Chapter 4

"Hey, it's...Rachel, right?"

Rachel glanced up from her notebook. She was in the library; it was free period, reviewing and colour coding her notes. She was surprised to see Ben Allen, one of the jocks, standing over her. His dirty blonde hair flipped over his face, obscuring one eye, and his stormy blue eyes twinkled invitingly.

"Um," Rachel stuttered, "uh, yes, that would be me. Rachel, I am, uh, Rachel." She blushed fiercely and glared at her notebook. "Did you need something?" she tried again, trying to sound breezy but falling flat.

Ben watched as she fumbled with her papers, trying to look busy. He was a star with the ladies. "Are you new?" he asked, leaning against the table she was working at. He winked at her and pulled up a chair. "Cause I don't think I've ever seen you before."

Rachel cringed internally. Yes, you have, she thought. You threw a slushie in my face two weeks ago.

"No, I'm not new," she said, her nerves fading, replaced with slight annoyance at this boy, who so clearly thought he could have any girl he wanted with just one wink. "I've actually been here since freshman year. It's Rachel Berry, remember?"

She watched with slight disappointment as his both his eyebrows rose, recognition flickering across his handsome features. "Oh," he said, his voice struggling to remain indifferent. He cleared his throat. Rachel noticed his neck turning red and internally rolled her eyes.

"Did you need something, Ben?" she asked again.

"Um," Ben said, slowly getting up from his chair. "Actually, I just remembered...I have something to do. Really important meeting with...Mrs Carls. See ya around, um, Rachel," he stammered quickly before taking his leave, half-running to the exit of the library.

Rachel sighed. She'd had the same thing happen to her five times already. Boys were such tools, sometimes. All of them had come up, tried to play their moves against her, thinking she was a new transfer, then run away when they realized she was Rachel Berry. Rachel Berry, the nerd, the freak.

"Why the sadness, Miss Berry?" Kurt asked, appearing as if from thin air. "I must say, I am loving the new look. You look fabulous, if I may say so myself. It's so good, it makes even me feel a tad insecure on my makeover skills. But I'd ditch the sad look."

He elegantly slid into the chair opposite her. Kurt wasn't really one of Rachel's closest friends, there had been a distinct lack of trust since the harlot incident, but he had been making an effort to be less of his sarcastic, disdainful self as of late.

"So," he asked, his eyes piercing, "why did Mr Allen run off as if he'd seen a ghost?"

She shrugged. "He found out who I was."

He tsk-ed sympathetically. "Boys will be boys," he sighed dramatically. "Dumb, idiotic boys."

"Aren't you a boy yourself?"

"Technically, yes. But I don't classify myself with those...Neanderthals. Running away from Rachel Berry? Plain stupid."

She cracked a smile. "I think he was a little embarrassed. He asked if I was new."

"You are new, a new version of yourself," Kurt said, flashing a smile. "And the new you, Miss Diva, should not let idiots," he sniffed disdainfully, "like Ben Allen to break your spirit."

He walked over to her, and gestured for her to stand. Grinning ruefully, she stood up, slipping her things into her bag, and linked her arm with his.


Rachel and Kurt walked into the cafeteria together, laughing together, probably for the first time since they'd met. The male diva was much nicer to get along with away from his female counterpart, Mercedes.

Kurt tugged Rachel a little and asked, "Join us?" He gestured discreetly to the Gleeks table, where Artie and Mercedes were sitting. Artie was pensively staring across the room at Tina, who had been invited to Mike's table. Mercedes had her phone in hand and was whipping out texts furiously. She saw Rachel with Kurt and her eyes narrowed.

"Um, no thanks," Rachel said politely. She pushed him towards his friends. "I'll talk to you later, Kurt."

He pranced off gracefully, wiggling his fingers in a dainty wave. Rachel frowned as she looked around the cafeteria. Usually, she stayed in the auditorium for lunch. But now, people had seen her. It would be incredibly embarrassing to leave. Just as she was wondering how to make a quick, unnoticeable escape, she heard Brittany calling out to her.

"Rachel, over here!" Brittany called out. She was sitting at a table with Santana, Mike, Tina, Matt and Puck. Shrugging, Rachel walked over, making sure to walk how Santana and Brittany had taught her to. She felt ridiculous, but it apparently looked pretty impressive. Puck let out a low whistle.

"Looking hot, Berry," he said appreciatively. She rolled her eyes and shoved him playfully.

"Shut up, Puckerman." She sat down beside Brittany, giving her a grateful smile for inviting her over.

"Soooo," Santana drawled, her eyebrows raising comically. "How many guys have asked you out today?"

Rachel blushed. "What do you mean?"

"Please, Rachel. You look smoking. If you were any hotter, I'd ask you out. All the boys in this school are probably lusting after you. How many?"

Rachel bit her lip. "Five," she said, unable to hide her grin.

"Wow," Tina breathed. Mike nudged her playfully. She laughed.

Rachel looked at the rest of the group's expressions, resisting the urge to laugh at Matt's dumbfounded expression. Only Puck looked remotely composed. Instead of being shocked or impressed, he looked...pissed.

"You're drooling," he said to Matt, his voice with a hint of anger. Matt shoved him, cursing him under his breath. Rachel noted that the moment Puck had spoken, Santana's shock had disappeared. She now looked calculative, eyeing her ex knowingly.

"That's really great, Rachel," Brittany said happily. "Did you say yes?"

"No way," Rachel said. "They all thought I was new, and ran off when they realized who I was."

Puck scowled. "Idiots," he muttered darkly.

Santana nodded in agreement. "They're just a-holes," she said to Rachel. "And they're not worth it, anyway. I bet they weren't even cute. Who were they?"

Rachel listed off the five names. Immediately, all heads turned to her. Even Mike and Tina turned to look, though they hadn't been paying attention.

"Ben Allen asked you out?" Santana asked, stunned.

"Which one's Ben Allen?" Brittany asked, her expression confused. "Isn't he that little Asian guy?"

"No, he's the smoking-hot basketball player. The one Kacey dated last summer," Santana clarified distractedly. "Damn, Berry, why didn't you say yes? That guy is any girl's fantasy."

Puck glared at Santana. "He's a dick," he retorted.

"He is not," Rachel quickly intervened before they started throwing insults at each other. Santana and Puck were known for their arguments. "And Santana, while he is incredibly handsome," Puck scowled at his food, "he slushied me two weeks ago. Today, he asked if I was new. So, no, I'm not interested."

Santana reluctantly nodded her head; Ben was a jackass, disappointing as it was.

But as she looked up and caught sight of Puck's conflicted expression, a mixture between jealousy and relief, the edges of her mouth tipped up. She had an idea.

(A/N: So this is my first full-length chapter. Hope you like it. :D)