fresh off our win from sectionals and those guys were still getting slushee-d. at least i know i'm always safe.

after quinn and finn had broken up, rachel immediately sprung to the conclusion that they were dating and once again finn was whisked away.

i thought it was kind of weird, and finn didn't seem to into it either, but i figure i could ask him about it later.

i mean who am i kidding, i'm never gonna get my chance with finn. it's just never the right time.

and he's not even interested in me. there's always someone before me.

i sat in the stands watching finn's basketball game.

after he was blocked on a layup he looked over at me to see me mouth,"you suck."

he made a heart with his hands and winked at me.

i laughed and shook my head. rachel looked up at me from down at the bottom of the stands. she made a motion for me to come over to her. i rolled my eyes and made my way there.

"what's up rachel?" i sighed as i approached her.

"i saw that just now. maybe you're not aware, but finn and i are very happy in our relationship." she informed me.

"rachel, finn winked at me. i didn't ask him to. in fact i told him he sucked. finn made a heart with his hands because he wanted to. it's not my problem."

•

in glee i sat with matt, seeing as rachel pulled finn over to her.

"hello." mr. schue said.

once we didn't answer he reiterated,"hellooooo?"

"hi." i muttered, along with everyone else.

"what do you guys say when you answer the phone?"

"what's up?"

"who dis be?"

"no, she's dead this is her son."

"O-kay. alexander graham bell, inventor of the telephone, liked to say, "ahoy, ahoy" when he answered the phone. it was edison who decided that "hello" was a more appropriate greeting." mr. schue explained, much to no avail.

we all stared at him.

"look. i am really proud of what you guys did at sectionals. but, as most of you have realized by now, it hasn't made a bit of difference in your day-to-day at school."

"i have a slushie-stained training bra to prove it." rachel rolled her eyes.

"a training bra?" i asked in confusion.

"not all of us wanna stuff, stevie." she shot back.

"oh she doesn't stuff." finn said casually causing everyone to stare at him.

"um, moving on...," mr. schue looking equally as confused as everyone else,"fact is, we're going to have to be better, even more spectacular at regionals. it's time for some reinvention, some new, new Directions. we need a new ... hello. here's your assignment for the week: come up with a fresh number, but it has to have "hello" in the song title. alright?"

the bell rang and i walked out before rachel could tackle me.

•

as finn performed hello he walked up to my chair and leaned down. i grabbed his face in my hands and crinkled my nose at him.

he smiled at me as he finished.

"and that fellow glee clubbers is how you say...hello." rachel ended it.

"god, she always has to get that last word doesn't she?" i walked with mike as the bell rang.

"apparently so."

"stevie, can i talk to you?" i heard rachel ask me.

"oh, god." i sighed.

mike patted me on the shoulder and left.

"yes?" i turned to her.

"i see what you're doing with finn. and it's deplorable." she condemned me.

"rachel, when are you gonna realize that finn just got out of a relationship? and he doesn't wanna be tied down. it's too soon. he needs to focus on himself and i think it's your responsibility to let him do that. if he wants to whore around and do all these things, you need to let him." i told her.

she couldn't seem to think of anything to say and stormed off in the other direction.

"hey, what'd she want?" finn came up to me.

"oh just asking me to stop trying to steal you away from her. called me deplorable, no big deal." i smiled and looked up at him.

"oh, yeah she's called me that too. i just don't get it, i never even asked her to be my girlfriend."

"then don't be her boyfriend, finn." i leaned against the lockers as he stood in front of me.

"well then what should i do?"

"be mine." i wrapped my arms around his neck and looked up at him. by instinct he put his hands on my hips.

he looked down at me like he was really considering it.

"finn, i was kidding," i pulled away from him after a moment,"you need to focus on yourself. find out who you are, and not who you are while you have a girlfriend. it's all about you, baby."

he chuckled,"thanks stevie."

•

finn sat in glee with me, telling me about how santana and brittany had asked him out. thankfully he decided to decline the offer, remembering what i had told him earlier.

"alright, guys we've gotta get rolling on these hello songs. who's got something to show?" mr. schue asked.

rachel raised her hand.

she walks to the front of the room and starts in on gives you hell. directed at finn.

i eventually joined in with the rest of the group, flipping off finn.

he rolled his eyes at me and i laughed. what a clown.

"guys, guys, I don't want to be a buzzkill but the assignment was hello." mr. schue said, looking less than impressed.

"i'm sorry, i was just focusing on the first syllable." she shot a glare at finn.

"you know what? i don't think you guys understand the seriousness of what we're up against. while we were busy winning our sectional, vocal adrenaline was busy winning theirs. they're last year's national champions. they haven't lost a competition in three years. this is the big leagues, guys. if we don't place at regionals, glee club is over." mr. schue told us, i guess reaching his limit.