It’s a question that’s been percolating since Glee‘s Billy Joel tribute episode aired last November — and featured a subtle but inarguable flirtation between Rachel (Lea Michele) and Sam (Chord Overstreet): Are the show’s writers beginning to plot their leading lady’s return to the dating pool after the death of her soulmate Finn Hudson, and if so, will they pursue a future for “Samchel”?

Michele herself weighed in on the possibility of a Rachel-Sam romance at Tuesday night’s 100th episode party in West Hollywood, and her view was decidedly pessimistic: “I think that kind of came and went,” she said. “They kind of address it briefly, but [Sam] is with Mercedes now, so mmm-hmm.” (Mercedes’ portrayer, Amber Riley, recently Tweeted about filming scenes with Overstreet in New York City, sparking rumors that the one-time fictional couple will reignite their flame.)

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Michele added that she didn’t want to speculate whether negative fan response to the possible pairing may have played a role in the lack of Samchel development.

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Glee co-creator Ian Brennan, meanwhile, said the show’s writing staff has “kept a very, very close eye” on making sure the timing feels right for any new love interests for Rachel. “The closest relationship on the show has been and remains Finn and Rachel, and I think that won’t change — no matter what happens,” he explained. “And yeah, [a new Rachel romance] hasn’t quite felt right yet. It’s an open question as to when and how it will.”

Finn’s passing, which was necessitated by the death of series star Cory Monteith last July,

“still feels raw in a lot of ways,” Brennan added. “It does for us, and it does for the viewers as well.”

In an Ask Ausiello column last month, executive producer Brad Falchuk weighed in on the Samchel sparks in the Billy Joel episode: “There was a hint. I think there’s something nice about those two, but not yet.” Reporting by Scott Huver