Who - Jake Puckerman & Rachel Berry @extraordinberrily
Where - Choir Room
When - Late Afternoon
Summary - Jake figures maybe he might’ve been too harsh when dealing with Rachel Berry’s badgering.
Jake was a world class douchebag. He knew it, everyone around him knew it; that was just how things worked. Didn’t mean he didn’t feel bad about it. He might’ve been the biggest jerk at McKinley right after his half brother--and definitely not before that Karofsky joke, but Jake still had a heart. Not that he’d let anyone actually know that. Still, after spending way too long debating on whether or not he should, he found himself walking into the glee club rehearsal room and...totally freezing. He didn’t expect it to be full of losers, but he didn’t exactly expect it to be empty either. From what he’d heard, Rachel Berry lived in the walls of McKinley, HQ being the very room he was standing in. Originally, his plan had been to bump into her and have things flow naturally but now that he was alone, he really didn’t know what to do.
He adjusted the strap of his backpack a bit before walking over to the piano where a bunch of sheet music was strewn about. Scoffing at the title of one of the options before him, Jake wondered not for the first time if maybe he should join the glee club for real. If not for him, then to help the entire club out of their lame spiral. Scanning the empty room once more, Jake went back to the sheet music and sifted through it until he found a tune that wasn’t garbage on paper. Starting to hum along to it, he sang a few bars under his breath.
Some things we don't talk about
Rather do without
And just hold a smile
Falling in and out of love
Ashamed and proud of
Together all the while
Who: Rachel, Sugar, Marley, & Dani.
When: August 13th, 2016. 3:25 PM
What: Sugar has gotten a car to pick up Rachel, Dani, and Marley. Dani and Marley haven’t seen each other in years and got no clue the other will be in the car until they are.
Where: In the Carpool Lane, of course, heading for Quinn’s party.
The buzzing of Rachel’s phone caused her to jump a little as she stood in front of a completely straight line of five pairs of shoes. She rolled her eyes at them as if not having the ability to say “I'm the perfect one for this outfit” was a great offense to her. The phone buzzed once more and Rachel looked around her bedroom with no luck until it dawned on her what she was doing the last time she'd had her phone. Lifting her sketchbook up off the foot of her bed, of course, revealed her phone which had two texts from Sugar lit on the screen. One announcing her arrival and the other urging Rachel to hurry. She laughed softly to herself. She’d really missed her friend. A beat later Rachel grabbed the pair of heels that she remember to be the most comfortable and headed out.
When she saw the very large black SUV outside of her building Rachel thought perhaps there was a surprise presidential visit to her Manhattan apartment but she shook that thought quickly. Of course this very over the top vehicle is exactly what Sugar would decide on. A chuckle escaped as she moved closer and a very sharply dressed man hopped out of the driver’s seat to open her door and help her into the truck. Once inside she adjusted her dress and pulled the other passenger into a warm hug. “Sugar! This is very you... and I love it.” She kissed the woman’s cheek and beamed. “So where to next?”
Sugar opened her compact mirror and checked her makeup a final time as they pulled up to Rachel’s. Perfect. Slipping it back in her bag, she glanced down at her sparkly black wrap dress and platform heels. She knew she should have gone with the gold dress, it was sexier. But oh well, tonight would just have to be more about friendship than getting laid. They were only stopped for a moment before Rachel was getting into the car and enveloping her in a giant hug. “Glad you approve,” she laughed, returning the hug.
At Rachel’s question, she glanced down at her phone. “I suspect we’ll have to drag Marley out kicking and screaming, so let’s grab her first. Did you say Dani is joining us?” She slipped her phone back in her Marc Jacobs clutch and settled back down in her seat. She had a feeling tonight was either going to be very good or very bad, there would be no in between
Rachel brushed a bit of hair out of her face before nodding. “Yes I think told her she should come meaning she had to attend. So we have to get her as well. But perhaps we get Dani first since she’ll be a much easier grab.” Rachel laughed softly and shook her head. “I don’t want Marley changing her mind at the last minute. If anyone needs a night out it is definitely her.” She nodded in a matter-of-fact manner confirming her own words. She sat back and looked around the vehicle. “This is really nice. And you look very beautiful by the way.” A bright smile spread across her lips. “Let's go wherever you'd like. “
Sugar rolled her eyes playfully at the other girl. “Not as beautiful as you. But yeah, you might have a point with Marley. Plus if we have to physically drag Marley to the car, three people might be easier than two.” She joked, although she wasn’t completely above actually doing it. “Do you have Dani’s address?” Sugar knew Dani but not well enough to know where she lived, but maybe Rachel did. She was growing more and more excited to get this party going as the minute passed. As much as Sugar loved her job, it was often long and strange hours, and she rarely had a chance to blow off steam anymore. Combine that with the pathetic dry-spell she had been having, and Sugar really needed a night of dancing.
“Oh you are too kind.” Rachel pressed her hand against her chest dramatically, smiling all the while. “I think we may need Dani as back up. Marley is very stubborn.” She smirked knowing that titled was one she held herself. “I do have her address actually when I tell someone the have to go to a party I am very thorough when collecting the after facts and information needed.” Rachel moved next to Sugar and laid her head in the woman’s shoulder. “I hope you are prepared to save a dance for me.” She smiled as she looked up at her friend before pecking her chin and moving away. “Because you don’t have a choice.” Rachel moved to where she could clearly speak to driver, pulled out her phone and gave the man the address to their next destination. With that they were off to get the next.
Sugar had forgotten how nice it was to have Rachel around. She was a really good friend, and always made Sugar feel good about herself - whether she wanted to or not. There weren’t many people in her life that Sugar felt as comfortable and relaxed around as she did Rachel. Once the car began to move again, Sugar slid over closer to Rachel and pulled her into a gentle hug. “Tonight is going to be amazing, I can feel it in my bones.” She didn’t let go, just letting herself lean into Rachel with her arms wrapped around her. Soon they were pulling up to the address Rachel had given to the driver.
Dani waited for the SUV to come to a complete stop before reaching for a door handle. To her shock, a man, whom Dani assumed was the driver, appeared out of nowhere, like the Marx brothers, and opened the door for her. She gave a dramatic, “Why, thank you, good sir,” and with a bow, hopped in, wrapping her arms around and squeezing whomever happened to be the closest. Giving her standard bone-crushing hug, she let go, with a kiss on the cheek before offering the same treatment to the other occupant.
“Hi, ladies! You both look gorgeous.” Dani refused to feel underdressed in her t-shirt and skinny jeans, but suddenly wondered, how special this occasion must be. “Where are we going, again? I thought we were just gonna go drinking. Isn’t the ride a bit much?”
Rachel let herself be enveloped for a bit and rested her head on Sugar’s shoulder once more. “I think you’re right. It’s going to be a wonderful night. I cannot wait!” She rested her arms atop the ones surrounding her and just sat for a while. Once they’d arrived at Dani’s place Rachel sat up straight and rolled her eyes at the smile that she couldn’t hold back. Dani really worked her nerves but she enjoyed her company just the same, and she maybe liked pushing her buttons a little.
Dani entered in regular Dani fashion, and after she was released from the bear hug she couldn’t help but laugh. “Hello to you too, Harper. Thank you look rather nice yourself. ” She smiled and shook her head. “We’re going to a party at Quinn’s there will be lots of ladies there to charm so you’ll be in heaven.” Rachel laughed more to herself than anything. She may have told Dani she wasn’t charming but wasn’t completely true.
Sugar waited for her hug and returned it in turn. “If you think this is a bit much, you ain’t seen nothing yet, babe!” She laughed. Settled back down in her seat, she crossed her legs. “We just have one more to pick up and we can be on our way to party heaven.” There was no denying the fact that Quinn Fabray threw the best parties in the city, possibly in the country. “Get ready to have your socks knocked off, Harper.” With a wiggle of her eyebrows, Sugar turned her attention to the driver, giving him Marley’s address and leaning back in her seat. “Let’s get this show on the road!” She giggled.
“I always look nice, Funsize, but I have to say, I don’t compare to you two. I wish I knew we were going to a party.” Then again, if she knew it was a party, she probably would’ve passed on the whole, “going out” thing. “Oh my God, Sugar! My socks? What about my boots? How are my socks getting knocked off without ‘em?” Her jet-black combat boots were the only thing she kept as a constant in her bland wardrobe.
Dani responded to Rachel's comment, regarding ladies to charm, by deflecting, “Aww, Rachey. You know, I only have eyes for you. Why must you continue to break my heart?!” She pressed a palm to her heart, dramatically, and pouted. She didn’t like the idea that she was a “player” but being called it one too many times, has caused her to accept it. She just liked making people happy is all.
Rachel could tell it would be a interesting night with these two around, that was certain. “Yes, we have one more stop and you may have to assist us in getting the next party goer into this massive thing on four wheels.” She shot Sugar a devious smirk before continuing. “I have to say I actually prefer Funsize to Rachey…. But Rachel will do just nicely thank you. Also, please the day that’s true that you only have eyes for me is the day I will cluck like a chicken. But you are cute when you’re being cheeky.” She was definitely ready to get to party and see one person in particular but until then who wouldn’t want to spend the before in a car filled with beautiful woman. They could certainly take their time.
Sugar rolled her eyes at Dani, but couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “You’re such a cornball.” She teased, it was one of the best things about Dani, her ability to make her laugh. That was what drew her to the bartender in the first place that awful night she’d been stood up. That had been a first for Sugar, and fresh off a breakup too. If it hadn’t been for Dani, she didn’t know what she would have done, probably made herself violently ill on an industrial sized tub of raw cookie dough. Pulling out her phone, Sugar shot Marley a text that they would be there soon and that it was in her best interest to be waiting outside, lest they have to come bring her down by force. She finished the text with 3 kissy face emojis and hit send.
“I’ve heard her cluck like a chicken at an audition once, she’s pretty good.” Sugar said off-handedly, still looking down at her phone. “I think she’ll cooperate, but if not, it’s good we have back up.” Sugar raised her head and wiggled her eyebrows. They turned down Marley’s street and Sugar leaned over to see if she was waiting outside as instructed.
Marley had left Kels with a friend hours earlier, mostly because she figured it’d be easier to convince herself to go if her little sister wasn’t hanging around, and it also just made the process of getting ready not as difficult. She was staring at herself in the mirror when she heard her phone buzz somewhere behind her. Sighing, she looked around until she spotted it on the bed. Picking it up, she rolled her eyes. Of course Sugar would threaten to use force, though she wasn’t entirely sure, even between Sugar and Rachel, that the two could do it. Not that Marley wanted to try them.
Grabbing the clutch that lay on the bed, she slipped her phone inside and headed out of her bedroom. She wasn’t that comfortable, but she figured that had to do with the dress she was wearing. Someone, and Marley suspected Rachel, had managed to get a black dress into the apartment for the night, via Kels. It wasn’t something Marley would normally have worn, and not just because it was far outside her price range. With one final look around the apartment, she grabbed her keys, and slipped out the door, flipping the lights off as she left.
Once outside, Marley couldn’t help but wrap her arms gently around her waist. As the large SUV pulled up, she shook her head. Of course, if it wasn’t grand, and slightly obnoxious, it wasn’t Sugar. She climbed inside as the door was opened and made a point to hug Sugar before even turning her attention to Rachel. “You have the audacity to compare me to Lex Luthor and Madame Morrible, when it is you that is evil, Rachel Berry.” She said, pointing a finger at Rachel. “This is uncomfortable and the fact you used my own sister against me is even worse.” She chuckled and then hugged Rachel, before realizing there was someone else in the SUV. “Oh, uh, hi…”
Dani was ready to greet this pretty girl with an awkward handshake, but cut herself off and stared at her as she hugged the other girls in the vehicle. The hot personal trainer from the gym? No. Too tall. That cop that harrased her last week? No. Too attractive. When it finally hit her, almost reacted like something actually hit her, “Marley?” She paused as she became more sure of herself, “Marley Danvers? Oh my God! Is that-? Are you-? Robin!” When she finished her fumbling, Dani pulled her into the tightest embrace she could muster, and that’s saying something because she thought she already did that when hugging somebody, but she was certainly wrong. “It’s me!” Dani almost shook her head at herself, before adding, “Dani. Dani Harper?”
A blast from the past hit Marley like a freight train. Danvers. It had been years, almost fourteen, since Marley had heard it, in reference to herself, and there were very few people that knew her by it. Hearing it, followed by something else she hadn’t been called in just as long, Marley braced herself for what she knew was coming next. The hug was still stronger than she expected and it took her a bit to return it. She sort of felt bad that Dani had felt the need to clarify who she was. “Batman, not enough people know that I was Marley Danvers, before I was Marley Rose, for me to ever think you were anyone different. Besides, even if people did, only you ever got the privilege to call me Robin. Been a long time, Dani.” She gave Dani a tight squeeze before pulling away, suddenly feeling very self conscious about the entire ordeal. Neither Rachel, nor Sugar, knew Marley’s last name prior to her mom marrying, and to run into Dani, someone who didn’t know anything of the last ten years, yet knew Marley prior, was very strange for her. An odd mix of past and present, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
A huge smiled donned Rachel’s face as Marley entered the SUV. She mentally patted herself on the back; she had such excellent taste. Once Marley turned her attention toward Rachel she shrank slightly in her seat, before sitting straight and laughing. “But you look so gooooood. Beauty is pain and you my dear look gorgeous. Fierce.” She snapped her fingers in the air before laughing once again and pulled Marley into a hug. The taller woman really did look amazing in that dress. What happened next had her feeling a bit confused. The exchange between Marley and Dani was odd to say the least. “Danvers? …” She turned to Marley then to Dani. “Batman?...” A smirk hit her lips as she said the dark crusaders name and eye’d the raven haired girl. “Wait…. Wait. Can someone please explain to me what is happening. I don’t really enjoy being out of the loop and specially when we are throwing around the great name of the Dark Knight around. Explanations please?”
Sugar had just been about to gush over how amazing Marley looked - clearly Rachel’s handiwork - when everything began to unfold. At first she thought Dani was mistaking Marley for someone else… someone else with the same first name? But when Marley reacted, all she could do was sit in silence, a perfectly shaped eyebrow arched upward in confusion. “I’m pretty out of the loop too… who is Marley Danvers?” Were the first words that she was able to speak, and they came out more coldly than she had meant them too. Sugar hated the feeling of being lied to, and for some reason, she felt like she had been for years.
Dani didn’t intentionally ignore Rachel and Sugar, but.... “Oh my God, Marley! I’ve missed you so much! Rose? That’s pretty. You’re so tall now! I could still pick you up, though. And so gorgeous! I mean, you were always as cute as a button, but who knew little Robin would grow up to be such a knockout?!” Dani couldn’t stop smiling. This was her little Robin. It was hard to believe, after so long, that she was sitting right in front of her. And she looked goooood. Tonight was already a good night.
Marley sighed as Rachel and Sugar both questioned the exchanged between her and Dani. It wasn’t surprising to her, not really. They didn’t know, and how could they? Marley only spoke as far back as losing her parents, and the bits and pieces of her mother being a single parent, everything else was left in the past.
As Dani focused on her, Marley felt herself blush, waiting until her childhood friend was done before speaking. “She’s always been like this. As for explanations, Marley Danvers was, is, me. Until I was eleven, my last name was Danvers. It was my mother’s maiden name, and until my dad adopted me, it was my last name. As for Batman, I am, and always have been, a lover of comics. Dani was like a big sister and somewhere along the way she became Batman and I became Robin. The rest is history, or something.” Marley shrugged. It was the extremely condensed version of it all, but she figured it was for the best. It left out the information Dani didn’t know, but gave Sugar and Rachel the information they needed. She just hoped it cleared up enough of the story so that the last ten years didn’t come out too soon.
Rachel furrowed her brow at Dani, being ignored was not something she took too well. She rolled her eyes and wanted to just pretend like she didn’t care anymore, but this all seemed far too interesting to ignore. Once Marley started to speak it all became a bit clearer. “So you are long lost childhood friends, like Sugar and I, well except we were never lost. And now you have reunited because Sugar and I invited you slash forced you both to come to this wonderful party this evening.” Rachel turned to Sugar and beamed. “Good job us.” She nodded and laughed. “No but honestly this is very much right out of a soap opera and I wish I had some popcorn. It’s really very special.”
Sugar nodded, still not entirely sure what to make of everything. “Well you look really good, whoever you are.” She teased, shifting in her seat. She knew she had no right to feel so uncomfortable, but she did. Luckily Rachel, chatty as ever, broke the ice by congratulating them for bringing two long-lost friends together. “Could have been on my show.” She agreed, settling back down in her seat. “Although you would have been twins or something, not just friends…” She made sure the driver had Quinn’s address and they were off toward the party. “Well! Who’s ready for a night of dancing, drinking and promiscuous sex?” She said, giving Marley a little wink, just because she knew it would bug her.
At Rachel’s comment, Dani snapped out of her stupor, “Well, I don’t have popcorn, but I have this?” She pulled out a small package of granola for her pocket, offering it the Rachel. Dani perked up at the mention of sex, and briefly wondered if she had a problem, before shoving that train of thought away. Tonight was for partying. “Hell yeah! Wooo!”
Of course, when Sugar winked at Marley, she had to clarify, “Wait! You too aren’t…?” The obscene gesture that followed was her only finish to her sentence.
Marley listened as the others spoke, her usual, socially awkward nature finally returning to her. The more the conversation turned towards the party ahead of them, the more Marley wished she had found a way to get out of the entire thing. Then Sugar did what Sugar did best, or maybe worst, found a way to make Marley wish she didn’t exist. It was then made far worse by how Dani reacted. She buried her face in her hand for a moment, trying to collect herself, and her thoughts.
“I was forced to live with her for a year, freshman year of college. It didn’t happen then, and it’s not happening now. I have far more important matters to deal with in life. How the two of them managed to convince me to come tonight, I’m still debating.” Her voice wasn’t near as strong as she wished it was, but then, when it came to stuff like this, Marley was generally more awkward than normal. Parties weren’t her thing and while she’d drink on occasion, it wasn’t something that happened often. Sex wasn’t even really an option. When one lived with a ten year old, there were just things you avoided, and for Marley, relationships, outside of friendships, tended to be the biggest of them all.
Sugar burst into laughter at the idea of her and Marley getting together, not because Marley wasn’t a catch, she definitely was: smart, responsible and beautiful, but because the two could not be more different. Then again, her and Ari were opposites too. She shoved the thought of Ari from her brain as quickly as it had come up. As her laughter began to subside, she noticed Marley’s reaction, her clipped tone, and wanted to make up for embarrassing her. “I wish! But I’m simply not smart enough for Marley, she deserves the very best.” She reached over and gave Marley a friendly poke in the arm. “Like she said, we were dorm-mates and nothing more.”
There was a lot of sex talk and it really just made Rachel want to giggle. “It’s okay to admit that you want each other’s bodies. No one will hold it against you.” She laughed and looked from one passenger in the car to the next. “I think there should be a game plan. A signal of sorts. Just in case someone needs help or rescuing or a wing woman in one of your cases. I will not be needing that myself, but I am here to be helpful while I am having a good time.”
Dani pointed at Rachel, then to Sugar, “That’s an excellent idea! Sugar, you’ll be my wing-woman when I make Rachel fall madly in love with me, right?” She added a wink and a smirk, in Rachel’s direction, holding back a laugh.
But upon seeing and hearing Marley’s annoyance, Dani looked at her and moved Marley’s chin so she was looking back at her, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s also, not any of my business. What’s up? Why don’t you wanna go to the party?”
Marley just listened to the others talk, not entirely paying much attention. By that point, she was starting to wonder if there was a way to back out, but something about that felt wrong too. She had promised Kels that she’d try and have a good time, even if partying wasn’t her thing. Breaking promises, particularly ones she made to her little sister, was not something Marley enjoyed doing. Thus, she figured, she would give the party a chance, see how things went. If worse came to worst, she could always head home early.
As Dani turned her chin, Marley couldn’t help but feel like a small child again. Some part of it made her feel smaller than she already felt, but it was a familiar thing, and it was oddly welcomed. “It wasn’t you, or well, not just you, anyway. They poke fun because they know it’ll get under my skin. Your reaction couldn’t have been judged. As for not wanting to go, parties aren’t really my thing. Never have been. They always make me feel weird, and one in the Hamptons? I’m a teacher in Williamsburg, it’s not exactly someplace a person like me would ever be. Whatever turn of events led me to being roomed with Sugar in college and later meeting Rachel, are the only reason. Even then, I’d much rather be elsewhere tonight, but a compromise, in regards to something, is still a compromise, I guess. Even if I’m still doing the other thing too…” She trailed off, eyes falling away from Dani and into her lap. She had talked with Kels, and while they had agreed that her birthday wouldn’t be anything major, it would still be celebrated. Sometimes, for a ten year old, Kelsey knew more about life than Marley thought she should.
Sugar smirked at Dani and shot her a wink. The idea of Rachel actually being in love with Dani was definitely interesting, she thought they might somehow work, actually. But she kept that to herself. The subject changed, and as she listened to Marley speak and it was more than clear that she was determined to have a bad time. “Marley, are you at least going to try to have fun? Because if you’re just going to sulk the whole time, I’d just as soon take you back home now. We want you at this party with us because we care about you, all you ever do is work and worry about Kels, and I know you do it because you care and because you’re the kind of person who puts others first, but you deserve to have some fun sometimes. This is supposed to be a fun night with your friends, and we’re all happy that you’re here, but you have to at least try. If you’re determined to have a bad time, it’s not fair to anyone else who wants you to have a good time.” She crossed her arms over her chest, maybe she was being harsh, but Sugar needed this night out. She needed to be able to forget about her problems, or she would go insane.
Rachel narrowed her eyes at Dani. “Fall in love with you? Do you think I am a glutton for punishment? But when you fall in love with me, I’ll give you an endless amount of snuggles to help sooth your heart. I am quite irresistible at times.” Rachel smirked before laughing completely. That laugh went silent when suddenly a very strangely intimate moment occurred. She just adverted her eyes and hummed softly. It felt a little awkward but she would let it pass. And then Sugar chimed in… Rachel felt a bit more uncomfortable. “Soooo, how about those 5vers. That is one great sports team of some kind, right?”
Dani shot Sugar a smile, not knowing what that wink meant, but knowing it could only mean good. Plus, she had too much fun messing with Rachel, “Don’t tempt me with snuggles, Funsize. I might take you up a chance to hold you against me.” But Dani turned her attention back to Marley quickly.
Dani almost mentioned Marley being a teacher, but decided to maybe file that away for later. The pang that she felt at her own career being so poor-going, was countered by her joy at knowing Marley is successful. But something didn’t seem right. How did her little Robin turn into such a downer? And why was she being so cryptic? “Is Sugar right, Robin? Do we need to take you back home? I, and I’m sure Rachel and Sugar, wouldn’t want you to be miserable?” She ran her hands through Marley’s hair, protectively.
Marley instinctively pulled further into herself as Sugar spoke. It wasn’t so much the way it was said, but more what was said. Marley knew that Dani didn’t know about Kels, about what had gone on over the last ten years. She knew that where Sugar and Rachel were in the loop, Dani was far outside it. In a lot of ways, Dani knew less of Marley’s life than either of the other two did. In the back of an SUV, on the way to a party, via the mouth of someone else, was not the way Marley wanted any of that to come out. Sure, a lot of it was known to those who knew Marley, who interacted with Marley on a daily basis, it wasn’t something Marley hid, she couldn’t, and never would, but given the circumstances, it wasn’t ideal timing.
She let out a dry laugh at Rachel’s statement, the attempt to deflect and defuse the situation, but she knew it wasn’t going to work. As Dani turned her attention back to her, Marley sighed. “No. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Besides, lying to a ten year old is actually impossible when she knows you better than most people. I’ll go, I’ll try. Tonight just isn’t exactly starting how I thought it ever would. Bit much to take in, I guess.” Her phone buzzed and a quick check had her shaking her head. “Speaking of said ten year old, she says hi, and that while I’m not allowed to respond to her text, she hopes we have a good time.” She laughed a little when her phone buzzed a second time. It was a silly message, but Marley knew what it meant. There was a little thing her and Kels always did when one of them was doing something they didn’t want to do, they’d send the other a message that just said ‘hero’. It had originally been ‘be your own hero’ but had been shortened to just ‘hero’ after a while. It was just how they reminded each other that trying was good enough.
Rachel smirked at Dani. “Because you are obviously completely in love with me, but much too stubborn to admit your feelings. I am extremely aware.” She stuck her tongue out at the woman and giggled. Rachel then moved right next to Sugar and tugged at her friend’s arm until it was no longer tangled with the other across her chest. She kissed the woman’s cheek and linked their arms at the elbow before laying her head on Sugar’s shoulder. “We are all going to have fun... But perhaps, I mean since this long lost strangely intense friendship has just been reunited, after we get there and take a look around, Marley and Dani could go catch-up. That way, Marley, you won’t have lied to Kels and you don’t have to be in a place that makes you uncomfortable. Also from the looks of things the two of you could use the time… But it’s just a suggestion, do what makes you happiest, of course.” Rachel felt extremely guilty at this point for even suggesting the party to Marley. She thought the car ride would be music, dancing in seats, and laughter. She really didn’t want anyone upset.
The announcement of the text made Rachel’s heart smile. She was such a huge fan of little Miss Kelsey Rose. “Make sure to tell Kels, I said hey Little Star when you get home.”
Sugar felt kind of bad, she hadn’t meant to upset anyone, but it needed to be said now before they were at the party and Marley was just sitting in a corner miserably. “Sorry if I was harsh, Mars Bar, but we just all love you and want to see you smiling and happy and doing something for you.” Leaning into Rachel instinctively as she snuggled up to her, she shrugged her free shoulder up. “I know she wanted you to enjoy the party, like all of us do,” Sugar said, referring to Kelsey. “But she also doesn’t really need to know details, so if you want to just make an appearance and slip away with Dani, that’s fine too. No one will hold it against you, okay? Or we can all promise to stick together, minus Rachel who will be otherwise engaged I’m sure, so that you don’t feel too overwhelmed or out of place. Your call, Marls. I just don’t want to see you be unhappy all night.”
“You got me, Funsize. I can’t deny this feeling, any longer. I’m a slave for you! Have me,” Dani stuck her tongue out in retaliation, but upped the ante by closing eyes and doing circles with it, lewdly. Stifling another laugh, she heard Marley mention that she wasn’t expecting tonight to be this way, and it clicked with her that she was probably the reason Marley was so uncomfortable. She removed her hand from Marley’s hair and scooted away from her, to give her space. She should have figured that things wouldn’t be the same. They both grew up and apart. She didn’t realize she would be such a bother by showing up.
Rachel’s suggestion that her and Marley go somewhere alone was met with trepidation, from Dani’s end. She was feeling no-small-amount of discomfort at upsetting Marley. She figured, she’d wait for Marley’s response. It wasn’t her place to answer, anyways.
Marley bit her bottom lip, thinking. They had a point and, as much as she hated to think it, what Kels didn’t know, couldn’t actually hurt her. Rubbing the back of her neck, Marley realized that Dani had moved away from her. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been paying attention, but there had just been something so natural, something so familiar, about Dani being close that whatever Dani had been doing didn’t entirely register until she had stopped.
“I’ll give it a few hours. See where it goes from there. Worse comes to worst, I can find Dani and, provided she hasn’t found someone to occupy her time, we can head out. I know Kels, as much as she doesn’t need details, she’d want them. Besides, I put this dress on, as uncomfortable as it is, I’m getting some use out of it.” She rolled her eyes at Rachel, shaking her head. “I have very few regrets in life, but introducing you and Kels is slowly becoming one of them. If anyone spoils her, it’s you, and you use her against me too. But I will tell her you say hello.”
Sugar could see they were approaching the party, and she couldn’t have been more glad to get out of the car and dance. As much as she loved her friends, this had not been the party ride she had been expecting. “Cool, see how you feel and if you end up leaving, we won’t hold it against you. But do let one of us know if you guys are gonna go, so we’re not waiting around like morons thinking you’re in the bathroom or something.” She laughed, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. “It’s going to be a good night.” She reiterated, more for herself than anyone else. As they turned down the street, and the driver slowed down to navigate the cars that were lining both sides of the street, Sugar began to straighten herself out. “Okay, last looks ladies… you all look beautiful!” She smiled and smoothed out her dress.
Rachel had definitely felt as though she’d intruded on the reuniting of some long lost star crossed lovers which was a bit uncomfortable, and then Marley seemed, for the most part, unhappy about the party and that made her a sad, so to say this party was definitely needed was an understatement. “I have taken it upon myself to spoil her because every little princess should be at least a little spoiled.” She laughed softly. “But I suppose I can try to use her against you a little less.” As the car began to slow Rachel sat up and began to prepare to hop out and have a bit of fun. She grabbed Sugar’s hand. “I'm getting my dance at the start, before you find a lady to take up your attention for the evening.” She looked around the car. “Everyone read?! Because I am definitely ready.”
Dani was going to have fun! It was going to be a fun party! She needed this… She’d have to find Marley later and make sure, she was having fun as well. She pulled out her business card and a pen, “Listen, Robin. I’m really happy to see you again. If there is anything, anything at all, that you need, just give the signal, and Batman will be there.” She scribbled her personal number down on the back of the card, placed it on Marley’s lap, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Alright, it’s time to have some fun,” and with that, she hopped out of the SUV.
Marley nodded a bit as Sugar spoke. “Will do.” She rubbed her temples a bit as Rachel spoke about spoiling Kels, laughing as she did so. It was typical Rachel, really, and she wasn’t too surprised by the response. As Dani turned her attention towards her Marley just smiled, nodding as her old friend spoke. She slipped the business card into her clutch, smoothed out her dress and exited the SUV, doing her best to remember that fun was subjective and that she could easily find it if she tried.
It would seem that Alden had had the longest fucking day in the history of long days and it just kept on going. He had been at work for almost 48 hours, and to top it off he was obligated to go to Diary’s Premiere party. Which he didn’t mind that one bit, he just wished that he’d had the opportunity to grab some semblance of sleep, which of course he had not been able to do. He’d been dressed and ready. Or rather, he had on his swim trunks and lack of a shirt and was ready to head out of the hospital for fun to finish off the night when his friend and nurse on the wing had stopped in, making him finish off his charts.
When he finally arrived, late as hell to the event, everything was in full swing.
He would have apologized to the producers but they knew why, the cameras were always rolling there was no way they didn’t know his whereabouts almost every second of every day. Alden had found his girlfriend, made sure to greet and spend some quality time with her before he began to mingle with amongst his other cast mates. He caught up with reality-berry, tapping her on the shoulder in greeting. “Hey, Miss Berry. I do believe we agreed to grab some drinks and chill a bit tonight! I would have grabbed a drink and brought it to you, but I didn’t know what you’d like.” He held out his arm for her to take so they could walk over to the bar. He was a gentleman if nothing else, and that had been instilled in him since he was a kid. “How’s your night going?” he asked as they headed toward their destination.
Quinn danced around her kitchen wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and a pink t shirt with a vintage batman mask on it. Leon Bridges’ Smooth Sailin’ played in the background as she slid around the linoleum floors on her bare feet. She mixed up a second patch of peach Sangria as she sipped at a glass from the test batch that was sitting in the refrigerator. Buying two pitchers was definitely one of her best ideas to date. She smiled softly amused at her own thought before taking another sip and pulling her cheese bagel bites out of the oven. Rachel Berry, was a gorgeous, classy lady, who definitely didn’t seem like the bagel bite type. Grilled veggies and sauce, why she had fresh vegetables in her fridge was a mystery but she was glad they were there.
Thinking about the fact the woman was brass enough to invite herself over made Quinn flutter a tiny bit. She wan’t sure why and she wasn’t going to spend too much time analyzing it. She was going to hope to make a very attractive cool new friend. After setting out snacks, Quinn kneeled down in front of an innocent looking french bulldog and spoke in a slightly stern voice. “Okay Su, here’s the deal... we’ve got a pretty lady coming over and we don’t want to scare her away, right? We want her to be our friend. Sooo... I’m going to need you not to chew on her things, do not pass gas continuously, do not lick her face none stop, and DO NOT do your business on the floor. Got it! Good!” She smiled genuinely giving him the once over. She definitely had the cutest pup around. There was quick kiss to the top of Sulu’s head and then she stood just in time to here a soft knock at her door. Quinn pressed down the front of her shirt and brushed at her pants before opening the door and greeting her guest. “Hey there Ray Berry”
who: brody weston and rachel berry
what: brody and rachel have their first date. finally.
an: god-modding allowed by spiritofstreisand; dedicated to cra-rps as a late birthday present
Brody had once thought that there was nothing better than finally getting the dream girl, even if it was only for a little while and only as "friends". But this beat that by miles. For the first time, he and Rachel were on the same page. They knew what they wanted and they weren't being timid or coy about it. Slow, yes, but they were both all in for each other.
Dinner had been as easy as it used to be before they'd complicated things. They laughed, they joked, they talked and listened. It was the way it was supposed to do, except this time when he flirted, she flirted back. He could reach over and hold her hand and she'd hold it back. She smiled for him and when he paid for them both, he knew she knew he was paying as a date, not as a friend.
She even let him pay for the movie, though she insisted on buying him a box of Sno-Caps to take into the theater with them. He assumed the movie was good - he hadn't actually ever seen it - as he spent most of the time watching Rachel watch it and her eyes shined as she tried not to laugh too loud in the quiet theater. She caught him about halfway through, and tried to direct him to the screen, but it didn't hold his attention like she did.
A little while after that, she gave up on the movie too and they sat in the back, feeding each other little bits of chocolate and stealing gentle kisses. He was almost grateful when the film ended and the lights came back on; there was a very large part of him that wanted to forget the decision to go m slow, and he was almost sure she was thinking the same thing.
But they'd rushed it before. He didn't want to do it again. Their lives were still complicated, and with the television show now, the direction MTV was going to take them in... they couldn't risk mixing up their feelings so early just because of hormones. No matter how good she felt.
The real test was leaving her at her apartment, and he wasn't sure he could pass.
"Okay," he whispered against her lips as she kissed him again. "You really have to go."
"I have to go," she agreed but didn't move, her arms looped gently around his neck as he held her close, his hands on her back. "I had a great time."
"Me too," he grinned, kissing her again. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Kissing her forever was the right thing do to. "We'll do it again, I promise."
"Okay."
"We can't do it again if you don't go home first," he reminded her and she sighed, kissing him one more time before pulling away. She only made it as far as the space between their fingertips before he pulled her back, pressed against the door of her building. "Just one more."
He wasn't sure how long "one more" actually lasted, but eventually her hand was on the door handle, opening it and drawing away from him.
"I'm going now," she giggled. 'I really am."
"Okay," he smiled, biting his bottom lip as she slipped halfway through the door. "Good. Go. So we can do this again."
"Deal. Now go home," she demanded so fiercely he couldn't help but laugh and walk backwards back to the sidewalk. She flashed him one more smile before disappearing into her building.
He hadn't made it a block down the street before she texted him.
Things would be good this time. He was sure of it.
who: brody weston and rachel berry
what: the past 8 years and then some
Coming to New York with Rachel had been a dream. They were young, in love, and had the world at their feet. And better than that, the world was willing to lay down for them. She was on the fast track to having every aspiration she ever had for herself come true, and he wasn't that far behind. But mostly, they had each other, and though they never did quite make it on that honeymoon they promised themselves, they hardly seemed to miss it all.
In the back of his mind, he knew it had all been a little too easy. He'd had a successful leading role, rave reviews, all the promise of opportunities until he realized it all added up to nothing once his show closed. Rachel was the one in demand, and he loved it for her. He could even put aside the twinge of jealously he felt when she went straight to workshop after Funny Girl and he was back on the audition grind.
He could ignore it because as the trophies piled up for her, the pride he felt in her was infinitely more than any pettiness that might rear up. But over time, the jealousy faded into something else, something entirely more frightening than anything else. Because she was pulling away. With every show, every standing ovation, every chance at something new, she seemed to have less and less time for him. Less time to listen, to talk, to just be there on the particularly bad days. He could ignore all of it if she had just been there because, in the end, when he pushed everything aside, all he really wanted was her.
They tried, he figured, in their own ways. Every now and then she would make it through dinner and her smile would remind him of their days in college, when they were love drunk and couldn't keep their hands off each other. There were nights that almost felt like that again. But the next morning would come and she'd be gone, further that before.
It was like he was cutting his heart apart piece by piece with a needle, bleeding into himself day after day with no way to stop it. And he tried. He found someone professional to talk to, someone Rachel didn't know about, who said he was prone to situational depression, that there wasn't anything to really do about it but change the situation. He just didn't know how.
Then he found Naomi, just a girl in southern California who mistook him for one of her old college friends. Something about talking to her was easier than talking to a therapist. She felt more human, more understanding. She had advice that made sense, that didn't frustrate him. She was a good person.
She was even excited for him when he told her Rachel was pregnant. Not as excited as his mother was, not as excited as he was. The only one who didn't seem quite up to it was Rachel. But he knew she'd never really planned on kids, that it just needed to sink in. During her first ultrasound where she could really make something out, he saw the change in her, the smile he fell for all those years ago as she laughed in his ear. "That's a baby! That's our baby!"
It wouldn't automatically fix everything, but it was a start. It was like living proof that they still loved each other as much as they did back then. And when, out of nowhere, suddenly that proof was gone...
He'd never understand how hard it was for her, he knew that. She had to carry this little girl inside her and deliver her without ever having taken a single breath. But he couldn't... when she refused to look at her, refused to even hold her... there was a part of him that he knew would never forgive his wife. This was their daughter, no matter what she said, and she left the weight of saying goodbye on his shoulders.
He could only carry so much, though he tried, he really tried to carry them both. But she lost her mind when he took apart the nursery, even though she was the one who wouldn't acknowledge that anything had happened otherwise. She was emotionless, cold. He had no idea when she became so cold.
Divorce was an ugly word, and he didn't want it, not really. He just needed to shock her out of the shell she's buried herself into. But it was like running downhill and once it started, it didn't stop.
There was nowhere to stop. It was just a cliff into a bottomless cliff. And he was left sobbing in the hallways, locked out of the bedroom in the middle of the night. He could hear her crying behind the door, listening until she stopped before he picked the lock and crept into the room he hadn't slept in in months. And she was there, curled up in the closet with his clothes - the ones she's told him to pack, to leave and get out with - and whatever was left of him shattered as he picked her up and carried her to their bed. Her bed, really. It hadn't been theirs for a long time.
It would be again for just one more night. One last one. Maybe they'd wake up and all the broken pieces would suddenly magically fit back together again. He knew before the thought completed that it was useless. They were done.
He hadn't wanted to mean it. If he meant it, the very little that was left of his world disappeared. But in the end, it didn't matter what he wanted. It was done.
Alden had been lounging around most of the day or well most of the weekend to be honest. He dialed back his hours at the hospital a little so that he'd be able to have social interactions and not hide away like a hermit only coming out to hideaway in the hospital for days at a time. Rachel was the first new face he'd seen in a while that the show had cast to join the rest of them, and she was a pretty chill person who was offering him some baked goods, coffee and good conversation, so he figured hanging out would be fun.
Dragging himself out of bed, he put on a tshirt and basketball shorts, feeling like this was more of a casual hangout session and the need to not look like he just rolled out of bed was unnecessary, he grabbed his keys, hopped into his care and headed for Ocean Front. When he arrived, he headed up to her place, knocking to let her know he'd arrived. "Hey, Rachel, it's Alden," he said so that she would know it was indeed the person she had been expecting.
There was a lot to be said for the system of sharing rooms at the Dolloway Institute – while Santana was more than used to having her own space back home, it couldn’t be said that there wasn’t a logical reason for throwing them all together. There was no room for being shy or any sense of modesty when shacked up with five strangers, though Santana had never truly struggled in that sense. She had always been confident of who she was and how she looked.
And then there was how her roommates looked. Santana had taken her time in assessing each one of them, impressed by Mrs Dolloway’s taste when it came to her latest intake. There was Quinn and Silva, both of them beautiful, who had arrived shortly after Santana herself. Jesse, the only male in the bunk (much to his sheer delight, she would imagine) who hadn’t made any misgivings as to his self-anointed Dom status, and then there was Rachel.
Santana knew of Rachel Berry only by sight, but it had been enough to perk her interest. It had been a year since Santana had seen the woman in action on the stage, and Santana had all but forgotten about the performance until now. To perform in front of that many people each night had to take confidence, of that Santana was sure, so she hadn’t been too surprised when Rachel had caught on to their game and invited Santana to meet her in their rooms during lunch. With everybody else either eating or finding their own hideaway to meet up, it provided Santana with the perfect opportunity to really get to know Rachel.
Unbothered with formalities, Santana had dressed down in nothing more than her underwear and an oversized white shirt while waiting for the other girl. Lying prone on one of the bottom bunks with her legs crossed behind her, she flipped idly through the Dolloway brochure while she waited.
