AN: So, it's been a few. That being said, I'd like to once again thank everyone who's still around. You guys are awesome. This is the final chapter of this story, which I'm calling part one of the Skinny Love 'Verse. I don't know if I'll ever write a sequel, but you never know. FYI: The Adele Mash-Up is this one: youtube (dot) com (slash) watch?v=Ri169fuI7lw You should definitely check it out to get how it's supposed to sound. Enough talk though, here it is: the end.
Chapter 11: Skinny Love
"Umm, thanks for that, umm, interesting performance, Santana" is Mr. Schue's uncomfortable praise as Santana finishes her performance of Jessie J's Do It Like A Dude. She included all the foul language and the crotch grabbing. is starting to think he's going to have to put some rules on these self-expression performances.
The rest of the Club, on the other hand, had loved it. Santana received plenty of high-fives and pats on her back as she went back to her seat. But it was Brittany's kiss and sexy whisper of "that was so hot" that really put the cherry on top for Santana. She now sits there with a smug grin on her face.
"Okay, then. While that was certainly an original choice, I don't think it's an appropriate choice for Sectionals, Santana. Thanks for the contribution, though." Mr. Schue says choosing his words carefully.
"That's fine, Mr. Schue." Santana replies.
"Anyone else?"
"Finn, Artie and I have been working on something, Mr. Schue." Dave Karofsky says.
"Really? Well then, go for it guys!"
Finn smiles at Rachel before getting up and walking over to sit at the drums. Artie wheels over and grabs his guitar, while Dave moves to sit at the piano.
"We were just jamming the other day at my house. Kurt was blaring Adele in his room and we got the idea from there. Originally it was meant to be a cover, but since we couldn't pick one song, Rachel suggested we do a Mash-Up of sorts." Finn says.
"Whenever you're ready guys." says with a smile.
Puck remembers he got invited, but declined because he and Quinn had promised to babysit Sarah that day. He had been interested in seeing the product of their mash-up ever since Finn had told him about it.
With Brad at the piano helping out Dave and the rest of the Band ready, Finn starts off the song softly.
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep You had my heart inside your hand
And you played it to the beat
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship to bare
See how I'll leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
The music picks up even more as Finn gets into it.
The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it to the beat
Artie takes over the singing then as he starts the next song in the mash-up.
Never mind
I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
"Don't forget me", I beg
"I remember", you said
"Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead."
Sometimes it lasts in love
But sometimes it hurts instead
As Artie finishes his part, Dave begins his. The softer qualities of his voice and his skilled piano playing shining through.
I can't keep up with your turning tables
Under your thumb I can't breathe
So, I won't let you close enough to hurt me
No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables
Finn once again takes over the lead vocals bringing the song back around to Rolling in the Deep.
There's a fire starting in my heart
We could have had it all Rolling in the deep You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it to the beat
The final part of the song is a mix and match. All of them trading lines back and forth and overlapping each other.
We could have had it all
Never mind I'll find someone like you
Rolling in the deep
I wish nothing but the best for you too
You had my heart inside of your han
d I won't let you close enough to hurt me
And you played it to the beat
We could have had it all/"Don't forget me", I beg
"I'll remember", you said
Rolling in the deep/I can't give you what you think you gave me
You had my heart inside of your hand/No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me
And you played it to the beat/Never mind I'll find someone like you
Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables
to turning tables
As their voices and instruments fade away, the whole room stands and gives them one hell of a standing ovation.
"Perfection" Rachel says quietly as she claps loud and hard. Her smile is so wide it's staring to hurt, but she can't help it. Finn, Artie, and Dave had truly outdone themselves.
"Guys, I think we found our first contender for Sectionals." Mr. Schue says with a beaming smile.
"Who knew Hudson and the boys had that in them?" Puck says still in awe as he and Quinn walk to class. Quinn makes a noise in agreement as she checks her phone. Her mom had texted her asking what she wanted for dinner.
"Mr. Schue said that all we need is an opening number and we're golden." Puck says. As they reach their desks, he looks over to Quinn. An idea hits him and before he even thinks it through he says it. "You and I should do a duet as the opening for Sectionals. Then we can hit the Adele Mash-Up and bring the house down. What do you think?" The more the idea sets in, the more he likes it. Sure they aren't the strongest singers, but they have something else. He's not sure how to explain it, but he does know the word love flashes through his mind.
Ever since they talked about going to New York together it's been getting harder and harder not to make the true extent of his feelings known. It might be stupid – since they are planing their future together – but he still thinks the power behind those three little words should be reserved for the perfect moment.
"What about Rachel and Kurt? Since they aren't singing lead in the Mash-Up both of them are probably dying to get a solo." Quinn says genuinely concerned.
"Think about this: We do a duet and then Hudson and the boys do their thing and we win Sectionals. Regionals comes and that should definitely be the shining place for Santana, Mercedes, Sam and the rest. Once we get to Nationals, it's all Rachel and Kurt. Those two combined will get us the win. That's the best way to do it, trust me." He sees Quinn think it over. She replies "Okay, I'm in" just as the teacher enters the room. Puck knows that if they find the right song, they are bound to blow them all out of the water.
"Broken Strings? Or maybe something by The XX?" Puck asks as he and Quinn search through their respective iTunes for the perfect song to sing.
"The first one is way to depressing. The XX are a good idea, so let's keep that one for now." Quinn answers as she continues to look through her music. "Maybe we can just turn a song into a duet, so we don't limit ourselves to only looking for songs that are already sung by two people." Quinn suggest.
"That's.." Puck begins to say as he trails off.
"That's what?" Quinn asks as she tears her eyes away from her computer screen. She sees Puck hook up his laptop to some speakers he has in his room. A song plays through them and then Puck looks over. Quinn knows the song; she always though the words reminded her of them. As she listens now, she knows that the emotion they are sure to bring to it will make this the perfect choice.
"So guys, we need one more song for Sectionals. Any suggestions?"
Puck and Quinn glance at the rest of their teammates who seem to be at a loss for things to offer .
With a deep sigh, Mr. Schue speaks: "Guys, come on. The Adele songs are great, but we need something more."
"I, well actually we, have something ." Quinn says, cutting him off. Everyone turns to look at them and Mr. Schue gives her an excited smile before telling her the floor is theirs.
"Puck and I prepared a song. It's not originally a duet, but it does have layered voices which means we'll obviously need the rest of the Club to back us up." Quinn explains as she sets the two stools down in the center. She takes her seat as she waits for Puck to get his guitar and sit next to her.
As Puck takes his seat, he adds one more thing: "The song, in a way, used to be Q & me. It's not anymore, but – like I guess what I'm trying to say is we get it. We get what it says." He looks over to Quinn who is staring at him with soft loving eyes. He blushes a bit before nodding at the band to start.
Puck starts with the first verse, his hands on his guitar and his eyes on Quinn.
Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
Quinn takes over the next verse, their eyes still locked.
I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall
They trade back and forth the next few lines.
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Puck finishes out that verse, before they both sing the chorus.
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines
Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
They trade lines again, this time with Quinn taking the first and then finishing out the verse by herself.
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines
They both end the last verse together.
Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?
As the song ends they both look to the club. They all clap just as Mr. Schue says "I think we have our set-list for Sectionals."
Puck and Quinn look out at their teammates, their friends, their family. They all have smiles on their faces and it serves as a reminder to them both of how lucky they truly are.
They day finally arrives. New Directions is up against The Warblers and Haverbrook School for the Deaf. It feels as though things have come full circle. The old and the new both there as a reminder of all the obstacles the club as been against and has succeeded in overcoming. It seems fitting that they boys are wearing red shirts with black ties while the girls wear red dresses with black accessories; an homage to their original Sectionals outfits, which were the same, but with the colors inverted.
New Directions is once again last to go. Everyone starts walking over to the stage, each and everyone of them hugging Puck and Quinn on the way. After that, Puck and Quinn make their way to the entrance of the theater. A tradition started by Rachel now serves as New Directions signature move.
As they wait for their cue to start, Puck walks over to Quinn and says the only thing that's on his mind. "Did you love me?"
Quinn doesn't even hesitate to answer: "Yes. Especially now." They share a smile, and Puck leans in to kiss her. As they part, he rests his forehead against hers for a moment. "Good Luck" he says. He leans back and looks deep into Quinn's eyes. Her answer could not be more perfect: "I love you."
The butterflies in Puck's stomach make their presence known in that moment.
This is what happiness truly feels like, is the thought in both of their minds. Competition or no competition, Puck and Quinn have finally found each other, and that's all that really matters to them.
That huge trophy they get at the end is really just icing on the cake.