A/N: Oh short chapters, how you are my bane. I hope you like this one anyways. The next vision's going to be pretty long. It's another mini-crossover but you'll have to squint to see it. Here's a hint: It has to do with past lives too. Also, don't worry about Lindsey Lohan being mentioned. She's not the mean 'girl' I was talking about. Note the emphasis is on the mean, not the girl. Cheers!

***

By 8:05 Monday morning, Rachel was at school getting ready for the day. Noah had texted her on Sunday afternoon to let her know that he had to drop Bekah off at school early for a field trip and he couldn't pick Rachel up, so she had gotten her dad to drop her off on his way to work. Rachel had spent the weekend trying to ignore Noah's obviously concussed texts and messages on her MySpace page. After her last vision, Rachel found that the thought of interacting with Noah created an almost instantaneous grapefruit sized lump in her throat.

Her plan for the day was to avoid Noah until Glee practice or, at the very least, lunch. Thinking about him brought memories of her vision and of his bruised and broken face from the previous week. She had started to wonder if it would be for the best if she broke off their friendship before she could cause Noah any more pain.

A touch whispered across the back of her neck and Rachel turned around quickly, losing her balance. A well-muscled arm wrapped around her waist to steady her and Rachel's hands splayed across a very firm chest. Looking up, Rachel found herself staring into Noah's sparkling hazel eyes. There was a dark bruise under the left one, bleeding into a vivid crimson-purple across his cheekbone. The rest of his face was a patchwork quilt of cuts and bruises.

Noah's mouth turned up in a half smile that set Rachel's heart racing and her palms sweating. He set her carefully on her feet, making sure she was balanced before pulling his arm away. "You know," he said, "most people would think someone who has taken as many dance lessons as you would be all graceful and shit."

"Don't cuss," Rachel said automatically.

Noah just rolled his eyes and leaned against the locker next to hers. Her plan for avoiding him was effectively destroyed. "Not everyone has swallowed a dictionary, Berry. I'm just working with what I got."

Rachel put the textbook for her first class into her rolling bag. "What you have, Noah, not what 'you got'. Also, not only is cussing rude, but it shows a distinct lack of imagination."

Noah smiled lewdly. "Oh, I've got imagination for days, midget. If you'd let me touch your boobs when we were dating, I would have been more than happy to show you just how much imagination I have."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Rachel closed her locker with a slam. "Since you are obviously still suffering the side effects of your concussion, I'm going to overlook what you just said."

Noah merely shrugged and pushed off the locker to fall in step beside her as she walked toward her class. They walked in silence, making up for the morning's missed ride. As Rachel turned to go into her class, Noah stopped her. She was acutely aware of the heat of his hand through the shoulder of her blouse.

"If that douchebag messes with you again, you tell me," he said seriously.

"Noah, I don't want you suffering any more injury on my behalf."

Noah just rolled his eyes at her. "When have I ever cared what you want? We're, like, friends or whatever. It's kind of my job to have your back. Plus, then I can get some more of those awesomely dorky 'thank-you' cookies you make."

Rachel huffed and turned to 'diva storm' into the classroom. Noah's hand slipped down her arm and he tugged on her fingers. She turned to face him again.

"Seriously Berry," he said, "I'm not fuckin' around."

"Fine," Rachel said, pulling her fingers away. With a flip of her hair, she made her way to class.

***

Rachel didn't see Noah again until Glee practice that afternoon. She was reviewing her chemistry notes for an upcoming test when he walked in with Artie, who was chattering about some new 'sweet lick' he'd learned over the weekend. Rachel gave him a small smile before looking back at her notes. He waved and sat down near the piano to continue his conversation with Artie. Rachel completely missed the suspicious glance Finn threw her way.

The kids chatted amongst themselves until Mr. Shue burst through the door, tie slightly askew and normally unkempt curly hair in even more disarray than usual. The huge grin on his face told them that he'd just been to visit Miss Pillsbury. Rachel stifled an unladylike snort as Mr. Shue floated across the room, humming 'I Could Have Danced All Night.'

"Okay people," Mr. Shue said, "the name of the game is duets. You'll be pairing up, like when we did our mash-ups, and performing your duets at the next assembly. Your peers and teachers will vote on which one they liked best and we'll turn it into an ensemble piece for Regionals."

"Excuse me, Mr. Shue, but how exactly will partners be selected?" Kurt asked haughtily.

Mr. Shue smiled. "I'm glad you asked that Kurt. Last time we drew names, but this time I'm pairing you up based on voices that I think would be complimentary."

Mercedes opened her mouth to object, but Mr. Shue held up his hand. "You'll have two weeks to work out a duet and I know they'll all be amazing. I'm counting on you to get over your conflicts to put on an awesome show."

Mr. Shue pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and read it over before smiling again. "So," he said, "you guys are pairing up as follows; Santana and Kurt, Tina and Matt, Mercedes and Mike, Brittany and Artie, Quinn and Finn, and lastly, Puck and Rachel."

Finn scowled and stood up, nearly knocking his chair over. "Hey Mr. Shue, I think you made a mistake."

Mr. Shue smiled, giving Quinn a kind look before speaking. "I've thought these pairings trough very carefully, Finn."

"It's just that Rachel and I are the leads, so we know our voices complement each other. We should be partners for this."

Mr. Shue shook his head. "Sorry Finn, no substitutions. I'm excited to see what you guys come up with."

"But Mr. Shue, you don't understand. Puck's not even close to good enough for her!" Finn shouted.

Before Noah could react in his defence, Rachel was up and out of her chair. Disconnected, she watched her hand swing back and connect with Finn's face, leaving a red palm mark behind. She hit him so hard that the tall boy fell to his knees. Rachel stared down at him coldly as everyone gasped in horror.

"Finn," she said, "your remark was unnecessarily offensive. Noah is exceptionally talented and hardworking. With my superior training and Noah's skill with the guitar, we should have no problem handing you your ass on a proverbial platter."

Finn merely blinked at her, not really sure what was going on. Rachel was struck by the insane need to see him cower before her, as his past self had made her cower while he'd inflicted pain upon Noah. The sudden burst of rage nearly choked her and she raised her hand to strike Finn again but covered it up by running her hand through her hair.

"Hey Berry," Noah said, drawing her focus away, "I thought you said cussing showed a lack of imagination."

Rachel strutted across the room to take her place by his side and shrugged. "I have…what was it you said Noah…imagination for days, which will come in handy when we pick a song that will allow us to eviscerate the competition, no offense Artie."

"Uh," Artie said, still in shock, "none taken?"

As she looked around the room at the faces of her teammates, Rachel realized that she would not be able to break off her friendship with Noah now, not even to spare him pain. She had clearly drawn a line and crossed it. There was no going back.