A/N: OHMYGOD! I can't believe we reached three hundred reviews! There are no words to describe how amazing you guys are! I feel really bad now about this chapter but I ask you to read it with one thing in mind: Trust me.

Also, the chapter jumps quite a lot but hopefully it's not too hard to follow ;)

"Are you going?" Kurt asked, placing two drinks on the table.

"Going where?" Rachel took a sip if her drink only to spit it back out again due to its hot temperature.

"To Puck's birthday party tomorrow." Rachel shook her head.

"I don't think so." Kurt gaped at her.

"Why not? Puck is a friend of ours and he'd want you there."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind too badly and besides, I have nothing to wear."

Kurt waved a hand but Rachel still didn't look convinced. Truth was she was in a deep funk. For a few months, Rachel saw the possibility that something more could happen between herself and Finn but the other day had shattered that. He would only ever see her as his best friend and she'd learn to be okay with that because then at least she'd have a part of him.

"Ugh." Kurt stood and reached for his phone.

"What are you doing?" She asked, not really paying attention.

"Just sending a text to somebody."

It became clear who that 'somebody' was half an hour later, when after constant knocking, Rachel opened the door and found herself face to face with Noah.

"Sup, Berry?" He pushed past her and plonked himself down on her couch.

"What can I do for you today, Noah?" She crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.

"What's this I hear about you not coming to my party?" Rachel shot a glare at Kurt who suddenly seemed very interested in the nails on his left hand.

"Noah…" She began but he cut across her.

"No, I want you at that party Berry, and if you're not there, no matter what the excuse, I will hunt you down and drag you there myself. Got it?" Rachel huffed but nodded anyway.

"Got it." He held his hand up for a high five and she obliged.

"See you tomorrow." He called over his shoulder. As soon as the door was shut behind him, Rachel turned to face Kurt.

"Told you he'd want you there." He smirked.

"So, you'll be picking me up?" Rachel checked, shoving her last few chips into her mouth.

"Yep. I'll pick you up at eight." Finn replied.

"Okay. I better go. Kurt's glaring at me because I'm cutting into our shopping time."

Finn laughed. "Okay. I'll see you later."

She'd barely ended the call when Kurt snatched her phone out of her hands.

"You're not getting this back until we find you something to wear tonight. " Kurt was stressed. She could tell by the way his usually perfect hair was all tousled.

Rachel didn't blame him. They'd been shopping for the past four hours and so far, had found nothing that Rachel could wear to the party that she had to start getting ready for in two hours. 'Panicking' would be an understatement.

"I will not give up." Kurt repeated, just with less enthusiasm than the last few times. They entered another countless shop and Rachel wandered off as Kurt frantically searched through all the racks. She was just about to admit defeat when out of the corner of her eye, she spotted something pink. She turned towards it and hurried over, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face.

She practically ran over to Kurt, top in hand, and saw his face light up.

"It's perfect." He breathed, running the material through his fingers. "We can pair it with your black jeans and black ankle boots with a silver bangle and –"He paused, biting his lip and Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Rachel, how would you feel about a haircut?"

Rachel added one last coat of mascara before standing up and looking herself down in the mirror. She had followed Kurt's advice and was wearing her skinny, black jeans with her new pink, ruffled top and black boots.

She ran her fingers anxiously through her hair. It was quite a bit shorter than usual, stopping just below her shoulders and instead of straight; it had a slight wave to it.

As for her makeup, she had applied the smoky eyes effect but kept everything else light, including one coat of pale, pink lip-gloss.

The doorbell rang and she hurried downstairs and outside to find Finn, dressed in a white shirt and black jeans.

"You look amazing." He grinned and then did a double take. "You've cut your hair," He exclaimed, as he opened her car door.

"Yes. Do you like it?" She worried.

"It really suits you." He told her honestly.

"Well, Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself. Now, get us to this party."

"Finn! Berry!" They both tuned to see Puck jogging over to them.

"Is he ever going to call me by my first name?" Rachel asked just before he reached them.

"Glad you took my warning to heart, Berry." He grinned. Finn glanced at her questionably but she shrugged it off and leaned forward to give Noah a hug.

"Happy birthday." She smiled and Finn clapped him on the back.

"Happy Birthday, man."

"Thanks. Here come here and watch me win my fifth shot competition." He led them over to a table and Rachel rolled her eyes.

"You're already drinking?"

He turned to face her in the eye. "Berry, it's a party that's what you do."

Rachel froze when she reached the table because sitting there was no other than Quinn Fabray.

"What's she doing here?" She whispered to Finn.

"I don't know. I think Puck and Quinn met at my parent's anniversary and he invited her." She hid a groan as Finn took the seat next to Quinn, which left Rachel sitting on Finn's right.

Everything was going relatively smoothly until Rachel saw Quinn start to run a hand up Finn's thigh. She stood up quickly, causing everyone at the table to look at her strangely.

"Sorry. I have to go to the bathroom." She hurried off and placed both hands on the side of the sink. She couldn't do this. She couldn't just be Finn's best friend while he dated other women. What if he got married and had kids? It would literally kill her inside.

Rachel didn't think anything of it when she heard the toilets door open behind her, until she felt a hand on her shoulder that spun her around.

"Listen here, you need to back off." Quinn hissed.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Rachel tried to push her way around Quinn but she blocked the door.

"Oh, I think you do - Finn. I can tell you're in love with him. It's just as obvious as how Finn doesn't feel the same way. I don't know what has happened between you in the past but it needs to stop now."

Rachel laughed. "Are you being serious? Can I ask why you're going after a guy that is clearly not interested?"

Quinn smirked and crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, he's interested, if that night I spent at his is any indication. So, I'm telling you now, if I see you even looking in his direction again there will be hell to pay." She turned around and opened the door before leaving.

She's lying. Rachel repeated. There's no way that Finn had slept with Quinn. Come on, their name's rhymed. Surely that has to be a sign of bad luck? He didn't sleep with her.

With shaking hands, she followed Quinn out only to find that someone was now sitting in her chair, forcing her to stand.

"Here, Rach. Sit on my lap." Finn grinned. She glanced to his left to find Quinn glaring at her.

"I'm alright. I think I'm just going to go and find Kurt." She wandered off and sent Kurt a text.

Where are you?

His reply came instantly. At the bar by the stage. Look up.

She did as she was told to find Kurt waving at her a couple of tables away. She made her way over and plonked herself down on the free seat.

"What's wrong with you?" Mercedes grinned.

"Nothing. " She reached over and downed Kurt's drink. She expected him to scold her but when she looked up; he was looking over her shoulder. She followed his gaze and found Finn standing there, hands in pockets.

"Rach, could I talk to you for a minute?" The only reason she got up was because he had a heartbroken expression on his face.

He led her to the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her waist, swaying to the music.

"Have I done something wrong or something?" He asked and she lifted her head from his chest to look at him.

"What?"

"I don't know what's going on with you lately. One minute you're you. Laughing and joking, then you suddenly become all quiet or start snapping at me. You're all over the place Rachel and to be honest your mood swings are giving me whiplash. I have no idea where I stand with you anymore."

She glanced up with tears in her eyes as the music stopped and Puck took place on the stage.

"So, I would just like to say thank you to everyone for coming…" He began as everyone went quiet to listen.

"You know what's wrong with me?" Rachel screamed and Puck stopped talking. "What's wrong with me is that I love you Finn and I don't mean I love you as my best friend. I mean I'm in love with you and I have no idea what to do about it because I know you're not in love with me and every time I see you with another girl, I die a little inside because I wish that was me." She was fully crying as she looked at Finn's shocked expression and only just became aware that all eyes were on her and everyone had just heard her confession.

"I'm sorry." She aimed it at Puck before running out as fast as she could. Why the hell she just done that? Now, she'd ruined their whole relationship.

She had just got outside when she heard. "Hey."

She spun around to find Quinn following her down the steps.

"I'm really not in the mood to deal with you right now." Rachel sobbed before turning back around and continuing to walk forward.

"Why did you just do that? I told you he didn't feel the same but instead of listening, you just made a complete fool out of yourself in front of about a hundred people."

Rachel turned around again and as Quinn continued to walk forward, Rachel began to walk backwards.

"Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?" Quinn laughed. "Can you imagine how embarrassed Finn is right now?" Quinn stopped at the kerb but Rachel carried on backwards into the road.

"Rachel." She glanced up to the door to find Puck at the top of the stairs. That's a first. He'd called her by her first name. A look of pure horror was planted on his face as he began to run down the steps. "Move." He screamed.

She furrowed her eyebrows and glanced at Quinn to find her looking from Rachel to Rachel's left repeatedly. Rachel followed her gaze and the last thing she saw was a pair of car headlights before everything went black.

A/N: This chapter did not turn out how I had imagined it at all and I am slightly disappointed but hope you guys aren't. Oh and do remember that is fiction – anything can happen!

So, one chapter left and an epilogue. A picture of Rachel's outfit can be found on my profile, the top isn't exactly the same but the closest I could find and forget the handbag.

Review! You can chose if you want a sneak peek or not as I know some people would rather be left in suspense. I had imagined this happening since about chapter three so please don't hate me and just trust me….

Paige :)