Disclaimer: Don't own anything, blah, blah, blah. Wish I did because Glee, freakin' amazing! The song in this chapter is Taylor Swift's "Crazier".

Author's Note: So, I recently got into Glee. Or well, I got into over the course of the past month or so, and let me tell you. Brilliant! I simply adore Finn & Rachel. They're absolutely adorable! So, this would be my first attempt at a GLEE fan fiction. I'm going to try and not make it have too many chapters and keep up with efficient updates.

The setting is about two weeks after sectionals. Finn is still mad at Puck and Quinn, and Rachel is keeping her distant from Finn, much to his dismay. There is an original character, but she's not a love interest for anyone. And I have the Kurt/Rachel friend dynamic, because I think that's a fiery friendship that is simply adorable. Eventually there will be Finn/Rachel, Quinn/Puck, and a few love triangle angles thrown in.

I'm always open for suggestions, comments, criticism, and compliments. Hope you enjoy! Happy Readings!! ((PS: I know there is probably several grammar, English mistakes, which I tend to always miss in my own writings, so please, forgive me!))

Her hair was cut short, to just below her chin. It was curly and wavy, accenting her oval face perfectly. Her sunglasses were pushed up into her hair, allowing her bangs to be side swept and her silver hoops to glitter against the fluorescent lights.

Rosy cheeks and just barely outlined eyes complimented her olive skin and bright smile, her teeth shining like a toothpaste commercial. She had a curve to her hips, which sashayed in her jeans. A pink and white striped polo shirt hugged her upper body.

A Tiffany necklace and bracelet were shiny against her skin tone, giving every indication she was worth something much more valuable then anything in Lima, Ohio. And the completely scoff-free white sneakers and shoulder bag, that was just part of how much she was truly worth.

She wandered down the halls, her shoes making no sound against the linoleum. She walked past the choir room, pausing to look in to find exactly what she had been searching for. With a perfectly pink and white manicured hand, she pushed open the door, smiling brilliantly as Finn and Rachel finished a duet.

She was the first to start clapping.

---

It had been two weeks since they had won sectionals. Two weeks of congratulations, compliments, and proud slaps on the back. Two weeks of the popular part of the club regaining some of their glory and the unpopular part gaining some spotlight. Two weeks of fake smiles and bitter silences.

Even though he had forgiven his fellow teammates, he couldn't bring himself to forgive Puck and Quinn. Not yet at least. They had lied to him. Made a fool of him. Caused him to break several little knickknacks in his house. They had put him through the ringer and he had yet to recover.

He was grateful for his other friends though. They were doing a fantastic job of supporting him, as well as Puck and Quinn, without choosing sides. Although, he had reasoned, they had kept Puck and Quinn a secret from him. They had lied to him just as his former best-friend and girlfriend had lied to him.

Well, all of them except Rachel. And she was currently not talking to him. Sure she was polite and cordial when it was called from her, but other then their duets or musical rehearsals, the only thing that had passed between them was a 'thank you' or a 'please'.

Finn had asked Kurt and Tina about it, seeing as how they were the closest to Rachel (even though it wasn't a very close, close). But the two seemed to be just as confused as him. The entire Glee club had imagined the singing goddess to throw herself at Finn the minute they returned from their victorious performance. That was not the case. She was barely talking to her Glee peers, and had sworn off even looking at Finn, Puck, and Quinn.

And, even though he had yet to admit it, it was driving Finn up the wall.

The girl had weaseled herself into his life as a friend, a really good friend. She was persistently there for him with a listening ear, a kind word, or a bit of sound advice. Now, however, Finn had to go out of his way just to get a quick glimpse of her.

He hadn't really been in the mood for Glee as he walked into the choir room, making his way to the far end of the line of chairs, right next to Brittany and Kurt. It was less fun, what with Puck and Quinn on the other side of the room and Rachel ignoring him.

"Ok guys, Finn, Rachel, I want you guys to try this song," Mr. Schue gave them both a smile, he seemed to be ignoring the fact that Finn looked down trotted and Rachel's face was set into an expressionless stare. "I think it would be a good song for regionals. Once we hear it we can vote if we want it or not."

"Mr. Schue, this is a girl's song?" Finn stated, his tone and eyes flat.

"Yes, Finn, I know." He gave him a tight lipped smile, looking over to Rachel who was reading over the lyrics.

"Why are we singing a girl's song?" The teacher's eyes moved back over to Finn, still waiting for Rachel's opinion.

"I think it's a beautiful song."

"It's a girl's song." Finn once again, slowly, stated.

"Finn, it's a girl's song. Yes. But I think you two singing it as a duet would work really nicely. It has low notes and a slow steady beat." Mr. Schuester smiled.

"Ms. Pillsbury likes this song, doesn't she?" Rachel looked up, locking eyes with her teacher. She didn't press the matter further upon seeing the shift in his expression. Ms. Pillsbury must have liked the song and threw it out as a suggestion.

Rachel stood up, moving to the center of the room, she made no eye contact as Finn maneuvered his way to the center as well.

He cleared his throat, hoping for her to look at him. His hope had fallen to deaf ears as Rachel began singing the Taylor Swift song with a steady voice. He had to admit, it was a beautiful song. And there was no way he could stop the smile on his face as she shifted and locked eyes with him as they both began belting out the chorus.

"You lift my feet off the ground, you spin me around. You make me crazier, crazier. Feels like I'm falling and I am lost in your eyes. You make me crazier, crazier, crazier."

She looked away as he began singing his own part. He wanted to look away from her, to sing to anyone else, but it was hard not to sing to her. She had believed in him from the very beginning, ever song he sang was a dedication to her.

She might not have known it before, but he was going to show it to her now.

Her voice mingled with his once again, but her eyes stayed glued to the paper Mr. Schue had given them. He wanted her to look up, to acknowledge him. With a swift breath, he allowed his eyes to dart into the crowd to see his fellow team-mates swaying with the slow-down beat and love struck words.

Brown crashed with brown as he looked back at her, the smile returning to his face. He couldn't help but assume this was probably why she was ignoring him.

Their song ended too quickly and as he went to grab her hand a small applause broke out from the corner of the choir room. They turned, as well as the rest of the room, to the entrance to see a petite girl clapping enthusiastically.

"That was fabulous! Jeez, Finn Hudson singing in public. I just about thought I'd never see the day." Kurt, Tina, Artie, Mercedes, Matt, Mike, Brittany, Santana, Quinn, and Rachel all went from staring at the girl to giving Finn loud looks of confusion. Mr. Schue simply continued to stare at the stranger with an eyebrow raised. Finn and Puck were the only two to look at her with large smiles jumping off their faces.

"Cali! Oh my god!" Finn took two long strides grabbing the girl by the waist and spinning her in a hug. "What are you doing here?!"

"Mommy has to go to California for a few weeks and I told her that I hadn't seen you and your mom in forever!" Cali laughed, her earrings jingling against her necklace. Her arms tightened around his neck. "I missed you so much!"

"I can't believe you're here." Finn slowly set her down, grinning at her like a madman.

"Yo! Twinkle toes!" Finn and Cali both shifted, staring at Puck who had stood up. Once again, Kurt, Mercedes, Artie, Tina, Mike, Brittany, Matt, Santana, Quinn, and Rachel gave loud looks of confusion, this time to Puck.

"Puckhead!" Cali squealed, practically soaring over to throw herself at the olive skinned boy. "You're in Glee too!"

"You know, I had to bring a certain level of badass-ness to the table." They both laughed.

Slowly, very slowly, because they knew this could set Finn off, the Glee club turned to look at their leading singer. He was not wearing a scowl or a pissed off look. He didn't even seem fazed that this tiny girl had leaped half across the room to throw herself at Puck, seconds after throwing herself at Finn. In fact, and it was weird, Finn was still grinning like a fool, unfazed by this new development in the mystery girl.

"Um, guys, some introductions might be nice." Mr. Schue shot Cali a warm smile, extending his hand.

"Oh my god. I'm so rude when I get hyper. I'm so sorry. Calista Monty." She shook his hand. "You can call me Cali though."

"Welcome to McKinley High, Cali. I'm Mr. Schuester, the Glee director." She nodded her head, looking over to Finn and throwing him a wink.

"My mom and Cali's mom have been best friends since they were five. Cali use to spend every summer and spring break with us." There was no denying it, even though certain members of the club wish they could, Finn was lit like the Rockefeller tree at Christmas.

"I haven't seen Finn or Puck since seventh grade." Cali turned and shot Puck a smile. "Since before they went and got all toned and define. My goodness, boy, put the gun show away."

Puck chuckled, shaking his head. "Dude, you haven't emailed me or anything!"

"Communication is a two way street." She laughed and gently hit his shoulder. The three, and possibly Mr. Schue, was ignoring the fact that there were ten other people in the room, staring at the scene in front of them.

Quinn stood up, her mouth opening to say something, but then quickly shut her mouth and slammed her hand over it. She rushed out of the choir room. Cali, Finn, and Puck stared after her, but only for a second. Puck cleared his throat and moved quickly after Quinn. The frown Kurt and Rachel had been banking on when Cali threw herself at Puck, finally crossed over Finn's face.

"Wow. I'm never made anyone want to hurl before." Cali smiled and looked up at Finn, only to mirror his frown. "What did I--?" Finn shook his head, effectively cutting her off.

"Mr. Schue, is it ok if I leave rehearsal early? I kind of want to see Cali's mom."

"Yeah Finn, we'll see you tomorrow?" Cali nodded for both of them, and gave a quick wave over her shoulder to the rest of the room.

They watched the pair leave, and then turned to look at each other. Rachel, who had been standing the whole time, gave a strangled noise, as Kurt's eyes twisted manically.

"I did not sign up to have even more competition in this never-ending race for Hudson." Mercedes simply patted his shoulder.

"Maybe they really are just friends." Artie offered, receiving glares from both Rachel and Kurt.

"She's pretty hot." Mike threw out, only to slouch in his chair as Brittany hit his shoulder and Rachel and Kurt's glares drifted over to him.

"Ok guys, enough gossip. Brittany go check on Puck and Quinn. Mercedes, why don't you wow us with song. If I have Rachel and Finn doing a duet, I'll need you guys as my soloists."

"Mr. Schue, you can count on me." Mercedes stated brightly, high-fiving Tina, and making her way to the center stage.

---

"She is very pretty." Rachel reasoned, leaning against the school stairs. Kurt turned his head and shot her a look.

"I will admit that she has a fabulous dress sense and pulls off the almost Marilyn Monroe hair-do perfectly. But she is no prettier then anyone else."

The two had been waiting for their fathers to pick them up from the school. Kurt's SUV had a flat tire and Rachel's car was currently being used by her other father, since his car was at the shop. They had been waiting for a little over twenty minutes and had resigned to thinking that their fathers had most likely forgotten them.

Rachel and Kurt had, even though they had yet to admit it, become friends. It had happened after sectionals when Kurt found her in a ball hysterically crying. When asked what was wrong, she had begun crying even harder and rambled incoherently for the better part of ten minutes before coming to some composure.

Kurt hadn't pressed her for answers and Rachel was grateful for having a shoulder to lean on. And even though he still liked Finn, Kurt had accepted the fact that Finn only liked him as a friend. It helped that Finn had come half crazed to Kurt and Tina about Rachel's lack of communication. Kurt was confident enough in himself to accept the fact that Finn may hold a certain flame for their reigning glee drama queen.

Though it pained him so to admit.

"He hasn't been that happy since we won sectionals." Rachel stated, her head dropped back, her eyes focusing on the dreary sky.

"He looks happy when you two are singing." The two looked at each other for a second before Rachel dropped her head back and Kurt looked forward. "Why are you treating him like a second class citizen?"

"Protecting myself does not constitute as treating him like a second class citizen. We're just not talking right now."

"You're not talking to him. I have it on good authority that he wants to talk to you. Lord knows why." Kurt smirked as Rachel elbowed him.

"You're handling this awful well." Kurt tousled his side bang and sat up a little straighter.

"Even though I have impeccable fashion sense, superior to yours, and my demeanor outshines those of royalty, I'm not stupid. Finn obviously has bad taste and I have come to accept that I'm simply too far above him."

Rachel stared at Kurt with a blank expression. "When you say bad tastes?"

"He likes girls. Personally, I don't know what he sees in you ladies." His smirked widened as Rachel once again hit him.

---

"So," Finn was laying in his bed, his eyes shut, and his hands tucked under his head. He had regaled Cali with his story of deception and betrayal, leaving out random details of Kurt's love for him, his indiscretions with Rachel, and the entire glee club knowing about everything and not telling him. "Basically, you got played by a bimbo."

"She's not a bimbo." He replied automatically.

"Ok, fine, the whore."

"Cali." His tone was sharp, his eyes remaining shut.

"So you still have feelings for her. I gotcha, I gotcha."

"I do not have feelings for her." Finn practically growled. He thought that having Cali here, letting her give him advice and help sooth his wounds, would make everything better.

He was sadly mistaken.

"Well, then, what's the problem. She cheated, lied, abused you, and is now waiting with baited breath for your forgiveness. Puck has been your friend since second grade."

"It was suppose to be my baby."

"Um, why would you have wanted a baby at sixteen?" His eyes shot opened and he stared at his childhood friend who was half sitting on his dresser. She sighed and moved towards the bed, throwing herself on her stomach. "Fish-Finn. Come on." Her baby brown eyes stared into his darker orbs. "You missed a bullet by a mile."

"She lied to me!" Finn swung himself so that he was sitting up. His body crouched, his hands covering his face. "They both lied to me. Would you have been able to forgive them?"

"No, Finn, I wouldn't. Which proves that you have feelings for them as your friends. If you could forgive them it would show how much you didn't care." Cali rolled over, her eyes staring at the white ceiling. Silence enveloped them, their breaths echoing in their ears. "Who was the girl you were singing with?"

"Rachel Berry." There was the slightest infliction as he said her name, causing Cali to nod gently.

"Ah-ha, so, the plot thickens."

"You know I hate when you use those theatre phrases." Finn looked over his shoulder, noticing the slightest smile on his friend's face.

"You like the Raspberry."

"Please stop coming up with names for people in my life. We're no longer six." He couldn't help but smile as she laughed.

"Oh, Fish-Finn. You went and a made a whole book out of a short story." She sighed and sat up. "It's a good thing I came when I did. There was no way you were going to over come the climax without me."

Finn stared at her, before gently flicking her forehead with his hand. "Seriously." He flicked her again. "No one knows what you're talking about."

Cali moved away from him. "First things first, I want to hear ever last little, dirty detail of you sophomore year so far. And try and be as unbiased as possible."

"There's nothing to say. I'm a moron and everyone knows it." Sighing seemed to be the new order of things. Cali moved to sit next to Fin, her eyes focusing on the curtained window.

"You're not a moron Finn. When we love people, we ignore things that are right in front of us. Sometimes we slip up and then ignore things we know are true." She patted his shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you out for some ice cream."

"We're not six." Finn stated again, staring as she got up.

"Pf. It's ice cream. It solves all." She threw him a wink and then walked out. Finn looked at his ceiling and ran a hand down his face.

It was going to be a very long few weeks.