Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the characters.
Side note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed the story and also to everyone who has read it. I hope you enjoy it.
Mike Chan stood next to his best friend Matt's locker, "Can you believe what Rachel did to Puck, Finn, and Jesse?" Matt asked in disbelief.
"What all she did was try to change her image? I mean yeah maybe telling all the guys that she was using all of them might have been better but dude all of those guys have been just as shitty to her." Mike defended.
Matt stared at his friend in disbelief, "You are on her side?"
"Sure, look Finn was dating Quinn when he started messing with Rachel. Then when he is done with Quinn he chooses not to be with Rachel because it might hurt his rep and because he wants to see other girls. Puck dated Rachel because he wanted to please his mother but the whole time he was with her he wanted Quinn, which is why Rachel broke up with him. And then there is this new kid Jesse who just comes on to the stage, saying he is giving up everything to be with Rachel. There is no way that kid is playing a straight game on any level and I think Rachel being done with him now will really screw with whatever his plans were." Matt just stood staring at Mike, he jaw dropped at how observant Mike had obviously been at the pains of Rachel Berry's love life. "All three of them screwed with her, don't see why they can't learn what it is like."
"How did you learn all that stuff about Berry?"
"I pay attention and we actually take the same dance class at the center, so I have overheard most of it while she is talking to the girls there."
"Rachel has friends outside of glee?" Matt didn't think Rachel was a bad person to know but he also knew her popularity was almost none existent.
"Rachel doesn't have friends in glee, she knows what they say behind her back but she doesn't want anymore drama so she never brings it up. You know in dance class Rachel is really a different person, and since her cousin joined Rachel has really allowed herself to enjoy it for the fun it is." Mike said picking his bag up off the floor heading to homeroom.
"Cousin huh? Girl or guy?"
"Girl."
"Smoking?"
"Well she looks a lot like Rachel so yeah I would say smoking." Mike couldn't seem to stop himself before admitting that he thought Rachel was hot.
"Speaking of smoking, when did Barry get a motorcycle?" Matt pointed out the front windows next to their homeroom. Mike watched as Rachel pulled off the helmet that matched her bike, he couldn't stop staring at the legs hugging the bike as she parked it. He watched as the person on the bike next to her copied her movements. "So that must be Rachel's cousin?"
"Yeah, wow I didn't even know she knew how to ride a bike." Matt grabbed his friend's arm steering him into their homeroom before they were late.
Rachel took her helmet securing it on the bike before shaking out her long brown hair. "That was a great ride."
"Yeah, I think I saw some of the faces in the parking lot drop when they saw you get off the bike."
Rachel dismissed her cousin's comment; Rachel knew that her arrival at school would be dismissed quickly since it was nothing that could be used to embarrass her. "Come on I'll show you where the office is." Rachel threaded her arm through her cousin's and they sashayed their way into school.
Rachel didn't have too many classes with Kali due to the fact that Kali was a junior but she was pleased that they had the same lunch period and a free period together afterwards. "You realize that you are my crutch for like the next week until I get the hang of being at this high school again."
"I don't know how great I am going to be when everyone wants to talk to you and I am left sitting on the sidelines." Rachel admitted sadly, the one person she could never lie to was Kali.
"Don't even start with that stuff because trust me there is nobody in this world who could pull me away from you." Kali assured her cousin, hugging her as they went their separate ways.
Puck allowed his mind to wander away from the history lesson his English teacher was trying to give on Shakespeare, 'I wonder if my daughter will have my eyes or Quinn's? Will we raise her Jewish or Christian?' All of these thoughts running through his head had him so distracted that he missed when the English teacher stopped talking to welcome a new student to the class.
"Everyone I would like for you to welcome Kaliope Zimmerman."
"Kali is fine." She informed her teacher. Kali took the only seat available, at the back of the class and next to the one person she least expected. Taking a deep breath Kali settled in. As long as he didn't notice her then there was no point of bringing attention to herself. Thankfully the class ended without her presence being detected and she slipped out of the class.
"How were your classes so far?" Rachel asked as they walked to the lunchroom. Lunch had become the least favorite part of Rachel's day since she and Jesse had broken up, she had to sit alone again. Kali being back changed that but Rachel also knew that if anyone picked on her today Kali was going to get in trouble.
"Classes are interesting. It appears that the stars have aligned against me again at this school. I have every class with him." Kali informed her cousin while they decided on lunch.
"I'm sorry." Rachel squeezed her cousin's hand in sympathy. She was sorry for two reasons, that her cousin was in pain and because Rachel felt horrible for having ever dated him. Kali had been fine with it, no harm done, and she was happy because somebody had cared for Rachel at least for a little while. "I know being back here is hard but I also know that there is nothing in this world you can't do."
"Thanks for the encouragement Rachel. Now come on, juniors can leave for lunch and I am not feeling this lunchroom." Kali nodded her head towards the tables full of jocks and cheerleaders and every other person in this school who had made Rachel's life hell since Kali left. "I bet I can talk Figgins into letting me take you with me."
Twenty minutes later Rachel clung to Kali's back as they raced down the highway. Kali was more experienced on the bike so she took a few more risks on speed, as long as Rachel was fully suited up. They had more than an hour to kill before they would have to head back to finish the remainder of their classes. Kali pulled up to a nice bistro on Main Street and parked.
"I bet Aunt Barbra is going to be surprised to see you." Rachel informed her cousin as they stepped into the dining area. An older woman with short grey hair styled conservatively greeted them.
"Welcome to Le Chateau, just two today?"
"Yes please." Rachel answered sweetly. The hostess led them to a table on the patio that had the right amount of sun and shade. "I'll send your server right over."
"Thank you. Could you please tell Mrs. Berry that her niece is here?" Rachel asked the lady before she departed, receiving a nod of acceptance.
"So tell me about what you are planning for your audition." Kali told her cousin as she sipped on the tea the server had brought out.
"Well I know I am going to sing "Mama You Bore" as my song from the play, I figure since it is your solo that you would recognize all the pitches I need to hit." Kali nodded in agreement. "However, I am stuck on the freestyle song. The one you sang was so lovely and fit you well but I can't seem to find which one would fit for me."
"Rachel anything you sing is going to be stunning but where is all this self doubt coming from? The Rachel I know never second guessed her ability to pull the right song out of her hat for any occasion. This drama going on with the Glee Club and school is only temporary, you need to remember that you are a Berry and there is nothing we can't do." Rachel couldn't help but hug her cousin across the table; Kali always knew how to make a person feel better.
"Oh look at my bubbies, Rachel, Kali! Come give your auntie a hug." Aunt Barbra was their great aunt, well into her 70's but still as spry as a 50 year old. Her soft face covered in wrinkles had the biggest grin imaginable; her eyes were still sharp and shining with joy. Lunch was enjoyable and all too soon it was time for the trip back to school.