A/N: ok, I know this is a short chapter but I'm finding it really hard to write right now. I've kind of been in a funk since my account was hacked and it's really affecting my writing. I'm slowly getting over it so I would appreciate it if I didn't get any reviews complaining about how long it's taking me to update. I'm working on it guys, and I swear, I'll stop disappointing you all soon.

Sort of a filler chapter. slight spoilers for special education. I own nothing as you know.

One day after Rachel went back in time

"Rachel, why are you avoiding me? Did-did I do something?"

Rachel's eyebrows furrowed as she put in her locker combination. Holding back an obscure smile, the brunette ran a finger along the cool metal before pulling it open. She reached inside, fingering the seams of her history book before glancing up at her soon to be ex boyfriend.

"You lied to me about sleeping with Santana for six months and you're asking me if you did something wrong? Really, you can't be serious Finn."

The tall boy eyes scrunched up as he clenched his fist and exhaled deeply from his nose. He glared at her with a slightly constipated look, "Why are you always making a big deal out of things-

"Because it is a big deal, Finn."

Finn unclenched his hands and crossed his arms, leaning against the set of lockers next to the shorter as he stared at her with an unreadable expression. Something passed through his eyes before he smiled at her boyishly, "Look, I get that you're a little insecure about Santana because she's hotter than you and has bigger boobs than you and stuff. But I love you."

The brunette's eyes widened incredulously as she fully faced him. She slammed the locker door shut before mirroring his pose. Her lips twisted up into a small smirk, "Are you sure it's me you want to be with Finn? After all, you're constantly insinuating that I'm not nearly as attractive as Santana Lopez is. Perhaps someone of your…caliber should focus on pursuing a relationship that matches your elitist standards."

"Huh?"

Rachel took a step closer to the confused looking boy, a small smile playing on her lips as she stared up at him, "I'm dumping you."

Finn nearly jolted backwards at the intensity of her words. His light brown eyes darkened considerably as he towered over her, "You can't dump me! You're not allowed to dump me, Rachel!"

Shaking her head at his ridiculousness, the brunette sighed before stepping backwards, "It's over, Finn."

She jumped when he un-expectantly slammed the side of his fist into the locker, a sliver of fear passing through her as she coiled in on herself at his expression. He glared down at her murderously, "You-

"Yo man, I don't like the way you're looking at my Jew-babe. You need to back off." Puck materialized out of thin air, placing a threatening hand on Finn's chest and angling the small girl away from the heaving jock.

Finn pushed Puck's hand off of him and attempted to take another step towards Rachel, only to find himself held back by Sam, "Dude, calm down and step off Rachel ok?"

The quarterback scoffed as he glanced between the two boys, shaking his head in disbelief before glaring harshly at his 'best friend,' completely ignoring the blonde at his side, "Stay out of this Puck, this has nothing to do with you."

Puck stuffed his hands in his grey hoodie pocket and stared at the spiky haired boy with a steely look in his eye, "It is my business when you look like you're about to put your hands on my girl-

"She's not your girl, Puck! She's mine."

The mohawked boy narrowed his eyes before mashing his lips together, "Not anymore, man. Now get out of here."

Light brown eyes squinted in concentration before narrowing in on the lightly shivering girl behind his best friend. Finn gritted his teeth before clenching his fist once more, "Fine, whatever. This isn't over, Rachel," he grumbled before slamming his fist against the locker and pushing past Sam.

Rachel watched him go with an unreadable expression, her body still quivering as Puck turned to face her.

He gazed down at her sympathetically, glancing over at Sam and nodding at the blonde boy, who took that as his cue to leave. Sam patted Rachel on the back before walking past them to his waiting girlfriend at the end of the hallway.

Puck frowned as he placed a comforting hand on the brunette's shoulder, "You ok, babe?"

The brunette nibbled on her bottom lip before peering up at him from under her eyelashes, "I…yes, I am. Thank you for your help, Noah."

Smirking flirtatiously to hide his concern, Puck held out his arm towards the smaller girl before smiling cheekily, "I have just the thing to make you feel better, princess. Wanna skip?"

Rachel smiled softly, knowing full well where this path would lead her and refusing to go down it again, before reaching out a hand towards the boy and squeezing his bicep gently, "I'm not making out with you, Noah."

Puck only shook his head and grinned wider, "Trust me, babe. What I'm offering is much better than a make out session. And I'm not just being dirty here."

Face morphing in curiosity, the brown eyed girl tentatively took his arm before nodding and leaning her head on his strong shoulder.

She beamed as she chanced a glance up at him, paying him a quick compliment to further thank him for his help; "Your arms are still as lovely as ever, Noah."

Puck grinned a little before leaning towards her conspiratorially, "It's the steroids."

Quinn stared at her ex-boyfriend and her ex-enemy with a frown, her eyes flickering to her lumbering boyfriend as he ambled over to her. She tensed when the taller blonde wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Hey sweethea-

"Why were you with Berry and Puckerman?"

Sam's smile dimmed a bit in its intensity as he gazed down at his girlfriend in puzzlement, "Oh, Finn was acting like a jackass, no real surprise there, and Puck was worried he would hurt Rachel-

"Since when do you care what happens to Berry?"

The blonde boy held in a sigh as he loosened his hold on the head cheerleader an inch, "Babe, I know you don't like her, but what kind of man would I be if I let another guy beat on a girl? Would you really want to be with someone like that?"

Quinn's lips puckered as anxiety passed through her eyes only to disappear a moment later. She crossed her arms even as she pressed into him. Hazel eyes sparkled in concern, "Was he…was he really going to hit her?" she questioned in a whisper. That didn't sound like Finn at all. Sure, for the most part he was an idiot and he could be an inconsiderate asshole. But he never got physically violent with Quinn when she was dating him.

He couldn't have changed that much…right?

Sam released a sigh as he pressed his forehead against hers, "Yeah, he looked five seconds from taking a swing at her. I don't trust him, Q."

The shorter blonde barely heard his words, her heart twitching in her chest as she gazed off towards the side. She frowned in deeply as she bit her bottom lip before turning her head back towards him, "I'm proud of you, Sam…walk me to class?"

Grinning widely, the jock squeezed his girl once more before taking her hand and interlacing her fingers.

Quinn smiled back at him compassionately before looking down as he turned around and began tugging her towards her third period.

The hazel eyed girl's nibbled on her bottom lip as her mind raced. She was proud of her boyfriend for doing the right thing. Quinn just wished she could feel something more than mild affection for the taller blonde.

Sam was a sweetheart, totally and completely devoted to her; a loving dork with a goofy side. Sure, he was about as obsessed with popularity as she was but he was nice to her. He treated her well and didn't pressure her.

So why wasn't she able to love him like he surely loved her?

Sighing to herself, the blonde pushed these thoughts away before becoming consumed with 'Finchel.' Even though she didn't really like the short brunette-she kind of liked her-she wasn't going to sit back and let her deal with her potentially abusive boyfriend alone.

Like Sam said, what kind of person would sit back and ignore a guy beating on his girlfriend?

Her stomach roiled in disgust at that thought; she wouldn't let Finn hurt Rachel, would never allow a man to physically abuse a woman and do nothing to stop it.

She would never be like her mother.

Quinn swallowed thickly before exhaling shakily and closing her eyes.

No matter what, she would help Rachel.

"She seems to be doing well."

"Yes, I'm very glad she broke up with that thing. Finn Hudson absolutely disgusts me."

A guffaw echoed in the hollow emptiness.

"That's funny coming from you, Iblis."

"You know as well as I do how special Rachel is,-" The man in black-Iblis- paused, licking his lips as he mentally stumbled over the other being's name before clearing his throat and continuing in a hoarse whisper, "In the future, being with the jolly green giant is what ruined her. And we need her to stay strong for the upcoming future."

'He' chuckled in amusement before shaking his head and staring at his protégé, "Right you are, Iblis. Right you are. But we both know that her issues with Finn Hudson are far from over."

Iblis nodded, his eyes dull as he smiled roguishly, "Perhaps I should intervene on her behalf?"

"We're only supposed to watch, Iblis. You are only allowed to intervene if her life is endangered. But I doubt we'll have anything to worry about. After all, there is also something else watching over her."

"Do you mean the-"

"Yes."

Gold eyes flashed in recognition, "Interesting. She also has those beings looking after her? How…endearing."

They turned their gazes back towards the young star, watching the girl with dual expressions of fascination.

xxx

A shiver went through Rachel as she exited Puck's car, glancing up into the sky with a frown as unease welled up inside her heart.

She narrowed her eyes before shaking her head and looking away, pushing Puck's door shut before following the mohawked boy into his home.

'Must have been the wind.'

xxx

…there's nowhere to hide from these bones from her mind

It's broken inside; She's a girl and a child

She's at home with a ghost who got left in the cold

Who knocks at her peace with no keys to her soul...

A/n: lyrics and title taken from Duncan Shiek's, "The Mirror-Blue Night" from the roc musical, Spring Awakening. Re-worked the lyrics a bit to fit the story.