A/N: I'm very much excited about this story. I will try to get the next chap up by Monday before I go on holiday and won't have access for at least 2 weeks. But yes, I'm looking to you guys to tell me if you like this story & if I should continue...
"This week's assignment, you guys, is going to be a group project. You'll be working in groups of threes or fours to come up with a song that compliments your voices, which you will perform to us in order to win a very special prize." Mr Schue laughed slightly and rubbed his hands together in anticipation for the very competition.
"What's the prize?" said Rachel sitting up sharply, leaning eagerly towards him.
"Dinner at Breadstix, completely on me!" Mr Schue grinned as if this was the best prize in the world.
"That's always the prize Mr Schue." Puck kicked the chair in front of him curling his lip at his teacher.
"Wait, Mr Puckerman, not only that but I have managed to liaise with our very own local celebrity Rod Remington to guarantee the winning team a spot on WOHN News 8 to perform to the masses!"
The Glee club stared at him for a moment before Santana said,
"You're kidding right?"
"Not one bit. Off you go, into your groups. This will be your project for the next few weeks so choose wisely."
Rachel smiled excitedly and looked around, biting her lip. Santana swept past her, smirking down at her to say, "Don't look so excited man-hands, like anyone will want to be in a group with you. Your voice can only carry you so far. People actually have to like you to work with you." She laughed cruelly and went to sit with Quinn, Finn and Brittany.
Rachel swallowed and sat back in her chair. Perhaps Santana was right. Maybe no-one would want to work with her, she did know how unbearable she could be but usually her talent could cover it. Maybe this wasn't the case this time.
"Berry,"
She heard a voice behind her and turned round to see Puck standing there.
"What do you say to me, you and Big Lips here?"
Sam waved awkwardly from next to Puck.
"Really?" whispered Rachel, "You want me in your group?"
"Of course we do silly, with your talent, my looks and Evans' giant mouth there's no way we can't win!"
Rachel half-laughed to herself and said, "You only want me for my talent."
"No Rach," Puck sat down beside her and said, "We want you because you're our friend and we like you." Sam nodded earnestly and said,
"Don't be so hard on yourself."
"Alright if we come to yours tonight to practice Berry?"
Rachel noted the renewed use of her last name, which lightened the mood slightly and nodded.
"See you guys about seven?"
xxx
"We need a good song, the song will kill it."
Rachel paced up and down the basement before Puck said,
"Sit down Berry you're making me nervous."
She sat down on the floor where Puck and Sam were lounging, trying to decide on the number that would win them the competition. Puck strummed his guitar absent-mindedly whilst Sam sucked on a pen, a pad of paper hanging limply in his hand. Rachel wrinkled her nose in thought leaning back on her hands.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something?" said Sam, his voice slightly muffled by the pen.
"I don't think it's quite right for my voice. It's not a good enough song for us to 'wow' people with." Rachel drummed her nails on the floor before offering, "Jump by the Pointer Sisters?"
"Too overdone," sighed Puck, "It's too generic. It's not, like, out of the ordinary." He paused for a moment before saying, "I've got it. Beyoncé's If I were a Boy. It's perfect. We can divide it up and cover the poignancy of it whilst showcasing how talented a group we are!"
"Noah you're the best!" squealed Rachel, jumping up and throwing herself into his arms.
"Thanks," he murmured, holding her close to him for just a moment too long. They broke apart and gazed at each other, still clinging gently to the other. They looked at each other, locking stare and smiling slightly to one another, unaware of anything until Sam coughed loudly.
"Don't mean to be a buzz kill here, but I couldn't help but interrupt this love fest so we could actually work on our competition song."
"Evans, shut your ungodly large mouth and play your guitar." Puck snapped, not taking his eyes from Rachel's.
"That's it. I'm sick of the mouth jokes. I'm out of here. You two have fun." Sam dropped the pad and stalked out of basement.
"Oh Noah!" Rachel broke away from him and stood up, "What did you do that for? Come on…" She grabbed his hand and dragged him up the stairs calling, "Sam, come back, he didn't mean it!"
But Sam was nowhere to be seen. Rachel opened the door to see if he was still in the street somewhere and it was then that she caught sight of him. Lying, sprawled in the middle of the road, unconscious.
And a silver car was driving away from his mangled body.
Want more? R/Rx