It was after the invitational. I was back; finally arrived. All I could think was this is bliss, complete bliss. Singing, finding my own somebody to love, singing the same words right to me. Flipping the world order in the length of my daddy's favorite Queen song.

Does love make you a poet or what?

Certain people (ahem) didn't seem too glad I was back, but Mercedes and Tina were by me the whole performance, making sure I picked up the choreography. I'm a pretty fast learner after sixteen years of lessons, but it still helped. And everyone needs to feel like there's a reason that they belong, that they have a place more than just because of talent but because someone else wants them there. Finn wanted me there all along, and I felt that when he sang. Even though that night wasn't about him or even the two of us, that meant something. Still, in that moment, my life wasn't just me; it was everyone, all of our oddities and dreams aligning in a way. And this kind of revelation I had. Something in me whispering in Mr Schu's voice, asking me what I wanted to sacrifice in order to become who I always thought I would be.

"Rachel, you were so good," Kurt chirped as he walked by me, and I smiled even though we'd always hated each other.

"Yeah, you saved us, babe," added Mercedes as she and Kurt linked arms and strutted off to the parking lot. Suprisingly, Puck even passed me a smile. Then Mr Schu walked over, and I prepared myself for something even better than some compliments and a smile.

Putting his hand on my arm, Mr Schu said, "You did such a great job. You really brought the team together. But what made you come back?"

"To be honest, Mr Schu," I said, "It was Finn - and, well, Artie and Tina, and the entire club." Nice save. "I've tried so hard to fit in -"

"And now you do."

I nodded. "Now I do. I never realised it, though."

"Rachel, god, I was so much like you in high school. With, of course, half the talent." I know Mr Schuster doesn't think I need an ego boost, but throwing that out there on the road to a deep conversation, it was the kind of thing Mr Schu even did with kids that don't have the training or ambition I do. I have always admired that, though I doubt I'll ever be like that.

I sat down at the piano and smoothed out my tie. It's really cute, I thought to myself, in an androgenous show choir way. And, my mind rambled on, Bedazzle it and it'll go with that one -

But I'm getting carried away. Because I was only thinking a tiny bit about our costumes, and really more about how the hell was Mr Schu anything like me?

I asked, "How were you ever like me?"

"You're one of a kind, Rachel," he laughed, like it was a compliment and a slight slam, "but you know, I had the same dreams. And I tried so hard for people to like me, but it doesn't even matter ten years from the day you graduate. Hell, it doesn't matter ten minutes from when you graduate." It's a nice centiment and all, but I still want to hear all those people I hate to say Rachel Berry is talented, and she is beautiful, and all those other things that you want to know you are.

"Thanks, Mr Schu," I said, because he was trying to help even if he hadn't.

I managed to catch a ride with Tina and her mom, and, since Tina was my best friend for most of our terrible years at McKinnley Elementry, Mrs Cohen-Chang was all over me, and 'oh my goodness, Rachel, you were great. I always knew when you and Tina would sing along to Beauty and the Beast when you were five that you girls would just rule that high school. And now look at you two beautiful ladies! Still good friends, all the boys still falling over themselves to get at you two stars.' Tina and I were united in that moment for one reason: neither of us wanted to tell her how clueless she was. We were not - are not - good friends. Tina is just the only girl I know that doesn't totally hate me.

And boys all over us? Oh lord. I notice how Tina glances at Artie, how she is so open, yet closed, and so longing for him to just tell her she has a pretty voice or that he likes the shirt she wears one day, and he just looks at her with this little platonic smile because they're so tight.

And I kind of wondered, do girls like us ever really get the one we fall for? Or anyone?