This Year's Apology

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or its characters

AN: Special thanks to those who reviewed, followed, and added this story to their favorite list.

Rachel knew that voice. It was the voice of the person missing from tonight's get together. Turning around she was treated to the nice view of Noah Puckerman. If possible is arms seemed even bigger more defined and stronger. Noah had gotten rid of his signature Mohawk, and now sported a nicely shaved head. She felt he self lick her lips as she continued to look at Noah. The years had been great to him. He looked just as handsome as he did in high school, yet a little older.

"Like what you see?" He asked. She was immediately broken out of her thoughts. She felt her face heat up, but tried to ignore it.

"I see you're still quite the ladies man", she said. He laughed then looked into her eyes.

"You know it babe. Didn't know you were leaving so soon. You just got here. What's a matter Berry to busy for us folks down in Lima?" And just like that the moment was gone. Back it seemed was the Puck that often antagonized her in school.

"If you must know Noah, I've been offered the movie deal of my career, and I wouldn't waste it on a school reunion full of people who hate me."

Well the only reason people hate you is because you act to good to come down here every once in a while. "

"That's because I am Noah. I'm better than this place. I always have been. You don't let your life waste away in a town no one appreciates you in when you have my talent. I know it sounds harsh, but I'm sure of my talent and I'm sure about Lima." She didn't mean to rant, but something about him always got her riled up. She waited a few seconds for his angry reply, but got laughter instead. Not just light laughter either. Huge, hysterical, laughter.

"Well I'm glad you find me so funny, but if you excuse me Noah I need to inform everyone I'm leaving." She made her way to the door, but his hand closed around her arm and he pulled her back into place. "I'm sorry Berry, it's just that you sound exactly the same. Going on about how talented you are." She felt herself get angry. How dare he laugh in her face then expect her to forget about it. "But look. I'm glad your back. I kinda missed hearing your loud mouth. I'm not going to judge you if you need to leave. It's just that I thought you were coming to fix things not just be here when it was convenient for you. "And what things do I need to fix?" she replied coldly. If the people in this town thought she came for forgiveness then they had another thing coming.

"Come on Rachel. You left without much of a goodbye. Never came back until now, and cried to every magazine how bad we tortured you in school. You made Lima seem like some terrible place where only loser live. You went off acting like you were too good for this place or something. Did you think they wouldn't be upset?" Yanking her arm away from him, she sent him a glare she hoped would scare him.

"Oh so it was my fault I told the truth? People treated me like dirt here and I was tortured in school. Why would I come back to this place when everyone made it clear they didn't want me? I tried reaching out to everyone and they ignored my effort. I'm not going to apologize for making something of myself."

"So why are you back now?" he said. "If you hate this place so much why come back now?" Suddenly she felt trapped. She couldn't tell him the real reason. She couldn't tell him that her agent told her to, or that she wanted to rub everything in their faces. At seeing her hesitate Noah eyes suddenly held amusement.

"You did come back so we would forgive you. Admit it. You felt lonely out there with all your fake actor friends, and came back here to make up with everyone." The look on his face was so smug, and she wanted nothing more than to smack it off. Still he just supplied her with the excuse she was searching for. Time to put these acting skills to work, she thought." Okay", she said. "You caught me, the thrills of being a highly sought after actress in Hollywood has faded away. I thought coming back here and being with everyone again would make me feel better."

"That's all you had to say Berry. If you want my forgiveness, you can just come over to my place and crawl into my bed."

Same old Noah!

"While your offer sounds lovely, I have some packing to do. I'll be leaving in the morning." The disappointed look on his face was almost enough to make her change her mind. Can you tell everyone I'm sorry but some business came up?" She would've done it herself, but she all she could imagine was Santana's harsh words to her earlier. This wouldn't make things better. Rachel Berry knew when to quit, and this was that time.

"Come on Berry, stay. You've spent ten years away and you just can't leave. Hollywood can wait, but Lima can't." She would not throw her career away just to rebuild bridges that had already burned.

"It was nice seeing you again Noah." With that she turned and walked to her car. She didn't understand how everything had gone so wrong in just one day. Her plan had backfired. No one was impressed by her, and it seemed that anytime she was in a room with the former glee club, she failed to defend herself. It was like she was the same Rachel Berry she had left behind, and she refused to let that happen again. She wasn't going to let herself be laughed at again. And the nerve of everyone! Wanting her to apologize. If what Noah had said was true, then she wasn't imagining the tension earlier. The old glee club really did hold bad feelings towards her, and there was nothing she was going to do to fix them. It wasn't fair that she had to do the apologizing. She hadn't done anything wrong. She had just done what she had been telling them for years she was going to do. Not Finn, or Kurt, or anybody else was going to stand in her way.

A decision she had made ten years ago kept them all trapped in the same place they had been in high school. Sure in some ways they had moved on. New or stronger relationships, children, and careers had been added to the mix, but the same ill feelings they held for her in school were still there. As soon as she got home she explained the situation to her dads. They were proud of her and supported her decision to leave and accept the movie deal. Of course they were a bit upset, but it was something they would get over.

She spent her night repacking and getting ready for her early flight. By the time morning rolled in she had said good bye to her parents and was headed back to the Lima airport. Still she couldn't shake the feeling that she was making a bad choice. She had come to Lima with a goal and just like that she was giving it up. It wasn't until she was at the airport that she pulled her phone out.

"Mary, tell them to reschedule the meeting. Tell them I'm attending a school reunion; after that give the paparazzi an anonymous tip saying that I'm in Lima. I didn't step back into Lima for nothing." Mary didn't even argue with her much to Rachel's surprise.

"You're right. Not only will the producer admire you for your commitment, but with the picture surfacing of your hometown return, we can fight the rumors off. "

Lima, looks like Rachel Berry is staying.

AN: One of my reviewers brought to my attention that Rachel seems a bit mean. She's being unintentionally mean. She's Rachel Berry and she's always had an ego, and now she has fame to back up her ego. Don't worry she'll get better. In the next chapter Rachel will change her game plan, now that she's staying in Lima.