It was only supposed to be a bet. Finn Hudson, the most popular guy in school, bet that he could make any girl popular. So now he only has a few weeks to take the biggest loser in school, Rachel Berry, and turn her into the Prom Queen. Sounds simple enough. Yeah...right. Loosely based on She's All That.

Disclaimer: Glee does not belong to me. I just like to borrow the characters from time to time. :)

Chapter Six - Setting It Up

it's hard to see you dreaming
you hide inside yourself
i wondered what you're thinkin'
and everything you're chasing
All Eyes on Me - Goo Goo Dolls

Finn was exhausted. He and Rachel had been practicing in the auditorium for just a little over an hour and he was no closer to nailing the routine as he had been when they'd started. Finally deciding that they'd done enough for the day he made his way over to the edge of the stage and sat down.

"I'm never going to get it." He said with a sigh, looking out at the empty seats.

"Yes, you will. It's just going to take a little time." Rachel said, taking a seat next to him. "You're actually getting better, you just can't tell because you're so hung up on getting it perfect."

"You're just saying that because you don't want to seem like a bad teacher." Finn said, turning to look at her. "I'm not good at this stuff. And now Mr. Shue wants us to sing a duet. It almost feels like he's setting me up to fail."

"Wow, Finn, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were insecure." Rachel said, and he could hear the contempt in her voice. "If you don't think you're any good at this then why did you even join the Glee Club?"

Finn didn't say anything. It's not like he could just come out and say that he'd joined so he could get closer to her, so he could win his bet with Puck. He also knew that a flat out lie would be too crazy, so he went with what little truth he could give her. "I love music. I've been playing the drums for years and my brother, Kurt said I was a decent singer. Plus, I could use some more extra curricular activities on my transcript."

Rachel nodded her head like she understood exactly what he was saying. "Aren't you worried about your reputation?"

"I think my rep can stand me being in Glee Club. After all I am the quarterback of the football team and the best pitcher McKinley has had in years. At least that's what my step-father tells me." Finn smiled. "Plus, maybe I don't really care all that much about being popular." Okay, so maybe he was telling a couple of lies, but the moment he said it, he almost believed it himself.

"Everyone cares about being popular." Rachel said, a hint of sadness in her voice. Finn turned to look at her and she gave him a small smile.

"Even you?" Finn asked, not able to stop himself.

"Of course. I want to be famous. Broadway, tv, movies, record deals...the whole package. That's my dream. You have to be popular to accomplish the big things like that. Sure, I've got the talent, but if no one notices me, then what's the use of having it?"

Finn wasn't sure what to say. Rachel wanted to be popular, which was probably going to help with his plan. "I think once people hear you sing, they'll have to notice you." He said, placing his hand lightly on top of hers and giving it a small squeeze.

Rachel laughed and threw herself back onto the stage, lying down with her feet still hanging off the edge. "This is so strange."

"What is so strange?" Finn asked, chuckling a little to himself as he watched Rachel try to stop laughing.

"You're Finn Hudson, the most popular guy in school, you should be hanging out with your "awesome" friends and being doing whatever it is that you do." Rachel said, using air quotes for the word awesome. "And yet you're here, consoling me in an empty auditorium. This is all very surreal."

"Of course it's real." Finn said, not understanding what she meant.

"Surreal." Rachel said, sitting back up and facing Finn once again. "I meant this is all really bizarre. We're not supposed to be friends, that's just not how the social system of this school works."

Finn had to give her that. This was very strange, and if he hadn't arranged the whole thing, he knew that he would never have been in this situation.

"Well, since we're done here I think I'll just start heading home." Rachel said, standing up and dusting off her clothes. "Do you want to practice again Monday after Glee?"

"Sure." Finn said, standing up also. He wasn't sure if he could wait until Monday to see her. He was already a week down and he needed to find a real way in, so he could get Rachel mingling with the right people. "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? I thought you just said Monday?" Rachel asked, giving him a confused look.

"I did say Monday for practice. I was wondering if you were doing anything tomorrow." Finn asked, putting on his signature half smile.

"I don't have any plans." Rachel answered, although Finn could tell she was reluctant to tell him.

"Good. Then you can go bowling with me. It's the best way I know to blow off steam, and I need to do just that. Hell, it might even help me with my dancing." Finn said with a shrug.

"Why are you asking me?" Rachel asked.

"We're going to spend a lot of time together for the next few weeks, so I figured it'd be good to get to know each other away from the whole Glee thing." Finn replied as though it were no big deal.

Rachel was quiet for a while and Finn was almost certain that she was going to blow him off, citing some strange girly excuse like her period or something.

"Yeah, I think I could do that. Go bowling anyway." Rachel said, even though he could tell she was stepping out of her comfort zone.

"Awesome." Finn said as they turned to walk out of the auditorium. "How do you feel about pepperoni pizza?"

a/n: Rachel is a little out of character at times. Of course, when you've got some many people telling you that you suck (ie, the popular kids and jocks), sometimes it's hard to believe that you don't. That's high school for ya though. Don't forget to review! :)