Hello again to everyone I hope everything is well. Hello especially to any fellow Aussies particularly from the QLD area. I hope you all faired well in the recent category 5 Cyclone Marcia. This chapter was meant to be shorter than it currently is but once in the process of writing the characters just kept on finding things to say. So like any good conduit I let them speak, so this chapter turned out a lot different than expected. Enough about me, once again Ryan Murphy & co own everything unless you read about one of my lovely new characters. The first of which will probably appear next chapter. So I would love to hear from you guys to let me know what your thinking about my story and the journey of Finn Hudson and co into the people there meant to be. So read, review then review again and then if you're not to tired after that read again.
Finn walked down the halls of McKinley lost in thought. For even though he still came to the High School every now and then to jam with the other guys; it still hurt him that one of the last times he was here was when, New Directions lost after Marley collapsed on stage. The guilt over the Glee Club losing under his tutelage was strong, because Finn believed in what the Glee Club stood for and it had given him so many wonderful things he would cherish forever. If it wasn't for Glee he would have probably never met or become tethered to Rachel or also he would have never got the guts to pursue his love of music.
His internal ramblings were interrupted by the sounds of laughter coming from down the hall. There standing down the hall at her locker was Marley Rose, who was trying to ignore a couple of Cheerio's who were harassing her as she was trying to put her books away in her locker. Finn had flashbacks of Santana and Quinn in their Cheerio's uniforms as he looked down the hall at these two younger carbon copies of Santana and Quinn. They possessed all the same self-entitled importance that his ex-girlfriend and fellow glee club member exuded in spades when they were members of that infamous club.
As Finn started down the hall to where Marley and the Cheerio's were located, he could hear them berating poor Marley about her eating disorder. They were saying terrible things, like have you eaten today yet Marley? We wouldn't want you to collapse again, you're a big enough loser already; they were also sticking the fingers in their mouths while making gagging noises and laughing. To Marley's credit she was maintaining her composure despite the onslaught of abuse she was being subjected to by her supposed peers.
"Hey what do you two think you're doing?" Finn bellowed towards the two girls who turned in surprise, due to the level of aggression in his voice that even surprised Finn. To any outside person looking in the situation probably would of looked rather comical with Marley, the two cheerleaders and Finn all standing there staring at each other with startled or shocked expressions showing on their faces. The tall former quarterback was the first to break the stunned silence that had befallen the group, "Well, I'm waiting!" The insertion of words in an intelligible sentence seemed to break the spell that had been cast over the pair of cheerleaders.
"Where just having a friendly chat with our good friend, Myley here, and anyway what's it to you? You don't even still go to this school" the cheerleader with the blonde hair snidely remarked, while her brunette counterpart snickered over in the corner.
Finn quickly rebuked the girls, "Your right I don't go to this school anymore but that doesn't mean I'm going to stand back and watch while you two insecure girls bully my friend; and if what you two were doing was a friendly chat than I'm George Michael"
"Who's George Michael?" the brunette cheerleader asked quizzically.
"That's not important…" Finn silently rebuked himself for using a Wham reference, as it was the first random name that popped into his head. That's what he gets for listening to those CD's Kurt left behind when he left for New York. Next time he's going to use someone cool like Axel Rose, Slash, heck even Elton John would've been better than his George Michael quip.
"What is important…" Finn said getting back to the point at hand. "Is that you couldn't possibly be having a friendly chat when you didn't even get her name right"
"What are you talking about? Her name is Myley, isn't it?" the blonde asked while turning towards Marley.
"I thought it was Molly," the brunette dumbly added.
Marley finally looked up from shielding herself with her books; she had been trying to become as invisible as possible since the start of the confrontation. She looked around slowly realising everyone's attention was on her waiting for her reply. Marley tentatively spoke up, "It's actually M m m… Marley," stuttered the nervous girl.
"Oh like the movie, Marley and Me…the one with that cute big dog in it and that chick from Friends" replied the brunette cheerleader sweetly.
The other blonde cheerleader spun around quickly and while giving her friend a look that was equal parts incredulous as well as spiteful said, "Remember what I said about thinking before you open your mouth, Laura"
"Sorry, Cindy"
"Anyway what's it to you if we want to have some fun with Marley here?"
"It matters a great deal to me what you do to Marley. Too long I've stood silently by while spoilt, self-entitled brats like you two feel the need to compensate for their own insecurities by bringing down your more self-assured classmates. Now I'm giving you the option of either walking away and going back to your little coven with the other witches or stay and I can go talk to Coach Sue about what her Cheerio's are doing behind her back. Believe me I know she probably couldn't care less that a couple of her minions are bullying other students; but I bet she would mind if the local news or the Lima Ledger got an anonymous tip-off that a seven time national winning Cheerleading coach was condoning bullying. So stay or go your choice, either way you're bullying of Marley stops now"
"How dare you. You can't talk to us like that!" sneered one of the cheerleaders
"Oh but I can. Because you see as you so beautifully stated earlier, I don't even go to this school anymore. So what are you going to do get me suspended?" Finn sneered back at the two cheerleaders.
The blonde Cheerio looked shocked that someone was not only standing up to her and her standover tactics but also beating her at her own game. She let out a huff and grabbed her brunette friends hand and said, "Whatever, we're late for practice anyway. Come on Laura let's get out of here, before someone sees us and thinks were losers too"
After watching Cindy and Laura walk away, a stunned Marley turned to look at Finn and said, "Not that I'm not appreciative Finn, but can I ask why you helped me out?"
"I'm sick of feeling like a loser and a failure and I guess this school brings out those memories and emotions in me; and I just don't want to see what I saw routinely happen to all the people I cared about, happen to all the new people I care about" Finn explained.
"You care about me…Why?" a surprised Marley responded.
"I care about you and everyone who I taught in New Directions, because whether there is fighting, arguing, singing or laughing we're family and family sticks together; and as one very important former member of Glee Club put it, 'Being a part of something special, makes you special'. That's exactly what you are Marley Rose special"
Marley looked like she was about to cry, but not out of sadness but out of she guessed disbelief for no one outside of her mum had ever said they believe in her. "You know Finn if I didn't know any better I would have to think you were going for the monthly jackpot for using all the words of the week for that month from the 'Word of the Day' app, in telling off those cheerleaders."
"Oh My God you use the 'Word of the Day' app too? I was wondering how I knew all those big words…" chuckled Finn before continuing. "Well that helped and I guess I have Dr Phil to thank as well. Who knew daytime TV could be so boring and weirdly addictive at the same time. Not to mention I've been binge watching American Horror Story: Coven in my spare time."
"Well your secrets safe with me considering I get my mother to record Days of our Lives and General Hospital every day; and it is my fault that you now have so much free time"
Finn put his hand on Marley's shoulder so he could make sure she was looking into his eyes to see how truthful he was being when he responds to her. "Marley what happened at Sectionals was not your fault. I'm sure the other members of Glee don't blame you for what happened because I definitely don't" Finn reassured his friend.
'How is the whole thing going with…um…you know?" Finn nervously asked Marley.
"With my eating disorder; you can say it Finn, my therapist said that was one of the first stages to overcoming it is too acknowledge that I have a problem. Your wrong about the Glee Club most of them still blame me for us losing the competition, the only ones who still talk to me are Unique and Ryder; and that's extremely weird and tense since the whole catfish thing between the two"
"What even Jake is blaming you, I thought you two were dating?"
"We were but I guess he has even more Puckerman blood in his veins than he realises because he dumped me soon after sectionals and is now hooking up with Bree whose the Captain of the Cheerio's. It was probably her who sent those two lemmings over to harass me"
"God there must be something in the Puckerman DNA that makes the males in that family extremely stupid. Don't worry; I'll have a chat with Puck to see if he can knock some sense into his half-brother's thick head" Finn tried to reassure Marley.
Marley finished grabbing the rest of her stuff out of her locker before turning back around to Finn, "Don't worry about me Finn, its Jake's loss if he wants to date that cheap bimbo; and anyway I think I might have certain feelings for someone else"
"You like someone else w…." Finn was cut off from finishing by Ryder coming up to them in the hall. Now in the presence of the young footballer who was sporting a big grin, that Finn was sure wasn't meant for him, he could see Marley instantly become slightly flustered. Finn couldn't help but let a sly smirk spread across his face as he in avertedly answered the very question he was interrupted from asking.
"Hey Finn…Hey Marley" Ryder said to both of them all without breaking eye contact with Marley, leaving Finn standing there feeling like he was intruding on a private moment as the two high schoolers continued sharing flirty and bashful looks. A bemused Finn who let out a small cough to remind his former pupils that he was still in their presence broke the moment.
A clearly befuddled Ryder quickly tried to regain his composure before remembering why he was in the hallway in the first place. "Oh yeah um Finn; I was actually looking for you. Puck sent me to find you and bring you back to the choir room and he told me to tell you to hurry or else"
"Or else what?" Finn replied back
A nervous Ryder tried to placate his former mentor, "Um…remember this is Puck saying this and not me…ok"
"Just tell me Ryder"
"Ok, ok…once again this is Puck speaking and I quote, 'If Finn Hudson doesn't get his late ass to the choir room in the next fifteen minutes, I'm going to tell Momma Hudson how Finn and Rachel really broke her brand new washing machine"
The two teenagers were shocked when they noticed their friend's face change into one of worry. "He wouldn't" Finn said almost as if he was speaking to himself.
"He said you would say that and to then tell you to remember the incident involving, Mrs McGuire and her cat"
Finn's face fell even further at the mention of the old lady who used to live next door to the Hudson's when he was little. When all of a sudden Finn turned suddenly and at the same time grabbed Ryder and started to walk off at a brisk pace calling over his shoulder. "Ok, that's enough chatting you have a nice day now Marley! We'll catch you later, Ryder and I have got to get going!"
Marley chuckled to herself as she watched the tall former quarterback drag Ryder down the hall towards the choir room, all the while muttering something about a cat and it wasn't even his fault. As she finished putting the last of her books in her bag, Marley remembered something she wanted to tell her former Glee instructor.
"FINN!" Marley called out. Finn and Ryder stopped in their tracks and both turned around. Finn saw a large smile appear on Marley's face as she called out, "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go!"
Finn burst out laughing and it was more than a minute before he could compose himself enough to reply. "What?"
"That's my favourite song from Wham and George Michael. Don't tell anyone but I always thought he was kind of cute in that music video. With the tight two tone short shorts and the hair that looked like he stole it directly off Farrah Fawcett's head. Mind you this is all before I knew he was gay."
"Your secret's safe with me." Finn called back while giving the young girl a wink. "I was more into the song, Faith or Don't Let the Sun Go Down on me, which was that song he did with Elton John. I thought I was being an old man mentioning an artist most of kids your age have never heard of."
"Don't worry Finn, there are some of us who have musical interests outside of the Justin Biebers and Britney Spears." Marley mentioned back to the two boys before bidding them a goodbye and heading on home for the afternoon.
Ryder turned towards his former mentor as he nudged Finn's side and softly spoke so only Finn could hear, "Hey Finn, you don't suppose Kurt or Blaine would know anywhere in Lima where they sell two tone short shorts?"
Finn turned towards the younger man and looked at him incredulously and started shaking his head, "Oh My God! I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that!"
Ryder and Finn now stuck in an awkward silence hurriedly continued on their way to the choir room.
Finn and Ryder flew into the choir room and came to a skidding halt, much to the amusement of the other guys present. Finn immediately marched over to Puck and pointed a finger at him. "Screw you Puckerman! You wouldn't dare tell my mum about the washing machine"
Puck instantly got a devious smirk on his face before replying to his friend, "Oh think again Finnster. I bet Momma Hudson wouldn't take too kindly to her precious little boy defiling his girlfriend on her brand new washing machine"
The other three guys started laughing as they heard what there Mo hawked friend was threatening the tall drummer with.
"I hate you, Puckerman" Finn pouted
"No you don't, you love me. Don't worry I'm not going to tell Momma Hudson about how kinky you and Berry are, remember brothers and wingmen for life" Puck said while nudging Finn trying to get him to smile, before Finn finally relented and gave his friend a smile in return.
"You can be my wingman anytime" Finn said while holding his fist out for Puck to bump his fist with. Puck reached out and bumped his fist with Finn's outstretched fist while laughing.
"Bullshit! You can be mine" this made both boys start laughing at the other, before Blaine cleared his throat interrupting the conversation between the two friends.
"As touching as this bromance is and also a little bit creepy. I believe you summoned us here for a reason Puck" Blaine said growing impatient.
Puck got up and walked to the front of the choir room and started pacing back and forth in front of the guys. The others just continued to stare at their friend who was clearly stalling for the dramatic effect. Which led Blaine to think to himself that Finn was not the only one, Rachel's dramatics had rubbed off on. Puck stopped his pacing and turned back toward his assembled friends and started speaking.
"I have gathered you here today because I have been thinking…"
"Puck thinking there's two words I never thought I'd hear together in a sentence from Puck" Sam interrupted which also started the others laughing.
"Shut It, Evans!" snapped Puck while giving his blonde haired friend a heated look, which managed to stop most of the sniggering that was going on amongst the group of friends.
"Anyway where was I? Oh that's right I have been thinking…" Puck looked over at Sam, daring him to interrupt him again. When no interruption came he continued on with his spiel. "I have been thinking that since where five awesome musicians…" once again pausing for dramatic effect while seeing if anyone could guess he's awesome idea, when no one could, Puck finished with, "We should start a band"
Puck looked around at the congregated boys willing and waiting for someone to respond and break the silence that had lingered after his proclamation. It surprised everyone when Ryder was the first person to break the silence.
"But I've got football practice in twenty minutes!"
Everyone turned to look at Ryder with matching bewildering expressions, before Puck once again responded. "Not right this second Ryder. Damn man no wonder you were cat fished so easily."
"PUCK, Knock it off man!" Finn quickly rebuked his Jewish counterpart.
"Ok my bad" Puck apologised before continuing, "What I meant was that we sounded kick-ass the other day and now that there's no more Glee Club this year…" Puck turned to Finn before adding, "New Directions was totally robbed by the way!" Finn just gave his friend a small nod of recognition before urging him to continue.
"Anyway since we all have so much apparent free time, even though me and the Finn-man are doing our thing at University of Lima, we could still have time for a band; and like I mean we all know Finn's studying to become a music teacher but has anyone actually seen him go to any classes, college is awesome!"
"As much as I like talking about my college course that is so flexible and easy it's unheard of, maybe we should get back to the point" Finn interrupted his best friends ramblings about the weirdness of the his college schedule.
"Right…So Band who's in my brothers?" The others had rarely seen Puck this excited about anything, other than picking up women.
"Well since I'm basically finished everything required for my classes before I graduate, I guess I'm in," Blaine said while raising his hand.
"Hell yes! Warbler's in what about you Sammy boy?" Puck questioned while looking over at the person in question, Sam ummed and arhed for a while before responding to Puck's question. "Well since I probably won't be graduating, I'll need something to do so yeah count me in."
Puck then turned his attention to Ryder before adding, "What about you, Hotshot? In or out?" Ryder just simply shrugged his shoulders and with an air of nonchalance responded, "Yeah sure why not."
"That's the spirit boy's! Looks like we got ourselves a band" Finn interrupted Puck's exuberance, "Hey what about me?"
"I didn't need to ask you, I already knew you were going to say yes"
"Maybe not…I could've said no," pouted Finn.
"And miss being a part of the awesomeness that's going to be the Puckerman Experience!"
"Sorry I change my mind if that's the name of the band then I'm out!" declared Sam, which was met by a chorus of agreements from the rest of the boys about the suitability of the name.
"Alright settle down! How about this we leave the name for now and we can brainstorm a name later? Also while where on the subject of ideas for the band, I should probably mention step two of my three step master plan."
"Just get on with it!" all four of the other boys exclaimed in unison.
"Fine! Step one was form a band with your best bro's, so check. Step two enter and win a battle of the bands competition and check on that one as well. Then finally the third and final step, ride the wave of fame and fortune all the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame baby."
"Wait what did you just say?" Finn looked at his friend hoping that he had heard him wrong and that he didn't just say that he entered them into a Battle of the Bands competition.
"I said can't you just see us up there at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rocking out in front of thousands of screaming fans…"
"No before that. Step two you said win a Battle of the Bands competition!"
"Oh that. Yeah I entered us into the seventh annual Lima, Ohio Battle of the Bands competition at The Lazy Sombrero Bar and Grill" Puck answered Finn's question with a nonplussed expression wondering why the others seemed to be worried over this particular detail.
"What the hell, Puckerman were not ready any competitions let alone playing in front of a live audience!" groaned Sam as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. Puck stood there staring at the group listening to their groans of disapproval, before responding, "Come on I thought you guys would be happy?"
"Puck you entered us into a competition for bands and we've only played together once. Yet were going to have to go up against bands that have been playing together for years" explained Finn.
Puck just looked at everyone wondering what the problem was, because as he saw it they may only have played together once as a band, but that once was full of magic that most bands strive whole careers to achieve. "Please we got this guy's sure we may be a little green, but I can't be the only one who felt alive when we played together the other day."
The others found their friend's excitement and enthusiasm about their band contagious so only with a few more slight misgivings each one found themselves agreeing to Puck's plan.
"So what song are we doing for the competition?" queried Sam.
Puck looked around the room a bit nervously as he responded; "Um, actually the thing about the song is…" after a slight pause puck quickly mumbled the rest under his breath, "Ithastobeanoriginalsong."
"Say again, Puckerman!" Blaine said sternly.
"Fine! It has to be an original song, ok!" exclaimed Puck throwing his hands in the air.
The revelation of this particular news sent the other four boys into a rabble of conjecture and unease. A couple of them even tried leaving the choir room that caused Puck to go to the drastic measure of locking the choir room door.
"Puck do realise how much time and effort goes into writing an original song?" Blaine said while running his hand through his hair, perplexed at how Puck could be so naïve and enter them into an original song competition.
"I realise that. Thank you Blaine!" Puck fired back sarcastically. "This is why I plan on employing someone who is a song writing genius"
Blaine puffed out his chest with pride and lifted his head high while he fixed his perfectly gelled hair. He didn't realise Puck thought this highly of him and his musical abilities, as he would always join in with everyone else in complaining that he sang too much. "As much as I appreciate your praise and support Puck, even someone as gifted as myself couldn't get this done in a day"
"Well lucky for us then, I wasn't talking about you" Puck simply replied back.
Puck almost started laughing as he watched Blaine stand there with his mouth hanging open as he was finding it hard to comprehend what Puck had told him. Blaine was staring into space muttering about who could be more of a musical prodigy than himself when Sam came forward and said, "While Blaine tries to revaluate the meaning of his life, can you just tell us who this supposed genius is so we can get started?"
"Will do Sammy-boy. The genius I'm talking about is none other than our resident not so little drummer boy, my personal wingman; Maverick to my goose, my brother from another mother…FINN!" announced Puck trying his best to imitate a sports broadcaster.
Finn, who was busy leafing through some sheet music that had been left behind on the piano in the choir room, whipped his head around at the sound of his name being mentioned.
"FINN!" "ME!" Blaine and Finn both yelled at the same time both with matching perplexed expressions.
"Yes that's right helmet head, with my boy Finn's kickass songs and the sexy, manly charisma which will be coming mostly from me, and some from you guys; were going to the top" Puck looked around at the group confused as to why they weren't as excited as he was.
"First of all Helmet head, what the hell is that?" Blaine questioned
"Your hair…the amount of hair gel you have in your hair is strong enough to build a house on..."puck logically explained before continuing, "Do you style it that way each morning? Or do you take it off like a hat before you go to bed?"
"Wait that's not your real hair?" a confused Sam asked while looking back and forth between Blaine and Puck.
Blaine turned to Sam with a perplexed look on his face and said, "What? Of course this is my real hair. I like to use gel because without gel my hair gets a bit out of control and using gel enables me to have control over my hair, hence why I use it."
Before Puck could launch into another one of his crude monologues about the other less reputable use for gel, Finn decided to cut in. "Um, as much as I would love to sit here and talk about hair products and gossip; I think we should get back to our original conversation, Puck you know I can't write us an original song by tomorrow."
"Finn's right Puckerman his original song might have been good enough for the show choir circuit, but this is mainstream we need something that rocks. No offence Finn" added a still annoyed Blaine.
Puck stormed over to where his best friend was standing behind the piano. "Fuck you Finn! And fuck everyone else, especially Blaine..."
"HEY!" a chorus of replies came from everybody else in the room.
"I'm not going to let you wuss out on me this time. You do this every time bro, right when you're on the verge of greatness you suddenly press the self destruct button…why?" Puck looked straight at Finn wanting nothing over than to understand what drove his usually outgoing, boisterous, and happy best friend to slink back into the safety of his shell whenever things got tough.
"Puck I told you those songs I wrote are not meant for anyone else to see or hear. They're all extremely personal and anyway how are we going to win with one of my songs when we fucking lost at Nationals using one of my songs and that was one of the better ones."
"First of all we didn't lose because your song wasn't good enough; we lost because Mr Schue only gave us 24 hours to prepare…"
"And how long do we have now Puck huh! 24 hours! Maybe it would just be better if Blaine wrote the song" a clearly melancholy Finn interrupted.
"Finn's right and I already have the perfect song and of course it relies heavily on my sublime vocals, Sam go fetch me a wind machine" Blaine rattled off clearly unperturbed by the current conversation between Finn and Puck. Sam turned around to go look for a wind machine for Blaine even though he had no clue what a wind machine was or even if McKinley had one.
"First of all if you leave this room trouty mouth I will personally throw out your entire collection of lip balms…" Puck continued satisfied as he watched Sam sullenly retreating back to his chair in the choir room. "Secondly ignore the Warbler Baby if it was up to him we'd all be card carrying members of the Blaine Anderson Fan Club; I swear Warbler you got a bigger ego than Berry."
"Now as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted was that we didn't lose because we didn't have good enough songs, or even because Berry tried to mount you live on stage, we lost because we didn't prepare" Everyone was standing there stunned at the words of wisdom spilling from their friends mouth. None of them used to seeing or hearing their usually crude talking, badass friend be the one to speak so eloquently.
"There's only so many times that you can pull gold nuggets out of your ass before you start pulling out turds" and just like that the spell was broken and the eloquent Puck was once again plain old Noah Puckerman.
"Seriously I'm surprised we won as many competitions as we did, because we always left it up to the last minute to prepare because usual Glee Club practices consisted of Mr Schue trying to relive his glory days, Finn here staring at Rachel and when Rachel wasn't staring at Finn she was storming out over lack of solo's. Then sue and the Cheerio's scheming every two seconds to bring us down with inside help from Santana and me secretly hitting on Quinn, Quinn secretly hitting on me back. Anytime there was a silence, we had Mercedes doing her "hell to the no" and I'm Aretha dammit shtick. We also had to endure Tina crying at the drop of a hat and Artie behaving like he'd been possessed by a dead rapper. Last but not least random people appearing for one or two classes and then disappearing again only to miraculously return when we inexplicably needed extra members right before a competition. You'd think after not having enough members the first time we would have fixed that problem but no, it makes me wonder if math is another subject Mr Schue is crap at."
"And that's what you missed on Glee" Sam said talking into an imaginary camera. Everyone turned and looked at Sam who was looking back at them, Sam's expression matching the bewildered one of his friends.
"What? I saw them do that on some TV show once after they recapped an episode. The strange thing was the narrator of that show sound a lot like Mr Schue, weird huh!"
"Anyway! The point is you have a gift Finn and you need to stop letting your insecurities get the better of you". Puck moved over and stood over in front of his friend to make sure that Finn was seeing how sincere he was trying to be. "Your better than this town Finn and the sooner you believe that the better, now go take a walk or something cause I'm giving you ten minutes to think it over, if your ready to put on some big boy pants" Puck said before walking back to the others.
Finn went to grab his stuff when he stopped and noticed the choir room trophy cabinet and was hit with a tidal wave of different emotions. As his eyes scanned across all the different trophies New Directions had accumulated he couldn't help but have a feeling of pride wash over him. If you asked him in that very moment what he was feeling he probably wouldn't be able to tell you. But as his eyes scanned across the different pictures of Glee Club moments he stopped on a picture of himself and Rachel standing in the McKinley High hallway under a congratulations banner fresh from their Nationals win. Finn couldn't help but let a smile appear on his face as he gazed down at himself immortalised in the picture, the smile and emotions that were plain to see on Finn's face in the picture hit Finn rather hard, he could remember that day like it was yesterday.
Finn remembered the euphoria he felt standing on stage and hearing New Directions name announced in first place and not only did that euphoria not dissipate it strengthened to an almost out of body experience, which culminated in the emotions he felt standing in that hallway alongside the love of his short life basking in their combined triumph.
Now Finn had felt elation before, like throwing a pass for a touchdown in the championship game or even kissing Rachel for the first time. But the feeling Finn felt at that time was like throwing a hundred passes for touchdowns in the dying seconds of a Super Bowl all at the same time. He could honestly say in that moment he, Finn Hudson was truly happy. Finn remembered back to what his grandfather use to say to him that whatever he found to do make sure to do it with all your heart and soul.
While he was reminiscing Finn saw a picture of the current Glee club and remembered back to what he said to Marley in the hall when he said that he was sick of feeling like a loser and a failure and that this school brought out those memories and emotions in him. So what was he going to do about it? Was he going to do what he's been doing his whole life and throw in the towel and run the other way and be a Lima mechanic his entire life? Or was he going to finally start practicing what he's been preaching and grow a pair (to borrow one of Pucks crude sayings). Life had taught Finn that life itself is a fragile and treasured commodity and with the events of Georgia still weighing on him he was reminded of a quote his mum used to say to him.
"Life isn't about FINDING yourself. Life is about CREATING yourself"
So what exactly did he have to lose? Finn felt a new sense of resolve spread throughout his body. "Fuck Lima, Fuck McKinley and Fuck the nobodies of this town!" Finn thought to himself… "I'll be damned if I don't at least try and get out of this town…this town doesn't define me, I define me, dammit!"
Finn along with his newfound determination and inspiration marched back over towards his still gathered friends. "I DON'T NEED BIG BOY PANTS! I'M A MAN DAMMIT!" Finn yelled at the group interrupting Sam who was five minutes into a word-by-word, scene by scene re-enactment of the movie Avatar that he started when Ryder had the audacity (in Sam's opinion) to say he had never seen it and didn't know what all the fuss was about.
"So there's this guy who's paralysed from the waist down just like Artie…oh and his name is Jake Sully and he was a former US Marine…Oh! And did I mention the year was 2154..."
"Wait…What?" Sam questioned, which seemed to break Puck and Ryder from their twin states of stunned comas, meanwhile Blaine sat there happily nodding along and saying, "And then what happened?"
"I've got something to say!" Finn announced
"THANK YOU MOSES/THANK YOU JESUS!" both Puck and Ryder exclaimed in unison. Which caused Sam to give his two friends a look of you better not be about to dis the icon that is James Cameron and the shining light of modern age film making that is Avatar.
"I mean…you wanted to ask us something Finn" Puck said trying desperately to change the subject.
"Yes I wanted…."
"Hold on, hold on! Sam didn't even get to the part where they meet the blue aliens yet!" Blaine interrupted with a worried look on his face.
Just as Puck was about to say something to Blaine, Sam piped in first saying, "Don't worry Blaine, these people just don't appreciate the modern classics like we do. Come over tonight and we can watch my new copy of Avatar: The Directors Cut with an extra eight hours of unseen footage and a bonus disc of director commentary by James Cameron all on crystal clear Blu-ray HD. If that doesn't seal the deal for you I know something that will. I'll put the commentary on mute and I'll commentate the entire movie for you while doing the voice of James Cameron."
Sam proceeded to jump on top of the nearest table and stretch his arms out wide and shout while doing his best James Cameron impression, "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!"
"BRILLIANT! SIMPLY BRILLIANT!" Blaine shouted while clapping excitingly and looking frantically between the other guys in the room, wondering why they weren't as enthusiastic of Sam's re-enactment of the speech James Cameron did when he won the Best Director Academy Award. "Oh and yes, I will definitely be there! Meet at my place around seven? I'll provide the chips and dip"
"Will do buddy. Just as long as the dips gluten free, you know how sensitive I am to gluten products after six at night…it makes me all bloated and gassy" Sam replied back just as excited as Blaine was.
"Don't worry Sammy this new dip range my mum buys contains all organic and gluten free ingredients with a touch of lemon to help keep the old vocal chords all silky smooth, so you can be ready to bust out into song at a moments notice and I know that you always feel better after some lemon water." Rambled Blaine
Blaine and Sam continued rambling backwards and forwards in their own little bromance world while Ryder leaned over to Puck and whispered, "Should Kurt be worried and what the hell is gluten?"
Puck turned to look at Ryder and shrugged his shoulders and whispered back, "Beats me, bro." They both turned to Finn and silently gave him the look of are you going to help us out here man.
So Finn finally spoke up interrupting the little love fest between Sam and Blaine, "Anyway! As I was going to say was is that I'm sick of letting fear dictate my life. Now I don't know about you guys but I don't particularly want to spend my life fixing cars in Lima Ohio; and I'm not going to let other peoples delusions and insecurities control my life. So who's with me in becoming the masters of their own destinies and saying, FUCK YOU! To the man on the street, FUCK YOU! To the establishment and FUCK YOU! To anyone else who says it cannot be done, because they shouldn't be interrupting the people who are doing it.
I remember a quote from Mark Twain that was a favourite of my mothers that says, the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why and today is that day. Today is the day I found out my purpose on this earth. I have a gift! Each and everyone one of us have a gift and I'm sick of wasting it.
So I'm going to work my ass off in the few hours we have left and then I'm going to rock out on stage like there's no tomorrow and then I'm going to hold up the trophy or whatever the hell it is they give you when we win first place! So who's with me?" A chorus of hell yeahs reverberated around the choir room as each guy enthusiastically joined together behind Finn, their friend.
"Hell Yes! That's what I'm talking about! Nice work Hudson. That's why you're a leader, and that's why you're our quarterback! I would follow you into bloody war, bro!" a happy slightly emotional Puck encouraged his best friend.
"Um Puck are you tearing up?" questioned a surprised Blaine.
"What? No! I'm just incredibly happy my main man the Finnster aka Finny D finally found some gumption and pulled on his first pair of big boy pants. I'm so proud, it feels like it was only yesterday Finn was sitting here in the choir room shouting at the gods, WHY ME, WHAT DID I EVER DO TO DESERVE THIS AGONY!"
"That was yesterday, and Finn wasn't screaming to the gods he was screaming at Sue Sylvester who made him help out the lunch staff in the cafeteria and then incited the now infamous McKinley High Food Fight of 2015. We lost a lot of good soldiers that day." Sam reminisced.
"I now have an even greater respect for Marley's mum after that unfortunate incident" Finn told the group.
"Um guys, as much as I loved that rousing speech and all the amazing pro-bro feelings floating around we still need a song" Ryder reminded the group who had gone off on a massive tangent.
"Don't worry guys…" Finn said while pulling out a large leather bound black notebook from his bag before he continued while holding said book up for everyone to see. "I have the perfect song for the competition right here. So if anyone has plans for the next twenty-four hours cancel them, because we have some serious rehearsing to do if where not going to be a laughing stock up on that stage."
"Oh my God! It's like Rachel's possessed Finn's body" Sam joked.
"Huddy wishes Berry possessed his body…" Puck joked back before continuing. "Before we get started some ground rules. Okay rule number one…" Puck said while turning his entire attention towards Blaine. "Rule number one is absolutely and I mean absolutely no Katy Perry will be sung. Deal!"
Everybody and also eventually and also still reluctantly Blaine included all agreed to band rule number one.
While still staring directly at Blaine, Puck continued on his list of band rules. "Rule number two is we will look and act like the badasses we are, not I repeat not like the love child of Pee-Wee Herman and the grandpa character from the 1988 movie 18 Again!"
"Are all these band rules going to be about me?" queried an annoyed and slightly miffed Blaine.
"No there not...but there is one more that you need to take on board and this time I borrow a rule from the Cat Whisperer herself Brittany. So Blaine rule number tres…" Puck said while holding up three fingers, "That's three in…"
"Three in Spanish! I know Puck I did take Spanish just like you! Now continue" Blaine interrupted rather impatiently.
"Settle down Warbler!" reprimanded Puck.
"Now where was I…Oh that's right rule number three is that band member Blaine Anderson is strictly forbidden from wearing any type of products in his hair."
"WHAT? WHY?" shouted a freaked out Blaine.
"Because where going for Rock 'n' roll not boy band!"
"Fine how about I only use about 80% of the product I usually use?"
"No!"
"Okay! How about 60%?"
"Still no" Puck countered back.
"50% & that's my final offer?" bargained a desperate Blaine
"Blaine do you even know how negotiations work?" Puck chuckled to himself as he leaned back against the piano.
"Okay, Okay here's my absolute bargain basement offer! 40% of product in my hair and I'm allowed to wear MY choice of bowtie with an onstage outfit!"
Finn had finally had enough of the negotiations between Puck and Blaine and stepped in. "That's enough guy's! Here's the deal, Blaine you will only use 30 to 35% product and I will allow you, your own choice of outfit during a performance and Puck how about I take over from here, deal?"
Both Puck and Blaine answered back with, "Fine!" even though Blaine also added while mumbling, "Even though I'm going to have a bigger Afro than Jacob Ben Israel, but whatever."
Finn now turned his attention back towards the whole group and said, "The only real rule we need is that this…" Finn motioned with his hands to everyone standing in attendance. "Is a band, which means a group of people. So this is not only Puck or my journey it's our collective journey. So we're going to be different from other bands whereas they're stuck in one sound, one vision their entire careers, where going to utilise our diversity. We can all play multiple instruments and we all have voices that blend well with a variety of genres, so where not going to have a fixed lead singer. So we're going to do rock, country, pop, blues and any other genre of music we can get away with. Because even though we're going to be rock stars where musicians first; so whose with me and whose ready to get this original song down for the competition?"
The choir room reverberated with the shouts of confirmation from each band member, which resulted in Finn letting out a satisfied smile before adding. "Alright then! Blaine, Sam, Puck, Ryder here's what I need you guy's to do…."