I got a phone call just as they were about to go on stage. I didn't speak but stood silent absorbing the information. I went pale 'I'll be there as soon as I can'.
The others looked at me confused. Mr Shue looked concerned; I had never looked so worried in the whole time he'd known me. I was always so collected the only emotion I ever showed was anger or dislike for someone well as least to these guys. I couldn't let them see how I felt inside it would ruin me. Puckerman crying at school, it was unheard of; I would become a laughing stock. Even so I couldn't help my throat getting tighter and every time I thought of what they had said, the way they'd said it, I had to force myself to fight back the tears.
Too focused on what I had just heard I realised the others were staring at me. There was a mixture of concern and inquisitiveness on their faces so I had to suck it up.
'Casey's in the hospital.' I said as if that was explanation enough and I turned to leave not wanting them to see the distress behind my face, but Rachel stopped me.
'But what about us, the show' she exclaimed.
The others looked shocked. How could she have been so insensitive?
'Are you joking Rachel, seriously'. I stared at her appalled. 'Do you really think I would wait here while my sister is in the hospital? I have no idea what's happened to her I only know that she is unconscious and badly hurt and I never gave a shit about glee any way.' Rachel flinched as if stung. 'I'm only here to that I don't fail senior year and to be honest I don't give a shit about you and the drama you create for yourself. Just have fun in little Rachel land ok because this is the real world where people get hurt and fail school and can't pay rent or get into college, so just shut up because you have no idea what it's like!'
Finn tried to be sympathetic but I could tell by the look on his face that he was shocked by what I had said to Rachel. 'Common man do be like that it's not her fault'
She was crying now. Typical.
'Really you're going to support her Finn. That's right, take her side as usual.' I didn't know why I was creating such a scene. I just did, all the time. If something up set me I would hide it behind a hard mask that covered how I really felt. I couldn't open up to anyone. Not about my mums death or losing the house or how worried sick I was about Casey. She had been through so much already. She saw mum die and I could see as piece by piece we lost the life our parents had built for us, I could only watch helpless to support, her as piece by piece her life was torn apart.
The tears were stinging my eyes now, I had to get out of there, I needed to be there for Casey, I had wasted too much of my time on these guys already. I turned my back stuffing my things into my bag and swung the door open with my right hand.
'Puck' said Mr Shue reaching an arm and grabbing my left out as if trying to stop me.
'What!'
The others just stared at me not sure what to say or do.
'Just what I thought' I choked. My throat had choked up and turning quickly so they wouldn't see thee tears brimming in my eyes, I slung my bag over my shoulder and kicked the door as he skulked out. It only hurt but it was better than taking my anger out on my friends. I hoped I had done enough to keep them away I knew when I got to the hospital the distress I felt would only increase I didn't want them to see.