A/N: I am glad that there are others out there who really think Rachel needs something like this. At this point, I want to see some major Finn groveling. Or at the very least, an "oh, crap" moment where he realizes that he lost out on something pretty special.

Chad arrived the day before Homecoming. He didn't want to worry about jet lag, he wanted to be able to focus all of this attention on Rachel. He contacted Teagen and Rachel and they met him at a local restaurant that offered vegan dishes. Teagen brought along her new girlfriend, Santana, who spent most of the meal watching Chad interact with Rachel. Finally Chad put down his flatware and sighed.

"Is there something wrong with me, Santana? Do I have spinach in my teeth or something?" Santana blinked and then flushed with embarrassment.

"No, not at all. You seem like a nice guy. It's just…um…watching you with B-Rachel is weird." Chad smiled down at Rachel, who smiled back up at him.

"You should be grateful that they're not officially boyfriend and girlfriend anymore," Teagen sighed dramatically. "They'd be making disgusting goo-goo eyes at each other, and Chad would be feeding her. It was just sickening."

Rachel threw her napkin at Teagen and stuck her tongue out at her. Chad started laughing. He had an arm around her waist, and Rachel laughed up at him. Santana was seeing a very different Rachel. She was relaxed, happy and Santana found herself enjoying her company. She realized that if she wasn't dating Teagen, she probably wouldn't be seeing this different Rachel. She squeezed Teagen's hand and smiled at her.

"Thank you," she whispered in Teagen's ear. Teagen cocked her head to the side.

"For what?"

"For asking me to come along, I'm really enjoying myself." Teagen's smile was brilliant.

*glee* *glee* *glee*

Santana Lopez had a great time tonight.

Rachel Berry, Teagen Sherwood, and 1 others like this.

Teagen Sherwood can't wait for Homecoming! It's going to be epic!

Rachel Berry I know, right? I have appointments all day tomorrow.

Kurt Hummel you are going to the people I recommended, right?

Rachel Berry Of course, boo. I'm crazy, not stupid.

Blaine Anderson boo? Sweetie, is there something we need to tell Blaine?

Kurt Hummel I'm madly in love with Rachel Berry and we're running off to Broadway together.

Rachel Berry likes this.

Blaine Anderson O.o That's not funny, Kurt.

Finn Hudson It kind of is funny. I read Kurt's status update and Mountain Dew came out my nose, I was laughing so hard.

Mercedes Jones Rachel, you homewrecker! How do you live with yourself?

Rachel Berry :P I drown my sorrows in Maneschewitz.

Puckasaurus Ugh. If all you have is Maneschewitz I can help you out. That stuff is god awful.

Rachel Berry I was joking, Noah. Alcohol is never a good choice for me.

Chad McCrea likes this.

*glee* *glee* *glee*

Rachel didn't know why she was so nervous. She and Chad had attended the end of summer dance at camp and she'd had a wonderful time. Maybe that was the problem. Chad wasn't her boyfriend anymore, but she still really liked him. Okay, fine. Maybe she was a little bit in love with him. Who wouldn't be? He was so kind and sweet and such a gentleman. He was amazingly talented. The fact that he was drop dead gorgeous didn't count against him.

She had been busy all day—hair, nails, facial, masseuse. Every single appointment approved by Kurt. He was a little put out with her because he hadn't seen her dress. Rachel knew she was short and ankle length gowns only accentuated that. Her dress was a cocktail length Betsy Johnson in hot pink and black. It was perfect for her. She looked at herself in the mirror and grinned. She looked hot. The doorbell rang. Oh! That would be Chad. She hurried downstairs. Her dads had opened the door and were shaking hands and making small talk with Chad. The three of them smiled when they saw her. The way Chad looked at her made her belly tighten and her skin prickle. He had a wrist corsage for her that he carefully put on. Her dads insisted on a ton of pictures. It was a peculiar torture to stand there with Chad's strong arm around her waist, but not be able to do anything about it.

Chad followed her directions carefully and they arrived at the dance. Rachel took a couple deep breaths. Chad took her hand and she looked up at him. He played with her hand for a minute and interlaced their fingers.

"Do you ever think about our tree?" He asked quietly. Rachel sighed.

"Sometimes, but Chad, I try not to."

"Do you regret…me?" Chad was blushing and Rachel knew what he was really asking. She started blushing herself.

"No, Chad. I don't regret…us. It was beautiful and special. I won't ever forget you, but we aren't together."

"We could be. You only have a year of high school left, Ray. The world of show business is pretty small. We're bound to run into each other. Don't write me out of your life yet. There's always Juilliard," He said half-jokingly. Rachel smiled at him with what he always thought of as her special smile. She leaned forward and kissed him.

Finn was holding the wall up and he was bored out of his mind. The only reason he was here was because he wanted to see who had asked Rachel to Homecoming. Every time the door opened his head would swivel to see who was coming in. Kurt had gotten disgusted with him at some point and had gone off to dance with Blaine. The door opened again and she walked in. She was incredibly beautiful. He felt like he couldn't breathe. She was also on the arm of that guy, Chad. The one from camp. Finn had never hated anyone in his life before and he wondered if this was what it felt like. They looked so happy together. He felt his stomach churn.

*glee* *glee* *glee*

Kurt Hummel had a fabulous night with his friends, but I wonder where Rachel and Chad disappeared to?

Blaine Anderson, Mercedes Jones, and 20 others like this.

Tegan Sherwood if it's where I think they went, I think you are much better off not knowing.

Santana Lopez if you're saying what I think you're saying…ew.

Kurt Hummel Tegan, are you serious?

Rachel Berry is going to kill her best friend.

Chad McCrea likes this.

Tegan Sherwood so you're not under a tree?

Chad McCrea unfortunately not.

Rachel Berry So hanging out and talking with me at IHOP isn't good enough for you, Chad? Can somebody come get me from IHOP?

Tegan Sherwood Oh, crap. Rachel, I'm so sorry. Give me a minute and I'll come get you.

Rachel Berry I'm not speaking to you right now.

Chad McCrea Ray-Ray, you completely misunderstood what I meant. Please come out of the bathroom and talk to me.

Finn Hudson I'll come get you if you want, Rach.

Rachel Berry I would really appreciate that Finn, thank you.

Chad McCrea Who is this Finn guy?

Rachel Berry Just a friend.

Chad McCrea Ray, please just come out and talk to me.

Rachel Berry Fine. You had better have an incredible explanation.

Finn Hudson Do you not need a ride then?

Finn Hudson Rachel?

Rachel Berry Sorry, Finn. I don't need a ride anymore. Thank you so much though. You're a good friend.

Finn Hudson Sure. Any time.

*glee* *glee* *glee*

Chad and Rachel went back to his hotel room. Her lips were swollen from his kisses when she pulled back.

"Chad…I think I should go." Rachel's voice was quiet, but firm. Chad's thumb stroked her cheek.

"For now," he murmured looking deeply into her eyes. She nodded.

"For now."

"I'll see you at Juilliard." He kissed her gently, sweetly on the forehead. Rachel loved that about Chad. He was so confident—not just in himself, but in her as well. She gave him a sweet, shy smile.

"I think I'm going to hold you to that."

The End. For now…

A/N: Please don't kill me! It's just that I think that this is the end for this story. We don't know what will happen really. Neither does Rachel. I hope that whatever her future does hold she eventually gets a happy ending.