Those Ocean Eyes

Chapter 43

"Hey. Just checking in to make sure you're holding up OK?" Cassie asks, and Rachel's chin starts to tremble all over again.

"I'm fine," she manages to choke out, because maybe Cassie cares about her after all.

"So, what's the verdict?" Cassie ventures, "Are we front page news? Are they being all kinds of inappropriate?"

"They mostly just want to know what you're like in bed," Rachel informs her, neglecting to mention that a significant portion of the student body reportedly already knows.

"Well, I hope you told them I'm a bona fide Sex Goddess," Cassie jokes, and Rachel can imagine her wry smile.

"Actually, I told them to mind their own business."

"Well, that works, too." Cassie laughs, and Rachel's lips quirk in response. "So, am I still the biggest bitch in NYADA's history, or did someone else steal my crown?"

"I think your legacy's safe for now," Rachel murmurs, hoping her tone doesn't sound as strained as it feels.

Cassie hesitates, and there's a note of trepidation in her voice when she asks, "How do you like your new dance teacher?"

"I don't," Rachel says bluntly, "To say she's past her prime would be an understatement. The lesson was tedious and unimaginative, and she's not..." Rachel wonders if she should say it - if it sounds too clingy – but it slips out anyway, "She's not you."

"Well, you know what they say," Cassie concludes, and her tone is soft now, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

Rachel nods her agreement, but she can't withhold a hitching sob, because she's starting to think that it's only a matter of time before Cassie walks away from her for good.

"Hey! Are you crying?" Cassie demands, and Rachel sucks in a shaky breath.

"No! Don't be silly. I told you, I'm fine."

"It's a good job you can act better than you can lie, Schwimmer," Cassie informs her, and Rachel bites her lip, desperately trying to get a hold on her emotions.

"You could always... come over tonight. I mean, if you don't have other plans?" Cassie asks her haltingly, and Rachel's palms immediately start to perspire.

"Do you even have to ask?" she manages to say, swallowing back a fresh onslaught of tears, because surely Cassie wouldn't be seeking out her company if she didn't enjoy spending time with her?

"Well, I thought you might need more time to recover from yesterday's escapades, and I'd hate to stand between you and your homework," Cassie drawls, tongue firmly in cheek.

"You're talking to the girl who used to juggle Glee rehearsals, dance classes, voice coaching and an intensive fitness regime, all the while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I think I'll manage."

"OK, Schwimmer, you can stop reciting your NYADA application now. I get the drift," Cassie says dryly. "Stop by around six thirty and I'll... attempt to rustle up some food, or something."

"I thought you didn't do stuff like that?" Rachel can't help but tease, because she's feeling a little emboldened by Cassie's offer.

"We're not talking a candlelit meal for two, Schwimmer. But I think I can stretch to a tofu stir-fry."

Cassie always has to scrape the icing off her cake, but Rachel smiles in spite of herself. Right now, she'll take what she can get.

"That sounds great," she proclaims, hoping she doesn't seem too enthusiastic.

"OK, then. I'll catch you later. I'm heading out to flash some leg and bat my eyelashes at a few people in the hopes of palming off these flyers and booking a decent dance studio."

"Good luck," Rachel tells her earnestly, and she can sense Cassie smiling on the other end of the receiver.

"Thanks. Oh, and Schwimmer?" Cassie says, and her voice is low and warm, "Keep your chin up, OK? They'll find something else to gossip about soon."

"I hope so," Rachel tells her tremulously. "See you tonight."

When she hangs up the phone, she's grinning from ear to ear, and her faith is restored... albeit momentarily.

Her happiness doesn't last for long, though. At lunch time, she's summoned to Carmen Tibideaux's office, and she waits in the foyer, wringing her hands. She knows she owes this woman everything - that her life would have taken a completely different turn if Carmen hadn't given her a second chance - but right now, she's so mad at her for firing Cassie, she doesn't know how she's going to be civil. When Carmen's PA shows her into the sprawling office, Rachel tries to tone down her glare, aiming for a look of mild disdain instead.

"Miss Berry," Carmen says, gesturing to the chair across from her, "Take a seat."

Rachel lowers herself primly into the ornate oak chair, folding her hands in her lap. The silence stretches on for what seems like an eternity, and she gets the impression that Carmen's trying to intimidate her.

"I know how hard you worked to earn your place at NYADA, and there's no denying that you're one of the most talented students here," Carmen informs her, with a tight-lipped smile.

"Thank you," Rachel says stiffly, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"But I would hate to see you jeopardise what looks to be a very promising career by getting involved with someone who doesn't have your best interests at heart," Carmen pointedly concludes.

Rachel meets her penetrating gaze without flinching. "With all due respect, Miss Tibideaux, that's not going to happen. I don't allow my relationships to effect my work ethic."

"Be that as it may, being surrounded by negativity isn't good for the soul," Carmen observes, and Rachel can't take the faintly-veiled aspersions anymore.

"And firing the best dance teacher this school's ever had isn't good for your students, either," she snaps, and Carmen raises her eyebrows.

"That would be the same dance teacher you claimed was 'making your life a living hell' after she threw you out of class?" Carmen reminds her, and Rachel ducks her head.

"I'm not going to deny that Miss July has been known to... tow the line on occasion, but I've been taking dance lessons since I was old enough to walk – I thought my technique was beyond reproach – and she made me realise that I still have so much to learn, that there's still room for improvement." Rachel takes a moment to swallow around the lump in her throat. "So yes, at times she pushed me to my limits, but she's made me better than I've ever been before, and I don't... I don't see how that's a bad thing."

"It's not," Carmen assures her, but then she leans forward, folding her arms across the desk, "Providing you're not being taken advantage of."

"Miss Tibideaux, I appreciate your concern, I really do, but Cassandra doesn't work here anymore and what I choose to do on my own time is... is frankly none of your business," Rachel informs her, doing her best to stand her ground in the face of Carmen's unrelenting scrutiny.

"Then it appears that I may have underestimated your intelligence, Miss Berry," Carmen concludes, heaving a resigned sigh, "Because I thought you were a hell of a lot smarter than that."

The words sting, but Rachel just offers Carmen a brusque nod.

"May I be excused?" she asks, and Carmen waves her hand dismissively.

"Go. Just know that I'm going to be watching you very closely from now on, and you'd better pray that your standards don't start to slip."

"They won't," Rachel informs her resolutely, but her knees are shaking when she clambers to her feet.