"I assure you Mr. Schuester I can be professional." Rachel flipped her hair, promising. "My only concern is Regional's."

"If you can't..." Mr. Schuester warned.

"I will, I will have to do the same when I work on Broadway." Rachel huffed continuing to follow Mr. Schuester into the auditorium. "I would like to address the group when they finally join us."

"That won't be necessary Rachel," he sighed unlocking the door "just sing and I don't think we'll have a problem." As usual they arrived in small groups, Mercedes and the Unholy Trinity were the last to arrive, clapping his hands together Mr. Schuester brought the groups attention to him "After school is our last dress rehearsal before Regional's, this morning we're making sure we have it down, remember smile, and take your places." Leaving their purses, bags and books in seats the group trudged up on the stage as Finn and Rachel headed up the aisles. As promised Rachel was nothing but professional hitting her marks and singing with the others. After the second run through the others relaxed and Mr. Schuester was satisfied, they weren't totally ready but they still had practice after school. "Alright, meet here after school today."

"We're totally gonna win." Rachel beamed.

Santana groaned "I need coffee."

"You already had some San." Brittany chirped, Santana scowled following the blonde from the auditorium.

"You guys better appreciate this." Santana poked her stomach, Finn chuckled. "Laugh now, but I expect a ginormous coffee the day these two come out."

"Right, big coffee and a churro." Finn promised.

Hearing the first bell the group scattered to their first classes of the day.


"She's not glaring, that's an improvement." Santana shrugged before grabbing a salad for her and Brittany, Brittany glanced over her shoulder at Rachel, the brunette was sitting at the table reading and eating her lunch.

"Kurt looks scared, we should go protect him."

"No Britt...damn it." Santana sighed following Brittany to the table, she was sure it would set Rachel off if they sat down but she wasn't about to abandon Brittany.

"Hi Kurt." Brittany beamed sliding her tray next to his, Kurt smiled in relief as both girls sat down.

"Hi Brittany, Santana."

"Kurt helped me in home ec today, Tina tried but I confused her." Brittany informed Santana.

Kurt shrugged when Santana looked at him "We had fun."

"Fun makes it easy." Santana agreed, Brittany smiled offering Santana some of her fruit, giving Brittany a smile she accepted it.

They continued chatting while the rest of the Glee kids filled in around them and Rachel, it was awkward but no one said anything to set each other off. Santana chatted with Brittany, Kurt and Tina about cooking, Mercedes and Quinn talked about baby shopping and the boys of course talked about football. Rachel sat quietly listening to all the different conversations but said nothing, they would glance at her so she knew they weren't ignoring her but she knew they were going to continue to have their own conversations. It was Brittany that broke the ice "What are you reading Rachel?"

"Oh...um..." everyone, Rachel included, was surprised by the lanky blonde, Santana bit back a groan. Holding up the book Rachel showed Brittany the cover "Barbra's biography."

"Is it good?" Brittany asked.

"Excellent, lots of details and pictures." Rachel smiled.

"My favorite book has pictures too," Brittany smiled, "it's about Ballad, he's a duck." Santana waited for anyone to comment, Rachel sensing Santana's tension just nodded.

"It sounds like a good book."

"Mmm hmm." Brittany nodded returning to her lunch.

It wasn't much but it was enough to prove to themselves that they could travel to Regional's together and perform without a problem.


Mr. Schuester waited, the group was changing for their dress rehearsal, he was hoping it would go as smoothly as their morning practice had. "When you're ready take your places!"

The group slowly gathered on the stage, "Where's Quinn?" Puck asked noticing the smaller blonde missing.

"She had to pee again." Mercedes chuckled.

"Thank you for sharing." Quinn called as she stepped into the auditorium. Puck smirked.

"So is it true? Coach Sylvester's one of the judges?" Rachel blurted out the moment she came in the auditorium.

"It's true but guys don't worry, we do our best and we can't lose." Mr. Schuester said trying to rally them.

"That's a lie." Matt mumbled.

"No come on guys we can do this!" Mr. Schuester clapped his hands "We'll run through it a couple of times and as long as we don't mess up we'll call it a night." it took more than a couple of times running through it before they relaxed enough not to stumble through.