or Saturday (assuming I'm well enough to go out)?

NP - ok lil B. lunch sounds good, long as ur sure u dont need anything sooner.. CALL me if u do have a prob u no i'll b there to hav ur back! Luv u cuz, gotta go!

RB - Love you too Noah, thanks have fun!

* * * glee*glee*glee * * *

Rachel really hates being cooped up in the apartment on lockdown, even if it is self-imposed.

She's trying not to focus too much on how far behind she'll be after missing potentially a full week of school, especially with graduation looming so near. The added stress of back-logged school work and missing days worth of play rehearsals isn't going to help her recover any faster either.

Looking out the window she sees the torrential downpour now falling onto the streets below. There's a gentle roll of thunder, but sounds like it's far off in the distance. It's actually kind of soothing. At least she's not caught out in this weather today.

Seems like Errol Flynn may have contributed to raining on her parade - err, well, her tonsils anyway. Him and his magic spell. She would resent him for it too, if only he didn't have dimples. And those damned sexy eyes. And that EMP generator that he turned on her like a Taser gun. She smiles at the memory and sips her chamomile tea.

She's half way through her cup of tea and 5 pages into reading her role in the play when she hears a knock at the door.

Who on earth can possibly be knocking at this hour on a Monday? Nobody even knows I'm home,except Teeny and now Noah of course. Maybe it's my dads, although I'm really not sure why they'd be showing up here now without warning? Unless it's a neighbor who's having an emergency of some kind?

Rachel being Rachel, decides she needs to answer the door incase it IS an emergency, but she intends to maintain her lockdown vocal rest status no matter what. She grabs her pre-written apology on a piece of paper that explains her muteness and why she cannot have visitors right now, along with a pen in case additional dialog is required (always be prepared!) then hesitantly opens the door, and her mouth falls agape.

He's standing there soaked, dripping a puddle at her front door that threatens to leak into the apartment.

"Rachel, great I'm so glad you're here… I'm so sorry to just show up like this but, can I come in just for a few minutes? I really need to talk to you.. Please?"

The paper that had been clutched in her tiny hand absently floated to the floor and landed in the puddle.

"Brody?"

* * * glee*glee*glee * * *