Okay, just letting you know now, there probably will be a break for a while. It probably won't be the full nine days, and I'll try my best to post as often as I can access my computer. Sorry!

Puck's POV

"Dude, I just can't tell her! She's so stressed about Mr. Schu letting that creepy kid join Glee, even though he's a good singer, so I don't know what her problem is, and she's worried about Vocal Adrenaline and she won't give anyone a break because she's forcing them to practice 24/7, and the only time she stops is to talk about how great it's going to be when we move to New York! I can't tell her! She'll go berserk!"

Finn sighed and simultaneously tapped buttons on his x-Box controller. He may not have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but his hand eye coordination was second to none.

"Well, have you made a decision yet? Are you going to Ohio State for free, or are you going to New York? 'Cause if you're going to New York anyway, what's the point of telling her in the first place?"

"I don't want to go to Ohio State," I whined, leaning back on Finn's bed like a therapist's couch. "How are you and Kurt coping with it? What are you guys doing?"

"We're going to the same university, so I guess it doesn't really count…"

"Really? See, this is why we need to hang out more. I'm your best friend, dude! I should know this stuff! Where're you going?"

"Dunno yet. We both applied to the same places though, so we just gotta see where we get accepted and then pick."

"God, you've got it so easy! How come you get all the freaking luck, Finn Hudson? I mean, you've got the perfect relationship, even if it is with a guy, you've got the perfect Mom who'll let you do what you want with your life, and you've probably got a football scholarship to pretty much every place in the country. I hate your guts, you know that?" I tossed a pillow at him, but I missed and it hit the TV with a big 'thwump.' Finn shut the game off and turned to face me.

"You love her, don't you? You love Rachel? Then what the hell is holding you back, Puckerman? You've only got one life. You gotta choose what you wanna do with it!"

I groaned dismally. "What would you do? What would you do if Kurt was going away and you got offered an amazing opportunity to start a real career… that would keep you on a different side of the country?"

"Puck, I'm not you, and Kurt isn't Rachel," Finn explained. "I can't choose what to do for you. But if it matters, I'd follow Kurt anywhere. I don't think you should sacrifice love just for something that somebody else wants you to do. I mean, what will you really get if you go to Ohio State anyway? Four years cooped up in a team bus travelling to games, then if maybe by some small chance you get drafted by a pro team, you'll play wherever they tell you to play, they'll pay you tons of money, but none of it will really matter because you're not where you really want to be. Which is with Rachel. I think. You know, this is really confusing me! Can't you talk to someone else?"

"Like who?" I grumbled.

"I dunno… Artie? Mercedes? I'm just really tired, and I need some time to think."

"About what, dude? You're the one with the perfect freaking life! Why do you need time to think!"

Finn shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. It was getting curly again, a sign that he seriously needed a hair cut. "I dunno… I think Kurt's been avoiding me lately. He just seems… distant, and he never has time to do stuff anymore. He's always somewhere else, and even when he is with me, he's really moody and he won't tell me what's up. That's all."

I raised an eyebrow. "Trouble in paradise?"

He scoffed. "You're one to talk. Seriously Puck, if you love her, go to New York. If you don't, then go to Ohio State. Not that hard, dude."

"It's not that simple, Finn," I protested grumpily. I had a right to be in a bad mood; I hadn't been home in almost three days, and I was living off my secret stash of clothing at Rachel's house.

"Why? What's so difficult about it?"

I didn't answer, so he reverted back to his own problem.

"Do you think it's about what happened in Glee yesterday? I mean, I didn't think it was that important to him for me to be able to openly admit that I'm gay. I mean I am, kinda, I guess. I'm just new to this whole thing still. So I don't know…"

"Just say it in front of everybody, man. It'll make him happy…"

We were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Finn's mom.

"Oh, hi Noah… Finn. What's going on?"

Finn looked at me. "Uh… we were just, um… planning Kurt's surprise party!"

"Oh, that's great! So it's this Saturday afternoon, right? You need me to cook dinner for everyone? How many people?"

Of course… Kurt's birthday was this weekend. He hadn't even mentioned it, and everyone had been so wrapped up in their own business to even notice.

"Um… the Glee club twelve, plus Mrs. P, Mr. Schu, you and Burt."

"What about Tommy?" I asked, just to make myself look involved.

"Tommy who?" Finn's mom asked.

"Oh, uh… Tommy Parsons or whatever. He's this new Glee guy, but he's kind of… weird," Finn answered.

"Well it's always nice to make new friends, Finny!" his mom chirped. "Let's invite him!"

"But mom…"

"No buts, honey. Just make sure everybody gets an invitation!" she shut the door before he could complain any more.

I stood up to get my stuff, ready to leave and get some sleep before the impending Friday full of midterm prep and Glee rehearsal.

"So you'll come?" Finn asked. "On Saturday?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever," I muttered. But I was really looking forward to it. I needed a good Glee party to take a load off after all this, even if Creepy Kid was going to be there.

"Okay. Kurt's place at 1:00." Finn turned on the x-Box again and resumed his game.

"Where is Kurt, anyway?"

"No idea. See what I mean?"

"Yeah…" I turned to the door, but after a second, I turned back again. "They're offering a full four year ride, with free board thrown in, and free meals for all four years, plus I'll be able to come back and check up on Ellie when I need to. If I go to New York, I can't use my college fund, and the only money I'll have is the money I have in my pockets, and I'll be hundreds of miles away from my little sister. See what I mean?"

Finn smiled sympathetically before getting up and clapping me on the back.

"Good luck, Puckerman. You're gonna need it."