Mercedes: POV

This week had been amazing. Marcy got to come to school with us all week & glee had been great. She & Artie had been getting closer (I'll tell you about him) & I think I have to watch Puck around her. They seemed a little too close. I'm not saying anything & he's def. good enough for my baby sister but he's been circling & that's just not going to happen.

Speaking of Puck, he had been singing some pretty great songs in glee. Forever Mackin' by the Isley Brothers, Mr. Lonely by Bobby Vinton & Just What I Needed by the Cars. I didn't know where he was digging for musical inspiration but I hoped he wouldn't hit the bottom. I didn't know he knew who most of those artists were.

Now that we're talkin about artists, we can talk about Artie & how he sang Marc Anthony in class. Tana's whole face cracked. He even sung in Spanish so there was only a handful of us (him, her, me, Marcy, Lucy & Mikey) understood. It was cray! I had to snap my mouth shut when he started. But I loved it & Britt (though confused) did, too. I think he was singing it to her…

I had a good time with Sammy the whole week & I had a great idea for the break but when I thought it over, I knew of a better one. I asked Momma & Daddy if Puck & Nic could spend the break with us. Their mom works Christmas because they're Jewish & they never get to spend it together. They said yes!

S&M&P

Puck: POV

Hell yeah! Mama invited Nic & me over for Christmas. Moms was happy that we wouldn't be alone & read me the riot act to look after Nic & be good for the Jones'. I couldn't believe she still made me promise stuff all the time! I was seventeen! I could stay with my friends for two weeks & not have a problem.

Don't tell that to Nadine Puckerman though…

Whatever. I was over it because I was going to spend two weeks at Mama's house during the most romantic season of the year. I think. It is. It's Mama's favorite time of the year so that makes it romantic. Or at least I was going to make it romantic. Yeah, I had a plan.

Nic was staying with MadDog (yeah, I'm callin a ten year old MadDog; she needed it!) in Mini Mama's room while Laura & Q were sleeping with Mama. All the guys were bunking with Mama's brother, Marc while Ms. Fabray slept in the guest room upstairs & the Changs slept in the one downstairs.

Everything was fine the first few days (I did not know the other girls could bake. They did the whole time) but by the third day, they were crazy.

"Is it gonna hurt, Noah?" Nic was terrified. The reason? we were on a snow covered hill in a graveyard. I'm not joking. They pulled a funky metal thing & had us walk all the way to a cemetery.

"No." I lied. I was actually betting on her getting hurt.

"You won't." Mini Mama promised. "You're gonna love it."

"Can I go first? I want to go first." MadDog demanded.

"Go with Nic." Mama said. "She needs to see it won't hurt her."

"We used to go down in pots." Mike grinned. "We started doing this when we were real little. Found a cemetery one day & rolled down the hills. Came back the next day with pots we borrowed from people next to it. We didn't even think to ask Santa for sleds."

"Mad learned to go down the hills before she even learned to walk." Mal said.

"It's fun. I promise." MadDog took Nic's hand & had her sit on the tin thing.

Nic wasn't buyin it but she sat down anyway. Mini Mama sat behind her. "Sit in front, Mad. You guys ready down there?!"

"Ready!" Mike & Marc yelled. They had their arms out like catchers in baseball.

"Ready, Mal?!"

"Ready!" He had a camera in his hands.

Q & Mama pushed the back of the sled thing & they sped down fast as hell, Nic screaming the whole time. A wave of snow cascaded over us at the bottom. I went to Nic & lifted her out. "You okay?"

"Let's go again!"

Mini Mama raised a fist as the rest of us laughed. "& a speed demon is born."

S&M&P

Mercedes: POV

I was so glad we were keeping with our holiday traditions. Sledding in the cemetery (not as creepy as it sounds), singing carols, baking, spending time together. I loved it & I loved that Puck & Nic got to spend it with us. It was a side we didn't get to show too many people.

We have a tradition where we open one present on Christmas Eve so on Christmas Eve, Nic was surprised to find she had a gift. & not just a gift but multiple gifts. I bought her a few (a bunch of) things, Marcy & Maddie bought her gifts. Our parents all bought her stuff. Lucy bought her something to make up for last year (Nic still didn't like her). Laura & the boys bought her stuff because that's just what we do.

She was going to be one happy seven year old Christmas morning.

I was just lucky our parents weren't paying attention when I gave Puck one of the gifts I had for him…

S&M&P

Puck: POV

"Why'd you get me this when you know I have to lose another five pounds to get in it?" I smirked as soon as she stepped foot in her room. I was lying in her bed after all.

Mama laughed. "You know that's for me to wear, fool!"

I waited for her to climb on her bed (it was huge) before holding her in my arms. I should really buy Sam a shirt that said thanks for yourgirlfriend… "When are you going to wear it for me?"

"Not now!" She blushed.

I kissed the skin visible on her chest. "Why not?"

"Because people are here. We can wait until night like Marcy does."

"How? Nic & MadDog sleep in there with her."

"The closet."

I was done. "I quit."

She giggled. "You know the floor is comfy in the closets."

"I've barely ever been in your closet."

"Come on." She slid to her feet & grabbed my hand, pulling me to her closet.

She was right. It was huge. I knew she was a fashion chick but she had so many clothes, it looked like a shopping mall in there! She had black carpet with dark purple walls & black edging like in her room but it seemed darker in the closet. It was kinda cool & edgy.

She had racks of clothes, a dummy thing that had clothes on it, a big vanity (Moms had one in her room), plenty of drawers & stuff. It was fancy. It even had a window.

"You can have a space if you want. Momma told me that I should have one for you because you leave so much stuff over."

I blinked. "Really? You'd make space for me in your closet?"

"Sure." She went to a spot & started pushing hangers of clothes over. "Do you want a drawer?"

"I don't have anything with me." I lifted my shoulders.

"Put up the clothes you brought. Don't take anything home but your presents."

"Cool." I didn't see how this could get any better.

S&M&P

Mercedes: POV

"You know what? She's been really good so maybe they'll let her stay?" Lucy sat up suddenly.

We were thinking of how Marcy was going to be leaving soon. I sat up, too. "That's it?"

"They always say if she's good, she can stay. She's been good."

"Do you think it'll really work?" I was doubtful.

"No but anything is better than nothing. Come on!" She grabbed my hand & pulled me downstairs.

We knocked on my parents' office door & Daddy answered. "Girls?"

"We have an idea."

S&M&P

We didn't know what happened after Daddy called for Marcy to come down so he & Momma could talk to her. When she came out, she didn't tell us anything. We had to go to sleep with questions. It sucked.

But we cornered her on New Years. "What's with all the secrecy? Are you staying or not?"

She looked at us like we were crazy. "It's not that deep."

"Then why won't you tell us?" Lucy never could stand a secret she wasn't in on.

"I want to tell Jr. first."

"You're staying?!" I threw my arms around her neck.

"Yes, I'm staying." She laughed. "I'm going to McKinley. But I want to tell Mal."

"In a special way?" Lucy teased. Marcy burned. "We can help you. It'll be romantic."

"Thanks, guys."

S&M&P

Puck: POV

Mama called me over the day before Mike's birthday, excited about something. I didn't know what but I came right over. "You're not wearing the outfit."

She slapped my bicep. "We have more important things to do than play dress up."

"Like getting down?" I grinned.

She put a hand on my chest. "Would you just listen?"

"Okay, I'm listening. What's up?"

"Not to me. To the wall. Marcy's staying home & she's telling Mal in a romantic way." She went to a wall & put her ear to it.

"Romantic?"

"Lucy & I helped her. She's not the romantic type but she wants to let him know so we dressed her up & helped set the mood. It's goin to be so amazing."

"They really got somethin, don't they?" I went to the wall to listen.

"Yes. They're going to be the best couple now. & she's going to McKinley."

"That's cool." I could completely use that. "Do you hear that?"

S&M&P

Mercedes: POV

Were Marcy & Mal fighting? Puck & I crept to my door & opened it slightly so we could hear better.

"Why are you acting like this?" Mal was standing out in the hallway.

"Fuck you, Mal! Go back to your girlfriend & have a great life!" Marcy was standing just outside her door. "I never want to see you again! I hate you!"

"You don't mean that." I could tell it hurt him.

"I do." I wasn't sure if he could tell but she was, too. "Go to hell."

"Marce-" She pushed him away from her then slammed the door in his face. He flinched before imitating choking her & leaving.

"What was that?" Noah whispered as we shut my door.

I could only shrug. "I don't know."

S&M&P

I tried to talk to Marcy all morning but she wouldn't say a word about Mal or what happened the night before so we just grabbed our stuff & I drove us to school. I asked her how she was going to take being at our school but she shrugged it off, claiming it was school; classrooms, bathrooms & assholes galore.

When we got to the choir room (after wishing Mikey a good birthday), she auditioned for glee club & we voted her in. The only good news. I tried to keep up appearances for Mikey's birthday but I was worried about my sister so I caught Sammy alone. "Hey, Sammy. How was your break?"

"It was good. I wish I could have seen you." He hugged me.

"Me too." I hugged him fiercely. I had missed him. "Did your family like the presents?"

"Loved them." He swore. "Did you like mine?"

"I really did." I grinned. "I love Christmas so much. You should have seen Nic & Maddie on Christmas morning. They went at it like it wasn't nothing! It was super cute."

"Maddie's Mike's sister. Who's Nic?"

"Puck's little sister. They spent break with us."

S&M&P

Sam: POV

Really? Puck & his sister spent break with Mercy & her family & it's no big deal? How can she be like this?

"Could you?"

I blinked. "I don't know."

"Please, Sammy? My sister is having a really tough time & she needs someone to talk to. You know how it feels to be new."

I pursed my lips. I did know how it felt to be new. It sucked. "Okay, Mercy."

"Thank you, Sammy!" She threw her arms around my neck & I felt better. "I'm so glad I have you."

I smiled at her. "Where is she?"

"Um… I don't actually know. She's good at disappearing." She frowned. "The girl is a phantom."

"I'll find her." I stood up & went to look for her. I wasn't sure where she would be so I went to the choir room first to think over everything I knew about her but she was there at the piano. "Hey?"

Either she didn't hear me or she was ignoring me. I sat on the bench by her but she still didn't acknowledge me as she played a sad song. It was weird because she kept changing it.

"What are you playing?" I kept going.

"How could an angel break my heart?

Why didn't he catch my falling star?

I wish I didn't wish so hard

Maybe I wished our love apart?

How could an angel break my heart?"

I blinked. That was deep. "Why are you singing that? What is that?"

"Why are you here?" She stopped playing for a second before she switched songs.

"I just came to see how you were doing. I know how it is to be the new kid."

"How many schools have you been to? Including this one."

"Three. Elementary school, an all boys school for middle & high school & here."

"Then shut the hell up. I've been to three schools in the past four months, excluding this one."

I sucked my teeth. "That's a lot."

"Are you broken?" She glared at me.

"No. Sorry. I'll leave." I stood up.

The sourpuss sighed & stopped playing. "Wait. I'm sorry. I'm having a bad day & taking it out on you. That's not fair. I apologize."

I was shocked at her good manners but I sat again. "It's okay. So you've been the new kid a lot?"

"Yep." She sighed again & started playing something different. It wasn't sad but it wasn't happy either.

"Why do you go to so many schools?" Why did I ask that? It got twenty degrees colder in there.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay." I agreed immediately. "What was the best school you've ever been to? Your favorite."

"My favorite?" She scrunched her nose. It was kinda adorable. "I think I have to say one in Japan. It was pretty choice."

"Japan?!" I squealed like a girl & she looked at me like I was crazy. "Every cartoonist wants to go there!"

She smirked. "Like I said, it was pretty great."

"What place was the most fun?"

"There was this place in England that had a nearby pub that we used to sneak out to go to. We had to sneak in there, too but it was a lot of fun."

"Ooooh! Bad girl!"

She giggled & I felt like I saved a kitten from the slaughterhouse. "I like to think I'm naughty."

"I know that cartoon! Fred, right? The creepy cousin on Courage the Cowardly Dog?"

She outright laughed. "How did you guess that?!"

"I watch a lot of cartoons." I admitted sheepishly.

"Me too. I'm going to be four forever."

I think I found my soulmate… "Who's your favorite Avenger?"

"Who said I watched superhero cartoons?"

"Who said I was talking about the cartoons?"

"Why would you think I read comic books?"

"Because you knew I wasn't talking about movies."

Her mouth fell open & I laughed. "Iron Man & the Hulk. The movie had me cheering for both but comic wise, totally Iron Man. As for cartoon shows, still Iron Man. I think I have a thing for assholes."

I really laughed. "Tony Stark is more than just an asshole."

"I know. He's a genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist." She grinned.

"Well played." I grinned. This was a really great conversation. I haven't felt like this in a month. I slid a little closer to her. "I love the Hulk."

"Hulk smash."

"He's a nice guy underneath it all."

"He's a doctor. He already gets points in my book."

"Right?! I couldn't be a doctor."

"I'm sure you could. Mercy said you were smart."

"She's being nice. I know my grade point average."

"That doesn't determine your intelligence."

A corner of my mouth lifted. "Thanks. It's nice of you to say to somebody you don't like."

"Don't like?" She looked confused. "Why do you think I don't like you?"

I didn't want to bring up her face. "You don't seem to."

"You're hella hot, nice & good to my sister. If anything, I like you a lot."

I only paid attention to the first & last parts of that. "You like me?"

"Yeah." Her lashes fluttered.

I swear I don't know how it happened but we were really close. "I like you, too."

I realized as I stared deep into her eyes that they weren't black. I thought that since they were so dark that they were but they were green like mine. Just a dark intense deep emerald green. That sparkled…

I should have been the one to pull back but I didn't realize just how close we were until she leaned back. She looked at me in confused horror before picking up her things & running out.

This was a problem…

SMP

Puck: POV

I caught up to Mini Mama when we were going to glee. "Hey. I'm glad you're going to be here all the time. I'll have Mama in no time."

She turned to face me with a weird look on her face. "I don't think we should do this anymore. Mercy should pick who she wants to be with on her own. Let nature take its course."

"What?!"

"We have no right to mess with her. Just leave them alone."

This was a problem…