Seven Days Chapter 4, a glee fanfic

-Authors Notes-

So can we totally save the witch hunt for another time? I'm so very sorry for my slow update. I feel really bad but in all honestly I had a major case of writers block on this chapter. And the Fuinn-ness stuff in glee didn't help. Gah! But I promise not to be terrible again. I already have plans for my next chapter. Huzzah.

Anyway I've missed you guys. Oh my thank you everyone for the reviews. And the alerts and favourites. I was still getting the odd alert/favourite this week and I was all like "how are you people still finding this? I haven't updated in forever".

And then I got all guilty because I haven't updated in forever.

Argh! It's been eating me up. That's why I'm updating. In all honesty I'm not 100% happy with this chapter but I honestly can't wait any longer to get back into the swing of this story. Oh yeah and let me just say now, I really hope Puck doesn't read OOC. I felt like he would be a smooth operator once that dude fell in love. I mean look at Silly Little Love Songs. Puck is a badass in touch with his emotions.

Oh yeah and there will be more for Sam in the next chapter. And I might find a way to explain what was going on with Sam in this chapter. Either way I'm not just making him go AWOL and leaving it at that. Sam will be explained/fixed.

I'm so sleepy. And I'm never going to stop talking about how nervous I am about this chapter/sorry for taking so long so I'm going to give in and go to sleep in my new superman PJ's (I love being a adult with comic book stuff - such a geek) and be done with it. I hope that my dearest readers (all of you) enjoy this. Or at least some of it.

Much love as always. Thank you for reading my writing. Live long and Finchel forever.

-X-

-One Week Later-

-Pucks Saturday-

He held Quinn's hand for what was, like, their fourth talk since the glee room show down.

Puck couldn't remember when he'd officially had the operation, completed his estrogen tablets and become a woman, but somehow it had happened.

It sucked but was also pretty awesome.

Because it wasn't anyone's hand he was holding but it was his baby mamas.

Quinn's hand.

Maybe he had become her bitch, whatever. Puck was a man in love.

He kinda knew he hadn't stopped loving her but he knew after Beth they needed time. So he let her have time. He let her dump him, she needed it or some shit.

Back then they couldn't look at each other without reliving it. Without seeing Beth.

But now he looked at her and he saw all the things he loved again.

God, he really had become a woman. A flowery dress wearing woman.

Times like this he'd normally go out and sink a few drinks before fucking up some young hot piece of ass just to prove he was still a dude.

Instead he'll probably go home and sink a few drinks and then play Mario.

Super Mario Brothers 3 of course, obviously the best one.

And it has nothing to do with Peach being a blonde.

Even though Quinn would look super fine in a Princess Peach costume.

"Puck, I'm really glad we can talk about this", the sound of her saying his name woke him up and he filed away the Peach idea for halloween costume suggestions.

"You know I'm here for you babe. We don't go through something that huge together and then never talk about it"

She smiled at him and he realized it was their first talk that hadn't ended in her crying.

Thank fuck for that.

Puck may have been able to accept that he loved this chick but it doesn't mean he's cool with crying.

For the record, he's never cool with crying.

"I can't tell you what it means that you've forgiven me", she talked down to their intertwined fingers.

He used his free hand to nudge her chin gently and raise her eyes to him, "there was never any doubt babe".

And there really wasn't. He kinda gets it. She wasn't ready to be a mom.

She's admitted to him that she knew he'd take care of her, of them, if she'd have let him. And that made him feel a million freakin times better because he would have. He wasn't a deadbeat like his dad. But she'd also told him she was selfish and knew she was the one who wasn't ready to be a parent.

And that makes him sad and relieved all at once.

But never angry. He can't blame her. He never would.

He knows his hand is lingering on her face too long to be friendly but he doesn't care. He wants her to know how he feels.

Becuase it took him long enough to figure out that he still loved her, and he wasn't gonna be a lame ass about it. He was gonna romance Quinn Fabray like the princess she was.

And no way Bowser was getting anywhere near his woman.

When it dawns on her that they are still staring at each other she shy's her face away from his grasp, "Puck don't".

"Don't what?", he smirked inside his own head so he didn't ruin the moment.

"I can't do this", she said looking back at him but taking her hand from his.

He sighed, time to pull out the big guns, his feelings, "babe we obviously have something going on, just feel it".

"But I..."

"I love you".

He'd said it once before to her and now he'd said it again. How many times did she need to hear it? It wasn't every day the Puckerone said he was in love.

"I need to be on my own for a little while. I need to figure myself out, before I'm in a relationship".

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to call bullshit there. Total and utter. Don't judge this on your blow out with Goldilocks, he was never going to get you like I do. I know you feel this Quinn but you're freaking out because I'm such a badass. That's cool but I'm fucking serious when I say I love you".

He made sure he looked her in the eyes. He could see she was fighting it for whatever fucked up reason she'd thought of.

"I can't. Not now", she hung her head.

He shrugged, "that's cool babe but I won't stop. I won't stop till you are with me. I don't give up sex sharking for just anyone Q. Just you. So I hope you're ready for the hurricane because I'm going to rock you like one. You will give in", he said with confidence because hell, she was totally going to give in.

He saw something flicker in her eyes and he knew exactly what he'd done, "bring it on Puck. Let's see your best moves".

On second thoughts maybe bringing out the her competitive side wasn't in his best interests.

Shit.

Plan B. Let his actions do the talking.

He swooped in and his lips were on hers before anything else could be said. It was totally worth the wait.

Puck had been thinking about kissing those lips again for too damn long. And that right there? That was how he could tell it was love. Because he could tell you that it was 6 months and 21 days since their last kiss. Not that he counted but his brain just fucking knew shit like that. And he could also tell you that no other kiss ever compared because if making out with every new chick was a religious experience, kissing Quinn was like reaching nirvana. And that noise she made in the back of her throat that was the tinniest little moan ever? Hot as hell.

And that's when he pulled away.

He grinned at the sight of her. Her eyes were closed, her lips puckered and her hair was all over the place where he'd had a hand tangled in it.

She looked like she wanted more.

And that's when he stepped up off the bed, "last chance babe. You can make it real simple and admit that we're going to happen and I'll give you some more of my sweet, sweet macking or I'll just keep proving you wrong..."

He leaned in to her ear, "...again and again and again, until you give in later on. Either way we're going to happen".

She recovered and scoffed at him, "I told you Puck I need time to myself. This is not happening".

"Keep telling yourself that. You know you can't help yourself with these guns", he flexed one for effect before grabbing his jacket and winking at her before he left.

She just watched him go with a raised eyebrow but Puck left with a smirk on his face.

She would be his.

She could try to say no but let's face it, he is a stud. This time he wouldn't need booze and she wouldn't be cheating. No, this time he would do it right. This time she was for keeps. Puck just had to show her that a) he was serious and b) she loved him back.

She did, she just didn't know it yet.

-Rachel's Sunday-

Rachel finished her exercise regime with vigor. She had been less than enthusiastic last Sunday and barely felt the rush of endorphins after her sleep schedule was interrupted.

She'd spent the previous Saturday at dinner with her fathers to celebrate her solo and then Kurt had surprised her with a spa evening. He had claimed they needed to celebrate by 'fixing' her skin.

After feigning offense at the comment they had stayed up watching moves and having complete facials and manicures. Rachel was only glad that this Sunday she wasn't tired and trying to entertain a still half asleep Kurt while she exercised.

She checked her phone before heading towards her bathroom for a shower and saw 4 messages. She figured they would all be from Kurt and that he could stand to wait half an hour for a reply since she couldn't stand to stay sweaty for too long.

The hot shower soothed her muscles and cleansed her skin. She couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of having everything washed away and she often found that after after a hot shower she truly felt everything was washed away. For those minutes she had no drama in her life and no feelings towards anything, she just allowed the water to work it's magic.

She only left the bathroom when she heard a knocking on her bedroom door. Rachel wrapped her cotton robe around her and wrung her hair out quickly before running to the door, noticing that her phone was ringing as well.

"Honey as much as I love hearing you sing as your ringtone your phone has been ringing, loudly I might add, for the last 15 minutes", her daddy said.

She smiled at him in the way that she knew melted any mood he was in, "sorry daddy I was in the shower. I'll just answer it now".

She reached up to kiss his cheek before closing the door and running to grab her phone from the desk.

"Good morning Kurt", she asked not bother to look at the caller ID.

"Don't even pretend you didn't hear me calling".

"Of course I didn't I was in the shower"

"And my texts?"

She sighed, "I was planning on reading them after I got out of the shower".

"Divas gone wild! You ignored my texts? Oh this is it, the end, if I can't rely on Rachel Berry to read my texts I may as well end it all now. Goodbye cruel, cruel world", he cried and she could only imagine the theatrics he was putting on as he gave his impromptu monologue.

"Amateur dramatics aside why exactly have you been desperately seeking me?".

She heard his bed squeak as he obviously launched himself on to it, "I'll ignore the amateur comment but I was calling to talk to you obviously. We haven't spoken in days".

"And...?"

"Are you implying that I have a ulterior motive whenever we speak?"

She laughed, "of course not. I'm telling you outright that you normally do", he gasped and she took the chance to continue, "of course not really Kurt. It's just not everyday you require my attention so urgently".

"Well I have news".

She didn't say 'I told you so' or 'I knew it' like she so desperately wanted to but instead held her tongue and waited for whatever news he was about to share.

"You're obviously aware of the valentines day debacle?"

"It's hardly fair to call it that Kurt, the situation was remedied by valentines day and you both seemed very happy with the taking it slow option that you'd..."

The phone line went dead. Her phone then immediately rung again and she had time to see his name on the caller ID this time.

"That it may way of telling you to be quiet while I'm telling you my news. A simple 'yes I remember' would have sufficed".

He continued before she had a chance to argue.

"Anyway as I was saying, you're obviously aware that Blaine and I had agreed to take it slow. Well here is the news. Last night he threw caution to the wind and asked me officially to be his beau. Taking it slow be damned!"

Rachel let out a high pitched squeal. She felt it was her obligation as that would be his reaction to any good news she gave him.

Kurt began rambling, "he's the DiCario to my Winslet, the Grant to my Roberts, the Bogart to my Bergman".

"Of course he is. I'm so happy for you Kurt. And I'm also happy I won't have to hear about you pining after him anymore", she added with a giggle.

"Don't even get me started on who has had who's ear chewed off with relationship woes".

"Drat. You've got me there. Although the majority of the time you insist I tell you even when I don't want to. So when if your first boyfriend/boyfriend outing?".

She heard him sigh, "it's a school night and he takes his studies very seriously so we're going for coffee later rather than the romantic dinner I wanted to go to with the candles and the violinists..."

He trailed off with another sigh and she could only smile to herself at her lovesick friend.

"I am truly very happy for you, you deserve some happiness and Blaine, for all of the 3 times I've met him, seems like a perfect gentleman".

"Yes he is. Now you only need to find some happiness and we can double date. Of course that's not going to happen if you don't TALK TO MY BROTHER!"

Rachel rolled her eyes, "there it is. I knew you wouldn't call without mentioning something about Finn. It's fine. He wants to be friends, I agreed. Then he went off the idea when I told him about New York".

"He hasn't gone off of the idea you pixie, he's sad that you're leaving. The dolt doesn't know what he wants, he's a teenage boy. They're all idiots. Well the straight ones are anyway".

She sat up and realized she'd left a large damp patch on her comforter where her wet hair had been. "Kurt I don't have time to wait around for him to figure it out. I still love him so it absolutely pains me to say this but I agreed to be friends. If he cannot even make that work then I doubt he'll ever forgive me enough to be in a relationship. I am doomed to wander this earth broken hearted and as much as I enjoy discussing and thinking about that I need to go and dry my hair".

"No, No, NO! Missy you are not getting out of this. You've found a way to get out of this conversation for over a week now. No more".

"What do you want me to say Kurt? That I can't see myself with anyone else ever? That it was bad enough agreeing to be just friends but now he's taken his friendship away from me as quickly as he promised it and that it hurt?", she was panting as she felt herself once again get worked up over the subject of Finn Hudson.

"No, I want you to say that you will tell him all of that".

"Then I guess neither of us are getting what we want then Kurt because I'm not making a bigger fool out of myself than I already have for that boy. Now I really have to go because you've seen what happens when I don't blow dry my hair and it is not a pretty sight. Goodbye Kurt".

"Rachel, wait...", she ended the call before he could finish because she wouldn't have been able to disguise the tears as she spoke anymore. She turned her phone off, she'd deal with Kurt's voicemails later.

She got up and wiped her tears away from her eyes, she'd become quite adept at bottling up her emotions recently rather than letting them run free as they should. She still had a sad look on her face though as she sat at her vanity and began carefully drying her hair.

Rachel was not looking forward to Monday.

-Finn's Monday-

Finn had been psyched all day.

He'd answered a bunch of questions right in biology that morning. The cafeteria had pizza for lunch which actually tasted like real pizza and finally the glee club would be performing for Rachel today.

That was going to be his highlight.

He'd been working on it for over a week now, he'd arranged for glee practice to be in the auditorium. He'd somehow (and he really didn't know how) convinced the glee club to perform the song and he'd totally arranged the performance and everything.

Although Mike did choreograph and thankfully kept it simple.

The biggest thing was that she seemed to have no idea. When he'd seen her in the hallway after first period she had the same show smile on her face that she'd had for weeks.

It made him hope time would go faster. Because he wasn't lying when he said he wanted to be friends with her.

Hell, if he was really honest he wanted more but he wanted to be her friend again first, he thought it would help him, like, forgive everything.

But Finn had never been good with words, the bowling alley thing had proved that. So he'd searched and searched for a song because Finn knew he could get everything out in a song a lot easier than talking. He'd thought of a awesome Beatles track but Puck had gone on about influence from her performance a few weeks ago and doing Queen. They'd actually ended up voting.

Finn had been out voted. Nuts.

He wouldn't mind so much but Rachel was stellar at getting the meanings out of songs and stuff.

And he really didn't want her listening to the second verse.

Finn walked into the auditorium and saw them milling about on stage. He took a minute to appreciate how cool they'd all been with this. Thankfully Mr. Schue had said a few words when Finn suggested it to the club and that seemed to make a few of them realize at least why they should do it. Even Santana agreed to do it although he suspected that was just because everyone else had agreed.

"Hey guys I'm just gonna go get Rachel ok?"

"Hurry up Frankenteen and don't get lost", Artie shouted back and got a few laughs from the girls.

Finn just smiled at the joke as he wandered to the choir room, no one was there except Rachel because Mr. Schue was sitting at his podium in the auditorium already and they had 'forgotten' to leave her a note.

"Finn? What are you doing here? Where is everybody?", she asked frantically as she leapt up.

She'd been sitting in her seat at the front of the choir room despite the fact that everyone should have been there twenty minutes ago. Which meant because she was always early to glee she'd probably been there about forty minutes.

He put a worried look on his face for effect, "Rachel! There you are. I've been looking all over for you, didn't you get the message about glee?"

She frowned, "has it been cancelled again? Oh I'll be having words with Mr. Schuester about this. Three practices cancelled last week and another one today? We didn't even pick out a group number last week as planned and we haven't even begun choreographing the duet..."

"Slow down. It hasn't been cancelled, we're just in the auditorium today".

"Oh", she said as her mouth formed a perfect 'o'. Finn noticed the sudden look in her eye and wondered if she realized that her rant had been the most she'd said to him in a week.

"Shall we?", he asked as he held the choir door open for her.

Rachel ran back to her seat to grab her bag and Finn noticed her lack of knee socks and how long her legs looked in her skirt because of it. It was the first time he'd noticed anything like that it weeks.

Concentrate Hudson, he told himself as she turned around.

They walked back to the auditorium through the side door taking them straight into the front row of the seats.

Her face was a picture of confusion as he told her to sit down and pointed to a seat.

She looked up at the people on stage and then her head whipped around to look at Mr. Schue at his desk but he just smiled down at her. She turned back to Finn and he couldn't help but think the worried crease above her eyes was adorable.

"Rachel. The glee club has something we want to tell you", he was so impressed that he managed to walk backwards up the stage stairs as he spoke.

He wasn't sure if he'd ever top that stunt.

Finn couldn't read her face, there was still confusion painted across it but there was something else as the music began.

Another red letter day,
So the pound has dropped and the children are creating,
The other half ran away,
Taking all the cash and leaving you with the lumber,
Got a pain in the chest,
Doctors on strike what you need is a rest
It's not easy love, but you've got friends you can trust,

Friends will be friends,
When you're in need of love they give you care and attention,
Friends will be friends,
When you're through with life and all hope is lost,
Hold out your hand cos friends will be friends, right till the end

Now it's a beautiful day,
The postman delivered a letter from your lover,
Only a phone call away,
You tried to track him down but somebody stole his number,
As a matter of fact,
You're getting used to life without him in your way

His eyes dart to hers at the last line. Finn wishes, for a second, that she wasn't such a good actress. Her face is still and thoughtful, it hasn't changed since the song began.

It's so easy now, cos you got friends you can trust,

It's so easy now, cos you got friends you can trust,
Friends will be friends,
When you're in need of love they give you care and attention,
Friends will be friends,
When you're through with life and all hope is lost,
Hold out your hand cos friends will be friends (right till the end)

They finish the song in perfect harmony and they all look out to her expectantly. Finn can tell that everyone is waiting for her to say something but he figures no one more than himself. It's actually killing him that she hasn't spoke yet.

But he does see the few tears that leak from her eyes and he figures she's just happy.

Then she opens her mouth.

"Why did you do this?", she asks. Her voice is blunt and demanding. Finn can only think that she is imaging that fateful green room where the opposite of this happened.

"Erm... because you're our friend Rachel", Tina speaks up from his left. He knows they're unsure about why they are singing to her and he couldn't be more thankful that she spoke.

She chokes a sob at that, loudly, before snapping out of it. She shakes her head and takes a deep breath, ignoring her damp cheeks.

"Thank you. I don't know what to say so if you'll allow me to I'd like to sing something tomorrow?"

"Of course Rachel", Mr Schue replied who had come to join them.

"Finn, can I talk to you for a moment?", she asked making eye contact with him.

He nodded dumbly and followed her into the corridor.

"I'll ask again, why did you do this?", she demanded again the second the door closed behind them, her hand was on her hip now. In his experience that was never good.

She preys on his silence, "what do you want Finn? You want friendship so I give you that, I tell you my news because you asked for no more secrets, ever. Then you leave me. Then you ignore me. What exactly is it you want? Other than torturing me".

"I do want to be your friend Rach, I do. I panicked, I mean you drop this bomb that you might be leaving in the fall after I've only just got myself in a place where we can be friends and..."

"I am leaving. There's no might, I am".

"... I know. I'm sorry. You are leaving. This is hard though Rach, you and me. We're..."

"..broken up. You decided that", she finishes, stressing the 'you' harshly.

He feels like he's just had a medicine ball dropped on his head or something. They haven't talked about that, not since before Christmas. And she's never said the words, and never with this look on her face.

"I know. I just, I do want to be friends. I'm sorry about when you told me, I panicked and stuff. It's a big thing Rach. But I wanted to make you see that we are your friends and that I want to be your friend again. I mean it this time. No take backs".

She crossed her arms across her chest but he could see whatever she was rilled up about was melting away.

"I take it you want me to tell them?" and her voice is still angry but also sounds to him like she knew he's right.

He shrugged, "only if you want to. I know they suck sometimes but they did this without knowing so that's gotta count for something right?"

She bit her lip, he knew he had her.

-Rachel's Tuesday-

Rachel didn't understand why they had sung to her. She didn't know how they had been convinced to sing to her. She especially didn't know why she let it get to her.

She knew that nothing would change, they weren't automatically friends. Santana would still surely comment about her today, she'd still sit alone at the front of the room, they'd all still roll their eyes whenever she talked.

But for a few minutes she had felt accepted by the glee club and despite Rachel convincing herself that it was approval she didn't need, the gesture had still moved her.

She couldn't be blamed for wanting approval in all aspects of her life. Even if social acceptance was something she had resigned herself to live without.

Instead she decided to tell them and to hell with the consequences. If they hated her more than they did at the best of times then what's the worst that could happen? She's leaving. They can't force her out early because they need members for regionals.

This is what she told herself while she scanned the music in front of her, running it over one last time. Slowly the club filtered in chatting in their groups.

She didn't notice Finn had arrived until he sat down next to her.

"So what are you singing?", he asked sheepishly.

She turned to him like it was the first time she was seeing him. She figured sitting with her and talking to her, at the same time, was as big a declaration of renewed friendship as she could hope for.

Automatically she pulled the music away from his prying eyes, "and spoil the surprise?"

She ignored how easy it was to be friends with him again, because it was easy. Far too easy.

Without waiting for an answer she stood up as Mr. Schue walked in, "I'd like to get straight to it if that's ok with you?"

He raised an eyebrow at her and she could only assume it was at the question she posed rather than her normal steamrolling in and not caring about disturbing his lesson plan. He nodded with a smile after a minute.

Rachel handed Brad and the band her music before turning to the club as Sam slipped into the room.

"Firstly I'd like to thank you all for the gesture yesterday. I do have an announcement to make but first I'd like to sing something".

She nodded at Brad and the notes spilled from the piano powerfully.

Hey, hey, hey ,hey
Ohhh.

Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and
Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby

Don't You, Forget About Me
Don't, Don't, Don't, Don't
Don't You, Forget About Me

Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down

Will you recognise me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down

Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ohhhh...

Don't you try to pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defences
Vanity and security

She tried not to glance at Santana on that line but the urge was too strong. The stare only lasted a second.

Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby

She resisted her urges this time and didn't stare at the Quarterback in the front row.

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?

When you walk away
Or will you walk away?
Will you walk on by?
Come on - call my name

Will you call my name?

She finished to applause and Mr. Schue's voice was surprisingly chipper, "a absolute classic", he said mainly to himself. She smiled knowing the only way he'd have enjoyed her performance more was if she'd sung 'Send Her My Love' by Journey (which she had considered singing purely because their sometimes clueless teacher considered Journey their band).

"Thank you. My announcement might make a little more sense of the song choice. As you are all aware of my Broadway aspirations I won't delve into the details too much", she heard someone scoff but didn't catch who, "but a part of those aspirations involves attending Juilliard in New York. I applied early and was accepted as a accelerated applicant. I will be leaving for New York this fall, this will be my final year at McKinley".

It all happened at once.

Silence was broken by a flurry of noise.

No one spoke directly to her but instead around her. The loudest was Mercedes, "NO FREAKING WAY!". But the rest were not far off.

People were shouting in either is surprise, anger or a mixture of the two.

"How the hell!"

"There's no way!"

"How in god's name is she getting out a year early?"

"She can't leave, it's Rachel!"

"Totally and utterly unfair"

"I'm so taking over as lead once she's gone"

"We need to throw a not sorry you're leaving party and not invite her"

"Is Rachel dying?"

Finally someone spoke to her directly, "what the hell Berry?", Puck asked with a smirk that told her he wasn't angry just surprised.

Mr. Schue finally stepped in, "guys, guys! Rachel has had some excellent news and we should be supporting her".

"Why? Because she's going to be more obnoxious now that she know's she's getting out of this one horse town?", Santana bit back as she filed her nails.

"Hey! She's already known for weeks now and so stop bringing her down", Finn blurted out. Rachel's eyes flew to him and she imagined her eyes were as wide as his were as they shared a look that screamed, what possessed you to say that?

Rachel felt her face redden as Tina stood up and spoke for the first time, "why didn't you tell us?"

"Wait a hot minute. Is that what you told Mr. Schue about in his office that time? That was like 5 weeks ago!", Mercedes questioned.

Both of them, as well as a few others, actually had the audacity to look hurt.

"Yes that is what I was discussing with Mr. Schue. I only felt that I wanted to share the news with friends", Rachel responded simply.

"So that's why white boy number one wanted us to sing to you and make you feel like one of the gang?", Mercedes continued.

"Guys I think we're loosing sight of what's important here. Rachel is going to be leaving and none of you have even said good luck", Mr Schue added to the conversation, desperately trying to salvage it.

A mumbled round of good lucks swept the room and Rachel walked back over to her seat unable to have this discussion anymore. Everyone was decidedly not making eye contact with her as she scanned the club, some of them looked upset, some angry, some just bitter.

Rachel felt uneasy with the tension and wondered how she would last the year in this room. The tension rolled off of her fellow glee clubbers in waves.

She shook her head and looked at Finn, who was the only member giving her eye contact, and despite the newness of their renewed friendship she leaned over naturally, muttering, "I knew I shouldn't have told them".

He turned to her as Mr. Schue began writing 'rebirth' on the white board, "they'll get over it, besides nobody walked out right?"

Rachel smiled, neglecting to mention that the collective hatred of ten people was a lot easier to deal with than any sort of hatred or abandonment from Finn.

-Quinn's Wednesday-

Quinn was not having a good week.

She'd been making such good progress with Puck. They'd aired so many suppressed and ignored issues from the babygate drama that she was actually beginning to believe it was safe inside her own head again.

And then he had to go all Puck on her.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't attracted to him. He was, in his own words, a stud. There was really no better description. He charmed every female he laid eyes on and took no prisoners.

Which made her all the more worried for her own resistance.

When Quinn was deciding whether or not to break up with Sam she realized that she hadn't been single longer than 3 weeks since the beginning of middle school. Quinn had always defined herself by her man.

First she was the pretty girl dating Brent Matthews, the only boy to throw parties in middle school.

Then she was the popular girl who was dating Charlie Stock, the undisputed skateboard champion of Lima, Ohio.

Then she was the head cheerleader who was dating Finn Hudson, the star Quarterback.

During baby gate she was the pregnant Christian girl kind of dating Noah Puckerman, the school man whore.

And then she lived her life on repeat once again returning to her favorite role, head cheerleader with heartthrob jock of a boyfriend, Sam Evans.

The endless cycle actually helped her in her decision. She'd decided at the beginning of the year she would be miss independent this year, before she was distracted by Sam.

And she still planned on going through with it. If not a few months later.

Quinn had dealt with a lot of Beth related issues recently but the final issue to be dealt with was Quinn herself. She had to find her own way for a little while.

Which was incredibly difficult with Puck playing his best moves after admitting that he loved her.

Why couldn't the universe just let her go through with her plans for once?

She wanted to live as a single girl, discover herself and all the other emotional rubbish she'd convinced herself she needed.

The only issue was what if this was her last chance with Puck?

She couldn't pretend she hadn't noticed his lack of sex sharking, he'd obviously been trying. But how long could Puck really last with monogamy?

Not long, the last time he tried.

And then there was Sam. Quinn wanted him to move on but she never wanted him to hate her, however she doubted he'd see past her dating Puck a week after they broke up.

She'd rid herself of some of her biggest emotional burdens from last year only to replace them with a new load this year.

None of it was helped by the fact that she was, at the end of the day, a teenager.

A teenager with hormones.

A teenager with hormones and with a very handsome, charming, badass, studly, tempting, adorable when he wants to be, serenading guy coming after her.

No Quinn.

You're better than this. Stick to the plan.

He thinks he can just get her with the click of his fingers. He thinks he can lure her to the dark side.

He thinks she needs him.

Quinn Fabray does not need him.

Quinn Fabray would show him, and everyone else, that she didn't need anyone but herself. She'd be the independent woman she so intended on being at the start of the year.

She could rule the school and not be a Santana class bitch. She could do it all, and still retain her head cheerleader status.

All she had to do was resist Puck.

Because he was the cause of her... awkward week. Since their chat on Sunday (because she was fiercely denying anything else happened, in her mind the rest was some sort of tear induced hallucination) Puck had been putting the moves on her everyday.

On Monday he'd idly sung love songs to her while they waited for Rachel at the start of glee club. On Tuesday he'd forcibly picked her up for school, early, so that he could take her to breakfast, where he had pre ordered her a mountain of crispy bacon.

Everyday, every class together, every time he saw her, there was a pick up line that was so cheesy it made her laugh. There was the declaration, whispered into her ear, that she was fighting a losing battle, in his confident voice that made her knees weak. There were the looks, the looks that stopped her on the spot and were so intense she felt she might keel over.

"Quinn?", a voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked around and found that she was practically hanging on to her locker, straightening up she looked over at Puck.

She didn't know where time had gone, where the day had gone, but the corridor seemed to be emptying.

Puck smirked at her and she fought the compulsion to slap him. Then he pulled flowers out from behind his back, they found their way into her hands and she stood there speechless.

He simply leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before whispering, "have a great cheerios practice babe. I'll call you later". He walked off and she couldn't help but thrust the flowers into her face inhaling the scent deeply.

Her second thought was how the hell was she meant to put the flowers in water when she had cheerios practice now.

The final thought that drifted through her mind was, 'well played Puckerman, well played'.

She carefully placed the flowers in her locker, hoping practice wouldn't go on too long. It wasn't until she pulled her duffle bag over her shoulder and started towards the gym that she remembered she's not dating Puck and that she needed to figure out a way to resist his charm offensive. Losing was not a option for Quinn Fabray.

-Finn's Thursday-

Finn wandered the hall with Artie discussing the pros and cons of the Bears newest linebacker when he saw Sam talking to Rachel by her locker.

Normally it wouldn't have bothered him but Rachel put her hand on his arm as she spoke.

Horrifying images flooded his mind and he almost stormed over to throw Sam across the hall before he remembered that she wasn't his girl.

Except she was. She always would be.

He may be doing this whole friends thing with her but goddamn, Rachel was his.

His knuckles were white against the handles of Artie's wheelchair but his eyes remained firmly on Sam. Finn was aware of Artie still talking about something but his ears tuned him out as they strained to pick up the conversation as they got nearer to the lockers.

"...this isn't helping anybody"

"...we're both getting over break ups"

"...we can't go on like this Sam"

"...we can help each other"

"...thank you but no thank you"

Each broken sentence that he heard only made him angrier. He didn't get a chance to break up the conversation though because Sam slouched away with his jacket over his shoulder and Rachel slumped her shoulders forward.

"You ok Rach?", Finn asked through gritted teeth as they approached.

Artie was suddenly very quiet and Rachel seemed to ignore it, but it only furthered Finns anger. He didn't like the fact that glee club had decided to ignore Rachel.

"I'm fine thank you Finn. I'm just running a little late for class. If you'll excuse me", she whipped her locker closed and took off in the same direction as Sam.

Finn tried not to think about it being ten minutes till next period.

He tried not to follow them.

He tried not to punch Artie in the arm for being a tool.

He gave up on conversation though and left Artie at his next class before taking off for his own.

Finn had finally stopped seeing red by the time he took his seat in Spanish. Puck slung himself in the seat next to him and even that didn't bother him, both of them coming to some sort of weird acceptance in the last few weeks.

It didn't even bother him when Mike threw a ball of paper at him that hit Finn expertly between the eyes.

He threw it back with a crooked half grin as Mr. Schue entered the room forcing Mike to turn to the front.

Finn's mind returned to annoying Sam situation. Why had Sam been talking to Rachel? It somehow bugged him more because he knew that Sam was breaking the glee club freeze out of Rachel meaning he was risking being shunned himself to talk to her.

And as glee stud, leader, co captain and Rachel's friend shouldn't Finn be the only one risking that? Sam barely spoken to her in glee normally. Why had he all of a sudden taken a interest?

"Finn?"

"Eh, Yes Mr. Schue?", he looked up at his Spanish teacher who looked liked he was waiting for something.

"Hiciste tu tarea?"

Finn looked around helplessly to see a few other people pulling their homework out from their bags, he pulled his out in hope, "Erm... Sí?"

Mr. Schuester smiled at Finn and that was enough for Finn to exhale slowly in relief.

Puck leaned in as he moved onto the girls sitting behind them, "dude since when you speak Spanish?"

Finn shrugged before getting a idea.

"Hey have you noticed Sam acting weird lately?"

"Since he tried to punch me for being a stud? Nah, I try not to moon over guys or anything like you do, haven't really noticed much from the dude at all", Puck replied leaning back into his seat.

No help there then.

Finn spent the rest of Spanish trying to figure it out. Which wasn't his strong suit so it wasn't exactly going well.

He continued to try and figure it out in English while he watched the back of Rachel's head.

It's wasn't until the he was walking to his truck at the end of the day that he forgot about the issue completely.

Because Santana had Sam pushed up against his car while they had their tongues down each others throats.

Something about the sight of them both made him want to hurl as well as gave him a sense of relief that Sam wasn't going after Rachel.

Or at least if he was, he wasn't now.

-Puck's Friday-

Puck was never patient.

Why would he be? Puck got what he wanted. It kinda came with the territory of being the resident Hefner of Lima.

Have you seen him?

So after a week of chasing Quinn he was getting a little restless.

He'd finished off yesterday by serenading her, again, in glee. He'd been on his game all week. This was after he'd spent the week before talking shit out with her. Like seriously just talking.

Talking and romance.

And she still hadn't snapped.

But he was nothing if not persistent.

Especially since he'd announced that he loved her. Admittedly he had kinda hoped that would swing her in his direction.

But that's not why he told her so he could deal with a little more romancing shit.

The only problem was there seemed to be no end in sight.

Every time Puck got close to breaking Quinn, she'd come back stronger. Her protective barriers cracked for like a second, she'd melt over whatever he'd done and blush and stuff and then she'd remember something before looking at him like he was the devil.

And Puck wasn't the devil. He was just a regular romeo.

He brought freaking flowers to school for her. FLOWERS. Him of all people.

He was going soft. He couldn't help it. He'd look into those big hazel eyes or watch her skirt bounce up and down as she walked the halls and damn.

Puck had trouble enough concentrating in school, well he rarely tried, but the point was with Quinn walking around being all hot and resistant? It became a whole lot harder.

Pun totally intended.

But Quinn had somehow convinced herself that she didn't love him.

She'd also managed to resist him.

If he hadn't sworn off other women he'd be begging Quinn not to tell any other chicks how to do it.

But Puck was man enough to admit when he needed help.

He'd already been to Santana who had busted his balls at the mere mention of Quinn. He wasn't stupid enough to tell her the full story. She'd been pissy anyway since he retracted her Puckster privileges.

He'd considered going to Finn but instantly remembered that, well, it was Finn. Dude couldn't woo his way out of a paper bag. He was still dancing around Rachel like he didn't love her anymore. Which it was totally obvious he did. Just sayin'

Puck exhausted every other option he could till he finally gave up and cornered his only choice.

"Berry, wait up!", he shouted as he ran after her.

She turned around just before unlocking her car door. The look on her face was utter surprise. He kinda felt bad about that. She'd been shunned by the glee club following her announcement about New York and Puck felt a pang of Jewish guilt.

"Noah? Are you sure you can afford to be seen speaking to me?", she asked, her voice laced with bitterness, as he eventually caught up to her.

"Yeah whatever, I'm a badass, you know I don't take orders from anyone. Let them try and touch the Puckster".

She rolled her eyes and he felt that enough had been said about that. They were obviously cool judging by the fact that she was still standing here.

"What can I do for you Noah?"

"Well Berry it's real simple. I'm trying to get with someone..."

"Quinn", she said as a fact rather than a question.

"Yeah, well anyway she's..."

"Hesitating after her break up with Sam", Rachel finished again.

"Fuck Berry. I bet you know what I've been up to all week as well then?", he asked despite the fact that he was relieved he hadn't needed to explain it.

She smiled knowingly and it annoyed him as hell, "Yes I do actually. The flowers, the songs, it hard to miss you staring at her all day. What exactly does this have to do with me Noah? Quinn would hardly speak to me about this, even if the glee club was speaking to me, Quinn and I are hardly friends".

Damn that Jewish guilt. How were all Jewish women so damn hot at guilt trips. Although Rachel had nothing on his mother.

"Well Berry I actually just wanted some advice. When you're not acting crazy you normally know what you're doing and I'm getting no where with Quinn. She's totally resisting the Puckerone charm".

"Have you considered the fact that maybe you're coming on a bit strong?"

Puck looked at her like she'd just grown an extra head or some shit. The Puckster, too strong? Was there such a thing as too strong?

In true Rachel fashion she jumped on the fact that he didn't say anything and just continued to speak herself. "She just broke up with her boyfriend Noah! She's fragile. Yet somehow you've been getting through to her all week. I saw her leave school with the flowers you gave her with a big smile on her face, sniffing them as she went to her car. However if you keep this up she'll likely get used to the attention. Perhaps if you reigned in your affections for a while, giving her a chance to appreciate what she is missing, before you launch another attack of the 'Puckerone' on her, then she may see all the wonderful things about you in a new light", Rachel finished her lecture complete with air quotes around his nickname.

He raised one eyebrow as she spoke because, seriously, she needed to take a chill pill.

This was why he'd always said she'd be a great drunk. It would chill her the fuck out.

"So what you're saying in Berry language is play hard to get?"

"Exactly", she smiled at him and he felt like asking why she didn't say that in the first place.

"Right. Cool. Thanks Berry", he answered awkwardly.

"Don't worry Noah. I won't tell anyone that you spoke to me", she finished sadly as she turned her key in the lock on the car door.

Puck didn't know what to say, not that he wanted to say more. She already seemed to know more than she should.

You had to watch out for smart chicks. He learnt that the hard way when he'd crossed some babe from the yearbook committee who nearly made a full page spread about the Puckzilla and ALL his conquests.

It was nothing a quick make out session in the computer lab didn't fix but not the point.

Berry was smart. Smart chicks were dangerous.

Wait where was he going with this?

Oh yeah, right. Berry and her Jewish guilt trips.

"Don't worry about it Berry. They'll come around eventually, they're just scared is all. They're actually going to have to work at it once you've gone. Give 'em some time. Thanks for the advice on Quinn".

He didn't wait for a response as he walked away. She'd helped him and he'd reassured her. They'd always had a weird Jewish alliance. Even if sometimes they screwed shit up together.

At least he always could ask her stuff like this, when he couldn't ask anyone else. At least he had a new game plan for operation Fabray.

At least he hadn't broken into Quinn's locker to leave those chocolates he was planning on giving her.