Not Making the Same Mistake Again
Summary: Less than four months remain of the school year, for some students it's the last four months at William McKinley High. Therefore it's natural for the kids to want to make the best of the remaining time. However, a lot of things can go wrong in sixteen weeks . . .
Rated Teen for language primarily. There may be some spoilers for the two first seasons of the show as well as the third up until somewhere short after the episode Hold on to Sixteen.
I hope you will enjoy reading this multi-character fanfiction as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
I apologize in advance for any incorrect grammar or typo that may occur.
Reviews are very welcome.
Disclaimer: I donot own Glee nor do I own any of its characters. The same goes for anything involving the music mentioned.
End of author's note. Now on to the story!
Chapter 4 – The Look
[THURSDAY]
'Why are we in the auditorium, Mr. Schue?' Finn queers confused as he takes a seat besides Rachel in the second row.
'Puck's request,' the Spanish teacher/Glee Club coach says and takes a seat as well. Finn frowns and mumbles something that earns him a pinch in the side and a distorted glance from Rachel.
Ouch, he mouths and shoots her a questioning look. He can never understand why she is being so protective and caring about Puck. Sure he likes the guy too; they have known each other since freshmen year, but it bugs him that he means so much to Rachel. He use to tell himself that it is because they are both Jewish, that they feel a connection through religion, but at the same time he knows that it doesn't make much sense, since Puck isn't even that religious.
'Be quiet', Rachel mouths back and then directs her focus to the stage, which is still empty.
'Where is everyone else?' Mercedes queers from her position next to Sam on the row behind Finn and Rachel.
'Be patient. You will see,' Schue responds. Mercedes shrugs and glances at Sam who returns the gesture.
Seconds later Blaine and Kurt stroll in. They sit down next to Mr. Schue.
'Okay,' Schue says after a moment. 'Looks like everyone that's supposed to be here is here.' He lets his eyes wander over the heads of his students. Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Quinn, Rory, Sugar, Artie, Sam and Mercedes. 'Yes.' Then he calls out, 'Then the stage is yours, Puck.'
'Thanks, Mr. Schue,' the boy with the Mohawk says as he steps onstage. Behind him walk Tina, Mike, Brittany and Santana. They are all dressed in contemporary clothes. Lots of black, and red and leather that is. The girls are wearing high heeled boots and the two boys are sporting black Converse All Stars. Puck has a red Gibson Les Paul in his hand. The Jewish boy takes center stage as he nods for the band to get ready. Tina, Brittany, Santana and Mike line up behind Puck. 'One, two, one, two, three, four,' he counts and then he starts playing his guitar. Soon the drums kick in and close after that the keyboard.
One, two, three, four
Walking like a man
Hitting like a hammer
She's a juvenile scam
Never was a quitter
Tasty like a raindrop
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
The way Puck sings and moves on stage draws amused giggles from all of the girls that aren't onstage, including Rachel, much to Finn's dislike.
For the second verse Santana tune up behind Puck for background vocals. And for wild dog Mike, Tina and Brittany jump in, singing it in the deepest key they can muster.
Heavenly bound
Cause heaven's got a number
When she's spinning me around
Kissing is a color
Her loving is a wild dog
She's got the look
When Puck sings the line What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue he cannot help but to glance at Quinn. The beautiful blonde is smiling broadly and clapping her hands to the beat along with the rest of the Glee kids that aren't on stage. Well, everybody except Finn, who seems to be a little jealous of the affection Puck has on the girls. It reminds him very much of the Justin Bieber Experience that Sam put together last year in an attempt to win Quinn back.
Meanwhile Santana struts around the stage singing She's got the look as an echo to what Puck's voice just told, while Tina, Mike and Brittany creates a choir to support Puck on the lead vocals.
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue
When everything I'll ever do I'll do for you
And I go la la la la la she's got the look
Mike joins Puck for the next verse, giving it a deeper tone. And on head drum Tina and Brittany chime in. Then to top the verse off Mike together with the boys from the band repeats the last line sung by Puck.
Fire in the ice
Naked to the t-bone
Is a lover's disguise
Banging on the head drum
Shaking like a mad bull
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
Sugar is wolf whistling and Rachel, Mercedes and Quinn are smiling like maniacs. Mission accomplished, thinks Puck as he flashes a quick toothy smile in between the verses.
Swaying to the band
Moving like a hammer
She's a miracle man
Loving is the ocean
Kissing is the wet sand
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
Moving into the second chorus he winks to the girls in the audience, one in particular, before he shows off some pretty decent dance moves. Not as good as Mike's and Brittany's though, but still pretty damn good.
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue
When everything I'll ever do I'll do for you
And I go la la la la la she's got the look
During the instrumental break Mike and Brittany show off some rather amazing moves that make most of the crowd go 'Wow!' while Puck takes the opportunity to show off his talent with the guitar.
For the next verse the boy with the Mohawk drop his voice a key and returns to the middle of the stage.
Walking like a man
Hitting like a hammer
She's a juvenile scam
Never was a quitter
Tasty like a raindrop
She's got the look
The girls: Brittany, Santana and Tina, tune up behind him.
She goes
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na She's got the look)
Yeah!
After finishing the humming Santana winks deviously and flirtatiously at Puck and it makes him laugh so much that he almost comes in late for the third chorus. Santana once again steps in as his lead background singer while the other girls team up behind her.
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
She's got the look
(She's got the look)
What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue
When everything I'll ever do I'll do for you
And I go la la la la la she's got the look
(She's got the look)
(She's got the look)
The girls in the crowd are now dancing in their seats, wide smiles on their faces, much to Puck amusement.
What in the world can make you so blue?
When everything I'll ever do I'll do for you
And I go la la la la la
Everybody in the auditorium tunes up for the humming, well, everyone except Finn Hudson. The quarterback is still dwelling over the memories that this performance brings back, though the song itself has no resemblance to the one Sam along with Puck, Artie and Mike sang last spring.
One, two, one, two, three, four
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na She's got the look)
Usually the energy in a number peeks mid-through a song, but in this case it seems like the energy and the intensity only increases the longer the performance goes on.
She goes
(Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na She's got the look)
She's got the look
Puck ends his performance by pointing out into the crowd, and more precisely at one blonde girl, and by the way that she suddenly starts to blush he establishes that she gets the message.
'Wow! Puck, that was . . . intense,' Mr. Schue cheers and claps his hands. He is standing up in his seat. 'Worth another round of applause!' The rest of Glee Club joins him and someone—a boy—even whistles. Puck set his money on Sam or Artie.
'Thanks, Schue,' Puck says and wipes at his forehead where sprinkles of perspiration are appearing. It's crazy how hot it gets under those spotlights!
Brittany gives him a hug from the side. 'That was fun!' she points out and grins.
'Of course it was! I was there,' Puck notes confidently and nudges her in the side making her shriek and then break out in laughter.
'Hey, leave my girl alone!' Santana grunts, with fake anger. She reaches her hand out and Brittany grabs it while smirking at Puck. The Latina bumps her shoulder into Puck's as she passes him by. 'I saw that,' she whispers and winks at him before nodding towards the audience who has yet to leave their seats. The boy bites down on his lip and he feels his cheeks heat up a little. Was it that obvious?
She hasn't always been like this, obsessed with order and clean. She remembers telling William in one uncomfortable moment that she as a kid had dreamed of working at a farm. A real farm, one with animals and tractors. Her brother had crashed that dream into tiny little shards though, by pushing her into the dunghill. She shudders at the thought that brings the hideous and sticking smell of dung into her nostrils and she starts to wipe her desk off for the third time today, and it is not yet passed lunch time, just to push aside the memories. I've got to do something about thi—
Interrupted by a firm yet, somehow, hesitant knock on the top to floor glass door, she instinctively draws her hand—the rubber glove clad one holding a duster—back and places it in her lap where it is concealed by the desk.
As she realizes that the hand that knocked on her door belongs to a student and not a certain curly haired teacher she lets out a breath of relief she didn't even know she was holding. She motions for the blonde boy to enter.
Peeling the tight rubber glove off her delicate hand she tips her head to the side, trying to get a read of the young man at the other side of her desk. After a short moment of attempted mind reading she comes to terms with the fact that she has no idea what she is doing. She cannot figure him out – his expression is too complex. So instead she asks gently, 'What is troubling you, Sam?'
The blonde boy blinks as if he did notice her just now though he was the one to seek her out. 'Uh, yeah . . .' He clears his throat. 'There is this thing . . .'
Emma tips her head slightly forward in a gesture for Sam to continue but he just hesitantly gazes at his clasped hands that are resting in his lap. 'Does this have anything to do with your family, Sam?' she tries, her eyebrows knitted together in a worried expression. 'I mean, after what happened last year, with the bankruptcy and you losing your home and all that. No one should have to go through that in your age. It is absolutely understandable if you feel a little down now and then. You have after all lost your home, your girlfriend—Quinn left you for Finn, didn't she?—and you had to leave your family behind in Kentucky. That most have been so hard . . . And I've heard about you little part time job at the bar – it was bad, really bad, Sam, but you did it for a good cause so it makes it a bit easier to accept—'
Sam rapidly shakes his head and holds up a hand to make the red headed student counselor stop talking. 'No. No, my family is fine. This has nothing to do with them. They're doing—we're doing okay.'
Emma nods as eagerly as the blonde boy just shakes his head. How come I always make the wrong assumptions? God, so embarrassing! 'That is good, Sam. I am happy for you. That your family is doing better, I mean, not about how you are feeling right now. No. No.' She takes a nervous breath. 'You know what I mean, don't you? Yes?' She fakes a smile. Okay, that wasn't good. She clears her throat. 'So, Sam, what is it that is bothering you?'
She watches him kneed his hands together and that is when she decides to reach for her brochures. She recalls from the Rocky Horror Picture Show which the Glee Club did last year that Sam had some issues concerning his looks. Proud that she believes she has figured out what is bothering the young man she hands him a purple brochure with green letters and an animated Brad Pitt that are laughing at a skinny high school boy that are curled up in fetal position crying. I cry at night and I hate myself for not looking like Brad Pitt, the green lettering says.
Sam gazes at it with tired eyes and then he arcs a skeptic brow. 'Thanks, Ms. Pillsbury, but I don't have a body dysmorphic disorder.' Liar! Liar! He can hear his subconscious screams back at him.
'Oh,' Emma clears her throat and withdraws the booklet. 'Uh, well . . . that is a good thing. It really is . . . but what is it that is bothering you the, Sam?' Sam turns his head and stares out through the window. Outside kids has started to unwrap their sandwiches and uncap their Coke bottles. 'Sam?'
The blonde boy snaps his head in the direction of the sweet voice. 'Huh?' He blinks and then he seems to remember the conversation they were having. 'I don't know how to explain . . .' he begins.
Please don't say that you have gotten some girl pregnant! And don't say that you have robbed an old lady to get a couple of dollars to buy beer or Xbox games! Please!
Sam sighs and rakes a hand through his blonde thatch. A few golden strands fall into his eyes and he absentmindedly blows them away as he ponders. 'I, I kinda feel like I'm split,' he begins. 'In here,' he continues and dab his broad chest.
In your heart, Emma notes and nods. There is vulnerability and insecurity in his voice that Emma cannot help but to feel her heart ache at. When she looks at him, in this poor state, he is an epitome of the young innocent angelic blonde boy that only exists in the movies. The thing is though that this absolutely adorable boy is real and he has very, very realistic feelings.
'I don't, I don't know what to do,' he shrugs dejected.
'Uh, well . . . is there a girl involved?' she asks and peers into his deep emerald orbs. They are practically pleading for her help, for a piece of good advice. Slowly Sam nods.
Okay, so there is a girl . . . 'What is it about that girl that makes you feel split?' To be honest she believes that it is not really her thing to poke around in this young man's love life but he wants advice—he truly seem to need them—and in order for her to be able to give him advice she needs background information to work with.
'I, I'm in love with Mercedes,' he blurts, the words tripping over each other as they stumble out of his mouth.
A bit startled by Sam's sudden and rather loud confession, Emma winces, though it is only to lean forward again a few seconds later. 'Oh, okay. Well, I think you made that pretty clear the last time you were here. With her.' Emma believes she recalls something about Sam twittering that he thinks Mercedes smells good the last time Sam and Mercedes paid a visit to her office. 'But if you are so certain about your love for Ms. Jones then what is it that makes you think that what you feel now has anything to do with her?'
'I don't know . . .'
'Do you know if the feelings you have are mutual? Has she expressed her love to you? Emma asks.
He shakes his head slowly. 'She hasn't,' he whispers. 'But I think she loves me . . . Maybe.' He bites down on his lip. 'Or . . . I don't know. Maybe. She has broken up with Shane.' The last part is said with a bit more confidence. Then he adds, 'But I don't know,' and sighs.
'Know about what?'
'Pardon me?' Sam blinks and asks confused.
The red headed woman smiles sympathetically and then she says, 'You said, but I don't know? What is it that you don't know?'
'Uh.' He swallows and licks his lips. 'If she really loves me, I guess. I mean, for real. Love me.'
Emma sighs silently. Giving advice on love to teenagers is not the easiest thing, especially when you went through high school without having a single boyfriend, or male friend for that matter.
'Okay, uh . . . Sam, I can honestly not give you any good advice when it comes to love, since I didn't, well you know . . . have a . . . yeah, uh. My marriage didn't really . . . Anyways.' She clears her throat. 'You simply have to listen to your heart, even if it doesn't speak so loudly or clear all the time. And even if it speaks a completely foreign language.' She smiles slightly. It is a kind warm one. 'And sometimes your head and mind needs a moment to translate and interpret what the heart is saying.' She finishes off by wrinkling her forehead and crooking her neck in a simple gesture that is asking the blonde boy if he understands.
Sam nods slowly and offers a wry smile. That simple smile causes Emma to question though whether or not he had really understood what she had told him, but as she doesn't feel like pushing it—the boy seems to have enough to think about as it is—she instead says, 'That's good, Sam.' She smiles. 'If you need to expectorate again, you know where to find me. Okay?'
He nods and rises. 'Thank you, Ms. Pillsbury.' When he is halfway through the door he stops. 'Mr. Schue is lucky to have you,' he says, offers her a half smile and then he leaves.
'I love astronomy,' he says with a drawl and gazes up to the galactic mobiles with the brightly colored orbs. 'Something 'bout all that space makes my problems seem kinda small.' Pointing at a red papier-mâché ball with a diameter of about twelve inches Sam says, again with a drawl, 'That one's Venus. Planet of love.' He turns to Quinn.
'It's actually Mars. Planet of war,' Quinn says, her hands on her hips. She is determined not to fall for the new guy's lame attempt at seducing her. Though he is kinda cute . . .
Sam sniffs quietly and glances at Quinn from his position behind her. After a moment he asks, 'Which one are we on?'
'Earth,' Quinn responds after a few seconds of complete silence and begins to walk away from him. 'So why don't you come back to it and talk to me about duets.' She turns back around to face him again. 'Tell me why I should be singing with you.'
'Okay.' Sam grabs his guitar. 'Well, we'll start with choreography. Singing will be easy so I'll start playing.' And so he does with a boyish smirk. Quinn smiles slightly.
After playing for a moment he says to her, 'And now, get behind me.' She looks up to the side, a slow half roll of her eyes, signaling that his request is a bit odd and inappropriate. 'Get behind me,' he whispers. 'Good,' he says as she does as he has told her. 'Now grab my hips.' He smiles and she sniffs, a crimson shade sneaking up on her cheeks. 'And start swaying,' he says and begins to slowly swing back and forth.
Quinn, feeling very uncomfortable and nervous, stokes her eyebrows with her left hand thumb and index finger and then pats Sam on the shoulder with her other hand.
'And now, here's the cool part.' He stops playing. 'Give me your hand.' She lifts her left hand and he takes it in his. It looks so small in his. So delicate and fragile. 'Do you know how to play?' he asks, glancing at her.
She shakes her head slowly and says in a voice not louder that a whisper, 'No.'
'It's easy. Let's put that finger there.' He places her fingers on the frat, one by one. 'It's just like that.' He begins to play. 'Now do it fast, back and forth. There you go.'
As they finish the short guitar lesson he is gazing at her. His eyes holding hers, never looking away. He's got deep captivating eyes. They are not blue, not brown and they are not green either. They are like a mix of the three. Then he slowly leans closer. Just before their lips is about to meet she pulls back, holding her hands up as if to keep him away from her.
'No, no. I can't do this,' she says. 'This year is about me, and don't say that I'm selfish, because you have no idea how much I have given—'
'I wasn't, I wasn't gonna—'
'I've been down this path before. I know this feeling.' Pause. 'L, l, like I need you! Duets don't work for me. And I don't need you.' She turns her back to Sam. 'What I need is to find a way to keep Santana off my heals. What I need is to find a way to torture Rach,' she says turning back to face him again.
'Look I'm, I'm sorry—'
'And I need to start learning to ignore people.' She stares at him with moist in her eyes and her lips curled into an inverted half smirk.
'I'm, I'm sorry. I shouldn't . . . I shouldn't have tried that.'
'I'm sorry. I made a mistake, and um . . . I don't want to sing with you,' she says in a flat tone and leaves the astronomy room.
Next thing she knows she wakes up in her bed. Her cheeks are wet with tears and her hands are shaking. It is still dark outside so she guesses that it can't be later than 6 A.M. but just to be sure she leans over towards her nightstand and checks her phone, 3.14 A.M.
God, how am I supposed to go back to sleep now? she sighs and slowly swings her legs over the edge of the bed. She lets her feet make contact with the floor and then she stands up and walks across the carpet over to the window. It is completely empty out on the street, 'The benefit of living in a high-end neighborhood,' her mother often tells her. Or that was when her mother still talked to her.
She sits down on the bench bellow the window. By putting her elbows on the window sill she can support her head in her hands and still sit in a comfortable position. She sighs again as she wipes away a tear from her eye. How could I let myself sink this low? she asks herself. I used to be so perfect . . . so pure. She swallows hard. Captain of the Cheerios, president of the Celibacy Club, straight A's and a perfect rep, I dated the starting quarterback and everybody would part in the hallway as I walked in. I was the most popular girl at McKinley High. The most perfect Christian girl and the nicest daughter. And I blew it all up . . . Another tear falls from her eye. And look at you now, Quinn. The epitome of a messed up teenage girl. She sighs heavily yet again. How could I even begin to think that he would want me back? I don't deserve him. He gave me a promise to be true and to always love me and I stabbed him in the back as soon as he turned around.
Author's note
The forth chapter starts off with Puck's little surprise (you remember the one he asked Brittany, Santana and Tina to help him with in the second chapter?). The song they performed was The Look by Roxette.
The story then moves on with Sam asking Ms. Pillsbury for some advice on love and at the end of the chapter Quinn wakes up in the dead of the night in tears due to a nightmare.
Hope you liked the chapter and don't forget to review! :)