Chapter 7 Glease

(A.N. Well as much as I like Rocky Horror, that's null and void with my timeline since Carl never existed, so Grease is the word. :) )

"Alright you guys, gather round," said Will as he entered the choir room. Kurt had been at Dalton for two weeks now, and even though they saw him on weekends, the glee club missed him a lot. His first weekend home, Kurt had introduced the group to Blaine Anderson, one of the other Warblers, and his new boyfriend. Rachel, Mercedes, and Noelle hit it off with Blaine, and were delighted that Kurt had found someone.

"What's up Mr. Schue?" asked Finn as everyone took a seat.

"It's time for this year's school musical," said Will. "This year we are going to do one of the most popular musicals ever, and we're going to charge admission to pay for costumes and transportation to Nationals in New York!"

"Whoo!" cried the group.

"What are we doing?" asked Noelle.

"This year, we are going to perform Grease!" said Will excitedly and the glee club applauded.

"Mr. Schue?" asked Rachel, raising her hand. "Finn and I will play Danny and Sandy!"

"I was thinking the same thing," said Will with a smile. "Now, we're a little short on parts but I think we can work around it. Puck, Quinn, I would like you two to play Kenickie and Rizzo. Sam, Mercedes, you will be Sonny and Marty. Noelle?"

"Yes Mr. Schue?" replied Noelle.

"I'd like you to play Frenchy," said Will. Noelle grinned.

"Really?" asked Noelle. "Can I dye my hair pink or do I need to wear a wig?"

"A wig, since she dyes her hair back silly," teased Josh, earning a thump from Noelle.

"And Josh, I would like you to play the Teen Angel," continued Will as he wrote down more notes.

"Ooh, babe, you get to channel your inner Frankie Avalon," quipped Noelle to a grinning Josh.

"Mike, Tina, you will be Putzie and Jan, and Artie, you will play Doody," continued Will.

"Where does that leave Brittney and I?" replied Santana.

"Brittney, you will be Patti Simcox..."

"Awesome, I love her as a cheerleader," replied Brittney.

"And Santana, I would like you to play ChaCha DiGregorio," said Will.

"Of course, the bitch plays the bitch," snarked Santana with a roll of her eye, and Noelle giggled.

"Laugh all you want, Pinky," snarked Santana.

"Easy Santana," replied Josh, putting his arm around Noelle. "She was just laughing at your comment."

"Alright you guys, let's get to work," said Will, clapping his hands together.


"Okay, let's start with Summer Nights," said Will a few days later as he handed out the scripts to the group. "Places everyone." Everyone except Santana and Josh got into position as the music started. Everyone started their dialogue at the beginning of the song and then Finn started to sing.

Finn: Summer lovin' had me a blast

Rachel: Summer lovin' happened so fast

Finn: I met a girl crazy for me

Rachel: Met a boy cute as can be

Both: Summer days driftin' away

To ah, oh, those summer nights

New Directions: Uh well-a well-a well-a huh!

Sam: Tell me more, tell me more

Puck: Did you get very far?

Girls: Tell me more, tell me more

Mercedes: Like does he have a car?

All: Uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

Finn: She swam by me, she got a cramp

Rachel: He ran by me, got my suit damp

Finn: I saved her life, she nearly drowned

Rachel: He showed off, splashing around

Both: Summer sun, something's begun

But ah, oh, those summer nights

New Directions: Uh well-a well-a well-a huh!

Girls: Tell me more, tell me more

Noelle: Was it love at first sight?

Guys: Tell me more, tell me more

Puck: Did she put up a fight?

New Directions: Uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

At that moment, Coach Sylvester popped her head into the choir room and pointed at Will, motioning for him to come towards her. He motioned for everyone to continue on and he joined Coach Sylvester in the hallway.

"William, when were you going to tell me that you and your band of misfits were going to perform Grease?" asked Sue.

"When you stumbled across us," said Will. "Got a problem with it?"

"No, I love Grease," said Sue. "I took my sister to see it when it first came out in the movie theater, but people back then didn't want a disabled person in that theater. From then on, we rented it and watched it at home."

"I'm sorry Sue," said Will. "So are you shutting us down then?"

"No, actually, I was wondering if you needed help," replied Sue.

"As a matter of fact, we still need Principal McGee and a Blanche. Think you and Becky would be up for the job?"

"I would love to, but let me get to my Beckritary and see what she thinks."


Noelle sighed as she sat at the kitchen island in the Hummel-Hudson household reviewing over the Grease script. A knock came at the back door and Noelle looked up to see Josh standing there.

"Hey," said Noelle, motioning for him to come inside.

"Hey," said Josh, a bit of uncertainty in his voice.

"You okay?" asked Noelle.

"Actually, we need to talk," said Josh.

"Okay," said Noelle, setting her pen down on her notebook. "What's up Baby?"

Josh sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"I think we should take a break," said Josh.

"What?" whispered Noelle with a hint of disbelief in her voice.

"I love you Noelle, I love you so much," said Josh. "But I can't do this right now. I just have so much on my plate right now."

"You're breaking up with me?" whispered Noelle.

"Not indefinitely," said Josh. "I just need space Noelle."

"Is this because of the baby?" asked Noelle. "Are you just upset about losing our baby?"

"NO. No, it's not that," said Josh. "God no, I would never take a break because of something like that. Noelle, I just need some time to get my shit together. We're going to be seniors next year, and all the sports scouts are going to start looking at us if they haven't already, and-"

"But what about the musical and Glee Club?" asked Noelle. "This isn't going to affect what goes on between us in there, is it?"

"No, it won't," said Josh. "Look, I gotta get home for dinner. I'll see you tomorrow. We'll rehearse Beauty School Dropout at 3:00, okay?" Josh kissed Noelle on the cheek.

"Bye," said Josh. As he headed out the side door, Noelle sat there in disbelief.

"Bye," Noelle said to no one. At that moment, Quinn walked into the kitchen with Beth in tow.

"Noelle, you okay?" asked Quinn as she handed Beth to Noelle and prepared Beth's bottle.

"Josh broke up with me," said Noelle, hanging her head down.

"What?" replied Quinn. "Why?"

"He said he's gotta get his shit together for next year," said Noelle. "I've never had my heart broken like this before."

"You don't need him, Noe," said Quinn. "You're strong. And maybe he's just worried it's moving too fast. I mean, you were pregnant at one point too."

"He said it wasn't because of the baby," said Noelle, shaking her head as she handed Beth to Quinn. "He's just worried about football and basketball scouts, and wrestling and everything. He does so much you know?"

"Maybe you can show him that he can make time for you too," said Quinn as she gave Beth her bottle.

"Maybe," said Noelle. As Puck walked in and greeted Noelle with a wave, Noelle gave a half-smile as Puck kissed Quinn.

Noelle: Guess mine, is not the first, heartbroken.

My eyes are not the first, to cry.

I'm not the first to know, there's just no getting over you.

The next day at school, Noelle stood at her locker, collecting her chemistry book as she watched Josh interact with his wrestling buddies. Little did they know that Mr. Schue was watching them both.

Noelle: You know, I'm just a fool, who's willing

To sit around and wait for you

But baby can't you see

There's nothing else for me to do

I'm hopelessly devoted to you

Noelle closed her locker after thumbing the photo of her and Josh at her parents' wedding and walked away past Mr. Schue who had a look of dread on his face. Noelle stood in the auditorium to the empty crowd, her script at her feet.

Noelle: But now, there's nowhere to hide

Since you pushed my love aside

I'm out of my head

Hopelessly devoted to you

Hopelessly devoted to you, ooh oooh

Hopelessly devoted to you

As she hit the last note, she stared at the clock on her phone, that now read 3:15. Josh had stood her up.


"Where were you?" Noelle asked Josh the next day as she approached his locker. "Did you forget we were going to rehearse?"

"I meant to come find you," said Josh. "Coach Bieste called an emergency practice, ask Finn. We do have the championship game coming up in a couple weeks."

"He did mention something about being worked to the bone last night," said Noelle. "He was so tired, he ate a sandwich and went right to bed." Noelle sighed. "I'm sorry Josh."

"I told Bieste that we need to rehearse this scene and that we have dress rehearsal so we can do this tonight, I promise," said Josh.

"Josh, what are we doing?" asked Noelle. "This is stupid. One minute we're fighting like cats and dogs, and now we're talking like we're still together."

"Noe, I promise, we'll be okay," said Josh. "I just need some space, okay?"

"But we can make this work, you know?" replied Noelle. "You can do everything and make time for me, for us. Look at Finn and Rachel. And Puck and Quinn. I mean, come on, they're raising a baby."

"I just need time, Noe," said Josh. As the bell rang, signaling Homeroom, Josh sighed. "I'll see you in Chemistry, okay?" Noelle nodded as he kissed her cheek and headed to his math class, while Noelle grabbed her Spanish book and headed to Mr. Schuester's classroom.

Later that afternoon, Noelle and Josh did a quick blocking session before the rest of the glee club showed up to run their dress rehearsal before performing for the school on Thursday, and then opening night on Friday. Will had enlisted a few of the other teachers to fill some empty spots, and Coach Bieste had recruited some of the football players to play the Scorpions, so this would be the first full dress rehearsal with everyone involved. Josh was also going to have the dual role of Tom Chisum, the football player that Sandy briefly dates so he wasn't only going to have one scene. Noelle thought it was funny because Rachel was like a sister to both of them, and because Josh was such a klutz and bad dancer like Finn.

"Okay, so Mrs. Hogberg, who's going to play Viola the waitress, is going to be cleaning up the spilled milkshake, and I take out my bobby pins and remove my scarf to reveal my pink hair. We go on to talk about how I messed up and dropped out of beauty school. Then I talk about other jobs I could do and then I tell her how I wish I had a guardian angel and she says, "If you find him, give him my phone number." Then she exits and I sit in the booth, and the lights dim and you appear with the girls and start to sing."

Josh nodded and stood next to her.

"Just like in the movie," said Josh.

"Exactly like the movie," teased Noelle. "Gosh, my first musical on my own two feet. Josh, I can honestly say I never expected to have this happen to me."

Josh sighed and took her in a hug.

"You're going to be great," said Josh. "It might not be the lead role, but you will do great."

"I'm just worried something's going to happen with my legs," said Noelle. "I'm still not 100% strong."

"When's your next physical therapy session?" asked Josh.

"Tomorrow morning," said Noelle. "I have to miss first through third periods."

"I'll go with you," said Josh. Noelle shook her head.

"No, Mom will be at the hospital anyways," said Noelle. "Her and Dad are going to take me."

"Okay," said Josh. At that moment, the rest of the glee club entered the auditorium.

"Alright guys, get in your costumes," said Will as he and Emma sat at the directors table. Other teachers and the football team, along with Becky and Coach Sylvester also entered the auditorium.

"We start from the top in twenty," continued Will as everyone headed for backstage.


It was time for the first public show. Everyone was on pins and needles. Rachel was having a panic attack backstage, while Finn tried to calm her down. Everyone else was just anxious, nervous for the school's response to the show. Coach Sylvester made the demand that everyone attend the performance and pay the five-dollar admission or they would be sitting in a very crowded study hall. Will hoped that would convince everyone to come to the show.

A tap came to Noelle's shoulder as she sat at her dressing table and she turned to see Josh standing there, a bouquet of pink roses in his hands.

"Break a leg," said Josh, holding out the flowers. Noelle smiled and accepted the roses, her favorite, and inhaled their scent.

"Thanks, they're beautiful," replied Noelle. She smiled at Josh.

"So are you," said Josh. He scratched the back of his head as Noelle blushed some more. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," replied Noelle. "I'll make it through the show okay."

"Noe, I've been thinking, and you're right. I think we can make this work."

"Really?" replied Noelle, her heart leaping.

"I love you, and that's not going to change," said Josh. "And I don't know where we will be in a couple years, but I do know that wherever you are, so am I."

"Even if you're recruited?" asked Noelle.

"Even if I'm recruited," replied Josh. "I would rather put your dreams first than mine."

"Oh Josh," sighed Noelle. The overhead lights blinked on and off, with a bell dinging, signaling that it was time for the curtain to go up and Noelle placed the vase of flowers on her dressing table. She leaned up and kissed Josh, while trying not to smudge her lipstick.

"I love you," said Noelle.

"I love you too, Frenchy," teased Josh. "See you out there."

Noelle went to take her opening spot, while Finn and Rachel stood in front of the beach backdrop to start the opening scene. Rachel peeked out the side of the curtain.

"Wow, Coach Sylvester stayed true to her word," said Rachel as the lights dimmed once more. "Everyone and their dog is out there."

"Well, break a leg then, Berry," teased Finn.

The first show was a success. The entire student body showed up, resulting in about two grand in cash. Finn and Rachel were truly the stars of the show, and not one mishap occurred on stage. If this was the result of just the student body, then the glee club members were all sure the general public were going to love it. The general public was being charged twice as much as the students, so the three nights would more than likely generate over twelve grand in cash.

Sure enough, on the official opening night the following evening, Noelle poked her head out from backstage and saw a sold-out crowd. She saw her parents, Kurt and Blaine sitting in the front row and she gave a smile and a small wave as she headed back to the dressing areas.

"You guys, it's a sold out crowd," said Noelle as she came up to the girl's dressing tables. "We are going to have more than enough money for New York!"

"We have to get to New York first, Gimpy," snarked Santana as she strolled over to her chair.

"True," Noelle replied back to Santana with a smile. "But we're going to kick ass at Sectionals."

The lights dimmed and dinged as Will came in.

"Okay everyone, places!" cried Will.