Thank you for all the reviews of Chapter 6! They mean a lot to me. For this story (since it is my version of Season 5) I am considering exploring some other POVs besides Finn and Rachel's, but the story would still mostly focus on Finchel. It's just something I'm considering, let me know what you think. Anyway, thanks for all your support, enjoy this chapter, review if you want me to continue, and enjoy the first pure New York episode of Glee tomorrow!

Chapter 7: Officially Admitted

"So, did you have fun in New York with Rachel?" Puck asked Finn as they sat in their dorm.

"Yeah," Finn said. "I missed her so much."

"I know you did," Puck said. "How's she doing, with Funny Girl and all?"

"She's doing better," Finn said.

"That's good," Puck said. "Even when we were at McKinley, we all knew she wanted that part."

"I don't get why they didn't give it to her," Finn said. "She's just so - amazing."

"Maybe they couldn't handle her," Puck laughed.

"Yeah, I bet that was it," Finn agreed as the skype on Puck's computer started ringing. "Who is that?"

Puck looked at his phone. "It's Quinn."

"Then I'd better get back to my homework," Finn said, letting Puck talk to Quinn. As Finn sat down to study, he heard Puck pick up the call. "Hi Quinn."

"Hi Puck," Quinn said. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Puck said in a tone Finn didn't hear very often. "How are you?"

"I visited Rachel, Kurt and Santana in New York and I saw Finn, too," Quinn told Puck. "He probably told you he might be in New York in the fall."

"Yeah, he and Rachel have finally decided to stop playing will they/ won't they," Puck said as Finn thought that he was so glad that phase was behind them.

"What about us?" Quinn asked.

Puck paused. "What about us?"

"I don't want to play will they or won't they either," Quinn blurted out. "I love you. I've been in denial about it, but I've always been thinking about you. I didn't love Finn or Sam. The only reason I didn't really talk to you for a while was because I was worried it would make me miss her more."

"I miss her too," Puck said. "And of course I love you. Remember what I told you the night we hooked up? It wasn't just another hookup for me. I wanted you, but you were with Finn."

"It was for the better," Quinn said. "I want to do this."

"So do I," Puck said.

"I think it was when I started dating another guy at Yale that made me realize how much I missed you and wanted to be with you," Quinn said slowly. "This guy was rich, he was attractive, he was the valedictorian of his class, he was president of a bunch of clubs at Yale and he was the star of the water polo team as a freshman. On paper, he was the perfect guy. But he was just awful. When I told him about Beth, he called me a slut."

Finn could see so many parallels between Quinn and the Yale guy and Rachel and Brody. "He sounds like an ass," Puck said. "No one talks that way to my girl."

"Your girl?" Quinn asked.

"Well, if you want to be," Puck said.

"I want to be," Quinn said.

Finn couldn't help but think of himself and Rachel. Things were finally working out, not just for him and Rachel, but for other couples, too. "Hi Quinn!" Finn called out.

"Finn!" Quinn laughed. "You heard the whole thing?"

"Yeah," Finn said, going up to the computer screen. "I'm really happy for you guys."

"Well, thank you," Quinn said. "It was great to see you this weekend."

"You too," Finn said. "Well, I have to get back to my homework."

"It's okay, I have class soon anyways," Quinn said. "Skype again tonight, Puck?"

"Of course," Puck said. "Bye."

"Bye!" Quinn said before they logged off and Puck turned to Finn. "I'm going on Facebook now to change my relationship status."

"You can't wait to do it, huh?" Finn asked.

"I can't," Puck said.

x

As Rachel bussed a table at the diner, she saw the Funny Girl director, Rupert Campion, and the male co-star, Paolo San Pablo, come in. There was a woman in her 20s with them. Could this possibly be the woman who'd beaten Rachel for the part?

Rachel was just starting to feel better, but seeing them definitely reminded her. To make matters worse, her supervisor came up to her and pointed at their table. "Rachel, could you go see what they'd like?"

Rachel sighed and went up to their table. She tried to act like it was just anyone else. "Welcome to Spotlight Diner, can I get you anything to drink?"

"Hi Rachel," Rupert said.

"Hi," Rachel said, trying to be polite. "How's the production going?"

"This is Marissa Highwater, she's playing Fanny," Pablo said. "We still are casting some of the minor roles, and she doesn't have an understudy yet."

Rachel wasn't sure if she could handle being reminded of her rejection right now. "I know, but I'm pretty busy with school and work." She didn't want her rejection dangled in her face. Why had her supervisor told her to wait on this table?

"Well, I'd like a coffee," Marissa said. Rachel looked at this girl. She was definitely a lot prettier than Rachel was. And obviously, she was a lot more talented.

"Yeah, so would I," Rupert said.

"Me too," Paolo added. Rachel wrote down their orders and went to the counter, hoping she could bribe Kurt or Santana to take over this table. She found Kurt and Santana behind the counter. "The director and stars of Funny Girl are here."

"She's so hot," Santana said to Kurt.

"Um, are you forgetting that Finn and I are back together?" Rachel asked.

"Her," Santana said, motioning toward their coworker Dani, who was taking orders from a customer.

"She is pretty," Kurt said. "Why don't you ask her out?"

"Because I don't know if she likes girls," Santana said.

"I added her on Facebook," Kurt said. "She likes girls."

"Are you sure?" Santana asked.

"Yes, I'm sure," Kurt said.

Rachel looked down. She guessed she couldn't blame Kurt and Santana for talking about Dani. They'd already heard a lot about Funny Girl and were probably tired of it. "Then maybe I'll go to the floor and talk to her," Santana said. "Rachel, if you want, I'll take the table the Funny Girl people are at."

"Thanks," Rachel said. When Santana was gone, she turned to Kurt. "The girl they got to play Fanny is prettier than me."

"I find that hard to believe," Kurt said.

"The director told me that they're still looking for understudies and people for minor roles," Rachel said.

"You should at least give it a try," Rachel said.

"I'll think about it," Rachel said.

Santana came back. "Rachel, maybe it's for the better that you don't have to work with that girl. She's a bitch."

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.

"She was so picky about how we make her salad!" Santana said.

"Thanks for doing that table," Rachel said.

"Oh, it's no problem," Rachel said as Dani came to the counter. "Hey, Dani," Rachel said, hoping this would get Santana the courage to talk to her.

"Hi Rachel," Dani said. "Hi Kurt. Hi Santana."

One of the cooks came out with a tray for Rachel to take to a table, so she took it, leaving Santana to talk with Dani and taking the long way so she didn't have to pass the table with the Funny Girl crew. She hoped that Santana would get along with Dani and that maybe something would be there. She knew that breaking up with Brittany had been hard on Santana, especially because Brittany entered another serious relationship so soon after they broke up, and it probably was hard for Santana to see Rachel and Kurt both reunite or be close to reuniting with their significant others after everything that had happened.

"So, you're just working now?" Rachel heard Dani say to Santana as she went back to the counter.

"Yeah," Santana said. "Last semester I was at college at University of Louisville and cheerleading there, but it wasn't really what I wanted to be doing with my life."

"Oh, I see," Dani said. "I go to Brooklyn College. You're from Ohio, you said?"

"Yeah," Santana said. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from Arizona," Dani said. "I know that's far away, but it's probably for the better that I'm here. Out there, they aren't very respectful of people like me."

"What do you mean, people like you?" Santana asked.

"I'm a lesbian," Dani said. "My parents caught me making out with another girl in our basement and ever since then, things just fell apart and everyone started treating me differently, so I got a scholarship to a school out here."

"Yeah, I'm a lesbian too," Santana said. "My parents are fine with it, but I haven't even talked to my grandma since I told her."

Kurt came over to Rachel. "Looks like they're bonding."

"Yeah, I think so," Rachel said. "So, how are things with Blaine?"

"We're officially back together!" Kurt said with excitement. "He's coming to New York next weekend to get a feeling of what it's like."

"I can't wait to see him!" Rachel said.

"Me neither," Kurt said. "All three of us will be amazing at NYADA together!"

"We will!" Rachel said.

x

"Something came in the mail for you, Finn," Carole said. Finn was visiting Burt and Carole for dinner for the night, and Carole handed Finn a large envelope from Columbia University. Finn gulped. It seemed a little too soon to hear back. Nervously, he opened the envelope.

"It's from Columbia," Burt said. "I didn't know you were interested in there."

Finn opened the envelope and read the first line of the letter. "Dear Mr. Hudson - Congratulations! We are pleased to invite you to join the Class of 2017..." He looked up and hugged both his mom and his stepdad. "I got in!"

"Finn, you applied to Columbia?" Burt asked.

"Yeah," Finn said. "I just - I didn't think I'd get in!"

"We're so proud of you!" Carole said. "Though we will miss you."

"It'll be empty with both you and Kurt in New York," Burt said.

"I'm sorry," Finn said. "I'll come visit when I can."

"Do you think you'll live with Rachel, Kurt and Santana?" Burt asked.

Finn didn't know. Now that Kurt and Blaine were back together, would Blaine be moving into the apartment too? And what about Sam? He was also going to be in New York in the fall. "I hope so."

"Well, we're very proud of you," Carole said.

"Is it okay if I go skype Rachel and tell her?" Finn asked.

"Of course," Burt said.

Finn went up to Burt and Carole's room and turned on the computer. To his delight, Rachel was online, so he skyped her right away. Rachel picked up almost right away. "Finn!"

"Rachel!" Finn said. He couldn't hold it in any longer. "Rachel, I got into Columbia!"

"I'm so proud of you!" Rachel said.

"Thanks!" Finn said. "Rachel, we're going to be in the same city in a few weeks!"

"You should move in with us!" Rachel said.

"You think I should?" Finn asked.

"YES!" Rachel said.

"Are Kurt and Santana home right now?" Finn asked.

"Kurt's skyping with Blaine, and Santana's hanging out with one of our coworkers," Rachel said. "So it's just you and me. But I'll tell them when I can."

Finn loved how Rachel always was so happy when he succeeded. "Thanks, babe."

"You'll have to tell the New Directions tomorrow!" Rachel said. "They're going to be so happy for you."

"I hope so," Finn said. He thought for a minute. "I will miss working with them."

"I bet you will," Rachel said. "But I'm sure they'll be more than happy to have help from you on our breaks."

"Maybe you could come help out before Nationals, too," Finn suggested.

"I'd love that," Rachel said. "Speaking of helping out, have you and Mr. Schue picked winners of the duets competition yet? I saw the duets on the New Directions YouTube channel, and they were all amazing."

"Not yet," Finn said. "Do you have a preference?"

"Finn, remember when you and I rigged the duets competition our junior year?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah," Finn said.

"We wanted Sam to win so he'd feel like he was part of the group," Rachel said. "I think you guys should give this to Blaine and Kylie so Kylie can feel more confident and part of the group. She's the only freshman there and she said she's shy with singing in public. Plus she's new to McKinley."

Finn knew Rachel was right, as usual. "That's a really good idea. So, how are things in New York?"

"Well, the Funny Girl director, male lead and the girl they chose over me came to the diner today," Rachel said.

Finn noticed that Rachel looked upset. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it just felt like my rejection was dangling in my face," Rachel said.

"Rach, you're the most talented person in the world," Finn said. "They're too narrow minded to see that."

Rachel gave Finn a small smile. "They're still looking for people to be understudies and fill the smaller roles."

"You should try out for one of those," Finn said. He didn't want Rachel to feel so down.

"I'll think about it," Rachel said. "But I am so proud of you, Finn. I always knew you could do it."

"You've always believed in me, even when no one else did," Finn said.

"And I always will," Rachel said.

x

"Finn, that's amazing!" Mr. Schue said. "Columbia's one of the best schools in the country."

"Thanks," Finn said.

"I'm going to be honest though, the New Directions will miss you," Mr. Schue said.

"I'll miss you guys, too," Finn said. "It was helping out here that really helped me figure out that teaching is what I want to do with my life."

"And you'll be a great teacher, Finn," Mr. Schue said. "So, we're planning to announce who won today."

"Well, I loved Artie and Tina's duet, and I loved Sam and Marley's too," Finn said. "But I do think Blaine and Kylie's was the best. And I think winning would help Kylie feel like she was part of the group and feel better about her singing."

"You have a point, Finn," Mr. Schue said. "Everyone sounded great, but I do think those three you mentioned were the three best, and that Blaine and Kylie were the overall best."

The bell rang, and within a few minutes, the glee club members had arrived. "So, who won the duets competition?" Tina asked almost right away.

"Well, Finn and I talked, and we've decided that the winners of the competition are Blaine and Kylie," Mr. Schue said.

"So congratulations, you two," Finn said. "You'll be choosing the setlist for Nationals!"

"Are you serious?" Kylie asked. "That was the first time I ever sang publicly."

"Yeah, we're serious," Finn said. "Rachel knows how to spot talent."

"And speaking of good news - Finn has some as well," Mr. Schue said, looking at Finn.

Finn smiled as he looked at the New Directions. "I got into Columbia!"

The New Directions started cheering as Finn smiled at them. "I couldn't have done this without all of you. You guys have helped me grow as a leader this past year and helped me realize that teaching was my passion. So I wanted to thank all of you for helping me get to this point."

Chapter 8 preview: Rachel considers auditioning to be an understudy or for a smaller part. The New Directions members of the Class of 2013 hear back from colleges and some visitors go to New York. More of Finchel as well!

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