Chapter Two

It hasn't changed at all. Everything still looks the same; the people and the places look as though they haven't aged a day since I left. Except for Mr. Goodeve, whose hair had gone from grey to stark white. He was the first familiar face I saw while I was driving into town. He was casually strolling down the road with a little body following him by the tail.

"Pull over," mom instructs, and so I do. I had a few reservations about doing so, considering that Mr. Goodeve was Hunter's grandfather. What faster way for Hunter to know that I was truly back then by word-of-mouth through his blood relative?

"Is that little Shelby?" I chuckled slightly at his question. Ever since I was a child, everyone had referred to me as "little Shelby" since I was practically my mother's doppelganger, only younger. Much. Younger. We both had strong, long, brown hair; the same sparkling brown eyes; the same slightly curvy and soft figure; the same passion for singing; etc. Noah, also known as Puck, also resembles my mother and I with the same hair color, eyes, and similar-though not identical-facial structure. Sam was the black sheep of the family. He is what you would refer to as "fair," with blonde hair and blue eyes, and according to my mother, a mirror image of my father when he was younger. Where Sam is a decent 5'11, Noah shyly hits 6'. They're both quite fit regardless. I don't ask how that happened, though I wouldn't solely put the responsibility on the generic "baby fat" answer.

"It is, I suppose," Smiling up at Mr. Goodeve through my window, I put on my best good-girl attitude, "Do you need a ride anywhere?" I could practically hear the corners of my mom's mouth pulling up into a smile.

"Well, I would sure love one, missus," He shuffled over slightly so that a small boy came into view, "This here is Liam, I don't reckon you've met him before," The little boy looks up at me through clear and vibrant blue eyes. I gasp; only one other person has those blue eyes.

"He's…" the question never comes out.

"That is Mr. Goodeve's grandson, Rachel." I nod absentmindedly, my brain working overtime to connect the dots. Why did I, for even a moment, consider that Hunter's life would stop just because I was absent? I had never even considered how things had moved along while I was living my own life out in the city. But, Quinn had never even mentioned this… Maybe she was just sparring me? No. No, there was no reason to spare me because it had nothing to do with me. I smiled down at the boy, noticing the clear resemblance.

"He looks just like his father." I force the words out of my mouth, all the while attempting to be polite.

"He does, doesn't he?" There is so much pride in Mr. Goodeve's eyes that I swallow back my own and nod, a tight but sure smile on my face.

Both the young boy and his great-grandfather climb into the back of my car and then we're off down the road. Mr. Goodeve had had much success during his life. He had been raised here, in this inconsequential small town, and at fifteen, he had moved with his father to Italy, where his father had opened up a restaurant that later led to franchising. Mr. Goodeve studied under his father to one-day take over the businesses, which he never got a chance to do. As my mother had told me, when he was twenty-one he began seeing the now Mrs. Goodeve, and at twenty-three they had their first child. Whether the child was by surprise or planned, Mr. Goodeve left his father and returned to raise his children.

His father passed a few years later and left his entire estate to his son. This left Mr. Goodeve with more than enough money to last a couple of generations and retirement at a very early age.

"…Just right around the corner. You remember, don't you, deary?" Mr. Goodeve's raspy voice prods.

"Yessir," I make a right where he had instructed and drive a few houses down until I arrive at his. Turning into his driveway slowly, I catch a glimpse of his smiling face in the rearview mirror. That Goodeve, he always had such a contagious and warming smile.

"Here we are!" Mother exclaims, AKA Miss Obvious.

"Shelby, Rachel, please come to dinner some time. I'm sure Maria would love to see you." The car shakes slightly as Mr. Goodeve's robust figure exists the vehicle. He sticks a hand out to Liam and he climbs out, his tiny body bouncing up and down in excitement once he touches ground.

"Let's allow Rachel to get settled in first, why don't we?" Mother's hand rests on my forearm, a sign to just agree with her. I nod in pretense agreement and we all say our goodbyes and seeyousoon's. I reverse faster than I entered, making a left and continuing on to our home.

"What was that about?"

"Well, dinner with the Goodeve's would also consist of having Hunter there. I'm not sure if you're ready for that, especially since Finn just-" she stops near end-sentence.

"-died. He died, mom. You can say it." I feel my anger spike. Taking deep breath's is becoming harder every second that Finn's name echoes in my skull.

"Yes. Right-"

"And by the way, you don't have to worry about me. I'm a grown ass woman and I can take care of myself." I slam my hand on the steering wheel, which causes her to jump in alarm.

"You cannot take care of yourself. Your husband died and it's going to hurt, but don't give me this bullshit of self-righteousness. Look at yourself, you're a mess!"

My foot presses down on the brake and the car comes to a halt, rocketing us both into silence. The familiar sharp sensation begins tickling the back of my nose and before I can even stop it, tears are rolling down my face; heavy with regret and with a heavy broken heart.

"I don't-" my breath catches in my throat, "-I don't need this shit from you. I get it!" I turn to her and I can just imagine how she must see me right now, tear stained with wild eyes, hysterical, "I didn't come back because I wanted to, I came back because you dragged me back here!" Without any idea of my actions, I open the door and jump out of the car, slamming it behind me.

"Rachel!" Shelby is out a moment later, rounding the hood of the car to stand by me, "I only want what-"

"-What's best for me, right," I roll my eyes and scoff, "Did you ever stop to think about why I left in the first place?"

"Because of Finn, why else?"

"No, don't you dare blame this on him," My words come spitting out between my teeth, "this place made me crazy. It was always just a different day with the same bullshit! And to top it all off," I lower my voice to a whisper, "why would I want to stay in a place where everyone looked at me as the whore's daughter?"

Realization hit the moment the words left my lips. Mother's hands dropped from her sides as everything else fell from her face. Her eyes are as tired and weary as my own, but this time, it was my fault. Wait, hadn't it always been? She shuffles backward; her eyes look at everything but at me.

"Get in the car." She slips into the driver's seat and slams the door beside her.

"I'd rather walk." out of spite.

"Alright," she turns to look at me through the window, a mix of regret and furiousness in her eyes, "we moved, by the way. I won't bother you with the new address."

With that she drives away, leaving a trail of dust in the air. Sighing, I look around. If I recall correctly, the town center should be just a couple of blocks from here. Once I get there I could ask just about anybody to point me in the direction of the house. In such a small town, everybody knew everything.

My feet move, driven by nothing but memory, as I try to calm the turmoil within me. The only thing that has me truly pissed is that she would blame Finn for this. If she was so easy to blame him, then what is stopping the rest of the town from doing so? Did my actions taint his memory? Fuck. No, stop thinking about this, Rachel, I scold myself mentally.

I can feel the heavy sun burning my skin, so I focus on that while I drag my feet across town until-

"Rachel?" I spin in the direction of my name, "is that really you?"

"Quinn?" The smile on my face is completely genuine.

"You're really back?" She steps out of her car and practically runs into my arms. Her small frame fits perfectly in my arms, just like old times, "It's so so so good to see you!" Apparently, one "so" just wasn't enough. Laughter escapes my lips as we part our embrace.

"Yeah, I'm still trying to get re-used to everything," I walk her back to her car and we both lean into it, looking at each other, "you look great," and she truly does. Her blonde hair is shoulder length, and it curves inward slightly, framing her face perfectly. Her green eyes have the same sparkle that they always did and she is decked out in a fabulous denim skirt and graphic tee, with flats to top it all off.

"And you're still as beautiful as ever," she smiles, "let's grab lunch at Breadstix? Laughing, I agree and jump into her car. Breadstix used to be our high school tradition up until I left, every Friday at 5 o'clock.

"Your new place is beautiful, by the way. It was nice of your mother to do that for you." Her perfectly manicured hands drum on the steering wheel along to whatever hit is on the radio.

"What are you talking about?" I look at her curiously. Shock coats her face and she covers her mouth with one of her hands.

"Shoot, you didn't know?" She winces as she places her hand back on the wheel. "Well, oops?"

"Details, Quinn." my tone is impatient.

"Geez, okay." She clears her throat, which has always been the Quinn way of dropping a bomb. "She felt bad about, y'know, what happened, so she wanted to make you as comfortable as possible here."

"Uh-huh, and..." I nudge her on as I stand on the brink of practically yelling.

"She came to my dad and he sold a house to her. For you." She smiles, proud of herself.

"Ah, crap." I face-palm, a little too forcefully.

"What is it?"

"I called her a whore like, fifteen minutes ago, which is why I was on the side of the road."

"Wait, she left you stranded there?" Her voice goes up an octave.

"Yeah."

"Go Shelby!" She laughs so hard that her shoulders begin to shake, "Consider it a blessing. I would have ran you over, not left you standing."

"Yeah, yeah. What now?" I look at her sideways, the same way I used to look at her five years ago.

"Now we eat lunch and we catch up, and then you go apologize to your mother."

"When did you become the responsible one?" I chuckle, remembering how that had always been my job while she went bat-shit crazy.

"Since you left." Her somber tone calms me down and I look out the window. "You didn't think about who you were leaving behind, did you? You only though about who you were leaving with."

The guilt that I had been trying to hard to leave hidden rose up my throat then, like vile.

"I'm sorry," is all I can say.

But I didn't really know what I was sorry for. For being selfish? Growing up I had always been taught to put myself first, but was that still the case if it compromised other people's lives? Being back had not only forced my old life back, but it was also leaving me with more questions than I could have ever imagined.

"Dee-licious!" Quinn exclaims as she takes the last bite of our shared Brownie Cheesecake. I sip on my milkshake, allowing the cold liquid to waken up my tiring body.

"Hey, are you seeing anyone right now?" I ask out of curiosity. Quinn is a beautiful woman and senior year had been her prime for attention.

"Mike." she smiles sheepishly.

"Wait, Mike Chang? As in, Hunter's-best-friend Mike Chang?" I practically yelled over the music in the restaurant.

"As in Hunter's-best-friend-Mike Chang, yes," her happiness makes her glow, "two years now."

"But you never mentioned that in your e-mails, and..." My thoughts all jumped in front of the other, "You guys almost never talked in high school." I recall how much shit Quinn used to talk about Mike and how he would maliciously tease her in return.

"Cat, high school was five years ago. Plus, it's a small town. The selection isn't very wide." She stresses the first part.

"Right, I keep forgetting." I place my hand in my hand and stare down at the marble topped table; my reflection stares back at me. I look as miserable as I ever have.

"Hey, come on now." Quinn's small hand wraps around my free one and she tugs at it gently. I look up at her vibrant face. "Whatever happened, happened. You are here now. I know it's not under the best of circumstances but who says you can't enjoy it while it lasts?"

I open my mouth but close it right away. Quinn tilts her head, confused, while silently nudging me on.

"I feel like..." the tension within me is so built that it takes me a couple of moments to release everything and just let it out, "why should I get to enjoy anything when Finn is-"

"No, don't," Quinn looks almost angry now, "this isn't your fault. None of this is your fault and you can't blame yourself for something that was completely out of your control. The only person punishable for this is-" She stops short, not wanting to say what I know we've all dreaded coming to terms with. I can see tears brimming her eyes but she pushes them back, "-I'm sorry to bring it up all over again, I'm sure it's the last thing you wanted to talk about, but it is what it is."

This is when I realize that I'm not the only person that lost someone. Finn wasn't just mine. He belonged to everyone else just as much as he belonged to me. I wasn't the only one mourning this loss even though it felt like I was in it alone. This is when the guilt ate away at all of my words and it left me as empty and desolate as a barren desert.

A/N I will try to make the chapter's longer if you guys would like. There may be a few typo's and plot mistakes but I just wanted to update now and I'll replace the chapter once I've gotten a chance to sit down and look at it. Work is keeping me busy, sorry!

Please review! I'd like to know what you guys think.

Also, please keep in mind that while I did post this under the Glee section, it will NOT specifically follow the plot or relationships that the show does. Never-before seen characters from Glee will be injected into the story, such as Hunter. Please keep an open mind while reading. Thank you.