"What do you mean you can't expel him!" Puck slammed his fists down on the desk. "He's been nothing but trouble. Kurt left because of him, now he's just chosen Rachel as his new target."
"Look, I can suspend him for three days. That's all. Since I have word from several different people that you were the one who started the...physical confrontation, I can't expel him without at least suspending you two boys as well." Principal Figgins explained.
"He had him pinned on the ground and was punching him in the head." Rachel spoke up from the back corner of the room. "He could've been killed."
"He threatened to kill Kurt." Finn added, moving next to Puck. "He's dangerous."
"There is no proof of that Mr. Hudson."
"This is ridiculous." Puck said, pointing at his face "Look what he did."
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing more I can do." Principal Figgins said. Puck spun around and stormed out the room. Finn and Rachel followed. As Puck turned into the hallway, he punched a locker. Several people scattered away. As Puck continued down the halls the sea of students parted, Rachel ran to keep up with him, Finn followed to make sure he didn't do anything too stupid. Puck headed outside and towards the Football field, he sat down on the front metal seat. Rachel stopped and turned to face Finn.
"It's okay, I got it."
"Alright. Text if you need me." Finn said as he reluctantly left the football field and headed back inside. Rachel approached Puck and sat down next to him. "How's your hand?" she said, looking at his bright red fist.
"Hurts." Puck answered.
"Was there any point to punching that locker?"
"It got people to move out of the way."
"Did it make you feel better?"
"No."
"It's okay, Puck. You don't have to stand up for me. I don't care what Karofsky calls me." Rachel said, putting her hand on top of his.
"He just...needs to be put in his place."
"I know. Just...leave that to someone else. No more fighting for my sake. Promise?"
"Rachel..." Puck said, looking at her. He could see she was serious.
"Promise." she cut him off.
"But if he ever lays a hand on you..."
"If he ever lays a hand on me do what you like to him. Just don't get hurt...or arrested. Now promise me."
"Fine. I promise."
Rachel could feel everyone's eyes on her as she entered the choir room. She kept her gaze fixed on her feet. She was too scared to look up, afraid of their sympathetic expressions. Once upon a time she would've loved to be the one that everyone stopped what they were doing to watch her enter the room. Not now. Not for this reason. She wanted people to stare because they admired her, not because they pitied her. Puck followed her, she didn't know why, but it made her feel a little better. She sat at the back on the edge of the row, Puck took the seat next to her. After a few minutes, Mr. Schue entered the room and looked over the students, pausing for a second longer when he saw Rachel sitting silently in the corner. "Good afternoon." He started "As I said yesterday, I would like it if you all could prepare a solo to sing in front of your fellow Glee members. Just to boost our confidence and trust in each other. Now, I'm not forcing anyone. If you really don't want to you don't have to. But I'd recommend you do. It'll be a good exercise." He paused, looking over the room "Has anyone prepared something?" A few people put their hands up. Rachel didn't really listen as Mercedes belted out some diva-esque song, Artie and Sam also sang before Finn put up his hand, volunteering to sing. Suddenly, Rachel's attention had been caught. She watched as he awkwardly stood at the front, waiting for the band to start playing. Finally, they started to play and Finn started to sing a ballad.
"Don't talk, don't say a thing,
Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words.
Don't go, don't leave me now,
Cause they say the best way out is through."
As Finn sung, he tried to keep his eyes away from Rachel, but the more he tried not to look at her, the more he did.
"And I am short on words knowing what's occurred.
She begins to leave because of me.
Her bag is now much heavier.
I wish that I could carry her.
But this is our ungodly hour."
Rachel took her eyes off Finn and looked at her shoes again and just listened. His voice calmed her.
I know you're leaving now,
Cause I held on to my way tightly.
Stay still until you know,
Tomorrow finds the best way out is through.
And I am short on words knowing what's occurred.
She begins to leave because of me.
Her bag is now much heavier.
I wish that I could carry her.
But this is our ungodly hour."
Everyone clapped as Finn finished the song. He smiled his crooked smile and sat back down. While Tina and Santana sang their solos, Rachel wondered whether she should sing or not. She hadn't performed since her dads funeral. It felt like their were so many butterflies in her stomach, a feeling she never used to get while in this room. Santana finished singing and sat back down. "Anyone else?" Mr. Schue asked. Rachel stood up. Everyone was a little surprised. They hadn't expected to get anything out of her for a while. Rachel made her way to the front and whispered into Brad and the jazz bands' ears. She stood nervously until the music started. She had everyone's full attention.
"No words. My tears won't make any room for more.
And it don't hurt, like anything I've ever felt before, this is,
No broken heart,
No familiar scars.
This territory goes uncharted..."
As she sung that confidence she used to have was slowly building back up.
"Just me, in a room sunk down in a house in a town, and I
Don't breathe, no I never meant to let it get away from me.
Now, I've too much to hold, everybody has to get their hands on gold.
And I want...uncharted.
Stuck under this ceiling I made, I can't help but feeling...
I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go.
I'm already out, of foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted..."
As she sung the chorus everything else faded away. She didn't think about her dads, or Finn, or her baby. Nothing mattered to her except singing the lyrics of the song.
"Each day, I'm countin' up the minutes, till I get alone, 'cause I can't stay
In the middle of it all, it's nobody's fault, but I'm
So alone, Never knew how much I didn't know,
Oh, everything is uncharted.
I know I'm getting nowhere, when I only sit and stare like...
I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, of foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted."
Puck was amazed. Rachel had gone from a shy, damaged girl to full on diva as she sung. It was like singing was the cure.
"Jump start my kaleidoscope heart,
Love to watch the colors fade,
They may not make sense,
But they sure as hell made me.
I won't go as a passenger, no
Waiting for the road to be laid
Though I may be going down,
I'm taking flame over burning out.
Compare, where you are to where you want to be, and you'll get nowhere."
Rachel finished singing and every member of the Glee Club stood up and applauded her, she smiled shyly as everyone ran down and crowded around her. Hugging and praising her. Mr. Schue looked on proudly. The group was really coming together.
Songs:
Ungodly Hour - The Fray
Uncharted - Sara Bareilles
Review. Please. Pretty please with sugar on top.
Jeez, I'm pathetic.