Wanna Take You Home (With Me) - 1/? - PG-13
Wanna Take You Home (With Me)
New York was certainly an interesting city, full of life every single second. It was like a small version of the entire world. Different cultures living together. Full of art of any type; music, films, musicals, everything. For these and many more, it was easy to fall in love with it, especially when your goals included being a star in Broadway and shine under those lights while singing and aweing people with your talent.
Unfortunately, as New York was the city where you had to make it to make it anywhere else in the world, competition was ruthless. Fantastic musicians could starve to death because there were a dozen more before him to make it big. Amazing performers could wait tables while auditioning and just dream to get tickets for the latest show starred by one of their old classmates at NYADA.
“Ugh.”
It was unfair to some extent but sometimes success was ten percent effort, twenty percent talent and the rest it was all about luck.
“I bet she slept with the producer. I wouldn’t put it pass her.”
Or sometimes resorting to other forms of talent.
“Rachel-“
“No. Please don’t tell me again that I have to be patient, that I’ll make it big one day because I’ve been waiting and auditioning for three years and the only part I got was in an off-Broadway show that got cancelled after three weeks. Three weeks!” she screeched as some man lifted his hand, signaling he needed her attention.
Perhaps waitresses shouldn’t be talking to their best friends while still working. But it was important.
“Miss?”
“I already saw you doing the little wave but I have more important things to deal with. I’m sure you can wait five minutes for your check!” Rachel shot bitterly while the maître d’ glared at her. She cleared her throat while her friend Kurt, in front of her snickered. She smiled as sweetly as possible at the client and added a meek, “sir.”
She hoped she wouldn’t lose her job now but maybe after this incident (that wasn’t actually the first in the past month) she should look for other position in a different restaurant. And it wasn’t like this one paid that well; she could barely survive in her tiny studio apartment.
At twenty-five (just three months away from twenty-six but she really didn’t want to think about it), she didn’t imagine life being like this.
Even that bitterness in her wasn’t common. She usually tried to be positive but after more than three years of fruitless bright smiles and pleasantries she was honestly sick of producers’ snarky comments and those directors who had a diva attitude worse than Mariah Carey’s.
The only break she got was when she was teaching ballet and giving singing lessons, but of course those didn’t bring much money anyway so she had needed to cut down those hours despite the protests of her students’ parents.
“Haven’t you thought about getting another kind of job?”
So yes, she had been fired after all but it had happened a few days later when she heard one snotty teen girl complaining about the waitress with the schnoz. Rachel kept claiming the glass of wine slipped from her fingers and had nothing to do with her anger.
Kurt was appalled but also a little proud. It hadn’t been long since Rachel had let people walk over her - and still keep a creepy smile on her face - but he guessed those days were over. No one could hurt her now.
“What kind of job? I’m not exactly qualified to do a professional job other than performing on stage,” Rachel huffed, burying her face in the pillow of her bed.
She just wasn’t in the mood to get out of bed… for the last three days.
“You need to get out.” Kurt frowned looking at her and over her bedspread. “And I really hope those stains are chocolate ice cream.”
“Don’t be gross,” Rachel shouted as she threw a pillow at her friend.
Fortunately for him and his perfect hair, he ducked it.
“I’m trying to say that you’re a performer but New York is not the only city where you could get a job.”
Rachel blinked at him, as if he had just had the most ridiculous idea ever because for her it was New York or nothing. She had been dreaming about it since she could remember, since she was able to fill the walls of her room back in Ohio with photos of the Big Apple and Playbills she collected.
“Los Angeles. You could try there and then come back to finally succeed like you want to.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Probably because I’m friends with you.”
She glared at him but after a second she sighed and smiled.
“Have you thought that if I leave we’re going to be at opposite sides of the country? What am I going to do without my best friend?” Rachel pouted and her eyes widened in the same way puppies did when they were sad.
Kurt chuckled. “There are phones, FaceTime, Facebook, Skype… honey, I think we’ll talk even more than we do now.”
“Still.”
“Oh,” Kurt suddenly exclaimed, smoothing his designer jacket. “Are we talking about your little fashion sense disability?”
“Kurt!”
“Okay, okay, but maybe so much artistic talent compensates for your lack of taste.”
Rachel smacked his face with the pillow and Kurt shrieked.
His porcelain skin was his most beloved feature.
“Admit it!” Kurt jumped on his feet and pointed an accusatory finger at her. “The men, the clothes, the food… horrible! Every single thing.”
She couldn’t deny it, so she just bowed her head. She did have an awful taste in men and her last relationship could confirm it - the man had lost his job and lived out of her for about six months without even trying to help. And the one before that, during college, had ended when he cheated on her with a teacher.
“Fine. But my fashion sense has improved.”
“A little,” Kurt said, gesturing that it was just a pinch better than before. But of course they knew it was more than that; she had grown.
They laughed for a few seconds.
Rachel was very relieved when she found out that Kurt had bought take-out food for them because she was running out of supplies and right now, in pajamas and with her hair full of knots, she didn’t feel like shopping with the few coupons she had decided to save. Life was really sucking at the moment.
While they ate, Kurt decided to do some research to prove her that her best shot, her last chance, could still happen in LA.
“You just need to find a temporary job that allows you to live in the city and get a car.”
Rachel cringed. “I’m not a good driver, Kurt. I barely got my license and it was only because I promise to never drive.”
Kurt arched an eyebrow at her but shook his head as he went through some classified ads. He mentioned some jobs at retail stores, some as waitress and a few of dubious origins that mentioned the need of a beautiful woman.
“That city is disgusting.”
“Rachel, New York is disgusting too but we have more attitude and less sun so it doesn’t smell so rotten.”
And they kept making fun of those ads, trying to figure out how much money she would need for a place and a car when Kurt found another ad.
“Okay, hear this: Live-In nanny needed. We’re looking for a smart and cheerful woman to take care of a four-year-old girl full-time. Responsibilities include taking care of the child exclusively, including educational and recreational activities. College degree desirable. No previous experience required but references are a must. Car and housing provided by employer, plus a five-thousand dollars a month.” Kurt’s eyes widened but Rachel looked at him as if she couldn’t understand.
“What?”
“It’s perfect! More than perfect actually because the house is in Malibu and you would be practically living for free and earning money for only taking care of one kid.”
“No! I’m not a nanny,” Rachel retorted.
“Come on, sweetie. This is your chance. Or would you rather stay here and work as a waitress for the rest of your life? At least this way you’ll be making more money.”
“What if they are creeps?”
“I bet they need a nanny because they are never home, which is even better.”
Rachel pondered the idea for a few moments. Kurt had a point but still it was hard. She’d need to move and live her life behind, including her best friend. “I’ll sleep on it, okay?”
Kurt lifted his head from watching the computer screen and blinked at her. “Huh?”
“I’ll think about it.”
He grinned guiltily at her. “Oops! I already sent your resume.”
“Kurt!” Rachel shrieked.
“What? Think this is the opportunity for you to save some time. They will surely call you soon.”
“Anyone would think you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“How can you say that! I’m trying to get a free vacation spot, that’s all.”
Rachel shook her head disapprovingly but smiled. Who knew? Maybe her resume didn’t even make it because there must have surely been many more qualified women than her out there.
…
Rachel was jogging down the street and not because she was exercising but because she had fallen sleep and she had a job interview at some new restaurant in Manhattan.
Her phone rang and she huffed.
If it was Kurt, she was going to kill him.
“Hello?” She breathed out before almost tripping on the sidewalk.
“Miss Rachel Berry?” A woman spoke.
“Yes, this is her. Who am I talking to?” Rachel almost snapped at some old woman who hit her with a cane on the shin but she bit back her tongue.
“Good morning, Miss Berry. This is Tina Cohen-Chang, I’m calling in behalf of my client. This is about the nanny position in Malibu.”
Rachel stopped dead on her tracks. “You read my resume?”
“Yes. Well, me and my client. What called our attention was your artistic background because it’s something desired for the development of the girl who you would take care of. Besides that, your references and experience teaching children makes you a great candidate.”
“Me?” God, she had never sounded that stupid before.
“Am I calling at a bad time?”
“No, no.” Rachel shook her head even if Tina couldn’t see her. “I was busy but there’s no problem. I can talk.”
The next few minutes, Tina proceeded to explain the job and what she would be expected to do. She also talked about the child who sounded like she was a little angel fallen for the sky (which was probably very far from the truth). And well, the money and benefits were so good, Rachel would’ve said yes to taking care of any little devil.
“I know the job is twenty-four seven but what if I need some time to… run errands?” Rachel asked, trying not to reveal that said errands would be auditions. She didn’t want them to think she would ditch the job just a few weeks after being hired.
“Of course, you have free time and can do with it whatever you desire but my client hopes you respect certain schedules.”
“Sure, I understand.”
“So you think it is reasonable?”
“Yes, sounds more than reasonable.” By now Rachel had decided to enter a little coffee shop where she sat to talk. The coffee left a lot to be desired but she couldn’t exactly say a thing when the money she had in her pocket was barely enough to pay for it.
“Excellent, then I’ll send you the plane tickets for your interview this Friday.”
“Wait, what?” Rachel sat a little straighter as she sputtered her coffee.
The man in the next table scowled at her.
“You don’t believe we would hire you without an interview, do you?”
“No, no. That I get, what surprises me it’s the urgency and that you’re paying for my flight.”
“My client is willing to do anything for his child, and if that means spending money so you can come here and you happen to be a good fit, then he’s more than happy to do so.”
“I can believe it.”
“Oh, he won’t either but I live to make him squirm.” Tina murmured wickedly.
“What?”
“See you Friday, Miss Berry!”
…
Packing only the necessary, Rachel decided to take the opportunity and go to LA. Painfully for her and the chauffer (yes, chauffer!) that picked her up at the airport, Kurt had forced her to include a few more items that turned into a whole new suitcase.
“This is a once in a lifetime chance,” said Kurt. But honestly, it wasn’t as if she had been granted a trip to the moon and Barbra Streisand would be giving a concert for her there. That would have been a once in a lifetime event.
Now, as she cruised around LA and to Malibu, she wondered if this had been the right choice. She didn’t know anyone in the city and she hated to drive. She loved her heavy coats and tights during winter and she had always suspected LA was too sunny and people too shallow; prejudice, she knew it but it was the same with New Yorker’s rudeness.
“We are about to arrive, Miss,” the chauffer told her and she tried to take a peek of the house through the tinted windows. Well, mansion was a more accurate term because the house was huge and beautiful; not only that but the land was amazing with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean.
“This is the house?”
He gave her a curious look but soon he chuckled. “Yes. I guess you’re not used to this type of places?”
“Not this much… land. Trees. Green grass. It’s very different from New York.”
So he parked in front of the house where a woman was waiting at the door. She was wearing a skirt and a blouse, very simple but professional. Her jet black hair shone under the sun.
As soon as Rachel stepped out of the car, the woman walked to her.
“Hello, Rachel. I’m Tina, we talked over the phone.”
“Hi. Nice to finally meet you. I-“ She was interrupted when Tina suddenly handed her a folder and a pen.
Rachel’s eyebrows furrowed with confusion.
“I’m sorry,” Tina apologized with a smile. “I need you to sign this confidentiality agreement before we can proceed with the interview. Don’t worry, it’s the norm around here, particularly with people like my client.”
It was only then that Rachel realized why the secrecy and confidentiality. “Is your client famous?”
Tina chuckled and bobbed her head. “You could say so.”
“Oh,” Rachel muttered as she eyes the contract in front of her.
Maybe if this person was famous she would meet important people, if they visited.
As her fathers had always taught her, she was carefully reading the agreement when a voice interrupted her concentration.
“C’mon, Tina! Is this chick coming or not? I don’t have all day to sit here waiting for her,” a deep voice called.
When Rachel lifted her gaze, the sight of a man with broad shoulders, short dark hair and a cocked eyebrow greeted her. He was wearing jeans and a black tee shirt. Simple. Simple but she recognized him immediately.
“Noah Puckerman,” Rachel babbled.
“The one and only.” He smirked at her.
Tina giggled nervously when Rachel scowled at him. It was more than awkward to feel the tension between them.
Everyone knew who Noah Puckerman was. The new most desirable actor in the movie industry; he was talented, there was no doubt about it. But that wasn’t the problem with him. The way in which he reached fame was the issue. He had landed his first role after sleeping with some older actress who used him as a toy boy at the tender age of twenty-two. It was a rumor he had been working as an escort at the time. After that, he changed the old model (his words) for much newer ones.
Rachel was surprised his house didn’t have a revolving door.
He was a jerk. He got into fights and he always made a scene when walking the red carpet. Don’t get her started with the way he treated female reporters; though, they only giggled flirtatiously at his advances.
Rachel had always despised his attitude. Kurt had always thought he was insanely attractive, which Rachel couldn’t exactly deny; it only fueled her anger.
“I was told I’d be taking care of a child. I hope that didn’t mean a man-child,” Rachel scoffed.
He glared at her while Tina snorted a laugh.
“Oh, god. No! The job is to take care of his daughter. Though, getting a nanny for him wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“I hired you for that,” Noah retorted.
“Ha-ha. I’m your lawyer, and some days your friend, but I won’t be changing your diapers, Puck. Get in the house and wait in the studio. We’ll be right there.”
“Whatever. You still take care of the crap I do.”
Rachel kept frowning at him. It was crazy how someone like him could be famous and rich just because of his good looks and sexual prowess, while her, with more talent in her pinky finger, couldn’t even get a small part in a play.
“He’s a jerk,” Rachel hissed.
Tina shot her a funny look. “You know this is a job interview, right?”
Rachel blushed. “I- I know. I’m sorry. That was very unprofessional of me.”
Tina chuckled. “And I know he’s a jerk but you’ll see he’s a really adorable one when you meet him with his daughter.” Tina motioned towards the contract in Rachel’s hands. “Please sign that. The good thing about this job is that he doesn’t care if you hate him. Puck just wants the best for Beth.”
Oh God, she was in trouble. Rachel had seen those pictures taken by paparazzi of him walking with his daughter, playing with her and many more candid photographs; they never failed to make her sigh. How could a man like him be so sweet when around his child?
“I’m sure you’ll have that in common,” Tina smiled knowingly as Rachel signed the agreement.
TBC.