Author's Note: WOW! You guys ... wow. The response to last chapter was incredible and I cannot thank you enough. Just ... wow.

This chapter might not be what some of you expected, and might not be what some of you want, but I promise there is a plan and it is working out painfully so (just like you all want, which is kind of hilarious if not crazy). There's still a lot of story left, and I hope y'all stick around to read it be told. Thanks again and please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: There is a song referenced and used at the end of the chapter. I don't want to be sued, so no infringement is intended, but I also don't want to say the title just in case. if you don't know it, then I think you might have entered the wrong fandom link anyway. :)

Rachel fiddled with the packet of Splenda in her hand, shaking the fake sugar granules to the bottom. She mindlessly ripped the top of the package open, staring inside the small hole for a brief moment before dumping the contents into her mug of hot tea. She watched the tiny fragments float for a few moments and then sink, Rachel slowly lifting her spoon from inside her napkin and inserting it into the warm liquid. She swirled the silverware around the mug, stirring up the granules until they completely dissipated, then she added a healthy squirt of honey from the plastic bear in the caddy and repeated the circular motion.

Kurt watched the whole thing from just three feet away, the petite brunette not even noticing her best friend's presence. Typically Rachel did at least four things at once, so to see her so robotic was kind of frightening. In fact, it was absolutely terrifying since it had only gotten worse over the week. As each day passed clearly a little more hope died and Kurt wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he knew he needed to at least try to help.

"Hey, Broadway," he greeted with fake enthusiasm, unsurprised when she smiled back at him brightly. She was, after all, a terrific actress. No one else other than Mercedes was particularly concerned with her behavior, but he knew her better than most. "What's shaking?"

"My tea!" She joked lamely, earning a soft chuckle from him as he slid into the booth seat across from her. The waitress came and took both of their orders, and then there was an awkward silence that sat between them in the minute or so that followed. Rachel was usually so good at small talk, or at least filling up quiet time, but Kurt wasn't just any other person. He knew her, and he knew the situation.

Last Sunday, Rachel had come home feeling like she was on top of the world. Puck and her parted ways at the airport after he'd said he had to stop by the office, and Rachel used the night to catch up on all her laundry and household chores. The next day, she caught up with Kurt and Mercedes and she told them all about the trip, sparing little detail given their shocked expressions at one point. They spent the entire rest of their day off talking about the Tony nominations, as in addition to Rachel's bid the musical itself also had a couple of potential awards. Kurt was, of course, worried about what to wear – and more specifically what Rachel would wear – and Mercedes only enabled him by demanding his assistance picking out something show stopping for her. She was, apparently, on the prowl.

The entire day had flown by and Rachel hadn't even noticed that Puck didn't call or text even though she knew it was his day off, too. The next day, between the matinee show and the night show, she barely had time to breathe. Everyone wanted to talk to her about her plans for the awards show, and she spent a lot of time with Erin discussing the understudy's performances while Rachel was away. Wednesday and Thursday went by in the typical fast-paced manner, and Friday was really the first time Rachel found herself checking her phone almost every free second.

Now, late Saturday morning, she felt the weight of his absence heavy on her shoulders - trying to keep her posture square but feeling them slump anyway. She'd gone a week without talking to him before – two, even – but something felt different about this time. Before it was about busy schedules or poor timing. Then they'd pushed all that aside and went for it anyway and now … well now there were no excuses.

"Why hasn't he called?" She lamented finally, bowing her head in shame. She hated how small and wounded she sounded, but Kurt was her best friend. She was safe from ridicule when he was around. "Or texted?"

"He's probably just busy," he offered.

"Too busy to text?" She demanded, seeing Kurt flinch. She wasn't sure if it was because of the topic or because of her harsh tone, but she sadly guessed the former. "Say it." She lifted her eyes off her mug, pleading with him. "Please, just … say it."

Kurt sighed, not breaking her gaze no matter how hard he wanted to. He was torn between wanting to play his usual role as cheerleader and facing the facts. She looked almost broken in front of him and that outweighed everything else that used to feel so innate. He couldn't make her feel better by telling her everything would work out. She'd see right through him because he didn't believe it. After everything Rachel had told him about Puck and everything that happened, Kurt knew what was happening and even though he really didn't want to say it out loud, maybe that's what he needed to do. Maybe the only way Rachel would feel better was if the truth was out in the open and she could deal with it.

"Maybe," he began softly, still contemplating figuratively turning back, "he's making the choice for you."

Rachel's gaze drooped much like almost her entire body, the petite brunette sinking into herself. She took a slow sip of her tea, using both of her hands to hold the mug. She felt the warmth on her hands but nowhere else. Inside, she felt numb. Hollow. And really, really, really stupid.

"It doesn't make any sense, Kurt," she whined softly, not brave enough to look up as she spoke.

Best friend or not, even she knew it would be hard for him not to want to hit her during this. It was the classic moment in any post heartbreak scene of a movie. He'd tell her to dust herself off and then Good Riddance by Green Day would magically come over the speakers in the small café. They'd break out in an elaborate song and dance, random patrons joining in with flawless moves. By the time the whole routine was done, Kurt and Rachel would have their arms around each other and she'd be smiling brightly, thinking, Puck who?

"Everything about last weekend was perfect," she explained again, leaving the fantasy land in her head and focusing on the cold, bitter facts of reality. "Nothing was casual, and it certainly wasn't my doing!" There was force in her words that had been lost before, and it actually made Kurt smile; there was his Rachel. "I didn't invite myself, I didn't …"

"It doesn't matter," he interrupted, not wanting her to get too worked up. "You went on the trip to see if what you and Puck had was real and … given the week lack of conversation, I'd say you got your answer." She frowned deeper. "Now, I say we have our brunch and then go do our show."

As if on cue, their food arrived. The waitress looked at Rachel and then tossed a concerned glance at Kurt. This was their usual spot and clearly Rachel's attitude was well known enough that her current mood was making the wait staff uneasy. Get in line, lady.

"You're up for a Tony, after all, and you have adoring fans waiting to hear from you," he continued, knowing Rachel was getting inside her head again. "Then, after the second show, come out with Blaine and Finn and I."

Rachel knitted her eyebrows together, taking the allotted time to chew her bite of salad to think about his offer. Going out was certainly a better alternative than staying home staring at her phone while analyzing the events of last weekend over and over, but she wasn't sure she was ready to give up entirely. She knew she should, and Kurt obviously agreed, but she still couldn't fathom how something so right could now be ... wrong.

"I think my dads are right," she decided. "I'm a magnet for emotionally unavailable men. And … going out tonight would be fun but will not help that situation."

"I'm assuming you are talking about Finn and not Blaine?"

She rolled her eyes, nodding her head softly. She was actually talking about every guy she's ever had feelings for. Her fathers were right in that she'd grown attached to some men who turned out to be gay, and there was Jesse who was too dedicated to his career to care for her on the level she demanded. Puck was the clearest example, though, as he'd made his intentions clear from the very beginning, which was the part that was really eating her up inside. She knew he wasn't ready for anything serious, and yet things between them slowly started to shift – whether they were ready or not. And then, this weekend, it felt like it had all magically come together when, apparently, it hadn't.

"Much like you, Diva, he sort of had a falling out with his other suitor. Happened about a week before your trip." Kurt shrugged, not focusing too much on why he hadn't told her before and hoping she wasn't either. "He's actually looking for work at a different school next year. So much drama."

"It's suitress." He stared at her blankly. "The female equivalent of suitor is suitress. The word isn't interchangeable."

It was his turn to frown, doing such with more disdain than she had been earlier. "If your intention is to talk grammar, then I don't think Finn's the right guy for you, either."

Rachel nodded in understanding, hearing his icy tone. "I'd love to join you," she answered hesitantly, still reluctant but willing to keep an open mind. She certainly couldn't fault Finn for his indiscretions with the woman if there had been any considering her own situation with Puck hadn't been exactly innocent. But now they were both, it appeared, single and available (emotionally and otherwise), and maybe a night out without all the other pins in the air would be just what Rachel needed.

At the very least, it presented her with the opportunity to obsess about something else for the rest of the day. Her and Kurt finished their brunch and then headed to the theater right on schedule. They went through both shows without a hitch and then they walked together to Social to meet Blaine and Finn. She wasn't going to lie and say she didn't think of Puck at all the rest of the day – the musical in itself was a constant reminder of the transformation she thought he'd been making - but she found that if she kept herself busy and focused on other things, those thoughts were at least muted.

"Hey!" Finn greeted them eagerly, his eyes running over Rachel's frame.

She had changed into a short black shirt and a tight tank top again thanks to the sweltering weather, and she found some satisfaction in the idea that Puck wasn't the only one who appreciated the outfit selection. Actually, if she recalled, that had been his problem with it. She was pretty sure he'd call Finn a prick, too, but she didn't agree. In khaki shorts and a vintage AC/DC T-shit, he was a welcome distraction.

"I haven't seen you in forever." He let his patent dopey smile slip, his gaze finally coming back to meet hers. "Binoculars are in the shop." Rachel giggled appreciatively, sliding in to the spot next to Finn as Kurt took the spot by Blaine. "We just got beer coming, but what's that pink drink you get?"

Rachel blushed and looked to Blaine, who rolled his eyes. "She won't say it."

"What?"

"She thinks it is inappropriate."

He quirked an eyebrow up, clearly more curious now. "How do you order a drink without saying it?"

Rachel briefly thought back to the night she'd gone to the bar with Puck and met Sam and Mike - somehow he'd just known – and then shook those thoughts away. "Just the way any typical girl gets a free drink."

"Typical girls don't get free drinks," Kurt pointed out. "Hot girls do."

She blushed, her smile faltering as the word beautiful echoed in her mind.

"Or girls who were nominated for a Tony," Blaine added, nudging Kurt's side so he would get up and Blaine could move. "That's amazing, Rach. Really."

"Thank you," she answered humbly, watching as he walked away to presumably get her drink. Finn and Kurt were discussing the merits of living in New York in comparison to Ohio, stating that the closest they got to seeing a celebrity in their hometown had been through tinted windows when some pop princess' tour bus broke down on its way to Cleveland. Rachel wanted to contribute the conversation, but her mind replayed the word celebrity over and over again until she was breathless with memories from a different small town in Ohio.

"I made it a double," Blaine announced, his face giving away a bit of his concern. While she had asked Kurt not to tell Blaine everything about her relationship with Puck, he'd clearly told his partner a few things in regards to its sudden downward spiral. Blaine and her were close enough that she didn't feel uncomfortable about it, though. She smiled gratefully, taking a healthy sip before turning her attention to Finn, who had scooted closer to inspect her drink.

"Sex on the beach?"

A bemused smile crossed her face. It had been a long time since she'd hung out with Finn, the last time she'd seen him being their impromptu meeting when she was having lunch with Mercedes. She'd been so focused and figuring things out with Puck that she'd forgotten how adorable Finn could be. And it was sort of refreshing how easy he was to read, especially after how terribly she'd interpreted other's feelings.

"A blowjob comes in a shot glass," he remarked unabashedly.

"That's probably a health code violation," Blaine joked.

Rachel managed not to blush, too busy shaking her head in contempt. "Blaine … you're applying to be a father. Don't you think it's time to grow up just a little?"

"Uncle Finny started it!"

The group laughed, partially at Blaine's lame comeback and partially at Finn's expense. Kurt eventually put his brother out of his misery, practically yelling Rachel's drink order. It was meant to embarrass her, but all it did was cause two more full glasses to show up at their table, the argument about typical girls and hot girls stirred up again. Rachel finally requested that Finn explain his sneaky hot remark, and after a bit of arguing about confidentiality and bro code, he'd told her exactly what he meant. She found herself blushing at the nervous way he got through the confession, playfully pushing at him when he'd finished – her hands lingering a little longer than they had to.

Several drinks later, everyone was beyond relaxed and Kurt had actually convinced Rachel to get up on stage. Finn didn't need as much convincing, but rather just demanded executive approval on Kurt's song selection, which was why they were both up front arguing over the book of CDs while Rachel was sitting at the corner booth with Blaine. He'd wanted to put bets on which AC/DC song it would be, but Rachel just rolled her eyes and hoped Kurt wouldn't do that to her.

"I think I might need one more drink before getting up there."

"Just put it on my tab."

Rachel stumbled out of the seat and she knew Blaine assumed it was because of her previous drinks and not because of his words. They sloshed around in her head along with the alcohol and she couldn't decide if the vodka was making it worse or not. She leaned her back against the bar top and it felt too much like the hard surface of his apartment door that instead of steadying her it made her feel even woozier.

"Diva!" Kurt shouted over the speakers. "We found one!"

She nodded, plastering on a smile and making her way toward the stage. Kurt was ushering Blaine to the stage, too, which meant the duet had turned into a group number. She peered down at the booklet and saw the artist was Journey, which definitely fit Finn's profile but wasn't exactly what she imagined Kurt would pick. Much like her, he tended to veer toward a more musical-friendly catalogue, but Finn likely nixed all those choices.

"We're singing backup," Kurt clarified as if hearing her unasked question. "This is a duet version, so Rachel you'll be the girl part and …"

"And I'll be the boy," Finn responded dryly, tossing Rachel a microphone with a wink. She grinned widely at him and the resulting teasing between the brothers. Blaine managed to get Kurt back on track, claiming they had an audience waiting. Kurt huffed and puffed for a few more seconds before finally giving in. He got into position on the side of the stage with Blaine, tossing Rachel one of his trademark looks that she could tell meant the song choice wasn't by accident.

The crowd in the bar instantly knew the song as soon as Kurt and Blaine started in on the melody. Like some invisible gravitational pull, people surrounded the stage, erupting in cheers when Finn took the first verse. Then Rachel let her big voice overpower her small body, shocking every single person in the bar. The applause carried into the guitar solo and the next two verses before they quieted to hear Finn and Rachel blend their voices for the chorus. Kurt watched the two dance around each other, Rachel really losing herself in the song when everyone started singing along. They all felt a little bit like rock stars right then, Finn clearly so when he played some heavy air guitar while Kurt and Rachel shared a knowing look before the final verses.

Don't stop believing

Hold on to that feeling

Streelight, people

Don't stop believing

Hold on to that feeling

Streelight, people

Don't stop

All four of them bowed and accepted the eruption of applause in their own special way before making it back to their table in the corner. Several people came up to them and remarked on how awesome they'd performed, and the owner of the bar actually brought over a pitcher of beer and one Pink Panty Pulldown for Rachel in gratitude of keeping the place lively. The group of friends laughed and joked about going on tour together, ultimately ending the discussion when they couldn't agree on a name that – according to Finn – wasn't gay or a general costume theme that – according to Kurt – was ever in season.

"It was so much easier in high school when all you wore was your football jersey and jeans."

Rachel smiled at Kurt's observation and Finn's quick rebuttal, but she felt her throat close and her heart stop as she considered the words football and jersey together in the same sentence. She'd been having so much fun before and now it was like she was back to square one, and frankly it wasn't fair. She was sick of everything coming back to him when, obviously, he wasn't going through the same anguish. And while she wasn't strong enough to will away the memories and simply had to learn to live with those thoughts circling around in her head, she also didn't have to succumb to them entirely.

"Hey, Finn," she began smoothly, tossing her hair back over her shoulder and glancing at him with a soft smile. "I'm not sure if you're still interested, but I was wondering if you still wanted to … go out on that date."

Finn grinned from ear to ear, nodding his head as he answered, "Totally."