A/N I'm really sorry for how long it's been since I last updated this! I was having exams but they're over now, meaning I can start writing again. I forsee maybe two or three more chapters to this and I hope you'll stick around. Enjoy!

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Rachel kept repeating in her head over and over again as she strutted down the hallway in a tight, short black dress. She could feel roving eyes from all around her and it was hard to ignore the occasional wolf whistle from a passing jock. Kurt had definitely succeeded in getting guys to do a double take but Rachel wasn't sure that she was enjoying the attention for once, after all, there was only one boy she had set her sights on and he was standing just a few feet away. Finn Hudson, you're about to be swept off your feet.

Keeping her head held high to attempt to put on a show of confidence and a hand on her hip, Rachel walked right past Finn. Rachel slowed her pace to allow the boy some time to react, she was certain she had caught him drooling out of the corner of her eye.

"Hey Rachel?"

Bingo! Rachel internally leapt for joy. Phase 1 complete!

"Oh hey Finn, I didn't see you there. Did you want to ask me something?" She asked innocently, turning around and walking back to the dumbstruck boy. This was almost in the bag, she just needed to play it cool.

"Um yeah, I just forgot. I got...distracted." He said slowly, tripping over his words and making Rachel's internal grin grow ever wider. This was actually working!

"Well I'm glad I got your attention, I wanted to know if you wanted to come over on Friday night. As someone who's had long luxurious locks since I was a toddler in the pageant circuit, I figured I could give you some tips on our hair number." Rachel said, careful not to appear overly eager as she proposed the idea. She tried to speak casually and not betray the anxiety and nervousness she felt on the inside. In fact, it was almost embarassing how sweaty her palms were.

"Yeah! That-that'd be great!" Finn exclaimed happily, grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of getting to spend time with Rachel, who looked really, really sexy.

"Great, how's eight o clock?" She asked.

"Eight is terrific. It's terrific." Finn wanted to curse himself at the way he was almost leaping at the chance to hang out with her, his voice exposing how he really felt. After all, coming off as too excited never helped anyone, especially when it came to getting girls. That, he had learned from personal experience. Exhibit A was Quinn Fabray, who he needed to inform of his "plans", but not his real ones, obviously.

"Hey Quinn!" He called as Rachel turned away and walked in the opposite direction. She was doing an internal fist pump and she smiled triumphantly. Suddenly, Kurt appeared beside her and noted the beam on her face.

"So diva? Objective achieved?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Absolutely. Finn's coming over to my place on Friday night! Can you believe it? Finn Hudson!" Rachel squealed animatedly to her newly rediscovered friend.

"Finn Hudson?" He asked, feeling his heart sink. Truly he knew that his chances were Finn were less than slim but still, he hoped he had heard wrongly and that Rachel and him didn't have the same crush. Rebuilding their tentative friendship was already going to be difficult let alone adding a boy into the mix.

"Yeah, isn't that what I just said? I told you I had a crush on him yesterday." Rachel said, turning to face Kurt with an eyebrow raised.

"Uh, right. Rachel, we need to talk." Kurt sighed, pulling Rachel aside and into a deserted classroom. He was going to be honest because that was the only way they were going to be able to work through any hurdles in their relationship, no matter how much it hurt to say. He wasn't going to scheme and sobatage Rachel's opportunity to get the boy she wanted. That wasn't something friends did.

"What's wrong, Kurt?" The small brunette asked the boy in front of her with concern evident in her voice. He was chewing on his lip nervously as he glued his eyes on a random patch of wall behind Rachel. This had been hard enough with his father and Mercedes, two people very close to him and now to tell it to someone who up until the day before had been a stranger to him, it was almost painful. Taking a deep inhale and exhale to calm himself, Kurt decided it was now or never.

"I-I...Please don't tell anyone, but I have a crush on Finn too. I'm gay." Kurt whispered as he refused to meet Rachel's large eyes for fear of the judgement he might see, forgetting that she had two gay dads and would've been raised in a family accepting of homosexuality.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Kurt. I didn't realize. Should I cancel our date or..." Rachel trailed off. She really didn't want to give up her chance with Finn, any opportunity had to be snagged before it disappeared, but if it was what was needed to set things right with Kurt, she'd do it. It might be a bit of an internal struggle between her heart and mind, but she would do it.

"It's alright. It's not like I really stand much of a chance with him but Rachel, I don't want you to get hurt. Finn's in love with Quinn, they're having a baby together. We? We're nothing but distractions and we have to realize that. I'm trying to put this as gently as possible but Rachel, don't kid yourself. This isn't a fairytale romance." Kurt cringed as he heard his own words. Perhaps he could've put it gentler, okay he really could have come to think of it. He saw the hurt and sadness pass over Rachel's features before settling on a look Kurt knew all too well. Great, he had just messed things up, not even a day after their reunion.

"Kid myself? Excuse me, Kurt, but I'm not imagining things. Me and Finn, we have chemistry and it's obvious as daylight that he's at least mildly interested in me. I'm not expecting us to ride off into the sunset, I just want us to get to know each other better. I'm sorry if that upsets you, Kurt, truly I am." Rachel ranted, deflating slightly at the end, stopping herself before she could really get into it. She knew she could go on for hours if allowed but it was time to reign in her over active emotions and view things rationally.

"I'm sorry, Kurt. I shouldn't have blown up like that. I'm not cancelling our date but I won't force you to listen to any details if you don't want to. I'd better go. Bye." Rachel said as she turned and left Kurt standing alone in the hallway, hopelessly calling after her.

A/N Thanks for reading! I'm sorry for the shortness of the chapter and the fact that it's not very good but hopefully the next one will be longer and better. Reviews are greatly appreciated!