Summary: It's Rachel's birthday and shes spending a very boring day at work
Rachel was bored.
It was August, and it seemed to her that everyone else in her office was off doing something ridiculously fun or interesting, while she was obliged to stay and work just because her boss thought the entire department couldn't be on vacation at the same time.
The bastard was probably frying in the sun in some paradisiacal island somewhere while she sat alone looking at her blank computer screen not knowing if she should curse or thank the gods whenever the phone rang.
Fighting the urge to pull out her nail file, she tried to concentrate on more interesting matters, namely her boyfriend. Better yet, his plans for tonight.
Finn had promised her that she'd have an unforgettable birthday, and although the morning had been memorable, she'd gotten the impression from the glint in his eyes that he had something else planned for tonight. But try as she might, Rachel hadn't been able to get him to tell her what his plans were.
Come to think about it, she hadn't even gotten him to admit that he had any plans.
Maybe she was reading too much into it. There was nothing wrong with breakfast in bed for a birthday surprise, right? It was memorable, especially with what came afterwards. And she had adored the little teddy bear he had gotten her as a present.
The sudden ring of the phone brought her out of her thoughts.
"ENTR Enterprises, good morning.
This is Rachel Berry. No, he's not in. He'll be back on the 23rd. May I take a message? Yes. Ok, I'll let him know. Have a nice holiday. Good morning to you too."
She put down the phone pondering the unfairness of being stuck alone at work with nothing to do on her birthday. Maybe she should call Finn to see what he was doing. He had the day off today since he had just come out of a 72-hour shift last night.
Picking up the phone, she first called home. When no one picked up the phone, she dialed his cell number. Voice mail. Now seriously. He can't even pick up the phone? Was this some kind of conspiracy to make her suffer on what was supposed to be her day?
Giving up all pretences that she was trying to be a good employee when she really had nothing to do, Rachel picked up her purse and started fishing for her nail file.
In what seemed like 3 hours later, but was in fact only twenty minutes, her nails were perfectly filed, and shiny, and she was again with nothing to do.
After deciding that no one would call her with any work that actually required her being in her desk, she forwarded her calls to her cell phone, and went into the filing room. If she had to spend the day there, she might as well be doing something productive. And rearranging the filing system would provide her with something to do that required no thinking.
Two and half hours and one phone call from security regarding a delivery which was placed at her desk later, Rachel decided she was satisfied enough with her progress at the filing system before lunch and could go back to her desk.
A chill came up her spine as she walked back through the corridors. She had the distinct sensation that she was being watched, and although the feeling wasn't altogether unpleasant, she was certain that there could not be anyone else in this floor.
