A/N: Had a little fun with the style of this chapter. Everything happens after the breakup and before the choir room moment at the end of the episode. Feedback would be lovely.

Funeral

Text #1: Did you get home safely? - Finn

Quinn continued to run. She had no idea where she was headed, but she knew she needed to get as far away from him as possible (not that he was chasing after her). She only took note of her surroundings when she finally collapsed from absolute exhaustion. She found herself laying on a bed of grass, the sky above her tinted grey, a cool breeze brushing against her body. Whether or not she was merely perceiving such gloomy weather due to her current mood was unclear nor did she have the energy to care at the moment.

The more she thought back to the breakup, the more angry she became. She had forgiven him for the prom debacle when she should have dumped his sorry ass and yet, he had been the one to break up with her today? She almost laughed at the irony of the situation.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts. She sat up from where she was, very much alert.

"Mercedes? What are you doing here?" she questioned, a puzzled expression upon her face.

"Thought I would come to the park to sit for awhile," Mercedes explained, giving her small smile.

She took a seat beside her on the grass.

"Are you ok?" she added in concern, turning to look at the blonde. "You look…upset."

Upon instinct, Quinn was about to open her mouth and lie, but she stopped herself when she noticed her raised eyebrow. She knew Mercedes would have none of her bullshit, so she ended up telling her the truth.

"Finn broke up with me," she revealed, looking straight ahead to keep her emotions in check.

"When?" the other girl questioned, a stunned look on her face. "You two were still very much together at the funeral."

"We were," Quinn clarified, a sarcastic laugh sounding from the hollows of her throat. "He dumped me afterward."

"You have got to be kidding me," Mercedes commented, unable to believe that Finn would be so insensitive. "Right after the funeral?"

She nodded.

"Right after I told him how proud I was of him too," she enlightened her, a bitterness evident in her voice.

She almost laughed though as she watched Mercedes widen her eyes even further in response.

"Yup," Quinn confirmed for her, actually glad to get all of this off her chest. "Apparently he feels 'tethered' to Rachel, but not me, which is funny because awhile ago he insisted that he only felt fireworks when he kissed me, not Rachel."

Mercedes rolled her eyes and said, "That's boys for you."

"He's just confused," Quinn whispered instantly, not really knowing why she felt the need to defend him still.

The other girl shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"You say confused, I say insensitive asshole," she informed her in an attempt to cheer her up. "Tomat-"

She cut herself off when her phone alerted her of a new text message. Glancing down at the lit up screen, she frowned.

"I'm really sorry, Quinn, but my mom needs me home," Mercedes apologized, having wanted to be there for her a little longer. "Are you going to be ok?"

The blonde smiled at her, grateful that she had been here for her for as long as she had, and nodded curtly.

"Of course," she assured her, although the grin on her face faltered. "I'm Quinn Fabray. I have a reputation to uphold you know."

Mercedes laughed, giving her a quick hug before heading on home. She had a feeling no one else knew about the breakup yet but her, but she could keep a secret.

Five minutes later, however, she texted Tina. It was only Tina, Mercedes reasoned to herself. Besides, she knew Tina could keep a secret.

Text #18: I hope we can still be friends. - Finn

"Thanks for giving me a ride, Noah," Rachel said as she fastened her seat belt.

"Of course," he answered, starting the car only when he heard the familiar click of the safety device.

As they left the parking lot, his phone alerted him of a new text message. He reached for the ringing nuisance, but Rachel stopped him with a single look. They had had this discussion before. Both hands on the wheel at all times while she was in the car.

"Can you get that for me then, princess?" Puck asked her, knowing that that would be acceptable. "It might be important."

She nodded, taking his phone in her hands. She read the message and froze, unsure of how to react.

"Problem?" he questioned, not liking the current expression gracing her pretty little face.

She remained still, which only heightened his concern. He pulled over, turned off the engine, and confronted her.

"You being silent for this long worries me, Berry," he informed her, taking the phone from her unmoving hands.

She showed no resistance, none at all.

"Fuck," he swore out loud when he read the message as well.

He gave it a day before Rachel was back in Hudson's arms. He knew Finn was his best friend and all, but Rachel deserved so much better. Quinn did too. Who broke up with a chick right after a funeral? That was just cold, even by his standards.

"They broke up," he heard her whisper from beside him, noting the small hint of happiness in her voice.

Even so, he held onto that tiny sliver of hope that Rachel wouldn't throw herself at Finn again the first chance she got.

"Is there a protocol as to when I should call him?" she questioned seconds later, much to his frustration. "Twenty four hours, maybe? You know I'm no expert when it comes to these things, Noah. Perhaps I could console him…"

"You have to be fucking kidding me," he muttered under his breath with a roll of his eyes, unable to stop himself.

"Noah! Do you have to use that word as often as you do?" she wondered as he put the vehicle into drive again. "Honestly! It adds absolutely nothing to the meaning of your sentences."

"You have to be kidding me shows frustration," he explained to her, clearly humouring her. "You have to be fucking kidding me, princess, means I am sick and tired of y-"

He shut himself up when he realized he was raising his voice at her. Luckily, they arrived at her house then. This conversation was over.

"Forget it," he mumbled, avoiding her penetrating gaze. "Yeah, twenty four hours or whatever."

Who gave shit really?

"No, tell me," Rachel insisted, refusing to get out of the car just yet. "What were you going to say, Noah?"

He looked at her for a moment in consideration, the words he wanted to say to her running through his head in dizzying circles.

"Rach," he started, but then changed his mind. "Just…"

She looked at him in earnest, waiting for him to finish his statement.

"Just don't sell yourself short," he finished gruffly, breaking eye contact with her and looking straight ahead again. "Finn should be the one thanking his lucky stars a girl like you is in love with him."

After a moment of prolonged silence, neither of them knowing quite what to say exactly, she simply nodded, saying a quick 'thank you' and 'bye' before getting out of the car.

She disappeared into her house soon afterward, but he sat there in her driveway for a good five minutes longer.

Fucking Hudson.

Why did he always get the girls he wanted?

Text #23: Quinn, we've known each other for too long not to still be friends after our breakup. Stop ignoring my texts please? - Finn

Brittany waited by Quinn's locker, holding the list she had spent all night preparing tightly in her hands. She had heard about the breakup from Artie, who had heard it from Mike, who had heard it from Tina, who had heard it from Mercedes, who had heard it firsthand from Quinn and she felt terrible for her friend. So, she had spent the majority of her night coming up with a list of boys at McKinley who would be suitable replacements for one Finn Hudson.

"Quinn!" she greeted her excitedly when she saw the blonde approach. "Look what I spent all night putting together for you."

Quinn took the piece of paper sceptically from her hands.

"What's this?" she murmured, unfolding it and flitting her eyes quickly over the list.

"Hot single guys at this school who would all kill to date you," Brittany proclaimed, a proud look on her already glowing face.

Quinn returned her bright smile, appreciating the sentiment behind the gesture.

"Thanks Britt," she said, putting the list in her locker. "I'm not really ready to move on just yet, but I'm sure I'll be making use of your list in the future."

Satisfied with her response, the bubbly blonde gave her a quick hug before heading off to her next class.

When Quinn really looked at the list again that night, she noticed that Sam Evans had been listed a total of twenty eight times, while every other boy on the list had only been listed once.

She didn't bother to ask Brittany why.

She wondered though.

Text #42: Rach, can we talk? - Finn

Sam continued to stare at the board, their math teacher scribbling nonsense onto the hard, black surface. He was actually alright at math when he put his mind to it. Today, his mind was elsewhere. All he could think about was the fact that Quinn was single again. He had never gone so far as to hope for their breakup, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't happy about it.

Even though she had cheated on him, broken his heart, he still loved her. Yet, he had no intentions of being her rebound, which was why he had steered clear of her over the last few days despite wanting to comfort her through this difficult time.

He heard her laugh from the middle of the room then, effectively interrupting his thoughts, and he turned to observe her (stare at her actually). As usual, she and Santana were passing notes to one another. He hadn't heard her laugh in awhile.

Sam sighed.

Fucking Hudson.

Text #56: Quinn, come on! - Finn

Puck completely zoned out after Finn had informed him of his little run in with Jesse and Rachel in the auditorium. Clearly she had given his words some thought, but Jesse? That guy was probably worse than Finn. He still owed him a beat down after what he had done to Rachel last year. He certainly didn't give two shits that he had apologized to her and that Rachel had accepted his apology and forgiven him.

What the fuck had he done?

"I guess I was too late, man," Finn realized, slamming his locker door shut. "Do you know that neither of them are returning my texts?"

"Yeah, sucks bro," Puck commented casually, his mind elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Rachel.

Goddamn. What did Finn and Jesse have that he didn't?

Maybe if he was a douche to her more often (and he was only half kidding)…

Yeah, like that would ever happen.

Text #63: Did you change your number, Rach? - Finn

I am so bored.

You're always bored in math, Santana.

True. You over Finn yet?

It hasn't even been a week!

So what?

I love him, San. You don't get over someone you love quickly.

Whatever. I'm bored.

Yeah, you mentioned that. Here's an idea. Try to learn something and quit indulging me in conversation.

I say we run over him with my cousin's car.

No! But why your cousin's car?

Because I don't like her? Get rid of Finn and frame my cousin for it. It's a win-win.

For you, you mean.

Duh, but come on, don't you want some sort of revenge on cabbage patch for dumping you like that?

No.

Come on, Quinn! I've got some great ideas and not all of them entail his death.

Fine. Maybe. Try me.

Seduce him, bring out the "massage oil", and then rub chilli oil all over his disco stick instead. His baby maker will be on fire within seconds.

NO WAY!

Ugh, you're no fun.

This conversation is over Santana. I don't want revenge anyway. I'm bigger than that.

You pretend to be. There's a difference.

Get off my case, San.

I will when you at least get yourself a rebound. You are too hot girl to be moping around because of Finn fucking Hudson.

I am not moping!

Liar, Liar. Sam's totally staring at you right now by the way. You should get back on that.

I am not using Sam to get over Finn! I'm not getting a rebound, period. Seriously S. Have you no shame?

No shame in my game, girl. You know that.

"Passing notes in my class again, Miss Lopez? Miss Fabray? Detention after school for both of you. I'll even give you the honour of reading it to me."

Oh shit.

Text #71: I need a plan to win Rachel back from Jesse. Help a brother out? - Finn

Fuck that, Puck mused to himself before deleting his message.

Finn sighed as he lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling, his mind filled with jumbled thoughts.

Maybe he shouldn't have broken up with Quinn.

Then again, maybe he shouldn't have broken up with Rachel over the whole Puck thing in the first place.

Why was life so confusing all the damn time?

His phone vibrated on the side table then. A new message! From Quinn!

Come over?

Yeah, of course. Be there in fifteen.

Perfect.

When he arrived at her place, he had to admit he was slightly nervous. He knew Quinn must still be holding some resentment toward him, but he was hoping that after this conversation they were about to have, they could still be friends. He rang the doorbell, once, twice.

"Hi," he greeted her awkwardly, waiting for her to invite him in. "Did you get my text messages? All of them?"

She nodded, her expression unreadable.

"I did," she confirmed verbally for him. "Actually, that's why I asked you over here. I wanted to reply to them in person."

He smiled at her answer, taking a step forward.

"Oh good because I really want us to stay fri-"

His jaw tightened at the impact of her right hand with the left side of his face, the sting spreading rapidly from one nerve to another.

Fuck. His lips were numb.

"I'll think about it," he heard her say before slamming the door in his face.

Well, he guessed he deserved that.