Chapter 39

End of the Line

It was the first time that Puck had entered Artie's house but the Abrams were not completely unfamiliar with Puck. The boy is not difficult to spot on the stage whenever New Directions are performing, or even anywhere in town actually. The Mohawk was a signature cut for Puck and people remember him mainly for his hairstyle. Besides, apart from being the pool cleaning boy, what happened between him and Quinn has been a topic of conversation in the small town of Lima. He may as well be considered a celebrity in that part of Ohio.

The Abrams were very gracious, of course. Aside from the fact that Puck was Ashley's guest, they are some of the most polite people in Lima. The dinner was in fact nice. Puck was very engaging and made non-stop conversation with Artie's parents. Everybody at the table were laughing and smiling for the most part of dinner, except Artie. He was very quiet and faked a smile during the entire time they were gathered around that table. Ashley was not oblivious to this, but she was not going to allow Artie to spoil the wonderful time she's having.

After Puck left, Ashley said goodnight to her aunt and uncle and went straight to her bedroom. A few minutes after she had entered her room, and while she was fixing her things for school the next day, she heard a knock on her door. It was Artie.

"Hey," he said cautiously.

"Hi," she said, not pausing from her current occupation.

Neither spoke after. There were only the sounds of papers being stacked together and school items being stuffed in a school bag. This went on for a few minutes until Ashley was finally done.

She returned to Artie and asked, "What?"

It took a second for him to answer, but he was straightforward when he did. "I can't believe you brought him here."

"Why not? We are dating."

Artie blinked.

"I'm telling everyone," Ashley continued. "Well, not everyone everyone. Just glee club… for now."

"Are you sure about this, Ash?"

She sighed and offered a smile. "I think I'm in love with him."

"But you've known him—"

"I know. I know it's not enough time. But it's just so… different… with him. Maybe he's the one. You know?"

Artie's lips pressed into a line. He shrugged. "I just don't want you to get hurt, okay?"

Her eyebrows furrowed as she uncertainly shook her head. "I won't…"

He smiled politely and nodded. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah," Ashley said while watching him wheel out of her room.

Quinn made her way to Rachel when she saw her by her locker pulling out a couple of books. "Are you ready for later?"

Rachel, now aware of Quinn's presence and needing nothing more from her locker, closed the door slowly and turned to Quinn. "When was I ever not ready?" There was no spite in Rachel's reply; instead, bewilderment. Not so much on Quinn's query, but on the way she had asked.

"Okay, good. It better be perfect." Her tone was firm, but distracted.

"It will. We practiced almost three hours every day," Rachel said studying Quinn. "What's bothering you?"

Quinn looked at Rachel as if it should have been obvious already. "Our piece. We should win this one, don't you think?"

"Well, yeah, but…" Rachel exhaled. "Quinn, I'm not so dense so as to not notice that you're acting… different."

Rachel saw that Quinn was surprised, and looked a bit concerned. But it only went on for a second and Quinn quickly rolled her eyes and began to walk away. "Really, Rachel."

"I…" Rachel said as she caught up to her. "You can tell me, you know."

Quinn stopped and looked at Rachel, studying her face for a moment. "Fine. What do you want me to say?"

"You're acting all funky because of Noah, aren't you?"

"What?" Quinn hissed. Rachel's eyes widened.

"That's it!" Rachel retorted in the same whispered hiss.

Quinn paused and looked at the door sign right above Rachel. She gently nudged Rachel into the restroom. Once inside, she casually checked the cubicles to see if they were alone. "I swear to God, if you say anything," Quinn began as she returned to face Rachel, "I will hurt you so bad."

Although it would have passed off as a legitimate threat, Rachel was not the least bit bothered. She was more concerned of Quinn's demeanor. She just wanted Quinn to have a release as to what's bothering her. Quinn seemed to realize this, as she began to slowly relax.

"I… I'm trying to reach out to him. Like, really trying. I don't… I don't know why he's being so distant. I really thought he's changed. But, I guess…" Quinn took a step closer to Rachel. "I know you guys are friends. I mean, closer than what you let on. Ha—has he said anything to you about… anything?"

The wheels in Rachel's head began to turn. Puck's being weird and distant to her, and obviously, as she had already guessed, he's been weird and distant to Quinn as well. Rachel shook her head in response to Quinn's inquiry, and said, "To be honest, I don't… well, we haven't really spoken to each other these past few weeks. So…"

Quinn's eyebrows furrowed. What is going on with Puck, she thought.

"Is that why you chose the song?" Rachel asked, interrupting Quinn's pondering.

"What?" Quinn asked, a bit dazed.

"The song that we're singing this afternoon. Is it for Noah?"

Quinn's lips formed a tight line; she nodded once. Quinn huffed and started to the door. "I'll see you later, Rach," she said as she passed Rachel.

Before Rachel could respond, Quinn had already left the restroom.

Finn entered the auditorium wheezing. Will and the rest of the boys were already scattered in the audience seats.

"I thought I was late," he whispered as he made his way past the wheelchair and onto a seat just one space away from Artie.

"You're just in time," Artie said.

The stage was dim. The band settled upstage. Nine microphone stands placed downstage—four in front, five at the back. One by one the girls took to their places.

"Hi. I'm Rachel Berry."

Finn's eyes widened as he discreetly roamed his eyes to the other guys seated in front of him.

"We'd like to dedicate this song to a very good friend. Thank you."

As if on cue, the drummer started off the song.

Quinn took the first verse. Staring blankly into the dark as the spotlight bathed her.

All alone I wait for you
As darkness fills this room
I don't know why you ain't called

Artie looked at the boy in the Mohawk a couple of rows below him.

Little things you used to do
They're no longer part of you
Seems you left them all behind

Rachel, who shared the front center with Quinn, made way for the chorus, sang—

Well, I can't believe what I'm going through
This thing, it just ain't right
Your selfish ways,
How you carry on,
Some things you just can't hide.

The rest of the girls blended for the chorus, with Quinn taking charge of the solos.

(If you want me to go)
Then say it,
(Want me to stay)
Then show it,
(Don't be afraid, ooh)
Oh don't break this heart of mine,
Now's the time… if I'm right,
Then we've come to the end of the line.

So say it
(want me to stay)
Then show it
(don't be afraid)
Oh, don't break this heart of mine
Now's the time, if I'm right
Then we've come to the end of the line
Ohh, oh yeah.

The next verse was Rachel's, and she put in her heart in her singing more than usual because she meant every word.

Seems like I can't do you right,
All I do or say is wrong,
All the smallest things criticized.

Finn's eyes can't help but focus on the boy in the Mohawk.

I deserve some damn respect,
Nothing more and nothing less,
Don't pretend everything's fine.

Quinn held on to the mic and shut her eyes tightly as she sang—

Don't hold it back,
If it's in your heart,
Stand up and be a man,
Can't read your mind,
So I'll just say it loud,
I'm trying to understand.

The girls came together again for the chorus, doing their choreography in unison and Quinn still taking charge of the solo parts. When it came to it, Rachel made way for the bridge…

Even though you've doing me wrong
I still care,
Do you think that by treating me cruel
That somehow I'll disappear?

…and Quinn took it home in a most powerful way that the auditorium has never seen or heard from her before.

Baby I love you too much just to walk away.
Don't make me hate you,
Baby you've got to be straight.

Puck watched motionless through it all. He heard every word and knew that it was for him; it was about him. Whether or not any one else from the guys realized this didn't matter to him. He was breaking up inside as it was. Two girls he absolutely cared about are hurting because of him. How did he end up doing that? Why does it always have to be him who kept doing that?

When the song ended, everyone in the audience applauded. That is, everyone except Artie, Finn and Puck.

"Awesome job, guys," Will called. On his way towards the exit, he reminded the boys that they were due tomorrow and they better step it up because the girls did a really great job today.

A/N: The song is "End of the Line" by Honeyz

Next Chapter: Realizations