I'm so so sorry for the wait! I was mega sick the past few days! Enjoy!
April 2nd 2010
"Rachel you don't have to go on this trip." Leroy said as he walked into Rachel's room.
"I want too, daddy." Rachel said as she put her clothes into her suitcase. "I've been looking forward to this all year."
"I'm just nervous that you have to share a room with the girl's who hurt you." Leroy said.
"You don't have to worry about a thing, Mr Berry." Said Mercedes. "I'll make sure they won't do anything. Me and Tina won't let Rachel out of our sight."
Leroy smiled. "Thank you Mercedes."
Leroy left and Rachel continued packing. Rachel was in her room with Mercedes, Tina and Finn. Rachel was finishing packing her suitcase.
"How much time do we have left?" Asked Rachel.
"We have 2 hours before we have to go back to the school." Finn said, looking at his watch.
"Oh my god I'm so excited!" Rachel giggled.
Finn smiled when he saw how excited Rachel was. Finn could see a change in Rachel in the past few weeks. Rachel was slowly getting better. She was in school this week for the first time since they found out about the bullying. That was nearly 3 weeks ago. Rachel found it more easy since the people who hurt her were suspended. Today Rachel was going to come face-to-face with Santana, Quinn and Puck for the first time since everyone found out what they did.
"Rachel, honey do not forget this." Hiram said carrying in a small black bag.
"What is it?" Asked Rachel.
"All the stuff you need for the burns and the reaction." Hiram said as he put the bag on Rachel's bed. "Don't forget to put them on Rachel."
Rachel sighed and put the black bag in her suitcase. "I won't dad."
"The burns and the reaction are not gone yet?" Asked Tina.
"The reaction is nearly gone. This is my last week using this stuff." Rachel said.
"What about the burns?" Mercedes asked.
Rachel stood up and lifted her shirt above her stomach.
"It's nearly gone." Finn smiled. Rachel smiled back.
The bruises were gone and the burns were now just red marks.
Rachel went into the bathroom to get some more things.
"You nervous about, Rach?" Tina asked.
Rachel came back and put her stuff in her suitcase. "No, excited."
"Rachel wouldn't be nervous." Said Mercedes as she turned to Rachel. "You've been singing on front of audiences for how long now?"
"13 years." Rachel smiled.
Rachel picked up a small white star off her bedside table. She stared at it for a moment. "Should I bring this?"
"What is it?" Asked Finn.
"It's a night light." Rachel said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I've used it since they burned me. I can't sleep without it."
"Then bring it." Said Tina.
Rachel gave her a worried look. "What about Quinn and Santana?"
"Rachel don't be embarrassed about it." Said Mercedes. "It's their fault you need that night light."
"What if it keeps you guys awake?" Asked Rachel.
"Don't worry about me or Tina." Mercedes said. "The others will have to deal with it. As I said, it's their fault."
"I would like to stop using it." Said Rachel.
"Well don't use it tonight." Said Tina. "Bring it with you just incase you need it."
"Okay thanks Tina." Said Rachel, as she took the plug out and put the night light in her suitcase.
"I'm finished." Rachel said as she closed her suitcase.
"Ready to go?" Asked Tina.
Rachel nodded. "Yeah."
Finn, Mercedes and Tina got their suitcases that they left in Rachel's hallway while Rachel said goodbye to her dads. After a minute Rachel came out with her suitcase and they walked to the school. When they arrived Kurt, Artie and Brittney were already there. They were helping Artie into the school bus using the wheelchair lift.
"Hey guys." Mr Schue said as he walked over to them. "Excited?"
Rachel smiled and nodded.
They looked around to see Quinn, Santana and Puck walking over to the bus. Rachel grabbed Finn's hand.
"You okay?" Finn asked.
Rachel looked up at him and nodded.
"Can't believe we have to spend the whole weekend with those bitches." Said Mercedes.
They put their suitcases in the storage space and got on the bus and took a seat near the back. Finn and Rachel sat together. Mercedes and Tina sat behind them.
Puck, Quinn and Santana sat at the front of the bus.
"Brittany is sitting by herself." Rachel pointed out.
Finn looked over at Brittany who was sitting by herself looking out the window.
"Brittany!" Rachel called over. Brittany turned around.
"You want to sit here?" Rachel asked pointing to the empty seat on front of her.
Brittany smiled and nodded.
Brittany got up and sat down on front of Rachel. "Thanks."
"You want this?" Finn asked as he handed Rachel one of his earphones.
Rachel smiled as she put the earphone in her ear. She rested her head on Finn's shoulder. They listened to the music as the bus left the school.
5 hours later Rachel opened her eyes and realized she had fell asleep. She looked up to see Finn was also asleep. He had one arm around her. His head was resting on the top of Rachel's head. Rachel smiled and closed her eyes again.
"Wake up you two." Rachel heard Mercedes say.
Finn and Rachel both sat up.
"My neck is killing." Rachel moaned.
"You okay?" Asked Tina.
Rachel nodded. "Just the way I slept."
"Are we there yet?" Asked Finn.
"Nearly." Said Mercedes said.
"How long were me and Finn asleep?" Asked Rachel.
"About 4 hours or something." Said Tina.
The bus came to to a stop. They got the suitcases and went into the house. The 6 girls went to their room. In the room was 2 bunk beds and 2 foldout beds beside them.
On the left side of the room, Tina was on the top bunk, Rachel was on the bottom. Mercedes was on the foldout bed that was next to Rachel's bed. On the right side of the room Santana was on the top bunk and Quinn was on the bottom. Brittany was on the other foldout bed.
"I can't believe you two are unpacking already." Mercedes said as she watched Rachel and Tina put their clothes in the wardrobe.
"Well excuse us for trying to feel a little more a home." Rachel said.
Rachel got up and walked out to the mini sitting room. She saw Finn sitting on the couch.
"Hey." Rachel said as she sat down next to him.
"Hey Rach." Finn said back. "How you getting on with your roommates?"
"Fine." Rachel said. "Kinda awkward."
"Will you be okay staying in a room them?" Asked Finn.
Rachel laughed. "I'll be fine. Mercedes won't let them near me."
"Good." Finn said. "You still excited for tomorrow?"
Rachel nodded. "Are you?"
"Kinda nervous." Finn said.
"There's nothing to be nervous about. Besides you'll be singing with me." Smiled Rachel. "You'll be fine."
"I hope so." Finn said.
"If things don't go well for you all you have to do is say my name. The crowd will go crazy." Laughed Rachel.
"Oh really?" Finn said as he started to tickle Rachel.
Rachel started laughing hysterically. "Finn stop it!"
"No way." Finn said back.
Rachel managed to get up and run away from Finn. Finn got up and chased her around the sitting room. Finn ran over and wrapped his arms around Rachel.
"Let me go!" Laughed Rachel.
"First tell me that I'm a great singing." Finn said as he tickled Rachel more.
"Your Amazing." Rachel said, still laughing.
Finn let Rachel go and she ran back over to the couch and Finn followed her.
"Your so mean." Rachel said while giggling.
Finn sat down next to Rachel. He loved seeing Rachel laughing. He looked at the small girl sitting beside him. She was still giggling. Finn was wondering if this was the right time to ask Rachel to be his girlfriend. Finn wanted Rachel to be his girlfriend since the night she came out of the hospital. Finn was going to ask her many times but couldn't bring himself to ask. He was afraid it would ruin the friendship he had with Rachel if she said no.
"I'm gonna go to bed." Rachel said as she stood up.
"Me too." Finn got up and walked Rachel to the girls room.
"So I'll see you tomorrow?" Finn said.
Rachel nodded. "Yeah. Goodnight Finn."
"Night Rach." Finn said as he to the boys room.
Rachel fell asleep straight away while Finn lay in bed thinking about how he was going to ask Rachel to be his girlfriend. He felt nervous at the thought and felt sick at the thought of her saying no. Little did he know, Rachel had a crush on him for a very long time.