Disclaimer: All characters belong to FOX and Ryan Murphy.

A huge thanks to my wonderful beta, sandra-wfg. Seriously, if she didn't work her magic on this chapter then this chapter would have been a mess.

Authors note at the bottom.

Chapter Ten

Three months later…

Rachel found herself sitting in Mr. Schue's cramped office. She looked around and noticed all the items that were music related. It was funny how they had the same taste yet they never got along.

"So, why am I here again?" She asked. That morning, as she grabbed her books from her locker, Mr. Schue told her that he'd like to meet with her during lunch in his office.

Mr. Schue took a deep breath before speaking. "Remember our last meeting when I promised you I would try and make it up to you for being such a terrible teacher?"

"Oh," Rachel replied quietly. "Yes, I remember that."

After the showdown between Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury, a lot of events happened regarding Glee and the bullying. Santana had been suspended for a week due to her harassment directed at Rachel. Coach Beiste had to become co-director with Mr. Schue for the remainder of the school year in order for the Glee club to continue. Lastly, Mr. Schue had to announce a public apology to the group for not defending Rachel or any other students against bullying that they've ensued since he had become a teacher.

Besides school, other events happened in Rachel's social life. Her friendship with Mercedes strengthened considerably and when she wasn't hanging out with Noah or Kurt, she spent her days with Mercedes where they had mock diva-off's and sleepovers consisting of girl talk and spying on their competitions.

While her friendships with Noah, Kurt, and Mercedes were nearly perfect, Rachel also enjoyed hanging out with Brittany and Mike who would help her with the dancing for each number Glee performed. When she needed a good laugh, she'd hang out with Tina and Artie. When she needed some girl power, she would hang out with Lauren where Rachel helped Lauren with singing and Lauren helped Rachel with learning how to wrestle. She also found a friendship in Sam which came from Finn and Quinn getting back together.

Finn and Quinn. Quinn and Finn. Fuinn. Ugh, just thinking the names together made bile rise in Rachel's throat. After avoiding Finn ever since their last confrontation, Rachel realized that since they were co-captains, they had to find a way to be in each other's presence. Finn profusely told Rachel that he had no problem being with her and that he was willing to go to her house or she could come to his if they needed to have meetings together.

Rachel, on the other hand, shot his ideas down and said that they'd meet once a week during Glee practice – so if he tried anything, Rachel had a means to escape to Noah or Mercedes (not that she told him this, of course) – and it'd only be for about twenty minutes.

The plan worked for a while before Finn started flirting with Rachel. She didn't realize it until the two of them sat in the theater one Friday while everyone else was practicing in the choir room. Rachel sat in front of Finn and he had leaned towards her, asking her if it was alright. She was vaguely aware that this situation happened to them more than a year ago when he was dating Quinn. Her eyes closed unconsciously and all of a sudden his lips were on hers.

She hated to admit but all Rachel could feel in that moment was how right was for them to be like that – to sit in a dark room where the only two people they were focused on were each other.

But after that feeling of familiarity left, other emotions turned in. The betrayal, the lies, the hypocrisy. Everything Finn had made Rachel feel these past two months rushed within her and she gasped for breath and pushed Finn away. She grabbed her things and left the theater quickly, telling Finn to never speak to her again.

Which was why on Valentine's Day he kissed Quinn at the kissing booth. Also, in the theater. Also, in the choir room. Oh, and the library as well. Anywhere where Sam couldn't find them until Santana spilled the beans and gave Finn and Quinn mono. It was probably the only time Rachel wanted to actually thank Santana for being such a bitch.

Since then, she hadn't spoken another word to Finn. Their co-captain meetings were cancelled and she went to lengths to avoid him in the halls, during lunch, and even the classes they shared together. He tried talking to her but after a while, he finally stopped.

"Rachel? Have you listened to anything I've said?"

Rachel shot her head up to see Mr. Schue's confused face. Crap – he had been talking this whole time and she had gotten lost in her own thoughts.

"Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. What did you say again?" She asked quietly.

He awkwardly laughed once before speaking again. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm giving you and Puck the duet for Regional's."

"What?"

Okay, so she didn't really believe that Mr. Schue was going to make it up to her. If anything, she thought he'd probably let her take a couple of the practice solos before Regional's.

"I saw how you guys performed last time and I was really impressed with you two. I'm surprised you two don't share duets more often," Mr. Schue explained hurriedly.

Rachel nodded. She knew her and Noah sounded great together – they always had.

"That sounds great, Mr. Schue. What song did you have in mind for us?" She replied as she tried to remember duets she had always thought were competition-worthy.

"Well, I was thinking that you two could think of something. For the next couple weeks, I'm going to do a couple of different themes for songs. You two can perform together for them and then everyone can vote for their favorite duet and that's the one you two will perform."

She smiled. "That sounds good. Um, thanks."

He smiled back.

With that, Rachel left the office feeling better than she had in a while. She looked up to see Mercedes standing by their math class.

"Hey girl, you look happy," Mercedes laughed.

Rachel grinned. "I just received some good news, that's all."

"Oh really? Care to share?" Mercedes asked suspiciously.

"You'll just have to find out in Glee," Rachel teased.

Mercedes rolled her eyes and the two of them went to class.

The rest of the morning went by in a blur and soon lunch time was there. Rachel sat at the table by herself awaiting everyone else. She grabbed her Glee binder and started flipping through the duet section.

"What's up singing buddy?"

Rachel laughed and tilted her head to see Noah standing behind her. He grabbed the seat closest to her and sat down.

"Nothing much, singing buddy. Except, I am looking for some duets we should perform. I'm thinking either hit Broadway tunes or Top 40. How about you?" She asked as she watched him switch sandwiches with her.

He shrugged. "I really could not give a damn. You know we're going to win Regional's with the two of us singing."

"You two are performing the duet at Regionals?"

She looked up again to see Tina and Mike sit down. Mercedes and Sam followed suit.

Rachel nodded. "You two weren't supposed to know but Noah," she glared at him, "decided to talk especially loud this lunch. So try and act surprised when Mr. Schue tells you all."

Sam laughed, "I'm sure he already knows that you told us. I don't think he trusts any of us to keep secrets."

"True," Mercedes laughed. "But wait, I better get that solo. No offense, Rachel. I love you and all but I have been dying for a solo since Glee started."

Rachel smiled at her friend. "I know. Which was why I came up with a foolproof plan for you to get it."

It was true. While Rachel did want that solo badly, she knew she had to stop acting like such a diva when it came to Glee. She was happy to get the duet and she knew Mercedes was just as good as her when it came to singing – even better when it came to certain genres.

"Well what's your plan then?" Mercedes asked as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"So Mr. Schue was telling me that everyone is going to vote for the song that they want Noah and I to perform at Regionals, right? I was thinking that the same should go for whoever gets the solo. All Mercedes has to do is kill at her next couple solos and then all of us have to vote for her to get it."

The group was silent as they absorbed what Rachel had just said. She smiled triumphantly when she saw them start to nod in agreement. She knew they'd like her plan – it was, as she said, foolproof.

"That's brilliant," Tina murmured finally.

"Thank you," Rachel replied happily.

The conversation continued as everyone started naming song choices that they wanted the three to perform.

"Does Finn know that we're doing the duet together? I mean, he is the co-captain whether we like it or not," Noah told Rachel as they walked to class.

Rachel shrugged, "I have no idea. I would think that Mr. Schue would tell him beforehand. That way, Finn could react in whatever way he pleased."

Noah chuckled, "You think he had that bad of a reaction?"

"He better not. He's got Quinn now. Why should he be all bitter about not singing a duet with Rachel?" Sam interrupted angrily.

She sighed and sent a sympathetic smile his way. She felt bad about the whole situation. She saw that Sam really cared for Quinn and the fact that Quinn would just cheat on him like that damaged Sam.

Why am I surprised Quinn would cheat again? She did have sex with Noah and lie about the baby's father, Rachel thought sadly.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Mr. Schue said it was his way of repaying me for all the things he didn't do and I'm glad I'm singing with Noah," Rachel finally said.

When Glee practice finally came, Rachel entered the choir room to find Finn already sitting there on his phone. He was the only one there and she looked to see Mr. Schue talking to Ms. Holliday in his office. She took a deep breath and sat in her usual seat – front row in the middle between Noah and Mercedes.

"Hi."

She tried not to cringe when she heard his quiet voice.

"Mr. Schue, uh, he told me about the…you know…duet thing he planned," Finn kept speaking. "It's no big deal, really. I'm, um, glad you two are singing together. You guys sound good together."

Rachel looked up at him. He was sitting in the back row where she used to sit.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He smiled at her and went back to texting. Rachel also turned back in her seat and smiled to herself. At least he wasn't mad at her and wasn't going to make a scene like he did last time her and Noah performed together.

The rest of the students clambered into the room and sat down. Mr. Schue walked to the center of the room and faced the students.

"Since I know all of you have already heard the news about the duets, why don't we all just get started on the theme for this week?"

With that, Rachel leaned back in her chair and listened to Mr. Schue explain that they'd be performing anthems for the next couple weeks.

A/N: As usual, a huge thanks to all those who reviewed/alerted/favorited this story. It means so much to mean. Teasers will be sent for the next chapter. Make sure your PM is enabled. If it isn't, then I have no other way to contact you with the teaser. :-)

5 chapters + an epilogue left! Do most of you still dislike Finn and think he shouldn't be with Rachel? Or do you think he'll be able to redeem himself?

Until then, I leave you with determined!Rachel.