Beautiful Liar
Rachel's life was a whirlwind of activity and fun. She had tons of fun at school. She was tutoring Puck, who had gotten his first A. He finally understood that colleges were looking and he needed to get his GPA up. She still had super long practices with Shelby, usually at night. She had become friends with tons of Warblers and spent more time with Kurt and Blaine. She had even started critiquing the Warblers performances for them.
She was getting more and more nervous about the duet. She knew Puck would sing with her, but she wasn't sure what they could sing. She thought about it all the time. She went to Shelby's house after school to talk to her about it.
She walked in, scooping up Beth and walking into the kitchen, where Shelby was currently trying to frost some sugar cookies. Shelby turned and saw Rachel's puppy dog face and laughed. She put the piping bag down and handed Rachel a cookie. Rachel sat down in a chair with Beth on her lap. She broke the cookie in half and shared it with Beth.
Rachel's eyes rolled back in her head as she ate the cookie. Shelby smiled and saw that both Rachel and Beth were enjoying her cookies.
"We can't work today. You should brainstorm duet ideas," Shelby said.
"Shit," Rachel said.
"Ugh, not around Beth," Shelby said, grabbing Beth from Rachel.
"Shit," Beth repeated, then giggled. Rachel bit her lip, trying not to crack up.
She sighed and went to work on her dance for Sectionals. Just then a song came up on her iPod.
"Shelby! I have a song for the duet!" she yelled and ran to Shelby who loved her daughter's idea.
Puck walked into Rachel's house and found her in her room with her headphones in, writing what looked like choreography in a notebook. He sighed and laid down on her bed, arms behind his head, seeing she was in a far off world that only she went to.
About fifteen minutes later, Rachel checked her phone and saw Puck was late; she sighed and turned around to go call him.
"Ahh!" She said, seeing him on the bed. He smiled, looking extremely proud of himself for scaring her. She glared at him then jumped on top of him, giving him a quick peck.
"I have a question," she said.
"Well, what is it?" he said.
"Will you do a duet at Sectionals with me?" She whispered.
He nodded. She got up and showed him the choreography and the song. He smiled at her and nodded.
"Yay!" she said, throwing down the notebook and kissing him hard and passionately.
Anybody could guess what happened next.
Rachel shut her locker with a tired sigh. She had been practicing with Shelby until one in the morning with Puck. She went to the girl's locker room and saw lots of girls changing for Poms tryouts. She was glad she didn't have to tryout. Sue said that her Monster performance had more than assured her a spot on the squad.
She put on some light blue spandex and a dark purple spandex top that had three quarter inch sleeves. She put on her hot pink socks, put her hair in a high bun, and walked out to the gym with a couple girls, including Santana and Brittney.
Coach had also said that Santana and Brittney were on the squad. The three girls were very excited to all be co-captains, as Rachel had insisted.
They walked in and saw Coach Sylvester and Shelby talking. Beth was in Shelby's arms. Rachel decided to take charge.
She led the girls through stretches and told them all to sit down. Santana and Britney stood on either side of her.
"This squad is going to win competitions. You have to work for it. If you don't you'll simply be off the squad. Dance is the main focus of this. Your body is your instrument. You fine tune it and once you get routines down, you infuse yourself and your personality into it. You make it look extremely easy," Rachel said, looking all of the girls in the eye. Shelby and Sue had walked up and both were nodding.
"Alright, everybody up!" Rachel said, "Britney and Santana will be watching you. They are looking for effort or lack of effort. That, besides your eventual performance of this will be added in. Alright, let's start," She smiled, "Welcome to hell, ladies," and started the dance.
Two hours later, everybody was out of breath and sweating. Rachel had been watching them. Much to her displeasure, Quinn had come and tried out. Quinn was good though. Certainly better than most of the girls. Santana, Britney, Shelby, Sue and Rachel went over the list of girls that had made it one last time.
"Alright, listen up," Sue said and read off the list.
"Quinn, a word?" Rachel said after all the girls had been dismissed. Quinn came over.
"Look. We're on the same team now. Let's at least be civil, okay? I want to put all of this to rest," Rachel said, looking Quinn straight in the eye.
Quinn slowly nodded.
"Don't make me regret going against everybody to put you on this team," Rachel said, walking away, leaving Quinn standing there, wide-eyed.
She drove behind Shelby to her mother's house. They found Puck waiting on the front step. Beth ran to him and he picked her up and spun her around.
"Shit," Beth said gleefully. Rachel giggled and Shelby gave an exasperated sigh. Puck looked between the two and smiled. They went inside. Shelby put Beth down for a nap and they went into the next room. Shelby walked Puck and Rachel through the choreography for their duet. Puck was actually a good dancer.
Puck went to play with Beth, while Shelby and Rachel went to talk while making dinner.
"I think you and Puck are getting closer," Shelby said.
Rachel shrugged. "I tell him everything. He's also one of my best friends."
Shelby nodded. "Does he know about Jesse?" Shelby asked carefully.
"Yes. I told him and he was mad at first but then he listened to me. He says to do what I think is right," Rachel explained.
"He's good for you, Rachel," Shelby said after a moment. Rachel smiled and kissed her mothers cheek. They continued making dinner in companionable silence.
In the next room, Puck was with Beth. God, he loved his baby girl. She was so vibrant and full of life.
He didn't see her, but Rachel, behind him, was watching him from the doorway with a smile on her face.
Beth turned.
"Sissy," she said and ran to Rachel, who scooped her up and went to sit by Puck.
"Rachel?" Puck said after a silence. She looked up from Beth at him.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked.
She smiled and nodded.
"It's weird. We've kind of already been that, just never said it," Rachel mused.
"It feels nice to have said it," Puck said. Rachel smiled and grabbed his hand.
The whole week went by super fast. Rachel had Poms practice everyday after school and then she tutored Puck and then they went to Shelby's. Eyes were rolled at Puck and Rachel. They always drifted together during practice since they were both on the field.
It was Friday and Rachel, Santana, and Britney were sitting having lunch.
"You should totally have a party," Britney said to Rachel, "You're dads are gone and you have an empty house. It'd be awesome."
Rachel nodded. She stood up and got on top of their table.
"Hey, everybody listen!" Everybody did.
"Party at my house tomorrow. Be there at seven!" She yelled. People cheered and put their heads together talking about how great the party would be. Brian Hadley came up and tapped Rachel on the shoulder. She smiled and they did their secret handshake that they'd come up with at one of his parties over the summer.
"What's up, Brian?" Rachel asked.
"Would you like me to bring the refreshments?" Brian said, raising his eyebrows.
"Uh-huh," Santana said, nodding vigorously. Rachel rolled her eyes and nodded at Brian.
"Cool. See ya tomorrow night," he said, walking away. Rachel turned to Santana and Britney and began planning.
"How do I look?" Rachel asked Santana and Britney, coming down the stairs of her house.
"Hot," Both Santana and Britney said. It was true.
Rachel's hair was down and fell in loose waves down her back. She wore a white strapless bustier top that had black stenciled lines criss-crossing all over it and had a ruffle at the bottom. Underneath she wore black silk shorts and she had on lace-up red oxfords that had a small wedge. Her lips were red.
"Did we remember everything?" Rachel said, nervously.
"Don't worry, everything's good," Santana said smiling at Rachel's nervousness. This was Rachel's first real party.
People began to arrive and Rachel turned up the music. Puck showed up but was quickly distracted by a basketball game on TV. Later he got a call from his mother asking him to come home because his sister was sick and he needed to get her medicine. He told Rachel and she smiled and gave him a kiss goodbye. Puck told her not to drink too much. Puck walked out and was glad Rachel didn't have neighbors around. They would have definitely called the cops.
Rachel was having a blast and so was everybody else. She didn't realize how much she was drinking though. Things got pretty wild. Rachel was seriously drunk. Luckily for Rachel, Santana had been told by Puck to watch out for her. She steered Rachel away from more beer to the makeshift stage, knowing even a drunk Rachel couldn't resist singing. After everybody left at three in the morning, Santana and Britney cleaned up, with some help from Rachel. Seeing Rachel could barely stand, Britney took her upstairs to bed. She put out some water and Tylenol for Rachel, feeling sorry that the girl would have a killer hangover in the morning.
She went downstairs and finished up with Santana.
Rachel woke up the next morning in her bed. There was Tylenol and a bottle of water by the bed, which she quickly took and drank. He head was pounding.
Just then Shelby walked in, having used the spare key Rachel had given her. She saw Rachel in bed.
"Hey baby," Shelby said, sitting, wondering how late Rachel's party had gone. Santana and Britney had texted Shelby that Rachel might be out for a while. They had cleaned the house up before they had left. All of the sudden Rachel shot out of bed towards the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet.
Shelby held her daughter's hair back and rubbed gentle, calming circles onto Rachel's back.
An hour later, Shelby and Rachel were drinking coffee in Rachel's kitchen.
"God, I'm stupid," Rachel said.
"Yeah," Shelby agreed with a small smile, "You are very tiny Rachel. Low alcohol tolerance."
"I know," Rachel said, rubbing her temples.
"I would try to punish you, but I think your hangover is enough. Anyway, I got this in the mail," She said giving Rachel a letter. Rachel sighed. What was it with Jesse and letters?
"Read that. You need to get on better terms with him," Shelby said, getting up to go. She kissed Rachel's forehead and left to go to work.
As soon as Shelby was gone, Rachel huffed. She plopped down on the couch and opened the letter.
Rachel,
I'm an asshole. Yep, I am. I was jealous of you and Puck and so I got with Abby to try to make you jealous. I don't want to keep this up. Can we be friends again?
Text me,
Jesse
Rachel put it down.
"Ugh," she said holding her head, which was pounding. She pulled out her phone.
Rachel; ru bipolar?
Jesse: Good mornin 2 u as well. Thanx 4 bein my alarm clock.
Rachel: Dude, y the hell do u make up now? Y didn't u tell me this wen u were here?
Jesse: hmmm… pride
Rachel: I actually get that ;)
Jesse: Cuz ur just like me
Rachel: yea
Jesse: Im not with abby any more
Rachel: good
Jesse: She coodnt even sing
Rachel: I don't kno y u even wasted time on her then
Jesse: I told u y
Rachel: Ughhhhh
Jesse: ?
Rachel: Im kinda hungover
Jesse: drownin the sorrows away bcuz of my absence?
Rachel: uh, no. u wish
Jesse: srsly about 2 cry now. Berry, u cut me deep.
Rachel: good. Hey we're good now… but I gots 2 go
Jesse: feel better
Rachel suddenly felt frustrated. Why the hell did she have to have feelings for two guys? She went up and changed into dance clothes. She went to the local dance studio where she still danced from time to time.
She put her iPod on shuffle. She danced for hours. She was trying to work off her concentration with some improvisation dance. She just flowed with the music, feeling it in every part of her.
"Rachel!" Britney said. Rachel opened her eyes and saw the bubbly blond that had just entered.
"Hey, Britt" Rachel said smiling. She glanced at the clock. Wow, she'd danced for two and a half hours straight. She was very sweaty.
"Since we're both here do you want to work on the routine for the first football game?" Britney asked, taking off her shoes and setting her stuff down. The two choreographed for an hour. Eventually their planning turned into just fooling around.
They both took out their water and sat on the floor to talk.
"So are you ready for your competition? When is it? I think Lord Tubbington ate the post-it note that I put it on," Britney said.
"It's this Saturday. Remember? We are taking the big car? I'm picking up you, Santana, Kurt and Puck and we are all driving to Chicago," Rachel explained.
"Oh yeah. I'm excited! Are you ready to do your duet?" Britney asked.
"Yep. Puck is a talented dancer, he just lacks training. It was kind of funny teaching him some of the moves, even though it's slow. He has it down," Rachel said, chuckling at the memory.
"San and I get to help with your hair and makeup, right?" Britney asked. Rachel nodded. She and Britney danced a little bit more and left. Rachel had to drop off Quinn's Poms ring at her house. She rang the door bell, feeling a bit out of place, still in her dance clothes.
Quinn's mom opened the door and Rachel asked for Quinn. Quinn's mom smiled and yelled up the stairs for Quinn, who came down.
Quinn's mom excused herself.
"Can we talk on the porch?" Quinn asked. They walked out and sat on Quinn's porch swing.
"What's wrong Quinn?" Rachel asked warily, Quinn shrugged.
"Come on spill," Rachel said, nudging Quinn.
"Alright. I don't know if you'll want to hear this but… you were so nice letting me on the team. At the beginning of school last year, I think you were on vacation, Finn and I, sort of, went out. He got me drunk. We had sex," Quinn paused, a tear coming down her cheek.
"He told me afterwards that he would totally break up with you. But he didn't and he was sort of mean about it. He flaunted being with you. That's why, even though I had sort of bonded with you over Beth, I started hating you again. Yesterday, at your party, he tried to get with me. I told him "no" and he ran out all angry," Quinn said.
Rachel waited a moment and grabbed Quinn's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"He's a no good cheater," Rachel whispered. Then she got an idea.
"I have an idea," She said, eyes lighting up. She grabbed Quinn's hand and pulled her into the house and up to Quinn's room where they began plotting.
"I'm not sure about this," Quinn said.
"Well, I think its fun. And anyway the Poms squad needs a debut," Rachel said, looking at all the assembled girls. All the girls besides Rachel and Quinn had on skin tight strapless black dresses and heels. Rachel and Quinn had on red dresses. Rachel had done Quinn's makeup. All of the girls looked extremely sultry and sexy.
"This is gonna be awesome," Rachel said, giving Quinn an encouraging pat on the back.
She was still keeping Quinn at arms length. She was tired of the constant fighting. They peered into the cafeteria and saw Finn sitting at his usual table with some football players. She looked at Quinn and nodded with a smile. The jazz band went in and got ready to play.
"Good luck," Rachel said with a wink and walked in. The gathered student body all quieted as she stalked slowly towards Finn, enjoying their stares.
Finn turned as she walked up in front of him. She glanced at the guys sitting around him and they took the hint and left. Finn's eyes widened. He was still getting crap about Rachel's Grow a Pear song.
"I hear you cheated on me last year. Don't you remember? I was in California on vacation. You had some fun with Quinn," She paused. Having nothing else to say she nodded at the band and the music began. Her dress hugged her all over and every guy couldn't help but check her out as she began to move her hips to the dance.
She made Finn turn around on his stool and began singing
(Rachel, Quinn, Both)
Ay, Ay, Ay
Nobody likes being played
Berry, Berry
Fabray, Fabray (hey)
Rachel ran her hand down his cheek
He said I'm worth it, his one desire
Quinn came up behind Rachel and sang her part
I know things about 'em that you wouldn't wanna read about
Rachel ran her fingers over his lips
He kissed me, his one and only, (yes) beautiful Liar
As Quinn sang the next line, the rest of the Poms squad surround the three, dancing, all together.
Tell me how you tolerate the things that you just found out about
You never know
Why are we the ones who suffer
I have to let go
He won't be the one to cry
(Ay) Let's not kill the karma
(Ay) Let's not start a fight
(Ay) It's not worth the drama
They both looked at Finn
For a beautiful liar
Can't we laugh about it (Ha Ha Ha)
(Oh) It's not worth our time
(Oh) We can live without 'em
Just a beautiful liar
Quinn stepped up and sang to both Rachel and Finn
I trusted him, but when I followed you, I saw you together
I didn't know about you then 'till I saw you with him again
I walked in on your love scene, slow dancing
You stole everything, how can you say I did you wrong
You never know
When the pain and heartbreak's over
I have to let go
The innocence is gone
(Ay) Let's not kill the karma
(Ay) Let's not start a fight
(Ay) It's not worth the drama
For a beautiful liar
Can't we laugh about it (Ha Ha Ha)
(Oh) It's not worth our time
(Oh) We can live without 'em
Just a beautiful liar
Quinn turned to Rachel and sang to her
Tell me how to forgive you
When it's me who's ashamed
Rachel reached out and grabbed Quinn's hand
And I wish could free you
Of the hurt and the pain
They turned so they were leaning on each other's backs and belted out "blame", harmonizing effortlessly.
But the answer is simple
He's the one to blame
Berry Berry
Fabray Fabray
Berry Berry
Fabray Fabray
(Hey)
(Ay) Let's not kill the karma
(Ay) Let's not start a fight
(Ay) It's not worth the drama
For a beautiful liar
One of the Pom's girls brought Quinn and Rachel each a slushie. They smiled at each other.
Can't we laugh about it (Ha Ha Ha)
(Oh) It's not worth our time
(Oh) We can live without 'em
They pulled back and sent the slushies flying just as they finished
Just a beautiful liar
WOW! Sorry for the super long chapter! I got so inspired and couldn't stop!
Tell me if ya like that Faberry friendship...