Rachel POV

Christmas was never exactly my holiday. After all I am Jewish. But somehow I felt like this year Christmas was going to be special. I finally had Finn. I had everything I had ever hoped for. But that was then, and now I find myself sitting in my room halfway listening to Noah talk non-stop about a stupid video game. How did I get here? How did I fall this far? I look over to the boy with the Mohawk who is now staring at me intently. Oh right! Kissing, revenge, not using my brain obviously! Things just don't work out for me.

"Are you even listening to me?" Noah asks. I am snapped out of my thoughts. "What? Oh yeah I definitely think the little red guy is better than the green one." He rolls his eyes. "You never listen to me. I stopped talking about that an hour ago!" "Do you think Finn is ever going to forgive us?" I ask him without looking up. "Rachel, you gotta stop doing this to yourself. It's Finn. He'll forgive you eventually but the boy knows how to hold a grudge. Look how long it took him to get over me and Q." "I hardly see how that is even the same Noah. You had SEX with her, impregnated her with your child, and then went along with lying to him about it being his. I can't see how that even compares to what we did."

Does no one understand this? Why does everyone insist on comparing me to that trollop Quinn? I would never lie to Finn. I told him the truth about kissing Noah as soon as I could because honestly it killed me just looking into his eyes without telling him. "Look Rachel, to Finn it's the same thing. All he sees is me with one of his girls. I don't know why I keep doing this to him. You girls gotta stop being so damn exciting to me." "Oh so now this is all mine and Quinn's fault." I stare at him wide eyed. "I supposed you just fell into our beds. You don't know how you ever got there except that somehow we lured you there and you were so innocent." "Woah hold up babe, I never said that. God you women are so emotional!"

"Look Rachel, give the boy time. He'll get over himself sooner or later. He just needs to realize what he's missing first and then it will…." That's it! I can't believe I didn't think of it before. Singing. The thing that brought me and Finn together to start with was our joy of singing. And what better way for Finn to see me than to sing to him. It would be even better if I sang to him with Noah. I remember the way he used to look at me when I sang with Jesse. Ultimately I think that is what opened his eyes to realizing how much he needed and wanted me in the first place. If I am going to bring Finn around, I need to sing a duet with Noah.

"I've got it…" I yell interrupting his speech. "What the hell Berry, I was talking!" "Not now Puckerman! I have a brilliant idea." I smile and he starts to look uncomfortable. "Look the last time you got a brilliant idea we ended up in bed and…wait, continue.." He grins. "I'm not getting in bed with you! I want to sing with you, in glee." He looks dejected. "Singing. What? That doesn't have anything to do with getting in your bed." I stomp my foot and look at him. "Noah, we need to sing a song together, in front of Glee. In front of Finn. Once he sees us singing together he will get so jealous he will have to get over his anger for me and come back to me." Noah gets up from the bed and looks you right in the eye. "This is a bad idea Berry. Nothing good comes with playing with someone's feelings. I know!" "We won't be playing with his feelings, just making him realize them sooner rather than later." He starts to walk out the door yelling back at me "No way Berry, get Sam to do your dirty work, this is bad news."

I walk over to him grabbing his hand before he can escape from your bedroom. "Please Noah, I need this. I can't take being away from him. I love him so much. You have to help me." He turns and looks at you, frowning. "Damnit Berry, don't pull the tears. You know I can't stand it when you do that." I look up and frown. "I need this, you owe me." He sighs, defeated. "Fine, I'll do it this one time, but all it's going to do is piss him off." I smile to myself, this is totally going to work! It has to!


Rachel POV

It's fifth period when I find myself standing at my locker and I realize how excited I am to sing my duet in Glee today. I am so sure that it will open Finn's eyes to how much he misses me. I look down towards Finn's locker and see him standing there talking to himself. I always thought it was adorable how he would ask himself what class he had next as he sifted through his locker trying to find the right book. He doesn't look up at me but I can tell he knows I am watching him. I take off my jacket and put it in my locker showing off my new sweater. I shut the locker door and start walking towards Finn when I hear it. His voice. Karofsky!

Ever since Kurt transferred I have become the new punching bag to Karofsky and Azimio. I look over toward Finn and he looks up at me and I think he is going to walk over to me but he just stands there, staring. "Hey there Berry!" It's Karofsky and he is laughing at me. "What do you want. I have to get to class. Just leave me alone." I try to walk away but the boys surround me. "What's the rush Berry. We were just trying to have a conversation with you." Azimio sneers. "Yeah don't be rude Berry." Karofsky laughs.

"Just back off and let me get to my class you big dumb oafs." I try to sound like I'm not afraid. I know I am failing because my voice cracks as I try and push past the boys. "But we didn't give you your present yet Berry." Uh oh. This never goes well. I know their presents always end up ice cold, in my hair, and stained on my clothes. I need to get out of there, I need help, I need Finn.

I look over and I see him staring at me. "You think your boy Finn is going to help you." Azimio says snapping me out of my eye lock with Finn. "Your boy isn't going to help you anymore." Karofsky says while getting into my face. I look down, frightened, embarrassed, but mostly angry. Angry that Finn is just standing there looking at the ground as he watches the boys gang up on me. Why is he always afraid of standing up to them. I know he is angry at me, but how could he let them do this.

"Look, let's just get this over with shall we? I have a freshman to shove in a locker before we start practice today." Karofsky says as he lifts his cup in my direction. "You like red don't you Berry. Like a Straw Berry wouldn't you say?" I see Finn start to walk in me direction only to be stopped by Quinn coming out of the room beside me. He stops when she asks him something and that is when it hits me. It's cold and it stings my face. And I feel numb except for the warm tears that are mixing in with the cold sugar running down my cheeks. People in the hallway stop and stare at me. Finn and Quinn look up and I see her smile and then quickly look away. Finn is staring at me and I can't tell if he is sad, or angry, or just plain embarrassed.

Either way I have to get out of there. I never want the school to see you as weak and I definitely don't want Quinn to see me crying, covered in red goo, and staring like an idiot at my ex-boyfriend. An ex-boyfriend who couldn't even take the time to care that I am humiliated and broken. He probably thinks I deserve it anyway. Maybe this duet thing is going to be a complete waste of time today!


Rachel POV

I walk into the choir room with my head in my books. I don't feel like seeing Finn right now. The joy of singing this duet is gone. It doesn't matter if Finn doesn't think I matter. I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I feel someone come up behind me. "What the hell Rachel? You didn't tell me Karofsky struck again!" I turn around to see Sam staring down at me. "What did you want me to say Sam? Oh by the way, I ate red slushy today?" "It's not funny Rachel, you should have come and found me." I smile. Sam really is a great friend. I know he would have never let them touch me had he been in that hallway.

Suddenly I hear yelling from the hallway and I see Finn walk in rolling his eyes. "There was nothing I could do dude. It happened really fast." He stops when he sees me and quickly moves through the room with Noah hot on his heels. "Bullshit Hudson, you just never want to put a stop to them. You always let them get away with this crap!" I see Finn sit down in the back of the room and Noah turns quickly and walks over to me.

"Are you ok Rachel. I swear when I see those guys I'm gonna beat their face in." I smile because I know he means well. Noah and Sam have been so good to me since me break up with Finn. But I don't want either of them fighting in my honor. I just want to be left alone. "Look guys, I appreciate this, I really do, but neither one of you needs to be getting into any trouble over me. I'm fine, really." I pat them both on the shoulder and walk to my seat in the front row.

"Well, well, well losers, looks like we get to hear some crap from you guys today." You look up to see Karofsky and the other football players filing into the choir room. What the actual hell. I don't want these losers in here today. This is my day to sing MY duet! This can't be happening. "What are you doing in here?" I hear Finn say from the back of the room. "It's pity a loser day, didn't you hear?" Azimio pipes in. "We already pitied one of your losers today. I mean red was totally her color!"

Suddenly I see a commotion in front of me and Sam and Noah are standing toe to toe with the other football players. "Leave Rachel alone." I hear Noah yell. "Protective are we Puckerman? You must be tapping that. Hope you don't mind if I share with you." Karofsky slams a high five at Azimio as Sam steps into his face. "You want to come near Rachel, you'll have to come through me!" I am getting nervous as this is starting to get serious. I don't want anyone getting hurt over stupid old me!

"Break it up, break it up. We are here to play nice boys." I see Coach Beiste come in to the choir room with Mr. Shuester following behind her. "What the hell Mr Schue? Why are these guys in our room?" Noah says while storming over to our teacher. "Everyone take a seat and I'll explain."

I listen to the teacher and Coach explain how they want the football team to start to get along with the glee club and honestly I think this is a stupid idea. This is my safety room. Coming into glee means I don't have to get slushied. Even if it does mean I have to take insults from Santana and get dirty looks from Quinn, at least it's better than dealing with Neanderthals.

"And today we are going to hear a duet which will be very nice for all of our new folks to see what it is that we do in here." I hear Mr. Schue say and all of a sudden I don't want to do my duet at all. I'm mad at Finn, I don't want to sing in front of these idiot bullies, and frankly I'm just not feeling it today. Noah nudges me and smiles and I hear him say "Come on now, we are gonna rock this thing." And I smile because he's right. We are going to kill this number. And I might as well let those idiot boys see that there is something I will always be better at than them! Singing my heart out!

"Puck, Rachel are you ready for your duet." I stand and turn around and immediately catch Finn's eye. He definitely isn't smiling. In fact he looks angry as hell. Maybe this is a realllllly terrible idea. I see Noah grab his guitar and as the music starts to play everything around me fades out. For me it is about the music. It's about my voice. It's about feeling the song. And I do feel this song. Because I do need him. I need Finn every night that I sit up alone on my bed crying, wishing I could take everything back. And I see him looking at me and I can feel that his walls are up because he isn't smiling back at me. He is staring right through me.

I look over to Sam and he definitely is smiling at me and gives me the thumbs up. He's such a dork, and I love him for it. I see Quinn glaring at me from behind Sam. I don't know what the hell her problem is. She never gives me a break. And I look over to Noah who is smiling that amazing smile at me singing his lines as we both rehearsed and then looking over to Finn with something in his eye. Fear, apprehension, sorrow. I can't tell but you know that is between them. We both have your demons to get over with Finn. We both have so much to be sorry for.

We finish the song and everyone is clapping. Even Finn claps but I never see a smile touch his face. The football players only look on in silence. I can tell it didn't get through their thick skulls. Perhaps another day. For now I am just happy, happy to have such amazing friends who are willing to stand by me and appreciate me. And I smile at Noah and then over at Sam who is walking toward us both. I feel them both wrap their arms around me and I see Finn staring behind them. He smiles at me softly and then quietly leaves the room.

It definitely wasn't a declaration of love, but maybe it's a start.


Finn POV

Everything is starting to fall to pieces. Everything was going great! I was happy. When did everything start going to hell? Oh yeah that's right, when my girlfriend who I TRUSTED kisses my best friend. AGAIN! Yeah cuz that wasn't original! I keep telling myself that it was so not as bad as having sex with him and passing a freaking kid off as mine but I just can't get over it. I won't. No one says I have to right?

And now, the damn football players are staging a shut out. What the hell do they think this is? It's not the NFL. This is high school. We don't even get paid for this crap. So now my only chance at making something of myself, of getting noticed by some stupid college scout is over. It's not like I'm that good to begin with, but it's really my only shot isn't it? And now that's over and done with. Just great.

I walk into Glee and immediately see the happy trio of Rachel, Puck, and Sam talking about something in the corner of the room. When the hell did that happen? Puck just wants in her pants and who knows what Sam is after. He just wants everything I have. Why not Rachel too? Stupid. I don't even have Rachel anymore. I don't even want her anymore. Right? Surely I don't because if I did, I am an idiot. I roll my eyes and quickly take a seat behind the laughing trio making sure not to make eye contact with Rachel as I feel her staring up at me.

"Look guys, I know you are all upset about not getting to play in the big game on Friday. But maybe we can focus on our songs for regionals instead to get our minds off of it." I grunt. "Yeah, cuz that is going to help right now. " Sam says sighing. What the hell does he care, he wasn't even the quarterback anymore! Like it was going to make a difference for him. "Yeah, Mr. Schue I'm not in the mood to sing today." Puck pipes in. This really did suck. All I want to do is go home and lay in bed staring at the ceiling NOT thinking about Rachel and how pretty she looks in her red dress today. STOP IT! I am not thinking about her today.

Suddenly I hear her voice, its quiet, but it's definitely her. "Mr. Schue, Coach Beiste? If you don't mind, I have an idea." I look over at her. Of course Rachel would have song ideas for regionals right now. She never stops thinking about performing! "I was thinking that maybe the boys don't have to forfeit their game this Friday." I sit up, wondering what Rachel is talking about. "It seems you just need a couple more players so that you would be able to compete right?"

Wait, how does she know anything about football? Maybe she really was paying attention to me when I forced her to watch those NFL games in my bedroom. Even if all she did was talk the entire time asking me question after question about what was happening. I tried to answer them all but sometimes the girl really talked A LOT and I would tune her out even for just a little bit. Wait. Stop thinking about her. Focus.

"I'm willing to offer my services to the football team." "Woo hoo Berry, kinky." I look over and see Puck smirking. Asshole! "Puckerman, I am trying to save your collective butts here, try and have some respect" she says. What the hell is going on? What can Rachel offer to the team. We don't need someone carrying water, we don't even have a team right now!

"I was talking to the girls, and if the four of us join the team, you guys don't have to forfeit." She says with a huge smile on her face. "That's an awesome idea Rachel" Sam says from in front of me. "What the hell are you thinking?" I say to her. She flinches but continues. "We won't actually play, I mean we will, but as soon as you snap that ball we will just lie down, we'll just lie there, and you guys can play." She's grinning from ear to ear. And I see Puck and Sam jump up and hug her, giving her high fives and everyone seems excited.

I drop my head into my hands. What is she thinking? And why is it that I'm the only one that thinks this is insane!


Rachel POV

"Let's get ready to rumble." I hear Noah yell from across the hall. I am sitting alone on the bench in the girls locker room. If I'm honest, I am terrified. What was I thinking when I came up with this idea? I could get crushed, or killed! I see Tina and Mercedes bumping shoulder pads laughing at each other and Lauren comes out with black marks under her eyes. She walks over to me and hands me the black stick. "Come on Berry, we got to make you look tough out there so they don't kill you." I gulp. This is insane!

I step out of the locker room and walk towards the field. The four of us look at each other. "We can do this girls." I yell out. "Berry, you don't have to yell, we are right here!" Lauren is laughing at me. "Come on girls, we can be legends." I laugh at Lauren and turn to the field. It's time to do this. To prove to the boys that I can be more than just my voice. I am here to save them. I know how much this means to Finn. I want to do this for him.

I hear the whistles and cat calls from the stands and I don't even have to look up to realize it's the Neanderthal football players who quit. No, I have my eye on the prize. Finn is standing at the 50 yard line throwing the ball between Noah and Sam. I am going to make him proud of me. I am going to show him that I matter. The boys all turn and see the four of us coming out onto the field. Finn smiles and runs over to me. He laughs as he sees the gold stars that Sam has put on my helmet. "Nice helmet, Rach." I stop, did he just call me Rach? I am grinning like an idiot as he walks away.

"Are you ready for this Berry?" Puck has grabbed my helmet now and is screaming down at me. 'Think fierce' I say to myself. "I'm ready to kick some ass!" I yell back at him. And I feel amazing. The next thing I know I feel Finn grab me by the arm and pushes me towards the ball. "Go there" he says. "Lie down when I say hut ok?" I feel confused, scared, and excited all at once. I look up and see the scariest boy I have ever seen. He's smiling at me and I freeze. 'Oh my God what have I done', I think to myself.

There is less than 2 minutes in one of those quarter thingies and I am tired of laying down. The boys look sad, and the girls look tired. And I feel like this is going nowhere. We are down by two of those touch up things and I feel like this isn't getting any better. I hear Finn yell hut and I fall onto my face as I have been all night. As I look to my right I see something brown floating by me. Wait? Isn't that the football. Shouldn't Finn have that in his hands right now. I see Sam laying on the ground with a huge boy laying on him and he's yelling at me. "Pick it up Rachel..pick it up…"

I don't know what I'm thinking but slowly I stand up and pick up the ball. I realize as soon as I do that everything around me changes. The hulk looking boys on the other team are coming towards me and they don't look like they want to ask me out! I hear someone behind me. "Run Rachel, just run." I quickly start running for my life. I certainly do not want to be sandwiched between the ground and one of those sweaty meat men.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a blur of white coming at me. I'm certain this is the end. I start to tense up but I don't stop running and when I look back I see that Noah has the boy firmly on the ground and is yelling at him to 'stay down'. I can see the goal post come into view and I can feel it. I am going to score a touchy thing. I reach for the white line and that's when I feel it. The hand on my back knocking me forward and I reach my hands forward just wanting to touch the white line. And then it all goes black.

"Get off her. Back up. Just get the hell away from her you idiot!" I start to open my eyes. Everything is blurry. Someone is standing over me. "Rach, Rach, can you hear me?" "Dude is she alive?" "Ask her something, is she ok?" I focus my eyes and I see Finn, Noah, and Sam all kneeling directly over me. I reach up and pull the mouth guard from my lips. "Did I score?" I say. "WHAT?" Finn yells back. "Did I score? Did we win?"

"Yes Berry, you scored." Noah says laughing. "But the game isn't over yet. Well it is for you though." Finn says. "What?" I yell back. "No, I want to finish." "No way" Finn says strongly. "You're out. I'm quarterback and I'm calling it, you're done for the game Rach. This was a ridiculous idea. You could have gotten killed." "Lay off her." Sam interjects. "She just got us a touch down dude."

I sit up and Noah and Sam help me off the ground as Finn walks off. I watch as he goes to the sidelines and I see him stare over at Quinn as she smiles up at him. He walks over and says something to her and turns around smiling. "Good job Berry. I'm proud of you." Noah hugs me. Sam smiles and tells me how awesome I did running with the ball and how he couldn't believe I outran half the guys on the other team.

I look at them both frowning. "I'm happy that you both appreciate me. I guess I just wanted it to matter to him." They both look over at Finn. "It did matter, trust me. He was just scared." Puck says. I watch as he stands on the sidelines flirting with Quinn. He sure doesn't look scared to me.


Sam POV

The Titans win the game. I can't believe it. Puck got all the football players to come back and play after halftime, and then I do a fake field goal throwing the winning touchdown to Finn with 10 seconds left on the clock! It's amazing how excited I feel right now. I am so happy that Rachel and the girls stepped up and helped us out so that the Titans even had a chance to win this game. I am glad my friends are so amazing.

I'm the last one left in the locker room after the game. I just needed to soak for a little longer in the ice tub and told Puck I would meet him and Rachel at Breadstix in an hour. I grab my stuff and start heading out the door when I hear voices. I clearly hear Finn's voice but can't make out the girl.

Maybe it's Rachel. I hope it is. I really want to see things work out for her. She is one of my best friends and she has been so sad and lonely since they broke up. Sure she was to blame for a lot of the mess her and Noah created. What the heck they were thinking is beyond me. How could the two of them kissing to piss off Finn ever have sounded like a good idea?

I peek out the locker room door and am shocked to see Finn standing by the lockers with Quinn. Wow, I really hoped Rachel was wrong about those two. I just know that Finn getting back together with Quinn would completely break her heart. I hope I am wrong, but I have a feeling from the way they are leaning in talking to each other that I'm not. I know I should just leave, but I want to hear what they are saying. I have a friend to protect after all.

"You played really great today Finn." I hear Quinn coo. "Thanks Quinn. I was really glad we won." Finn says smiling back down at her. "Well you almost didn't due to those stupid girls falling down all game." She spats. I can't believe she can't see that if it wasn't for those girls they wouldn't have even gotten on the field. "Well they played well. I mean Rachel even scored." Finn says somewhat proudly. She lets out a disgruntled sound and I can see she backed away from him.

"Yes and I'm sure we will have to listen to her talk about it for ages now. She'll never shut up." Man what a bitch! Surely Finn will put a stop to this crap. "Let's not talk about Rachel ok?" Finn says quietly. Wow. Way to stand up to her man! You really let her have it! "What do you want to talk about then?" She says seductively. I don't like the way this conversation is going. Could he really have moved on to Quinn already.

"I want to talk about what you were saying before the game. You know, how you miss me. Did you mean it?" He says staring at her. I want to run. Or scream or just yell for this nonsense to stop. This is ridiculous. Does this guy have the shortest memory span on the face of the planet? "Of course I meant it. You are single now. You just won the big game. We can be "it" again." She says giggling. "Well it's not all about being popular right? I mean you loved me right?" He seems desperate. What is he doing?

"Not all of it is about popularity no. But really Finn, you need to remember, we aren't so different, you and me. We both want the same things." Finn looks apprehensive. So Quinn continues. "Of course I love you Finn. You were my first boyfriend. That doesn't just go away. And the two of us together, we would be unstoppable. Your rep took a big dive with Rachel. You can be on top again." Finn looks away. Almost ashamed from what I could see. He should be. Rachel is amazing. He was lucky to have her.

Finn shrugs and starts to walk down the hall when Quinn grabs him by the arm. She looks up at him and pulls him down to her, kissing him. My stomach turns. If Rachel knew about this she would be broken and everything you and Puck did this Christmas to snap her out of her depression would be ruined. I can't bear to tell her this. I have to talk to Puck. But most of all, I have to get out of this hallway. The scene in front of me is giving me nightmares.


Stacy ~ Gleefully-Finchel

I just needed to get through the hiatus and thought maybe if I re-wrote Season 2 the way I wanted it to be after the devastating Finchel break up that I would feel better. This is my first time ever writing so please be kind.