Singer in the back Chapter 21, a glee fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. I do own Mouse, Candy, and Sarah though!

Thank you to those who read the last chapter, and especially to those who reviewed.

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Chapter Twenty One

...

"All right, I hope you're all ready for your solos!" Schue said enthusiastically, grinning as he came into the auditorium.

While the Glee club seemed assured, Will couldn't help but notice that the band looked a little apprehensive. He wondered if it was too much to ask them to learn thirteen new songs in a week. He'd have to plan it better next time...

"Who wants to go first?" he asked, looking to his students.

Nearly everyone stepped back quickly, Santana pulling Brittany with her - maybe they weren't that confident then, Will mused - leaving Rachel standing at the front.

"Rachel, thank you for volunteering," Will called, motioning her to go onto the stage.

Rachel faltered for a moment, then squared her shoulders and smiled at Mr. Schuester. "I was going to request that I go first anyway."

The band opened their music sheets, waiting for Rachel to get ready.

"You're not always easy to share space with,
Some days you wake up ten times bigger than you are.
I can't get my arms around you,
And we are silent worlds apart.
Should I introduce myself?

"I'm pleased to meet you,
You don't seem to recognise me.
But you know, you look just like someone,
That I used to know.
I'm pleased to meet you,
You know I think you used to love me,
But now it seems like that was a whole lifetime ago."

It didn't escape anyone's notice that Rachel hadn't looked away from Finn while singing, and Mouse wondered what had happened between them.

"If you don't look at me, do I disappear?
And all you say these days are things that I don't wanna hear.
I don't think that you remember, I don't think that you recall,
It was always you and me against the world.
Should I introduce myself?

"I'm pleased to meet you,
You don't seem to recognise me.
But you know, you look just like someone,
That I used to know.
I'm pleased to meet you, I'm pleased to meet you,
You know I think you used to love me,
But now it seems like that was a whole lifetime ago."

Finn looked away from Rachel's intense gaze, and her voice raised as she continued to sing.

"So I guess I'll see you 'round sometime,
And one day you might,
Think we've met before.
You'll turn to me and say,
I'm pleased to meet you,
You don't seem to recognise me.
But you know, you look just like someone,
That I used to know.

"I'm pleased to meet you,
You look just like someone that I used to know.
I'm pleased to meet you,
You know I think you used to love me,
But now it seems like that was a whole lifetime ago."

Will hurried to clap when Rachel finished singing, and the tension in the air was obvious enough for even Candy and Brittany to look between Rachel and Finn, looking awkward.

Without a word, Finn stood up and took the stage. The band barely managed to start playing before he began singing. The guitar and drums upped the tempo to keep with Finn's time.

"It's been a bad day,
But tonight, my love,
It only gets worse.
It's been a bad day,
But tonight, my love,
It only gets worse.

"You never said there was anything,
You never said there was anything,
Wrong."

Rachel refused to look up at the stage, but Finn continued to sing his pain and anger and confusion.

"We're in a bad way,
But tonight, my love,
It only gets worse.
We're in a bad state,
But tonight, my love,
It only gets worse.

"You never said there was anything,
You never said there was anything,
Wrong.

"You never said there was anything,
You never said there was anything,
Wrong.
You never said there was anything,
Wrong, wrong."

Candy held Mouse's hand, trembling slightly as Finn dropped the microphone on to the stage.

The clapping, led by Will again, was hesitant and no one looked at anyone else as Finn walked off the stage and sat down as far away from Rachel as possible.

"Okay..." Will trailed off, wondering just how bad this idea had been. "Who's next?"

There was silence from all of them, the tension in the atmosphere destroying their previous good moods.

Santana sighed heavily. "I'll go next, Schue," she muttered, moving to the stage. Quinn and Brittany followed her up to be back up dancers.

"Taxi ride, going downtown,
Me and my girls, goin' out.
Counting down to detonation,
Ten to zero, mushroom cloud.

"Little angel, I've been too good,
Ditch the halo for a while.
Dressed to kill, I'll be causing,
Mass distraction, so shield your eyes.

"I'm all steamed up, and I'm ready to blow,
The pressure max, metre red, overload.
To get release, I gotta explode.

"I'm a bomb,
Can you hear me tick?
Be aware, if you turn me on,
There is no safety switch.
I'm a bomb, use only steady hands.
To mess with me,
You must be a brave man.

"Bass so loud, I can't hear you.
Can't diffuse me, now I'm wired.
Do not disturb me while I'm dancing,
Watch me set this house on fire.

"I'm a bomb,
Can you hear me tick?
Be aware, if you turn me on,
There is no safety switch.
I'm a bomb, use only steady hands.
To mess with me,
You must be a brave man.

"Club crescendo, getting loud,
Run for cover underground.
What are you doing,
Showing me no fear?
You must be crazy,
Hanging around here.

"I'm a bomb,
Can you hear me tick?
Be aware, if you turn me on,
There is no safety switch.
I'm a bomb,
Use only steady hands.
To mess with me,
You must be a brave man.

"I'm a bomb,
I'm a bomb,
I'm a bomb."

Relieved that the awful tension had been replaced by happy energy from Santana's song, Will didn't hesitate to get the next volunteer to sing. The band looked as relieved as Will felt.

Quinn stayed on the stage when Brittany and Santana went back to their seats. She glowered down at Finn, and he looked away quickly.

Mouse refrained from cringing when she noticed the look that passed between them, and saw Rachel's answering glare at Finn. Just what had he done now?

"According to you,
I'm stupid, I'm useless,
I can't do anything right.
According to you,
I'm difficult, hard to please,
Forever changing my mind.

"I'm a mess in a dress,
Can't show up on time,
Even if it would save my life.
According to you, according to you.

"But according to him,
I'm beautiful, incredible,
He can't get me out of his head.
According to him,
I'm funny, irresistible,
Everything he ever wanted.

"Everything is opposite,
I don't feel like stopping it,
So, baby, tell me what I got to lose?
He's into me for everything I'm not,
According to you.

"According to you,
I'm boring, I'm moody,
And you can't take me anyplace.
According to you,
I suck at telling jokes,
'Cause I always give it away.

"I'm the girl with the worst attention span,
You're the boy who puts up with that,
According to you, according to you.

"But according to him,
I'm beautiful, incredible,
He can't get me out of his head.
According to him,
I'm funny, irresistible,
Everything he ever wanted.

"Everything is opposite,
I don't feel like stopping it,
So, baby, tell me what I got to lose?
He's into me for everything I'm not,
According to you.

"I need to feel appreciated,
Loved not hated.
Oh, no.
Why can't you see me through his eyes?
It's too bad you're making me decide."

To the side, Artie had his electric guitar on and played the riff easily.

"But according to me,
You're stupid, you're useless,
You can't do anything right."

Yep, Mouse decided, Quinn was definitely singing this at Finn.

"But according to him,
I'm beautiful, incredible,
He can't get me out of his head.
According to him,
I'm funny, irresistible,
Everything he ever wanted.

"Everything is opposite,
I don't feel like stopping it,
Babe, I'll tell you what you got to lose.
He's into me for everything I'm not,
According to you, according to you.

"According to you,
I'm stupid, I'm useless,
I can't do anything right."

While the song was upbeat, it brought back a lot of the awkward tension that Santana had removed with her song. Will had a sudden desire to bang his head against a wall.

"I'll go next, Schue."

Mouse looked at Puck sharply, wondering why he was offering to sing so suddenly after Quinn's song. He saw her look and just grinned, infuriating and confusing her at the same time. It was even more confusing when the band didn't ready their instruments or set up new sheet songs.

Puck brought out his acoustic guitar, and in the background, the drummer began a single repetitive beat.

"Beauty queen of only eighteen,
She had some trouble with herself.
He was always there to help her,
She always belonged to someone else."

"I drove for miles and miles,
And wound up at your door.
I've had you so many times,
But somehow I want more."

Puck hadn't looked away from Mouse this entire time, and if she wasn't riveted to his gaze, she might have felt uncomfortable at such an intense look.

"I don't mind spending every day,
Out on your corner in the pouring rain.
Look for the girl with the broken smile,
Ask her if she wants to stay a while.

"And she will be loved,
And she will be loved.

"Tap on my window, knock on my door,
I want to make you feel beautiful.
I know I tend to get so insecure,
Doesn't matter anymore.

"It's not always rainbows and butterflies,
It's compromise that moves us along.
My heart is full, and my door's always open,
You come any time you want."

Puck started walking across the stage, and Mouse followed his every move, watching as he made his way down the stairs.

"I don't mind spending every day,
Out on your corner in the pouring rain.
Look for the girl with the broken smile,
Ask her if she wants to stay a while.

"And she will be loved,
And she will be loved,
And she will be loved,
And she will be loved.

"I know where you hide, alone in your car,
They're one of the things that make you who you are.
I know that goodbye means nothing at all,
Comes back and makes me catch her every time she falls.

"Tap on my window, knock on my door,
I want to make you feel beautiful."

Standing in front of her, Puck grinned slightly, his eyes still locked on Mouse's. She felt like they were the only two people in the world, never mind the others in the auditorium.

"I don't mind spending every day,
Out on your corner in the pouring rain.
Look for the girl with the broken smile,
Ask her if she wants to stay a while.

"And she will be loved,
And she will be loved,
And she will be loved,
And she will be loved.

"Please don't try so hard to say goodbye,
Please don't try so hard to say goodbye."

Mouse wondered if it would be inappropriate to kiss Puck until he couldn't breathe. Deciding that she didn't care, she kissed him, her hands against his face to keep him pressed against her. She could feel him grin, his hands resting on her waist. Mike and Matt cheered loudly, and somewhere in the back of her mind, Mouse registered the fact that Kurt had dramatically sank down into a seat, fanning himself.

"All right, that's enough now... Who's next?" Schue asked, although he was relieved that the awful tension had disappeared again.

Pulling away from Puck gently, Mouse didn't think she had enough breath to attempt to sing yet, so she remained silent.

Grinning at them all, Mike headed up to the stage. When she recognised the song, Mouse started clapping in time, grinning broadly.

"Hey...
It's seventy-two degrees,
Zero chance of rain,
It's been a perfect day.
We're all spinning on our heels,
So far away from real,
In Californ-i-a.
We'll watch the sunset from our car
We all took it in,
And by the time that it was dark,
You and me had something, yeah.

"If this is what we've got,
Then what we've got is gold.
We're shining bright,
And I want you,
I want you to know.
The morning's on its' way,
Our friends all say goodbye.
There's no where else to go,
I hope that you'll stay the night.
Whoa-oh-oh. You'll stay the night.

"We've been singing Billie Jean,
Mixing vodka with caffeine,
We've got strangers stopping by.
And though you're out of tune,
Girl, you blow my mind, you do,
And all I say is I don't want to say goodnight.
If there's no quiet corner,
To get to know each other.
Then there's no hurry,
I'm a patient man, as you'll discover.

"'Cause if this is what we've got,
Then what we've got is gold.
We're shining bright,
And I want you,
I want you to know.
The morning's on its' way,
Our friends all say goodbye.
There's no where else to go,
I hope that you'll stay the night.
Whoa-oh-oh. You'll stay the night.

"Just like the song on the radio said,
We'll share the shelter of my single bed.
But it's a different tune that's stuck in my head,
And it goes...

Santana grinned when Mike came down off the stage, kissing him, albeit slightly briefer than Mouse had with Puck.

"Can I go next, Schue?" Tina asked softly.

"Sure, go ahead," he said happily enough, glad that he hadn't had to ask for a volunteer this time.

The band hurried to set up again.

"Well, I woke up this morning, and the night had been so long,
It seems that I had had my mind on you.
Well, the day, it has begun, and I can't get a minute,
Can't get a minute without you.

"'Cause you're always on my mind,
You're always in my head.
And I can't live,
I can't live another day without you."

"'Cause when the minutes seem like hours, and the hours seem like days.
Then a week goes by, you know it takes my breath away.
All the minutes in the world could never take your place,
There's one thousand, four hundred, forty hours in my day."

Will couldn't help but stare for a moment. Shy, quiet Tina had just sung a chorus that usually consisted of three people singing, and she'd done it loud.

"I've been trying to call you all day,
'Cause I've got so many things that I want to say.
I'm going crazy,
'Cause all my thoughts are filled with you.
There's got to be some way I can get through to you."

Mouse briefly wondered if Artie would realise that Tina was singing this song for him.

"'Cause when the minutes seem like hours, and the hours seem like days.
Then a week goes by, you know it takes my breath away.
All the minutes in the world, could never take your place.
There's one thousand, four hundred, forty hours in my day.

"Well, I can't keep myself from thinkin' about you,
It's because I love you, and I know that it's true.
I'm call it desperation,
Can't you see in my eyes?
That I want to be with you until the sun falls from the sky," Tina said, looking directly at Artie.

"'Cause when the minutes seem like hours and the hours seem like days,
Then a week goes by, you know it takes my breath away.
All the minutes in the world could never take your place,
There's one thousand, four hundred, forty hours in my day."

Tina looked at everyone, indicating with her hands for them to join in.

"'Cause when the minutes seem like hours, and the hours seem like days,
Then a week goes by, you know it takes my breath away.
All the minutes in the world could never take your place,
There's one thousand, four hundred, forty hours in my day!

Artie started clapping enthusiastically, everyone joining in as Tina took a bow, blushing slightly.

"Excellent work, Tina. I'm proud of you; it's obvious that you've been practising that," Will said, grinning at her broadly.

Shy once more, Tina nodded briefly, still blushing and smiling. When she sat down next to him, Artie took her hand.

Matt took the stage next, and Will settled back, content that the students were starting to get more confidence in themselves.

As the music started playing, Matt began to clap a rhythm along with the drums.

"Too many voices,
Too many noises,
Invisible wires keeping us apart.
So many choices,
But they're all disappointments,
And they only seal me away from you.

"Climb into our rubber bubble,
Let's get into all kinds of trouble..."

"Slide over here, let your hands feel the way,
There's no better method to communicate.
Girl, stop your talking, words just get in the way,
I'll be your man.
So, baby, come over from the end of the sofa,
I'll be your man,
I'll be your man."

As Matt sang the chorus, he slid along the stage, popping and locking his shoulders. Brittany grinned up at him brightly.

"So many faces, staring at their shoelaces.
When all anyone wants is to be seen.
So tonight, let's be honest,
We all want to be wanted,
And darling, you got me wanting you.

"Everything that I'm trying to say,
Just sounds like a worn out cliche...

"Slide over here, let your hands feel the way,
There's no better method to communicate.
Girl, stop your talking, words just get in the way,
I'll be your man,
So, baby, come over from the end of the sofa,
I'll be your man,
I'll be your man.

"What are we all looking for?
Someone we just can't ignore.
It's real love dripping from my heart,
You got me tripping,
What are we all looking for?
Ooh."

On either side of her, Mouse could feel Puck tapping his foot in time with the music, and Candy bopping his head along happily.

"Slide over here, let your hands feel the way,
There's no better method to communicate.
Girl, stop your talking, words just get in the way,
I'll be your man.

"I'll be your man,
I'll be your man,
I'll be your man."

His song finished to applause, and Matt took a bow, grinning broadly. He came off the stage, putting his arm around Brittany's shoulder as she kissed him quickly.

Brittany went up the stairs before anyone else could. She waited somewhat impatiently for Tina and Santana to join her on stage.

"We are the girls,
And we impress the boys.
And we make lots of noise,
'Cause we wanna get down with it.

"We dance in the sun,
And we have lots of fun.
But we get straight A's,
'Cause we wanna be rich."

Mouse was envious of the amount of energy Brittany had. She was dancing, singing, and even jumping in time with her words without seeming to tire.

"All the girls in the class,
They wanna be like us.
They wanna follow what we do,
They wanna be like us.

"I got the boys in my class,
And they're making a fuss.
Chewing their gum, falling over,
When they stare at us.

"We're popular, yes, you know,
And honey, so can you.
Just got to follow how we look,
And do what we do.

"We rule the playground (Double dutch!)
Jump up, jump up, and turn around (Double dutch!)
Get both feet up off the ground,
See that skirt fly up and down.
Double dutch (oh, oh, oh)
Double dutch (duh, duh, duh)
Double dutch!

"They wanna talk like us,
They wanna sit with us.
They wanna learn all our tricks,
So they can kiss like us.

"But in this pretty girl school,
The lessons don't come cheap.
You gotta work your little ass,
'Til you got red cheeks!"

Will's eyes went wide when Brittany smacked her behind.

"Because these legs stay thin,
But not by themselves.
A little discipline,
Will give you form like ours.

"Listen, you got dry skin?
Rub some lotion in.
You know the secret, girls,
It's your man's potion."

Tina and Santana began singing, shaking their fingers negatively.

"And by the way,
Never chew with your mouth open.
And don't reach across the table,
And no swallowing.
Now they're the rules, real simple,
I've laid it out for you, babe.
Now excuse me while I find,
Some other little girl to say..."

Brittany started singing again, her skirt flying up and down in time with her dancing.

"Double dutch (oh, oh, oh)
Double dutch (duh, duh, duh)
Double dutch!

"Give me a D,
Give me a O,
Give me a U,
And a B,
Give me a L,
And a E.
Bring the dutch,
What have we got?

"Double dutch (oh, oh, oh)
Double dutch (duh, duh, duh)
Double dutch!

"Are we gonna be beaten?
Ew, no way!
Did we come here to show them?
Yeah, all the way!"

There was more applause as she left the stage with Tina and Santana, her chest heaving at the exertion. Matt pulled Brittany down onto his lap, his arms around her.

Artie rolled up onto the stage, giving a high five to the pianist.

"Testing, testing, I'm just suggesting,
You and I might not be the best thing.
Exit exit, somehow I guessed it right, right.
But I still want ya, want ya, don't mean to taunt ya,
If you leave now I'll come back and haunt ya.
You remember, return to centre now, now.
Well, I just wish we could go back,
One more time, and begin it
Back before I lost myself somewhere,
Somewhere in it.

"Start now, so wrong,
Well you just got the start wrong.
No more last place,
You better get your story straight.
You can't stop this,
and I must insist that you,
Haven't had enough,
You haven't had enough.

"I don't need ya, need ya,
Don't mean to tease ya.
If you want me,
I'll come back and need ya.
Whisper, whisper,
You must admit you want it,
You, you want it.

"Well, I just wish we could go back,
One more time, and begin it.
Back before I lost myself somewhere,
Somewhere in it.

"We've been stuck now, so long,
Just got the start wrong.
One more last try,
I'm gonna get the ending right.
You can't stop this,
and I must insist that you,
Haven't had enough,
You haven't had enough.
Start now, so wrong,
Well you just got the start wrong.
No more last place,
You better get your story straight.
You can't stop this,
And I must insist that you,
Haven't had enough,
You haven't had enough."

From their seats, Mike and Matt both readied themselves for their overlapping parts.

"Don't you need it?
Don't you want this at all?
(Testing, testing, I'm just suggesting.)
Don't you need it?
Don't you want this at all?
(Testing, testing, I'm just suggesting.)

"Start now, so long,
Just got the start wrong.
One more last try,
I'm gonna get the ending right.
You can't stop this,
And I must insist that you,
Haven't had enough,
You haven't had enough.

"Start now, so wrong,
Well you just got the start wrong,
No more last place,
You better get your story straight,
You can't stop this,
And I must insist that you,
Haven't had enough,
You haven't had enough.

"Testing, testing, I'm just suggesting,
You and I might just be the best thing."

They all applauded him loudly, Tina going red when he moved to be beside her.

A few moments later, after the remaining few had looked at each other for guidance, Mercedes went up onto the stage. She stood on the centre of the stage, not moving about as others had done, and the band started a softer rhythm than before.

"Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?

"I live, I breathe, I let it rain on me,
I sleep, I wait, I try hard not to break.
I crave, I love, I've waited long enough,
I've tried as hard as I can."

No one made a sound, and not even Candy bopped along to the song. Will sat up a bit straighter, and every one of them watched as Mercedes poured her heart and loneliness into her song.

"Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?

"I laugh, I feel, I make believe it's real,
I fall, I freeze, I pray down on my knees.
I hope, I stand, I take it like a man,
I've tried as hard as I can.

"Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?

"Why do you see, why do you see, why do you see right through me?
Why do you see, why do you see, why do you see right through me?
Why do you see, why do you see, why do you see right through me?
Why do you see, why do you see, why do you see right through me?"

There was a stunned silence as Mercedes finished singing, most of them used to her finishing on a diva-like note rather than the quiet tone she'd just used.

Without a word, Candy stood up and went over to Mercedes, hugging her tightly. She went to move off the stage, but he tugged on her hand gently, keeping Mercedes beside him. Candy gently took the microphone from Mercedes' fingers, and looked at the other Glee members sitting in their seats.

"Be good. Sweet only heard the music a few times," he said quietly, biting his lip nervously.

He smiled at the band, his face so serious and yet innocent at the same time. With a nod in return, they started playing.

"You will notice me,
I'll be leaving my mark,
Like initials carved in an old oak tree,
You wait and see.

"Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote,
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh,
Cure the common cold, I don't know,
But I'm ready to start,
'Cause I know in my heart.

"I wanna do something that matters,
Say something different,
Something that sets the whole world on it's ear.
I wanna do something better,
With the time I've been given.
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life,
Leave nothing less than something that says,
I was here."

In her seat, Mouse was holding Puck's hand tightly. She was surprised at her brother's choice of song, but her surprise didn't last long as she listened to him singing so clearly and intently. It was obvious that Candy meant every single word he was singing.

"I will prove you wrong,
If you think I'm all talk,
You're in for a shock,
'Cause this dream's too strong,
And before too long.

"Maybe I'll compose symphonies,
Maybe I'll fight for world peace.
'Cause I know it's my destiny,
To leave more than a trace,
Of myself in this place.

"I wanna do something that matters,
Say something different,
Something that sets the whole world on it's ear.
I wanna do something better,
With the time I've been given.
And I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life,
Leave nothing less than something that says,
I was here.

"And I know that I will do more,
Than just pass through this life.
I'll leave nothing less than,
Something that says I was here,
I was here,
I was here,
I was here.

"Wanna do something that matters,
Something that says I was here.
Wanna do something that matters,
Something that says I was here,
I was here."

Candy stopped singing, and saw the tears in everyone's eyes. His bottom lip trembled, and he was on the verge of tears, wondering if he'd done something wrong.

Mercedes hugged him gently, seeing that he was upset. "That was beautiful, Candy," she murmured.

"Sweet was good?" he asked, pain etched in his voice.

"Better than good," she reassured him, smiling and hugging him again.

Candy clung to her briefly, looking to the others who had started clapping enthusiastically. Mercedes pulled away, clapping as well, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Mouse hurried onto the stage, hugging him and whispering her congratulations in his ear. Candy kissed her cheek quickly, and left the stage with Mercedes.

Looking around, Mouse realised that she'd just volunteered to sing next. Kurt was watching Mercedes sadly and didn't seem to notice that he hadn't sung yet.

Taking the acoustic guitar from the band member, Mouse sat on the edge of the stage and began to strum. Before this week, the most experience she'd had with a guitar was buttons on Guitar Hero, so Mouse had spent more time trying to hold the wooden instrument than singing. It was lucky she'd known the song for a while and didn't have to concentrate so hard on the words while practising the guitar.

As she sang now, she looked straight ahead, trying to remember the movement for each chord without looking.

"Oh, it is love, from the first time I set my eyes upon yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?

"Oh, dear,
It's been hardly a moment,
And you are already missed.
There is a still a bit of your skin,
That I've yet to have kissed.

"Oh say, please do not go,
But you know, oh, you know that I must.
Oh say, I love you so,
But you know, oh, you know you can trust.

"We'll be holding hands once again,
All our broken plans, I will mend,
I will hold you tight, so you know.

"It is love, from the first time I pressed my hand into yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?"

She saw Puck's eyes darken even from her place on the stage, and she almost fumbled with the guitar. He grinned at her, and Mouse hurried to concentrate on the song once more.

"Oh, dear,
It's been hardly three days,
Yet I'm longing to feel your embrace.
There are several days,
Until I can see your sweet face.

"Oh say, wouldn't you like to be,
Older and married with me?
I'll say, wouldn't it be nice to know,
Right now that we'll be?

"Someday, holding hands in the end,
All our broken plans would have been,
I will kiss you soft, so you know.

"It is love, from the first time I pressed my lips against yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?

"Oh, your heart may long, for a love that is more near,
So, when I'm gone, these words will be here,
To ease every fear, and dry up every tear, and make it very clear,
I kiss you and I know.

"It is love from the first time I pressed my lips against yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?

"Oh, it is love from the first time I pressed my lips against yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?

"Oh, I kiss you and I know,
It is love from the first time I pressed my lips against yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?"

Ignoring everyone's clapping, Puck stood up and walked to the stage. He took Mouse's free hand and pulled her off the edge and into his arms, kissing her passionately. Her face red once more, Mouse couldn't stop from smiling when he pulled away.

"Okay, okay. Enough, get back to your seats now. Kurt, you're up now," Will said, indicating for him to take the stage. The band hurried to set up their instruments and music sheets once more.

"Looks like you've saved the best 'til last," Kurt said, but his voice was flat and not as confident as it usually was.

He looked at Mercedes briefly before he started singing, his eyes looking beyond them as the words fell from his lips.

"I am a question to the world,
Not an answer to be heard.
Or a moment that's held in your arms.

"And what do you think you'd ever say?
I won't listen anyway.
You don't know me,
And I'll never be what you want me to be.

"And what do you think you'd understand?
I'm a boy - no, I'm a man.
You can't take me and throw me away.

"And how can you learn what's never shown?
Yeah, you stand here on your own.
They don't know me, 'cause I'm not here.

"And I want a moment to be real,
Want to touch things I don't feel,
Want to hold on, and feel I belong.

"And how can the world want me to change?
They're the ones that stay the same.
They don't know me, 'cause I'm not here."

Kurt's voice broke slightly, and Mouse sat up straight when she saw the tears in his eyes. His eyes hardened and he continued singing, oblivious to their looks of concern.

"And you see the things the things they never see,
All you wanted, I could be,
Now you know me, and I'm not afraid.

"And I want to tell you who I am,
Can you help me be a man?
They can't break me,
As long as I know who I am.

"And I want a moment to be real,
Want to touch things I don't feel,
Want to hold on, and feel I belong.

"And how can the world want me to change?
They're the ones that stay the same.
They can't see me, but I'm still here.

"They can't tell me who to be,
'Cause I'm not what they see.
Yeah, the world is still sleeping,
While I keep on dreaming for me.
And their words are just whispers,
And lies that I'll never believe.

"And I want a moment to be real,
Want to touch things I don't feel,
Want to hold on, and feel I belong.

"And how can you say I never change?
They're the ones that stay the same.
I'm the one now, 'cause I'm still here.

"I'm the one, 'cause I'm still here,
I'm still here,
I'm still here,
I'm still here," Kurt sang, his voice becoming quiet as the song finished.

They all applauded him, but Kurt looked as if he didn't notice, and made his way off the stage.

Sensing that the atmosphere was changing once more, Will hurried to hand out sheets with the songs for Regionals for the students to practice.

...

"Rachel!" Mouse called after her as she walked down the corridor.

"Yes, Mouse?" she asked, seeming impatient to leave and annoyed at needing to give Mouse her attention.

"Want to talk about it?"

"I have no idea to what it is you're referring to," Rachel said.

Finn walked past, and both Rachel and Finn looked to opposite sides of the hallway to avoid the other's gaze.

"Yeah, right, sure you don't," Mouse said sarcastically. "Never mind, I was just offering," she said, going to leave.

"Wait," Rachel said, looking hesitant. "I ... I wouldn't mind having someone to talk to, if you're willing to listen."

"Oh, please, after that performance in the auditorium, we're all ready to listen!" Santana said, grinning when Rachel paled slightly.

"If I must," she said with a sigh.

"You must," Mouse said firmly, then turned to Mercedes and Kurt, "and then you two are going to sit down and talk, or so help me, I will duct tape you to chairs until you've sorted out whatever the hell is going on!"

Kurt and Mercedes both looked surprised at her statement, but nodded briefly.

"What's going on?" Puck asked, coming over with Candy, Mike and Matt.

"Girl talk," Mouse said with a smile.

"We've got football practice now; do you want Candy to come with us?" Puck offered, looking at the group of girls and Kurt for a moment.

"That'd be great. I'll come down when we're done," Mouse replied, smiling. "Be good, sweetie. Make sure to stay on the seat, okay?"

Candy nodded, grinning happily. "Bye everyone!" he said, taking Puck's hand and tugged him down the hallway impatiently.

Mike and Matt followed them. Artie looked a bit awkward for a moment, and breathed a sigh of relief when the band members asked him to practise with them. Tina decided to stay with them, making Mouse promise her to tell her everything when they were done.

"Right, let's find someplace that doesn't have an echo when it's empty," Mouse muttered, leading them down the hallway.

…

Rachel looked nervous at all of their gazes on her, but took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

"Finn wanted to get back together with Quinn so he could be part of the baby's life. He didn't consult me about it, or have the common decency to break up with me first, so I broke up with him. Now he thinks that it's my fault. But it doesn't matter; I'm going to concentrate on my career, which is what I should have done in the first place."

They all looked to Quinn for confirmation quickly, Kurt perched on the edge of his chair in his excitement for gossip.

"He didn't say anything about getting back together with me, but he did say he wanted to be part of the baby's life. I told him that I was happy with Josh, and I'm taking care of things in regards to the baby. There's no reason for him to do anything; I'm sorting it all out, just like I have from the beginning," Quinn muttered.

As everyone turned their attention back to Rachel, Mouse noticed Quinn checking her watch with a frown.

"Just how are you sorting it all out?" Mouse asked curiously.

Quinn looked up sharply, faltering for a moment. "I … I don't want to say. It's none of your business anyway."

Mouse looked surprised at the hostility in Quinn's voice, but nodded once and returned her attention back to Rachel. One by one, the others returned their attention to Rachel as well, all of them looking hurt at Quinn's statement. They all felt that they'd been there for Quinn in one way or another, and to be put down in such a way hurt all of them.

"If Finn didn't say anything about getting back together with Quinn, only that he wanted to be part of the baby's life, doesn't that mean that he still wants to go out with you?" Mercedes asked, frowning.

Rachel opened and closed her mouth a few times, the possibility not occurring to her before.

"So that means that you can get back with him, right?" Brittany asked, smiling brightly.

"No," Rachel said firmly, yet somehow surprised by her own response. "No. He obviously didn't think it was necessary to talk with me when he decided he wanted to be part of the baby's life, and even if this was just a misunderstanding on my part, or a miscommunication on his, I just do not have the energy to deal with it anymore. I meant it before when I said I was going to concentrate on my career. I need to put myself first again; I never should have let myself move to second place," she said, her face and tone determined.

"All right… So just how are you planning on putting your career first? It's rare that anyone hires high school students around here," Santana pointed out, the irony of her being the only one employed didn't escape her.

"I will just have to keep attending auditions elsewhere in the state. My fathers are very supportive and encouraging of my talent," Rachel replied simply, shrugging in response.

There was a harsh scraping sound, and they all turned to see Quinn standing up.

"I've got an appointment; see you tomorrow," she muttered briefly, leaving before anyone could answer.

They were silent for a few moments after she'd gone, and looked to each other, wondering why Quinn was acting so odd lately.

"Right, you two; your turn," Mouse said, looking at Kurt and Mercedes sternly.

"It's nothing between us; I'm just ... I've just been lonely lately, is all," Mercedes said, her voice soft.

Kurt was silent for a moment, and he took Mercedes' hand beneath the table, squeezing gently. He swallowed briefly and steadied himself for his own admission. "I'm transferring to Dalton Academy."

…

Shelby Corcoran waited patiently for Quinn to leave the school building. She knew that the girl might run late due to her participation in the Glee Club, and simply listened to the radio to distract herself.

Quinn opened the door and slid onto the car seat a few moments later, large sunglasses covering her face.

"You really don't need to wear those glasses, Quinn," Shelby said in amusement as she turned the ignition on.

She didn't reply until the car was out of the carpark.

"I don't want anyone to know that I'm getting in a car with a stranger. My friends are protective and would probably call the police or something."

"That's all well and good, but sweetie, I meant that you don't need the glasses because they make you look ridiculous. And they really don't hide the fact that you're you," Shelby added with a smile.

"What would you suggest then?" Quinn retorted.

Glancing at her passenger briefly, Shelby just smiled and returned her attention to the road.

…

"I'm done now," Quinn said to Shelby as she saw her in the waiting room. She frowned slightly when she saw the bag in Shelby's hand, knowing that the older woman hadn't arrived with it.

"How did it go? Was everything all right?" Shelby asked both Quinn and the doctor.

"Everything was perfectly fine, Ms. Corcoran. The baby is very healthy, and everything looks to be moving smoothly," the doctor assured her, then called on his next patient.

Quinn was silent as Shelby paid for the appointment, and was quiet still as Shelby lead her to the car.

"Is everything all right, Quinn?" Shelby asked as she opened the door for her.

"Pardon?" she asked, as if realising she wasn't alone.

"I asked if everything was all right. You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"Oh, no. I'm not having second thoughts. This is the best thing for all of us, believe me," she said, a little sour laugh escaping as she looked down at her stomach. "It's just …" she stopped, sighing, and shook her head. "Never mind, I shouldn't be putting any more of my problems on you than I already have… Thank you again for paying for my appointments, by the way," she added.

"Again, you're welcome Quinn. We … we may not be friends, or even close acquaintances, but I have been told that I am a very good listener, and if you want, I can just listen," Shelby offered.

Quinn nodded, but was silent once more. Then, as they were driving along the main road, she began talking. She talked of the baby, of Puck, Finn, Josh, of her friends, cheerleading, Sue Sylvester, her parents, staying with Finn and then Mouse, of being torn between wanting the baby and wanting what was best for the child growing inside her. She had no money, no job prospects at the moment, no future without either of those, and she couldn't bear to put an innocent child through that. She talked of everything that made sense, everything else that didn't make sense, and everything in between. Quinn continued to talk long after the car had stopped, without seeming to realise that they were no longer moving. Sitting beside her, Shelby simply listened, not offering advice or preaching. She waited and listened carefully to everything the emotional young woman said without saying a word in return.

There was silence for what seemed like hours after she'd finally finished talking, and Quinn took the offered bottle of water, drinking gratefully.

Shelby waited until she was sure that Quinn was calm once more, and then handed her the bag she'd had in her possession earlier.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do, because I think that you still need to figure that out for yourself… I saw this in the gift shop, and thought you might like it for the next time you need to get into the car with me," she added, smiling softly.

She didn't ask what she was most longing to know - whether after all of Quinn's admissions, she would still let her adopt the baby - and just smiled when the young girl looked at her in surprise.

Quinn laughed softly when she pulled out a large floppy hat from the bag, her hand resting over her stomach as she continued to laugh.

Thanking Shelby quietly, Quinn got out of the car, the hat in her hand.

She knew that Shelby had wanted an answer, and despite already knowing what the answer was, Quinn hadn't told her yet. She didn't want the older woman to think that she was only making the decision because of a spur of the moment confession.

Quinn was going to let Shelby adopt her baby. She was not ready to be a mother yet, and she didn't want to force a child through a life that they could both come to regret. Shelby, on the other hand, was more than ready to be a mother, and Quinn could give that to her. After her slight breakdown, she knew that Shelby would be a caring mother, a loving mother who would listen to her daughter; a mother who would defend her daughter, even if it meant going against an overbearing father. Shelby would be the mother that Quinn's own mother wouldn't be.

…

End of the twenty-first chapter.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

The song list for this chapter (as with all previous and future chapters) is posted in my Glee forum.

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