Expect the unexpected
"Guys, we need to do something different," mr Shuester started. "Our setlist is way too predictable; it's practicly the same as last time. So for this week's assignment, I want you all to choose a song that expresses your feelings, but in a genre you feel uncomfortable with. So Rachel, that means no showtunes for you. Finn, no classic rock songs. Puck, no Jewish singers, and Mercedes, no Alicia, Aretha or whatsoever for you. Got it?"
Everyone nodded, albeit a bit reluctantly.
"All right then. I'll give you all a week to choose a song, and next week you can start performing, one of you each day. You can use te rest of practice today to start looking for a song, and I'll see you all tomorrow."
Everyone went home, wondering how the hell they were supposed to find a song like that. The songs they would normally choose were the songs that defined them. They expressed who they are through the songs they sung, and nobody really knew how to step away from that habit. No one, except for Rachel Berry.
The next day at glee practice, everyone sat in the choir room, waiting for mr Shuester, who was late again, to enter. When the kids came home the day before, none of them did anything about the assignment, because, hello, they still had all week to do that. Not even Rachel worked at the song, because the one she had in mind was already stuck in her head, and everything she wanted to say was in the song. She didn't really care about her singing, as long as the message came through.
So when mr Shuester finally entered that day, Rachel's hand immediately shot up.
"Mr Shue, if I may, I would like to do the assignment today, please."
"Ehm, Rachel, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but the assignment isn't due 'till next week. Are you sure you don't want to work on it a bit longer?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I want – no, I need to do this today," Rachel replied.
"Okay then, Rachel, the floor's yours."
Rachel walked up to the band to go over the song, while the rest of the glee kids wondered what that was all about. Rachel was punctual, sure, but this was a bit much, even for her. The music started, and Rachel started singing, looking at no one in particular.
You're not sure that you love me
But you're not sure enough to let me go
Baby it ain't fair you know
To just keep me hanging 'round
You say you don't wanna hurt me
Don't wanna see my tears
So why are you still standing here
Just watching me drown
And it's all right, yeah I'll be fine
Don't worry 'bout this heart of mine
Just take your love and hit the road
There's nothing you can do or say
You're gonna break my heart anyway
So just leave the pieces when you go
Now you can drag out the heartache
Baby you can make it quick
Really get it over with
And just let me move on
Don't concern yourself
With this mess you've left for me
I can clean it up, you see
Just as long as you're gone
And it's all right, yeah I'll be fine
Don't worry 'bout this heart of mine
Just take your love and hit the road
There's nothing you can do or say
You're gonna break my heart anyway
So just leave the pieces when you go
You not making up your mind
Is killing me and wasting time
I need so much more than that
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And it's all right, yeah I'll be fine
Don't worry 'bout this heart of mine
Just take your love and hit the road
There's nothing you can do or say
You're gonna break my heart anyway
So just leave the pieces when you go
Leave the pieces when you go
Oh yeah
Leave the pieces when you go
By the end of the song, Rachel had tears in her eyes, and the entire room was just watching her until mr Shuester started talking.
"All right, wow, country suits you, Rachel. That was really good. So what made you choose that song?"
Now the entire room sat gawking at him as if he had grown a second head. Was he seriously not listening to the song? What kind of stupid question was that?
In the meantime, Rachel was trying to pull herself together and stop crying, without succeeding.
"Mr Shuester, may I… Just…"
Without finishing her sentence, she fled the room. Will finally caught up on the fact that the song was very personal and painful to Rachel. When it became clear that nobody was going to go after her, he sighed and left the room, trying to find the diva. Mercedes was the first one who spoke after he left.
"What the hell was that all about?"
"Hey, Finnessa, you do something stupid to her? Again?" Santana yelled from across the room.
"I didn't even know you were back together," Kurt asked curiously, and a bit hurt that Finn had once again chosen someone else.
"What? No, we're not. Why does everyone assume it was me? I barely even talked to her in, like, a week," Finn defended himself.
"Then wo is it," Mercedes wanted to know. "Did anyone see who she was looking at during the song?"
"She wasn't looking at anyone," Tina said. "She was just staring into the room."
"Okay then," Mercedes continued, "it's not Finn. It probably also isn't Kurt." The boy scrunched his nose at this suggestion.
"That leaves Matt," he shook his head no, "Artie," Artie was very quick to deny it when he saw Tina shooting daggers at him.
"Then we have Mike," Kurt took over, but the dancer also said no, "or Puck," Kurt concluded with a hint of disgust in his voice. Figures the man-whore messed up a girl again.
"Wasn't me, dudes. As much as I'd want to tap that, I didn't do anything. Not this time," Puck denied everything. Everyone looked at him suspiciously.
"No, really. I tried, but she turned me down. Said she was already seeing someone, but with a lot more words," he shrugged.
"It's not me, either," Brittany suddenly piped up.
Everyone threw strange looks her way, but decided to just ignore the girl.
"Maybe it's not one of us," Artie suggested. "It could be anyone."
"Why do we even care who broke the midget's heart?" Santana wanted to know.
And with that, the argument was over. They all left the room, none of them paying attention to the blonde who hadn't said a word during the entire conversation. While everyone was leaving, she stayed in her seat, too shocked to say anything, or to even move.
A/N: The song used is Leave the pieces by the Wreckers.
Please review. Should I continue, or just leave it at this?