Finn

The one, and the only, thing Finn Hudson hated about summer was that it had to end. He had spent two glorious months with his girlfriend, Rachel, and patching things up with Noah Puckerman proved easier when he didn't have to see him and his ex-girlfriend, Quinn Fabray together. Of course, once school started, he would be seeing a lot of them but he didn't mind. He had Rachel now, right? Right. Quinn and Puck weren't really even going out anyway.

Another thing Finn disliked about the end of the summer, (not the summer itself because then that would be two things Finn didn't like. He didn't want that) was Kurt Hummel. Over the summer, when the Hummel's and Hudson's joined houses and forgotten the whole debacle of Finn calling Kurt's room at large a fag, the smaller boy had opened up to him, about everything, and completely dropped his ice queen façade, and going back to school would put those walls right back up, Finn was sure of it. And he really didn't want that.

So, on the first day of school, Finn contemplated refusing to go to school. Of course, being his almost step brother, Kurt had fought that, saying he wouldn't let Finn miss the first day of school, he was dumb enough already, blah, blah, blah. Finn had to give in, naturally. Kurt always won their battles. Usually it was because he called Finn something that he didn't understand and so he stopped struggling or talking to ponder the meaning and Kurt would overpower him. Obviously, being on the Cheerios had made him stronger. Feeling defeat at Kurt's outburst of, "You are such a twat chop!" and Finn had to wonder where Kurt had picked that one up. He figured it must have been one of those fashion shows he watched. They were always saying things like that to one another.

"So, Finn," Kurt said to him once they were both eating breakfast. "Will you be carpooling this morning with me or... Rachel?"

Finn knew Kurt still wasn't the biggest fan of Rachel Berry. That was fair, not a lot of people were. Hell, even Finn wasn't some days. "You of course."

Kurt smiled in approval and got up to wash his bowl in the sink. "We better get moving. I want to avoid my usual eight o'clock dumpster dive on my first day back. I just got this Marc Jacob's coat and I don't want it ruined. If you don't mind."

Finn frowned. Even though Kurt had spent most of his time with Finn, and even Puck, over the summer, he still had it in his head that people wanted to throw him in dumpsters and throw slushies on him. Well, he was probably right about the slushie part, but Finn had always thought Puck was the one throwing people in the dumpsters, and he wouldn't throw his Princess in the dumpster, not now.

"...Finn? Earth to Finn!" Kurt waved his hands in Finn's face, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Uh, sure that's fine Kurt," Finn said, putting his spoon down and nodding vigorously, like he always did when he was pretending to not have zoned out. "But I still don't think you have anything to worry about."

"Noah isn't the only one who threw me in the dumpster," Kurt pointed out. "Azimo has gotten me a few times. Actually, once Noah joined Glee, Azimo was the only one doing it."

Finn sighed, knowing he was, as always, fighting a losing battle against the soprano. Giving up would probably be the best option for him. Kurt smiled as he realized he had won yet another battle. Finn would get him. Somehow.

"Finn, dude, did you get a load of the new Cheerios? I swear they make them better every year!"

Finn smiled at Puck's analysis on the new cheerleaders. He hadn't really noticed them because he had spent all day looking for Rachel. Artie had told him in passing that there was a Glee club meeting for all the old members to discuss auditions for the list of new members wanting to join. Finn wanted to know if Rachel had anything to do with it, but she wasn't in any of his classes and she wouldn't answer his texts. He figured it was because she was trying to make a good impression on the teachers she had this year.

"If you Neanderthals would open your eyes you would see that these new Cheerios are also looking more and more like toddlers every year." Finn looked around to see Kurt in his Cheerio uniform, clutching his books to his chest, walking happily in step with Puck. Obviously he had gotten the message too, so the three of them headed toward the choir room excitedly. Kurt had been helping both Puck and Finn with their dance moves, so they were anxious to see how they would match up this year with Mike and Matt's talent. Kurt had told them that was probably a little over-ambitious, because Mike and Matt were exceptional dancers and Puck and Finn had only practiced for two months.

"I wish you would stop calling me that, Princess," Puck said, mussing up Kurt's hair affectionately. "I can't spell it so I can't Google it, and no one will tell me what it means."

"I'll tell you how to spell it," Kurt replied. "N-O-A-H. Google that."

Puck didn't have time to reply, because they had reached the choir room. Mr. Schuster wasn't in yet, but the rest of the club was, minus Rachel, was. Finn was bewildered at Rachel's absence. She was usually the first on in the choir room, wasn't she? Maybe she dropped her sheet music or something. That must be it. Didn't that happen last time she was late for Glee? Yeah it did. Puck knocked her sheet music out of her arms and she needed to pick it up. Finn knew it was Puck because it was before the whole Babygate drama when Puck joined Glee and it was just the five of them, and Puck had thought what he had done was hilarious and needed to be shared during football practice, in between calling Finn out for joining Homo Explosion.

The club chatted about their summers with the members they hadn't seen over the break. Finn actually found himself in a conversation with Artie Abrams and Tina Cohen-Chang and didn't feel weird about it. Tina had always kind of freaked him out, with her goth clothes and crazy make up. She was actually pretty normal though. So Finn had learned something today. He was proud. He had almost fallen asleep during classes today, even in Mr. Schue's Spanish class, which he failed, so he had to take again. He didn't really mind, Mr. Schue was pretty cool. Speaking of the teacher... Where was he?

He wasn't the only one wondering. Mercedes Jones, who a lot of people just called Aretha, had gotten up and peeked out the door to see if he was coming down the hall. Obviously he wasn't because she came back in and shrugged, returning to her seat.

"So... we're missing our teacher and co-captain," Quinn said. "Some meeting."

"Do you think Rachel tried to copy more fliers to advertise the Glee club again?" Artie asked sceptically.

"No, she would have told me," Finn replied. "Probably. I don't know. Maybe she is... But I don't think so. She has it in her head that now the whole school knows we lost Regionals last year that more people are going to want to join to help us out. She's been doing enough talking about it, she won't need fliers."

All the eleven teenagers looked at eachother with similar expressions of curiosity. It really wasn't like Rachel, or even Mr. Schue to be so late. No one seemed to want to leave, however.

Their waiting paid off soon enough; five minutes later, Mr. Schue came wandering in the choir room, clutching a piece of paper and wearing a shocked face.

"What is it?" Puck asked immediately. "We're not being kicked out of the choir room are we?"

"No," Mr. Schue said. "Finn? Can you come read this for me? It'll only take a second."

Finn stood and crossed the room to take the paper from Mr. Schue's outstretched hand. It was in Rachel's handwriting. Finn stared at it before he actually read it.

Dear fellow (or, former I should say) glee clubbers,

As you know, it is my biggest ambition to become a star, and as you also know I will do anything to achieve stardom. Well, a wonderful opportunity has finally arisen! Shelby, who you should all know by now is my mother, has decided to move to New York with Beth. I imagine she's told you, Quinn. Even if she hasn't, she still is. And I've decided to go with her! Yes, you heard right, I, Rachel Barbra Berry, am going to New York!

I know this might come as a shock, as even though I've been planning for a while, I haven't told anyone, not even Finn. I know you won't miss me much, just my talent. Well, you have the auditions coming up so I wish you good luck in finding a new leading lady.

Leaving for New York not only provides a bonding experience with my mother and new sister, but it also provides me the opportunity to get noticed. It's easier to get noticed in New York than in a cow town like Lima where no one appreciates me and I have no real friends.

Sincerely,

Rachel Berry.

Finn stood there in surprise. Rachel left for New York without telling him? How could she do this to him?

"She's gone," he said hoarsely. "She went to New York. Rachel..."

He didn't have to even form a sentence for it to sink in to the rest of the club.

Their star was gone. They were doomed.

A/N: Firstly, I want to say I do not own Glee. I do not own the characters, and this plot was just an errant thought in my head during math class last week. I also know there may be mistakes, because I do not have a beta, but I tried my best. There will be spoilers, but only the obvious ones that everyone knows about, like Kurt getting a boyfriend, the Mike+Tina romance, and I heard one about Mercedes getting a man too, and I really love Mercedes so even if that one isn't true I'll use it anyway. Rachel is a little out of character, but I'm kind of building on the idea that she's been thinking of going with Shelby to New York for a while. I'll explain it all when I do her chapter. I realize it isn't the best fic but it's my first so I'll have time to grow. Hope you at least somewhat liked it! :)