Rachel's POV:
I took a deep breath as I walked from my car into the halls of Carmel. I wasn't sure what I was going to face now that I was single and alone for almost the first time since I started at this school. Honestly it was going to suck, there was no doubt about that. I mean Jesse was really the only friend that I made here and now I had no one. Granted that had been my choice but I had made the right one. Had I made the right choice?
The looks I got as I entered the school were weird. There were smiles and waves and I swear I heard a wolf whistle as I made my way to my locker.
I wasn't even sure if I was awake until I saw Jesse as he tried to approach me.
"Rachel-"
"Save it, I don't want to hear it." I said sharply as I made my way around him only to have him grab my arm and spin me around to face him.
"I just-"
"Just what?" I spat as I pulled my arm from his grasp. God this was harder than I thought talking to him would be, especially as I looked into his sad broken eyes. "You lied to me Jesse, you egged me for goodness sakes, there is nothing left for you to possibly say to me." I said as I once again turned and stalked away from him.
I don't even know why but just being around Jesse made me want to forgive him and have him wrap his arms around me again. All I could do was shake my head of those thoughts as I walked to my locker and grabbed what I needed to. It was when I turned to head towards my class that I was met with Giselle in full force.
"You are stupid to leave Jesse. He was the only thing that was keeping you alive in the school and without him you're fair game-"
"Is that so Giselle?" Brody, a back up dancer I recognized from VA, said as he stepped between us.
"Back off." Giselle sneered and I just saw Brody smirk.
"Rachel doesn't know it yet, but being single helps her wield more power at this school than even you can imagine. She never needed Jesse and we both know that. Her talent will get her farther than that jerk of a boy she used to toy around with." Brody said and Giselle rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, we all know that within a day Jesse will be back on top with a new floozie on his arm, what are you going to do then Rachel?" Giselle asked and I shrugged, not needing Brody to fight my battles for me.
"I don't know, I was thinking that I could turn into a heartless bitch but you seem to have that role pretty well wrapped up for Carmel." I sneered and she glared at me as a few of her cronies snickered.
"Don't think that this is over, it's far from being over." Giselle said as she turned and stalked off.
"I really hate her." Brody said when she was gone and I nodded.
"Yeah, she is not a real pleasant person to be around."
"I don't think I've properly introduced myself." Brody said and I shrugged.
"You're Brody Weston, backup dancer slash singer for VA or as Jesse would say you're the eye candy for when he sings, not that he needs it." I said and Brody laughed.
"I guess no introduction is needed then. But I must tell you I am team Rachel all the way, as is most of Carmel." He said and I gave him a curious look.
"Team Rachel?" I asked and he nodded.
"Yeah, I mean you and Jesse were like the 'it' couple. I guess in a way you and him were like the Brangelina of Carmel. Now that you two are over the entire school is taking sides. Most of the girls who think that they now have a shot with Jesse are on his team of course, as well as a few of his close friends, but the rest are all team Rachel baby." Brody said and I rolled my eyes.
"Two things, first of all I'm no one's baby and secondly there are no teams." I said and he shrugged.
"You can think what you want but there are teams Rachel, and there is nothing you can do about it." He said and I sighed.
"I have to get to class." I said as I walked away through crowds of glares and smiles, it was one of the most confusing times I had ever had in my life.
"You don't deserve him, if I were you I would never of let him go!" One of the girls in my first class told me as I made my way to my seat and I just sighed.
If this was how my entire day was going to be, it was going to be a LONG Monday.
Rehearsal was not too much different. There were a few surprises though, like when Andrea told me that she thought that what Jesse did was uncalled for and she was not following Giselle's lead for once in her life and was fully on team Rachel. Or when a group of guys came and kept me company during the few breaks that we were granted during our rehearsal time, which had successfully kept Jesse away from me throughout the entire event. Or there was the little detail that Shelby seemed to be working Jesse a lot harder than was necessary and was not going easy on him at all during rehearsal. It seemed like Momma Bear might have finally leaked over into VA.
Upon dismissal I quickly gathered my things and then headed out to my car that was waiting in the parking lot. My normal reserved parking space was long forgotten being as it's place was next to Jesse's, causing me to head out into the abyss of the Carmel parking lot where my car was safely away from the shenanigans that had taken place earlier. Had I of paid more attention to my surroundings as I walked I would have noticed that every Range Rover that had been parked in the reserved VA section, had their tires slashed. The only way that mine was saved was that I had parked far away in order to avoid Jesse.
Of course I was oblivious to this fact as I left the Carmel parking lot and headed over to McKinley with a change of clothes at the ready to help what many considered my rival team. I sent a quick text to let Shelby know that I had made it without any trouble before I tucked my phone into my bag before I hurried off into the school and changed in the bathroom. I know that it shouldn't have mattered if I was still wearing Vocal Adrenaline clothes, but there was just something about doing this whole thing while wearing my team uniform that made it all seem so, so dirty and underhanded.
As I came out of the bathroom I saw Santana leaning against the wall with a huge smile on her face.
"We got the auditorium for the night and Sue sent us her person for lights. It seems like she was a little upset that someone else decided that they could mess with our team, being as that is her job." Santana joked and I smiled.
"Cool, so how long does it typically take for your group to learn a routine?" I asked and Santana laughed.
"Good luck getting it all done tonight, but I think we have someone who can help." She said and I didn't have time to question her as we entered the auditorium and saw Mr. Schue talking with Finn and Quinn.
"Hey Rachel, you made it!" He cheered and I nodded.
"Yeah, I was the one who set up this whole rehearsal. What are you doing here?" I asked slightly paranoid that somehow this would all get back to Shelby and my ass would be toast.
"Finn told me about the rehearsal you were putting together and I think that this is a brilliant idea. I just wanted to be here incase something happened, this way you were covered and no one at Carmel had to find out about it." He said with a wink and I could tell that he knew Shelby was my mother and that if she found out I would be dead and New Directions would be toast.
"Thanks, I could actually use some help and you know your team better than I do." I said and he nodded as I made my way down to where he was standing.
"Okay guys why don't you all go ahead and get on stage, I'm sure Sunshine can take you through some warm-ups while Rachel and I talk." Mr. Schuester said and everyone happily went about gathering on the stage.
"So this is the song that I picked out. It's not the most conventional song that I could have picked but I think that given the talents that you have, this would be the best fit." I said as I showed Mr. Schuester the sheet music I had brought with me and he smiled.
"Do you already have a vocal arrangement worked out for this piece?" He asked and I nodded as I pulled out the corresponding parts and handed them to him.
"I also talked to Brittany and she said that she was working with Mike on a routine that would go to this song. I wanted this piece to really represent what you guys had to offer. You guys are considered long shots to win at Regionals but you have a lot of heart and I want to show that." I said and he nodded.
"That sounds like a perfect plan." He said and we waited for Sunshine to finish with her vocal warm-ups and stretches before I jumped in and taught the group the song that I had brought.
It took longer to teach them the song than it would have if it was Vocal Adrenaline, but honestly this was the most fun I had ever had during a rehearsal. There were smiles and jokes and laughter everywhere and while it wasn't as efficient, things still got done to the point that I was happy that they had learned the song.
"Brit, are you going to be able to teach them the dance tomorrow?" I asked and she nodded.
"It's not too hard, a lot of it is improvising and what not. I think as long as Mr. Schuester will allow for us to use some rehearsal time this week it won't be a problem." Brittany said and Mr. Schuester nodded.
"Of course, you guys can take all the time that you need. I want to stick it where is hurts to Vocal Adrenaline, no offense Rachel." Mr. Schuester said and I shrugged.
"None taken, we are pretty much a bunch of over privileged snobs who think there is no threat to us." I said with a laugh.
"Well I think that we are going to show them that they are going to have to step up their game!" Mr. Schue said earning a cheer from the team that was sitting on the edge of the stage.
"Good. So I'll take care of everything, just make sure that you are all at Carmel before school ends and that you are all ready to go. We usually start rehearsal right after school gets out so you all need to be lying in wait. You should be able to perform and get out without our coach seeing you as long as you can do it within the first fifteen minutes of practice being as that is usually the time that we are left to do vocal warm-ups on our own. Can you make that happen?" I asked and Schuester nodded.
"I think we can make that happen. We are going to have to car-pull and if I want to see it I have to be very discreet but we'll make it happen. Right guys?" He asked and there was another cheer from the group.
"Well it's been a pleasure working with you and I cannot wait to see you all perform next week! Have a good Thanksgiving." I said before the group was dismissed and I pulled out my phone to check the time.
It was then that I saw I had a missed text from Shelby asking if I was alright and if there was any damage to my car. After which I had about three other text telling me about tires being slashed and how when they looked on the surveillance videos they saw Puck and his friend slashing all the tires and how she was going to be making a trip over to Lima tomorrow to deal with this whole problem. And then of course there was the text from her to remind me to text her before I left so she knew that I was leaving.
"Who are you texting?" Puck asked as he walked up behind me and I shrugged.
"My mother. Apparently someone slashed her tires as well as the tires of all the Vocal Adrenaline cars. I wonder who would have done that?" I mockingly asked and Puck shrugged.
"I don't know, maybe those jerks pissed off the wrong person." He said and I just rolled my eyes.
"Well tell Finn that he can expect to be called to the front office tomorrow morning to deal with this, my mother has the security footage of you two committing the felony." I said and Puck sighed.
"I just can't catch a break. How does your mom know Finn?" Puck asked.
"She doesn't but she said that you were with a friend so I just assumed that it was him and apparently things don't change."
"Hey, things had been a little rough between us since Quinn, this was just a bonding experience." Puck said defending his actions and I smirked.
"Well let him know that you two bonded yourself into some deep shit. My mother is going to crucify you both. She is not one to mess around with shit like this and you slashed her tires, not your brightest move."
"I'm sure we will work something out, but in case that doesn't happen I might as well enjoy my last night of freedom. Say, what are you up to?" Puck asked and I shrugged.
"Nothing really, I just need to be home early enough being as I have school tomorrow."
"Well then why don't we pull a group together to go out to Breadsticks with and then we take the party back to your place, you have a key right?" Puck asked and I shrugged.
"Breadsticks I can guarantee but the rest we will have to play be ear." I said and he nodded.
"That's good enough for me. Let me round up the troops, you don't mind driving right?" he asked and I shook my head.
"I can drive." I said and Puck smiled as he turned and ran over to the group that was chatting a little while they gathered their things.
It was a moment later that Finn came up to me with his goofy smile plastered all over his face.
"So Puck said that you could drive. I usually drive my truck but it's not really running right after the long trip to Carmel this afternoon." Finn said and I shrugged.
"It's totally fine. So shall we go?" I asked and he nodded as he and I walked over to my car.
"So how'd you get here if we slashed all the tires?" Finn asked, confused as we got into the car.
"I didn't park in the Vocal Adrenaline area of the parking lot. I usually park next to my now ex-boyfriend and I just didn't want to deal with that drama today." I said and Finn nodded as I pulled out of the parking lot of McKinley.
"I guess that makes sense. So Puck said something about the Vocal Adrenaline coach finding out already about the tire thing? I mean how is that even possible, they had to of like just discovered it." Finn said and I shrugged.
"Vocal Adrenaline is a big thing at Carmel. There are cameras all over that place just to make sure that we are all safe."
"I wish Puck would have told that before I agreed to do that little stunt. My mom is going to kill me, I just hope that I don't get expelled, she would die." Finn said and I sighed.
"I doubt that you will get expelled. At most you will probably just have to pay for damages." I said with a shrug and I could see Finn exhale.
"That would be a relief, although I will have to find a job."
"That would probably help." I said as the car fell into silence for a moment.
"So why did you move to Akron? I mean I get that your dads died and all but what was with the move?"
"My aunt lives in Akron and she had already given up so much for me to finish out my freshmen year and I didn't want to inconvenience her any more than I already had so I agreed to move to Akron." I said and Finn nodded.
"That was really big of you, especially since you basically ruled McKinley. I think that it would have been really easy for you to have disregarded your family's needs and make them stay here for you." Finn said and I smiled.
"It would have been easy, but I think that the change was good for me. I've learned a lot about myself and I don't think that I would trade the move for the world, it really was what was best for me." I said and Finn smiled.
"It really was, I mean you now remind me of the Rachel that I dated for three months in middle school." Finn said and I had to laugh at his remark.
"Oh you mean the naive childish girl who wore animal sweaters?" I joked and he nodded.
"I loved those sweaters, almost as much as I loved Mr. Turner and his pirate obsession." Finn joked as we both busted out laughing. "Arg matey, there be pirates coming!" Finn said as he mimicked our 6th grade science teacher almost to perfection.
"I almost forgot about that. God what ever happened to him?" I asked and Finn shrugged.
"The last I heard he still teaches at the school, although I think he changed his obsession from pirates to vampires with the release of the latest Twilight book."
"That is such a loss, he was a really good pirate."
"That he was. So can I ask you a personal question?" Finn asked and I shrugged.
"You can ask it, I don't know if I will answer it." I teased and Finn was quiet for a moment before he opened his mouth to speak.
"Was your boyfriend always a jerk to you? I mean what he did to you was pretty douchie." Finn said and I nodded.
"It was, but things weren't always like that. At least I thought that they weren't, actually I'm not really sure anymore. Everything with Jesse is just complicated." I said as I pulled into a parking spot at Breadsticks and Finn turned to me.
"Well for what it's worth I just want to say that if you were my girl friend I would never treat you like that and I would never give you a reason to walk away from me." Finn said and I didn't know how to respond.
Was he hitting on me? I think that he was hitting on me but I wasn't sure if I was okay with that. I mean I had just broken up with Jesse, I wasn't ready for another boyfriend, but it was sort of flattering. I just wasn't sure how to convey this to Finn.
"Um, thank you?" I asked and I could see that Finn could tell that I was uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I mean you should have heard it but I don't think that the time is right, not that there is a right time-" Finn rambled and I just nodded.
"It's okay, it's nice to hear, though I agree that it's not the right time. I mean I just broke up with Jesse so it's a little soon for you to be hitting on me." I said and Finn blushed terribly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, but I think that we should get inside before someone thinks that we are up to something." I joked and he smiled as we both got out of my car and headed inside.
"Yeah especially with Puck and Santana in the group." He said and I laughed a little bit as we both walked into Breadsticks and went to sent with the group of people who had just been seated.
"Hey look who decided to join us." Santana joked and I gave her a look.
"You guys just got here as well, I don't want to hear it." I said as I slid in next to Quinn while Finn sat next to Puck and Mike on the other side of the circular booth.
"So Berry what do you think about everyone coming back to your house when this dinner is over?" Puck asked and I shook my head.
"I don't think that is a good idea. I still have to drive back to Akron and we all have school tomorrow. Plus I'm sure that my neighbors have all been told to keep an extra eye on the house due to me running away not too long ago." I said and Puck and Santana both sighed.
"You're no fun!" Santana teased and I shrugged.
"Sorry, I grew up."
"Oh get real, you were never any fun. I mean you used to go to parties and bring a bottle of Powerade so you didn't have to drink. Let's be honest you've always been a goody two shoes." Quinn said and I nodded.
"Yup and nothing has changed. So does everyone know what they want to order?" I asked and they all nodded as I flagged down our waitress and started ordering.
As much as my friends teased me for not drinking or really partying like they did, they did at least respect my decision not to. They never tried to push me to do something that I didn't want to do. Of course they really couldn't push me into doing something that I wasn't comfortable with, I not easy to persuade. I think in some weird small way they respected me for making the decisions that I did about my life. I mean Quinn was from a broken family, Santana's parents didn't pay any attention to her because they both had to work all the time at the hospital, everyone thought that Brittany was just stupid, and Puck's mom had to work all the time to support their family being as she was a single parent in a low paying job. I think that they all wished that they were able to make the choices that I did and have someone notice other than your friends. For me my dads were there to applaud me for my life choices, their parents weren't really there and now that I knew what that was like I knew that it sucked. That was probably one of the main reasons that they drank and acted out, it was a way to get attention.
Granted they all didn't just drink there were other things that they to help their situations. Puck got into fights at school so his mom had to pay attention to him. To ease their loneliness both Santana and Brittany slept with just about anything with legs. While Quinn, she just internalized everything and then took it out on the kids that she bullied, she was the worst out of everyone. She victimized her classmates to an extent that it was almost an art form. She knew everyone's weaknesses and she used that knowledge to her advantage.
Finn on the other hand wasn't really like any of us. He was kind and gentle, he didn't drink, he rarely got into trouble, and while he wasn't the smartest person I had ever met he wasn't stupid either. He didn't exactly fit in with us but somehow it worked. He was like the grounding factor of the group.
Dinner was really nice and I was just hoping that it wouldn't end as fast as it did. I was starting to consider letting everyone come over to my house just so we could all hang out longer but I knew that would end disastrously so in the end we all said goodbye and Finn and I headed to my car so I could take him home before I headed back to Akron.
"So how do you blow off steam?" Finn asked and I gave him a weird look.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked and he shrugged.
"You don't drink, you don't cheerlead anymore, you don't torture kids, how do you find your release now?" He asked and I thought about it for a second.
"I guess I sing. Is that weird?" I asked and he shook his head.
"Not at all. I sing all the time, especially when I am trying to work through stuff. Singing just clears my head in a way that nothing else does. Plus you are a beastly singer Rachel." Finn said and I nodded with a slight blush.
"Thanks. You know it's been a while since someone told me that. I mean in VA I am constantly having to fight for anything I want and I only get torn down, rarely am I built up. It's nice to hear that someone appreciates all the hard work I put into my voice." I said and Finn smiled.
"Yeah well someone should remind you every day how beautiful your voice is." Finn said and I couldn't help but think how mad Jesse would be if he heard this guy hitting on me like he was.
It was a few seconds later that everything clicked. I had found a way to put the final nail in the Jesse coffin and that was by playing the same game that he was so notorious for playing.
"Finn can I ask you something?" I questioned and the tall boy nodded.
"Yeah anything." He said and I sighed.
"Well it's not really a question as much as it is a proposition." I said as I pulled into his driveway and put my car into park.
"What kind of proposition?" He asked and I gave him a huge smile.
"I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend."
A/n: I know that I haven't been updating this story like I used to but my life isn't at all what it used to be. Just know I haven't forgotten about this story and while updates might not be all too frequent they are coming and I will finish this story.
-Katie