Shelby's POV:

Rachel was in a great mood as she returned home. In fact she seemed to be in the best mood that I had seen her in since, well who knows.

"Did you have a good time?" I asked and she nodded as she set her things down.

"I really did, I'm sorry that I was so late with coming home. I sort of just got caught up with catching up with my friends and I lost track of time." Rachel said and I shrugged.

"You're not that late and you at least texted me about everything so that I knew what was going on." I said and Rachel looked a little relieved.

"Well I think that I should go get ready for bed, I do have school in the morning." Rachel said and I nodded being as I was just about to recommend the same thing to her myself.

"Okay well goodnight."

"Night." Rachel said as she bounded up the stairs and I just starred after her in disbelief.

Were things this simple? Could it be that this one trip was enough to bring Rachel back to the girl that I had first met just months ago? Did I actually do something right by letting her go? I wasn't sure but what I did know was that the Rachel that I saw tonight was not the Rachel that I had sent out to Lima this afternoon.

Speaking of Lima I was not looking forward to that drive tomorrow. I get it, I really do. My team should not have gone and messed with their team, but a performance and some harmless pranks did not call for someone lashing out and slashing the tires of my student's cars. I'm not saying that the Vocal Adrenaline kids didn't deserve some sort of payback for what they did, but what the New Direction's members did was a little much. I mean of course it as a little much, it was a felony, and now I was having to deal with a mob of angry parents who wanted someone to pay for the damage that was done to their children's car. These parents were not going to be happy until someone was burnt at the stake for these crimes and I was now the one who had to go on the witch hunt.

This was not something that I liked having to do. It was normal for the teams that my students targeted to strike back and I was known for my brutality in going after the students that messed with my kids but that was only because they targeted my rehearsals. I was fine if these kids wanted to get revenge on their own time, but when you messed with my time you were asking for trouble. In fact I had gained such a bad reputation for being ruthless that last year there wasn't any type of retaliation, the Warblers just took their torment lying down.

"Mom?" I heard Rachel call from the bottom of the stair case and I quickly turned around, glad to have a distraction from my thoughts.

"Yes Rachel?"

"I just wanted to ask you something, you seem distracted, are you alright?" Rachel asked and I nodded.

"Yeah I was just thinking about tomorrow and how I was going to fit in my trip to Lima. What do you want to talk about?" I asked curious as to what she could possibly want to talk to me about that couldn't wait until tomorrow.

"It's complicated, everything is so weird right now and I can barely think straight as it is but there's this boy-" Rachel said and I just about fainted.

I knew that the heart wanted what the heart wanted, but this girl had just had her heart stomped on by a boy who I thought was her end game, how in the world was she now saying that there was this new boy? Could it be that this boy was actually Jesse and they had made up? No, with the way that the two barely interacted during school there was no way that Jesse was this boy. It had to be someone from Lima. I was just hoping to goodness that it wasn't her friend Puck.

"A-a boy?" I managed to choke out and she nodded as if she had actually anticipated this reaction.

"I know. I'm having a hard time believing this whole thing myself. He was a really good friend of mine when I was younger and we sort of grew apart as we got older, he actually dated Quinn about a year ago. I don't know, it was just that being with him tonight, everything just started to fall into place. Things just sort of happened and now he wants to hang out." Rachel gushed and I could tell that whoever this guy was, she had it bad for him.

"Are you sure that you like him and that these feelings aren't just stemming out of your hatred for Jesse. Could you just be liking this guy because you know that it will drive Jesse nuts?" I asked and Rachel thought for a moment before she shook her head.

"With your logic it would make more sense for me to have developed these feelings for someone at Carmel, wouldn't it? I mean this guy lives in Lima, Jesse will never see him or us together." Rachel said and I had to give the girl credit, she was right.

"Well then, I guess all I can say is that I want to meet this boy that has captured your heart so quickly." I said and Rachel smiled.

"Really? Yo-you want to meet him? You never wanted me to have Jesse over when we were dating." Rachel said slightly confused and I shrugged.

"I already knew Jesse, plus I had to see you two together all the time at school, I didn't want to have to come home and see that as well. How about some time after the Thanksgiving break? Whenever will work best for him." I said and Rachel hugged me with with a scary amount of excitement and strength.

"Thank you so much! But just so you know, nothing is official yet. We want to wait until we have an official date together before we put a label on anything." Rachel said as she regained her composure and then turned to go back upstairs.

"Of course, you wouldn't want to rush into things." I joked as Rachel walked back up the stairs leaving me alone again with new thoughts tormenting my mind.

Who was this mystery boy and why did Rachel have to like someone so soon after breaking up with Jesse? None of this was making sense but at the same time logic wasn't making any sense either. The only thing I could think of was Rachel was trying to make Jesse jealous, but she was right. If she wanted to do that she would have picked a boy from Carmel, probably one from Vocal Adrenaline, and she could have rubbed it in Jesse's face as much as possible. The fact that this new love interest was in Lima was really throwing my thinking for a loop.

I mean this guy was one of her friend's ex's which meant that Rachel probably got this all approved by her friend. Or maybe that was the key to this whole thing, maybe she just pretended to forgive Quinn and this was all to get back at her. It was plausible but I don't think Rachel would do that especially to Quinn of all people. The whole thing was just confusing and there was no way that I was going to try to figure this all out tonight.

I just let out a sigh as I climbed the stairs and headed up to my room where a nice hot shower was waiting for me along with two pain killers to help me rid the headache that had just come on in the last hour.

Rachel's POV:

I had never really thought about how this new boyfriend thing would affect Shelby but now that I knew it bugged her I was even happier that I had choose to go through with this plan. It was devious, it was brilliant, it was a true Rachel Berry scheme. I knew that Shelby was trying her best to play the supportive mother role but I could see past her exterior. Oh how this scheme was starting to pay off so much more than I originally anticipated.

I couldn't help but smile as I went and climbed into bed. Sometimes revenge just came easier than I had anticipated. Shelby had lied to me and then pushed me away and now I was sort of doing the same thing, in a twisted round-about way. I was lying about being with Finn to her and I was going to use him as a wedge to drive between us. I guess I'm more like my mother than I thought.

When I woke up in the morning I still had a smile plastered on my face and I was actually looking forward to going to school this morning. Those girls who were pining after Jesse could say all they wanted and it wasn't going to affect me in the slightest. Plus I still had 'team Rachel' looking out for me, there was nothing to fear.

I got dressed and then headed down to the kitchen where Shelby was making breakfast and I took a seat at the counter.

"Last day of school today for the week." Shelby said with a chipper grin as she plated the French Toast she was working on and I nodded.

"Yes it is and I have never been more thankful for the pilgrims coming to America and forcing the Native Americans off their land and infecting them with numerous deadly illnesses." I replied causing Shelby to roll her eyes as she handed me a plate.

"You are a strange kid."

"Yes, but I'm your strange kid!" I said with a smile that she copied.

"Yes you are." She said as she placed a kiss on my temple and then took a seat next to me.

"So I have to go to McKinley this morning which means you are on your own at school for part of the day, is that going to be okay?" Shelby asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be? The whole thing with Jesse isn't causing me any trouble and everyone knows better than to mess with Coach Corcoran's kid."

"I thought people knew better than to mess with my kid but my team showed me other wise. That reminds me I need to teach those kids a lesson." Shelby said and I rolled my eyes.

"Please don't, you'll only make it worse for me." I said and she shook her head.

"I'm not just going to let this go Rachel, those kids broke a cardinal rule of VA, they messed with one of their own, I will not tolerate that type of behavior." Shelby said and I just sighed knowing that she was not going to drop this being as she was way past being Coach Corcoran.

"So I've been thinking of the whole vocal lesson thing." I said suddenly pulling Shelby from her thoughts of punishing VA.

"You have?" She asked and I nodded.

"I have and I think you're right, I do need to get back into them, and not just because you require them." I said.

"Well if that is what you want to do you have a few options. Of course I could continue teaching you and I would love to still do that but I can see how that might not be comfortable for you. If you want I can look into finding another teacher who would be able to teach you and that I approve of. I just want to do whatever you are comfortable with Rachel, this is all about you as you know." Shelby said and I couldn't help but smile at how much she had thought this though, I could now see why I was so concerned with details myself.

"Well that's a lot to think about but if it's all the same to you I would like to just continue with the lessons like we were doing before. You really helped me with my singing and I think that truly you are going to be the only person who can really teach me. As you know I'm not the easiest person in the world to get along with and I don't trust easily." I said and Shelby nodded.

"Well if anything changes and you decide that you want to be taught by someone else, just let me know." She said and I smiled.

"I will. So this French Toast is really good."

"Thank you, I told you I could cook." She quipped as she took a bite of her own breakfast.

"Breakfast proves nothing to me." I retorted.

"One of these days I am really going to surprise you, just wait." Shelby said and I rolled my eyes being as there was no way that this woman was going to ever surprise me with her cooking beyond toast.

After breakfast Shelby saw me off to school before she herself left to go to McKinley. I had to admit that Shelby was starting to get a grip on this whole parenting thing which meant I only had a short amount of time left to get away with things. I mean my puppy dog eyes only could get me so far once Shelby learned to not let me manipulate her.

When I got to school I parked in my assigned VA spot before I got out and headed into the school, no longer too concerned with Jesse and his army of skanks.

"You seem different, what happened?" Brody asked as I walked over to my locker and I shrugged.

"Nothing much really, I just went to hang out with some old friends last night." I said and he smirked.

"There was a guy last night wasn't there?"

"What does that matter to you?" I asked and he shrugged.

"It means nothing to me personally, but I'm sure Jesse would just love to know that his ex has moved on before he has."

"Who said I moved on? There may have been a guy that I hung out with last night but I'm not a slut thank you very much." I said feeling the need to defend my honor for some reason.

"I never said that you were. So, tell me about this guy."

"There's not much to tell, he's just a friend. Why are we even talking about me? You know all this stuff about me and yet I know so little about you."

"There's not much to know, I'm just Brody. So are your friends as hot as you?"

"Excuse me? You did not just ask that."

"But I did."

"Pig."

"Oh come on, if you're off the market the least I can do is ask about your friends. A guy has to keep his options open."

"Of course he does. By any means we aren't going to talk about my friends because you are deflecting. Why won't you tell me about yourself?" I asked and Brody sighed.

"Honestly I just don't like talking about myself."

"Will you answer my questions at least?" I asked and Brody nodded.

"If I can, but not right now."

"And why not?" I questioned as the bell rang and he smirked.

"That's why. Have a good day Rachel." Brody said as he walked down the hall leaving me alone.

"Boys." I muttered as I headed to my first class.

Mrs. Reynolds was writing something on the white board as I slipped into class while the rest of the students sat talking amongst themselves waiting for class to be called to order. When it was finally started the class limited their conversations to a dull murmur so that instruction on today's lesson could commence.

It was a boring lesson to say the least. There was nothing more than common sense that needed to be applied in order to complete the task at hand so I was done with the homework in a matter of minutes.

The rest of the day was pretty much the same, at least until I got to vocal tech, that was when things started to get interesting.

"So did you get a text about rehearsal this afternoon?" Brody asked as I walked in and sat down.

"No, but I haven't really checked my phone either, why what's going on?" I asked and he smirked.

"It seems like Coach Corcoran only wants a part of the team at rehearsal today, and it only seems to be the part that was involved in the whole New Directions incident. Though I am sure that is purely a coincidence." Brody whispered as Shelby stepped in front of the class in order to start her lesson.

"I told her not to do this." I whispered as I locked eyes with my mother in order to show my dissatisfaction.

"Well there isn't much you can do about it now, so now that you are free after school-"

"Brody since you seem to be talking anyway why don't you go ahead and lead the class through a vocal exercise?" Shelby said and Brody sighed as he smiled and made his way to the front of the room. "Rachel I need to see you in my office for a moment." Shelby said as she turned and headed into her office and I sighed as I got up and followed her.

"Yes?" I asked once she shut the door and she let out a sigh.

"I'm guessing from the talking and the look that you gave me a moment ago, that you know about rehearsal today." Shelby said and I nodded.

"Yes and if you are thinking about doing what I think you are thinking about doing then you know how I feel about it. I asked you not to."

"I know what you asked Rachel but I have rules and they broke them. There are consequences for breaking rules and now they have to face them. I made them face the consequences when they pulled a prank on the new kids last year and they will face similar consequences for this. Now if you don't feel like that is fair you are more than welcome to join them, but this is going to happen regardless of your decision. So now that we've discussed this, lets head back to class." Shelby said as she walked past me and back into the classroom leaving me no choice but to follow.

Shelby dismissed Brody from the front of the room as soon as she was back and then she got on with the lesson for the day.

When class was over I gathered my things and headed out towards my car, earning numerous glares from the kids who still had to attend what was sure to be a hellish rehearsal today.

"Hey I never got to finish asking you my question!" Brody said as he ran to catch up with me and I sighed as I came to a stop just shy of my car.

"And what is that question?" I asked and he smiled.

"I wanted to know if you wanted to get some coffee or something and then maybe I could answer some of those questions you wanted to ask me."

"That is a tempting offer but-"

"Oh come on, don't but me. Please Rachel, I'm not hitting on you, not that I wouldn't, I just want to hang out with you. You're a fun person to be around Rachel and I just want to get to know you." Brody pleaded and I sighed.

"One hour, not a minute more. I'll meet you at the place down the street in ten minutes, don't make me wait." I said before I turned and got into my car and watched as Brody sprinted to where his car was parked.

I really didn't want to go to get coffee with Brody but at the same time I couldn't tell him no. He did just want to get to know me and he was the only one to really reach out to me after the whole Jesse thing went down. I guess he was the closest thing to a friend that I had at Carmel, and I needed all the friends I could get at the moment.

Brody wasn't there when I got to the coffee shop but I knew that he would be here soon so I went inside and got a table and waited. It was only about a minute later that Brody walked in and placed an order before he sat down.

"I hope you don't mind but I ordered for you while I was up there."

"Oh, I don't really do coffee-"

"That's why I order some tea for you. Most vocalist don't drink coffee so I just assumed you were the same." Brody said as he took a seat.

"Well thank you. So are you going to answer some questions now?" I asked and Brody nodded.

"I am, but you have to promise that what I say at this table stays between us." He said and I nodded.

"Of course. So tell me about your family."

"Well my mom walked out on my family when I was about seven and my dad has had a drinking problem for as long as I can remember. I was basically raised by my older sister Anna. She was fifteen at the time and I don't know how she managed to do everything she did. I've never really told anyone about that. I just don't want people to treat me differently because I have a different kind of family life. Does that make sense?" Brody asked and I nodded, understanding more than he knew.

"I get it. I mean the whole school finding out about Shelby before I was even really talking to her threw me. Plus that was actually the easiest thing I've dealt with in the past couple years. I can understand why you didn't want to tell me at school."

"I did want you to know Rachel because I think of you as a friend, I just don't want a lot of people knowing about how messed up my life has been. I've worked hard to get where I am now and I don't want people to mistake the things I've earned for having had them handed to me out of pity."

"I get it. So, tell me more about this sister of yours."

A/n: It's been a while but do know that I am still writing, just not as fast as I used to. I am going to try to finish this story but there is still a ways to go. My goal is to finish though so don't think I've given up on it. It is just going to take some time. Also I can't promise anything but if there is something that you want to see in the story just leave it in a review. I write as I feel the story so that means there could be one of your ideas used, you just never know.