Rachel convinces her dads to let her go to an all girl private school in California, and she tells the glee club the day they come back from break. Two years later, Rachel returns after both of her dads are in a car accident and are in a coma. Meanwhile, Jesse St. James is taking a break from UCLA to work on a thesis; that any group can become the best with the right director and he's chosen New Directions. With Rachel coming back a new, more confident person will old sparks fly?

Preface

Rachel stood in the choir room facing the piano. She had known this would be hard, but it would be harder for her to stay somewhere where only the director wanted her. A year ago she was offered a full tuition scholarship to LA Musical Academy. It was the nation's leading musical school for high school age students, and it was an all girls institution. They had recently contacted her again saying they were still interested in her and wanted her to become their new lead. With the recent events at McKinley, it didn't take long for her to convince her dads to let her go as it would help her move on from her most recent relationship with Finn.

All her teachers, including Mr. Shue had been notified over break that the first day back would be her last day. Now she just had to tell the club.

She turned and looked at all the people, who made it clear they were never friends, Mercedes sat with Quinn and Sam; Brittney sat next to Santana instead of Artie like always; Mike and Tina sat next to each other; Finn had chosen to sit by Artie and Puck sat in the chair next to him even though there was obvious tension between to two; and Lauren had sat next to Puck, which left one seat open for her.

"I have an announcement," she began nervously not looking at any of them.

"What is it, man hands?" Santana said before Rachel could continue. "Cause we kinda have to get started on practicing for Regional's."

"I'm transferring out of McKinley," she answered simply looking Santana dead in the face. "I've been offered a full scholarship to the LA Musical Academy. For those of you who haven't hear of it, it's an all girls institution in Los Angeles, California. They're offering me the lead of their glee club. They have placed second at nationals four years in a row four. They believe my voice may help them beat VA this year. Since there is nothing holding me here, with the exception of a few friends and my dads, I have accepted their offer. This was my last day here."

"Is this some sort of joke?" Finn asked, standing up and walking towards her. "This isn't funny Rach."

"You lost your right to call me that when you left me alone in a Christmas tree lot, Finn. And this isn't a joke. I have decided to put my career on Broadway above trying to please all of you. I've wasted my time here. I should have gone last year but I had the foolish hope that my freshman year would actually bring me friends. I have maybe two friends and one of them doesn't even go to this school anymore. It's time to worry about me and not all of you." Rachel finally let all the anger she had felt since Jesse out. No one could believe that Rachel, the girl who just wanted to fit in had just said all that or that they hadn't seen the pain she had kept inside her. "I have, however, selected one last song for you all to enjoy."

Rachel then let her voice flawlessly fill the room. Silencing all the whispers that had been moving around the room at her sudden announcement. She put all her bottled up emotions from the past two years into this one song, praying that they only time they would ever hear her sing again was while she was on stage.

"I used to be your girlfriend and I know I did it well
Oh yes you know it's true
You'd call me Cinderella
All you had to do was yell
And I'd be there for you

Here I am
So try to forgive me
I don't believe in fairy tales
Here we are with nothing but honesty
I've had enough
I'm not gonna stay

I'm sorry for running away like this
And I'm sorry I've already made my wish
Oh, But Cinderella's got to go

From time to time I'd try to tell just what was on my mind.
You'd tell me not today.
Come back, do that,
Where's, Cinderella at...
Was all you had to say

Here I am, so try to forgive me
I don't believe in fairy tales
here we are with nothing but honesty
I've had..enough...I'm not gonna stay

I'm sorry for running away like this 'n I'm sorry
I've already made my wish. Ah, but Cinderella's
got to go

I'm sorry just tryin' to live my life
don't worry, you're gonna be alright
but Cinderella's got to go.

[spoken]

I used to say I want you, you cast me in your spell.
I did everything you wanted me to, but now i shall..
break free from all your lies. I won't be blind you see,
my love it can't be sacrificed, i won't return to thee.

[sung]
I'm so sorry, I've already made up my mind

[spoken]
I won't return to thee

[sung]
I'm sorry to say, I'm runnin' away now...
don't worry, you will be alright

Rachel turned and headed toward the hallway, skipping down the empty hall as her ex teammates followed her.

I'm runnin' away, I've made up my mind now..
your gonna have to let me go

She stopped when she had reached her car in the school's parking lot. She hopped into it as she sang the last chorus of the sung she had chosen to say farewell to the only ones who had seen the real her.

I'm sorry for runnin' away like this, and I'm
sorry I've already made my wish
Oh, but Cinderella's got to go
I'm sorry, just tryin' to live my life, don't worry,
your going to be alright!
but Cinderella's got to go."

With her song sung, she turned on her engine and drove out of New Directions' lives.