Mikel 7

Rachel shifted uncomfortably in front of her mirror, resettling the skirt of her new uniform for the fourth time; it was the same length as most of her skirts, but the slits and general swirl of it made it feel shorter than anything she had worn before.

Sighing in resignation Rachel grabbed her hair brush and pulled it through her hair roughly, twisting it up into a high ponytail, her need for perfection making sure there wasn't a hair out of place and that the under armour shirt and tight top sat perfectly against the resettled skirt. Sighing again Rachel pulled on her socks and trainers, tying the laces into a perfect bow, determined to not let Coach Sylvester have anything to complain about in her appearance.

Looking at herself one more time in the mirror, Rachel pulled a face at her appearance, despite knowing she looked good, she really didn't want to be a cheerleader for a school she hated, picking up her new matching back pack she left the room quickly just wanting the day over.

Not picking up Mike that day she drove to school alone, her music on full blast as she used it to calm her aggravated mood, pulling into her normal parking spot she smiled as she saw Mike waiting for her leaning against Matt's car, smiling her opened her car door for her, his grin growing broader as he took in her tight uniform "good morning gorgeous" he greeted his eyes racking over her body as she got out of the car "and boy do you look gorgeous today, as always of course, but now I get to see you cheering me on from the sidelines, got to admit that makes me smile" he explained, knowing that she wasn't impressed with being a cheerleader.

Rachel smiled as Mike qualified his compliment "I know what you mean Mike it's ok" she assured him "the only thing that is good about being a cheerleader is that I can cheer you on baby" she told him leaning up to kiss him, before grabbing her bag from the back seat, closing and locking her car she took a deep breath to gather the nerve to walk into the school, Mike tangled his fingers with hers and clenched her hand tightly.

"I'm here for you baby" he whispered in her ear kissing her again, before they walked into school, the school broke out in whispers as Rachel walked past in a Cheerio uniform, no one could believe that the queen of the glee club was wearing a cheerleading uniform, but didn't challenge it as some of the football team had spread around what they had seen last Friday.

Mike smirked inwardly as the males of the student body double checked Rachel their eyes following her closely as she walked by, feeling as cocky as he usually did with Rachel next to him, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to him

"Showing off?" Rachel smirked into his ear as she let herself be pulled close

"I got the hottest girlfriend in the world, course I am" Mike replied his own smirk in place

Rachel sat down in homeroom next to Santana who smiled tightly at her "thank you for joining the Cheerio's Rach" she said quietly

"It's ok" Rachel said quietly "are you ok?" Santana's quiet mood even registering with her

"Brit" explained Santana shortly "she doesn't get how what she did was wrong"

Rachel frowned and reached out to grip Santana's hand tightly "I'm sorry San, I'm here if you need me"

Santana smiled thankfully and squeezed back before letting it go to listen to the teacher, glancing out the door idly, she saw Brit waiting for her bouncing on the balls of her feet, not wanting to deal with Brit again Santana waited for the bell to ring again and grabbed Rachel's arm quickly before Mike could, linking Rachel's arm with hers and towed her out of the classroom and past Brit "she'll see you later Mike" Santana shouted back as Mike followed them out of the room yelling

"Why are you stealing my girlfriend? Again?" he added wryly

Rachel halted them quickly and turned to Mike "I think she just needs a friend babe, I'll see you at lunch" she assured him and kissed him quickly before Santana dragged her off again, Santana practically tied herself to Rachel for the morning, being in all of her classes it was easy to avoid Brit and stay with Rachel.

Feeling slightly exasperated Rachel put up with her new shadow, she wasn't used to having someone with her during class time and Santana kept up a constant stream of commentary on everyone around them, their teachers and classes.

Massaging her temples she willed away the headache that was forming behind her eyes Rachel let her continue knowing she was trying to distract herself from Brittany, Rachel was annoyed at the tall blonde for kissing her boyfriend but was trying not to create a drama out of it.

With her new shadow Rachel walked into the cafeteria, now immune to the whispers that had been following her all day, across the cafeteria Mike grinned as Rachel made her way across to him, but frowned as he saw her stressed expression, she plopped down next to him at the table and rested her head against his shoulder, not noticing the look that Quinn and Finn gave her.

Finn felt that stir of jealousy again as he saw Rachel cuddle into Mike, he had heard that Rachel was now a Cheerio but hearing her and seeing her in the cheerleading uniform for WHMS were two different things, he had missed the Morris game because Quinn had made him stay with her, but now he felt everything he felt for Rachel come rushing back from where he had stuffed it.

Quinn looked at her boyfriend and felt a now common jealousy overcome her emotions; her boyfriend was staring at Rachel like he always did, that mixture of adoration and lust, that made her stomach churn, looking down at her baby bump she felt fat and ugly again, the reason she had got into this situation in the first place glaring over the table at Rachel she felt her anger stirring.

Rachel glanced across the table and found herself on the receiving end of one of Quinn's glares, glancing at Puck sitting next to her she saw he had seen it to, and his protectiveness for her rearing his head, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard "don't" she whispered at him

"Rachel"

"No" she insisted turning back to Mike who was looking at her quizzically, feeling her headache growing she rubbed her temples again.

Finally gaining ten minutes to herself all day at the end of the day Rachel ducked into the girls bathroom and smack bang into the people she tried so hard to avoid, even Artie who looked slightly uncomfortable, finding herself on the end of four glares she massaged her temples again.

"Hi guys" she greeted as she hurried to a stall, exiting she smiled at them tightly as she washed her hands

"Thinking that your all that now you got that uniform" Kurt snipped grinning evilly at Rachel through the mirror

"Just cos they accept you, doesn't mean we do miss diva, you had messed us up one too many times with your selfish behaviour"

Rachel sighed and went to exit the bathroom "I just can't be bothered today" she said as she left, massaging her temples again, I knew today was going to be hard she moaned inwardly running into Santana again, letting her link arms with her to lead her to glee club. Sitting down Rachel let Santana keep talking about something, no longer really listening as everyone filed into the room, Mr Schuester coming in behind them closing the door; he did a double take as he saw Rachel in a cheerleading uniform but shrugged it off quickly.

"Afternoon guys" he greeted "Rachel, Finn front and centre need you for the leads of our new song" he said happily

"Is anyone else going to get a shot at a solo" Mercedes snipped from her seat, as Rachel and Finn got up "this isn't fair I want a chance at the song" Rachel watched as the usual indecision flashed across the teachers face, dropping the music sheets, Rachel massaged her temples again in frustration sick of this day more than anything, Mike got up and walked towards her gripping her by her shoulders he turned her away from the group, he could see the stress and frustration etched across her face and wanted to calm her down.

"You ok babe? You seem really stressed" he whispered

"Today has been shit" Rachel replied exhausted but in her normal volume level, shocking everyone that she had sworn, Mike watched her in worry, and felt her shiver in his arms, he nodded at Matt who handed him the McKinley football zip up top that had been hanging over the back of his chair, Mike helped Rachel into it

"Come on babe lets go" he said taking her hand, surprised that she was actually letting him take her out of glee, Rachel followed him holding his hand tightly

"Seems like I'm wearing more of your clothes again" she commented on the way to the car

"I love you in my clothes; in fact keep that top" he added smirking "now I am taking the hottest girl in the world out on a date so you can moan about your day and I can make it end a lot better than it started" he promised kissing her as he helped her into the passenger seat before circling to the driver seat

"You're perfect" Rachel declared kissing him again