THE VERY NEXT DAY…..

Artie and Mike are performing Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. (Pretty young thing)

I glance over at the seat next to me. It's empty. I sigh. I have this strange feeling that I am being watched. I look up and see Finn watching me from across the room. He slightly nods as if to say "don't worry". So, I loosen up and try to listen to the song. I even clap along too.

"Tender Lovin' Care
I'll Take You There

Pretty Young Things, Repeat After Me
(Artie) I Said Na Na Na
(P.Y.T.'S) Na Na Na
(Artie) Na Na Na Na
(P.Y.T.'S) Na Na Na Na
(Artie) Na Na Na
(P.Y.T.'S) Na Na Na
(Artie) I Said Na Na Na Na Na
(P.Y.T.'S) Na Na Na Na Na
(Artie) I'll Take You There"

Pretty much everyone in the room, including myself, fills in the "Na Na Na" after Artie. Even Sam and Puckerman. (Ha!)

I look over and see Puckerman sitting in the front row. He's on the end next to Mercedes.

Are they like, a thing now? They don't seem like they're together. Just sitting next to each other. I remember the look Finn gave me. I have nothing to worry about. I trust him.

At least I think I do. He seems pretty trust worthy.

After the song Tina and Brittany get up to hug mike and Artie.

Tina says "I'm so overcome with love I could just cry", as she takes mike's hands and swings her arms side to side.

Brittany sits on Artie's lap and says, "That's my man and his legs don't work."

But, that's Brittany for ya!

Puckerman turns around and looks at me for about 4 seconds, as if to say 'I'm sorry' and 'I wish you would jump into my lap like that'.

Me too.

The bell rings and everyone leaves except for Finn and me. Perfect.

I walk up to him. He's standing in front of the piano. He turns around before I can say anything.

"Hey, Lauren", he says with his usual, big, goofy, smile.

"Hi", I reply rather shyly. Why am I shy around him? Weird.

"Listen, I talked to puck and he's not gonna give up."

I look at the floor in front of me and smile a smile of relief. "Thanks, Finn. I sure owe you one"

"Naw. It's alright. It's not a big deal, babe".

What? Did he say babe?

He realizes what he just said and stares at the ground making a face like he's constipated.

I raise my eyebrows and we both look at each other. He leans in to kiss me.

I wonder if he tastes like Doritos….

I'm not there long enough to find out. I take a step back and I look at him apologetically.

Neither of us can believe what just happened.

"I'm sorry about that" he finally says

"Me too. I like you Finn. But not….not like that." I say as I shake my head.

"I still got your back if you want puck." He looks at me awkwardly. I can't blame him.

"Thank you so much. I have to go." I kiss him on the cheek and speed walk out into the hallway.

Once I'm out in the hallway, I stop at my locker. I glance across the hallway and see Santana talking to Puckerman at his locker. She's waving some kind of piece of paper in his face. It looks like a receipt. What's going on now? I walk up behind her and when puck sees me, his eyes get HUGE. I find that extremely adorable, but I do my best to keep a straight face.

Santana notices and turns around smiling.

Puckerman says, "This is not going to be good."

Santana slightly tilts her head and says, "Hello, Lauren you are a beautiful…" she turns to Puckerman and turns back before she finishes, "person"

Smiling, I say very politely and with a sarcastic edge, "thank you"

Almost before I can finish she adds, "Now get out of my way please, afors I ends you"

"You don't want to push me" I say as I drop my ever-so-pleasant smile.

"Oh, but, you see I sorta do." We orbit each other until my back is to Puckerman.

She continues, "I'm from a part of town called Lima Heights Adjacent. Do you know where that is? Poppin fresh? It's on the wrong side of the tracks." She lightly slaps my right cheek with the back of her hand. Oh, it's on! I take off my glasses and hand them to Puckerman who is probably watching in disbelief. He takes them.

I take a breath and let out an "ahhhhhhhhhh". I grab her from under the chin, turn on my heel and slam her against the lockers. She immediately falls to the ground but isn't there long because I grab her arms and lift her up. She tries to bite me but I dodge her teeth.

I slam her against the locker again. She lets out a whimper. I grab her by her inner elbows (I guess) and slam her against the lockers across the hall. By now we have an audience. She goes flying and hits them hard. No one talks to me like that! She falls to the ground.

Puckerman looks really turned on by this. Good. He smiles.

Santana gets up. I go to push her back down but she grabs me and spins me around so my back is to the lockers. Then she grabs the tops of my floral hoodie and tries to pull me into the lockers across the way. She really struggles and has no such luck.

I grab her arms and she goes flying into the lockers next to us. She falls to the ground and I pull my hat down a little further as I spin her around and she goes flying, yet again into more lockers. And yet again she falls to the floor. I take her wrist and send her sliding across the floor right in front of coach Beiste's feet.

Beiste looks down at Santana and then up at me and says, "HEY! KNOCK IT OFF AND GET GOIN'!" Game over.

She picks up Santana to help her to the nurse. She can barely walk but is able to say, "Yeah! That's how we do it in Lima Heights!"

'So you loose in Lima Heights?' I wanted to say, but I had already won.

Everyone who witnessed it knew that I won. Even Santana. She would never admit it though. Oh well.

I walk back to Puckerman feeling victorious. He gives me my glasses back and says, "Please go out with me". He tilts his head slightly and goes all puppy dog on me. I just can't resist it!

I put my glasses on. "Make a formal presentation and I'll consider it."

After that little show Santana and me put on, he won't back down.

I smile at him and walk away. I have butterflies. By his expression, I'm pretty sure he does too.

I have Finn chasing after me, I have Puckerman pretty much under my claw and I kicked Santana's ass in front of everyone. This day could not get any better. Or so I thought…

sorry guys. it took longer for me to write this chapter because i went on vacay for a little bit. hope you enjoyed it!

comment because you can!