((Okay I'm going to make this chapter a little longer than the others. And I don't know when I'll need to introduce the lead of VA. So until then there will be an open vote for Brody vs. Blaine. Though if Blaine does win I probably won't bring Brody into the story at all. But either way Blaine will be coming into play. So far the score is Brody: 2 Blaine: 3. One vote per person and guests please don't cheat. I want this to be fair for everyone!))

Rachel didn't know how long she had stayed up. She did know that she had gone to bed in an empty room. But when she woke up all the other girls were there, though they seemed to have chosen sleeping space as far from her as possible. Tina was even sleeping on the floor. Rachel felt his chest clench painfully. Mercedes was one thing but Tina was normally so quiet and sweet. Shaking herself she slipped out of her bed to do her morning routine before anyone else got up. She was going to have to count on her show face that was for sure.

By the time the other girls got up Rachel was reading silently. As she expected no one paid any attention to her. In fact it was a like everyone was going out of their way to avoid her. Except for one person. When someone flopped onto the bed beside her Rachel's head shot up in surprise. "Hey Rachel will you write me a cool song?" Brittany asked. "I know it'll never be as good as My Cup. But that's okay. But don't make it better than My Headband. I don't want it to get jealous by me getting a new favorite song."

Rachel wasn't sure how to reply at first. "I…okay Brittany." What else was she supposed to say when Brittany asked her such a silly question with such a serious expression? If it was anyone else Rachel would have thought they were making fun of her. But Brittany wasn't just anyone. Before anything else could be said Santana was towering over them.

"Britt what are you doing?!" Santana demanded hands on her hip. The blonde girl blinked up at her fellow cheerio with a bit of confusion. "I'm asking Rachel to write a song for me." She answered. "Britt we're not talking to Berry!" Santana reminded her best friend with a little hiss of anger before taking hold of Brittany's hand pulling her up without another word.

Rachel watched them move away with a sad expression. She could hear Brittany say something about a dream she had last night. Probably something her cat had told her. Though since it had Brittany talking to her Rachel was willing to believe anything that cat 'said' in or out of a dream. Going back to her book Rachel acted as if it didn't bother her at all that the glee girls were all against her. She had kind of expected to wake up alone in the room because everyone else would crash in the boy's room just to avoid her. She wasn't flattered that they hadn't done that. Rachel knew that if that had happened and word got back to any parents that boys and girls had slept in the same room on the glee field trip that meant Mr. Shue would be in trouble. Sue Sylvester did not need the glee kids helping her find ways to destroy the glee club. They probably felt like Rachel had almost ended things often enough.

Tired of pretending to read while everyone ignored her Rachel got up. She was already packed and ready to go. So she grabbed her wheeled her suitcase down to the lobby to sit and wait. She wasn't about to trust her bag all alone with the glee girls with how they currently felt about her. Rachel wouldn't put it past Quinn or Santana to dump her clothes in a bath tub of water and then put the sopping wet mess back in her suitcase.

Rachel grabbed an apple from the little room where there was complimentary fruit, coffee, and pastries. The fruit selection wasn't that great. There were some teas to pick from Rachel discovered them almost hidden behind the sugar and sweeteners. But Rachel preferred the tea she had at home. First of all it was loose leaf which was SO much better than bagged. Plus she had a cast iron tea pot that she brewed it in which was the best way to brew her special herbal tea blend created to keep her healthy. And of course she wasn't going to go for coffee. That stuff stunted your growth and Rachel felt her height was just right. She was petite not short. Certainly not a midget no matter what Santana or Quinn said! Pastries? Why not just inject fat and calories into her thighs? No thank you the apple would suffice just fine considering all that was available.

Though after sitting back down Rachel ended up just looking down at the apple in her hands rather than eating it. "You know Berry those are for eating." A voice drawled. "And if you're posing for dramatic reasons that are not a very good position.

For the second time that morning Rachel found herself looking up in surprise at a voice of a person who was now sitting beside her. But this time it was not Brittany with Santana in the wings to pull her away. It was Noah Puckerman. Rachel knew he preferred to be called Puck but that was not a name! It wasn't even a good nickname. It made her think of hockey and Noah was a football player. But even if Noah was a hockey player that would be a horrible nickname. But Noah had long ago given up on getting her to call him Puck like everyone else did. And Rachel was rather proud of that.

She blinked at the boy casually sitting beside her. Once…twice…three times. Yup Noah was still there. She looked at him as if she wasn't quite sure what to make of him just now. And to be honest Rachel didn't. He wasn't glaring at her or anything. In fact he looked a little bored. Though Rachel knew he wasn't really. If he didn't want to sit there with her than he wouldn't be. He'd go and do…well something else. But what was he doing there, sitting, and looking so casual? Why wasn't he calling her names or blaming her for what had happened?

Just as she was about to ask what was going on and if this was some kind of trick Noah spoke. "I don't believe that shit Finn was saying about that kiss." He announced with a frown.

Noah watched Rachel's face. She was so expressive. He knew she was wondering what he was doing down here so early or why he wasn't blaming her for everything. When she gasped and said "Noah! Language!" As if she was his mom or something. Now normally if some chick tried to do that to him it would piss him off. But with Berry it was mildly annoying but okay. Unless she did it a lot. Some things you just had to let go damnit! "Yeah that kiss was like a train wreck. I mean seriously who would want to kiss Finn in front of all those people?" This part was added when he saw that crest fallen expression. She was remembering something said to her last night and he didn't want to do that.

"When the kiss was over Finn looked just as surprised as anyone else. But then the lights went dim." Puck explained.

"I just don't know why he would make up a lie like that!" Rachel sighed with a shake of her head. Noah snorted and she politely ignored it. "I know why. Even when we were kids Finn liked being the Boy Scout. He likes being the good guy. The one to save the day. So when that kiss ruined everything he panicked and reacted in the wrong way." He hated that. Yeah he was an asshole. But Noah didn't pretend to be anything he wasn't. He wasn't any girl's knight in shining armor. And girls didn't call him to be saved. Though Noah sometimes thought it must be a nice feeling. Why else would Finn be so dumb as to make up a lie like that? Didn't they have enough problems with St. Jerk Face hanging around them? At least he was gone for the time being. Not for good. Only someone like Finn would think that was the end of seeing Jesse St. James. That asshole had wormed his way back into Rachel's good graces. And if Puck was Jesse he would be doing whatever it took to make sure he stayed there.

Rachel didn't say anything for a long time. Just when Puck was starting to get worried she spoke. It was only three words but they spoke volumes because when it came to Rachel Berry he was leaning how to listen.

"Thank you Noah."

((Been a little busy with work and getting a longer chapter put together. Well we all knew the chapter a day thing wouldn't last forever. I hope this was acceptable puckleberry start off. I'm wondering if I should have both Brody and Blaine be in VA. Been on the glee wiki a lot lately. Is it just me or does Brody kind of look like Goolsby?))