A.N. So here's Ren's first Glee rehearsal :) hope it lives up to expectations.

Chapter Four – The Solo

Rachel sat with Finn on one side of her and Renee on her other side when Glee practice started that afternoon. Mr. Schuester came into the room and grinned as he saw everyone there.

"Afternoon guys," he greeted them all, "I hope we're ready to learn a new song today?" he asked and then paused as he noticed Renee. "Ah yes, this must be Renee Curazon," he smiled as Renee and then at Rachel. "Principal Figgins and Miss Pillsbury filled me in on your transfer to us, how was your first day at McKinley?" he asked.

"It was ... interesting," Renee smiled. Mr. Schue laughed at this.

"I'll bet it was," he said, "So are you here to try out for Glee too or just as moral support for Rachel?" he asked.

"I was kinda hoping to audition," she confirmed.

"Great! Well stand up, introduce yourself and your song and let's hear it!" he said happily. Clearly he was very happy at the idea of getting a new member for Glee.

"Ok, well, I'm Ren. I was raised in Akron with my Mom and current most played on my iPod will probably be Carrie Underwood, Kings of Leon and Garth Brooks." There were a few chuckles at this and Renee smiled. She looked over to where Puck was sat, "Hey can I borrow your guitar?" she asked. Puck shrugged and handed her his guitar without a word, before she continued, "Today I'm gonna sing 'Teardrops on my guitar' by Taylor Swift."

Renee strummed a few chords on guitar before she started to sing. Rachel knew that Renee was an excellent singer but she didn't realise she was quite this good. She had mainly heard Renee singing as she was joking around whilst she was cleaning the house or cooking, so seeing her like this and playing the guitar she could tell that she had the same talent that she did. Everyone listened to her sing in silence before a storm of applause at the end.

"Wow Ren!" Mr. Schuester smiled, clearly impressed. "It seems talent runs in your family," he nodded towards Rachel and then Renee. "Well I think it's unanimous that you're now officially in the Glee club!" he announced and everyone cheered again, except Rachel, who managed a smile. Mr. Schuester paused for a second and then clearly made his mind up about something as he reached into his bag and pulled out a bunch of song sheets. "In fact, this is out new song and I think it would fit Ren's voice perfectly. It's a song by Carrie Underwood called 'All American Girl' and what I thought we could do is sort of what they do on the video, has everyone seen it?" he asked. Everyone in the room nodded their heads. "Great well instead of having one person being all different types of careers, I think we should have everyone involved."

Mr. Schuester went on to explain his idea more thoroughly. As the lead, Ren would be in most scenes but she would only be involved in them during certain scenes. Rachel, Ren and Finn were in one scene together where Ren was getting married to Finn and Rachel would be bridesmaid. Rachel's smile had got very fixed at that point but she sang her way through practice with her usual flawlessness. Renee was singing the lead, on her first day with Glee? Mr. Schuester really was out to ruin her life. She had smiled as Renee had told her how happy she was about singing that song as Carrie Underwood was one of her favourites and then they had taken a break. Renee had been pulled into a conversation with Kurt and Mercedes about the song so Rachel escaped to go and sit on the recently vacated piano stool. She played a scale and then switched to the melody for 'All American Girl' just as she felt someone sit next to her. She smiled without looking up, knowing that it was Finn.

"You ok?" he asked quietly, watching as she played the piano.

"Yeah, I'm happy for her," Rachel replied with a less than enthusiastic smile. Finn reached out and took her hand, abruptly stopping the tune she was still playing.

"We still have our duet to practice," he reminded her with a crooked smile, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

Rachel gave him a bright smile at this. "Thanks Finn."

"What are friends for?" he asked as he happily pulled her into a warm embrace.

-

Rachel was quiet during dinner that evening. She played around with her carrots and barely said a word as she tried to make sense of how she was feeling. Her Dads kept shooting each other curious glances at this behaviour but beyond asking her if she was ok when they had first arrived home, they knew to leave her to sort out her problems on her own unless she asked so they kept a steady conversation going with Renee about her first day at McKinley High. When Rachel finally escaped to her room, she sat down on her bed and stared at the picture she had on her bed side table. It was the picture out of the yearbook of the Glee club. She had contacted the photographer and requested a copy, which she had then framed. These people were the closest thing she had to friends and she thought the world of all of them they, however, felt no such feelings for her. She sighed and picked the picture up, staring at the bit on the end where Finn stood right behind her. Next year this photo would have Renee in it too, probably holding her guitar, Rachel thought bitterly.

There was a small knock at her door. She quickly put the picture back on her bedside table and called for the person to come in. She had expected her Papa to be walking inside but inside Renee was there.

"Hello Ren," she said politely, "Was there something I could help you with?" she asked. Renee closed the door softly and turned to lean against it as she closely looked at her sister. Rachel needed someone to tell her this and it didn't seem like anyone else had the nerve or cared enough to do it so it was down to her.

"Rach, you need to tell Finn how you feel, it's as clear as day to everyone but you two that you guys really like each other, I don't understand why you won't just tell him," she paused, "You seem to go for everything that you want like a bat out of hell, I don't understand why you won't go for this with the same passion." Renee let the silence fill the room before Rachel finally responded.

"Who do you think you are?" Rachel asked quietly. Renee's mouth opened slightly. Of all the responses she had expected, this really was nowhere on the list.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Yes exactly, excuse you!" Rachel snapped, "You've known me for all of two weeks and you come here, spend a week with my family, all of one day at my school and you don't understand parts of my life?" she laughed, humourlessly. "Of course you don't! There's so much history between Finn and I that you have no idea of ... I can't just go up to him and tell him I love him when I know he's not over Quinn! Especially after some of the way's he's treated me in the past." Rachel shook her head and stood up to be eye level with the stunned Renee. "You don't know me so don't give me advice ... especially when I haven't asked for it ... now is there anything else because I'm really tired?" Rachel asked. Renee shook her head, "Good, well good night then Ren." Rachel said as she opened the door and gestured Renee out. Renee walked past her and paused before she was all the way out of the room.

"I think you're making a mistake." She told Rachel but carried on walking out of the room before she could answer. As Rachel closed the door to her room, the tears she had been holding in all day finally fell from her eyes.

TBC

A.N. I don't know about you guys but I feel sorry for Rach lol :) please review, thanks Nicki xoxo