McKinley High – Lima, Ohio
"The assignment this week was Mistakes. Who wants to go first?" Mr. Schue asked the members of the Glee club. No one raised their hands.
He looked expectantly at Rachel but was surprised that her hand hadn't immediately raised. She was very quiet today. It was highly unlikely that she hadn't done the assignment, she usually had it done the night he assigned it.
"Rachel? Do you have anything picked out for us this week?" He asked her gently. She slowly looked up at him and he could tell by her red face and sad eyes that maybe this assignment wasn't best for this week... He couldn't take it back now, though.
"Yes Mr. Schue ." She slowly stood and walked over to the pianist, she whispered her song choice in his ear and a sad melody erupted from the piano while Rachel stepped forward and began to sing.
"I'm so glad you made time to see me
How's life, tell me how's your family
I haven't seen them in a while
You've been good, busier than ever
We small talk, work and the weather
Your guard is up and I know why
Because the last time you saw me
Is still burned in the back of your mind
You gave me roses and I left them there to die"
She opened her closed eyes and looked at Finn, who was sitting in the front row by Quinn, gazing at Rachel with a dumbfounded look.
"So this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night
And I'd go back to December all the time
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you
Wishing that I'd realized what I had when you were mine
I'd go back to December, turn around and make it alright
I go back to December all the time"
There were tears welling up in her eyes and her face started to redden. She blinked the tears back and continued singing, her voice still powerful through the tears.
"These days I haven't been sleeping
Staying up playing back myself leaving
When your birthday passed and I didn't call
And I think about summer, all the beautiful times
I watched you laughing from the passenger side and
Realized I loved you in the fall
And then the cold came,
The dark days when fear crept into my mind
You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye"
Quinn was glaring fire at Rachel while she watched Finn's expression change to the 'I don't know anymore' expression he held whenever he had to think about what to do with his love life.
"So this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night
And I'd go back to December all the time
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you
Wishing that I'd realized what I had when you were mine
I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind
I go back to December all the time"
Her voice was still powerful even though now tears were pouring down her cheeks as she was openly staring at Finn. Their eyes met and she saw the pain and the regret and several other emotions showing in his light brown eyes that seemed to darken in the moment.
Her voice got softer, "I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile, so good to me, so right
And how you held me in your arms that September night,
The first time you ever saw me cry
Maybe this is wishful thinking
Probably mindless dreaming
If we loved again I swear I'd love you right
I'd go back in time and change it but I can't
So if the chain is on your door, I understand..."
She gathered all of her memories of him up in her head. And while she sang she let them play out at super speed through her memory. She remembered everything -from the way his aftershave smelled, to the far away look in his eyes whenever he was determined or confused. She remembered that night, the night she had given up and walked away when they both knew that she could have done something. They could have fixed it.
It wasn't just about her cheating on him with Puckerman, it was the fact that she did the same thing Quinn had done. And also like Quinn, she had given up. She's chased him two, maybe three times, but they were weak. She had let him slip right through her grip. And then on the night he was ready to take her back, the night he was willing to forgive her, she had fucked it up again.
She remembered his face when she had answered the door- how happy he was to see her and how excited he seemed to tell her that he was taking her back.
But he didn't expect for Puck to be standing behind her. She had broken his heart again, and instead of following him when he stormed off toward his car that night (The night after they went for the tree), she had stood right there watching him. She didn't go after him. And she didn't know why.
All she knew was that she couldn't fix it now, and if she tried, it would take a 'helluva' long time.
She let the memories unfold inside of her, letting them play back to back over and over again. All of her mistakes playing in her head over and over again. Her voice came out quietly and soft and she closed her eyes.
"But this is me swallowing my pride,
Standing in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night
And I'd go back to December
It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you
Wishing that I'd realized what I had when you were mine and
I go back to December, turn around and make it alright and
I go back to December, turn around and change my own mind and
She focused on the memories, pulling his face up and all of the emotions she'd seen on him. She took a deep breath, and let all of the memories go, opening her eyes and seeing his face again.
"I go back to December all the time"
She'd had so much trouble forgetting him, and that had held them both back. But here, with this last song, she would let him go and set him free. If he would come back, that was up to him. But for now, she was letting go.
Applause erupted throughout the room and she finally took in the wetness of her face and the pain in her throat. Mercedes got up and walked over to her, hugging her and soon she felt Tina's arms wrap around her too. They took her hands and walked her back to her seat, squeezing her hands before going off to their own seats. Rachel waited patiently for rehearsal to end, vaguely registering Mike performing some kind of dance where the dancer is supposed to break his leg.
When rehearsal was over, she watched Finn walk out of class behind Quinn, he caught her eye and slightly smiled, she stared at his back as he walked out of the room.
She gathered her things and walked to the door with Mercedes. Mercedes looked at her seriously for a moment.
"That was great, what you did. Are you okay?" She asked, sounding sincere and caring.
Rachel waited a moment, smiled, and then replied, her voice sounding clear and strong, "I'm great."
.
.
.
.
.
The next day buzz filled the school of three new students from Seattle Washington. The Glee kids, even Lauren, listened excitedly for information on the new kids – they still yearned for new members for Glee club.
"I figured out who the new kids are!" Rachel exclaimed excitedly when she got to her lunch table with the fellow glee clubbers.
"We've figured out who they are," Puck corrected coming up behind her holding three yellow folders, one looking much bigger than the others.
Artie, Finn, Brittany, Santana, and Quinn sat at the table right next to theirs, the ex-cheerios still worried about their reputations. They looked over and listened carefully.
"Spill," Mercedes pushed, everyone leaning in close to hear.
"Okay their names are," Rachel looked down at a clipboard she held, "Carlotta Shay, Fredward Benson, and Samantha Puckett. "
"And do they seem like they'd join the Glee club?" Tina asked. Sharing a look with Mike.
"Well, according to the files I swiped, and comparing to members of the club, Carlotta is more like... a mix of Rachel and Quinn. Fredward – heh, that's a lame name. Dude must be a loser-" He received a stern look from Rachel and then continued, "Well he seems more like Artie. The smart, nerdy kind."
"I'm still a G." Artie shouted over from the other table using his 'pimp voice'.
"Yeah yeah," Puck waved him off, studying the larger folder intently. "This Samantha chick seems like she could be related to me. She's a total bad ass. She and the Carlotta girl are both pretty hot..." He commented, raising his eyebrows. Lauren slapped him in the back of the head and pushed the folders over to Mercedes.
"But not as hot as you!" Puck saved, moving over closer to Lauren. He used to sit with the ex-cheerios and them at the other table, but now, in his plan to win Lauren, he'd started sitting with her and the rest of the Glee clubbers.
"Shut up, Puckerman," She said throwing a tot in her mouth and looking at Mercedes as she looked through the files.
"So?" Everyone asked Mercedes at the same times. She looked up from the files and glanced around at all of her friends.
"I would say we should give it a try. They seem to be friends and I think if we can convince that Carlotta girl then she could convince the other two."
Everyone nodded.
"Hey look, there they are," Finn said from the other table, pointing.
Everyone turned around to see two girls and a boy walk into the cafeteria line. One girl had dark, brown hair that went fell to her chest. The other girl had longer unruly blonde hair that went to her halfway down her back. The boy with them, had short brown hair that was neatly combed back, and he was wearing a polo shirt. He was arguing with the blonde, who was piling a large amount of food onto her tray. She punched the boy in the shoulder and he glared back at her.
"Wow,"
"You got that right."
"Whoa, they're even hotter in person,"
"Puckerman,"
"But they could never compare to your beauty."
"Shut up you two."
"Okay according to the files, the boy is Fredward. The blonde is Samantha. And the brunette is Carlotta."
"Samantha does seem like a bad ass."
"Fredward looks like a nerd."
"Samantha's totally got him whipped."
"You think they're together?"
"Well, Fredward just gave Carlotta his cookie and he's all smiling at her..."
"Yeah, but he and Samantha seem to have a lot of... "
"Tension"
"History"
"Spark"
"Chemistry"
"They're sitting down,"
"Look at all that food Samantha has!"
"She's like a stick though!"
"Maybe she's just really athletic,"
"If she were athletic then she would be eating healthier."
"Not necessarily."
"The bell's gonna ring soon you guys,"
"Carlotta looks nice"
"I like her shirt"
"The bell-"
"I bet she bakes. She looks like the baking type. Her hair is nice, so she probably bakes."
"Wow, Puck, that was so idiotic I'm not even going to justify it with a smart ass remark."
"Hey I-"
"Do they look kinda familiar to you all?"
"Kinda,"
"Have we seen them somewhere before?"
"Maybe we should finish eat-"
"I don't think we know them"
"Maybe they were in another glee club?"
"I doubt it"
"Yeah me to-"
Lauren was interrupted by the bell ringing, signaling the end of lunch.
"Whoa! Where'd the time go?" Mike asked.
Tina rolled her eyes, "I told you all,"
As everyone gathered their trays Mercedes spoke, "Quinn and I are going to think up a plan in our next class."
Everyone nodded and Quinn and Mercedes shared a look. They threw their trays away and then split up to go their separate ways.
.
.
.
.
.
"Does anybody else have a song they'd like to sing for the 'Mistakes' assignment?" Mr. Schue asked, standing at the front of the room. Unlike yesterday, one hand shot up and he was surprised to see this one belonged to Sam.
"Okay then. Come on Sam, let's see what you've got." Mr. Schue sat down in an empty seat in the front row while Sam stood and walked up to the front of the room.
"Okay, I need Mike, Artie, and Puckerman. You know what to do."
Artie rolled over, and Mike and Puck walked up to the front. They all stood in a line at the front of the room and then the music started. Mike began dancing while Sam opened his mouth and started singing.
"You were my sun
You were my earth
But you didn't know all the ways I loved you, no
So you took a chance
And made other plans
But I bet you didn't think that they would come crashing down, no"
Artie and Puck joined in.
"You don't have to say, what you did,
I already know, I found out from him
Now there's just no chance, for you and me, there'll never be
And don't it make you sad about it"
Sam stared at Quinn, giving her a hard look while she looked back with slightly watery eyes. Her eyes were glued to him the whole time.
"You told me you loved me
Why did you leave me, all alone
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me, on the phone
Girl I refuse, you must have me confused
With some other guy
Your bridges were burned, and now it's your turn
To cry, cry me a river
Cry me a river-er
Cry me a river
Cry me a river-er, yea yea"
As the guys sang, Mike danced around them, and Tina smiled proudly at him. Sam alternated between staring at Quinn and glaring at Finn.
"I know that they say You don't have to say, what you did,
That somethings are better left unsaid
It wasn't like you only talked to him and you know it
(Don't act like you don't know it)
All of these things people told me
Keep messing with my head
(Messing with my head)
You should've picked honesty
Then you may not have blown it
(Yea..)
(Don't have to say, what you did)
I already know, I found out from him
(I already know, uh)
(No chance, you and me)
And don't it make you sad about it
You told me you loved me
Why did you leave me, all alone
(All alone)
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me, on the phone
(When you call me on the phone)
Girl I refuse, you must have me confused
With some other guy
(I'm not like them baby)
Your bridges were burned, and now it's your turn
(It's your turn)
To cry, cry me a river
(Go on and just)
Cry me a river-er
(Go on and just)
Cry me a river
(Baby go on and just)
Cry me a river-er, yea yea"
Sam felt a dull throbbing in his heart and pain in his throat as he stared at Quinn. The words flew out of his mouth as he stared at her sad eyes. She scooted a little bit further away from Finn and blinked back tears.
"Oh You don't have to say, what you did,
(Oh)
The damage is done
So I guess I be leaving
Oh
(Oh)
The damage is done
So I guess I be leaving
Oh
(Oh)
The damage is done
So I guess I be leaving
Oh
(Oh)
The damage is done
So I guess I be... leaving
(Don't have to say, what you did)
I already know, I found out from him
(I already know, uh)
Now there's just no chance, for you and me, there'll never be
(No chance, you and me)
And don't it make you sad about it"
Mike stopped dancing and walked over and stood with the other guys.
"Cry me a river Cry me a river Cry me a river Cry me a river, oh Cry me a river, oh
(Go on and just)
Cry me a river-er
(Baby go on and just)
Cry me a river
(You can go on and just)
Cry me a river-er, yea yea
(Baby go on and just)
Cry me a river-er
(Go on and just)
Cry me a river
(Cause I've already cried)
Cry me a river-er, yea yea
(Ain't gonna cry no more, yea-yea)
Cry me a river, oh
Cry me a river, oh
Cry me a river, oh
(Cry me, cry me)
Cry me a river, oh
(Cry me, cry me)
Cry me a river, oh
(Cry me, cry me)
Cry me a river, oh
(Cry me, cry me)
(Cry me, cry me)
Cry me a river, oh
(Cry me, cry me)
Cry me a river
(Cry me, cry me)
As he finished, the club started clapping, except for Finn and Quinn of course, and many Justin Timberlake comments were made about his song choice.
"Great job, Sam" Mr. Schue said, walking up and clapping him on the shoulder. Sam and the other guys walked over and took their seats.
"Mr. Schue," Quinn raised her hand, her voice sounding sad and quiet. Santana smirked behind her.
"Yes, Quinn?"
"Before we leave, I have a song for the assignment."
"Oh, okay well come on."
Quinn stood and motioned for Mercedes and Tina to follow her. She whispered something to them and then walked over to Brad and tells him her song choice.
[A/N: This is Quinn. This is her backup singers only(Tina and Mercedes). This is Quinn and her backup singers.]
She and the other girls walk back to the center of the room and Quinn sing/talks,
"If you've ever kept a secret
From the one you love
This is what it feels like"
She looks at Sam with pleading eyes and begins to sing.
If you thought that i was perfect
boy you were wrong
I'm far from that
There's one thing that I've done to you
That i regret and
Look i know its no excuse but
I'm only human and young at that
And I'm gonna make mistakes
And hope you understand
Didn't see it coming
Wasn't on purpose
Baby I promise
I didn't mean to hurt you
Will you forgive me
You didn't deserve this
I know it wasn't worth it
I'm a tell him the truth
(when I'm ready to)
Tell him the truth
(some how)
Gotta tell him the truth
(Thats what i gotta do)
Tell him the truth
(but not now)
I Gotta Tell him the truth
(just wait a little bit)
Tell him the truth
(he couldn't handle it)
Tell him the truth
(thats what i gotta do)
Tell him the truth
(but not now ooh)
Quinn could feel her eyes watering. She closed her eyes and let a few stray tears fall down her cheeks. She reached up and wiped them away, keeping her eyes closed as she continued to sing.
Didn't see when i had tears rolling down my face
I turned my back
It was heavy on the tongue
And i knew that you knew something was wrong
I was about to break open spill out everything
but something said
Quinn wait, Things are going great, what you gonna say
i don't know maybe something like
Didn't see it coming
Wasn't on purpose
Baby i promise
I didn't mean to hurt you
Will you forgive me
You didn't deserve this
I know it wasn't worth it
Quinn opened her eyes and stared at Sam. She took in his unnaturally blonde hair and his sad eyes. She saw the way he was looking at her, he looked sad, disappointed. A mirror of her own emotions. They both knew that she had done wrong, and it was killing them both.
I feel less (than nothing)
Lower (than zero)
and tired (of fronting)
Gotta tell him the truth ooh
I feel less( than nothing)
Lower (than zero)
and tired (of fronting)
Gotta tell him the truth ooh
Guess I've been waiting for the stars to align
there's no perfect time
i gotta tell him the truth
Cause it's hard to build the truth on a lie
and if thats what i want
i gotta tell him the truth
Quinn belted, tears falling down her face. She felt like Berry from yesterday. What was up with Glee girls and crying while they sing?
Mercedes put her her hand on Quinn's shoulder, comforting her while still singing her lines. She saw Tina smiling encouragingly at her from the corner of her eye.
(when I'm ready to)
Tell him the truth
(some how)
Gotta tell him the truth
(Thats what i gotta do)
Tell him the truth
(but not now)
I Gotta Tell him the truth
(just wait a little bit)
Tell him the truth
(he couldn't handle it)
Tell him the truth
(thats what i gotta do)
Tell him the truth
(but not now ooh)
They were clapping before the song was even over. Tina and Mercedes threw their arms around Quinn and hugged her and then pulled away and smiled at the rest of the club.
Quinn kept eye contact with Sam, who hadn't done anything when the song ended, the whole time until she was walking back to her seat and Mr. Schue was going on about the assignment.
When she sat down her phone vibrated and she pulled it out to see a text from Mercedes.
Good job up there! And I already put the sign up before we came here.
Quinn, still distracted by her own issues and problems, typed out a quick message in reply, 'Great! We're going to have 3 new members by next week!' and then fell back into a maze of her own thoughts.
