one big chance

Eli looked at Rachel with a slightly confused but somewhat amused expression on her face. “Not to burst your bubble… but I did think we were heading to the studio so that I could accompany on that song you needed to practice…” she trailed off, realizing that Rachel was completely transfixed with the idea of puppies now. Her eyes widened at the tug on her sleeve, but eventually she just decided to give in. Puppies were cute right? They even reduce anxiety, so she read somewhere anyway. “Fine, I’ll go with you to the puppies but… do you still need an accompnist for afterwards or have I lost you to this festival for the rest of the day? Because if that’s the case, I am hitting up the food trucks after we see the puppies.”

“is it bad that i want to spend all of my time at the pets playground?” rachel thought out loud as she turned the brochure upside down, drying to find her way around the drawing of a map. “i have not even seen it, i just heard a bunch of kids shouting with excitement about it... maybe i’m just very easily influenced but now all i care about is the puppies!” her voice reached an higher pitched as she spoke with enthusiasm. she pulled on the sleeve of the person by her side, trying her best attempt at puppy eyes. “do you want to come with me? say yes, please!” 

location: brittany’s dance studio

time: lunch

tagging: @brittzpierce​

All work and no play makes Ely a dull and sleepy thing. Anything going on around these parts worth checking out? A girl can’t subsist on wine and Animal Crossing alone.

@pretendingstarters​

“rach, you can never handle anything under 40 degrees, i swear,” the blonde teased with a head shake and eye roll. “just be thankful that spring is coming soon, which means that summer is right around the corner. and you know what that means, miss wrong side of the bed,” she laughed as she nudged her friend.

“okay, fine, that is correct, but still! my point is valid!” she declared, only to laugh at how seriously she was taking the situation. “it means... that i will complain the city is too hot so i’ll go on trips in the hamptons but then i will miss the city so i’ll be back and i will enter this never ending loop. i can’t be that far from the right answer!” 

jesse laughed, a sharp exhale through his mouth leaving a small cloud of fog. he understood exactly where rachel was coming from, hands pushed deep into the pockets of his coat. “don’t apologize, your complaint was more than valid. i bring an umbrella with me everywhere but i never use it, no matter how much it rains, because it’ll just blow away.” 

“You look comfortable, at least. Maybe you have the knack for weather prediction, and you just haven’t realized it yet.” Kirin glanced down at what he’d chosen to wear that day, jeans and short sleeves. “Dress for the weather you want. That’s my policy.” He kicked at a rock in front of him, nudging it out of the way as he mumbled, “Probably why my nipples are freezing off.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he frowned slightly. “So… any reason you’ve got the grumps?”

“I get what you mean..” She returned with a shrug. A small smile graces her face as she listens. “I don’t mind though. The snow…it makes the place look beautiful, you have to admit.” Brushing the hair from her eyes, Kenzie shoved her hands deep into her pockets, glancing around. “it’s all good. What else should I expect when I’m more focused on getting my coffee.” 

“hey, i think i’ve heard worse things from you, so you don’t have to worry.”  despite the small eye roll that follows, there’s a good natured smile on his face: though, he’s rarely seen without one. her words make him pull his coat a little tighter around him though, a sudden chill, real or imagined, hitting him. “at least ohio had a little more stable weather, i guess. i’m still not used to this after three years.”

With previews almost within touching distance, they’d finally moved into the theatre, and Frank had spent the last week filling his dressing room with as many pictures of Gideon as he could manage. There were a few shots of his mom and dad, too, and even one of him and Vincent when they were younger – and plenty of photos of the show’s cast, arms around each other, laughing, or faces serious as they rehearsed. But almost as important to him as the photos of his son were the shots of him and Rachel, some candid, some professional, and some stupid selfies. She was his friend, officially, and those photos celebrated their friendship. But Frank knew exactly what they were doing as he walked the halls of the theatre from his dressing room to hers, once again looking forward to spending an evening eating and flirting with the woman he was almost certain he loved. And who he could only hope would love him back.

Frank settled down as Rachel went off to collect their food, taking a moment to look around Rachel’s dressing room. It was more homely than his, and undoubtedly more comfortable – though Frank was considering installing a hammock in his room if he could find one that would fit. He was looking around for places to hang a hammock in Rachel’s room as she finally reappeared, with a wide smile on her face that… didn’t feel quite right.

Watching her as she plated up their food, Frank decided to let her speak first – knowing that Rachel would explain when she was ready to do so. If there was anything he’d learnt about Rachel, it was that she was stubborn, and she ran on her own schedule. So he waited, taking the food from her with a murmur of ‘thanks’. “You may be small, but you’re not as subtle as you think you are,” he teased ,grabbing the chopsticks and popping some chicken into his mouth. He didn’t mind sharing with Rachel. He’d share anything with her.

Finally, though, she decided to start sharing with him. He tilted his head a little, still watching her carefully. “Sorry for what? Stealing the food? Because I knew and I let it happen,” he joked, hoping to lighten the atmosphere. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

the brunette chuckled lightly, but grew quiet again. “but, speaking of subtlety...” she started spiralling. rachel looked up to study the man’s face, but she started feeling dizzy at the second they locked eyes. everything around their table, some old furniture from a previous play that she technically speaking stole to make her dressing room cozier, was spinning fast. she could have played pretend for a longer period of time. she had done so for many years already, a few more days, weeks or even months would not change much. all she would need to do is avoid being close to him whenever there were cameras or influential acquaintances around. easier said than done. the stakes were incredibly high and the longer she lied, the bigger would be the fall from her pedestal. 

“i’m in a relationship with rupert.” the words were sharper than a blade as they came out of her mouth, her voice filled with disdain. disdain towards the situation she got herself into when she agreed to this whole masterplan, blinded by the fame and the spotlight; but also disdain towards what she had put frank into. 

her boyfriend came home, one night. rachel was reviewing her text, sitting by the record player that filled the empty loft with soft melodies. it all happened like a movie scene. he smelled of whiskey and feminine perfume. his clothes were wrinkled and his neck covered in lipstick marks. he looked terrible, but he sounded so poised as he asked her the fatal question. she did not need to speak, he understood by the way expression darkened. rupert’s dream was being shattered by his biggest nightmare. she could not even tell if it affected him at all, because he acted the exact same the next day during rehearsals. he just watched them from the corner of the room, exchanging a knowing look with her and cutting them before they hit one of the several kiss scenes of the play. he gave himself the permission to do as he pleased, outside of their couple, and she was doing the same. 

rachel’s mind played flashbacks of that moment, but also tortured her with the fresh memories frank and she had built together. it was new. it was better, no, it was the best she ever had. it felt as though fate had put them together, but reality was doing everything it could to pull them apart. there was no way she would let this happen. francis was worth fighting for, she had known it since their first kiss. she was not her only priority when she was with him, but she still acted as if her feelings were the only thing the entire world revolved around. if she had not been so selfish, she would have ended it all with her boyfriend. and she would have started this blooming connection on fair ground. 

“it’s purely a non-public publicity stunt. we both benefit from it. he gets to take profit from the media’s hype around us and i... i get the leads in most of his plays without competing with anyone else. that’s how i got this role.” she swallowed thickly, trying to stop the flow of words that rushed their way out. oh, the things she did out of insecurity. despite the praise and compliments she earned from critics and other performers, she was well aware she was not the only special star up in the sky. even worse, rachel knew how prestigious campion’s recent project was. it seemed like a springboard to the tony’s. only then, she ignored that she would obtain something much better than an award by getting the part, she did not know she would find love. “i was so wrong. everything is wrong. i am such an idiot.” 

location: rachel’s dressing room.

time: evening.

tagging: @franksleone​​

“it smells delicious, don’t you think?” rachel had glued a grin to her lips from the moment her colleague had stepped foot in her changing room. she thought that by acting normal, the atmosphere would be normal too. she was a great actress, but a terrible liar and even the delivery guy from the chinese restaurant saw through the façade. he grabbed her cash with a suspicious glance and let her carry the multiple boxes all the way to her room. she could swear she heard her nervous sigh echoing in the theatre as she hurried her way back to frank.

she had every reason to be nervous. it was not their first date, she even lost count of how many dinners they attended together. this one was different. every time they went out together, her heart would be filled with happiness, her head with worries and guilt. when she first met frank, it was like he transported her in this whole other universe. it felt natural, it felt mysterious, the novelty that he brought to her life kept her awake at night, rolled to the opposite side of rupert, her boyfriend, and texting him until the moon switched places with the sun. she found herself craving to spend more time with frank, denying every invitation rupert offered. he did not look too bothered by her absence, but rather her absent presence, if that made any sense. during breakfast, she went mute and fell into her reverie. during their commute to the theatre, she would look outside the window and hope to lock eyes with a familiar face.  as they rehearsed, she could barely hear his advice. the sound of frank’s voice was all she could listen to.

she was intrigued by this talented actor, but even more so about this endearing person. he deserved better, in terms of honesty. they both deserved better. she made up her mind that today was the day where she faced her fears, and her guilt.

she unfolded the small box of orange chicken and crossed her legs underneath the small table, so it could stop from shaking. “i made sure to order your favorite! so that i can steal some from you when you’re not looking.” she broke the chopsticks and started to dig in her food, although, as soon as she brought the first bite to her mouth, she lost her appetite. there was tension in the room, and not the type of tension that would have her rip his clothes off right here and there. she tried to speak again, no word seemed to want to come out. she took a long and deep breath. she could do it. she owed him an explanation. and he would understand, right? that kind of thing happened to everybody. he would forgive her and everything would be fine again. he would give her the time she needed to fix the mess she created and they would be happier than ever. but first, she had a lot to say to him.

“i might have lived in the city my whole life, but there is one thing i will never get used to. the weather.” rachel leaned towards the person by her side and gave them an apologetic smile as she fixed her coat. “you never know what to expect! are you going to end all squeezed up in the subway because it’s raining or will you freeze to death when it starts snowing?” she had nothing to complain about, considering she would most likely ask to use the private limo of the theater, but, she was at least trying to be relatable. “i’m sorry about that, i think i woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”

CHARACTER INTRODUCTION (task 001).

☆ did you hear the rumor? RACHEL BERRY has been spotted in the big apple! SHE is 25 y-o and works as a BROADWAY PERFORMER. some things never change, because SHE is still ambitious but also self-centered. psst! we did our research and found out that SHE is secretly dating rupert campion despite not being in love with him so she can get the main parts in his plays. i wonder how long RACH will play pretend! ☆ {lea michele, glee character}.

hiiiii! admin L here. i’m so excited to interact with all of you! IM me if you have questions, if you need more informations or if you want to plot!