A/N

Yes, this is not my best chapter, sorry.

It was the day after Blaine did the live performance, Ron had everyone in the kitchen so he could give the verdict. Blaine was a little giddy that morning, and from all the awkward giggles between him and Kurt that morning, Rachel had a disturbing idea why.

"Alright everyone, I would like to start off by saying thank you to Spencer," he said, nodding over at the brunette. "For getting us packed last night. Let's all clap for Spencer." everyone did so. "And also to Blaine, for playing kick ass songs last night." the clapping continued. "Now, I can safely say, that the way things are going, last month might as well didn't happen!" the clapping got louder and Dominick and Randall whooped.

"To celebrate, we are all going out to the bar tonight!" Randall and Dominick got louder. "Now I know Kelsey, Blaine, and Rachel are not legal so you guys can have a coke or something. Or if you get caught drinking I'm not busting you out of jail. And Blaine, you should see if Kurt can come." he added. "I didn't really get to meet him yesterday."

"Sure." Blaine grinned, blushing.

"Someone got laid last night." Dominick sang from behind the counters, Randall snorting next to him. Blaine got even redder.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Anyway, get back to pretending to work." Dominick came over to Rachel and grabbed her shoulders and planted a big kiss on her cheek."

"What the-?"

"Thank you Miss. Rachel for doing the dishes for me yesterday." he said, smiling stupidly.

Rachel laughed, knowing it was a friendly gesture. She glanced at Spencer, who stood next to her. "Spencer helped, you know."

"Oh?" Dominick said, looking at Spencer curiously. Spencer took a step back, staring at him threw narrowed eyes. "Well, come here big boy."

"Dominick, no-" he tried to duck around Dominick, but Dominick wrapped his bear arms around Spencer and planted a big kiss on Spencer's cheek, making a nice wet smooch sound. "Ugh!" Dominick laughed, him and Randall high fiving. "Gross."

"I'm gonna' have a smoke before work. You coming, Rach?" Rachel nodded at Ali and they went out back. Every time Ali had a smoke break, Rachel would go with her, never actually smoking. But Ali would always offer.

"So." Rachel started carefully as Ali lit her first cigarette. "I heard from Spencer that you use to want to be on Broadway."

Ali didn't seem affected at by that statement. "Yeah, that was a long time ago."

Rachel nodded for a moment. Ali and her became fast friends, Ali being the calm to Rachels crazy. But she was still scared to ask. "Well, I was just wondering... why..."

"He told you I don't sing anymore I'm guessing?" she asked, blowing out smoke. Rachel nodded, wringing her hands. "Well, its true that I don't." she paused. "Two years ago, I walked down town to do some shopping. I was young and naive. I thought I could make it. This guy recognized me from one of my auditions, he was an assistant or something he said. His boss was interested in me he said, and to come down to his office the next day."

"That doesn't sound legitment." Rachel said, a sudden sick feeling in her stomach.

"Sounds fishy, right?" she laughed. "Well, that's what Randall said. He said I shouldn't go, it didn't make sense that someone's boss wanted to meet me, but I wanted to believe I was the one that got away. So I went, but Randall insisted on driving me. It was a warehouse more than anything, when Randall saw he tried to talk me out of going, but I was determined. He said fine, but he wasn't leaving until I sent him a text when I got in and met the guy. So I went in and no one was there except the assistant, and when I asked him where his boss was, he told me to follow him to his office.

"When I got in the office, he closed the door and no one was in there either. Before I could ask what was going on, he threw me on the floor." she paused, glancing at Rachel. "I shouldn't have been so stupid."

"Did he...?" Rachel asked, waiting for the happy ending.

"Yup." she said, shrugging. "It didn't take him long, I had been trying to get dressed and while he was getting dressed to leave, the door opened and Randall came in." she shuttered. "I was on the floor half naked with blood all over my legs, he lost it. And this guy wasn't small, like the homophobe from yesterday. He was just as tall as Randall, and just as big if not bigger. So they started fighting, and I called the cops before one of them could kill the other."

"Oh God." Rachel whispered, hot tears in her eyes. "What happened to Randall?"

"Charges were dropped." she said. "His sentence was lessened if he dropped the charges and he doesn't have to register as a sex offender."

"But he-"

"Randall would have been sent to jail for two years." she interupted. "He did more damage to the guy then he did to Randall. And for it not to be on his records, I thought it was a good deal. Hey, don't cry." she said, looking at Rachels face and putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm fine now."

"I'm so sorry." Rachel said. "Are... are you and Randall close?"

Ali smiled. "I'd say so."

"Are you two...?"

"No." she said quickly. "I don't get into relationships."

"Don't you want to fall in love?"

"Ain't no such thing for me." Ali said, flicking her butt. "He is a good guy though." Rachel frowned, but she stepped forward and hugged Ali, and Ali hugged back without hesitation.

Ali was such a calm, loving person. How anyone could violate her like that made Rachel darn near throw up. She couldn't imagine, horrible things like that had never happened in Lima. But they did in the big bad city they did, to good innocent girls like Ali.

...

The day passed without anything interesting happening, other then Colette going full on crazy on some customer who was not satisfied with the food("You would not know good food if eet bit you in zee ass!"), but not much else happened. After work, they took the bus to Rons favorite bar, who he said "loved gays" and "weird people". Blaine told them Kurt would meet them there.

Ron bought everyones first drink, Rachel had a Shirley Temple. She sat and watched Ali play pool with Dominick and Randall. Colette was at the bar getting hit on, and many girls went up to Ron but he shrugged them off, sitting at a table next to Rachel with Spencer by him. Blaine was staring at the door until Kurt walked in, grinning and going to meet him.

Rachel noticed a lot of gay couples there, oddly. But Ron told him that if an owner of a bar was tolerant of gay people, they advertised it. Rachel thought that was odd, but to each his own.

Rachel pulled out her phone when she felt it buzz. An unknown number texted her.

Its Jesse. You haven't called me yet! -J

Rachel furrowed her brow. Haven't had the time. How did you get my number? -R

Your number hasn't changed since high school, Rach. -J

Oh, right. -R

So I was wondering what your plans for the night are. -J

She chewed on her lip. I'm at a bar, drinking a Shirley Temple with some people I work with -R

Maybe I could stop by? -J

Did she want that? "Hey, Kurt?" she said. The boy looked down at her from his spot next to Blaine, who had his arm around his waist.

"Hm?"

"I ran into Jesse yesterday."

He gasped. "Gross."

"You know, I was thinking of inviting him here." she said, not assured by his reaction.

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Why? Rachel, you are not thinking of-" he stopped himself, then pulled away and sat next to Rachel. "You're not thinking about dating him again, are you?"

"I think that Jesse and I were good together-" she ignored the snort Kurt gave. "-and perhaps the best way to get over Sam it to-"

"Date someone that isn't right for you." he said dully.

She sighed. "I don't know why I asked you. I'm inviting him anyway." anything to get over Sam. She started to text Jesse the address.

"Just be careful, hun." he said seriously. She gave him a curious look. "This has all potential for you to get hurt."

Worse then last time? she thought. I doubt it.

Rachel had been in New York for three months. Things changed, things stayed the same;

She was able to go hours without thinking about Sam. It hurt less to think about him.

She started dating Jesse St. James again. Ever since he went to the bar with them and was nice and gentlemanly, took her home and kissed her at the door. She felt nothing when he kissed her, but she would get use to that. Kurt hated it whenever he came over to the apartment, but most of the time he didn't say anything rude. Well, at least half the time he didn't anyway. But Jesse was good to her, sang with her, gave her intelecutual conversation. Something every girl wanted.

Randall was more outgoing around her now. And the more she looked, the more she saw the glances and small touches between him and Ali.

Ali became the closest female friend she had ever had. Ali didn't get annoyed with her at all, she was a downright saint.

Rachel was comfortable with all of them, and they got to know her more demanding side, and was soon called, 'girl Spencer'.

She also found out that Ron use to be the lead in the Warblers. Spencer told him his voice was just like the guy from the band 'Say Anything'. Rachel looked up that band when she got home. Rachel demanded to know why he didn't sing live performances. He shrugged. "Maybe next week." he had said every week.

The live performances took off great, and Rachel even sang sometimes. She loved it.

Rachel also found out another interesting thing one day before work. It started when she was in the kitchen, talking to Ali and Dominick. "Don't you think its weird that Ron never goes for all of the girls that hit on him?" it was true, whenever they went out or even just at the restraunt girls fawned over his good looks.

But Ali and Dominick looked at her like she asked a stupid question. She returned that look with a confused one. "Oh my God she doesn't know." Ali said.

"Know what?" Rachel asked.

"Ron is gay." Dominick said.

Rachels jaw dropped. "What?"

Ali looked at Dominick. "I suppose it is surprising. It just seems like fact, but I was shocked too."

He shrugged. "Same here I guess."

"Wait, he is gay?" Rachel said.

"Who's gay?" Blaine said, just then getting in.

"Ron." Rachel said, expecting him to be shocked.

"Yeah." Blaine said slowly, raising an eyebrow.

"You knew?"'

"Ever since I met him." Blaine said. "I could have sworn I told you, I mean I know I told Kurt."

"I am just shocked right now." Rachel breathed. Rachel of all people knew there wasn't a type when it came to who was gay and who wasn't, but Ron? He seemed so... not gay. Great, that's what all ignorant people say, Rachel thought, mentalling slapping herself. "I just didn't see him as being gay."

"Who's gay?" Deja vu, but this time Ron walked in. Rachel shut her mouth immediately, embbarassed.

"You, boss." Dominick said. "Rachel didn't know."

Ron flicked his wrist in a stereotypical gay way. "Shoot, me?"

Rachel looked down at her feet, face flaming. Great, now he would think she thought of him differently and think she was ignorant and now they would kick her out of their family- "Sorry."

She looked up when he didn't say anything, fearing the worst, but his eyebrow was raised. "Why?"

"It's just... I..."

He laughed. "Rachel, seriously its no problem. Whether they remember it or not, everyone was just as shocked." he gave her shoulder a pat. "Now seriously, don't sweat it. And where the hell is Spencer? He's-" Ron stopped, eyes widening, mouth slightly opened. "He's late." he looked at Dominick. "He's late!"

Rachel was about to start laughing, but when her eyes landed on Dominick, he looked just as serious. "He's late!" he echoed, looking frantic. He started grinning. "Spencer's late!"

The kitchen doors burst open and a very out of breath Spencer appeared, looking distressed. "Late!" Ron yelled, pointing at him.

"Oh God, Ron I am so sorry. I'm sorry, my alarm didn't go off I'm sorry it-" he was red in the face, panting. "I didn't mean to, please don't fire me I can't afford to lost this job it wont happen again."

Ron's face dropped and he looked annoyed. "You are sucking the fun out of this for us."

"Seriously." Dominick agreed. "We were just going to give you a hard time."

But now Ron looked concerned, staring at Spencer while worrying hit bottom lip between his teeth. "Is everything alright Spence?" Rachel looked past the red face and saw under his eyes were purple, and his face was littered with worry. His eyes shined slightly, like he was about ready to cry, and his mop of a hair was in slight disarray. She didn't even think about how for the first time someone referred to him as Spence. "Put some coffee on for Spencer." Ron said firmly, looking at Colette and Ron. Colette nodded and began to make the coffee.

Spencer sat down on a small loveseat Ron bought last week that was put in the kitchen, which sounded weird but working there, Rachel was used to the weird stuff. He ran a hand threw his hair, staring at nothing across the room with wide eyes. Ron sat on the arm, right next to him, and Rachel sat on the other side.

While Colette was making the coffee, Randall and Kelsey walked in. Immediately they could tell from the tense air and quiet room that something was wrong. "What's going on?" Kelsey asked, her pretty eyes landing on Spencer. Randall glanced to his best friend Dominick, who shook his head. Rachel didn't know what the meant, but the two seemed to understand each other because Randall moved into the room wordlessly.

Blaine was silent, standing next to Ali, both looking worried. If Rachel took a step back from the situation and just looked around, she would see everyone coming together when she saw one person from their family down, all waiting to figure out what happened.

Colette walked gracefully around the kitchen counter/island and bent at her knees and held out the coffee cup. He smiled at her, looking through his hair that rested in front of his eyes. He took it and she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She stood up and took her spot next to the oven.

"What's up, Spence?" Ron asked, his arm laid across the back of the couch.

Spencer sipped at the coffee, swallowing loudly. "I'm really close to my little sister Aubrey." he said.

"This I know." Ron said.

"Rachel and Blaine don't." Spencer said. "Anyway, you both know my family doesn't care much for me, but Aubrey and I always got along, ever since we were little she was my best friend." he took another drink. "She is in the hospital right now."

Everyone gasped, Rachel perhaps the loudest. "Oh God, what happened?"

"She was walking down Ocean Boardwalk and she was mugged. She screamed for help and he-" Spencer chocked suddenly. "She got shot." it got so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Rachel couldn't look anywhere other then Spencer's pain stricken face. "I got a call last night and I went to the hospital right away and she was in surgery. She is stable now."

"Why didn't you call me?" Ron asked, sounding annoyed. "Why are you even here?"

Spencer shook his head. "I'm not allowed into the hospital until later. She is in the ICU."

"That doesn't explain why you are here." the auburn male said, rubbing distractedly at his tattooed arms. "You should be home-"

"No." Spencer said, shaking his head. "I don't want to be at home right now with nothing to do except sit around waiting for bad news. I want to be here, with all my usual distractions." he stood up, avoiding everyones eyes. "Can we please get to work now?"

Ron chewed his lip, but nodded. "Well, you heard him; get to work."

"God, I can't believe that." Rachel was saying as she applied a natural shade of lipstick to her lips. She was in Kurts bathroom, which was much larger then hers, mirrors surrounding three sides. She stood in front of the mirror as she got ready for her date that night, Kurt next to her sitting on the counter. "Poor Spencer."

"That is sad." Kurt said, frowning. "Maybe I should go buy pepper spray for you or something tomorrow."

Rachel snorted. "Because people wont notice a well dressed man walking down the street and not think of mugging him."

"Hasn't happened yet." Kurt said cheerfully. "Oh dear God Rachel I have seen children do their lipstick better. Come here." he commanded. He took her face in her hands and wiped some away, then reapplying it.

"Thanks." she said, smoothing her dress. "What are you Blaine going to do tonight?"

Kurt shrugged. "We are just going to stay in. I'm much too tired to go out tonight. And some game is on right now. I think its football."

Rachel laughed. "Its baseball. Football is done for now." she almost frowned, remembering she only knew that because of Sam. "Are you going to watch with him then?"

It was Kurts turn to laugh. "Yeah, I am going to watch baseball. Yup. Definitely. No, I'm going to go over Ms. Vons' schedule this week. She has a tendency to think she can be in two places at once, so I should do that before I run into any problems."

There was a knock against the door frame. "Hey, Jesse is here."

"Thanks Blaine." she grinned. "How do I look?"

"Stunning." Blaine said sincerely, then dissapearing.

"I agree." Kurt said.

"Have fun watching baseball." Rachel joked, grabbing her purse. Kurt rolled his eyes but gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Have fun with asshole." he grinned, and sadly comments like that didn't bug Rachel. She walked out of the bathroom to find Jesse in the kitchen, waiting for her. "Hello, Jesse." Kurt said politely.

"Hello Kurt." he nodded, then smirked at Rachel. "Hello, beautiful. You ready?"

Rachel smiled as he kissed her cheek. "Yes."

The two walked down her street to the restraunt, passing by Marvel headquarters, another painful reminder of her ex, a few clothing stores that Kurt didn't care for, and a music and record shop Blaine loved and frequently dragged Kurt to. They passed by that Star bucks that was near the bus stop, so Blaine and Rachel went there a lot for breakfast. She had explored the whole block with Kurt a week after they moved in, and she knew her way around pretty well.

He made reservations at a fancy Italian restraunt and mostly talked about his dance studio he owned. Rachel listened, like she always did, but her thoughts kept leading to Spencer. She made him promise to text her with good or bad news, but she hadn't gotten anything yet. "Rachel?" she gave a slight start, looking at Jesse.

"I'm sorry, what?" she said, fiddling with her fork.

"You seem distracted." he said, pulling her fork away and setting it down. "Is everything alright?"

She shrugged. "Yeah, I'm just out of it I guess. My friend Spencer had something horrible to him last night and I'm just waiting to see if things are okay."

"How sad." Jesse said, not seeming too interested. "How are your auditions coming?"

"I haven't really signed up for any lately." she said with a sigh.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Because you had a bad first audition?"

Rachel blinked, taken aback. It took time to getting use to his brash. "No, I have just been trying to figure out how to start smaller exactly."

"Oh." he responded. "That's a good idea. I really wish we would have seen each other before that. I could have told you that, I mean then you wouldn't have gone through the embarrassment of auditioning."

"Yeah." she hummed distractedly, staring at nothing specifically behind his shoulder.

"There are some local small production plays."

"Yeah."

"Or you could try for crew."

"Of course."

"Rachel."

"Hmm?"

He sighed. "You seem distracted."

"Well, I am." she responded. "And I told you why."

"Someone's crabby." Jesse teased, yet somewhat serious.

"I'm not crabby." Rachel defended. "I'm just worried."

"Sorry." Jesse said plainly. "Let's talk about something else. How was work today?"

"It sucked because my friends sister was shot." she said shortly. Jesse sighed, setting down his drink and gazing at her. Rachel immidiatly regretted snapping. "I'm sorry. I am just waiting for news from him." she took his hand. "How was your day?"

"Tiresome." he replied. "I mean, I just hate turning down aspiring dancers all day, but if they suck..." he went on to shrug. "I can't help that."

Rachel smiled, but jumped when she heard her phone buzz, and she ignored Jesse as she fished through her purse for it. A text.

She is going to be fine! -S

Rachel sqeeled happily. I'm so glad! Oh, Spencer I have been waiting for good news -R

She looked at Jesse. "She is going to be fine!"

"Thank god I was holding my breath." Jesse joked.

The next day at work, as soon as Rachel saw Spencer, she ran to hug him tightly. He laughed, holding her back. "I'm so glad Spencer!"

"Me too!" he said, squeezing her tightly. They both squealed now and jumped together.

"Ladies!" Dominick's voice called. "Please." Spencer rolled his eyes, pulling away from Rachel. Dominick grinned and pulled him into a hug.

The rest of the morning passed by in hugs. Rachel smiled as everyone came together. Things weren't going the way she wanted, but they were going good enough.

A/N

If it seems like I skimmed over Jesse, and rushed through this chapter, its because I did. )= Sorry, I will make it up to you! So lets see what Sam is up to...

Oh, what does everyone think of my OCs?