Less then two weeks later, Kurt had gone back to Mc Kinley, and his friends from glee club were celebrating him in the afternoon.
"So, we've organised a party for you" explained Mr Schuester, holding a dark colored slushie, "because we're very happy to have you back"
"Very" echoed Rachel, hugging him, "you can't imagine how much we've missed you"
"As much as I've missed you, I suppose" replied Kurt with a smile, taking the slushie Quinn was giving him.
"We've also prepared a song!" exclaimed Mercedes, after taking a long sip of hers.
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"You're so sweet.." Kurt was almost moved by his friends' attentions, "I can't wait to hear it"
"Let's not make him wait, alright guys?" asked Puck, putting down his slushie.
"You're right, Noah" agreed Rachel, walking to the center of the room. Everyone approached her, Puck, Sam and Artie holding their guitars, and Finn walked to his drums. They began to play, and Rachel to sing:
"Do you remember when we used to sit and wonder
what it was like on the other side,
we would stay up and think about it all night.
Was the green much greener
and did they get a lot of sunshine?"
"Did they get a lot of sunshine?" echoed Mercedes, smiling to Rachel.
"We used to list all" sang Tina, slowly swinging her body, "all the things we wanted from life,
the fame, the fortune, the money to buy a rollercoaster ride.
So young and clueless,
we never appreciated what we had"
"Never appreciated what we had" Santana backed her up.
"Well, I've been there" sang the boys, "oh, and it wasn't all that.."
"They don't have" sang Brittany and Artie, while she wheeled him around, "half the things that we know have"
"I've been there" Quinn and Finn were holding hands, but her smile was definitely bigger than his, "turns out we kinda had it alright, the grass is no greener on the other side"
"The grass is no green on the other side" sang Puck, playing the guitar, "oh, no, no.."
Rachel sat down next to Kurt and continued to sing: "I have to tell you, just in case you wonder why
I've been gone for a while,
'cause it took me that long to see the bigger round.."
"Life's more complicated" sang Mercedes, as Sam let her touch some random strings of his guitar, "each day that passes by.."
"Each day that passes by" echoed Tina and Mike, "now I realize I don't need to drop that fast"
"I'm not gonna analyze" Quinn and Finn again "before today goes, now it isn't gonna last"
"And whatever's happened, I wouldn't take a minute back" Santana gave a quick gaze at Artie and Brittany, singing "I wouldn't take a single minute back.."
"Well, I've been there" all together, "and it wasn't all that.
They don't have half the things that we know have,
I've been there, it turns out we kinda had it alright,
the grass is no greener on the other side"
"The grass is no greener on the other side" repeated Rachel, taking Kurt's hands and walking with to the center f the room, "no, the grass is no greener on the other side! Now I'm back to tell you.."
"I've come back to ask you" sang the girls, "to walk with me down memory lane"
"I remember" sang Finn and Rachel, "do you remember?"
"Do you remember?" she repeated, avoiding his penetrating stare.
"Do you remember?" echoed everyone, "Well, I've been there, and it wasn't all that.
They don't have half the things that we know have,
I've been there, it turns out we kinda had it alright,
the grass is no greener on the other side"
"The grass is no greener on the other side" Rachel finished singing in a whisper, then she hugged Kurt, and they all imitated her.
"Group hug!" exclaimed Mr Schuester, approaching his kids.
"Thank you" said Kurt, wiping his tears, "you're lovely, I really liked the song"
"We wanted you to know that we're not mad at you for leaving us" explained Quinn, smiling, "we know you weren't safe here"
"And probably you still aren't" commented Finn, looking away.
"Shut up" said Rachel, caressing Kurt's cheek, "of course he's safe. And he's happy too"
"You couldn't leave us" added Tina, excited, "you're one of the first members!"
"It's true, you belong with us" Artie raised both of his thumbs, "so welcome back"
"Thanks" repeated Kurt, wrinkling his nose, "but if there's one thing that I remember about the New Directions is that the always work hard.. so, what are we performing at Regionals?"
"That's the spirit!" agreed Mr Schuester. "So, we haven't got an original song yet.. but we were thinking about a duet as first performance"
"Who leads?"
"Take a guess" answered Santana, sourly, "Ugly Berry, of course, and her potato boyfriend"
"Finn's not her boyfriend anymore" objected Quinn, firmly, "he's mine"
"Oh, please, you two are so gonna break up again" huffed Santana, flapping her hand, "and he's going to cry on Berry's shoulder"
"That's really none of your business" said Rachel, frowning, before speaking to Kurt, "Finn and I are doing the duet, anyway. We're singing 'Make a wave', a beautiful song originally sung by Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato for charity"
"That's.. cute" commented Kurt, trying to hide his jealousy, "I mean, I know that song, and.. I think you'll do great. Your voice is as powerful as Demi's"
"Are you kidding? Mine's so much better, I can hit every high note greatly"
"Yeah, Kurt, are you kidding?" asked Mercedes, sarcastically.
"Oh, well.." Rachel shrugged; she didn't want to fight. "We're doing 'Make a wave', anyway"
"Cool" Kurt smiled, rubbing her arm, "I guess I'll just sing backup"
"We'll all do" replied Tina, pointing at Quinn, Santana, Brittany, the guys and herself.
"Me too" added Mercedes, annoyed, "but I get to sing the high note that your diva girlfriend here can't hit, in the end.."
"I, I can!" exclaimed Rachel, indignant. "I can hit it marvelously, but Mr Schuester thinks that it would be a shame if you didn't get at least that.."
"Wake up, white girl, it was a kind way to tell you that you ain't that good"
"Rubbish, isn't it Mr Schuester?"
"Of course, Rachel" he answered, bored, "Mercedes, please, stop being nasty to her, you're both great"
"Why can't I lead sing, then?" she asked angrily.
"Because you must focus on the song to write now, and besides your voice doesn't go well with Finn's as Rachel's.."
"Who says he has to lead sing every time?" asked Sam, calmly. Everyone looked at him, making him feel uncomfortable. "I-I mean, if Mercedes was the leading singer, I could lead sing with her.. our voices are great together"
"So do Brittany and mine" observed Artie.
"I actually think Finn's voice sounds better with mine.." added Quinn with a weird grimace.
"Okay, guys, listen" hissed Mr Schuester, "you're not being honest. This is not about singing with your girlfriends and boyfriends, alright? Duets are not about working with someone we love, it's about doing something we love with someone. We all love singing in here, so all you have to do is deal with the fact that some voices work better together than others. Rachel and Finn are being really admirable, singing together after what they've gone through"
"Yes, we definitely are" agreed Rachel, nodding furiously, "we are aware that our voices are perfect in unison, but it's the only thing that works for us" and she gave him a firm look.
"Yeah" he muttered, shrugging, "it's true.."
"Anyway" continued Rachel, "I wouldn't mind to change partner for awhile.. for example, Kurt.."
"Too easy" irrupted Quinn, "if you can change your partner, why can't Finn as well?"
"Because if you lead sing for us, we are screwed" answered Santana, "I should do that, I don't care who with"
"It's not a solo, it's a duet" meddled Mercedes, "your voice might sound good on its own, but Sam's right, ours work like a charm together.."
"Guys, enough!" yelled Mr Schuester, looking disappointed. "I decide who sings at Regionals, and I've made up my mind. Can't you see you're ruining the Kurt's party?"
"Fine" huffed all the girls in unison.
"I'll consider your ideas, anyway" continued Mr Shuester, "especially Mercedes and Sam's duet"
"Yes!" she exclaimed, smiling.
"And Rachel and Kurt's"
Rachel jumped up and hugged him again; when they broke apart, she couldn't help but notice Finn's frustrated face, and feel a little sad for him.