A/N: Chapters will alternate between the points of view of Finn and Rachel. Super thanks to Written Sparks, my beta. Reviews and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.

Finn:

Tuesday after school Quinn and I head to the cafeteria for those coffee-smoothie things I can never remember the name of. She's got this cat-like smile on her face and I wonder what she's thinking. With Rachel, I could always tell what she was thinking, mostly because she told me. But Quinn is different. She's sly and clever. And she feels so good, so fresh, so new, even though she's nothing but new to me. But I shouldn't think about that now. The sun is glaring in from the windows and I think about this weekend, shifting my eyes away from the windows and onto her face. Maybe we should go on a picnic, get away from it all.

"They're frappuccinos, Finn, for the hundredth time," she says without bitterness in her honey smooth voice. "So, here's what I'm thinking. You and I are a shoo-in for prom king and queen. Everyone knows it, but we have to start actively campaigning. We're already back on top, we just have to make sure everyone knows it. Get our names out there with no… misconceptions."

Huh? Misconceptions? But I nod anyways as she talks ceaselessly. I don't want to hear any more about Rachel and I have a feeling that's what she means. Right now, she seems very fragile, very sensitive, and I think the best thing I can do is agree with whatever she wants. And what Quinn wants is what I want. I think. At least it should be, right?

"You and I are the brand new Finn and Quinn, and everyone needs to know. So I've started drafting homecoming posters. But not those cheesy glittery handmade ones. Those are for losers. I'm working on some graphics for our posters. They'll look professional, trust me. Nationals won't be for a while but prom is coming up super quick and we need to be prepared. Fabson!" she says excitedly.

What the hell? "Fabson?" I manage, as we near the Glee room. I can hear bubbly chatter from inside. Everyone is still super excited about the sectionals win and probably already discussing Nationals in New York. Hell, it's New York! I remembered singing Empire State of Mind at the beginning of this year. It felt so far away then, but now it's really going to happen.

"It's us, babe! Fabray-Hudson? I've been talking about it for a week now. It's part of our campaign. Don't you ever listen to me?" Quinn gives me a "we'll talk about it later look" which means I know she'll put it off for now but nag me later. The truth is, sometimes I don't always listen to her, and a quarter of the time I don't understand half of what she says. And half the time I just don't pay attention.

She swings open the door to the Glee room and removes her sunglasses. We take seats in the second row, far left, and Quinn fluffs out her blonde hair and arranges her curls. She takes my hand in hers and smiles almost angelically.

Mr. Schuester walks in, and he's as hyper as the rest of the group. It's as if everyone has yet to come down from the high of winning. He takes a moment to stare the super awesome trophy that's being temporarily housed in here before turning his full attention to us. They're moving it to a trophy case in the hall later this week, but they have to make room for it or something.

"Okay guys. I can't tell you enough how proud I am of you all for stepping it up to write the songs you did." Mr. Shuester gushes happily. He smiles broadly and his gestures are all over the place in excitement. He looks like a teenager as everyone whoops and claps. I know how they feel. It's like when I went from football god to glee dork. But all of our hard work has paid off. No one can bring us down, no one.

"We won because they came from the heart and they were personal to all of us. No one else had that. Sure, we call all identify with songs we hear on the radio, but they don't say what's in our hearts for each of us. And that's why we won, because we made it intimate and personal."

"So, this week is going to be a kind of break for us. I think we should decide as a group if we want to write more original songs or not for Nationals, but I'd like everyone to think about it and we'll talk about it next week. This week's theme is Triumph." He writes it on the board capital blue letters.

My eyes dart over to Rachel. I can't help but remember how she looked at me when she sang "Good Enough." Quinn was pissed about it, for sure, but I thought it was great. Rachel is being unusually quiet and it's almost scary. I seal another glance at her and think about how for someone who should be so happy she looks so sad.

"Winning! Something that doesn't happen for us very often. And something that I hope will happen more. However you spell Triumph, whether it be victory or winning, success or the start of something new, or feeling special, find a song that embodies triumph to sing this week." He looks directly at Rachel as he says the last part and I can swear that Quinn's eyes narrow. But in a flash she's back to normal, rubbing her nails lightly over my arm and it gives me the shivers.

"Wait," Brittany asks softly as she plays with her headband. "Triumph and winning are spelled the same way?" Santana knocks her in the arm as Mr. Shuester ignores them. Those two have been acting pretty weird lately, I think. Artie puts his arm around Brittany and pulls her a little closer.

"I want everyone to sing this week. So pair up or do a solo. But I want to hear what triumph means to each and every one of you. Celebrate your win! That's it guys!"

"Awesome!" Artie says loudly. "Me and my girl are gonna hit up Breadsticks."

"Yeah baby!" She trills, wheeling him out with a strut. I wonder if this means that Quinn will want to talk to me about prom again. Maybe I can get out of it. Sam and Puck are chatting about something, and I strain to listen.

But she's back on it already. "So what song do you want to do? I was thinking Rhythm of Love, or All In. Ooh, what about Life After You?" Her eyes are large and round, and she's staring at me expectantly. As if I could come up with a choice fifteen seconds after the assignment is announced.

"But those aren't about winning," I half question, half state confusedly.

"But it's personal. Mr. Shue said it could be personal. I think they can personal for us, you know? Back together again. I love Life After You. It's so perfect for us. We've just got change the pitching and turn it into a duet."

"Sounds great. If you think it's perfect, then I'm sure it is. I've got to get home to help Kurt make dinner." I give her a kiss. On the lips. It feels kind of strange, but good, to be able to kiss her in public. "I'll call you later".

I can see Rachel watching us as she leaves the Glee room. She's pretending she's not, but she is. I can see it in her eyes as she talks to Mercedes. She's acting like she's super excited about whatever Mercedes is babbling about, but her eyes don't look excited. They look sad.

"Oh, okay," Quinn responds, following my eyes unhappily. "Great." She grabs my hand and smiles broadly. She adjusts her sunglasses again and we walk out together into the sun.

When I get home I help Kurt make dinner since my mom is working late. Kurt is a better cook anyway. He gives me the little jobs, as if he couldn't possibly trust me with anything larger than dicing onions and washing lettuce.

"I'm sorry your bird died," I say uncomfortably, noticing the amount of food he was cooking. It looked like he was cooking for an army. I didn't know what to say, really, and he's been unusually silent.

All I get is a thanks as he mashes avocadoes angrily. "Why are you so pissed off, Kurt? I thought you'd be singing and dancing after what happened with Blaine. He likes you. Isn't that what you've been waiting for since you met him? Is this about regionals?" I don't mean to be rude, but Kurt is not normally a person who withholds how he's feeling. I bite my lip waiting for his response, wondering if it's going to make me angry. If he brings up this whole disaster of my relationships I won't be happy. But hopefully he won't.

"Finn Hudson," he says icily. "For someone who is so smart you can be such an idiot sometimes! No, this is not about Blaine, and nor is it about regionals. It is about you being a total hypocrite." He turns to face me, and grips the counter with both hands. He looks as if he is straining to hold on.

"How am I a hypocrite?" I ask, startled. Kurt and I have had our differences, sure, but we always managed to get along. Especially since our parents got married, we've both been making an effort to play nice. I've found that when Kurt isn't crushing on me or redecorating my room, I actually kind of like him. But it's obvious he doesn't feel the same.

He stares at me before rolling his eyes. I wonder if he's going to play the "if you don't know I'm not going to tell you" game. But instead he turns around, furiously shredding chicken for tacos. I know Kurt, and he's trying to figure out how to say what he wants in the best and most precise way. It comes out in one word. "Quinn."

"Not this. Not you." I say with a sigh. "Really Kurt."

"No. Listen to me Finn. You are my brother and my friend and this means I have to be honest with you. You are messing this up. You broke up with Rachel because she fooled around with Noah, right? Because she did it to hurt you on purpose?" He drops half the chicken into a container, and places it into a pink and teal lined wicker thing. He portions out half of the guacamole and spoons it delicately into another container.

I'm not sure where this is going. "Ye-es. But…"

"No buts, Finn. So you break up with Rachel because you couldn't take how bad she hurt you.. Yet you run into Quinn's arms. Quinn. Who not only had sex with Noah but she got pregnant with his child. He was your best friend then, Finn! You don't care that she lied to you and was probably sleeping with him for god knows how long. But she was a virgin," he whispers with another eye roll.

"And then," he says, raging now, eyes glaring, "and then she tells you it's your baby. How you could be dumb enough to believe it, I don't know, but you do. And she keeps lying to you for what, six months until the truth comes out. And even though everyone else knows, it's Rachel who makes her tell you. But you don't see that."

"And now," he continues, apparently unable to stop himself, "she bats those eyes at you and fluffs her blonde hair and you're back in her arms. And you think she did all that because she didn't want to hurt you? She lied for months with good intentions. And then she cheated on Sam with you. But I suppose you think it's okay because she was cheating with you, not on you" Kurt scoffs, spins around and stacks the rest of the taco stuff in his stupid little basket.

"What the hell, Kurt?" I yell. You're supposed to be my brother, for goodness sake. You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I don't have to be on your side, Finn. I don't have to be on anyone's side. But I am your friend, and that's why I'm telling you this." I can't even look at the stupid basket, so I stare at the floor as he pointedly picks it up and rests the handle in the crook of his elbow . "I am on your side, which is what you don't seem to get," he says, near inaudibly and I have to strain to hear.

I just stare at him, unable to find words for a moment. "Yeah, you care about me so damn much Kurt," I sneer. Now it's my turn to yell. "I loved her. She destroyed me! That's what you don't seem to get!"

"And now, just like that, you're over her? That's not real love then, Finn." His tone is softer now. More caring then before, and I try to think about what he's saying but all I can picture is Rachel in the arms of Puckerman, again.

"I don't know anymore, Kurt," I say. "But I know I can't get over what she did."

"What Rachel did." It's not a question. "But Quinn didn't break your heart, then? Maybe you should think about why it is that Rachel hurt you so much, huh? Why you can run back to Quinn after all she did but you can't forgive Rachel?"

He pauses, and then says more softly. "I'm going to Rachel's. There's enough food in the fridge for you and mom and Burt. I'll be back later."

So that's how Kurt knows about Sam and why he's on Rachel's side. They've never been best friends, but obviously they are now. It's not like I wanted to hurt Rachel. But after what happened, I think it was for the best. I never thought she would hurt me the way she did. He acts like I wanted to hurt Rachel, that I intended to break up with her for Quinn. It's not that easy. But sometimes I don't know. It's so hard. What I like about Rachel is that she tries so hard, but what I like about Quinn is that she doesn't have to try.