A/N: Thank you so much for all the comments, especially Gleekgenica, I'm loving your comments :D This chapter is kinda on the road to healing and more friendship based. Hope it answers some questions. I will try post one more after this today. Don't own glee, but do own the errors. Enjoy.
Santana slumped in her chair in the back of the classroom, a pout on her face as she played with her hair.
"Dead ends?" Rachel asked as she sat down next to her.
Santana sent her a glare before sitting up in her chair. "As if dead ends would dare to be anywhere near my hair."
"Then why the face."
"Born with it. You saying there's something wrong with me face?"
"Santana I know you're allergic to feelings but I come equip with a Epinephrine Injection."
Santana frowned, thinking for a second. "Epi Pen?" At Rachel's nod she continued. "Well as much as it totally doesn't surprise me that someone with absolutely no allergies carries an epi pen, are you serious?"
Rachel shrugged.
Santana smiled at her. "This face is your fault."
Rachel gasped. "What did I do?"
Santana almost fell from her chair at the sudden laughter that shot through her at Rachel's reply.
"What?" Rachel asked, getting a bit annoyed. "Santana I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do whatever I did."
Santana leaned over and pulled Rachel into her arms, hugging the girl tightly while she tried to control the laughter. "Man you funny midget." Santana ignored Rachel's glare and continued. "You remember your first day at McKinley," Rachel nodded, "and how you sung the real deep song in the auditorium and all the gleeks spied on you and stuff-"
"And then Noah mentioned how he would like to get into my pants," Rachel smiled.
Santana raised a brow. "We'll come back to him later," Santana smirked at the difference between her reaction at the time and her reaction now. "Well me and Mercedes were there as well."
"I know. I'm a very observant person-"
Santana snorted, thinking about how it was just today that she missed an entire group of people watching her go to second base on stage.
"My point is that I came up with a devious plan, better than any plan I've ever had actually, and you just went and ruined it."
"Oh Santana I'm sorry. Granted you should make better use of your time than creating 'devious plans' that undoubtedly involve me, but I didn't mean to ruin it. Can I do anything to help you complete it?" Rachel asked.
Santana laughed again. "Dump Puckerman."
Rachel gasped and slapped Santana lightly. "Why would I do that! Wait, how do you know about Noah and I? Not that there even is a Noah and I. It was a very nice kiss, earth shattering even, and granted we made plans to connect later-"
"Damn straight you's'll connect," Santana muttered.
Rachel ignored her. "-but that doesn't mean we are officially an item, no matter how much I would like that to be the case. Noah would just be the most amazing boyfriend wouldn't he-"
"No," Santana scoffed.
Rachel ignored her again. "-but I just don't know if he shares my feelings or if I'm another notch and-"
"Berry. I'm pretty sure we were talking about me weren't we?"
Rachel shut her mouth tightly. "I'm sorry Santana. You were telling me to 'dump Puckerman'. Which actually leads me back to my earlier question, how do you know that anything happened between Noah and I?"
Santana smiled. "You mean you don't know? What happened to being 'a very observant person'?"
"You were in the auditorium?" Rachel asked in a small voice.
Santana touched a finger to her nose.
"Oh dear," Rachel dropped her head to the desk. "How much did you see?"
Santana shrugged. "Everything from you finally singing again, even if it was some Disney shit, to a very hot make out sess, which if you and Puck ever consider threesome-"
Rachel groaned.
"All the way to the storm out the followed an epic verbal lasing," Santana continued. "Are you OK Rach?" Santana softened, thinking about what Rachel had said to Shelby.
Rachel turned her head to the side to look at Santana, but kept it on the desk. "Much better now it's out," she smiled.
The teacher eventually entered the room and Rachel bent to pick her pink notebook and fluffy pen from her bag.
Santana raised a brow, having not seen either in two weeks. She couldn't help the smile the covered her face as Rachel threw her hand up, correcting the teacher on her own lesson plan. She loved Rachel, all sides of her, but she was glad that this Rachel was back; it gave her hope for Glee.
Rachel entered her last class of the day, excited for the class to end so she could go meet Puck. She saw the group of cheerios and jocks up the back; that was where she had spent the last two weeks sitting. Tina had her bag in the seat beside her, her head deep in the book, obviously expecting no one to sit with her. Rachel froze. This was the moment, start the ball rolling to repair everything, or keep running from what she had done. With a deep breath she moved to the seat at the front of the classroom, moving Tina's bag and sitting in the chair, without even asking permission. She dropping Tina's bag softly to the floor beside the chairs, sending Tina a smile as she looked up.
"Rachel? W-w—what are you doing?" Tina's stutter was very real when she was nervous.
Rachel shrugged. "Sitting next to me team mate?" she tried.
Tina shook her head lightly. "Didn't anyone tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"New Directions is over."
"What?" Rachel cried. "My fault?" She asked softly.
Tina looked at her. "No one blames you-"
"But it was my fault," Rachel cut her off.
Tina nodded lightly.
Rachel sighed. "I'm sorry Tina. I didn't mean to cause all this-"
"Rachel we know. We were never mad at you and knew you were going through something huge. And we know what it is now after what you told Ms Corcoran-"
"You were there as well?"
Tina nodded sheepishly. "We're nosy."
"What would it take to get New Directions back together? We did win sectionals and regionals is on the way-"
"Actually... we- me, Blaine, and Artie- joined Shelby's choir," Tina looked away, feeling guilty about what they had done.
"Oh."
"But we can quit it! All three of us. Give us the words and we'll all come running," Tina said happily.
Rachel shook her head. "Tina I don't want you guys to just keep changing your lives on my whims."
"So your not back?" Tina asked quietly.
"No, I am, and I'm not going anywhere ever again, I can promise you that. But you three moved on with your lives after I steamrolled through everything you'd spent three years building. I can't expect you to come back just because I say so."
"Yeah you can Rach. You're our leader. We weren't anything until you joined, and Santana and Mercedes and already just bailed on us so we were barely even a family. Leaders screw up, as long as you're ready to make up for it, I'm ready to follow you again."
"I think the best leaders throughout history learn to lead by walking beside their soldiers as opposed to in front of them."
Tina frowned, completely unsure of where Rachel just took the analogy.
"I mean... I don't want to hog the spotlight anymore. I am the most talented performer we have, but you all have gifts and I think it's time we let them shine. What do you say?"
"I say Ms Corcoran who?" Tina laughed.
The teacher entered just as they pulled away from the hug, a smile covering Tina's face for the first time since sectionals.
Rachel walked the halls students spreading in front of her; she would really miss that. A pale face caught her attention.
"Kurt! Hey, Kurt!" She called, jogging a bit to catch up with him.
"Miss diva, what can I do for you? I thought you would be hurried on your way to the parking lot."
"You were there too?"
"Drats who told you? I wanted to be the first."
"San."
"Of course. Satan beats me to everything."
Rachel laughed. "Kurt, what are you doing tomorrow?"
Kurt raised a brow. "I really hope I'm doing the same thing as you, unless of course you've decided that simply not attending classes is the next step in your rebellion."
Rachel smiled. During the course of the two weeks Kurt had constantly been on her butt about her behaviour. When she thought everyone had just accepted the new her, he always refused to, and it meant everything to her.
"After school you drama queen," Rachel retorted.
"Homework. Something you once found important."
Rachel shook her head as his behaviour. "Do you have time between school and when your all important homework is due to take your best friend shopping?" Rachel asked, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers.
Kurt froze, eyes wide, and glassy with tears. He was silent.
"Kurt? Are you OK?"
Rachel wasn't sure if it was mentioning shopping to the boy that seemed to have lost his love for fashion over the last two weeks, or if it was referring to Kurt as her best friend for the first time that caused Kurt's shook. Luckily she didn't need to wait for her answer long.
Kurt jumped on top of her, pulling her into his arms. "Diva I gave up all hope of you saying those words to me. I was sure Satan had taken the place I intended for myself," he cheered happily, arms still clinging to Rachel's neck.
"Kurt! Of course you're my best friend," Rachel decided to skip over the Santana part until he was more sane and understanding; people can have two best friends, she would explain that. "I know you left New Directions in order to help me, not for mani pedi's, and over the last two weeks you constantly reminded me of who I was and that how I was acting was wrong. I don't think I can ever thank you enough, the same as I don't think I could ever apologise enough for everything you gave up for me. Glee, fashion, Blaine..."
Kurt finally detached himself from Rachel, tears running down his face. "Diva I know we haven't known each other long but I've lost a parent and there was no way that I was walking away from you. And if Blaine, fashion, and Glee isn't there when you don't need me anymore then it's their loss."
Rachel giggled. "I think I'll always need you Kurt. I mean, next year when we're taking New York by storm I'm going to need someone next to me after every rejection. Oh believe me, I wish for the Fanny Brice life but I know realistically that happens to few, even Fanny herself was shocked by her luck!"
Kurt was gobsmacked. "New York?"
"You didn't think I forgot did you?" Rachel smiled softly.
They had had this conversation one Rachel's second day at McKinley. Rachel intended to be a Broadway star and Kurt was torn between joining her and fashion, so the two had agreed to make the journey together, so they would always have a familiar face.
Kurt's tears continued and he threw himself into Rachel's arms again. "You just haven't mentioned Broadway in a while diva, you hadn't even sung until today."
Rachel shrugged.
"Are you back my diva?"
"I hope so Kurt... So, shopping tomorrow?"
"Why would you need to go shopping? It's not like your cheerio's uniform varies from day to day."
"Kurt, since when did you need a reason to shop?"
"Point taken. I'll drive."
The two began walking towards the car park, where Puck was waiting on Rachel. Rachel's smile grew as Puck came into sight. He was leaning against his car, glancing around nervously, as if he was afraid she wouldn't come.
"Noah will suit New York, won't he?" Rachel asked. Puck still hadn't seen the pair.
Kurt glanced from Rachel to Puck and back. "Are we bringing him with us?"
Rachel shrugged. "I couldn't imagine New York without him, but that doesn't mean he'd want to come."
Puck finally spotted the two and a huge smile spread over his face, not a smirk but a real smile. Kurt noticed.
"I think any place you are would be a place he would want to be," Kurt replied.
Rachel didn't hear him though; she was so focused on Puck.
"I'll leave you two be," Kurt said, pressing a light kiss to Rachel's cheek and walking away.
"Hey," Rachel said shyly.
Puck smirked; he wasn't going to accept that as a greeting. He reached forwards and grabbed her, pulling her into him and crashing his mouth into her. He felt her smile against his lips and deepen the kiss. Once air became a problem they broke apart.
"Hey," Puck mocked her.
She slapped his arm and reached her head back up, ready for a second go. Unfortunately they didn't get far before a car horn honked and a wolf whistle sounded. They broke away from each other softly, smiling.
"Wanna get outta here?" Puck asked before grabbing her bag and flinging it into the back of his truck, not even waiting for her answer.
Rachel giggled. "That was the previously decided upon plan wasn't it?"
Puck opened the door for her, laughing again as she struggled to get in. He helped her, again grabbing her ass in the process. The shared a quick kiss before he shut the door behind her. He could have only wished for this moment back on the first day he had helped her into his truck. Who would've thought the girl could have forgiven him for his word vomit so easily. He started the car, heading it straight towards her house.
Sue him; he knew where she lived off by heart. He already admitted to stalking her and during her few days of rest after the hospital visit he had basically lived in his truck outside of her place, hoping she'd throw him a bone. Looks like today was that day, and he was going to enjoy his bone, big time.
He pulled up at the front of her house, seeing an expensive looking car sitting in the driveway.
"Who's that?" he asked.
When Rachel didn't answer he glanced over at her. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide. "Rach? You OK?"
"Umm yeah," Rachel shook herself out of her stupor. "I changed my mind, let's go to your house," she said, rebuckling her seatbelt. He swore Berry was the only teen that not only choose to wear a seatbelt but forced those around her to do so as well.
"Rach?" Puck was worried about her reaction.
"It's nothing OK. I just didn't think my Dad would be home. Can we please go to your house Noah? I still want to spend the afternoon with you."
"Are you embarrassed of me? Is that why you don't want me to meet your Dad?"
"No Noah I am not. You are the most amazing human being alive and I would be honoured to introduce you to my father... just... not today, OK? I mean... I don't even know what we are, that's kind of what this afternoon is about, and I know my father he would... You will meet him, I promise... just, please?" Rachel looked up at him with watery eyes.
Puck was still confused but he conceded anyway. "Yeah Rach, 's cool."
Puck threw his truck in gear and drove off. As he was driving he saw the door to her house opening in the corner of his eye. He glanced to the side, seeing Rachel's eyes widen as she saw it as well. A man emerged, a bottle of beer in his hand. He threw it towards the car, luckily for Puck he missed it.
"Yeah! You get out of here! Get!" He yelled behind the truck as Puck drove away. Puck was torn between pretending he hadn't seen and heard anything, and asking Rachel what the hell that was. He watched as Rachel dropped her head to the window, wiping away tears from her cheeks. What the hell, he'd just ask her later, Rachel said they had a lot of talking ahead of them anyway.
R and R, I love it :D