Fic: Happy Days Are Here Again - 17/18
Title: Happy Days Are Here Again - 16/18
Pairing: Rachel/Finn, Strong Rachel/Kurt friendship. Rachel/Dave friendship
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Rachel Berry has a secret she wants to reveal but is far too afraid to do so.
Warnings: Transgendered Character, Transphobia,
AN: Previous chapters can be found here.
"What are you guys thinking as far as a Nationals set list?" Mr. Schue asks and, of course, I'm prepared to answer.
I stand up and can literally hear an audible sigh. I turn to glare back at Quinn. We've evolved lately from rivals, to friendly rivals. I smile. "We need a group number that highlights and focuses on each of our individual strengths. Most of our opponents at Nationals are going to center around a strong singer but we need to center around all of our strong singers."
Mr. Schue looks impressed. He stares. "Rachel, that's different," he says. I know it is. I have realized that I will not abandon my goal of stardom for anything but I am also here for my friends. A good star is only as good as their team. It's hard to do this but I keep my head high and force it. "I've noticed a huge change in you."
"This whole choir is skilled," I say calmly. "We'll do great highlighting a unique sound."
We spend the rest of the rehearsal session brainstorming numbers that would accurately showcase all of the talent we have. It's not easy. I find that I am learning a lot about myself in the last couple of weeks. It makes me happy. I think for the first time in a long time, I am very pleased with myself and who I have become. I'm also happy about New Directions and how far we've come as a group. Nationals is going to be fantastic.
It also comes faster than any of us were prepared for.
On the plane, I sit and watch the interaction between my friends but I do not take much part in it. I have Defying Gravity playing on my ipod, reminding me of all the goals that I've held for myself and how nothing is going to stop me from getting them. I watch as Puck and Lauren flirt loudly in the row behind me and roll my eyes, turning to look at everyone else. Kurt is ranting to Mercedes about something, arms flailing and eyes wide. Finn and Mike are getting restless because they're starting to shove each other in their messing around.
I can't believe its happening. I wanted this so badly for so long. New York is my favorite place in the whole world and now New Directions are hitting up New York. We're going to show all the other show choirs exactly what we're made of.
We land in the early evening. I look around me as we go to college our luggage and something just hits me. I stop and there are tears streaming down my face. Finn catches up with me and puts his arms around me. "Rachel, you're crying," he says. He always makes me feel so small, but at the same time so loved and protected. I look up at him and smile, nodding a little.
"I am," I admit. "We made it Finn."
We get to our hotel after that. We only booked two hotel rooms so the boys are stuffed in one and the girls in another. Mr. Schue is probably the most ridiculous excuse for an educator ever and leaves us. Kurt and I take it as our golden opportunity. It is Kurt's idea. He sits cross-legged in a chair in the girls room and his eyes light up; they positively sparkle with energy. "Rachel," he said. "The Gershwin Theater isn't far from here. Mr. Schue has left the building. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
It's dangerous, potentially stupid and not the best idea ever but I take the golden opportunity and nod. Kurt and I take off down the New York streets maybe fifteen minutes later. I hold his hand most of the time, nervous about the crowds. I have always admired New York's buzz and activity but at the same time I'm a Lima girl. It intimidates me. I know I'll have to get used to it but that doesn't mean it's comfortable yet.
By an act of God and a forgiving security guard, we are able to sneak in the theater. I can't even accurately describe what we saw. There it was, in all its glory, the set of one of the best present day musicals to exist. Standing on that stage, I could feel the rush of energy that must come from the crowd when Elphaba makes her gravity defying flight. I stand there in the middle of the stage and all of the desire I have floods through, coupled with the emotions that are just attached to this scenery.
"You feel the same way I do, seeing this," Kurt whispers, looking at me. I can see the faintest traces of tears in his pretty eyes. Kurt is the only person I have ever met who can understand what something like this means to me. I look around and don't speak. All I can do is nod at his statement. He knows it. He feels it too. He shares my dreams. We both stare at that big clock and we feel it. "You know that we can't get through this without singing, right Rachel?" he asks. "Your voice deserves to be heard."
We sing "For Good" and it's the perfect choice. It describes our friendship. It is who we are. We're two people who are painfully alike and who have experienced a real up and down relationship. I love Kurt. He's changed me for the better and I know that. He's brought me from a selfish girl who couldn't see beyond her own dreams to who I am today. I love him so much. We both have a lot to apologize for, actions in our past toward each other that have absolutely sucked, but we're also best friends, for now and forever.
"We're going to be friends for the rest of our lives, right Kurt?" I ask. I used to say that friendship didn't mean a thing to me, not compared to my dreams, but Kurt's friendship is more important than any other relationship that I've ever had.
He hugs me. He actually initiates the hug. "For good, even though that is probably the cheesiest thing I have ever said."
Pairing: Rachel/Finn, Strong Rachel/Kurt friendship. Rachel/Dave friendship
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Rachel Berry has a secret she wants to reveal but is far too afraid to do so.
Warnings: Transgendered Character, Transphobia,
AN: Previous chapters can be found here.
"What are you guys thinking as far as a Nationals set list?" Mr. Schue asks and, of course, I'm prepared to answer.
I stand up and can literally hear an audible sigh. I turn to glare back at Quinn. We've evolved lately from rivals, to friendly rivals. I smile. "We need a group number that highlights and focuses on each of our individual strengths. Most of our opponents at Nationals are going to center around a strong singer but we need to center around all of our strong singers."
Mr. Schue looks impressed. He stares. "Rachel, that's different," he says. I know it is. I have realized that I will not abandon my goal of stardom for anything but I am also here for my friends. A good star is only as good as their team. It's hard to do this but I keep my head high and force it. "I've noticed a huge change in you."
"This whole choir is skilled," I say calmly. "We'll do great highlighting a unique sound."
We spend the rest of the rehearsal session brainstorming numbers that would accurately showcase all of the talent we have. It's not easy. I find that I am learning a lot about myself in the last couple of weeks. It makes me happy. I think for the first time in a long time, I am very pleased with myself and who I have become. I'm also happy about New Directions and how far we've come as a group. Nationals is going to be fantastic.
It also comes faster than any of us were prepared for.
On the plane, I sit and watch the interaction between my friends but I do not take much part in it. I have Defying Gravity playing on my ipod, reminding me of all the goals that I've held for myself and how nothing is going to stop me from getting them. I watch as Puck and Lauren flirt loudly in the row behind me and roll my eyes, turning to look at everyone else. Kurt is ranting to Mercedes about something, arms flailing and eyes wide. Finn and Mike are getting restless because they're starting to shove each other in their messing around.
I can't believe its happening. I wanted this so badly for so long. New York is my favorite place in the whole world and now New Directions are hitting up New York. We're going to show all the other show choirs exactly what we're made of.
We land in the early evening. I look around me as we go to college our luggage and something just hits me. I stop and there are tears streaming down my face. Finn catches up with me and puts his arms around me. "Rachel, you're crying," he says. He always makes me feel so small, but at the same time so loved and protected. I look up at him and smile, nodding a little.
"I am," I admit. "We made it Finn."
We get to our hotel after that. We only booked two hotel rooms so the boys are stuffed in one and the girls in another. Mr. Schue is probably the most ridiculous excuse for an educator ever and leaves us. Kurt and I take it as our golden opportunity. It is Kurt's idea. He sits cross-legged in a chair in the girls room and his eyes light up; they positively sparkle with energy. "Rachel," he said. "The Gershwin Theater isn't far from here. Mr. Schue has left the building. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
It's dangerous, potentially stupid and not the best idea ever but I take the golden opportunity and nod. Kurt and I take off down the New York streets maybe fifteen minutes later. I hold his hand most of the time, nervous about the crowds. I have always admired New York's buzz and activity but at the same time I'm a Lima girl. It intimidates me. I know I'll have to get used to it but that doesn't mean it's comfortable yet.
By an act of God and a forgiving security guard, we are able to sneak in the theater. I can't even accurately describe what we saw. There it was, in all its glory, the set of one of the best present day musicals to exist. Standing on that stage, I could feel the rush of energy that must come from the crowd when Elphaba makes her gravity defying flight. I stand there in the middle of the stage and all of the desire I have floods through, coupled with the emotions that are just attached to this scenery.
"You feel the same way I do, seeing this," Kurt whispers, looking at me. I can see the faintest traces of tears in his pretty eyes. Kurt is the only person I have ever met who can understand what something like this means to me. I look around and don't speak. All I can do is nod at his statement. He knows it. He feels it too. He shares my dreams. We both stare at that big clock and we feel it. "You know that we can't get through this without singing, right Rachel?" he asks. "Your voice deserves to be heard."
We sing "For Good" and it's the perfect choice. It describes our friendship. It is who we are. We're two people who are painfully alike and who have experienced a real up and down relationship. I love Kurt. He's changed me for the better and I know that. He's brought me from a selfish girl who couldn't see beyond her own dreams to who I am today. I love him so much. We both have a lot to apologize for, actions in our past toward each other that have absolutely sucked, but we're also best friends, for now and forever.
"We're going to be friends for the rest of our lives, right Kurt?" I ask. I used to say that friendship didn't mean a thing to me, not compared to my dreams, but Kurt's friendship is more important than any other relationship that I've ever had.
He hugs me. He actually initiates the hug. "For good, even though that is probably the cheesiest thing I have ever said."