Time passes, a month goes by and I returned to Glee club, at the urging of some members, but my betrayal was not forgotten by one. It wasn't for my members that I returned, it was because I treasured what I made and I would be making it fail, not my group.

Now it's me, running out of the green room and into Jesse's waiting arms as Nationals are over and so are my days at McKinley. I squeal as he spins me around, clinging to his neck for dear life as my stomach flips. He's been with me every night for the last month, staying with me in the big, empty house, not even with expectations and we haven't done anything either through our days of playing house were numbered with my dads are coming home soon and then he'll leave but this time, I'll follow him. From what I know he has been updating them about my decision as time passes and Goldsby is over the moon, ready to make me his star.

"You did it." He says as he sits me down on my feet, I give him a weird look, "You found it. The pain and put it into words, you're a songwriter now." He kisses my forehead, pride pouring out of him. "I knew you could do it." He pulls me in close, his scent calming my beating heart, still racing from the performance and his hug.

He lets me go, a nods over to the vending machine, getting a drink and I watch him, completely in love with him. Finn walks up to me, his head bent and I see Quinn queue up behind Jesse. I eye them for a second before turning to Finn, "I'm sorry, Rach." He says, apologizing for the first time since who knows.

"For?" I prod, wanting him to explain just what he was sorry for, not letting him off with a simple apology.

"For being a jerk," He says, "I just didn't want to see you hurt or with someone else. I kinda love you, you know?" He confesses and I nod, understanding what he is saying. I look over to see Jesse looking at me, talking to Quinn and then I look back at Finn.

"I get that I hurt you with Jesse," It wasn't intentional on my part. "But I'm happy now, Finn. That song was thanks to him. He's the reason the club could move forward." I choose my words carefully, because I don't know if I'll be with them for much longer. Finn nods along and then cracks a joke and I feel a friendship return; not what it once was, it can't ever be that again. I didn't feel the love that he hangs onto but I can let go of the animosity, I can't keep that next to my heart if I want to move forward or I'll never let him go.

I part ways with Finn when Kurt comes to fetch him, he glares at me- still not over the fact that I refused to break up with Jesse. Quinn and Jesse are still deep in their conversation and I don't mean to do it, but I hide, curious.

"That doesn't make me feel any better." He scoffs, looking straight at her and she smirks at him. Quinn was pretty in a way that I could never be, but I know that I am pretty too, just in a different sense.

"Not my concern," She scoffs, "You know there will always be that," be what? What are they talking about? "They're best friends; he was who she turned to before you," Are they talking about me? "We can't undo that. If they're meant to be in the end, we won't be able to stop it." Quinn finishes taking a swig of her water, trying to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

"I will be with her," Jesse looks away from her, toward the hall I stand in, "and you'll be with whoever you can control." I bite back a laugh- he's not wrong with that and Quinn laughs too. I walk up to them, into Jess's half embrace and stand with them, as they continue talking changing the topic to National's. I offer a smile of friendship and Quinn responds in kind. Another hatchet buried.

.

We sit in my kitchen, relaxing during the weekend, after the stress of Regional's. I hold my phone to my ear, waiting for the line to connect, Jesse's eyes glued to me like a hawk. The other end picks up and my heart jumps in nervousness, "Mom?" I say over the phone.

"Rachel?" Her voice was surprised and I heard crying in the background most likely Beth. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, waiting for the nerves to pass. Yes, she has a new daughter, but maybe she could want me too. "I have been trying to reach you," Her voice is breathless and I hope it's for me and not because she's exhausted. Jesse squeezes my thigh hoping that I'm not going overboard.

"I heard." I respond, "Can I come over?" I ask, hoping I wasn't setting myself up for rejection. Jesse purposed this solution after the first three weeks, wondering it my Dads left me alone quite often as he remembered me being alone a bit when we first started dating, which led to many make-out sessions on my bed, if I remember. But now, Jesse thought that it wasn't good and was probably affecting me, creating loneliness and feelings of detachment, so he told Shelby, and I've been avoiding her, scarred after what had happened last time.

"What's wrong?" She asks me and I think for the first time, I feel the warmth of motherly concern and the tears fall. I've missed parental attention so much. It's not like I was neglected. My Dads care for me, support me with everything, but they also leave me alone for so long. I break down right there, crying so much Jesse has to take the phone and explain what is happening.

.

The next couple of days, I find myself going from office to office, getting various signatures and turning in paperwork. Mom talks to the principle as I sit with Beth. It's a bit strange that my new sister is my clubmates daughter and that soon, I'll be living with her. She coos as the toys in her hand. Mom comes out and we leave, all finished.

Instead of following them outside though, I ask her to wait and knock on my club mentor's door while she gets the car ready. "Mr. Shue?" I say, seeing him at his desk, flipping through his classes homework. He looks up from the paper he was grading, tiredness written all over his face.

"Come on in, Rachel. How can I help you?" He puts the papers to the side and folds his hands together, looking every bit of a teacher and mentor. He smiles at me as I take the seat across from him.

"I have something to tell you." I say, as I hold my head high.

.

"Guys, we have some sad but important news." Mr. Shue stands at the front of the room, after messaging all the members to the club room. Mom left, to go put Beth down for her nap, and Jesse would pick me up soon enough. "Rachel has decided to transfer schools to live with her mother due to family difficulties." I feel the gazes on me and Mr. Shue continues on and eventually wraps it up, " Rachel?" I take the space he occupied and look out at my fellow members.

"I'm sorry to leave right after we won," I tell them with a truly heavy heart, "I'm sure Finn will lead the team diligently," I say, departing with my title of co-captain. "But I feel this is the right move for me now." I say, confident. No one raised their voice at me, no one fought me. It was strange but there was mutual understanding. We all sat around and talked and sang, saying goodbye to my time with New Directions.

Jesse arrives to pick me up and I go willingly. "See you all at Regionals." I quip, letting my voice get competitive, installing a new rivalry. They all react in kind and we share laughs and then I leave, but not on bad terms.