Title: In Too Deep
Rating: T
Pairing: Rachel x Noah
Summary: What if you rewound the tape and things happened differently? What if new opportunities arose and they were better than the original ones? What if people didn't stuff up and get people pregnant? How would things change?
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee
Chap 1 ~ Creature Of Habit
The teenage male figure was nothing if not a creature of habit. It was simply in their nature to not dare sail the dangerous waters outside their comfort zones so when one of these creatures of habit… the person in question being none other than Finn Hudson jock, quarterback, captain of the football team, boyfriend of head cheerleader Quinn Fabray and a high ranked bully stepped out of his comfort zone she thought that none of her preparations and planning could prepare her for that.
But then he sung and everything seemed to almost fall into place… almost being the appropriate word for the situation because even though he had quiet the voice there was still something missing from his whole jock, glee member, handsome dreamy boy physique.
At first she tried to push it away and ignore the fact that their new male lead… even with all his potential, there was still something missing. And it was something important even though she was yet to find the right word to describe it. She was sure that in time whatever it was would be found and he would become completely utterly… perfect.
Well that was until when one of their Saturday Glee practise came around still with only six members which consisted of herself, Kurt, Mercedes, Tina, Artie and Finn that she realised that what Finn was missing you couldn't simply find. It wasn't something you could learn and it defiantly wasn't something that Finn could pull off even if he tried his utter hardest.
No what he was missing was something that would changed their well structured Glee club from being good… to being great!
- - - - -
Tardiness was something that Rachel Berry frowned upon so like always she arrived ten minutes early for Glee practise that Saturday afternoon ready and waiting to practise their latest routines and hang out with her friends.
Kurt Hummel had been her best friend since they were little and having him in Glee with her made her happier than anything because she knew no matter what she would always have him by her side as her first and foremost the best gay guy-girlfriend a girl could ask for.
Mercedes Jones who at first had been a little sceptical about becoming friends with her soon realised that all Diva's had to stick together and quickly became friends with not only herself but also Kurt the two of them having a common love for fashion.
Tina Cohen-Chang despite being very shy and unable to not help stuttering every time she spoke was a true and loyal friend and that was known to be hard to come by these days so she instantly became a very good and close friend.
Artie Abrams only ever having Kurt to fill the role of a 'guy' friend… and Kurt didn't fit that role very well at all fit in immediately and stood up for her on a regular basis and that was pretty brave seeing as you had to factor in the whole wheelchair thing. Plus the bit about him and Tina being madly in love with each other but both were simply to shy to admit it.
And last of all there was none other than Finn Hudson.
He wasn't exactly what you would call the usual member of McKinley High Glee Club… ok so he wasn't like them at all. In fact he was the exact opposite to them in very way possible… minus his ability to sing of cause. He was a jock, a football player and boyfriend of a cheerleader… the only thing any of them had in common with him was the fact that he could sing and frankly even then he wasn't as good as any of them.
Sure he was great in his own kind of 'I have a mind of a three year old' kind of way but other than that he didn't have the years of experience and pure talent that the rest of them had. Not that any of them were going to hold that against him now of cause.
But they excepted him despite the fact that he was their opposite and welcomed him with open arms forgiving him for all the bad things he had done to them in the past besides their better judgement.
And now he was one of them but at the same time he still wasn't… because he wasn't a Gleek… he was Finn Hudson after all.
Heading towards the front steps of McKinley she plastered her signature smile onto her lips while walking with a certain spring in her step that not even a facial slushies would be able to take away. Noticing that Mr Shue was sitting on the top of the school steps she couldn't help but raise a eyebrow at him confused at why he would be out here.
Usually he would be waiting for them in the auditorium or the quire room but yet he was here. And she could only help but wonder why?
"Good afternoon Mr Shue" She said happily
"Hello Rachel" Mr Shue said smiling warmly up at her but also noticing her change in appearance.
It was true she didn't look like she did on Friday and quiet frankly there was a good reason for that. The weekend before Kurt and Mercedes had both finally talked her into letting them give her a makeover. They had told her that a new year needed a fresh look and that her old look was anything but fresh.
So the whole weekend was dedicated to shopping. Buying clothes upon clothes upon clothes giving her enough to chuck out all her old knee high sock, blouses, sweaters, plaid skirts and giving her enough outfits to refill her whole wardrobe plus more.
The week after their huge shopping spree however she did not wear any of her new outfits instead she continued to wear her usual knee high socks, blouses, sweaters and plaid skirts much to the displeasure of Kurt and Mercedes. It wasn't until she told them that just because they had changed her clothes she was and still had been until that very morning the same walking thesaurus everyone knew as Rachel Berry.
So giving in Kurt and Mercedes spent the better half of the previous week teaching her how to be able to speak without using huge words that most normal teenagers didn't even know the meanings to and how to as Mercedes put it 'let your hair down and have some fun' even though the words were sort of lost on her seeing as she always had her hair down she still understood the general meaning of it all.
She still rambled on a little while speaking but she was getting there and already one of her many high school dreams were coming true… and that was to be a normal teenager.
That very morning Kurt and Mercedes had taken her to a hairdressers called 'Just Cuts' and a hairdresser that Kurt recommended styled and cut her hair into what it was now.
Hanging dead straight around her shoulders continuing down hanging around her form stopping just underneath her breasts her hair was layered an no longer had that wave to it now that Kurt had basically forced her into buying a UHD Straightener telling her that it was one of the most important things for her to use of a morning and that she it was accentual for her to straighten her hair ever single morning unless she decided to use a curling iron instead but if not then the straightener had to be used.
She no longer had long bangs that couldn't really be considered bangs but now she had a heavy side fringe that swept over half her left eye and she wasn't surprised that Kurt had chosen that style fringe since he was basically in love with his hair and his side fringe never had one hair sticking out of place… and people called her a perfectionist.
She was wearing skin tight skinny leg dark denim jeans with black high heel knee high boots over the top making her legs look like they went on forever. She had a simple black tank top on that clung to her curves that were usually hidden underneath her not very well form fitting clothing.
But now with the clothes that Kurt and Mercedes had chosen out for her making them fit like they were a second skin all her once hidden curves stood out outstandingly.
No one would have guessed that Rachel Berry was just as skinny as any of the Cheerios or would they had guessed that she had a chest that would rival girls in those disgusting porn magazines. Having a size 12C chest was something that surprisingly gave her confidence. She was a teenager after all.
"I like the new look Rachel… its very you" Mr Shue complimented her only making her happy mood even better that he was actually being honest with her
"Thanks" She smiled "So… umm why are you sitting here?"
"Just waiting for everyone, I have a slightly different idea for what we can do today. I'll explain when everyone gets here" He said gesturing for her to take a seat.
"Ok then" She smiled as she sat down on a step two down from his as they waited for a few minutes longer until the other Glee kids turned up.
After everyone had finally gathered around the bottom of the steps and Kurt and Mercedes stopped gushing over the fact that she looked great Mr Shue finally started to explain why they were waiting out the front of the school.
"Ok guys so today I thought we could do something a little different" He said as they all nodded for him to continue "I think it would be a good idea if we all broadened our horizons and got in touch with different types of music… so today we are going on a little road trip, I have already called all your parents to make sure its alright so I think that this will be a great experience for you all."
"To where?" Rachel asked for everyone else
"One town over there is this club that is focused purely on teenagers, back when I was in high school and in Glee club our teacher took us there and it really helped us get a taste of the different types of music out there. Its open mike 24/7 there so I thought that it would be a good place to go" Mr Shue said
"Shall we car pool?" Kurt asked
Forty Five minute later they were pulling up in the three cars they had come in. Mr Shue went in his car and everyone else got into either Kurt's or Rachel's cars to follow him seeing as he was the only one that knew where to go.
The town was small and the club that Mr Shue had talked about looked like a pub but he assured them that even though there was a bar in there is was more of a restaurant/club with live music than a pub.
Once inside they all found a table and sat down before a waitress came over and they all ordered their food thankfully that none of them had eaten yet. There was a large dance floor in the middle of the place with a bar over to the left and a stage a drum kit, guitars and a keyboard, plus amps and leads running all over it to the front of the dance floor.
The tables and chairs were spread out around the back of the room and on the right side where people were eating or drinking. The place was pretty big, bigger than they had expected anyway.
And sure enough like Mr Shue said it was an open mike kind of club and when people weren't on stage music was just being blasted out of speakers.
"So what do you all think?" Mr Shue asked as their food and drinks arrived and they all started eating while talking
"This place is great" Finn said while looking around
"I agree" Rachel nodded her head "I think this was a really good idea"
"Rachel" Kurt whispered but loud enough to be heard over the music. Turning her head to face him from where he sat next to her she raised an eyebrow.
"Finn is staring at you" He pointed out
"What" Rachel gasped glancing over at him but quickly looking back at Kurt when she found out he was right "Why!?"
"How should I know but girl trust me when I say do NOT go there!" Kurt said before turning and striking up a conversation with Mercedes
'Trust me I wont!' She thought to herself
She was a lot of things but a girlfriend stealer was not one of them. Even though Quinn Fabray hated her didn't give her any right to turn into one of those girls who gave boys who already had girlfriends hints that they liked said boy. Finn was… handsome in a kind of dreamy way she would give him that but he wasn't what she would call her type… not that she really knew what her type was but she simply knew Finn Hudson was not it. He was just a tad bit slow for her liking and she liked guys who at least had a fully functional brain… she wasn't sure if Finn was always as slow as he was now or somewhere throughout playing football he got hit one two many times in the head. Either way the boy was stupid to put it bluntly.
The waitress who had served them came back a little while later after they finished their food and cleaned up their table while also asking if they wanted anything else to drink which they all agreed to.
"Ladies and Gentlemen your attention please" A man who was now standing up on the stage after someone had finished singing said into the microphone a huge grin on his lips
"I think we all know everyone has been waiting for this moment and it has finally arrived" He said laughter could be heard in his voice
"Today's his first day back at work after his short break and I know you have all missed him so give it up for our star performer Mr Badass himself… PUCK!"
It was just about then that the whole Glee club froze upon hearing that name as they all looked at the stage where the man was now pointing off to the side of the stage that huge grin still on his face.
The spotlight that was usually shinned on the stage was now shinning in the direction of where the guy was pointing which just happened to behind the bar. All the Glee kids plus Mr Shue followed everyone else's gaze as everyone in the club who were obviously regulars burst into loud cheering and chanting.
There standing behind the bar having just finished serving someone was none other than McKinley High's bad boy himself Noah Puckerman… the famous Puck. He appeared to be laughing as he held up his hand and waved to everyone before he walked out of the bar and jogged up to the stage where the guy who had called Puck up onto the stage patted him on the back before hopping off the stage leaving Puck up there alone until three other guys that obviously all worked here because they were all wearing the same shirts came up.
One guy jumped onto the drum kit, one guy took a bass guitar and another guy picked up two electric guitars handing one over to Puck who swung the strap around his neck and stood in front of the microphone.
"Hey it's good to be back" Puck said "I'm sure you all missed me" The whole club started laughing at his smug voice before settling down when the drummer started to play along with Puck and the two other guys.
"That cant be… Puck" Artie said voicing what they were all thinking.
Rachel just sat there completely shocked as he started to sing in a voice that could rival Finn's… no that was an understatement. Puck's voice was in a while different league to Finn's.
"My Girlfriend's a dick magnet My Girlfriend's gotta have it Dirty girl, gettin' down, dance with guys from outta town She likes to shake her ass she grinds it to the beat Red thong, Party's on, Love this song, sing together, Doesn't take her long to make things right She's a gold digger now you figure out it's over, pull the trigger I look around and all I see is, no good, bad and ugly, She likes to shake her ass she grinds it to the beat She's a bad, bad girlfriend
She's hot, can't stop, up on stage, doing shots, Tip the man he'l
lRing the bell, get her drunk she'll scream like hell
Grab her ass, actin' tough.
Mess with her, she'll fuck you up
No one really knows if she's drunk or if she's stoned, but she's
Comin' back to my place tonite!
She likes to pull my hair when I make her grind her teeth
I like to strip her down she's naughty to the end
You know what she is, no doubt about it
She's a bad, bad girlfriend!
Come together, leave alone, see you later back at home
No one really knows if she's drunk or is she's stoned
But she's coming back to my place tonite.I say
No one really knows just how far she's gonna go, But I'm gonna find out later tonite
She likes to shake her ass she grinds it to the beat
She likes to pull my hair when I make her grind her teeth
I like to strip her down she's naughty to the end
You know what she is, no doubt about it
She's a bad, bad girlfriend!
Does it make her wrong to
Have the time of her life. the time of her life
My girlfriend's a dick magnet My girlfriend's gotta have it
Futures finished, there it went, savings gone,
The money spent
Man she's hot and fixed to be, the future
Ex-Miss Connolly!
She likes to pull my hair when I make her grind her teeth
I like to strip her down she's naughty to the end
You know what she is, no doubt about it
She's a bad, bad girlfriend!
She's a bad, bad girlfriend."
If they hadn't been so shocked then they might have thought to get up and dance with everyone else in the club or maybe even realised how fitting it was for him to be singing that song, but instead they all just sat there and stared in disbelief that a voice like that could come from Noah Puckerman.
And that's when it hit her.
The teenage male figure was nothing if not a creature of habit. It was simply in their nature to not dare sail the dangerous waters outside their comfort zones so when you find someone whose comfort zone is actually what you thought was the dangerous waters to them you would be stupid to not take them and use them to your advantage.
Because it was exactly that that Finn Hudson was missing. It was the pure raw talent that Noah Puckerman possessed and showed in such a way that made you never want to look away or hear any other music other than what he was producing. It was the combination of that and that utterly (dare she say it)… sexy Greek God physique that he pulled off so wonderfully… perfectly.
And that was when she noticed the difference between Noah Puckerman and Finn Hudson besides the fact that Puck was obviously the much better singer… it was the fact that Finn was the safe choice… the choice you would pick if you want to be wrapped in bubble wrap and treated like your made out of porcelain… but Puck was the unsafe choice… the choice you would pick if you wanted to feel alive, rebellious, free and completely and utterly… badass.
And she knew exactly the one she wanted.
You could have someone that was loving and kind any old day but to have someone who was outgoing and daring… well there really wasn't any contest.
Watch out Finn Hudson male lead might just not be yours for much longer… you have competition that not even you the most popular guy in the school could hope to stand up to.
The game was on and they didn't even know it yet.
So what do you all think!? Please review :) because if you don't I aint uploading any more chaps... I'm evil I know :) deal with it!