Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any songs performed in this story. This is purely a work of fiction.
It was raining lightly Tuesday morning but Paige wanted to ride her bike to school. "You'll catch pneumonia! If it's not raining tomorrow, you can ride your bike," her dad promised. Paige got in the car, sulking. Her dad dropped Paige and Cam at the front of the school and drove off with a wave. Cam kept pace with Paige. "So are you at least going to tell me what happened? I can always just ask Ryder." "Ryder's an idiot. He'll probably tell you he doesn't know what he did wrong," Paige snapped. "Then you tell me," Cam retorted. "I'd rather not talk about it," Paige said wanly. Cam sighed. "Look, I don't know if I can help you. But I can listen, and sometimes that's all that really counts," he said gently. Paige stopped abruptly and glared at him. "Fine," she said.
She told her brother how Ryder had lied about kissing Marley, then has been talking to some random girl on facebook, and then had been a total jerk to Unique. She even told him about the shirtless picture he'd sent the facebook girl. "So you'll excuse me if I want nothing to do with him," she finished acidly. Cam was speechless. "Don't worry about it. What's done is done and I wouldn't hold it against you if you still wanted to be friends with him," Paige said flatly. "No way. That's messed up," Cam replied, regaining his voice. "Well, just please don't say anything to him. Just ice him out and if he asks why tell him you're pissed at the way he went behind my back with that Katie chick but just leave it at that." "Why are you trying to spare his feelings?" Cam asked. "I'm not. I just don't want drama, okay? I just want to move on from this and put it behind me." Cam frowned but she knew he would honor her wishes.
At lunch the whole glee club iced Ryder out and he retreated to the library looking like a dog with his tail between his legs. Paige almost felt bad for him, but the feeling passed as quickly as it had come. He didn't deserve pity. Marley and Unique talked about what they could do on Friday night with Paige. They talked about doing each others hair and nails and talking about boys, watching movies and listening to music. Paige was glad that they had pretty much taken over the planning process and was excited to see how it all played out.
Glee club was held in the auditorium that afternoon. Finn and Mr. Schuester were going head to head over their feud. The girls were waiting by the stage while the guys prepared for a battle royale. Mr. Schue introduced their number, a mashup of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. Paige was actually looking forward to it. The music started up and Mr. Schue began singing "Bye Bye Bye" as most of the girls started screaming and running up to the stage. Mr. Schue, Jake, and Blaine went all out, even having ropes tied to them to look like they were puppets just like in the music video. If nothing else, Paige had to admit that the attention to detail was impressive.
Soon, Finn came in with "I Want It That Way" with Sam, Ryder, and Artie in the back. Paige suddenly felt a little sad. She hadn't been Finn's biggest fan when he was dating her sister. She had always seen him for what he really was, not the hero everyone else saw him as. But since he'd come to help with glee, she had slowly started to realize that the boy he was in high school had grown up. He was maturing. He had been stupid before, but he was learning what it meant to really be a man and Paige admired him for it. She suddenly realized she would much rather Rachel be with Finn than with Brody. Brody was shady and maybe the timing had been off for her and Finn, but it was right now. Their time apart had changed Finn for the better.
She noticed how good Finn's voice sounded during the performance. She could also tell that this was more of a one-sided feud. Mr. Schue was pissed, with good reason, but all Finn wanted was to make things right. Mr. Schue danced better, but Paige liked Finn's vocals better. She shook her head to clear it. This wasn't a competition, but there was competition between Finn and Brody. Paige ducked out of the auditorium. She needed to talk to Santana.
"What are you saying to me, Hippie McHomeless?" Santana asked. "I'm saying we need to find a way to take Brody down. I think Rachel needs to be single for a little while. I think it's good that she tried being with someone else, even if he wasn't who she thought he was, and that being single for a little while will be just as good for her. But I've come to the realization that..and I cannot believe I'm saying this...but Finn is the one for her." "Oh my God," Santana replied, as close to speechless as she ever got. "I know, I know," Paige said. "Where did you come up with that idea?" Santana asked. "Well, you know he's been over the glee club since Mr. Schue left and stayed on even after he got back. In all that time, I slowly realized that Finnocence has done a lot of growing up."
"Well, I guess you're in luck, Berry 2.0, because I have paydirt," Santana told her. "What is it?" Paige asked excitedly. She couldn't think of why she hadn't been more interested from the start. "Lover boy? Yeah, he's a prostitute," Santana said. "Oh my God!" Paige exclaimed. "How did you find out?" Paige asked. "I stole his pager," Santana replied casually. "Santana, this is..." "Huge, I know." "And really bad," Paige added. "We've got to get him away from Rachel," Santana agreed. "I think I have an idea..."
Paige sat her dads and Finn down in the kitchen, praying that this went well. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I've gathered you here," she said awkwardly, trying to be funny. "Yeah," Finn replied, looking confused. "As you all know, Rachel has been seeing a guy named Brody for several months now." Finn winced slightly. "What you may not know is that I have been corresponding with one Santana Lopez and she and I have had a bad feeling about him from the beginning. Recently I spoke to Santana and she has informed me that our instincts were good. He's not who Rachel thinks he is. It's imperative that we separate the two of them," Paige said. Finn was looking even more confused. Paige sighed.
"Finn, please do not make me rethink my new found opinion of you. If you don't know what corresponding or imperative mean, get a dictionary." She then addressed the room at large. "Dad, Papa, I'm sure this isn't what you want to hear. I know that you only want what's best for Rachel, Cam, and I which is why I think Finn needs to go to New York and rip Brody from Rachel's life," she said. "You want me to kill a man?" Finn asked. "Finn, please stop talking. Just nod and smile." She turned her attention back to her dads, who looked both concerned and confused. "Truth be told I didn't want to get the two of you involved because I don't want to break Rachel's trust. However, the code of a sister dictates that sometimes boundaries must be pushed for the well-being and happiness of the sister in question. I am asking your permission to use my savings to buy a ticket to New York for Finn so he can ward Brody off."
Her dads exchanged a look. Finn's expression was blank. "Sweetie, this is a big deal. You really think he's so bad that you need to fly someone out to break them up?" her dad asked. There was a slight curve to his lips, though, and she knew his flair for the dramatic was kicking in. "We don't even have any proof that there's anything wrong," her papa said. He had a flair for the dramatic, too, but it took more to get him to act rashly. "Santana has done her research. I know that she's been an enemy in the past, but she's switched sides. And she's valuable. She knows how to get dirt and she's done exactly that. I'd trust her with anything. Her info is good and Rachel...I don't think she's in danger, but she's making a huge mistake. She needs to hear the truth and she needs to take some time to find who she is without a man." Finn was frowning now.
"Why should I go? She won't listen to me," Finn said, sounding defeated. "You're not telling her anything. Your job is to run Brody off. That's all. And you'll go because you love her and you're liar if you deny it." He looked down at his hands. "Finn, the whole time I've known you, people have always said you were a leader. A hero. I never thought so. Not until recently. You've grown up. I actually believe in you now so you better not fail me. You have one task. Do it and do it well. Don't make me regret trusting you." When he looked up there was a spark in his eye.
With a plan in place, Paige felt a fire inside her that she'd never felt before. She knew that when Rachel found out she was the brains behind the operation, she would be devastated and enraged. Still, Paige knew she was doing the right thing. Rachel needed to stop being so naive and see Brody for who he really was. She also knew it was inevitable that her sister would someday become Mrs. Finn Hudson and a nudge in the right direction wouldn't hurt.
She walked into the cafeteria on Wednesday and found no sign of Ryder. She sat down at the glee table and Marley struck up a conversation. It was nice, having friends, but it also felt a little weird. It was like the universe would be out of balance if both she and Ryder were at the same table so the universe had to pick one off and let the other stay. It was probably absurd, but that's just how it felt.
That afternoon she walked into glee club, ignored Ryder's puppy faced look, and sat down next to Unique. Mr. Schue announced that Blaine and Sue would battle it out in song and that they would have to vote for who did better. Blaine was singing a Mariah Carey song and, of course, sounded like an angel. There wasn't much of a show, though. It was mainly him singing with a few of his little moves that he always busted out. Then it got interesting as Sue got up and started doing "Superbass" with a bunch of Cheerios. The lights went out and the whites of their outfits were glowing along with Sue's outfit and lips. Then it started raining glowing pink feathers. Paige hated to admit that Sue was kicking Blaine's ass. Just as far as performance went, though, because Blaine had the better vocals.
When it was over, Paige didn't vote. Mr. Schue sighed. "You have to vote, Paige," he told her firmly. "Why? It's not like I'm a swing vote. Sue wins no matter who I vote for," she argued. Mr. Schue gave her a stern look. "It's impossible to vote fairly. Sue's performance was better because she used theatricality but Blaine's voice is angelic." Mr. Schue finally gave up. "Whatever, Sue wins." Blaine looked devastated. "See you at Cheerios practice," Sue told him with an evil smile.
Ryder caught up to Paige after glee and she didn't look pleased to see him. "Go away," she said. "Can't we talk?" Ryder asked. "I don't want to do this," she told him. "Just let me apologize," he said. "I don't want to hear it. I've heard your explanation and I'm done. If you want to message some girl you've never met in person, feel free. It's none of my business anymore." She walked away, leaving him standing alone feeling stupid on the sidewalk.
Paige was too busy making preparations for Finn's covert trip to New York to think about Ryder. She did decide to sing a song for feud week, though, and she knew just what song she wanted to sing. The next day in glee club, she stood in front of the room. Most people looked at Ryder, some stared at Paige. Everyone had heard that they had broken up, but no one knew exactly why. They didn't need to. It was between her and Ryder. She whispered to the band what she wanted them to play and she took a deep breath.
"No, sir, well I don't wanna be the blame
Not anymore, it's your turn
To take a seat we're settling the final score
And why do we like to hurt so much?
I can't decide
You have made it harder just to go on
And why? All the possibilities
Well, I was wrong...
That's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
That's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating
And that's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh!"
Ryder looked equal parts heartbroken and embarrassed. His cheeks were red and his brown eyes were wet.
"I wonder, how am I supposed to feel when you're not here?
'Cause I burned every bridge I ever built when you were here
I still try
Holding onto silly things, I never learn
Oh, why? All the possibilities, I'm sure you've heard...
That's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
That's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating
And that's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Pain, make your way
To me, to me
And I'll always be
Just so..inviting
If I ever start to think straight
This heart will start a riot in me
Let's start, start, hey
Why do we like to hurt so much?
Oh, why do we like to hurt so much?"
Paige almost felt bad for shaming him in front of everyone. But at the same time, this was what happened in glee. When people broke up they sang about it in front of everyone. It was something Paige had always thought was ridiculous and she would have done this in private if she trusted Ryder to be alone with her.
"That's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
That's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Now I can't trust myself with anything but this
And that's what you get when you let your heart win
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh..."
Ryder left the room without a word. The rest of the room was in a stunned silence. Most of them had the decency not to gawk at Paige but she left anyway. It was too awkward and she had other business to attend to.
Friday morning Paige found a note in her locker riddled with spelling mistakes asking her to be in Mr. Schue's classroom that afternoon. She crumpled it up and threw it away before walking past Ryder without so much as a glance.
Paige met up with Marley and told her she had some stuff to deal with and she wouldn't be at lunch. She spent the first ten minutes of lunch looking for Finn. She found him in the teacher's lounge and waved him over. "What's up?" he asked. "I just want to run through the plan again, make sure you've got it down. If we mess this up..." Finn put a hand on her shoulder. "We got this." "Tell me the plan..." Finn nodded. "My flight leaves at midnight. Santana will come straight from work to pick me up at the airport and we'll go to the hotel room she booked. She'll call Brody with a fake name and making it seem like she wants his...service. Then, when the lights come on, she'll give the signal and I'll come out of the bathroom." Paige nodded. "Good. Any idea what you're going to say to Brody?" Paige asked. "Oh, I'm sure I can think of something," Finn replied, smirking.
Ryder walked into the classroom and looked at the people gathered there. His heart sank to his stomach when he noticed Paige wasn't there. "You planning on challenging all of us?" Jake asked defiantly. "No," Ryder replied, "I came to apologize." He started with Marley. "Kissing you was out of line and I'm sorry." She accepted his apology. He turned to Jake. "Friendship is about trust. I know I messed up but if you give me another chance..." Jake looked unconvinced so he went into the football comparison he'd thought of in English. Eventually Jake told him it would take time for him to be able to trust him again and Ryder decided it was better than nothing.
Then he sat down in front of Unique. "I'm not going to pretend like I understand everything about you. But you know who you are and as a friend, I should be more supportive and understanding. So...you're a girl, dude." Unique closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Crap, did I say something wrong?" Ryder asked. "No," Unique said. She told them about the popular girls chasing after her on her way home from school. Ryder, Marley, and Jake all promised to walk her home to make sure she was okay. "Me four," came a voice from the door. They turned to see who it was. Kitty sauntered into the room with a declaration of friendship.
Ryder was disappointed that it wasn't Paige, but part of him had known she wouldn't come. It didn't stop him from wishing. He should have known better, but he couldn't help himself.
Later that night, he logged into facebook. Paige had already changed her relationship status to single and it was like a slap in the face. A message box popped up.
katie_xoxo: How did it go at school today?
ryder_lynn: Good, I gess. Unique and Marley forgave me, but Jake is going to take a while to trust me again.
katie_xoxo: And what about Paige? Is she still mad at you?
ryder_lynn: She didnt show up to here my apoligy.
katie_xoxo: Maybe you just need to give her some space. If she wants to be with you, she'll come back. If not, maybe you should move on...
ryder_lynn: She's mostly mad becase I didnt tell her about you...
katie_xoxo: And why is it that you didn't tell her about me? Think about that.
katie_xoxo has logged off.
Ryder sighed and shut his laptop.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you to those who reviewed: Ali & SavvyBoriquen!
Song:
"That's What You Get" - Paramore