Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all your support on this story, I really appreciate it. I'm glad that in a few episodes the Finchel reunion is starting to be built up, because I really miss in love Finchel! Anyway, enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue!
Chapter 36: Comeback
If Rachel wasn't going to get Finn back, she had to get a sense of self worth in some other way.
The question was - how was she going to do it? Sure, she was a good singer, but it was no secret that her school was hostile to the arts. She'd been a good singer her whole life, and that hadn't helped her make any friends. If only she could find a way to get people to like her, to look up to her, like the cheerios...
No. She couldn't join the cheerios. For one thing, there was no way Coach Sylvester would take her. Even if she did, Coach Sylvester had told Quinn, Santana and Brittany that they had to pick between cheerios and glee club, and even though no one particularly liked her, she didn't want to quit glee.
Rachel looked in the mirror. Her pleated skirts and sweaters with animals on them - people always made fun of them. That one time where she showed up dressed like Britney Spears, people had looked at her in a way she thought she'd never be looked at. Maybe if she could start a trend...
Three of the most popular girls in the school were in the glee club. Now that Quinn, Santana and Brittany weren't cheerios anymore, they could wear regular clothes to school. The thing was, she didn't think she could get Quinn or Santana to dress like her. She didn't think they'd even want to spend time with her. Maybe Brittany would be willing to though. Brittany had never been particularly mean to her. Rachel picked up the phone and sent Brittany a text. Ten minutes later, Brittany came over.
"I like your house, Rachel," Brittany said when she came in Rachel's room.
"Thank you, Brittany," Rachel said. "I actually need your help with something."
"I'm sorry Rachel, I lost my good luck charm," Brittany said.
"I don't need your good luck charm," Rachel told Brittany. "I was actually wondering, I'd kind of like to start a trend, but I'm not good at that."
"I can help with that," Brittany said. "I'm totally a trendsetter."
"Exactly," Rachel said. "I want to become an icon, but that's not going to happen right now. I was wondering, maybe could you wear some clothes like mine to school?"
"Well, let's go through your dresser," Brittany said, looking through Rachel's drawers. "Maybe legwarmers could become a trend. It's cold."
"I'll give you some money to buy some," Rachel said. "Will you wear them to school tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Brittany said.
"Thank you!" Rachel said. "And if anyone asks you where you got the idea, tell them you got it from me."
"I'll do that," Brittany said. "I'll get some for Lord Tubbington, too."
"Okay, sounds good," Rachel said. Maybe getting people to notice and like her clothes would be the first step to becoming a star.
x
Rachel waited for Brittany to arrive at school the next day, and for someone to ask Brittany where she got the idea to wear legwarmers, and for Brittany to say that she got the idea from Rachel. But when Brittany arrived, Rachel noticed something. "Hey, Brittany. We need to talk. Why are my leg warmers on your arms?" Rachel asked as she went up to Brittany.
"I got cold," Brittany remembered.
"But, no. We had a deal, okay?" Rachel reminded Brittany. "As I explained, I am in the midst of a career resurgence, okay? I am done with boys, and I am concentrating fully on my career now. The only way to make a complete comeback is to dominate popular discussion, maybe launch a trend or two. I have you half of my allowance so you could take a signature look of mine and make it popular."
"And we decided tha legwarmers were more likely to catch on than reindeer sweaters," Brittany remembered.
"Yes, precisely, but it won't work if you insist on wearing them incorrectly," Rachel said.
Brittany looked confused. "I didn't realize that there were rules."
"Of course there are rules. They're legwarmers," Rachel groaned.
"Well, can I wear them that way tomorrow?" Brittany asked. "I wore a tank top today because I thought it was summer. No one ever taught me how to read a calendar."
Rachel sighed. "Fine, fine. And when people ask you who gave you the inspiration for your new accessory, you're going to say..."
"I'm just copying Rachel Berry," Brittany said.
Rachel was glad that Brittany remembered part of it. "Fantastic."
x
Finn was feeling better and back at school. Well, he was feeling physically, but he still couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened. Rachel had still looked like she loved him that day in the nurse's office, but she'd hurt him once. She could hurt him again. Now he just needed to get over her. Kissing Quinn had felt good. And since he'd fallen for her once, maybe he could remember why he liked her if they gave things another shot. He just had to lure her away from Sam. And he could tell that Quinn had enjoyed Sam's performance in Glee this week. (Speaking of Glee, why was Sue there?) In the locker room, Finn saw Sam, Artie, Puck and Mike and went up to them. "Uh, what's going on?"
"We're joining The Justin Bieber Experience, if Sam's cool with it," Artie said.
"And if not, we're starting our own band," Puck added.
"Bieber fever!" Mike declared.
Finn couldn't believe the other guys thought this was cool. "Wait, you guys do realize that Justin Bieber sucks, right?"
"Quinn seemed to be pretty into him when I was singing in Glee Club," Sam said.
"Right, well, I'm gonna spend my time working on songs that aren't geared toward 12-year-olds," Finn said. No way could a Bieber song win Regionals.
"Good. And then you won't have time to pick up any other guys' girlfriends," Sam said.
"Hey... back off, man. I didn't kiss your girlfriend. She saved my life," Finn said. Still, he had a feeling Sam didn't buy that Quinn had done the heimlich on him.
x
Rachel looked around the hallways. There were lots of girls wearing legwarmers all right - but on their arms. Rachel found Brittany talking to Tina. "You're a genius, they have changed my life," Tina rambled. "I didn't know my arms could be so toasty. You're a hero. You should win some kind of award."
Rachel cornered Brittany. "What are you doing?"
"I'm so sorry, Rachel, it just sort of caught on," Brittany said.
"I see that, okay? That is not what we agreed upon! I want my allowance back right now!" Rachel ranted.
"It's already gone," Brittany admitted. "My uncle lost his job, and his goat was going hungry, so... I spent it on food for the goat. I mean, sort of. The goat just ate the money."
Rachel had to think fast. "Okay, the only way to proceed is for you to come to school dressed exactly like me." She wanted this look to be credited to her. This was to help HER rise to stardom. Brittany was already popular.
x
"How do you do those diva numbers?" Coach Sylvester asked Rachel in the hall. "I want to do a diva number in glee club."
Rachel didn't like the fact that Coach Sylvester was in glee club now, but she had to admit, she was glad someone was seeking her advice on SOMETHING. "Well, I have to say I'm flattered and shocked that you came to me."
"Oh, come, now, Rachelle, it doesn't humble me too much to say I simply need your tutelage," Coach Sylvester said.
"Well, I'll say this: being a diva is all about emotion," Rachel said. "In fact, you feel so much emotion that it cannot be physically contained. Sometimes you have to close your eyes and turn your head and push, push your feelings away, they're that big!"
Coach Sylvester looked surprised. "Wow. That Mercedes is wrong about you."
"What... what did she say?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, I don't remember the specifics, just something about you're not as talented as you think you are and all your ideas are horrible. I don't know, something like that," Coach Sylvester said.
Mercedes had said that? Rachel thought that they were friends. She went looking for Mercedes, but Mercedes was coming up to her. "There you are. I heard what you said about me."
What was Mercedes talking about? "I heard what you said about me," Rachel said, trying not to get distracted."
"Just when I thought we were friends," Mercedes snapped.
"I guess that will just never happen, will it?" Rachel asked.
"I guess not. You know, there's only one "I" in "diva," Rachel, and that "I" is me. Guess we're just gonna have to settle this the old-fashioned way," Mercedes said.
Rachel knew what Mercedes meant. "Diva-off."
Mercedes agreeed. "Tomorrow, Glee Club."
"Why not right now?" Rachel asked.
"Cause I have to go get my cross-trainers. Want to know why? I'm gonna be doing some runs," Mercedes said.
x
So the girls did think that the Justin Bieber look was cool.
Finn wanted girls to think he was cool. Well, he knew that Rachel thought he was cool, but he was supposed to be getting over her, right? He needed other girls to think he was cool. So he'd copied Justin Bieber's hair and started wearing hoodies and jeans. But when he went into Glee that day, Tina made a face at him. "Why are you dressed like that? I thought you weren't into the Biebster."
"Well, I wasn't, but then somebody told me that Justin Bieber's, like, the king of YouTube with over a billion views. An anthem is supposed to appeal to the masses, right? So before I pick my anthem, I was working on my anthem look," Finn said.
Mr. Schue stood up. "Okay, guys and gals! And Sue. It's the moment we've all been waiting for. Our next diva-off. So here they are, sure to give us a fantastic anthem, Mercedes and Rachel. Let's give it up!"
"After much argument, I finally convinced Mercedes that in order to do a proper diva-off, it has to come from the Broadway catalogue. Which I think is safe to say that that gives me a home field advantage, so..." Rachel began.
"Oh well, you're about to get beat on your own turf," Mercedes said to Rachel.
Rachel turned to Brad. "Hit it."
As Rachel and Mercedes performed, Finn saw Rachel's classic energy and spark. As long as they had her on the team, he didn't think they had anything to worry about at Regionals.
Rachel: Every single day
I walk down the street
I hear people say
"Baby's so sweet"
Ever since puberty
Everybody stares at me
Boys, girls
I can't help it baby
So be kind
And don't lose your mind
Just remember
That I'm your baby
Mercedes: Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
Rachel: And if you give a damn
Mercedes and Rachel: Take me baby or leave me
Rachel: Take me baby or leave me
Mercedes: A tiger in a cage
Can never see the sun
This diva needs her stage
Baby, let's have fun!
You are the one I choose
Folks would kill to fill your shoes
You love the limelight too, now baby
So be mine
And don't waste my time
Cryin', "Oh Honeybear
Are you still my, my, my baby?"
Rachel: Take me for what I am
Mercedes: Who I was meant to be
Mercedes and Rachel: And if you give a damn
Mercedes: Take me baby or leave me
No way, can I be what I'm not
Rachel: But hey, don't you want your girl hot?
Mercedes: Don't fight, don't lose your head
Rachel: 'Cause every night, who's in your bed?
Mercedes and Rachel: Take me for what I am
Mercedes: Who I was meant to be
Rachel: Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Mercedes: And if you give a damn ya better
Take me baby or leave me
Rachel: Oh, take me baby or leave me
Mercedes and Rachel: Take me baby
Or leave me
Guess I'm leaving
I'm gone!
At the end of the song, Rachel and Mercedes gave each other a big hug. "Oh my God, that was so great!" Mercedes said.
It was great. Finn was going to have a hard time finding a girl who was as great as Rachel.
x
The next day at school, lots of the girls were dressed in Rachel Berry type outfits. For the first time, Rachel didn't feel bad about her animal sweater. She saw Quinn, Santana and Tina talking at the lockers. "Oh, my God. You guys look amazing. Seriously. She's a genius and an icon," Rachel heard Tina say.
"Who is?" Rachel asked.
"Brittany. Who did you think?" Quinn asked.
"Who knew that taking off that Cheerios uniform would turn her into a fashion institution?" Santana added.
Had Brittany not credited the idea to Rachel? "Is this a joke?" Rachel asked.
"No. That sweater is. Who wears a reindeer sweater?" Santana sneered.
Yup, Brittany hadn't credited Rachel. "Uh, all three of you."
Tina pointed at her sweater. "No, this is a carousel horse."
"If you want to know what to wear, just look to Brittany," Quinn said.
Maybe Rachel should have just told the girls the truth. "Look, she took the look from me, okay? I paid her."
"You're a terrible liar, Rachel," Tina snapped.
"I can't believe you would take this away from poor Brittany," Quinn said.
"It's sad. You're just sad," Santana said.
Rachel went looking for Brittany and finally found her. "Hey! I need to talk to you. I want my money back."
"Well, I used it to pay a publicist," Brittany said.
"What?" Rachel asked.
"Jacob Ben Israel posted a photo and this Web site called "The Sartorialist" named me the trendiest girl in America," Brittany said.
Rachel tried to go back to their initial conversation. "Brittany, I'm trying to stage a comeback here."
"Okay, but what exactly are you coming back from?" Brittany asked. "Listen, Rachel. I'm gonna give you some tough love right now. You're not a trendsetter. When people look at you, they don't see what you're wearing, they see a cat getting its temperature taken, and then they hear it screaming. I'm really sorry, but I have to go. I have an interview with Teen Vogue."
Rachel didn't know what Brittany meant by "a cat getting its temperature taken" but she knew Brittany was right. Rachel wasn't going to set any trends. People just saw her as the annoying girl with the weird interests.
x
Coach Sylvester had suggested that the glee club perform Sing by My Chemical Romance for Regionals.
Mr. Schue had given Finn and Rachel the leads on the song, which was always nice, but as they performed, Rachel couldn't help but feel that something about this song didn't feel right.
Rachel: Sing it out
Boy you've got to see what tomorrow brings
Finn: Sing it out
Girl you've got to be what tomorrow needs
Rachel: For every time that they want to count you out
Finn: And use your voice
Every single time
Finn and Rachel: You open up your mouth
New Directions: Sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls
Every time that you lose it sing it for the world
Sing it from the heart
Sing it 'til you're nuts
Sing it out for the ones that'll hate your guts
Sing it for the deaf
Sing it for the blind
Sing about everyone that you left behind
Sing it for the world, sing it for the world
Cleaned-up, corporation progress
Dying in the process
Buy yourself the motivation
Generation nothing,
Nothing but a dead scene
Product of a white dream
I am not the singer that you wanted, but a dancer
I refuse to answer, talk about the past, sir
Wrote it for the ones who want to get away
Finn: Keep running!
New Directions: Sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls
Every time that you lose it sing it for the world
Sing it from the heart
Sing it 'til you're nuts
Sing it out for the ones that'll hate your guts
Sing it for the deaf
Sing it for the blind
Sing about everyone that you left behind
Sing it for the world, sing it for the world
Rachel: We've got to see what tomorrow brings
New Directions: Sing it for the world
Sing it for the world
Rachel: Boy you've got to be what tomorrow needs
New Directions: Sing it for the world
Sing it for the world
By the end of the song Rachel knew what was wrong with this song. It wasn't them enough. They needed a song that only they could do. They needed a song that was them.
And to do that, they had to write their own song.
Rachel wanted to tell everyone at glee practice that day, but she didn't know what they would think. Maybe writing songs would help her rebuild her image.
"All right, I hate to say it, but I think we all owe Sue a big thank-you. She may hate us, but she did give us a kick-butt song for Regionals," Mr. Schue told the group.
Everyone started cheering, but Rachel still felt like she needed to say what was on her mind. The fact that everyone liked the idea of this song definitely didn't help. "Mr. Schuester, I think that our admiration for Coach Sylvester might just be a little premature. While I love My Chemical Romance and I think we all kicked butt on that number, as our team leader and arbiter of all that is good, I have to say that I don't think that that song is good enough for Regionals. The Warblers have Kurt and Blaine as their, like, one-two punch, and Aural Intensity kicked our butt last year. We can't just do any song to beat either of those teams."
"You mean a number where you don't get to sing the entire song," Mercedes mumbled.
"Guys, this isn't about me," Rachel said. Though she did want to sing with Finn.
Will Schuester: What do you suggest, Rachel?
"We need to need to be bold and epic. We need to write our own original music for Regionals. We need an undisputable advantage," Rachel said.
Santana smirked. "Check out Dwarf Diane Warren."
"Look, we can't lose Regionals again this year, you guys. Okay? You have to trust me. I feel really, really strongly about this," Rachel said.
"Let's put it to a vote. Okay, Rachel?" Mr. Schue said. "All those in favor of doing an original song." Only Rachel raised her hand. "Chemical Romance?" Everyone else raised their hand.
x
Finn liked the idea of doing an original song. He really did. Why hadn't he said anything in class? They'd already been beaten by Aural Intensity, and Kurt and Blaine were more talented than everyone in their group - except Rachel. And there Rachel was, coming up to him. "You must be happy," Rachel said.
"Why is that?" Finn asked.
"Quinn is back on the market. She'll be easy pickings after what Sam did to her," Rachel said.
Finn didn't want Rachel thinking about that. "I don't want to talk about Quinn. I want to talk about you. You were right in there today about that number not being good enough to win. We need to write our own songs."
"Why didn't you say that when I needed you?" Rachel asked.
Finn shrugged. "It wouldn't have made a difference. The only way to prove it to those guys is to write a great song and shove it down their throats."
"Well, do you think that you and I should do it together?" Rachel asked.
"No, I think you should do it yourself. Let's face it, you're the real trendsetter in there, and if someone was gonna write a song to win Regionals, it would be you," Finn said.
"Do you really believe in me that much?" Rachel asked.
Finn nodded. "More. You know... I really like the Rachel that I saw in there today. Reminded me of the old you. Focused and take no prisoners. I think she might be making a comeback." He patted Rachel's shoulder and began to walk away.
"Wow, you think I'm a trendsetter?" Rachel asked, looking embarrassed.
Finn stopped. "Yeah. You ARE the glee club, Rachel. Let's face it, it works because of you."
"Earlier this week, I paid Brittany to copy my outfits so people would think I was setting trends, but she just took credit herself," Rachel said.
So that was why so many girls had been wearing clothes like Rachel's. "Really?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I just want to be known and respected, you know?"
"I understand," Finn said. The hype from winning the big football game had died down, and Finn wasn't getting the attention he'd gotten during the first few days after. "Some day, things'll work out." At least that was what he hoped. For him, for Rachel and for them as a couple.
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