A/N- First of all, I want to say thank you guys so much for your reviews! I'm so glad you all like the story and your reviews definitely help me to write faster. To answer one of the questions I got... Yes, Quinn and Puck are semi-dating at this point. That will also be explored a little more as the story progresses. Sorry this chapter is so short (and kind of sucks, if I'm being completely honest) but I needed a place to start the build up of where I'm going (: Keep the reviews coming and thanks for sticking with me!
-Lexi
Disclaimer- Is this really needed anymore? O_e
Rachel's POV
"Alright, now you cant say that didn't feel amazing" Tina's voice came from behind me. Turning, I saw her, Artie, and Mercedes looking at me with matching smiles. They all knew as well as I did that this was exactly the kind of closure I needed after the whole egging debacle.
"It felt incredible" I agreed with a small laugh, "The looks on their faces were priceless, especially when we did the whole line up thing" Before I could say anymore, Mr. Schue came over to talk to us.
"You guys nailed it, they never saw it coming" The pride in his voice was impossible to miss as he spoke, his smile seeming to grow with every word that escaped him. "You definitely brought the funk. I wouldn't be surprised if their all mildly depressed at this point" He joked, causing a small round of laughter through all of us. "Alright, now lets head back. We've got Regionals coming up soon and not a lot of time to prepare" At his words, we all began filing out of the auditorium, talking amongst ourselves while Vocal Adrenaline made their way out as well, looking defeated.
As I followed everyone else, still smiling to myself as I thought of the looks on the competitions faces, I could feel someone walking close by. Thinking everyone from New Directions was ahead of me, I looked up to see Finn with a proud smirk on his face. I watched as he glanced down at me and his smile grew. "You looked like you were having fun out there" He mentioned nonchalantly as we walked back to the Choir room.
"I could say the same for you, Marky Mark" I joked, laughing softly at my own joked. I was surprised at how good it felt to really laugh again; it felt like forever since I had done so. Although seeing Jessie still hurt, doing 'Give Up The Funk' helped to lift some of the weight that had been pushing me down. Finn laughed in response and shook his head, no doubt remembering the 'Good Vibrations' number he did with Mercedes and Noah. "Don't get me wrong," I added after a moment, "You guys were good. I just had no idea you could get down with 'The Funky Bunch'" Another laugh escaped me, this one more heart-felt as he laughed with me.
"Yeah well, I'm full of surprises" He retorted as we finally reached the room, both of us still laughing. After we had entered behind everyone else and took our seats, Mr. Schue began speaking again.
My mind drifted briefly to how things had changed over the past few weeks. The whole 'Run Joey Run' drama had, without a doubt, started all of it; for which I take full responsibility. That's when Jessie stopped talking to me, and when the real mess began. I had no idea that, while he was gone, he had re-joined Vocal Adrenaline and single-handedly ended our relationship. That, of course, led to the infamous egging and humiliation that started my down-ward spiral. It started with my lack of enthusiasm for anything, then I stopped singing all together. Finally, I gave up on the gold stars; my trademark. Its not that I had lost all faith in becoming a star, but I lost my will to sing. Jessie's prank had left me heartbroken, embarrassed, and ashamed; none of which encouraged me to sing. Every time I tried, the image of the day I first met him would flash through my mind and I would break down all over again. Since I couldn't sing, I figured we would lose Regionals and I lost hope in ever getting at least my fifteen minutes. So I simply stopped using the stars, they were too much of a painful reminder. I threw out every packet of gold stars I owned and tried focusing on anything else. Until this past Tuesday, of course, when I had found a new packet tapped to my locker.
At that moment, my mind drifted to something else; Finn Hudson. He had been there for me through all of it. Whether we were friends, or I was pushing him into being in a relationship with me, or he was waiting patiently for me while I was with Jessie, he never really left my side. He was the one to hold me when I cried the night of the egging, he was the one who sang to me in front of the entire Glee club, and he was the one who noticed when the gold stars stopped. How was it that I never realized any of this before? I'd be lying if I said he had nothing to do with my recovery, because had it not been for Finn, I probably would have skipped Glee all together for the first few days after the incident. I'd also be lying if I said I no longer had feelings for him; I don't think they've ever truly went away. But a part of me still felt like it was too soon; the other part was trying to resist just telling him how I felt and getting it over with. Chancing a look at him, I felt myself blush slightly when he turned to look at me as well. A small smile began tugging at the corners of my lips when he flashed his crooked smile at me, and I did my best to push down the butterflies that erupted in my stomach.
Thankfully, I chose that moment to refocus my attention to the lesson Mr. Schuester was giving. The first words I heard from his mouth sent a familiar thrill through me, and I bit my lip lightly as I considered raising my hand.
"Alright, does anyone have any ideas as to what we can do for Regionals?" He asked, glancing around the room. I instantly felt several pairs of eyes on me, and knew immediately that this was the moment that would determine whether or not I was truly letting of what had happened go. Hesitantly, my hand went up.
"I have a few ideas, Mr. Schue" I announced. Several relieved sighs came from around the room, and I saw a few people smile through the corner of my eye. Mr. Schuesters eyes seemed to light up at my words, and I let a smile cross my face as well. As I stood in front of the class and explained a few of my ideas, none of which were all that good even by my standards, I heard something that made me smile just a little wider.
"Looks like Rachels back" Kurt had said to Mercedes.
"Its about time, too. Otherwise, we wouldn't stand a chance at Regionals" She responded.
Before I was able to finish explaining my ideas, the bell rang ending class. Grabbing my things quickly, I smiled and nodded as Mr. Schue told me it was good to have me back, before finally leaving and heading towards my locker with Finn in tow. The two of us talked aimlessly until we got outside and began heading towards our cars.
"So what are your plans for today?" I asked, glancing up at him for what seemed like the millionth time that day.
"Not much. I was going to head over and visit Sean for a few hours. And you?" He asked as we finally reached our own cars. Just as I was about to answer, something next to him in the distance caught my attention.
"What do you mean 'they pulled it off'?" Shelby practically yelled at Jessie and a few other members from Vocal Adrenaline as they stood looking depressed and ashamed. It wasn't the sight of Jessie that sent a pang to my heart, however. It was Shelby, my mother, the woman who gave me life, the woman who seemed to not even notice that I existed. Finn caught sight of what I was starring at and knew instantly what was going through my mind.
"Forget about it Rachel, no good can come out of going over there" He said as he stood next to his car. Furrowing my eyebrows, I gave a defeated sigh and nodded before opening my car door.
"Yeah, your probably right" I agreed, looking up at him one last time. "See you later, Finn" I said quietly before closing my door and starting up the car. Within minutes, I was driving off towards my house without a look back. The sight of Shelby had pulled at the rip in my heart again, and I reminded myself briefly to thank Finn for not letting me go talk to her, only to have that wound reopened. Still, it hurt to simply think about my mother, and all the silly dreams I'd had as a child about what it would be like to find her.
Tossing those thoughts from my mind once I had arrived home, I decided I wasn't going to let thoughts of her or Vocal Adrenaline ruin my weekend. The minute I got to my room, I got out my video camera and started my newest Myspace video. The song? Don't Dream Its Over- the Sixpence None The Richer version. The next week or so would be exhausting and demanding with preparations for Regionals, so any extra stress was the last thing any of us needed. Pushing all other thoughts from my mind, I sang my heart out in front of the camera, and spent the rest of the weekend brainstorming ideas for the final competition.
A/N- Alright, so this might be the worst chapter yet, and I'm sorry for that. But I just kind of needed a bridge to get to where I'm going next. What did you guys think of me throwing Shelby in there? Was it too much? Thoughts and opinions are more than welcomed, so keep them coming. The next chapter will be up soon, so bare with me.