Okay so sorry about the wait and thank you for reviewing. I am not entirely happy with this chapter, and I have a question. Would you guys also like to hear from Puck's POV? Or stay with Finn's? I'm getting kind of bored with Finn's POV, but if ya'll think it's better that way I'll put up with it.
Also, credit time. The song used belong to Daughtry. Title "It's Not Over," off their first self-titled albumn. Amazing song if you haven't heard, but this instance it'll be different form the orginal. I won't spoil how. :)
Anywho thank you for your kind reviews and please keep them coming. I get great inspiration you!
~heartorbrain
Chapter 2
3 years ago
He found him in the studio, as expected. Noah didn't hang out in many places, so it wasn't exactly a challenge. He was sitting on a stool, acoustic guitar in hand strumming and humming to himself, occasionally writing a note on the sheet music next to him. Finn smiled hollowly, that was his best friend for you. Unaffected by the world, lost to another world of music. He wished the same were true for himself.
He quietly made his way into the sound room, and decided to just listen for awhile standing against the padding before making his presence known. The melody sounded kind of sad, almost contemplative. It made Finn start thinking, which he really didn't like. He came to Noah because Noah makes him happy after his Quinn fights, but instead he started becoming more depressed.
They were going to be playing at The Staples Theatre tomorrow night, so he went to go check on the progress of the stage development. When he reached his supposed dressing room, Quinn was getting very cozy with what appeared to be one of the stage hands. As their set director, it made sense for Quinn to be directing the stage hand on how to set up his room. It was not, however, in her job description to start molesting the guy's mouth.
Finn silently fumed. He didn't make a scene, instead choosing to leave quietly and try and forget it ever happened. Their stage was more important at this point in the game than the state of their relationship; he'll break it off later. Not that Noah will approve, he's been anti-Quinn since her getting pregnant with Sam's child, back in high school, and trying to pass it off as his. Really, Finn knew he should just let her go. But there was just some part of him that needs her. She was his first love, and you're always supposed to work it out right?
After realizing his morose turn of thoughts, Finn sighed loudly and alerted his friend to his attendance.
"Hey," he said looking over at Finn startled with a small, embarrassed smile. "When'd you get here?"
Finn shrugged, shuffling closer with his head slightly bowed. "Haven't been here long, I just wanted to listen."
Noah looked minorly annoyed, as Finn had expected he would. He was always very possessive over his music, especially when it wasn't finished. Which could be easily attributed to the fact that Puck was a perfectionist. Nothing but the best got shown to anyone. Well, except maybe to Finn, if the tall, lanky man could bat his eyelashes enough. "You know I don't like it when you hear something that isn't finished." And yes, Finn noted with mild amusement, that was a hint of a whine in his voice.
He smiled and covered his heart, looking positively too innocent. "Aww, love, it's only me." He ignores the scoff and pulls up a stool to sit next to his friend. "Can I hear the lyrics?"
Noah rolled his eyes at the boy's eagerness to feel as though he's getting to do something no one else is, "If I can hear what Quinn, the royal bitch, did this time." He replied snarkily and adjusted his papers on the back of the piano next to him.
"How did you know?" Finn answered with his typical Finn frown.
Noah laughed, "You're wearing you Finn-Broody-Face."
He scowled in response. "Am not. I don't have faces."
His best friend chuckled good naturedly, and sets the guitar down. "Uh-huh right, man, whatever you say."
The two grow quiet for a few minutes, not that it was at all uncomfortable. They could be silent for hours and have not a stitch of tension. It was something Finn was grateful for. With Rachel always being wiry and overbearing about performances and the other guys being all nervous and shit…it was nice to have Noah as his foil for sanity.
"So out with it already." The man in question eventually said, Finn laughed despite himself.
"Made out with a stage hand, didn't tell her I saw, left, because we need her to finish the set-up for tomorrow…the usual." Finn tried to sound nonchalant, but knew Noah could hear the hurt anyway.
"Dude," he started. "Fuck the stage, you should have told her to go to hell…" Noah said with an icy vehemence, "and take her spawn back with her!" he added after a moment in reference to the rogue stage hand.
Finn rolled his eyes, "It's more complicated than that, Puck." He sounded as though he were speaking to a five year old. "We have a tour to think about now. We're rock stars!"
The songwriter faltered slightly and stood up off his chair and went to the nook on the other side of the room where he kept his other music, biting time. "You and Rachel and the other guys are rock stars," He clarified turning to face Finn after getting one of the folders. "I'm just your songwriter."
Finn softened at his change of demeanor, disagreeing with him as Noah sat behind the piano. "Dude, don't start that. If it wasn't for you we wouldn't even be here."
"Wouldn't have won those Grammys three weeks ago, you mean." Noah said and gave Finn a pointed look. "I am under no delusions as to what my role is, Finn. And as I've said, I get it. Really."
Finn shook his head. They had been over this repeatedly. Without Noah there was no band. And with no band there was no, "three time Grammy award and four time American Music Award winning My New Direction." He was the heart of the group. He brought everyone together from the start, convinced Sam and himself to get over their argument for the sake of the group, got Mr. Shuester to let them use the name, and acted more like a second manager and mascot than just their lyricist.
But he never listened. He was far too self-sacrificing for that. He let everyone else have the spotlight. Let everyone else be the star, content to just live inside his studio and stand backstage as they perform. And Finn for the life of him couldn't figure out why. He was just as good if not better than their vocals…but the only time Finn got to hear him sing was when they were alone and Puck caved and allowed him to hear a preview of the music.
He sat down next to the now silent man that was staring at the keys and his fingers. "That isn't true and you know it." His voice was soft, drawing a snort from Puck. But plowed on, "Because of you we are all rock stars. Hell, Puck, you could go and get a job anywhere as a songwriter! And believe it or not, there are kids and teenagers that want to be like you because of the music you write."
His friend bristled a moment, and then relaxed. "Whatever, dude. It doesn't matter." Finn made to protest because Noah always said things about himself didn't matter, but he cut him off with a raised hand and looking him directly in the eye. "You should get in Quinn's face once and for all. You let her walk all over you for no reason, man. You are better than that, better than her. And she knows it."
Finn took his turn to bristle and turn away. He stared at the music, noting the title and decided to change the subject before he said something he'd regret. "It's Not Over? What's that about?"
He heard his friend sigh, knowing the topic had officially been dropped if only for the moment. "In short, unrequited love."
Finn smirked, not only because of the double meaning, but also because Noah knows words like 'unrequited.' "Fitting," He turned back to the shorter man, and noticed for the first time that day that he was wearing all black. "Why are you in such dark clothes?" He asked with a light laugh taking in the black silk vest over a black and gray graphic tee, and black skinny jeans. "You look like you just came out of a punk concert."
The man in question looked down, and his olive colored cheeks turned a light red. "I, uh, was trying to look more rock music material."
An eyebrow raised. "There was nothing wrong with what you wore before."
"Yeah, well, Mona, pulled me aside the other day…"
"Puck! Don't even finish that sentence!" Finn snapped, angry his friend would listen to their handler. Her job extended to making him, Rachel, and everyone else look a certain way, not Noah. "She had no right-" he began irritated, while pulling out his phone.
To his surprise and displeasure, Noah grabbed his hand. "Stop. She's right. Whether I like it or not, I do sometimes get photographed with ya'll. So I need to dress the part." His big brown eyes seemed slightly sad, and that made Finn even more mad.
"You don't have to change, Noah." He denied.
Puck chuckled hollowly, nodding his head. "There's always a time for change." Was his cryptic response. Finn's eyebrows furrowed, not understanding, but before he could ask Noah said. "So how 'bout that song. You wanna hear? Maybe if you give me a few ideas I can finish fast enough for you guys to debut it tomorrow"
His voice sounded cheery, but Finn knew it was fake. He didn't understand why Noah would want to change his look. Sure, before, he dressed kind of immature. What with the gaudy colors and crazy t-shirts but it was a part of him. He filed it away for later to make sure he didn't do something stupid like shave his head full of dark brown curls into a mohawk or something.
"Yeah, fine," he conceded, settling himself on the bench as Noah began to tap a few keys and hum a deep throaty noise.
I was blown away.
What could I say?
It all seemed to make sense.
You've taken away everything,
And I can't deal with that.
Finn was always floored to hear such a deep voice come from someone relatively small. But Puck always sounded so honest and filled emotion when he sang. Like the words were taking a leaf right out of his own book or something.
I try to see the good in life,
But good things in life are hard to find.
We'll blow it away, blow it away.
Can we make this something good?
Finn shifted in his seat, amazed on how he made that note so effortless. He was singing with his eyes closed, fingers tapping away at the appropriate keys without a glance. There was a sadness lacing the lyrics he didn't quite understand, but it was kind of how he felt about Quinn. No matter what he tries to do to make it work, it just always feels like it'll only ever fall apart.
Well, I'll try to do it right this time around.
Hearing the perfect melody and looking ahead at the notes, Finn decided to join in while Noah holds that note.
Let's start over.
(I'll try to do it right this time around.)
It's not over.
('Cause a part of me is dead and in the ground.)
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.
Puck stopped playing the keys and turned to face Finn, drawing a shaky breath. "Well?"
"I don't want you to stop, sing me the rest." Finn said sincerely, captivated for a few moments by the intensity in which Noah was staring at him. He didn't know what it was but it was like at any moment a bomb would go off or something. It felt strange and exciting all at once.
Noah breathed in again, and began playing the keys again, a little harder almost angrier this time.
Taken all I could take,
And I cannot wait.
We're wasting too much time
Being strong, holding on.
I can't let it bring us down.
My life with you means everything,
So I won't give up that easily.
I'll blow it away, blow it away.
Can we make this something good?
Finn joined in on the last note, noticing how it made Puck play the keys harder and sing the song from a deeper place in his chest.
'Cause it's all misunderstood.
Puck shook his head at that and then together they belted out…
Well, I'll try to do it right this time around.
Let's start over.
I'll try to do it right this time around.
It's not over.
'Cause a part of me is dead and in the ground.
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.
Finn stands up and crossed the room to grab a guitar, thankful Puck had taught him several years prior.
No we can't let this get away.
Let it out, let it out.
Don't get caught up in yourself.
Let it out.
They lock eyes, and something is happening between them, he knows. Just not what. And it was so frustrating, but he continues to sing from every pore of himself, trying to match his best friend's fervor. Even though it was extremely difficult. They were on fire! And it made Finn want to do this again, in front of people.
Let's start over.
I'll try to do it right this time around.
It's not over.
'Cause a part of me is dead and in the ground.
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.
Let's start over.
It's not over, yeah...
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.
Finn dropped the guitar after letting note hang, and walked with purpose back to Noah. "You and I are singing that tomorrow."
Puck looked disappointed at first and then shocked, "What no? Why would we do that, you and Rachel will sing it just fine."
"No," Finn said with a slight growl, "Puck this was amazing! This song is incredible! And we sang it just as much!"
"I'm not made for a stage, Finn." Noah said almost desperately, "Remember Glee? I had to quit because I hate singing in public!" If Finn weren't so high on the possibility of another award and more song sales, not to mention more notoriety, he would have seen the absolute panic and the other man's face. "I can't!"
"You will!" he said in what he thought was a soothing voice. "You'll be great!"
"But!" Puck was answered with the sound of the door closing, realizing his friend had left and he hadn't even seen him walk off.
FP~FP~FP
Present
Finn sits at Puck's bedside, ignoring the aspirator and the beeping of the machine telling him his heart's activities. Two weeks had gone by, and Puck was still in a coma.
"He might not ever wake…"
"Does he have family? They should be contacted to say goodbye…"
"Finn you need to accept that Noah is dead…"
"Finn it wasn't your fault…"
"If I hadn't been selfish that night, and let him go like he wanted to he wouldn't have gotten hit! It's all my fault…"
"In other news today the song writer for the multi platinum group, My New Direction, is in a coma because of a fatal crash…"
"…drunk driver…"
"…blood bath…"
"…tragic accident…"
"…paid hit for gay love in the music business?..."
"…Noah Puckerman, rising songwriter and singer…"
"…I mean, they had all kinds of enemies. Noah Puckerman was a bisexual lyricist that got in way over his head. Come on, in the music industry it's a dog eat dog world, you know what I mean? (laughs)…"
"…what happens when the world finds something good, they kill it dead."
Finn starts sobbing as all of the voices circle inside his head. Some belonging to friends, some to news reporters, some to himself, and some to random strangers…he couldn't take it. So he got up and left the hospital, hoping to find peace alone in a hotel for the night.
Thank you for reading. :)