To be Early is to be on Time (Rachel)

[aristotle luna williams]

& I WAKE UP EVERY EVENING
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE
( and it never seems out of place )

]She ran into the studio with a minute to spare. Her dance teacher said she would have to start running laps if she was even a second late again. She bent over and tried to catch her breath. It wasn't even her fault she was late. Erica had her running all over town now with her newly acquired car to pick stuff up like milk for example. After catching her breath, the petite girl pranced herself over to the locker room to change into something more suited for ballet. She liked to dance and all, but she wasn't sure why she had to take ballet of all dancing classes. It was the most demanding and piano already had her developing carpal tunnel in her hands from playing so much. She didn't need to start getting cramps and crap in her feet as well. Erica made her take it as soon as she adopted the girl.

She quickly changed out of her plaid blouse and skinny jeans for a white t-shirt and black leggings. The Converse quickly turned into ballet slippers and her hair went back into a messy bun. She walked out into the floor studio and grabbed her iPod out of her blue monster bag. She waited patiently for a good ten minutes for her teacher. She kept falling asleep slowly and decided her teacher was probably running late because of her kids or something. She would just have to take the authority and warm-up on her own. She plugged her iPod in to the dock and began to stretch. The playlist her teacher had made her quickly got boring and she changed it to her own she had made; it was entitled "Because I Can".

The first song to pop up was Arms by Christina Perri. Her voice made Ari smile inside. She used the bars to stretch out her legs and back and then sat down on the ground to get more a stretch. After a good half an hour, her teacher still wasn't there. She sighed and rolled her eyes. She sped through the whole town for nothing. She shrugged and started to dance around the studio. She started to hum the song and then begin to kind of sing along with it. "I hope that you see right through my walls. I hope that you catch me cause I'm already fallin. I'll never let our love get so close. You put your arms around me and I'm home." She absolutely loved the song. She couldn't get enough of Christina Perri. In fact, she loved a lot of the more 'alternative' rock stuff compared to say, country or rap. Then again, she loved jazz the most. It didn't get enough credit these days.

The song finished out and so did she. After standing there while another song came on, she heard someone enter the room. Wow. She just sung in front of her teacher, didn't she? Oh well. At least it was only her teacher, right? She became skeptical quickly and turned around to see who had joined her.

[/center]

WORDS,, lots
TAGGED,, rachel
OUTFIT,, CLICK
MUSIC,, bleh
NOTES,, ohai
TEMPLATE,, by PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION

[rachel barbra berry]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[atrb=background,http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2937/rach1g.png][scrolly:h(200),w(400),sy] Rachel was pissed, of course she had a right to be, she had missed a good two weeks of practice for swan lake and she was incredibly behind. It was the first time that the doctors had allowed her to get out of the house and do physical activities. Jesse wasn’t as far behind – once he had made sure that she was going to be ok, he would leave every once and a while to make a practice and tell everyone of the status of their Odette. Though she hated the fact that she had to lay down all day, or sit and watch the practices, she had to. If she got herself hurt while she was still healing then the concussion could be even worse than it already was and Rachel didn’t want to be out of the show all together, three years of being Odette would be down the toilet if she lost this part. She was going to be Odette again and not let anyone else take her. Slowly, her fathers drover her to the studio, trying to keep her from doing this practice, telling her the more rest that she had the better that she would end up being in the end product. “I know, but… I can’t miss this much practice and still be able to learn all the steps in time. I do have most of them down, but the last act they changed from last year and I want to have them perfect.” They both seemed wary, but there was no way that Rachel Barbra Berry was going to change her mind on that. As their car slowly made a stop, Rachel grabbed her bag, and was met by both of her fathers as she got out of the car. They slowly hugged her, begging her to be safe and not to hurt herself. They had a right to be worried, but she needed to do this, and she needed to get everything done. “I will, Jesse’s here, I’ll be fine.” Kissing each cheek of both dads, she looked over her shoulder, giving them a small smile before walking into the studio, making her way to the second room – the one specifically for Swan Lake Practices. Rachel was the only one, early wasn’t always a bad thing, it would give her extra time to stretch. Pulling off her baggy shirt, and her sweatpants, she looked at her leotard and pink tights, looking for any imperfections before meandering her was across the room and grabbing her tutu, a very large one at that, being the swan queen always gave her that poofy feeling, with the skirt that had a length that matched her arm span. Letting herself take a seat on the floor, she pulled on her point shoes, having stretched her toes and feet in the car before even arriving. After lacing the pink around her leg, she heard music, oh dear, music that she loved so much. That was another thing that they didn’t want he to do, she didn’t want to keep herself from music but it wasn’t her choice. Slowly stepping out of her studio, she walked to the room down from hers and listened to the voice. A little sharp – and sometimes a bit flat, but in all the girl was good. Rachel waited for the music to stop before she walked in, catching her neighbor singing. “Ari? I didn’t know you danced here?” Rachel walked in and closed the door – it took a moment before she realized that she was still bruised, around her nose, and eye from Santana, and she doubted that the girl knew. Looking down Rachel tried to keep her imperfections from her gaze, “I didn’t know you sang either.” Rachel looked up from the ground and gained composure before continuing. “You don’t have a bad voice, I don’t see why you don’t do new directions. We need new members.” -------- Wc- 655 Tagged- Ari Wearing - clicky [/scrolly]

[aristotle luna williams]

& I WAKE UP EVERY EVENING
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE
( and it never seems out of place )

She turned around to see not her teacher. She saw the brown haired, basically as tall as her girl known as Rachel Berry. Her and Rachel had been neighbors since she'd moved here with Erica. She had been nice to her ever since, but they'd not really "spoken". They would be more of acquaintances than anything else. She said that she didn't know that she danced here and then suddenly looked down. She'd heard that her and one of the more popular girls, Santana had gotten into it and she'd been sent to the hospital. Ari didn't stare because she didn't want to be rude. "Yeah. I've been here since I moved here. No one really knows however." Ari was quiet and didn't really have anyone close at the school. She would not tell anyone about her dancing either way because she thought she wasn't too good at it either.

Then came the bad part. Singing. So, she had heard her sing. Great. "I take lessons, but don't really preform." That should be content for the singing part. However, Rachel began to question her about New Directions and joining. She looked down and felt her face blush, "I'll pass. Don't really like singing in front of people. Bad things happen." Even in a group, she still freaked out and her voice became small and mouse-like. It was not good for anyone's sake, or sanity for that matter.

She tried to think of something to get off the subject about her singing, "So I hear you're doing Swan Lake with Jesse. That's gotta be fun." The big tutu kind of gave it away that she had the lead role. Ari also had in mind that Jesse was doing it as well, so hopefully that would distract her to not say anything else about her singing. She looked back up from the ground and found her gaze staring at her from the previous comment about needing new members. She then glanced up at the clock and found that her dance lesson probably wasn't going to happen today. She didn't see why her teacher did not call her to cancel. This was slightly ridiculous in her eyes. However, if her teacher were to show up by any stretch of the imagination, now would be the time to do it. Better late than never.

That thought brought her to the memory of her mom. Her mom was always saying "to be early is to be on time and to be on time is late". That idea became ingrained in her mind as a small child, but obviously didn't carry her through to this age. Her mother was normally a kind person, but she worked in the restaurant business, so everything had to be perfect all the time. Whenever her room was dirty, she had to clean it immediately. Even if it was a spec of dust, she had to do it all over again. Her father was more of a forgiving figure in life. Strong-willed and talented; she had to get her musical and art skills somewhere, and it wasn't her mom.

[/center]

WORDS,, lots
TAGGED,, rachel
OUTFIT,, CLICK
MUSIC,, bleh
NOTES,, ohai
TEMPLATE,, by PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION

[rachel barbra berry]

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[atrb=background,http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2937/rach1g.png][scrolly:h(200),w(400),sy] What concerned her more than the fact that she saw her neighbor in the same ballet studio, was the fact that the girl had said she had been there for a very long time, in fact that she had been there since she had moved out here. Now Rachel didn’t know much about her, Rachel was usually too into her own music and practicing to really do a lot with her neighbors. The only times she really saw her were in the halls at school and the Oscar Parties that her dads threw once a year. But even then the brunette didn’t talk to her much. Thinking about it, Rachel couldn’t even understand why there wasn’t a lot of communication between the two, they seemed to have a lot in common, well they danced and they sang – even though Rachel knew that her voice was stronger, that Ari’s sound wasn’t awful, that it just needed some fine tuning, then it would be good enough for anything, well for New Directions. “Haven’t you done any recitals..? I’m usually there at all of them, I would have sworn id seen you if you did.” Rachel put a hand on her head and squinted her eyes a bit. Could that really be true? She had been there that whole time? “Who do you take from? If you don’t mind me asking.” Rachel walked in, squeezing her bun a few times almost as a nervous twitch before she closed the door making sure that her costume didn’t get caught in the door. Pulling up en point, she made sure her toes were ok with the shoes, making her almost an inch taller than the girl – which normally didn’t happen. Falling back down onto the balls of her feet she started again, “I work with Mrs. Lilith, she works downtown – lately she hasn’t really thought she needed to tell me anything, but I just love her teaching and playing music for me, usually I just keep everything simple with her – technique and tone.” She had realized that she was rambling and quickly stopped, the last thing that she needed to do was that. If she knew anything about Ari, she wasn’t one to spontaneously start a conversation, unless it was something that she needed to do. Rachel couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow when she said something about bad things happening. “Nothing bad happened when I heard it – you don’t really sing as bad as you think you do, really.” That was a lot for Rachel to say, really. Normally all she would do is agree with them and let them believe that they weren’t very good. That would allow Rachel to stay on top of the list in the talent department, and get all the solos she deserved. But now she realized that if New Directions was going to go anywhere this next year, they needed new members. “if you aren’t happy with your current teacher, you can always come over sometime – I’d happily help you. I also sing at yesterday Café down town.” Rachel put her hand on her cheek, a small smile on her face. Performing was her love and if she got to perform for her, it would just make her happy. As if the girl was trying to change the subject, she brought it back to Swan Lake, then Jesse. “Yeah – Jesse is my Prince.” Rachel sad down going into a split and tried to stretch out her groin. Of course their were mixed feelings about Jesse and Finn, and Everything confused her so much. “Hey can I ask you a question?” Rachel turned to the girl, hoping that she would sit next to her. “I think i' in love with two differnt guys, and i don't know what to do.” she had told Jesse that she loved him, and that was the truth - but she still didn't quite understand her feelings for Finn. -------- Wc- 651 Tagged- Ari Wearing - clicky [/scrolly]

[aristotle luna williams]

& I WAKE UP EVERY EVENING
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE
( and it never seems out of place )

She asked about recitals because she usually goes to all of them. Once again, she looked down, but quickly looked back up. "I'm not much of a performer. I hate being the center of attention and usually end up getting sick or running off stage. The only thing I feel comforatable with is piano." It was a tradgedy really. She was talented in many departments, but decided to keep it all to herself. "I would actually be very surprised if you'd seen me here. I try and keep everything on the down low. I don't like people knowing that I dance or sing." The only thing she actually wanted to be known for were the Converse she designed herself. Her newest ones were a white background with her painting dinosaurs on it. They were very child-like, but adorable at the same time. She enjoyed art, but music a slight more.

Rachel closed the door as she asked who she took lessons from. She hesitated to say, but did anyways, "Mrs. Collins. She's not that well known, but I take piano and flute lessons from her as well." She'd been with her ever since she came here. She and Erica were good friends. Erica was her bridesmade at her wedding and everything. Still doesn't mean that she got discounts or anything. Rachel said that she worked with Mrs. Lilith; she also mentioned that she had nothing to really teach her any longer, but still went to her anyways. "She sounds very nice. And I've heard of her." Ari had heard a lot of names go around the school about lessons and whatnot. She loved Mrs. Collins, but really wanted to meet some of the other teachers around here.

They moved on from teachers and Rachel said that she didn't sing as bad as she thought she did. "Thanks." She didn't really have anything else to say to her. She couldn't really take a compliment about her singing well. Something about her brain just said something like "no". She then said that she could help her if she wanted it. She sang at the Cafe downtown. She nodded, "Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick with art and piano. Singing and dancing can stay secret." She really did like that Rachel had offered to help her out and she didn't want to decline, but singing in front of people would just have to stay locked up. She only did it for being a music major in college. She wanted to be a music therepist when she got out of college. She liked the idea of helping people through music.

She said Jesse was her prince. Ari smiled and sat down with her. "That's nice. I'll have to come see the show." She had never seen Rachel dance, but she'd seen Jesse a few times. And if Rachel had the lead, well, that would mean she must've been amazing. She suddenly stopped and asked if she could ask her a question. She nodded and waited for her to respond. She said that she thought she was in love with two guys and didn't know what to do. Relationship advice. Oh no. She'd been a sheltered child and never had a relationship before. "Well, you gotta think about what you like and don't like. Kind of like a compare, contrast chart. If one guy suits your needs better than the other, than date him. However, if you have very, very strong feelings for the other, than perhaps you should date him. Plus, if things don't work out with one guy, you can try dating the other. It's a choice, not a life changing event. Plus, if you go to college somewhere else, you might meet someone there." There were always things to keep in mind trying to find someone to be the other half. However, the chance of meeting them in high school was slim to none.

[/center]

WORDS,, lots
TAGGED,, rachel
OUTFIT,, CLICK
MUSIC,, bleh
NOTES,, ohai
TEMPLATE,, by PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION

[rachel barbra berry]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[atrb=background,http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2937/rach1g.png][scrolly:h(200),w(400),sy] Maybe they didn’t have a lot in common. It wasn’t something that Rachel was used to when the girl said she didn’t like to perform. She had been doing it since she was a baby – she won her first dance competition when she was a four months old. She had been in many plays, more musicals, hundreds of recitals, thousands of performances, from home, in school, at work – nearly every day Rachel Berry did something performance wise, and without it she wouldn’t be who she was. Though most hated her, and were envious of her because of all the strengths that she had, there wasn’t much that she could do about it. Loving her art, and loving the people she worked with were two different things. She didn’t always have to love who she was working with, but she always loved what she was doing. Not to mention that she loved being the center of attention, it was something that Rachel craved. She was like Tinkerbell, she needed applause to live. “Well maybe the only reason you don’t feel comfortable in doing other things besides the piano is because you don’t believe in your strengths,” Rachel let her hands firmly be placed on her hips. If she didn’t have her dads tell her how wonderful she was, and how great of an actress that she was then she didn’t know if she would ever have made it through her sophomore years, being slushied every day, and having awful tricks and games played on her. If she didn’t know, that she had that star quality in her, she might not have made it to where she was today. “You have to believe you’re good at something…even if you aren’t, or opportunities are lost.” It was something that her dads told her all the time, along with always floss your teeth, and that animals have rights too, they taught her so much. Rachel was concerned when she said she hadn’t seen her before – it was something that she had wanted to have completed for a very long time. Striving to know everyone in the performing community was something that she had done herself, hoping that someday, someone would know somebody else and they would bring up how talented she was, and she would get her big break. Only somehow she had missed this girl. “Well you shouldn’t, something you love shouldn’t be kept in the dark. It smothers it, the only way to make it shine is to let it in the light. You wouldn’t keep a thousand dollar dress in your closet and never wear it would you?” ok – maybe that wasn’t the best analogy, but Rachel hoped that she got the point. Maybe if she let go, she would be happier. Rachel knew if she never let go she would be one sad diva. “I’ve never heard of her.” Rachel commented when Ari had told her who she took vocal lessons from. Normally Rachel would have known who she was talking about, seeing as she had been to almost every teacher in the town of Lima, knowing that the more practice that she got the better she would be. Well that was the thoughts of both of her fathers and herself. “but Lilith is very good – I’ve just been going to her since I was little, so there isn’t much that I can learn from her.” Hinting that Lilith would be very helpful to Ari, “She can get pricey, but if you are willing to spend the money, I would like to say that she is the best teacher in Lima.” Smiling when the girl had said that she had heard of her, Rachel nodded, “Well if you want me to put in a word for you I will.” Aristotle wasn’t good with compliments, and Rachel wasn’t good at giving them – ok that was a lie, she could give a compliment, she just didn’t do it often – maybe this relationship would be a bit easier that she thought. But when the girl declined, Rachel felt a knife stab through her heart. She was looking forward to teaching her, to taking the girl under her wing and making her bloom. “Are you sure…? I mean – you don’t have to go into New Directions right away, but there is nothing more thrilling than hearing someone clap for you, after you spent so long on making a song perfect.” Rachel looked at Ari, “ don’t you want that?” she could understand that she might be scared, but she needed to get over that and Rachel could do that for her. Jesse was literally her prince, that’s what he played in the show. The way he was all over her the entire show made Rachel love the fact that he crooned over her, and in the end went to heaven together, happy. “good! Id love to see you there!” Keeping he ears open she watched as the girl sat next to her and slowly began to take everything in. From what she was saying it seemed that she had made the right choice to choose jesse, but she still felt bad. Standing without a word, she walked over to the piano and ran her fingers along the keys, “Do you know the song Only Hope, by mandy moore?” If she didn’t of course Rachel would sing it herself, accompanied by her own playing, but she wanted to include Ari in, so maybe she would help. She was going to sing her emotions, maybe eventually to jesse. -------- Wc- 911 Tagged- Ari Wearing - clicky [/scrolly]

[/quote]

[aristotle luna williams]

& I WAKE UP EVERY EVENING
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE
( and it never seems out of place )

The shy girl didn't mind that Rachel had joined her, but she just seemed much more outgoing than herself. She was afraid to say anything because she might offend her in some way shape or form. She'd heard rumors around school how high maintenance she could get, but then again, she hated drama and tried to ignore it all. However, the girl usually kept her comments to herself. She hated to hurt other's feelings; it just made her feel all bad and whatnot inside. Rachel began to say that maybe she wasn't comfy with it was because she didn't believe in her strengths. In a nutshell, the girl was right. Ari didn't think she was a good dancer or had a strong voice. The kids in New Directions seemed to have it all together basically. They had shining personalities and spoke their mind. Ari was meek and sheltered. She didn't fit in anywhere really.

She began to speak again saying that she had to believe that she was good at something, even if she wasn't. Then something about opportunities being lost otherwise. Ari nodded in agreement, "I one hundred percent agree with you. I just...I get stage fright easily. The only reason I was singing out was because I didn't think that anyone was around." The only places she sang were in the shower and in her room. Usually anywhere else was crawling with people and she became the turtle that crawled inside its shell like always. Rachel almost looked distraught when Ari had mentioned not seeing herself anywhere; like the girl had to see everyone in the musical world. She mentioned that something you love shouldn't be kept in the dark. Then used an analogy with a dress, but lost her on that since she rarely wore them, but she got the point. "It's just, I only really did singing because I want to be a music therepist when I get a job and grow up. It's a useful skill to have." Her explanation probably wouldn't save her the trouble though. Rachel seemed set on helping her out.

Ari, of course, wasn't surprised when she said she'd never heard of her teacher before. "I didn't expect you too. She's pretty low key and I only take lessons from her because of Erica..." Rewind. She just said Erica instead of mom like usual. She hated people questioning her about her parents, so she just stuck with Erica was her mother and her father ran off because the two never officially married. Most people bought it, but others were skeptical, but went along with it anyways. She continued on about Lilith and her being pricey , but being the best in Lima and mentioned putting in a good word for her if she wanted. Ari smiled, "Thank you, but not really on the rich end of things." The house she lived in was nice, but no where near what she lived in when she lived in Italy. Her parents were rich. They gave her a trust fund that she could open up when she turned eighteen for paying of the college persuasion.

The girl seemed almost sad when she declined her help. She said that she didn't have to do New Directions right away if she didn't want to. Ari thought it over once again. It couldn't hurt to maybe have one person other than her teacher to help her out, right? "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt. Alright. I accept. However, the New Directions thing will be far, far away from now." She would have to get comfortable singing in front of one person for the time being. Rachel was her best bet to getting over her fear at the moment, so she took it.

Ari's comment about going to see Swan Lake made Rachel's face seem to glow. She suddenly stood up and went over to the piano. Ari followed and Rachel had asked if she knew a song by Mandy Moore. Ari shook her head, "Nope." She was sure that she would sing it for her though. Then again, she didn't mind. She liked hearing new songs and having others sing that liked to. If it was their passion, than why stand in their way?

[/center]

WORDS,, lots
TAGGED,, rachel
OUTFIT,, CLICK
MUSIC,, bleh
NOTES,, ohai
TEMPLATE,, by PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION

[rachel barbra berry]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[atrb=background,http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2937/rach1g.png][scrolly:h(200),w(400),sy] Rachel didn’t really understand the stage fright that everyone besides her seemed to have. It was something that didn’t come to her. She did get butterflies sometimes, but really that wasn’t stage fright, it was more fear of the song, or the lack of perfection, not the stage. Sometimes she would lay on the stage, late at night and just look up at the ceiling, trying to find something scary about the stage. But every time she looked at the lights, and the billowing flow of the curtains, all she could feel was the perfect calm that she felt when she was at home, or with Jesse. She was safe in theatre, and she loved it. “Stage fright is in the mind.” Rachel started, trying to understand it as she was explaining it, “What my acting coaches told me, well before I knew I wasn’t afraid of the stage, was that no one out in the audience is looking for you to fail. I’ve realized that there will always be that one person who does, but the other people care.” She shugged, “that’s why they came to see you – or the show, they want to see you rise, and if you don’t then they will still clap – they realize you are only human.” It was only partly true, seeing as Rachel knew there were people who came after and watched her, just to boo her – but you had to ignore those ones, or you lose the love and passion for what you were doing. “I personally love singing for people – the look on their face and the clapping – it’s just something that you fall in love with.” There was a spark in Rachel’s eye that faded as she came back to Ari as she spoke about the only reason she sings was because of what she wants to be when she’s out of high school. “Well-“ having a tough time really trying to figure out what to say to her “That’s a great path to choose.” She knew that if Ari realized the love and the happiness that comes from performing, and she worked hard for the perfect tone and pitch, then she would be good – maybe future captain material. But every time Rachel started on something, Aristotle was onto the next topic, which she didn’t mind much, it was just something that she wasn’t used to. “Erica?” Rachel had heard something about her past – more that she was adopted, but really ari’s past was very hidden – and that was something that she did well. Now when she remembered the house that she lived in, it wasn’t the most expensive on the street, that was usually given to the Berry’s. “Well my dads only give me the best, or they try. They see what I like to call starlight – so they have been honing everything inside since then.” She ran her hands across her stomach, felling her fingers move against the soft fabric. With big doe eyes, Rachel nearly begged her to let her help. Something inside her begged her to just turn everything inside out and wipe her clean – making her extremely perfect. Once the girl nodded, agreeing and telling her that it would be ok, Rachel nearly jumped for joy, a big smile locked on her face, “Great! Whenever you have time, make your way over, and we will work downstairs.” Rachel happily walked over to the piano, and once the girl had told her that she didn’t know it, she shrugged, “First lesson.-“ nimble hands fell onto the keys, “Either have the sheet music or be able to play any song that you may sing. And number two -” She brought her eyes up to the girl, “Always sing to someone – from in here.” Rachel gently placed her hand on her heart before she turned back to the piano, letting the gentle melody disperse throughout the room before she closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath and singing for Jesse – she really wished he was here to hear this for her. “There's a song that's inside of my soul It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again I'm awake in the infinite cold But You sing to me over and over and over again” Rachel opened her eyes looking at the girl before looking back to the mirror then the keys,” So I lay my head back down And I lift my hands and pray to be only Yours I pray to be only Yours, I know now you're my only hope.” There was a small music interlude before she continued, “Sing to me the song of the stars Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again When it feels like my dreams are so far Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again.” All she could feel was Jesse when she closed her eyes and sang the chorus again. It gave her passion, and feeling. “ I give You my destiny –“ She simply connected with the music, hitting each note flawlessly. She knew that the highest note of the song, which wasn’t difficult, but it was there needed to be hit on lungs. “I'm giving You all of me I want Your symphony Singing in all that I am At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back.” Rachel looked pained as she sang – but it was just the love for the music that did it to her. “ So I lay my head back down And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours I pray to be only yours I pray to be only yours I know now you're my only hope” She let the music fade, and let herself hum the song to a finish. There was movement outside the door and Rachel stood, looking around the piano. After a moment, it was gone. Maybe it was Jesse, maybe it wasn’t Rachel just looked to Ari and smiled gently. -------- Wc- 1001 Tagged- Ari Wearing - clicky [/scrolly]

[/quote]

[aristotle luna williams]

& I WAKE UP EVERY EVENING
WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE
( and it never seems out of place )

Rachel tried to explain to her that stage fright was all in the mind. Ari knew that it was a psychological deal because of her psychology classes. It was more than 'just in the mind though'. It was a state of mind that was hard to over come for most people. She didn't fear big crowds, she just hated singing in front of them. She started explaining what her acting coaches had taught her. That the people in the audience aren't looking for you to fail, but watch you succeed. She mentioned there would always be that one person, but the others wanted to see you rise. If you don't, they will still clap because in the end, everyone is human. Ari smiled after her little speech. She felt more encouraged now, "Thank you Rachel. That was very insightful." She'd never had more than a three second conversation with the girl, but she seemed smart in all. And this proved she was smart in the musical ways of life.

She added that she loved singing for people and then they clapped. It was just something that you fell in love with. She smiled knowing how she felt after playing piano for a large audience. "I know what you mean with the clapping and all. I love making people happy with my piano playing. It's just a feeling you can't forget." She could tell Rachel was kind of ambushed on Ari's plans after high school. She said that it was a great path to choose. "It's one of those jobs that don't get enough credit. I shadowed someone and found it interesting." She'd shadowed a regular therepist as well, but it was boring.

Her slip-up about Erica tripped Rachel up. How was she supposed to explain that to her? "Well, I'm adopted, so it happends every now and then." Wow. She just told her that. No matter, she felt comforatable around her. "Just don't go spreading it around school please." Ari didn't really talk at school, so she tended not to slip up on the whole mom verus Erica deal. When she was in a different enviornment, like the ballet studio, it was different and she felt more comforatable talking about her like that. No matter, she wasn't going to go tell Rachel her life story. She liked her past hidden and that wasn't going to change.

Rachel mentioned that her dads tried to give her the best. That's right. She did have two fathers. That made Ari smile inside. She felt that gays were the best kind of people ever. They were always so nice and sweet. She'd never met a bitter gay. She had heard about Kurt around school a lot, but she'd never actually talked to him. She kind of wanted to meet him and hug him. Ari then noticed a shift in Rachel's mood when she'd agreed to let her help her out. The first lesson was to always have the sheet music. And number two was to sing to someone from the heart. With that, she placed her hand on her heart and then went back to the piano. She'd never been in a relationship before or anything close to one. Who exactly was she supposed to sing to? She wouldn't bother her with these questions because once again, that's a little more background information on her she didn't want spread around.

Rachel began singing the song. Ari didn't know the song, but the way Rachel sounded, it sounded amazing. Ari could tell that she really sang from the heart and had so much emotion behind it all. After the song finished, she looked up at Ari and smiled. Ari smiled back, "You're very good." That's all she really had to say to her at the moment. She couldn't think of anything to comment on or anything about the song. She was entranced by the sound of her voice and the piano meshing together as one.

[/center]

WORDS,, lots
TAGGED,, rachel
OUTFIT,, CLICK
MUSIC,, hypnotize - system of a down
NOTES,, ohai
TEMPLATE,, by PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION

[rachel barbra berry]

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[atrb=background,http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2937/rach1g.png][scrolly:h(200),w(400),sy] Even though Rachel didn’t seem to personally understand the Stage Fright issue, she had seen many of the kids that she used to work with had the terrible fear of completely losing it on stage. Maybe it was the fact that Rachel had been on the stage since nearly the day she was born. Her fathers told her that the first place that they took her was the stage, then to their place of worship. Of course they took her home right after that, but not until after they had united the performing world with their daughter. “Thanks” Rachel said simply, giving the girl an award winning smile. Even though she felt bruised still, her makeup did wonders for her. Ari continued, speaking in her soft manor that she always had. It had surprised Rachel that they hadn’t really spoken. Though truthfully she could understand way, but it just upset her that she had let such a girl just sit in the house beside them and come over once a year. Rachel listened to her speak and nodded along, “And its such a wonderful feeling all you can do is sit and listen. Close your eyes and feel how happy that you make the crowd. It’s the smiles on their faces that really get me going.” Rachel laughed, “ And the little girls here that look up to me, and want to be Odette when they are my age. It’s just so cute.” A light blush came across her face and then she sighed happily. She loved it, so much. “Well someone has to do it.” It wasn’t until after that she realized that she could have annoyed the girl, that wasn’t what she had wanted to do, but it came out that way. “As long as you love it I guess, right?” Rachel shrugged and ran her hand across her other arm, “Im making my way to Broadway as soon as I can. I just love my acting so much. I’ll make it big out there, and everyone who has ever told me I can’t will see that they never saw the actual Rachel Berry.” When their Glee club had gone to New York it had sealed the deal for her. She loved it way to much to let it go. “If you really want to think about it, so am i.” Rachel looked over at Ari, she didn’t want the girl to feel bad that she didn’t have her biological parents, because, truthfully, Rachel didn’t have all of her family with her either. “My mother.” Rachel started, playing with her fingers, “ She was the Coach for Vocal Adrenaline, in Akron. I wouldn’t have met her if it wasn’t for Jesse, but it ended up that she didn’t want a relationship with me.” The story was there to help, or at least that is what Rachel told herself, “She came into my life and then told me that she would rather not have a close relationship. My mother didn’t want a teen, she wanted her baby back.” It always hurt the girl deep when she thought about it, but of course, she didn’t tell anyone about it. “and I won’t tell anyone – I promise.” She didn’t have a reason to tell about her parents, nor would she want to. it wasn’t as if Rachel didn’t love her dads though, they were everything to her, they were her moon, and her stars, and the grass beneath her feet. The song in her heart and the kick in her step all came from them and how she was raised. Some would say that coming from two dads would take the family dynamic away from what a child would normally get – and to an extent that was true – but Rachel had so much more than kids in other families got. If fact, Rachel was spoiled and an only child that was loved to pieces; that is something that every parent should strive for. Once she had brought the keys to a full stop, all she could think about is Jesse, and his hands, and everything perfect about him which she loved. “Thank you.” Rachel smiled, playing a few chords before speaking again. “Usually I sing to someone I love.. My fathers, my mother, my boyfriend…” Jesse, her mind whispered, “But sometimes you cant sing to them, so you sing for them, but if that still isn’t an option,” eyes fell on Ari, “ you sing for a purpose, without a purpose the whole song is flat even if you hit every single note.” She was serious, but gentle. “Now.” She smiled, “ What will you sing?” There wasn’t a falter in her words, there wasn’t a choice, Rachel would make that girl sing. -------- Wc- 789 Tagged- Ari Wearing - clicky [/scrolly]