Hey guys, this is my first multi-chapter Glee fic :D! I wrote a one-shot, "Only if for a Night" which goes along with this story. Rachel and Finn are a bit OOC and this universe is sincerely AU. I think it spices things up. I hope you enjoy this first chapter! Please review- it helps me know if anyone is interested and if it's worth continuing.
I don't own Glee, though I do wish I owned Sam. He could be my Rocky…or just follow me around wearing gold shorts =P
Rachel
"I don't understand how this can happen? Why would he just dump me? I'm incredible at yoga; I was Elphaba in the off-Broadway rendition of Wicked. A role that one of my idols, Idina Menzel, made famous. I lost twelve pounds at his request and even ate meat. I've done everything he's ever asked for. " A fat tear rolled down Rachel Berry's cheek as she bowed her head into the vintage Prada sweater Kurt had gotten her for Hannukah. She took a bite of her tofu sprout medley and immediately wished she hadn't. Everything tasted worse without Jesse. Everything was worse without Jesse.
"Honestly Jew-ma, it's because men are dumb shits that can't be trusted," Santana explained sarcastically, patting Rachel's hand awkwardly. She shot an uncomfortable glance at her girlfriend, Brittany, who nodded enthusiastically.
"It's totally true. One time in high school, my family had this foreign exchange guy living in our attic who I thought was a leprechaun…but he turned out just to be some kid living in my house. It was weird." Brittany leaned her head on Santana's shoulder and smiled.
"But he did make Lord Tubbington poop candy. That was nice."
Kurt Hummel rolled his eyes and turned to his broken-hearted best friend, "Men don't suck. Boys like Jesse St. James suck. Conceited assholes who only care about themselves, suck. Rachel, you can do so much better."
"I doubt that," Quinn said dryly as she waltzed into Kurt and Rachel's place, "If men were liquor, Jesse would be top shelf. You'd be whatever crap spills onto the bar mat that gets served to the lonely and desperate at the end of the night."
Rachel sucked in a breath and felt tears well in her eyes. Despite the fact that Quinn hadn't had to say it so harshly, it was true. She wasn't worth the shoelaces on Jesse's vintage Prada shoes. She nodded her head slightly before looking up at her beautiful blonde friend.
"I know you're right but that doesn't make it hurt less. I thought…I thought we would get married. I thought we would have a Broadway style wedding and become a dynamic yet loveable couple that was featured in the Society pages."
Quinn scoffed, "You aren't Page Six material. Besides, when was Jesse on Broadway? You would have been a struggling off-Broadway couple lucky enough to have a friend like Kurt who wouldn't forget the little people on his way up."
"Don't be a bitch, Quinn. And while I appreciate the fact that you accept and praise my future celebrity, I don't appreciate you ragging on my biffle. Remember who let you sleep on their couch after your parents disowned your sorry ass. Rachel just got her heart stomped on and needs a girls night, which we will give to her, because we are her friends." Kurt sniffed and walked into the kitchen, muttering about wine.
"I guess he finally saved enough money for the sex-change," Quinn snarked, elbowing Santana with a mischievous glint.
"You're just jealous because Barbie Blaine ended up like Kurt's package a lot more than he liked yours." Santana laughed and twirled Rachel's ponytail playfully. Rachel sniffled and pushed her food around- before chancing an apologetic glance at Quinn.
"You're lucky you're heartbroken or else I'd kick your ass for not defending me."
"I heard that, Quinnzilla. Your skinny, Hot Topic wearing ass is lucky Rachel likes you, otherwise you'd be persona non grata in our Palace de Fabulous." Kurt emerged from the kitchen toting six wine glasses and four bottles of 'Two-Buck Chuck' from Trader Joes.
At the mention of her name, they all turned to study Rachel who was being eerily quiet. Normally it took a massive amount of groaning and complaining to get her to shut up.
"He just…he told me that he found someone better." Her voice was quiet and subdued as she pushed her plate away.
"Rachel…you're Rachel Barbara Berry. We graduated from one of the best performing arts colleges in New York. With honors. No one is better." Kurt placed a comforting hand on Rachel's slim shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"P.S. You need to eat something more substantial than tofu. You're fading away into nothingness and no one likes a too skinny bitch."
Rachel smiled tearily at Kurt and nodded. She needed to escape. She felt like she was suffocating. Pain, unbearable pain, filled every inch of her chest. She wanted to run until she couldn't breathe.
"I think I need to go for a walk." Rachel grabbed her purse and slipped on her coat. As she closed the door behind herself carefully, she tried to quell the urge to scream or break something. Jesse had broken her heart. Nothing was going to make that better.
She trudged out of the apartment and began walking to the theatre. Deep, cleansing breaths. I can get through this. When I finally make it big, he'll be begging for me back. She dug into her purse and let herself into the old theatre. Despite the musty smell, it was warm and cozy. Emma and Will Schuester, the elderly couple that owned it, allowed Rachel and Kurt free reign of it as long as they volunteered with the children's productions. It wasn't exactly what she wanted to do forever- but bringing joy and confidence to the hearts of the children who came here, was priceless.
She turned on the lights on the side panel and drew the curtains slowly. She needed some therapy that only music could provide. She excavated her iPod from the clutches on her purse and plugged it into the ancient soundboard (one that Kurt lovingly called 'The Old Monster' and had painstakingly installed an AUX-in feature). The soft sounds of JoDee Messina's "Think About Us" lilted through the air- typically she wasn't such a fan of country music, but something about this song touched her heart.
mmmmmm hmmmm Every day is one more reminder Torn apart by all the reason I wake up, get outta bed
Of a life, a life without you
I get by, get by kind of
Well at least that's what I'm tryin' to do
Lose myself in all the pieces
Can't figure out the meaning
So unsure and all I know is
Try to drag my fingers through my hair
Then I think about us
Yeah, I think about us
Now you're gone it's understood
God knows I'd change it if I could
When I think about love, I just think about us
And all those things that could have been all gone
oh oh oh
Tears rolled down her cheeks, choking her, and making her stop mid-song. That never happened. She the tears from her eyes and sniffled loudly.
She jumped slightly when she heard the sound of the heavy double doors closing, her heart accelerating at the thought of it being Jesse. He realized it was a mistake. He wants to beg for my forgiveness. We'll finally get married. She turned around and saw Brittany and Santana walking toward her, holding pinkies.
"You know what you need," Santana asked, walking up to the stage slowly, "besides a wardrobe that doesn't make you look like a granny prostitute? A night in Vegas."
Brittany nodded vigorously, "And I have one of Lord Tubbington's magic candy bars. Vegas and candy!"
Rachel hesitated, "Vegas? I don't think so…I need time to heal, time to grieve. And maybe even time to write a dramatic ballad that eventually wins me a Tony or Grammy, about my painful break up."
"Blow some of that trust fund money on a night of fun. Call up your invisible jet and let's get to partying."
Biting her lip, Rachel considered her life. Jesse had broken up with her, harshly. He had sneered at her tears and walked out of the coffee shop without a second glance. He had found someone else. The way he'd told her was so callous. Like the past three years had meant nothing. Pain stabbed at her heart as a fresh wave of tears bubbled up inside of her. She did need a chance to have some senseless fun. A night without consequences. A night without boys.
"Ok, let's do it." She pulled out her Visa Card and handed it to Santana. Santana snatched it from her hand with a grin and pulled them both towards the car, chattering with Brittany about getting their party on in Sin City.
If I'm going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly.
Finn
"Shit, Hudson. When was the last time you bathed?"
"I don't stink, Puckerman! My washing machine is broken and I haven't had time to fix it because I've been covering your shifts."
Sam laughed behind them and threw a bar towel at them, "And I've been doing the work for both of you. Come on Boss, let's make some money tonight."
Finn shook his head with a laugh and finished wiping down the bar. Sam and Puck were a handful sometimes but he couldn't ask for better buddies. The three of them had joined the Army together and survived their tours of duty. When they got out, they decided to open up a bar in Vegas. Anything to get away from their dead-end town in Ohio.
Cradle to Grave, that's what they always said to each other- and so far, it had held up. They'd made it through Finn's Dad dying, Puck's mom battling breast cancer, and Sam's parents going broke. They'd even made it through Iraq- though none of them talked about how close they had come to losing Puck. The scar that divided up his chest and shoulder was reminder enough. They had each other's backs, through thick and thin, which was really the only thing that mattered.
"So Sammy boy, did Mercedes lets your balls out of a vice grip and decide to let you come out with us tonight? Or are you going to pussy out and spend the night being her bitch?" Puck grinned as he poured himself a shot, sliding two down the bar to Finn and Sam.
"Fuck you, man! At least I'm getting laid on the regular. Besides, you try dealing with a hormones and pregnancy. Last week I came home to her putting frosting on pickles. Pickles, man. I'm worried our kid is going to come out looking like some Easy Bake Oven experiment."
"With your big mouth, I'd be more worried it would look like some endangered guppy."
"Hey now, cut the guy a break, Puck. Don't pretend like you're not a little bit afraid of Mercedes." Finn grinned as Puck covered his groin.
"Getting junk punched once was enough to last me a lifetime, man."
"You grabbed her ass." Sam glared at him slightly.
"How was I supposed to know she was your date? I will have you know that Blacks and Jews are historical allies."
"You know, hopefully she knocked you infertile. We don't need anymore dumb bastards like you roaming around."
"You guys ready to open up?" Finn interrupted, asking over his shoulder as he turned on the 'Open' sign to their bar, Journey.
"I guess, man. We better get some high-end tail in here tonight though man, or else I'm cutting out early and prowling for some Vegas virgins." Puck raised his eyebrows suggestively and stepped into the DJ booth and started the music, laughing as Finn groaned.
At least it was never boring.
"You should go talk to her," Sam elbowed Finn, distracting him from his staring.
"Who? I don't know what you're talking about, man."
Finn handed a beer to the guy at the bar and shook up two martinis for the two women making eyes at him obnoxiously. Normally he liked flirting with the ladies but tonight, it was distracting him. From her. Whoever she was, she was gorgeous. Olive skin, daringly dark eyes, and silky looking chestnut locks. Her body looked tight and lithe as she danced in the crowd, smiling and laughing as her friends danced with her. She looked over her shoulder at him, smiling shyly before going back to her dancing.
"She probably thinks you're stalking her. Or some psycho killer. Stop staring, grow a pair, and talk to her."
"I don't know man, I'm working. I don't have time for that right now."
Puck walked up behind him and smacked the back of his head, "Dude, you always have time to get laid. Now learn from the master."
Puck slid over the bar and introduced himself to the older woman that sitting alone, "Hi sexy mama, what's your name?"
"Shelby."
"Let me buy you a drink."
The older woman looked at him a minute, licked her lips, and nodded, "Of course."
Puck looked over his shoulder as she led them to the dance floor and mouthed, "My job rocks."
Sam covered up his cough with a snort, "I'll bet you twenty bucks he has some sort of traumatizing experience with the Cougar."
"Why would I bet with you when I know you're right?" They laughed and shook their heads.
"Go talk to her! Seriously. 'Cedes is always riding me about how much you work. Cut loose, go talk to a pretty girl! I can close up here tonight- especially because Mike and Tina are coming by later."
Finn nodded and reluctantly stepped out from behind the bar, "You know, maybe you're right."
There's something about her. Something I have to see for myself.
So what do you think?
Leave a review and let me know! Also, the person who can guess what song the Chapter title comes from will win a preview from the next chapter so open your PM's up!