Rachel smoothed down the lined paper, studied the blurred ink smudged across the margins. The words on the page leapt out at her and she traced the tight, cursive verses with a mounting sense of trepidation. It had been cathartic sitting in her room, pouring out all the pain and hurt contained within her. The arrangement had taken a few days and Rachel had closeted herself up in her room, meticulously working through the notes and music until everything had been just right.

Mr Schue would have to be a fool to turn her down.

'Oh. Hey,' Sam said awkwardly, pulling up short when he spotted her towards the back of the choir room. Rachel felt her chest squeeze slightly at the sight of his ruffled blonde hair, took in the pinched corners of his mouth as Sam regarded her.

'Hello,' she replied. 'Noah isn't here,' she added when she saw Sam's eyes flick around for her new shadow. The visible relief on Sam's face made her let out a small chuckle.

Rachel found herself watching Sam shift around, as if he were uncomfortable in his own skin, and finally decided to do something about the heavy, pressing chasm between them.

'Have a seat,' she told him, her tone brooking no room for argument. Sam complied hesitantly and Rachel tucked her sheet music into her folder. She folded her hands together on her lap and waited.

'I…I'm not really sure what to say,' Sam finally said. Rachel waited a moment before responding.

'I miss my friend,' Rachel admitted, fiddling with the hem of her skirt. Her soft statement elicited a sharp intake of breath.

'I'm not really the best example of one,' Sam retorted bitterly, running a hand through his hair. Rachel turned to face Sam, let her eyes linger on his profile.

'What you did with Quinn, it hurt-'

'Rachel-'

'No, let me finish,' Rachel pressed. 'It hurt because…well because.'

'I know.'

'That's the difference this time. You know it hurt me and you apologized. And you were honest. And, upon further reflection, that means something to me.'

'I shouldn't have done that to you.'

'No,' Rachel sighed. 'But that's in the past and I think we can put this behind us and move on, can't we?'

Sam looked at her. 'You're a really good person Rachel.'

Rachel felt her cheeks heat. 'I'm not.'

'Yeah, you are,' Sam smiled, nudging her shoulder with his. Rachel couldn't help returning the gesture, realizing how much she had missed Sam's levity. She pointedly ignored the scowl Puck sent their way when he walked into Glee practice and saw Sam seated next to her. Kurt watched curiously as Puck dumped his backpack on the floor and gave Sam a heated glare, and moved toward interest when he saw Rachel reach over and give Puck's thigh a sharp squeeze.

'Mr Schue could I speak with you for a moment?' Rachel asked, tamping down the urge to growl when she noticed the obvious irritation plastered on the choir director's face. Kurt thankfully engaged Sam in conversation as she flittered away, Puck slumped down in his seat as he tracked Rachel with his eyes.

It wasn't hard to spot the increasing frustration decorating Rachel's features as she spoke with Mr Schue, and Puck straightened to catch a glimpse of staff paper before Mr Schue blocked the papers from his view.

'Hey Hummel, Berry say anything about writing a song?' Puck asked, barely even glancing at Sam.

'Not to me. But I wouldn't be surprised,' Kurt answered easily.

'What's up?' Puck raised an eyebrow at the large grin Rachel bestowed upon him as Mr Schue resumed practice.

'Later,' she whispered before tapping Sam on the arm.

Puck felt his stomach flare up and then start churning at the end of practice.

'You want to grab a coffee at the Lima Bean?' Puck heard Sam ask Rachel as he was putting away the guitar.

'Of course. I'll just be a few-'

'What the fuck?' Puck heard himself say, Rachel and Sam both stiffening at his tone. 'Did I miss something?'

'Noah, honestly, I'm perfectly capable of-'

'No, let him get this off his chest,' Sam interrupted Rachel gently before staring at Puck. 'Puck's been dying to say something-'

'Hey, you know what asshole, why don't you go fuck-'

'Noah!' Rachel all but shouted. 'Sam has apologized and I have accepted-'

'Oh he's apologized?' Puck remarked acerbically. 'Really? He gives you some lame ass words and suddenly all is forgiven?'

'Don't talk to her that way,' Sam took a step towards Puck.

'You really want to start lecturing me on how to treat Rachel right?' Puck scoffed, felt his fingernails digging into the palm of his hand. He felt Rachel sway towards him, the warmth of her skin leeching away some of the tension in the room crawling over his skin.

'Rach, why don't you give me a minute with Puck?' Sam said. Rachel cut her gaze between both boys warily. A moment later she heaved a small sigh.

'Please don't hit each other,' she ruefully requested, Sam readily nodding while Puck gave a tight jerk of his head as Rachel brushed a hand down his arm.

Puck and Sam both waited until Rachel's footsteps were fading before Sam set his bag on the floor, rubbed the back of his head as he considered Puck.

'Why don't you just tell her you like her already?'

Sam's words made Puck's jaw flex. 'This isn't about me. It's about you treating Rachel like shit-'

'I told her I was sorry and she told me she was cool. I was a dick and I'm going to make it up to her by being an awesome friend.'

'You pretty much sucked her face into your freakishly large mouth,' Puck noted. Sam didn't flinch.

'I was a mess…still am a mess over Quinn. Rachel was there for me and I don't know, she was nice okay?'

'What the hell? Are you trying to-'

'Look Puckerman Rachel's my friend. She's not my…she's not my zing. Finn screwed her over and then I did. You're the only guy whose treated her the way she deserves. It's time you let her know that instead of lurking in the shadows.'

'Rachel's my-'

'She's not just your friend. You care for her. God Puckerman you fucking decked me for her. At least try not to insult me by pretending any longer okay?'

Puck glowered, silent.

'Rachel's forgiven both of us even when we didn't deserve it. She's awesome and someone needs to be that for her. Just…think about it okay?' Sam cautiously slapped him on the shoulder, picking up his bag and turning on his heel.

'Evans,' Puck called out. Sam twisted around to acknowledge him. 'Don't mess up again.'

Sam smirked. 'I could say the same to you.'