A/N: This is completely selfish. I saw another writer who said that after "Sexy" they wanted to hit Finn with a baseball bat. I laughed because I had thought the same thing. Or he might be hit by a bus. Anyway, I thought to myself...damnit! Rachel deserves to be flipping happy too, right? In fact, it might do her some good to get away for awhile. I've read a lot of fanfic where Rachel moves away and then come back all badass and hot-but she basically whines the whole time about how everyone was so mean to her before. It might be better for her to just grow beyond that...you know? She doesn't need to tell everyone what douche nozzles they were because she just doesn't care. I would love to see her that confident and self assured.

Now all that being said...reviews=love and everybody likes to feel loved.

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In May, Rachel ran screaming through her house jumping up and down and waving the letter in her hands. Her dads looked at her, and then at each other fondly.

"Do you think she got in?"

"I'm not sure. It's hard to make out through all the screaming."

"I got in! I got in!"

In June, she left a day or two before the end of school so that she would arrive on time. She explained everything to her friends at their favorite coffee shop. Mercedes and Kurt were happy and excited for her.

"So this is a really prestigious camp, right?" Kurt's eyes were shining.

"It's one of the top 3 in the country," Rachel said with a grin.

"And you get to work with vocal coaches, choreographers and songwriters?" Mercedes' voice was tinged with awe.

"It is an amazing opportunity. You have to be nominated for a spot because there are only a certain number of openings." Thanks Mom. She thought briefly.

"What about the end of school year parties and everything?" Mercedes seemed kind of sad that Rachel wouldn't be there. Rachel laughed and shook her head at them.

"You two will be invited to every single one of them and you'll have a wonderful time." Her smile was breathtaking, it transformed her from pretty to beautiful. Kurt and Mercedes understood what she wasn't saying. She wouldn't be invited to those parties because she was Rachel Berry.

"Well, when do you come back? We could hang out then, right?" Mercedes wasn't giving up. She had grown to really like Rachel, and enjoyed her friendship. Rachel's smile grew strained.

"Um, sure! That would be great." Kurt frowned.

"Rachel? When do you come back?"

"The weekend before school starts."

"What?" Her eyes pleaded with them to be happy for her. They both glanced at each other and then smiled at her. Rachel needed this time away. Maybe it would help her.

"If you do not email & text me on a regular basis, I will hunt you down like a dog!" Kurt glared at her fiercely.

"I promise!"

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Rachel Berry can't find her phone.
Teagen Sherwood likes this.
Rachel Berry Teagen! You didn't take my phone, did you?
Kurt Hummel Rachel, how are you on fb if you don't have your phone?
Rachel Berry I'm borrowing Chad's phone.
Kurt Hummel Who's Chad?
Teagen Sherwood Totally gorgeous piece of beefcake who's in Rach's vocal class.
Rachel Berry Teagen! OMG! Ignore her, Chad. I think she may be inebriated.
Chad McCrea lol! No worries, Rachel. Hey, I found your phone.
Rachel Berry Okay. Meet me by the door and we can trade phones back.
Chad McCrea I don't know...maybe I should scroll through your history...
Rachel Berry Chad! Please don't! Where are you? Teagen? Help!
Teagen Sherwood No worries, I got this.

*********************************

message Kurt Hummel to Rachel Berry

Rachel,

So spill everything about this Chad guy? Is he cute? Do you like him? Tell me EVERYTHING! Love you!

Kurt

*********************************

message Rachel Berry to Kurt Hummel

Kurt,

He's in my vocal class. He has an amazing voice, but he's not obnoxious about his talent. I think I might like him. He's so easy to be around. Oh! I almost forgot. He's absolutely gorgeous. Teagen was correct about that. Think Ryan Phillipe with the voice of an angel.

Rachel

**********************************

Finn was walking past Kurt's door when he heard laughter. He poked his head in the door and saw that his brother was on the computer.

"Hey,Kurt. What's so funny?"

"Hi Finn." Finn whirled around, but he didn't see anyone but Kurt in the room.

"Rachel?" Kurt rolled his eyes at Finn.

"I'm skyping with Rachel." Rachel was on the computer screen. She grinned and waved. Finn gave a kind of half wave. He wasn't quite sure what else to do.

"Well, he was skyping with me. Remember the time difference, Kurt? I'm sorry, sweetie, but I really have to go." She was smiling and happy. She looked really good, Finn thought to himself.

"Oh, that's right, I forgot! Tonight's the night, right? Are you nervous? What are you wearing?" Finn could hear Rachel giggling. She stood up and moved back from the computer. Then she turned in a little circle so Kurt could see her outfit. Finn thought she looked hot. She was wearing a white halter sundress that showed off her golden skin.

"What do you think Kurt?"

"If he turns that down he's either an idiot or on my team." Rachel gave him one of those smiles that lit up her whole face. There was laughing off camera, and then a girl's voice called out.

"That's what I told her, Kurt!"

"Okay! I love you, Kurt! Talk to you later!" Then she was gone.

"So, she's going on a date?" Finn tried to sound casual, like it really didn't matter to him. It really shouldn't. They weren't together, and hadn't been for awhile.

"Yeah, with one somebody from her voice class." Finn gave a noncommittal grunt. Kurt looked at him.

"Do you want to see him?" Finn wanted to say no. He just shrugged. Kurt smiled to himself and went to Rachel's facebook page. Her profile picture was a picture of her with two other people grinning at the camera. Rachel stood between them and they each had an arm around her waist.

"The girl is her roommate Teagen, and the guy is Chad."

"Huh." Finn knew what girls considered attractive. He knew that this Chad guy would be considered drool-worthy by most of the girls at McKinley.

"He's completely gorgeous." Kurt sighed. "And completely not on my team."

Finn wandered off to his own bedroom. He was glad Rachel was having a fun summer. He really was.

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Rachel Berry Just had the best night ever!
Kurt Hummel, Teagen Sherwood, and 15 others like this.
Chad McCrea me too. :)
Mercedes Jones You need to call me, girl! Pronto!
Kurt Hummel me too! me too!
Rachel Berry lol! I will call you both tomorrow. I'm sending long distance hugs.

Rachel Berry is in a relationship with Chad McCrea
Mercedes Jones, Chad McCrea, and 40 others like this.
Rachel Berry Wow! Was the whole camp trying to get us together?
Chad McCrea I'm not sure. These can't all be campers? Can they?
Kurt Hummel Well, Mercedes and I aren't campers.
Puckasaurus I'm not either. I'm glad you're happy, Rachel. Of course, if he turns out to be a punk, I'll come up there and kick his ass.
Rachel Berry That's very noble, Noah, but I don't think that will be an issue.
Artie Abrams Well, if it does become an issue we've got your back, Rachel.
Chad McCrea I guess I better behave myself, huh Ray?
Teagen Sherwood Darn tootin'!
Rachel Berry I wonder if there are any caves nearby that I can go live in?
Chad McCrea Don't worry about it, Ray. I think it's kind of cute.

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"Hey Finn, I'm sorry to call your phone, but my phone accidently got dropped in the lake and I can't remember Kurt's new phone number. Will you please give him mine? It should show in the caller ID. Tell him I will call him in a couple days. Thanks, Finn. I really appreciate this."

Finn didn't know why he was disappointed that she wasn't calling him. They weren't really friends anymore. He wrote down her new number and passed it along to Kurt. He didn't delete her voicemail message. He added her new number to his contact list. Just in case. Kurt might need it, or something.

He also found himself lurking on facebook. He wasn't there to check up on Rachel. That wasn't it at all. He just didn't really feel like posting anything. He wasn't doing anything too amazing. Playing video games, and hanging out mostly. He just looked at her photos because he liked to see that she was enjoying herself. She looked happy, confident, and full of life. He avoided the album labeled "Chad & Ray-Ray".

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Rachel Berry is NOT amused.
Teagen Sherwood not even an eensy bit? I thought it was kind of cute...
Rachel Berry Sure, until the entire camp is telling you you're berrylicious.
Puckasaurus likes this.
Puckasaurus Berrylicious? I'm ashamed I never thought of that one...
Rachel Berry Shut it, Puckerman!
Chad McCrea Ray-Ray, baby, I'm so sorry. I promise to bring you the heads of my roommates on a stick.
Rachel Berry I can NOT believe you would tell them that!
Chad McCrea I didn't! They were hiding outside the window listening in.
Puckasaurus Whoa, Berry! Were you having phone sex?
Rachel Berry OMG! No! That is disgusting!
Chad McCrea Um, Noah, is it? That's really inappropriate, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak to my girlfriend like that.

Rachel Berry, Kurt Hummel, and 10 others like this.

*glee*

About midway through July, something occurred to Finn.

"Hey Kurt?"

"Yeah?"

"When exactly is Rachel done with her performing arts camp?"

"Not until the weekend before school starts."

"She's not coming home all summer?"

"No."

"Oh."

*glee*

A/N: So far, I think Rachel's had a fun summer. She's learning a lot, making lots of friends, having a little summer romance. She's happy. Good for her!