I'm not really sure how last night's episode inspired me enough to write three stories in 24 hours, but here's one more short one. Thanks for reading!
Puck showed up at Shelby's apartment like he always did on Saturdays to see his daughter, only this time he came early and with food. Shelby did not seem happy with this.
"Noah, I told you..." She started.
"I know, I know." He sighed. "I'm over the crush, okay? This is nothing more than an apology and I really hope I didn't do anything to jeapordize spending time with Beth."
She smiled. "I would never do that. She loves you too much."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "So where is she? I wanted to play her this number we did in Glee Club this week. I recorded it all on my phone."
"She's still asleep, you're early." She reminded him. "I'd love to see it though." He held his phone away from her. "Not as the competition, I'm just curious. You didn't get any of Rachel did you?"
"Uh, yeah" He pressed play on his phone and the video started. "She sounded amazing in this song. I mean, she's always awesome, but her voice is incredible here."
They watched the video, and after a couple moments of watching her other daughter, Shelby looked at Puck. "You're right, she's fantastic. I'm so proud of her."
"She still not talking to you?"
She ignored the question. "Hey, what did you bring to eat? I'm starving."
As they ate their food, she noticed him studying her.
"What are you staring at?"
He shook his head, looking down at his plate. "Nothing. Sorry. I'm spacing. Wasn't really staring at you, you just happened to be in my line of vision."
She didn't back down. "Noah..."
He took a deep breath. "Fine, I was just thinking that I never really noticed before how much she looks like you. Rachel, not Beth. Sorry for bringin' her up again. Sore subject, I know. We just watched the video and I kinda had her in my head."
Shelby nodded, going back to her food. "Do you have any idea what you wanna do when you graduate?"
He shrugged. "A couple. My grades aren't good enough to get into college, but I got options. Got my pool cleaning business. You got any ideas for me?"
She laughed. "I don't know you well enough to make any suggestions."
"What do you mean? You know me. I've spent every Saturday here for the past six months."
"Yeah, you come over, we talk about Beth and school some, but I really don't know anything about you."
"Well what do you wanna know?"
She laughed again. "Tell you what? Why don't we play a little game?" He raised an eyebrow. "Not even in your dreams Noah. This is more like a word association game. I'm gonna ask you something and just answer with the first thing that comes to your mind."
"Alright."
"Favorite song?"
"Let's Get It On."
She wrinkled her nose. "Okay, um. Best Glee Club memory?"
"When Quinn went into labor during Sectionals."
"Aw, that's sweet honey. Favorite Food?"
"Waffles."
"Favorite animal?"
"Bird."
"What's your mom's name?"
"Debbie."
"Neil Diamond or Billie Joel?"
"Neil Diamond. And see? You know something about me."
"Who came up with Puck?"
"I...don't know. Finn maybe?"
"How long have you had a mohawk?"
"Since 9th grade."
"Which would you rather perform, another Journey song, or a Britney Spears song?"
"Britney Spears." He answered quickly, and then laughed. "I didn't mean to say that."
"That's the whole point." She told him. "When don't think before you answer, you answer honestly. Now, may we continue?"
"Yeah, okay."
"Favorite season?"
"Summer."
"Do you want to clean pools the rest of your life?"
"No."
"What's your favorite class?"
"Glee."
"How long have you wanted Rachel?"
"Way too long." He answered, then realized what he'd just said. "Wait."
"I knew it." She responded.
"I didn't mean...I don't care about Rachel." She gave him a look. "She's in love with Finn."
"I didn't ask who she was in love with."
"This is stupid, I just blurted something out. It didn't mean anything."
"Oh please, I've had a suspicion you had feelings for her for a while. Your little comment about her looking like me just solidified everything. Your entire crush on me was just a projection because you can't have her. I look enough like her for you to more or less pretend that I'm her."
"You just look like her, you don't kiss like her or...damn it. You suck."
They heard Beth crying then and Shelby got up. "Saved by the baby." She told him. "For now."
"Thank fuck." He responded. But as soon as she was out of the room, he pulled out his phone and flipped through until he found a picture he took at Nationals last year of all the girls. Rachel was in the middle and he sighed, closing his eyes. "Way too long." He repeated to himself.