"What are you talking about, Legs? We just went out to talk to some people before rehearsal," Mike lied while watching everyone but her.
"Sure and that's how Finn got a black eye." Rachel replied rolling her eyes, "I know you two and I know you wouldn't risk Brit's wrath for anyone besides me or San and since I know for a fact I didn't tell you two to go after him that San must have. Now I'll ask again, What did Satan have the two of you do?"
"We just had a little chat with Finn about how to treat our girls and a talk to Pu...I mean just a chat with Finn" Matt tried to cover but it was too late.
"She did send you to Noah! What did you two say? What did he say? Is he alright?"
"Chill Legs, he didn't say much." Mike replied, throwing an arm around her, "Give him time, he wouldn't have had to leave if he didn't still care too much."
Matt nodded, not trust himself to speak and Rachel smiled at them weakly, knowing they'd never tell her what he said so she just nodded, before fixing them both with a glare, "And the black eye? If make up doesn't cover that, I'm so helping Brit get you two. You couldn't have hit him in the arm or the stomach or something?"
The shrugged guiltily, knowing they were getting off easy so they didn't argue as Rachel smiled at them again, hugging them both and kissing their cheeks, "I'm going to tell you this once more violence isn't the answer but thank you."
Flashback
"B? What's wrong?"
"Nothing"
"Bull, you've been upset since you came in here. You've not sung anything or even turned on your ipod, what's up?" Santana tried again.
"I ran into Jesse today"
"St. James? What the hell is he doing here?"
"It's New York, San, of course he'd make his way here sometime."
"Whatever, What'd he say?"
Rachel shook her head, "It's nothing."
"Rachel Barbara Berry." Santana said, warningly.
"It's nothing San" Rachel waved it off before jumping up, "I'm going for a run. See you later"
As soon as she was out the door, Santana made a call, "Matt? We got a problem"
As she ran, she saw a familiar mop of curly hair and tried to ignore it but couldn't when she heard, "Rachel, you really can't stay away from me, can you?"
"Go away, Jesse" Rachel said, trying to ignore the upset feeling that filled her whole self.
He came closer to her, "So I saw Hudson when I went to visit Carmel. Guess he has a new girlfriend. She was cute. Obviously no Rachel Berry but cute. So you finally kicked him to the curb huh?"
She just blinked at him, "Jesse, leave me alone. I have nothing to say to you"
"What about Puckerman? Is he still around? He always was the one that had me worried when we were together, you know. Hudson, he'll always screw up but that Puckerman...I was never sure what was going on with him. He may just have been a better boyfriend then me"
By now tears were streaming down her face, "I gotta go" and she turned and suddenly heard a 'What the hell" and then a crash. Flipping around she saw Mike and Matt were both standing over a now on the ground Jesse St. James, "Don't mess with our girl. If she says to leave then leave end of story" Mike growled threateningly.
Matt glared and said, "We're letting you off easy this time, don't come around again or you won't know what hit you"
They turned away from the fallen diva and over to Rachel who was blinking at them as she wiped the tears away.
"You okay, legs?" Mike asked, unsure of this quiet girl in front of him.
Rachel nodded, before hugging them both and kissing their cheeks. "Thank you both though I have to tell you, violence is never the answer. There is always a better way."
Matt rolled his eyes, pulling her back to him and said, "Yeah but violence is more fun"
"Now I understand" Rachel smiled up at him.
"Understand what?"
"Why you and San are together. You're more alike then you let on."
"Who do you think tipped us off about St. James?" Mike asked, interrupting the moment the two were having and causing Rachel to roll her eyes.
"Of course she did. Who else would be able to make the two of you come running."
"You" they both said in unison, before linking their arms all together and heading back to the apartment.
"Ice cream?" Rachel asked and they all grinned and nodded, walking towards their favorite ice cream joint and forgetting all about the fallen diva and the truth that he had said that made her hurt so much.
End of flashback
The boys smiled with her, all remembering the same memory, "You know legs, there's only one boy we haven't had to give a black eye for you and he's going to be here soon"
"I'm well aware that Noah will be making an appearance soon Mike. What's your point?"
"Nothing. Just maybe all this happened for a reason and it's time to try too...work things out."
She cocked an eyebrow at him, "And what makes you think Noah has any feelings left for me?"
Matt rolled his eyes, "The fact that he feels so strongly that he can't be in the same room as you is proof enough he still cares B."
Mike nodded and Rachel felt the tears starting to come back so she turned away and nodded, "Maybe you're right or maybe he just hates me too much to be in the same room, either way it's his call not mine. I gave my right up years ago." With that she walked off to the bathroom, not noticing the sad shake of heads from Matt or Mike or that Quinn had caught half the conversation and was following her, she just had to get out of there.
There's some cherryford friendship. Next will be Faberry with Quinn finding out exactly what's going on with her baby daddy and her sister/bff and more drama between the gleeks. Prob won't be today because it's my Birthday! but soon :) Enjoy!