This story is set in the summer after Season 1 Regionals. This will be a multi-chapter story focusing on the new friendships and dynamics within Glee Club after Regionals and as they head into a new school year. This fic will primarily feature Rachel/Mike/Kurt friendship with some eventual Puckleberry (because I love those two together!). Enjoy!

Three's Company

Prologue

Rachel Berry stepped off the ramp at LaGuardia airport in none other than New York City. She was so excited she couldn't stand it. To the ignorance of the Glee Club, she had been accepted into a summer program at Julliard. She was SO excited about this opportunity and all the positive effects it could have on Glee Club and her future career on Broadway. She could barely contain her excitement, but nonetheless she smoothed down her skirt, grabbed the handle of her roll-along suitcase that she had carried on the plane, and walked confidently through the airport in a manner befitting the status of the star she knew she would someday be. She followed the signs for Baggage Claim and saw that her flight was assigned to Baggage Claim 9. She made her way over, dodging people and suitcases and angling to get a good spot. All of sudden, someone bumped into her.

"Sorry," a voice said, then, "Oh. My. Gucci."

Rachel gasped and looked up … straight into the eyes of Kurt Hummel.

"What are you doing here, Kurt?" she asked, too shocked to deal with pleasantries. Kurt smirked and tucked a lock of hair behind his ear.

"I've been accepted into a summer program at Julliard. What about you, Miss Diva?"

"S-s-same," Rachel stuttered.

Kurt's smirk widened. "Seems we were both too selfish to share the news with Glee Club, eh?"

Rachel blushed and mumbled, "Everyone was so preoccupied with our Regionals loss, Quinn giving birth, and then finding out that Glee is staying for another year that I didn't feel my news was worth it. Not that I don't think it'll help Glee," she said, more talking to herself in this moment, "but it just didn't seem as important at the time."

Kurt looked at her with understanding. "I know what you mean," he said. "Other than my dad, Carole, and Finn, I don't think anyone knows I'm here. And I think Finn will be too relieved that I'm gone to really share why."

It was Rachel's turn to be sympathetic. "Yeah," she said softly. "Things became awkward between us right after Regionals. To be honest, I'm glad to get away and focus on my singing for awhile without any other drama in my life."

Kurt smiled softly. "Seems we're in agreement then." He linked arms with Rachel. "Let's see to getting our luggage taken care of, eh?" He scanned the crowd, looking for some tall, muscular person to aid them with their luggage, knowing between the two of them it would be a full load. For all their rivalry, these past few minutes seemed to have created an understanding between Kurt and Rachel. The two divas had been through a lot this school year, and with this opportunity to be away and focus on what they loved the most, well, it seemed to be a new chance for the two of them. Maybe even a chance at friendship.

Then Kurt's eyes fell on another familiar face.

"Oh. My. Gucci."

Rachel looked at him, curiosity etched on her face. "What now? See some hunky man meat?" She was new to the teasing thing so she hoped that it was alright.

Kurt laughed. "No, but it seems that New York City is becoming a popular haven for Gleeks this summer." He waved and caught the person's attention. Kurt was slightly taller than Rachel so he had the advantage as Rachel unsuccessfully tried to peer through all the people in the crowd. "Who is it?" she asked impatiently. Just then the crowd parted and Rachel's mouth dropped open.

"Hey," Mike Chang greeted the two original Gleeks. "What are you guys doing here?"

Rachel and Kurt looked at each other. "We both got into the summer program at Julliard," Rachel said. "What are YOU doing here?"

Mike looked at little taken aback. He scratched the back of his head and shifted uneasily. "I, uh, got into the same program. For my dancing," he explained. Kurt and Rachel just gaped at him. Then Kurt squealed and grabbed them both. "We are going to have SO much fun this summer!" he shouted excitedly. Rachel smiled; Kurt's energy was contagious. She allowed herself the tiniest bit of hope that she would indeed have a fun summer as she looked between a beaming Kurt and an awkwardly-grinning Mike. Who knows, she thought, maybe this will be the best summer of my life.

"So Kurt," Rachel said, "How about that luggage?"

Six weeks later…

Rachel, Kurt, and Mike sat cross-leggedly facing each other on the floor of Rachel's dorm room. True to Kurt's prediction, the three of them had bonded during their six week summer program. With the insane amount of divas congregating there from across the country, Kurt and Rachel had put aside their rivalry in lieu of solidarity, seeing as they were both from Lima, Ohio, and their approach to teamwork had actually made them shine both individually and together in their music and dance program. Kurt highly respected Rachel's musical genius, ambition and drive while Rachel had grudgingly agreed to let Kurt make her over since he did know a lot about fashion. She refused to compromise herself though, and that only made Kurt respect her more, since he knew a thing or two about compromising who you are. Mike at first didn't know what to do with so much diva-ness, but he soon made his niche among the two with his easy-going attitude. His dance program was different than Kurt and Rachel's, since theirs was more Broadway centered, but once the three realized they were all at Julliard together, they swore to take one class together, and so they settled on a ballroom dance class. Mike had seemed reluctant at first, but Rachel and Kurt convinced him that while his modern dance skills were "fabulous" (Kurt) and "beyond recognition" (Rachel), that knowing how to waltz and foxtrot would blow away any young woman he happened to like. Kurt and Rachel also coached Mike on his singing that summer, while he taught them some of the modern dance moves. And to the diva duo's surprise, Mike enrolled in a class on being a deejay, which resulted in some hysterical late night remixes and impromptu dance parties. As the three reclined on the floor, a bottle of wine between them, they looked back on the summer and the bond they had created. While they had made friends with talented individuals from across the country who they would never forget, the three were grateful that they'd all had each other that summer, and they wondered if and how things would change when they returned to Lima, Ohio.

They had just finished laughing over the performance of some of their fellow campers at the end-of-program's final performance night. Rachel and Kurt had decided to pull an old Glee favorite and amazed the crowd by singing "Defying Gravity" as a duet. People had called it "revolutionary," letting a man sing the song, but Rachel and Kurt had just shared a knowing look and accepted the praise. Mike had chosen to do a crunk performance, and Kurt and Rachel were so astonished and proud they'd been repeatedly encouraging him all night to try out for "So You Think You Can Dance."

"Pleeeeeeeeease," whined Kurt, waving his half-full glass of wine in his hand, "Adam Shankman is SO hot and I'd love to meet him."

Rachel giggled. "I wouldn't mind hearing Mary screech that you're on the Hot Tamale Train!"

Mike looked thoughtful. "I'd personally just want to wow Nigel with my mad choreography skills," he said, and smirked. The three of them looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Come on," said Rachel. "You'd be a shoe-in! You're SUCH a great dancer. This summer has definitely been good for you. You've officially graduated from the pop-and-lock."

Mike pretended to look offended. "I'll let you know the pop-and-lock is a CLASSIC and will never be retired!"

"Nooooooo," cried Rachel and Kurt in unison, before they dissolved into giggles, leaning against each other for support.

Mike just poured more wine into all their glasses. Then he raised his glass. "To friendship," he began. Rachel and Kurt calmed down and solemnly raised their glasses at well. "I found it in the most unlikeliest of places, but I always knew it would still come from home." The three smiled and clinked their classes, then sipped.

"Ugh," Kurt said, and wrinkled his nose, "I'm not looking forward to Lima's awful wine collection when we go home."

"Don't worry," Rachel assured him, "My dads import wine. They can't stand Lima's lack of taste either. I'll make sure you get your weekly dose, you lush."

"You'd better, Miss Diva. I'll be over your house anyway monitoring your wardrobe choices and making sure you don't have a relapse into animal sweaters. We still need to purge your closet at home of all those god-awful things anyway. Don't you roll your eyes at me!" he said, as Rachel was doing just that.

"Alright, alright, you're right Kurt. New York and you have definitely had a positive effect on my fashion sense. See? I said it." She grinned and took a sip of her wine, then looked over at Mike who'd been silent during their exchange. "What's wrong, Mike?" she asked.

Mike pondered her question for a moment. Then he began to speak. "I'm just wondering how things will be in Lima once we've returned. I wonder what's changed or stayed the same with the other Gleeks, and," he took a deep breath, "I wonder if things will change for us when we get back. I mean, Kurt and Rachel technically you're still rivals, and I'm on the football team. And yeah I know I'm in Glee, I just wonder what people will say. And I wonder if those things that kept us apart and from truly getting to know each other last year will pull us apart again." He looked up from where he'd been staring at the floor and saw the hurt looks on their faces. "Don't get me wrong," he said quickly. "I meant what I said during the toast. This has been the best summer of my life, hands down, and not just because I got to come to New York and learn all this cool stuff. You guys made it all so memorable for me. And I'll never forget that. I just honestly wonder if this awesome dynamic we have will change. I mean, I've got the football guys, Kurt has Mercedes, and Rachel you have…" he stopped.

"No one," Rachel finished quietly. "I have no one to go back to that I could honestly call my friend." She looked at them, her eyes filled with tears and determination. "Well I for one hope that things don't change between us," she said vehemently. "This has been the first time in my life that I've actually had people I could call true friends. And I'm not about to let that go. And what Rachel Berry wants, Rachel Berry gets!" she finished.

Kurt laughed. "That's my Diva." He leaned in and hugged her. "Rachel, I'm so glad I got to spend this summer with you. I feel like I truly met you. You are such a valuable ally and friend, and I don't see myself ever forgetting that. And honestly, Mercedes and I have barely talked this summer."

Mike and Rachel looked at him with surprise. He just shrugged. "She's been busy with Quinn," he stated simply. Dawning bloomed in their eyes. He looked at Mike, "And since I'm not letting go of Rachel, there's no way either of us are going to let you off the hook, Mister. We'll be here to remind you you're not just a jock and another pretty face, plus you OWE us an audition for "So You Think You Can Dance!"

Mike grinned. "I knew I shouldn't have been worried. Come what may, right?" he said, referring to Rachel and Kurt's favorite movie, Moulin Rouge, and lifted up his glass. "Come what may!" Rachel and Kurt said in unison and the three toasted again and rank libations to their now infamous summer.