Disclaimer: All characters belong to Ryan Murphy and FOX.

As always, a huge thanks to sandra-wfg for beta'ing this story. Without your help, this story would be a mess of grammar mistakes and confusing storylines.

Quick note: Mike sits with the Gleeks because he's dating Tina – same for Brittany and Artie. Santana, Quinn, Sam, Finn, and Puck all sit with them because they're tired of being the basis for all jokes when they sit with their jock 'friends'.

Chapter Four

Mixed Messages: Part One

While Rachel loathed going to Glee practice, it paled in comparison to lunch time. Lunch time was the worst for several reasons. One, she sat by herself in a table near the back of the cafeteria. Not even Jacob and his creepy friends would sit by her for fear of getting slusheed. Two, the Gleeks sat at a table on the other side of the room with a perfect view of her being lonely which resulted in several jokes and jabs about her during Glee practice. Thirdly, not only was she tormented by the Gleeks but she was ruthlessly picked on by the jocks and Cheerio's.

Rachel shook her head, hoping to clear away the terrible thoughts, and made a beeline from the food line to her table. She sat down and carefully placed her food in a straight line about five inches from the edge of the table. This way, she would be able to eat without someone pushing her food off the table or worse – her face into the food. She tried not to shudder as she remembered how she had spent all of fifth period, once, trying to comb out the potato soup from her hair.

As she began eating her salad, she cautiously looked around. No one was looking her way. She took a quick peak over at the Gleeks' table. She saw Finn laughing at something Artie said and wrap his arms around Santana's shoulders. Santana brushed him off, though, so she could lean closer to Quinn. From Rachel's point of view, it looked as if they were arguing. She could see Santana's face scrunch up while Quinn's ponytail bounced back and forth because she was shaking her head.

Good, maybe they'll spend Glee practice yelling at each other instead of picking on me, Rachel thought hopefully. She smiled softly to herself and took another bite of her salad.

Rachel was used to sitting by herself. At first, she cried before and after lunch because of the loneliness. Now, though, she almost enjoyed it. It gave her all the time to think. Well, to think about Finn. Sometimes she'd think about confronting Finn and yelling at him for all the pain he'd caused her. Sometimes she'd think about convincing him to give her another chance but that would always end up with her crying so she squashed that thought.

Even now, Rachel found herself sneaking another peek at Finn. She wondered if she had some sort of subconscious pain fetish. If she didn't, then she wouldn't be spending all of lunch secretly watching him. Watching him smile at something Tina said. Watching him high five Mike about something probably sports related. Watching him kiss Santana's cheek the way he used to kiss hers.

Ugh. If only she could get over him. She replayed her and Noah's conversation from yesterday.

"He treated you wrongly, Berry."

Yes, he did treat her wrongly. She couldn't remember a time that he ever defended her. Well, in public at least. She remembered the summer nights when they laid outside on the grass. He'd kiss her softly and whisper words that reassured her that she was beautiful and that she did deserve him. But when it came to school, he was always too busy worrying about his reputation. She was the one that grabbed his hand when they walked to class. She was the one who initiated the kisses. She couldn't remember a time he told her he loved her back when they parted ways after Glee practice.

"He pretends to be the all American guy who sticks up for the nerds and treat girls the way they should be treated but he isn't."

It was true. He'd let Karofsky and his minions mock her as they walked to the gym. He let Santana bully her because he was afraid that he'd be her next target. Rachel felt like such an idiot when she thought about their relationship.

"If he came up to you right now and apologized for how he's been treating you, you would forgive him without a fight."

Rachel felt tears threaten to spill but she didn't dare let them fall. She was mortified at the way she let herself be treated. More than that, she was mortified that Noah was right and that she would take him back. It was like this part of her just couldn't imagine life without Finn so she kept hoping he would come to his senses and get back together with her. She knew the chances were so slim they were non-existent, but she couldn't help but hope.

Her thoughts were interrupted by someone clearing their throat loudly. She looked up, startled, to see who it was. Noah and Mercedes stood before her with tiny smiles. She glanced behind them to the Gleeks' table and found the others staring at them. If she wasn't so shocked, she would have left at the comical expressions that graced all of their faces.

"Um," was the only response Rachel could form.

Noah spoke first. "Mercedes and I decided to join you for lunch today. Hope you don't mind."

He sat down and a second later, Mercedes followed his actions. Rachel stared at them, mouth wide open.

"What if I told you I didn't want you to eat with me?" She questioned.

"Honey, do you think Puck would take 'no' for an answer?" Mercedes chided playfully.

Rachel glanced at her and back at Noah. He kept that same smile but it grew more as he kept biting into his hamburger. She sighed and took another bite from her salad.

"Why are you guys sitting here anyways?" Rachel asked quietly. She wondered if Santana had put them up to this. It made sense – Rachel would never think of Noah or Mercedes doing anything too cruel to her.

Noah rolled his eyes, "Come on, Berry. Can't we eat lunch with you? Is it so hard to believe that people want to be friends with you?"

"It is when you two were so horrible to me for so long!" Rachel snapped back.

The table suddenly got quiet and Rachel noticed the whole cafeteria had as well. She realized a second too late that it wasn't because she had snapped but it was because the cafeteria had been silent after Noah and Mercedes decided to sit with her.

Mercedes spoke first. "Look, Rachel. We are really sorry for what we did to you. We're trying to make it better. We want you to know that we have your back. We won't let people bully you anymore."

"It's a little too late for that, don't you think?" Rachel retorted angrily. With a sigh, she grabbed her stuff and left the cafeteria without another word.

xXx

"I just don't get it, Kurt. Why did they decide to be my friends? Why now?" Rachel asked for the millionth time.

Neither of her fathers could pick her up during school so Rachel found herself in sick bay all afternoon. Now, she lay on her bed with her phone and a bowl of ice cream.

Kurt sighed, "I have no idea about Puck. That boy always surprises me ever since he shaved his corny Mohawk off. What I do know, though, is that Mercedes truly feels bad about how she treated you."

Rachel shook her head. "That's only because you forced her to –"

"- I don't force people to apologize. I merely told her that she was a total hypocrite for treating you the way she did. The realization dawned on her and she told me she'd try and do things right by you," Kurt interrupted.

"Whatever," Rachel groaned, "I just can't believe everything that has happened this past week. One morning, I wake up being the loner that I am and the next, I apparently have gained two new friends. On top of that, I'm threatened by Santana for talking to a guy who isn't even her man and my ex-boyfriend defends her instead of believing me. Ugh!"

She heard Kurt snort. "Not funny, Hummel. I'm a diva in distress right now and all you can do is snort?"

"I'm not laughing at your expense. I'm just laughing at the irony in the situation," he replied laughing softly.

"What does that mean?"

"Before, all you wanted was friends. You wanted people to defend you and protect you from the bullies of McKinley High. But now that you are gaining friends, you're angry with them. Rightfully so, of course. It's just – what do you really want, Rach? Do you want friends or not?"

Rachel thought this over. Of course she wanted friends. Who wouldn't? But did she really want Noah and Mercedes as friends? It was a no brainer for Noah – of course she wanted him as a friend. She remembered the brief moment they dated and how it was more friendship than relationship. Mercedes was a whole other matter. She had never particularly been nice to Rachel – save for Carole and Burt's wedding – and always mocked her ideas and ways of going about things. Yet, Mercedes had seemed genuine when she apologized.

"I don't know, Kurt. I really don't know," Rachel whispered defeated. It was the first time she was genuinely confused.

"I'll let you sleep on it, okay? You need some time to think."

Rachel smiled. "Thanks, Kurt."

"No problem. Oh, I forgot to tell you! I'm coming home tomorrow and staying till Thursday afternoon. My dad and Carole are going to some concert and they want Finn and me to watch the house. You want to come over for dinner?"

"With Finn there? No way," Rachel muttered.

Kurt groaned. "Come on! I'll make sure he leaves. Besides, don't you want to hear all about my life with The Warblers?"

"You can tell me that over the phone!" She protested weakly – she already knew she had lost this debate.

"Yes but you won't get to see pictures of all the boys. I have pictures of Blaine and me together," Kurt teased.

Rachel laughed loudly, "Fine, fine. Just make sure Finn's out of the house and I'll be there. Promise?"

She could practically see Kurt smiling at her answer. "Yes, of course. I'll see you tomorrow, darling!"

They hung up and she shook her head. She had no idea what she had put herself into and she didn't know if she liked that or not.

She went downstairs to put away her ice cream bowl and finish some homework. She looked in the living room and saw her fathers curled up on the couch watching the Travel Channel. She smiled and walked over to them.

"Rachel! How are you, baby girl?" Her father, Hiram, asked softly.

She shrugged, "I'm good – really good, actually. Kurt invited me over to his house for dinner."

Her other father, Leroy, widened his eyes. "Kurt? Isn't that the boy that lives with Finn?" She winced at the way her father said his name – with such hatred and distaste.

"Yes…but Kurt said she's going to get him to leave the house so we can catch up. I haven't seen him since Sectionals," she answered.

Hiram sighed and stood up. He wrapped his arms around Rachel and hugged her. She leaned against him.

"What happens if you run into him? Maybe you should bring your anxiety medicine, just in case." He spoke softly.

Rachel shook her head, "That isn't necessary, Dad. I'll take them before I leave. I'm confident that nothing too bad will happen."

Her fathers looked to each other and then back at her.

"If you say so…" Leroy murmured.

Rachel smiled. "Everything will be okay. I'm going to bed now. Good night."

They nodded and watched her leave the room.

Once she was safely tucked into her bed, Rachel found herself easily falling into sleep. Her dreams that night revolved around the person she both loved and loathed: Finn.

A/N: Part two/chapter 5 will be up (most likely) Sunday. I'll be sending out teasers to all that review. Make sure you're PM is enabled. I went to reply to some of your reviews and the site wouldn't let me because your PM's were disabled. Sorry if you reviewed & didn't get a teaser. I couldn't think of any other way to send it.

Until then, I leave you with baffled!Rachel and understanding!Kurt.