A/N: So here it is! The next chapter! Thank you so much to anyone who is reading this story or has added it to story alert. I'm incredibly flattered that people actually seem to like my style of writing! It really helps to motivate me so thanks for your support! Special thanks goes to sydg813 and SceneNeko for reviewing! Your kind words of support made my day; here, have one of Rachel's gold stars as a thank you! With no further ado, onto the story! Enjoy! Chasing Aspirations xxx

The Glee club sat scattered around the room, all sitting with their duet partners (with the exception of Quinn and Rachel who literally couldn't sit next to each other for a long period of time without attempting to claw each other's eyes out, much to Will's dismay). The Glee club director let out a sigh as he watched the diva and ex-cheerio shoot each other glares from across the choir room. He admittedly regretted not allowing the Glee club to choose their own partners as, according to Emma, those two weren't the only pair with issues. Over the course of the week, she'd apparently seen Tina, Artie, Quinn, Rachel, Finn and even on one occasion Santana, all of them complaining about the duets assignment (apparently Santana had even suggested that Emma should attempt to 'persuade' him not to force the club to carry out the assignment- it wasn't the words that the girl had used that had worried Will, it was how he was sure she'd phrased them. What made him certain of her intentions was the wide-eyed and slightly traumatised woman who had recounted their meeting, a cute little stain of blush rising in her cheeks when she'd mentioned talking to Santana. Her eyes had looked so bea... no. Stop thinking of her Will! She's not yours anymore. She belongs to him. That dentist... Karl or something. Point is she's moved on, you should too...easier said than done).

The Spanish teacher let out a long suffering sigh as his eyes flickered between the pairs dotted across the seats in front of him. At least Brittany, Mike, Mercedes, Puck, Kurt and Sam seemed to be enjoying or at the very least tolerating the assignment he'd set them. Maybe he should steer clear of pair work for a while after this assignment... maybe work on some more Journey songs?

Will mentally congratulated himself as he started brainstorming ideas for their Sectionals set list (it didn't hurt to be prepared after their experience with Vocal Adrenaline last year and who doesn't love a bit of Journey!). Snapping himself out of his thoughts, the teacher began to address the group.

'Alright guys. Who wants to go first?' A few eager hands shot up but before Will could make a choice, Puck and Mercedes were out of their seats, the former with a guitar in hand, heading for the centre of the choir room. Bemused, Will decided to just take a seat and watch their performance. He tried to ignore the indignant expression of a certain star obsessed diva as she pouted at not being the first to perform, instead choosing to focus on the unlikely duo about to sing together for the first time since the two had split (thinking about it Will wondered how the two hadn't found working together awkward considering their history... he didn't question it though. If anything, he was grateful that these two were able to put aside their differences. After all, Glee club already had more than enough drama to contend with).

'Okay. Mercedes, Puck. Show us what you've got.'

The crash of drums could be heard shortly before the guitar line and Puck's gravely vocals kicked in.

Puck: Voted most likely

To end up on the back of a milk box drink

Looks like I'm letting 'em down

Mercedes: 'Cause $7.75

Isn't worth an hour of my hard work and time

When you can't afford half the stuff they advertise

Puck: Oh I'm worth more than they ask

Mercedes: More than a toe-tagged generation full of regrets

Puck: Ohh I won't settle no oh

Mercedes: Oh I can't settle

Mercedes: I wanna break the mold (ahh ahh –Puck)

Wanna break the stereotype (ahh ahh –Puck)

Fist in the air (ahh ahh –Puck)

I'm not going down without a fight (down without a fight- Puck)

Both: It's my life

And I'm not sitting on the sidelines watching it

Pass me by

I'm leaving you my legacy

I gotta make my mark

I gotta run it hard

I want you to remember me

Mercedes: I'm leaving my fingerprints

Puck: I'm leaving my fingerprints

Mercedes: I'm leaving my fingerprints on you

Puck: Don't give up

Mercedes: Don't give in

Both: Build your house on the rock

Mercedes: Oh not in the sand

Puck: In the sand

Mercedes: In the sand

Both: In the sand

It's my life

And I'm not sitting on the sidelines watching it

Pass me by

I'm leaving you my legacy

I gotta make my mark

I gotta run it hard

I want you to remember me

Mercedes: It's my life (I want you to remember me- Puck)

And I'm not sitting on the sidelines watching it

Pass me by

Both: I'm leaving you my legacy

I gotta make my mark

I gotta run it hard

I want you to remember me

Puck: 'Cause I'm leaving my fingerprints

Mercedes: I'm leaving my fingerprints

Both: I'm leaving my fingerprints

Mercedes: In the end...

The Glee club all began to applaud the pair with enthusiasm. Amongst the cheering and whoops of approval, Kurt sent Mercedes a huge grin of congratulations and support; however Sam could feel the counter tenor's uncertainty in the way his fists slightly clenched. The blonde could understand the boy's reaction. From the small amount of time he'd spent re-acquainting himself with Kurt, he'd discovered that some things never changed and one of those things was the brunette's love of performing. He loved the limelight but had never truly had the chance to showcase his talent. Sam remembered how Kurt had opened up to him over the week they'd spent together.

"You know you're pretty obsessed with this competition dude. Does it really matter if we win or not."

"Did you not hear Puck when he told you that Breadstix is the only decent restaurant in Lima...?"

The blonde raised an eyebrow at Kurt's explanation. "C'mon Kurt. We both know there's more to it than that. It's like you feel that you have to prove yourself to them...'

If the blonde hadn't been so tuned into Kurt then he might have missed the whispered 'I do.' But given his slight obsession with the boy currently perched crossed legged on the edge of the bed, Sam heard the words as clearly as if they had been shouted at him.

'Kurt man, why would you think that? They all love you in there. If anything it's me who needs to prove something. None of them even know me, for all they know I could suck, I mean...'

'Defying Gravity.'

'Sorry dude, what?'

'That's why I need to prove something. It was a solo that Rachel and I both wanted. Of course she got it... I couldn't hit the high F. No one in Glee club has looked at me quite the same since; I've had to fight twice as hard to get a solo. This competition is a chance to let my voice be heard. Maybe if we win... when we win, they'll see me as more of an asset to the Glee club.' The frown on the soprano's face when he mentioned the high F made Sam believe that there was more to that story than he was being told, however he sensed that now probably wasn't the best time to ask about it. Instead he offered Kurt a gentle, reassuring smile.

'Kurt man, you're an 'asset', whatever that is, to any Glee club. You've got serious talent. Seriously, you were right when you said we were gonna win. You're awesome Kurt!'

Sam knew that the only reason Kurt was so tense was that he saw Mercedes as a serious threat in this competition. To be fair, he was right to worry. The two Glee club members had been fierce. Kurt was most likely freaking out about not having the chance to make amends for the 'Defying Gravity Disaster'. The blonde reached out and squeezed one of the soprano's clenched fists until it relaxed in his hand, causing a smile to appear on the blonde's face at how comfortable Kurt seemed to be with him.

'Calm down man, she may have been great but we're still gonna win this. After all, we have an advantage that none of the other groups have.'

The brunette quirked an eyebrow in confusion, in a way that Sam found incredibly endearing, as he pursed his lips together into a narrow line. 'What's this advantage then Sam?'

'We have you.' Kurt looked down in embarrassment, cheeks reddening as he pointedly avoided Sam's gaze. Beside him, the jock eyes carefully studied the faint trace of a blush that was now spreading across the soprano's cheeks.

Mercedes and Quinn watched this interaction, Quinn with a look of joyful surprise and Mercedes with a smug smile as she turned to Quinn. 'See I told you he liked Kurt. Now you owe me ten bucks.' The ex-cheerio just smiled as she watched her male friend continue to blush under the attention of the new guy. Was his name Sam? She thought so.

She found herself incredibly grateful that Kurt had finally found someone but she also couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. Not because of who was showing an interest in Kurt, even though, admittedly, when she had first laid eyes on the blonde, she had found him attractive. No instead it was the look in Sam's eyes whenever he was near Kurt. She just wished that someone would look at her in that way.

Unconsciously, her eyes wondered to her 'baby daddy' of last year, watching as he flirted with Satan... sorry Santana as she pointedly ignored the empty feeling she felt at his actions. She also chose to ignore how her stomach churned slightly when he leaned over to peck the cheerio's cheek.

She was over him. She had told herself before this year had started, to leave last year behind and make a new start. For the sake of her own sanity she had to stand by her resolution. She couldn't cope with the pain every time he ran off with another cheerio or cougar anymore. No matter how much she cared for him, she had to let him go. And when Puck lifted his eyes to meet hers, she didn't feel a warm, pleasant fluttering in her stomach... no, not at all.

"Alright everyone. That was a great performance from our first pair. The bar has been set for this competition, so I expect to see some incredible performances from the rest of you. I think we have time for one more. Who wants to go next?"

'We will Mr. Shue.' Tina wheeled Artie to the position where Mercedes and Puck had been previously as they prepared to start their performance.

A/N: So Mercedes and Puck have performed and now it's Tina and Artie's turn. Any ideas what they might sing? - I'll give you a hint, this was the easiest song choice I made as if you listen to the lyrics, they describe their situation perfectly... Let me know what song you think I'm referring to. Guess right and you get a virtual plate of Rachel's I'm sorry cookies. Review and you get a pack of delicious Red Vines! (What the hell can't they do?).

Also, please vote on the poll I've put up on my homepage about Quinn's possible love interest- You feedback would be much appreciated! Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! Chasing Aspirations xxx