The first week, nobody said anything. They figured it was just Rachel learning to chill when she didn't even bat an eyelash after Mr. Schue gave the solo to Tina. She had even smiled at the girl encouragingly, telling her that she was going to kill it.

"Th-th-thanks Rachel," Tina stuttered out of old habit, taken aback by the graciousness of their usually high strung leader.

"Not a problem. You've really improved vocally since you joined Glee Tina, and you deserve to show it off". He was immensely proud of her and when he told her so, she had just smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder.

The next week when the solo had been given to Santana, he had frowned at Mr. Schue, wondering if the teacher was trying out some sort of social experiment on his girlfriend. Everyone had braced themselves for the epic showdown. But it never happened. Rachel continued her spiel about Christina Aguilera's horrible version of hairography that she watched on the Grammys the previous night, ignoring the dumbfounded look that Mercedes was giving her. He had shrugged it off as Rachel's utter disdain for Britney Spears and figured she just didn't want anything to do with the song and continued the rest of the meeting with his arm around her.

But when the third week came and she told Mr. Schue he should give Funny Girl to Kurt instead as it would be a refreshing change in perspective, he knew something was up. All the other glee members plus Mr. Schue had spent the whole meeting alternating between shooting him enquiring looks and cautiously gaping at Rachel, who, by the way she was tapping her foot to the beat, didn't seem to realize that the world had tilted on its axis.

"It's like Rachel had been kidnapped by aliens and was replaced with pod-Rachel," Kurt had muttered to him one night after dinner.

"Hey come on. She's being nice to you," he said warily. They were in the living room, alternating between NFL and So You Think You Can Dance.

"Exactly. The world as I know it has turned on its head," Kurt replied dramatically. "Miss Diva turning down Funny Girl is equivalent to me deciding to wear a sweater vest to school or Mercedes turning down Beyonce. It's just not the way the good lord made us." Finn frowned at his soon-to-be stepbrother. Truth be told, he was more than a little worried. Rachel has been completely mellow lately and nothing like her high-maintenance self that he knows and love. Just that morning he had missed his alarm clock and thus his morning run with Rachel. When he called to apologize, she told him she went without him and he should just go back to sleep. Not even one lecture on the need for a healthy lifestyle or proper sleeping patterns.

"I know man," he muttered distractedly, as the couple on screen did the tango. "I can't even remember the last time she tried to get me to drink that green thing she likes to bring to school."

"Spirulina?"

"Ugh. Yeah, that one."

"Something's going on with that girl. Did you do something?"

"What? No!" Finn was stung by the accusation. He was pretty sure that if his girlfriend was pissed at him, he would know. Rachel has always made it a point to be clear on that ground.

"Well whatever it is, you better get to the bottom of it. She's freaking the rest of us out. I do not want to go to school one day to find Rachel Berry doing a revival of Columbine." Finn fought the urge to roll his eyes.

The next morning he waited for her at her locker, as usual. Finn took the time to appreciate his girlfriend's smoking hot body as he spotted her walking towards him. Who the hell knew knee-highs could be such a turn on? But as he shifted his gaze from the her body to her face, he caught the frown. It was amazing how quickly Rachel could turn on her megawatt smile when she saw him looking.

"Hey babe," he greeted, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

"Hey. I missed you yesterday night." He grinned.

"I missed you more." Her smile was more sincere as she opened her locker to retrieve her books.

"So Rach," he began tentatively "How are you?" She closed the door and turned to look at him, confused.

"I'm good. How are you?" A smile was tugging at her lips.

"Me? I'm great." They were walking towards her Biology class and he was wondering what was the best way to broach the subject.

"You think Kurt's gonna pull off Funny Girl?" He watched her intently, determined not to miss even the slightest movement. She shrugged.

"Aside from me, he's the only one that can pull it off."

"Yeah, about that," he began conversationally. "Why did you turn the solo down?"

"Oh Miss. Sharp's already in class. I'm going to be late! Bye Finn, love you!" She kissed his cheek before darting off into Biology.

"Yeah. Love you too," he muttered to her back. Rachel was nothing if not determined. So he knew it wasn't going to be easy. But when it came to Rachel Berry, Finn Hudson was a self-proclaimed expert. You can't avoid me forever, he thought darkly as he started towards English.

XXX

"So what was that today?"

"What?" They were in her car. Rachel was driving him after school because Kurt has Cheerios. He always feels like a giant when he's in her car. It's so tiny. "Finn you know the seat can't go back any further. Stop fidgeting."

"The whole avoiding me thing. Where were you at lunch?"

"Ms. Bradley needed my services in the teacher's lounge." She refused to look him in the eye. Granted, they were on the road. But they're at a red light and she wouldn't even turn her head towards him.

"Okay what is going on?" He decided straightforward was the only way to go. "It's been like, three weeks since you sang anything that wasn't backup."

"So?" she asked, determinedly staring straight ahead.

"So you're starting to freak people out Rachel. It's not you." He saw her grip the steering wheel tighter.

"I'm learning to be gracious. I don't need to be the star everytime."

"Uh. Yes you do." He knew it was the wrong thing to say because she glanced at him and she looked like she wanted to cry. Oh crap. Rewind! Rewind! "I mean, come on Rach, you're the star of Glee. Everyone knows that."

"Maybe I don't want to be a star."

"Rach. Babe. What's wrong?" Now he was really concerned. What was this monstrosity (Rachel taught him that word when she was describing High School Musical. He thought monstrosity sounded awesome and totally badass.) that was coming out of her mouth? She sighed dramatically.

"You told me you wished I wasn't so uptight and that it would be nice to have a girlfriend who doesn't annoy people all the time. I'm trying to be that." He gaped at her, a blank look on his face.

"I said that?" For the life of him, he could not remember. But crap, Kurt was right. He was the one who turned her into pod-Rachel.

"Not in so many words. We're here. See you tomorrow Finn," she said tersely as she pulled up in Kurt's (it's still weird to call it home) driveway. He didn't budge from his seat, even when she gave him a pointed look.

"Rachel I love you. I would never want you to change. I mean sure, you take yourself way too seriously and everyone at Glee kinda wants you to shut up most of the time." Shit. She was looking closer and closer to tears through each stupid word that vomited out of his mouth. "But I mean, I love that about you. You know that."

"No I don't," she answered softly, looking down. Finn sighed. What kind of a douchebag would make his girfriend think he can't stand her? His kind. Of course.

"Rachel I don't ever, ever want you to change. You wouldn't be Rachel Berry if you're not forcing everyone to prove their worth for a solo every week. And if you're not around to annoy us into practicing, you know we wouldn't be half as good as we are. We'll be like, just sitting around every meeting, like we have been for the past three weeks, waiting for someone to force us into choreography. Glee's not the same without you Rach." He's trying to say things as clearly as he possibly can. Knowing his uncanny ability to stuff things up, he hoped to God she got it. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening.

"Really?" she asked in a small voice.

"Totally. You like, keep us in line or whatever. And you know what Rach? Ever since you stopped forcing me to drink that green glop everyday, I get burned out like really, really fast."

"Of course," she answered, nodding her head. "Spirulina is known for giving organic energy and strengthening one's immune system," She continued looking at him as if to say, duh. Of course. He bit back a grin.

"Yeah that. So," he began as he pulled against her sleeve playfully. "Do you still think I hate your personality?" She smiled her ridiculously Rachel Berry smile.

"No."

"You sure? Cause I miss your voice like crazy baby. I've been going on Myspace every night just to listen to you sing-"

"Oh Finn!" she squealed, practically jumping on his lap, which was no easy feat considering where they were. "You really do love me!"

"Yeah Crazy. I really, really do," he answered affectionately, ruffling her hair. He could practically see the stars in her eyes as she stared at him. Then suddenly he couldn't anymore cause she was attacking him with her lips and it was really, really hard for him to remember that they were in her car in the Hummel's driveway. In broad daylight.

"Thank God!" she muttered as she rested her head on his chest and he tried to tell his heart to not jump out of his chest. "You have no idea how hard it was not being able to correct Tina's breathing or Santana's tendency to screech. And oh God Finn, Funny Girl! I gave Funny Girl away! To Kurt! It felt like I ripped my own heart out of my chest and stomped on it!"

God, he missed her.

"Rachel?"

"Hmm?"

"What exactly did I say?"

"Oh. You were discussing the merits of Archie with Artie and you told him you always liked Betty better."

Of course.