A/N: So I started writing this post "Original Song," and before "Rumours" so it's AU after "Original Song" from I what I can tell. Don't ask me how Puck came to be compelled to have the conversation that drives this chapter or how he knows some of the things he says, the beginning of this chapter was the starting idea for this three-shot, which took on a mind of its own when I moved on to the second chapter (driven by a conversation between Finn and Quinn) and then the third (driven by three separate conversations, Kurt and Finn, Quinn and Rachel, and Finn and Rachel). The set up in this chapter is all you need to figure out the gist of the story. Also, a trained eye will pick up a slight reference to a scene in a Veronica Mars episode. Anyway, it might be OOC, but it works for the idea I had. Enjoy. R&R! And If you want vote in my poll about my next multi-chaptered story. Thanks! –Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Waiting In The Wings

Chapter One

Don't Make Her Wait For You

Puck caught up with Finn in the hallway on the way to Glee Club rehearsal. Prom was approaching and the Glee Club was gearing up for Nationals—everyone was on high alert, obsessing with one thing or another took up all their free time. So Puck took this rare opportunity, of Finn being sans his increasingly possessive girlfriend, to pull him aside for a chat.

"So we're friends again right?"

"Yeah, we went over this already, Puckerman," Finn replied, taking a step toward the hallway that led to the auditorium. He was leaning in the same direction, waiting for a cue that he could leave.

"Then it's okay for me to call you out when you're being an idiot?" Puck raised an eyebrow and regained Finn's attention. "That's what friends do right? Be upfront and honest about all their shit?"

Finn stopped moving away and narrowed his eyes at Puck, "Cut to the chase, Puck."

"You're being an idiot, Hudson."

"I am," Finn snorted, "Really?"

Puck sighed, "Look, I get it. It's Quinn. I understand the appeal more than anyone, I do. I mean, Quinn fucking Fabray. She's every pubescent boy's wet dream. She's like perfection—"

"Puck."

"Sorry, my point is, I understand why you think you want her, but you're being an idiot. You're wrong if you think she has anything to offer you right now."

Finn frowned, "I don't—"

"The only thing on Quinn's mind right now is winning Prom Queen. She's thinking about her reputation. She doesn't have the Cheerios uniform to put her on top anymore. She thinks being with you will be enough to give her clout to campaign for the crown. She's using you."

"You're out of line, man," Finn steps forward threateningly. He scowled and raised a hand to shake a finger in Puck's face.

Puck raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, but continued to talk. "You saw how easily she cheated on Sam with you. And she went back to him just as quickly. The only reason she isn't still with him after the whole Bieber Fever thing is because he left her for Santana. She'll do whatever is necessary to get what she wants."

"If this is some ploy so you can get Quinn back—"

"Not at all, geez, give me some credit," Puck shook his head. "I've mended my ways. Lauren has made me see things clearer than I have before."

"Is that right? And what is it exactly that you see so clearly now?" Finn crossed his arms over his chest to wait for an answer.

"You had Rachel, man," Puck said. "She's not perfect, she's overdramatic, she's more than a little crazy, and she grates on people's nerves; but she loves you. That's more than you can say about Quinn."

"Quinn—"

"And you might think you're recapturing what you should have had with Quinn," Puck continued before Finn could finish his thought. "Maybe you are, but it's not what you really want. You don't love Quinn anymore. You just like that she wants you again—so much that you're letting it make you blind. You're missing what everyone else is seeing."

"And what's that?"

"That you're still in love with Rachel. Wake up, Hudson, everyone can see it."

"I never said I stopped loving Rachel. I just can't be with her. I'm angry and I can't be with someone who—"

"Who what? Betrayed you? Cheated on you? News flash, but Quinn is one of those people," Puck responded. "Did you forget that?"

"Should I remind you of your part in all of this?" Finn raised an eyebrow.

"Beside the point," Puck replied. "You're pissed at Rachel because she did the same thing as Quinn. You can't forgive her, but you can forgive Quinn? Why? Why does Quinn get a pass while you torment Rachel by making her wait for you to come around? Why Finn? Just tell me why Quinn is so easily forgive for actions that are decidedly worse? Why—"

"Because I don't love her," Finn exclaimed loudly, cutting off Puck's rambling questions. Puck remained quiet for Finn to continue. "You're right, okay? Are you happy now? I don't love Quinn and I can say what happened in the past doesn't matter anymore because it doesn't."

Finn hung his head, looking down at his feet. He shifted the strap of his backpack higher on his shoulder. Puck could tell that his friend was uncomfortable after revealing that particular tidbit. He knew Finn wanted out of the conversation and they were already late for Glee, but Puck needed to drive his point home before Finn closed himself off to the argument.

"Rachel makes mistakes; she's prone to them because she tries too hard. Because, no matter how talented she is, people like Quinn have been telling her she's not good enough for so long and she believes it," Puck started. "You saw how happy she was to find out we all thought she was special. That's how she felt being with you, until she found out about Santana. She lashed out and she did something stupid, but she has regretted it since it happened. Hasn't she suffered enough waiting for your forgiveness?"

Instead of responding to Puck's question, Finn asked, "When did you become such a sap?"

"This isn't about me, Finn," Puck pointed a finger at his friend's chest, "and if you tell anyone I said any of this, I will bring the pain down on you."

Finn rolled his eyes, "Quinn and Rachel, and all that is my problem. Things go wrong when you get involved, so maybe the best thing for you to do is stay out of it."

"I won't say another word about it," Puck said, "except this, I only wanted to bring to your attention what you didn't seem to be seeing yourself. Cause that's what good friends do."

"Let's just get to Glee before you want to start exchanging friendship bracelets," Finn chuckled to himself.

Puck clapped him on the back as they started walking down the hall again, "I'll stop braiding."

When the two of them entered the auditorium, all eyes turned on them. Puck stifled a laugh as Rachel narrowed her eyes at them. He noticed Quinn didn't look too pleased either, most likely for an entirely different reason than Berry. The blonde pulled Finn into the seat next to hers as soon as he was in her reach and started to whisper relentlessly to him. Puck sat down by Lauren and offered a charmingly innocent smile to Mr. Schue's annoyed scowl.

"Nice of you two to join us," Mr. Schue said. "I hope our rehearsals for Nationals aren't interrupting anything important."

"We were just having a friendly chat," Puck replied, "We lost track of time."

"Perhaps, one of you would like to be the first to entertain us with your assignment for today," Mr. Schue gestured toward the stage.

Puck glanced over to see Finn still taking Quinn's berating remarks with downturned eyes. Taking one for the team, Puck shrugged and pushed himself out of his seat.

"Guess the Puckmeister will bite the bullet. Let's get this rehearsal started off right."