Hey guys! Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I had just finished writing the most important chapter (ch. 9) and by far the longest when my laptop died and I lost the whole thing. I wasn't able to recover it and I was super bummed so I rewrote it last night. I've got the next four chapters written so the updates should be daily from now on. Heads up about the swearing again.

I own nothing.

Rachel walked confidently into the choir room and took her seat in between Noah and Sam at the front. She rolled her eyes as Noah and Sam high-fived above her head. She jumped when she felt Santana lean down from her seat behind her to whisper in her ear. She also noticed that Noah immediately tensed.

"Your little show in the hall earlier took some major balls Hobbit. I guess I see why Puckerman here likes to keep you around. You're actually kind of hot when you're all riled up. But if you get up there and sing some horrible love song to Finn because you're sorry, I'll cut you. Then I'll tie you to this chair and make you watch as I create a bonfire using your ugly sweaters as fuel. Got me Chica?" Santana hissed in her ear.

"Down Satan." Puck answered reflexively even as Rachel grinned up at Santana and nodded. If Santana was surprised by her reaction it didn't show on her face. She winked back at her and went back to her conversation with Brittany about Lord Tubbington's book club. Apparently he was reading 'The Help' and really enjoying it.

Mike moon-walked his way into the room and headed over to Rachel. He fist bumped Puck and Sam before tugging on one of Rachel's curls.

"You ready for this Berrybaby?" He shot her a quick grin when she nodded before joining Tina on the third riser.

Mike had been surprised to get a call from Rachel the other night asking for his help. He arrived at her house to find Puck and Sam looking over some freshly printed sheet music. She had quickly explained what she wished to accomplish with the performance and asked for his help choreographing the dance portion. She had said something about the dancing being more important than the actual song. They had spent the next few hours learning the choreography and just having fun. Mike had been surprised by how much they all laughed. He had expected Rachel to be depressed about her breakup or very controlling and demanding about the performance. She had just sat back and watched him dance and then she had laughed and joked around while learning the choreography. Everyone would be expecting another 'Jar of Hearts' or 'No Air'. He was so excited to be a part of this performance. He was hoping that Mr. Schue would consider it for Regionals.

"What was that all about?" Tina asked with something akin to envy in her eyes.

"You'll see baby. I think you'll really like it." He said kissing away her concern.

Quinn walked in and sat next to Sam who welcomed her in Na'vi. Rachel was in the middle of apologizing for allowing him to watch Avatar again when Mercedes walked in. She took one look at the seating arrangement and shot a glare at both Quinn and Rachel. Rachel made a mental note to question Sam about their relationship status later.

Finn skulked into class with what was clearly a black eye and tried to capture Rachel's attention as he slowly made his way to his seat in the back row. Puck noticed this and immediately engaged Rachel in a thumb war. They were in the middle of a thumb battle royale when Schue cleared his throat from the front of the room. Their heads shot up to find Schue glaring in their direction. Clearing his throat he turned to face the rest of the club.

"Now that I have everyone's attention I feel that we should talk about what happened this morning."

"Mr Schue if I may." Rachel interrupted him and stood to face the rest of the group.

"Here we go again white girl." Mercedes made no attempt to lower her voice as she rolled her eyes.

Puck glanced at Rachel just in time to see the hurt vanish from her eyes, a steely determination taking its place.

"Shut your fucking mouth Jones." Puck barked at her just as Santana said, "Go drown yourself in tots you miserable bitch."

Rachel saw Mr. Schue turning red and Mercedes working herself into a diva rage and decided to continue quickly.

"Noah and Santana thank you for defending me but I assure you both that it is unnecessary. Mercedes I understand that you no longer enjoy my company but if you could just be polite and listen to what I have to say it would be greatly appreciated." Rachel's comments were met with silence which she took to mean she could continue.

"First I would like to address the issue of the incident in the hallway. Mr. Schue I personally think that it is incredibly inappropriate for you to interfere in my breakup with Finn. And bringing it up as a group is totally unacceptable and completely unprofessional." She put up her hand as he opened his mouth to defend himself. "Furthermore, I think it is a negligible waste of our time to focus on such trivial personal issues when we could be preparing ourselves for competition. I understand your concern after the confrontation in the hallway this morning but it isn't anyone's business but the people who were directly involved. Finn and I took a risk when we started dating knowing that if it didn't work out then it might be awkward. That risk did not pay out and we will face the consequences. We will behave professionally and not allow it to hurt our fellow glee clubbers."

She took a look around the classroom and realised that most of them were looking at her in disbelief. Noah nodded at her to continue. Glancing at Mr. Schue she continued.

"Even before the final demise of 'Finchel' we haven't been functioning as a team. Our group is back together in name only. Many of us are continuing to let past hurt keep us from moving on as a cohesive unit. Therefore, I will be the first to do so. Mr Schuester; I am willing to look past the fact that Finn cheated on me and called me a crazy bitch in front of the whole school." She almost laughed as he raised his eyebrows and turned to look at a sheepish Finn. "But I need you to promise not to be short-sighted whenever Finn in involved. You had every intention of yelling at me for causing trouble and at Noah for so gallantly defending my honour. You would have looked past the fact that he had hurt and humiliated me and that is wrong. I know that I can be hard to handle. I'm obnoxious and I dream big. But I'm sick of being called selfish. I have done a lot for this Glee club and I have given my all. This is our last year together and I want to make it count. I'd love to win Nationals, but it pales in comparison to my desire for us to be friends again." She took a breath and looked over to her friends in the front row and smiled.

"I've decided that I'd like to enjoy the rest of our final year together. I want to look back on our final year and not remember that we became so divided that we split up the club. I want to remember pool parties and epic dance parties and singing until our voices are gone. Memories filled with laughter and tears of joy," She looked up at Blaine and Kurt and returned their proud smiles. "On that note, I'd like it very much if you'd all meet us in the auditorium in 10 minutes. We've prepared a fun song for you to enjoy."

Rachel then turned on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving the club in stunned silence.

"Who the hell was that girl?" Finn muttered in confusion.

Puck opened his mouth to snap at him but Santana beat him to it.

"That was Rachel Berry, bitch. You were right Puckerman, she does kick ass."

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