A/N: I'm kinda in awe of the response I got to this story : ) Keep the reviews coming PLEASE!

"All right guys, who can tell me what a ballad is?"

"Um who cares what a ballad is?" Megan spoke up, from the corner where she was filing her nails.

"We all should. We have to perform one for sectionals and I for one want to learn everything I can about them." Jenny told her sharply.

"Whatever man-hands."

"Megan." Finn said warningly.

"A ballad's a love song." Alex said, steering the subject back.

"True but it doesn't always have to express love. A ballad is a story set to music. That's why it's the perfect expression of things you can't find any other way to say. This week you're all going to pair up and practice your ballads."

"I call Beth!" Joey said quickly, looking around the room nervously.

"Nope, your partners will be chosen by fate." Finn pulled out the bucket with their names in it. Rachel rolled her eyes; she'd tried to talk him out of this plan.

"One question. We have an odd number, how are we going to pair up?" Raina asked.

"Um, well we could…" Finn looked back at Rachel who shook her head emphatically.

"We'll just have one group of three."

Joey walked up, "Jenny." He read, sounding slightly relieved, then he glanced at Beth and his face dropped, she looked fit to kill.

Raina walked up next "Chelsea." She sighed looking at the clueless blonde.

Beth sighed and stood up. She stomped down. "Alex."

"Great" he muttered, returning her glare. The rest of the kids picked their partners quickly, Dennis, Tessa and Megan forming the group of three.

"Okay guys, have a ballad prepared by Friday. You can go." Finn instructed.

L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L

The next day, Rachel was walking down the hallway when she saw two familiar students standing nose to nose.

"Keep your hands off him! He's my boyfriend and you're just making yourself look like some cheap tramp." Beth's voice softened suddenly. "Look I get where you're coming from. He's one nice looking guy. But he's mine so lay off!"

"Beth I understand your concern but Joey and I have a strictly professional relationship and I am shocked by your accusations! Just because I have a more well-honed voice than you and I am more likely to get the lead in glee club, does not automatically mean I am trying to steal your boyfriend. And for the record, he deserves better than you anyway." She turned to walk away but Beth grabbed her, spinning the smaller girl around to face her.

"What the hell do you mean by that? You're a loser man-hands and you always will be so back off!"

"Beth Corcoran!" Rachel's voice cut across the Cheerio's. "Get to class now! And I expect not to see anyone covered in slushie by the end of the day. Got that?"

"Yes Mrs. Hudson." The girl walked away with her head held high.

"Can I see you in my office Jen?" The small girl nodded, following Rachel to the guidance offices. Rachel waved hello to the other counselor as they entered her office. "Okay, Jenny. First things first. She didn't hurt you at all did she?"

"No ma'am just yelled at me."

"Good. Now let's get things straight okay? This was about the fact that you like Joey, right?"

"Yes." Jenny looked down at her hands. Suddenly she looked up and burst out with, "I don't know why. He's an idiot and he really doesn't have that great of a voice, but there's something that happens when we sing together. I just feel like we're connected."

"First of all Jen, I want you to know that I understand where you're coming from. When I was your age, I had a massive unreciprocated crush on the football quarterback who also happened to be my glee club's male lead."

"Really? What happened?" Rachel laughed.

"I married him."

"Mr. Hudson?"

"Yes indeed."

"Wow."

"Jen, I'm going to give you some advice. Something I learned the hard way over a long painful year. Do what she says and back off."

"What?"

"Back off of him. Beth can do some pretty awful things to you. She rules the school. So my recommendation is that you just be his friend but turn off the flirting. If the two of you are meant to be together it'll happen. Be his friend so that if and when they break up, you'll already have a foot in the door so to speak"

"I understand that. Thanks Mrs. Hudson."

"No problem Jenny, see you in glee. Oh, and Jenny, if you get slushied, come tell me, I WILL give her a detention."

"You don't have to do that Mrs. Hudson, I'm used to it."

"I know." Jenny walked out of Rachel's office slowly. As soon as the door closed, Rachel slammed her head down on her desk. He husband walked in the door a few seconds later as the bell for the final period of the day rang. He always came to her office during his free period before glee club began.

"What's wrong baby?"

"Glee club's resident cheerio decided to stake her claim on her boyfriend today. I just finished talking to Jen."

"That girl reminds me so much of you it's scary."

"And Beth reminds me so much of Quinn, well pre-babygate Quinn that I'm seriously worried for Jen."

"And you feel bad because you know exactly how Jenny feels?" He raised an eyebrow at his high-strung wife before walking behind her and beginning to rub her shoulders soothingly.

"Yes." She sighed, defeated. "And Joey, I don't know. He's not you Finn. I don't think he realizes how Jen feels and I don't think he'd respect it if he knew."

"I know. Really makes you miss high school doesn't it?" She laughed dryly.

"Not at all."

L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L

Rachel and Finn walked into the choir room after school to see Joey sitting in the corner. Beth stormed in right after them.

"We need to talk!"

"We'll leave then" Finn, who'd started talking to Joey, said awkwardly.

"No you stay, I need a witness!" Finn gave Rachel a horrified look. "Megan told me that she saw you actually talking to that little freak today! WHY?"

"Uh, well, I…"

"I don't want to hear your lame excuses just STOP, or I will."

"What?"

"If you don't start pulling your weight in this relationship, it will be over. Ended! You will be done!"

"Beth!" The rest of the glee club started filing in, causing Beth to turn and sit by Joey, continuing to give him death glares.

Rachel sighed, why oh why must glee club always be filled with this drama?

A/N: That was fun : )

I want to "assure" you that Beth will not be such a bitch for the whole story, but she's so fun to write that way, and look at who her parents are. She's not going to be a sweet little angel.

I pulled some stuff from 1.10-Ballads and 1.09-Wheels….can you spot the "resemblances?"

So? Thoughts? Suggestions? Rotten Tomatoes? Let me know!