Hello to all the lovely people who read and review the story and as a bonus for you all here is chapter 23. Just a heads up, I'm starting a new job from this week so I can't guarantee that I will be able to keep up my mostly regular posting routine. I'm going to try as hard as I can, but as always I'm sure some unexpected things will come up. Anyway enough about me and my life, your all here for Finn and Rachel. So without any further ado let's get started. All the legal stuff belongs to Ryan Murphy & FOX except my characters. So please read, review, rewind, then read and review again…enjoy!
Finn was once again hard at work in the studio going over different tracks he had recorded for different people. He was just checking them and fine-tuning some beats and mixes if needed. It was hard very detailed orientated work, something he never in a million years thought he'd been doing for a living; or even be good at. But here he is at the helm of a major record label with Ellie and now seen as one of the best songwriter/producers in the business. Not to mention the ongoing success of McKinley the band he started with Puck, Blaine, Ryder and Sam. There was just something about doing something you loved. Just like the old saying said, 'Do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life'. That's exactly how he felt, he enjoyed doing his job so much it's never felt like work and Finn sincerely hoped that feeling continued until he couldn't work anymore. Everything about his job was enjoyable from sitting down with people and hearing stories and then creating musical pieces inspired from their experiences. To even the mundane tasks such as what he's doing right now, just sitting in an empty studio listening to track after track and considering it's merits and if it needs any tweaking.
Well the last thing would be enjoyable if he was in an actual empty studio instead of babysitting Puck. Finn wasn't actually babysitting his best friend, but it sure felt like it. Finn was all ready to head into the studio to get some extra work done, when he found a melancholy Noah Puckerman waiting outside his front door. Deciding some bro time might be in order, Finn invited Puck to accompany him to the studio. Which is why a still melancholy Puck is currently in the corner of the studio spinning in circles on one of the office chairs. Puck hadn't said a word since him and Finn had left the apartment and Finn didn't really want to push his best friend into talking if he wasn't ready. So Finn just kept on working and went to put on the next song, until a loud groan from Puck stopped him.
"God! This is so boring!" bemoaned Puck as he continued spinning in circles on the chair while staring at the roof. "Finn are you done yet? Let's blow this Popsicle stand and go do something! Where in New York City for Christ's sake!" continued Puck.
"Puck, I told you I needed to work today and that it would be boring." Finn nonchalantly replied as he listened to the backing vocals of another track.
"Please Finn, we could do anything" Puck all of a sudden stopped spinning on the chair and sat up straight and looked at Finn. "Let's go to a strip club!" exclaimed Puck who was acting like it was the greatest idea he had ever had.
This latest idea of Puck's came so out of left field Finn just had to stop and put all his concentration onto his friend. "What the hell Puck! I'm not going to a strip club!"
"Why not?" asked an expectant Puck.
"For one, because it's ten o'clock in the morning and all the clubs would be closed and two, I don't need strippers I have Rachel." Stated Finn.
"I need to see some boobs or something stat or else I'm going to get my sex shark status revoked!" lamented Puck.
Now Finn really did know something was going on with his friend, as this is the first time since basically high school he'd heard Puck use the sex shark reference. "Okay, Puck what's really going on?"
"I feel stuck man!" stated Puck as he ran a hand through his hair. "I feel to old to be sleeping around with every chick who bats her eye's at me; and I never thought I'd ever say this but I want someone to come home to. I'm not saying I want to get married or anything like that. But I also don't want to be the Matthew McConaughey character from, 'Dazed and Confused' standing around talking about, how even though I get older, high school girls stay the same age!"
"Is this about Quinn?" asked Finn.
"Yes and no. I feel like this time out of all the times we've tried being a couple is an opportunity to finally get it right. But I just can't read her man; there are times when I think she loves me just as much as I love her. Then she does a complete three sixty and acts like I'm nothing but a good friend. I don't know what to do bro, I can't stop thinking about her yet she pisses me off so damn much as well!" explained Puck.
"I'm not an expert on woman by any means, but let me tell you a secret I learnt growing up with only a mother and mainly female influences. The secret is that what you just said is a woman's prerogative. It's like what my mother always said is, Finn remember to understand women is to understand they have to right to always change their mind. It's frustrating but it is what it is." Responded Finn.
"So I just wait around until Quinn makes up her mind!" asked a frustrated Puck. "Dear God! You know were talking about the Quinn Fabray we went to high school with, right?" said Puck.
"Yes, Puck I know what Quinn were talking about; and no, I'm not saying you just wait around until she decides. But you have to decide if Quinn is worth waiting for, if so great, if not you might need to move on." Replied Finn.
"How did you know that Berry was worth waiting for? I mean you not only waited while she was shacking up with a gigolo; but you even hung in there when she was treating everyone like crap after getting sacked from Broadway." Asked a truly curious Puck.
"I think with me and Rachel there was just always something there, even when there shouldn't have been like when we were with other people. Having a connection like that is hard to ignore. But experiencing something that unique and strong so earlier on in life can be hard and scary; and I think that was one of the main reasons why we were so off and on. It was our vain attempt to ignore this bond or tether, as we like to call it that has linked us since we first laid eyes on each other.
As for why I helped Rachel after the unfortunate set of circumstances that happened thanks to Brody and Tamara. Well for one Rachel's my person…my other half, which means I'll always have her back. The second reason is simply, and the reason is, when something's wrong with my baby, something's wrong with me! Here I'll explain it in this new song I wrote…"
Finn went over and loaded up some music on the studio sound system and pressed play. Puck watched as Finn pulled out a stool and sat down as the music started playing…
When something is wrong with my baby
Something is wrong with me
If I know she's worried
Oh I would feel that same old misery
We've been through so much together
We spoke as one and that's what makes it better
Oh and just what just what she means to me now
Oh you just oh you just wouldn't understand
And the people say oh they say she's no good
Oh but she's my woman and don't you know
I'm her man
If she's got a problem oh yeah yeah
Oh I know I'm gonna have to help her solve it
If she's got a problem oh I know
I'm gonna help her
You know I'm gonna have
To help her somehow
Oh sing it again
When something is wrong with my baby
Oh sure now
When something is wrong with my baby oh
Then something is wrong with me
The music faded out as Finn got up and put the stool back in its place and went and sat back near Puck. Finn watched as Puck sat there and was thinking about what Finn had told him and sung to him. He knew if he wanted something like what Finn and Rachel had, he had a lot of thinking to do to come up with some decisions. First decision would be to decide if Quinn was worth waiting for, or if he had to unfortunately for his own sanity move on.
Meanwhile not to far from the recording studio, Rachel exited another dress shop wrapping her thick coat tighter around her small frame. This was the third dress shop she had visited today and all the walking was starting to make her feet hurt; and the stupid thing was, she didn't even need a dress or want to shop. It was all a ruse in her plan to get Puck and Quinn together again. How did dress shopping fit into her ingenious master plan you may ask? Well as soon as she saw a moody Noah show up at her and Finn's front door this morning and head off to the studio with Finn; she knew today would be a good day to put her plan into motion. So as soon as they had left Rachel was on the phone to Santana and Kurt to get their advice on the plan. Once her partners in crime had given her the green light, Rachel was next on the phone to Quinn at Yale. Hoping that by some small miracle that she would be free today and want to come dress shopping.
Now here's where the plan come's in. It wasn't exactly original but let's just say herself, Santana and Kurt had just modernized it a bit. The plan was a variation of the old lock two feuding people in a room or closet and not let them out until they had resolved their differences, with a slight twist. The twist was that at sometime during her shopping trip with Quinn, Rachel was going to make up some excuse to go visit Finn at the studio. Then somehow get an unsuspecting Finn out of the room while she locks Quinn in the studio with Noah; and then hopefully nature will take it's course and…ta-da Quinn and Noah are happy once again. Now how to get Quinn to go with her to the studio?
"Ready to head off to the next shop Rachel?" asked Quinn as she came out of the store carrying her recent purchases.
"Sure, let's go." Rachel replied back as she was still trying to come up with a plan.
The two girls had just entered a trendy shoe store when an idea hit her. So while Quinn was trying on some unbelievably expensive shoes, Rachel snuck off and rang the loft. After a couple of rings Santana picked up, "What's up Berry? Quinn and Puck bumping uglies yet?"
"No not yet! That's why I need your help." Started Rachel.
"There's no way I'm seducing Puckerman!" stated Santana quickly before mumbling under her breath. "But Quinn on the other hand."
"Ew! No, that's not what I'm asking…" started Rachel before registering she might have heard Santana say something else. "Wait…what?"
"Nothing!" stated Santana quickly, "Just hurry up and tell me what you want man-hands!"
"Geez, I didn't think your Aunt Flo came until next week or are you PMSing because seriously I heard there's some really great medication out now…"
"BERRY!" shouted Santana cutting Rachel off. "If you don't tell me what the hell you want in the next ten seconds, I'm hanging up the damn phone!"
"Fine! All I want you to do is ring me in about ten or fifteen minutes pretending to be Finn and say you need me for something at the studio. Think you can handle that?" snipped Rachel.
"Pretend to be the dimwitted giant so you can get the ice queen and Pucker-boner laid; I think I can handle that!" Santana cheekily replied back.
"Whatever Santana just do it!" snapped Rachel.
"Now whose PMSing! Maybe you should try that medication you were talking about earlier." Quipped Santana.
"I'm hanging up now Santana…bye!" and then Rachel hung up the phone and went back to where Quinn was trying on some really high, high heels.
Rachel and Quinn looked around the shoe store some more and before leaving Quinn picked up a pair of heels to go with a dress she bought earlier. As she came out of the store she saw Rachel checking her watch for like the seventh time since they entered the store.
"Do you need to be somewhere?" Quinn asked Rachel who was acting rather cagey.
"No, just checking what the time was." Replied Rachel.
Just then Rachel's phone started ringing and as she pulled it out she saw the name on her phone said Santana. Knowing the plan was most like afoot she lied and said, "Oh, Finny's ringing me!"
"Hey Finny!" Rachel answered cheerfully, playing as if she really was talking to Finn.
"Hey Rach, babe how ya going?" Santana mockingly imitated Finn's voice.
"I'm great babe, everything going great at the studio?" continued Rachel despite being freaked out by Santana trying to imitate Finn's voice.
"Wow! Rachel I didn't know our relationship was at the pet name stage. Oh My God are you coming out as a lesbian! Whatever will Finn say when he finds out he's slept with two girls only for them to then figure out they like women better." Mocked Santana
"What's that? Oh no, that's terrible!" Rachel tried to continue despite Santana being a smartass on the other end.
"You know what is terrible…your acting! My God Berry, you're supposed to be a Broadway actress. Hi, call for Rachel Berry…who can I say is calling…Mediocrity, yes I'll tell her you called!" Santana continued to mock.
"God will you shut up!" Rachel finally snapped before realizing she was supposed to be pretending to talk to Finn.
Rachel looked over at Quinn who was just staring at her as if she had two heads, "Did you just tell Finn to shut up?" asked a stunned Quinn.
"Can you hold on a second Finn, Quinn just asked me something." Improvised Rachel.
"HOLD ON A SEC! Well then if that's how you feel about us…maybe we should break up!" Santana mock yelled down the phone.
"Is that Finn yelling?" asked Quinn as Rachel stood in the middle of the sidewalk trying to come up with an excuse.
"You know how emotional Finn can get, he either yells or kicks furniture. Unfortunately it seems one of his assistants at work, mother has passed away…"
"Oh No that's terrible!" interjected Quinn.
"Yeah, Finn's really cut up about it, that's why I had to give him some tough love earlier and tell him to shut up, otherwise he was going to make himself sick with worry." Finished Rachel as Quinn just solemnly nodded.
"Ha ha! The only thing that's going to make Finn sick is your vegan cooking!" added a laughing Santana down the phone line.
"What's that Finny? You need me to drop by the studio because you forgot your keys. Okay we'll be right there, bye baby." Reiterated Rachel.
"Bye hunny-bun!" replied Santana but before she could hang up she heard Rachel harshly whisper down the phone line. "I'm going to kill you Santana!" which just caused Santana to chuckle before hanging up the phone.
Rachel quickly flags down a cab and Quinn and her hopped in before giving the driver the address to the studio. As they sat in the cab while it drove through the busy New York streets, Rachel apologized for ruining their girl's day out. Quinn wouldn't hear of it and said it would be actually exciting to finally see the famous HUD-KNIGHT studios. As soon as their short cab ride came to an end, both girls hopped out and Rachel paid the driver before leading Quinn through the front doors of the studio.
"So this is the famous HUD-KNIGHT studios, huh?" marveled Quinn as she looked around the luxurious foyer.
"That's right! This is Finn's baby." Replied an extremely proud Rachel.
"Who would've thought?" Quinn said more to herself than to anyone else. Rachel just smiled as she watched Quinn continually looking around in wonder and they were only on the foyer of studio building. "I feel so stupid!" Quinn lamented as she stared at a photo of Finn and Paul McCartney.
"Why do you feel stupid?" asked a confused Rachel.
"Because of how selfish I was in high school and even though after everything that happened between the three of us. I'd like to believe Finn and I were or are friends and I showed absolutely no faith in the potential of my friend, yet he never stopped believing in me; even after everything I did to him." Explained an emotional Quinn.
"That's just the man, Finn is Quinn and also one of the million reasons why I love him. I think Finn's also the type of guy who knows more than people think he knows. So I think he knew your actions in high school weren't the real you and that when push came to shove you believed in him." Stated Rachel.
"He shouldn't have had to try and figure it out I should have just believed in him. The most I believed Finn would achieve was being the manager of a garage in Lima, Ohio. What a fool I am, when you look at all this; and to think I told you to dump Finn because he would only hold you back. I guess the only person holding people back was me. You always were better for him than me Rachel, you taught him to dream big; whereas I taught him how to settle."
"Everyone thinks that I was the one teaching Finn yet in reality Finn was the one teaching me. He showed me that dreams can often be like balloons their pretty to look and they have the opportunity to soar to enormous heights; yet without a tether or a connection to something your dream can quickly disappear into the unknown vastness of reality or quickly pop in your face. Finn doesn't have to thank me for anything…all of this was purely his doing as a result of reaching his potential." Replied Rachel who was starting to get emotional herself.
"Enough of this emotional stuff! Thankfully everyone seems to be with who they should be with and also be doing what they should be doing. So let's at least be happy that all our friends seem to be happy, huh!" proclaimed Quinn.
"But are you happy Quinn?" Rachel dared to ask.
Quinn was silent for a moment before she answered, "I'm…I'm content which will have to do for the moment."
Rachel decided not to push any further especially since she was already sticking her nose in by trying to set her up with Noah. So Rachel just silently led Quinn down to where the recording studios were located so they could find Finn and Noah. All the while Rachel was hoping against hope that this whole matchmaking thing didn't blow up in her face and cost her two of her closest friends.
Finn was still working away on fine-tuning some tracks before they were officially declared album ready. He was working hard alongside the rhythmic snoring of his best friend who was currently asleep on the studio couch. Puck had went with Plan B after Finn had shot down his disastrous plan to go visit a strip club so he could get his mind off Quinn. It seemed even in his sleep Puck wasn't having any luck in his pursuit to get Quinn off his mind. Because currently he was talking in his sleep saying, "No Quinn…don't chop my balls off…I'm a sex shark…I LOVE YOU BABY...Beth." mumbled Puck in his sleep.
Finn was currently entertaining himself by chuckling at the things Puck was mumbling in his sleep as well as flicking small pieces of paper at Pucks face. When he heard a soft knock on the door that consequently put his aim a little off and the little piece of paper he flicked landed straight in Pucks open mouth as he slept. A spluttering and choking Puck jumped up from the couch clutching his throat. Finn ran over and started performing the Heimlich manoeuver on his friend as the door to the studio opened and in walked Rachel and Quinn to the shock of their lives.
For there was Finn pinned up against Pucks back with his arms wrapped tightly around Puck from behind; squeezing trying to dislodge the paper that was lodged in Pucks throat. But from Rachel and Quinn's vantage point it looked like an entirely different scenario was going on, more reminiscent of something from the movie Brokeback Mountain.
Rachel let out a loud cough that caused both Finn and Puck to stare like a little kid who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I hope were not interrupting anything!" asked a bemused Rachel.
"Rach, I swear this is not what it looks like!" protested Finn totally forgetting that Puck was still choking. "Tell her Puck…tell her it's not what it looks like! For fucks sake man, speak up!" Finn yelled before turning around and noticing Puck was starting to turn a little blue. "Oh Shit! That's right!" swore Finn as he ran back to his friend and restarted the Heimlich manoeuver.
Finn gave Puck another six or so pumps before the piece of paper that was lodged in his throat shot out of his mouth. The piece of paper flew across the room as everyone watched it fly through the air in slow motion. It flew right past Quinn's face before splattering with an audible squelch on the wall right next to a horrified Quinn.
As they watched the saliva-covered piece of paper slowly slide down the wall, Finn ran over to Rachel and started to protest his innocence. "See baby, it was completely innocent. Puck had something in his mouth that he was choking on…"
"If I was Santana I would literally have a hundred jokes I could say for that statement!" interrupted a smirking Quinn.
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked a confused Finn before he finally got it, which you could tell by the disgusted look on his face. "Ewww! That's not what I meant! I meant I was helping my friend who was choking!"
"Don't worry Finn, I know your not gay" Rachel reassured her boyfriend before giving him a hug and a long lingering kiss.
Puck whose breathing had now returned to normal decided to add his own unique view on things. "Please, if I was gay there would be a hundred other guys I'd go for before trying to seduce Finn! No offence, bro!"
"What the hell is wrong with me?" asked an indignant Finn
"Yeah, what's wrong with my Finny? If anything he's too good for you!" stated Rachel standing up for her boyfriend.
"Oh My God! Seriously Santana is going to be furious she missed this!" quipped Quinn as she watched the humorous goings-on in front of her.
"You really want to get into this?" after seeing both Finn and Rachel nod their heads Puck continued. "Fine, for the ladies I'm like a nine which is nearly bloody perfect but for the guys who love the dick, I'm a perfect ten! Rub me in some baby oil and put me in some sparkly hot pants and BAM I just gave the entire New York homosexual community instant boners. As for Finn he's probably a six or seven at best…and that's on a good day."
"A SIX OR SEVEN! Please gay dudes would love to be all up on this…" stated Finn as he gestured to all over his body. "Just ask Kurt!"
"Your seriously using Kurt as your Gay Hotness barometer! I highly doubt Kurt's credentials and sanity considering he thinks Blaine is the bee's knees; and if you're a six or seven, then Blaine's a five at most." Added Puck.
"Noah your just jealous because Finn's actually been hit on by an actual gay person, whereas everything you've been claiming is all in your head!" quipped Rachel still trying to stand up for Finn.
"Oh, them be fighting words short stuff!" proclaimed Puck as he started pacing. "I'll prove the gays love me, quick get Kurt and Gel-head on the phone so they can get their manicured pampered butts down here and settle this once and for all!"
"Guys!" Quinn tried to interrupt but no one took any notice.
"Don't tempt me Puckerman! Because believe me I'll dial!" shouted Finn waving his phone in Pucks face.
"Well dial the damn phone then!" Puck shouted back.
"Go ahead dial the phone baby and show Noah how hot you are!" goaded Rachel.
Quinn watched as Finn stopped waving his phone around and started punching in Kurt's number and while it was ringing Finn was shouting. "It's ringing…it's ringing!" Quinn had finally had enough and marched over and just as they could hear Kurt answer she grabbed Finn's phone and terminated the call.
"As much as I love watching two straight men fight over whose the hotter gay, when in reality if any gay male actually were to hit on either of you, you would both freak out and head for the hills. So Rachel can we just give Finn his keys so we can get back to shopping!" exclaimed a frustrated Quinn.
"Give me my keys? What are you talking about; I have my keys…" started Finn.
"IN MY PURSE! Of course you can have your keys Finn, which as I said are in my purse!" interrupted Rachel quickly hopeful that Quinn didn't realise she was lying through her teeth. "Finn wasn't there something you needed to show me in one of the offices?"
"No" answered a thoroughly confused Finn.
"Yes there is!" Rachel said through gritted teeth while staring at Finn trying to convey to him that it was in his best interests to go along with her lie. "You said I just had to see it!"
Finn having absolutely no clue whatsoever with what the hell was going on decided a happy Rachel always resulted in a happy Finn, so he went along for the ride. "Yeah, one of the guys brought something in the other day and as soon as I saw it I knew I just had to show it to you." Lied Finn. "So follow me"
"Hey if it's that interesting, I want to see it too!" exclaimed a now interested Puck.
"If Puck get's to see it, then I want to see it too; besides I don't want to be left alone." Added Quinn.
"YOU CAN'T!" shouted Rachel causing everyone to look at her as if she was psycho.
"Why not?" asked Quinn which Puck reiterated.
"Because…tell them why not Finn!" Rachel shamelessly passed the buck to a totally confused Finn.
"Umm! Apparently it's so delicate only one other person aside from me can go in at any one time" Finn tried to lie but it looked like no one in the room was buying his lie. "Soo! Anyway let's go Rach!" Finn said quickly pushing Rachel out the door before anyone could say anything.
As soon as they were out of the room Rachel immediately ran into the sound booth side of the studio room and looked through the window. She saw Puck sitting on the couch trying not to look at Quinn but failing and Quinn was walking around checking out the equipment but also doing exactly the same as Puck just more subtly. Rachel ran back out to where Finn was still standing in a shocked state and jumped into his arms and squealed, "its working Finny!" before removing herself from Finn's arms and pulling out a silver key and locking the door to the room Quinn and Puck were in.
"Umm! Did I miss something? Why did we just lock Puck and Quinn in the studio?" asked a confused Finn.
"Because baby were trying to get Quinn and Noah together" replied a giddy Rachel who was bouncing up and down and clapping.
"Why are we doing this for again?" asked Finn.
"So those two can be as happy as we are!" replied a confident Rachel. "Look come with me and just sit back and watch." Stated Rachel as she led Finn into the sound booth room so they could watch Puck and Quinn through the window.
Meanwhile back in the locked studio, Puck was still looking at Quinn even though he was trying his hardest not to; while Quinn was still pacing around the room.
"Can you please stop pacing your going to wear a hole in the floor." Puck pleaded.
Quinn stopped pacing and sat down, "What do you suggest we do then Puck? Because I seem to be the only one bothered by this extremely awkward silence!"
"Here's a novel idea, we could actually talk like a pair of grown ups." Replied Puck.
"Talk. What do we have to talk about?" an indifferent Quinn replied.
"How about us! How I still love you and I'm pretty sure you still love me too!" answered Puck as he got up and reached out for Quinn.
"Your delusional Puck!" snapped Quinn while pushing Puck away.
"Really, that's not what you were saying when you were fucking me in the diner bathroom!" Puck snapped back.
"That was nothing but a momentary lapse in judgment." Quinn tried to remain indifferent but in reality she was a swirling mess of emotions inside.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" yelled Puck, "Don't you dare belittle something that meant so much to me; just so you can fool yourself into thinking you don't need anybody!"
"And what? You think I need you?" Quinn yelled back. "Sorry to burst your bubble Puckerman! But I'm perfectly able to survive without you! So don't give me this bullshit about how I need a man to be happy! I'm a strong independent woman dammit!"
"For fucks sake stop with the ultra-feminist bullshit and admit you're just a scared little girl who doesn't know what she wants!" boomed Puck. "You may be able to survive without me, but why would you settle for surviving when you could be thriving with love in your life! Hell, if you don't believe me just look at Finn and Rachel!" Puck continued to shout.
"Please, don't compare us to Finn and Rachel; there like Disney whereas were more like American Horror Story!" snipped Quinn.
Meanwhile back in the other room Rachel was still intensely watching the goings on between Puck and Quinn, while Finn was lying on the couch playing Angry Birds on his phone.
"Finn! Quick come here!" ordered Rachel.
"Aw Rach! I almost beat my high score!" Finn groaned childishly.
"Finn Hudson! I think the happiness of two of our closest friends trumps the trivial nature of your non-animal friendly video game!" Rachel snapped at her boyfriend.
"You know there not real birds right babe?" asked Finn with a smirk on his face.
"Doesn't matter if there real or not Finn, it still is promoting violence against our feathered friends! Which I obviously can't condone seeing as I'm a PETA ambassador for the prevention of violence against birds and poultry; ever since Jesse egged me back in high school!" chastised Rachel before asking, "How do you think it's going?"
Finn looked through the one-way window and saw Puck and Quinn fighting, "I don't think its looking good Rach!"
"Nonsense! They're probably just having a lively discussion about how to thank me for getting them back together." Dreamed Rachel.
Finn just looked at his diminutive girlfriend as if she was nuts, "Really Rach?"
"Who knows they could be!" hoped Rachel.
Finn reached over and turned on the intercom to the other room, "MOTHER FUCKER! BITCH! ASSHOLE! QUEEN OF THE HARPES! DICKHEAD! PSYCHO! LIMA LOSER!" this time it was Rachel who reached over and turned the intercom off after having enough of hearing Puck and Quinn swearing at each other.
"I don't know about you Rach, but that didn't sound much like they were discussing how to best honour your matchmaking prowess." Quipped Finn.
"Okay, I concede that locking them in a room and forcing them to confront their issues maybe wasn't the best idea." Rachel honestly conceded as she saw Finn giving her a look saying you think. "Don't give me that look Finn Hudson! I meddle because I care; come on let's go release our two feuding jailbirds." Concluded Rachel as she walked out of the room with Finn following behind.
By the time Finn and Rachel got back to the studio and unlocked the door, Puck and Quinn were sitting on opposite sides of the room refusing to look at each other. Finn and Rachel tried to get both Puck and Quinn to talk about whatever happened but both refused. Just before everyone decided to leave Quinn asked if she could sing something as this might be her only time in a real professional recording studio. After Finn said yes, the rest of them sat down as they watched Quinn set up some music on the sound system and then stand behind the microphone.
Quinn started singing as the music soared throughout the studio…
Miss independent
Miss self-sufficient
Miss keep your distance
Miss unafraid
Miss out of my way
Miss don't let a man interfere, no
Miss on her own
Miss almost grown
Miss never let a man help her off her throne
So, by keeping her heart protected
She'd never ever feel rejected
Little miss apprehensive
Said ooh, she fell in love
What is the feelin' takin' over?
Thinkin' no one could open my door
Surprise...It's time
To feel what's real
What happened to Miss Independent?
No more the need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you
When love is true
The whole time she was singing Quinn never took her eyes off Puck as she tried to convey to him everything she was feeling. She really hoped he got the meaning behind the song and that she wasn't just trying to be a bitch.
Misguided heart
Miss play it smart
Miss if you want to use that line you better not start, no
But she miscalculated
She didn't want to end up jaded
And this miss decided not to miss out on true love
So, by changing her misconceptions
She went in a new direction
And found inside she felt a connection
She fell in love.
What is the feelin' takin' over?
Thinkin' no one could open my door (open my door)
Surprise...It's time (yeah)
To feel what's real
What happened to Miss Independent?
No more the need to be defensive
Goodbye (goodbye), old you (oh you)
When love, when love is true
As Quinn continued to sing she watched Puck for any reaction at all, but he was giving nothing away. The whole time he just sat there and watched her performance with no expressions visible at all.
When Miss Independence walked away
No time for love that came her way
She looked in the mirror and thought today
What happened to miss no longer afraid?
It took some time for her to see
How beautiful love could truly be
No more talk of why can't that be me
I'm so glad I finally feel...
What is the feelin' takin' over?
Thinkin' no one could open my door
Surprise (surprise), it's time (yeah)
To feel (to feel) what's real
What happened to Miss Independent?
No more the need to be defensive
Goodbye (goodbye), old you
When love, when love is true...
As the music faded out, Quinn stepped away from behind the microphone and over to Puck. But before she could say anything Puck just stood up and grabbed his stuff and walked out of the room. A dejected Quinn just stood there staring at the space where Puck once sat as Rachel came over and hugged her friend. As Finn and Rachel walked out with Quinn, all she could think about; was that she hoped these fortress walls she had built up hadn't destroyed the only meaningful relationship she's ever had.
The next day…
Quinn sat by herself in the back of the diner, absentmindedly twirling the straw of her drink around the perimeter of her drink. Thinking about everything that had happened between her and Puck throughout the years. Quinn had to admit to herself that she was so jaded and messed up that she had forgotten how to let people in. Every time she had let a male in, her father, Finn, Puck, Sam, hell even her short college boyfriend Biff they all ended up leaving her sooner or later. But then she also had to admit that in some of those circumstances the reason for them leaving was a result of her own actions. Which is why she's been in a bit of a funk lately, because she was in a no win situation. Either she's not good enough to be loved and will forever be alone or she's got some weird self destruct button that detonates anytime a relationship gets to serious. Either way, you guessed it she ends up alone. Quinn Fabray destined to be the weird old lady who ends up dying when the collection of cheerleading magazines she's been hoarding her entire life finally collapse on her; before getting eaten by the twenty or so stray cats she's befriended instead of having kids.
Which is why she is so reluctant to pursue a relationship with Puck, even though there's no doubt in her mind that she is one hundred percent in love with him. Why start something with someone she cares deeply for only for her insecurities or nature to then decide to take it away. Possibly destroying not only the relationship but also a friendship. She not only couldn't do that to Puck because she cared for and respected him too much, but also couldn't do it to herself. The reason being simply that Quinn seriously didn't know how her heart would cope with someone else close to her leaving or if she was the reason for breaking Pucks heart.
Quinn looked around the diner and saw some old couple hopping off the stage after singing a horrendous version of the classic duet, 'Islands in the Stream'. Even though neither of them could sing a lick the husband and wife still seemed very much in love, which made Quinn smile. She just hoped if she ever was lucky enough to find someone who could put up with her that they were still in love at that age just like the old couple. Quinn looked back at the now empty stage and wondered if singing about it would help. Nah that was Rachel and Finn's thing, they were always singing the emotions that they couldn't express with words. Yet it seemed to work for them as you could plainly see with how lovey-dovey they were with each other. In fact after seeing that old couple, Quinn could clearly envisage Rachel and Finn being exactly the same in their twilight years. She was happy that her two friends had found their soulmate so early in life, which is something I bet a lot of people herself included never thought they would hear Quinn Fabray say. But it was the truth, age is a good judge of character and it had allowed her to mature a great deal and realise the things she was passionate about really didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
For some reason her eyes kept drifting back to the stage, as it almost seemed to be calling to her to come and sing. Then Quinn thought why the hell not! If singing works for Finn and Rachel then maybe there was something to it. Even if there wasn't at least she get to perform again, something she had missed since graduating from McKinley. So after making up her mind, Quinn made her way to the stage and queued up the music for the song she wanted.
A little self conscious and nervous Quinn stood behind the microphone stand as the music started playing…
Oooh oooh, ooooh yeah, mmmm...
Love can be a many splendored thing
Can't deny the joy it brings
A dozen roses, diamond rings
Dreams for sale and fairy tales
It'll make you hear a symphony
And you just want the world to see
But like a drug that makes you blind,
It'll fool ya every time
The trouble with love is
It can tear you up inside
Make your heart believe a lie
It's stronger than your pride
The trouble with love is
It doesn't care how fast you fall
And you can't refuse the call
See, you got no say at all
Just then Rachel entered the diner in desperate need of a cup of coffee, when she heard the melodic tune of a Kelly Clarkson song being sung. Rachel had to admit that whoever the singer was that they were good and obviously the song held some personal significance to them. There was also just something about the voice that not only intrigued Rachel but also sounded very familiar. It wasn't until Rachel rounded the corner that she realised why the voice sounded familiar. Because there on stage was Quinn Fabray letting the words of the song transcend and also transmit her emotions to everyone listening.
Now I was once a fool, it's true
I played the game by all the rules
But now my world's a deeper blue
I'm sadder, but I'm wiser too
I swore I'd never love again
I swore my heart would never mend
Said love wasn't worth the pain
But then I hear it call my name
(The trouble with) The trouble with love is
It can tear you up inside
Make your heart believe a lie
It's stronger than your pride
The trouble with love is
It doesn't care how fast you fall
And you can't refuse the call
See, you got no say at all
Rachel sat quietly down in one of the booths and quickly ordered a coffee and continued to watch her friend. Quinn was doing a great job of expressing the emotion behind every lyric of the song and it was obvious that she also had multiple personal experiences to back it up. Rachel now realised that all the drama going on between her and Puck must have been really upsetting her.
Every time I turn around
I think I've got it all figured out
My heart keeps callin' and I keep on fallin'
Over and over again
This sad story always ends the same
Me standin' in the pourin' rain
It seems no matter what I do
It tears my heart in two
(The trouble with love is) The trouble with love, yeah
(It can tear you up inside) It can tear you up inside
(Make your heart believe a lie) Make your heart believe a lie
It's stronger than your pride
As the song continued Rachel couldn't help but think about her own history with Finn. Even though they were in a really great place at the moment, she still sometimes found herself thinking back on the harder times. Where she loved Finn from afar and never in her wildest dreams would she have believed that she would be where she is now. Not only loving Finn but also living with him the way it should've been all along in the city that never sleeps New York.
(The trouble with love is)
It's in your heart
It's in your soul (doesn't care how fast you fall)
You won't get no control
(and you can't refuse the call)
See, you got no say at all
(The trouble with love is) Oh, yeah
(It can tear you up inside)
(Make your heart believe a lie)
The music faded out and Quinn hopped off the stage as the patrons of the diner gave her a polite round of applause. Quinn headed back over to her table to grab her stuff and settle the bill before leaving. After settling the bill, Quinn went to walk out when she heard, "That song was about Noah wasn't it?" Quinn turned around and saw Rachel looking at her expectantly from a booth on the other side of the divide.
"Rachel?" Quinn asked confused to see her friend sitting there in the diner.
"Hi Quinn! Come sit, I think we need to talk." Rachel said as she invited Quinn to sit across from her.
As Quinn sat down across from Rachel in the booth she asked, "So what do we need to talk about?"
"The fact that you love Noah and don't know how to express it." Rachel simply answered.
"Rachel I don't know what you think you know, but I don't have feelings for Puck!" Quinn tried to vehemently deny.
"Really! Then why sing a song that's literally titled, 'The Trouble with Love'?" Rachel asked back.
"Maybe I'm just a huge Kelly Clarkson fan!" countered Quinn as she nervously started folding and refolding the napkin in front of her.
"Please! The way you sang that song, you may as well just sat up there and read from your diary!" quipped Rachel.
Quinn knew it was futile trying to lie about her feelings for Puck around Rachel and also she was frankly getting tired of lying to herself. "Fine, I may have more than friendly feelings toward Puck but what use are they when nothing can possibly happen between us!"
"Why can't anything happen between you two?" a confused Rachel asked.
"Because I'll end up hating Puck or he'll end up hating me; and I couldn't live with myself if Puck hated me or if I hated him!" exclaimed Quinn.
"Why would either you or Noah end up hating each other?" asked a still confused Rachel.
"Because that's just the type of people we are! It's like were programmed to hurt not only each other but ourselves as well!" answered an emotional Quinn.
"Quinn, Noah has changed massively since high school, he's not the same lothario he used to be; I can also say the same for you Quinn. Your not the same girl who didn't care about anything other than popularity, you've matured. You just got to believe that yourself!"
"I want so badly to just say yes to Puck because I love him but I'm so scared something will happen and Puck will end up leaving, just like every other man in my life. I don't know if you understand how you can be so fearful of something yet also want it more than anything as well!" Quinn tried to explain.
"Please, your talking to the girl who lived with a gigolo for six months because she was to scared to reconnect with the love of her life!" reminded Rachel before continuing, "If I learnt anything throughout all the ups and downs between Finn and I is that sometimes the greatest things in life come from jumping into the unknown. You also have got to trust your heart. So Quinn what is your heart telling you?" inquired Rachel.
"My heart tells me to give Puck a chance, my heart tells me to jump into his arms every time I see him! But I have always played it safe when it comes to love making sure not to let anyone get to close to my heart; until Puck came along and somehow found away around my carefully constructed defences." Quinn answered truthfully.
"That sounds like you know what you should do than Quinn. You need to tell Puck exactly what's going on because it's not fair to him to string him along. You also need to understand that you don't need to be perfect Quinn, because nobody is." Rachel told her friend.
"Being perfect has been drilled into me ever since I was a little girl by my father. He wanted the world to think he had the perfect wife and the perfect daughter, just so he didn't look bad in front of his country club buddies. I remember telling my parents that I wanted to be a photographer when I was younger after my aunty gave me a camera for my birthday one year. My father than proceeded to lecture me about how artists of any sort were degenerates and bums and that no daughter of his would be a bum; he wanted me to be either a lawyer or a doctor." Explained Quinn.
A concerned Rachel had to ask, "Quinn do you even want to be a lawyer?"
"No! It's boring as batshit, to be quite honest!" Quinn honestly stated which caused both girls to laugh.
"Quinn you've got to live life for you, you can't live life for anyone else, especially a guy like your father who showed what type of man he is when he left your mother!"
"You know your right! I'm going to look into taking some photography classes to see if I still like it." Stated Quinn.
"That's great Quinn, I'm really happy for you! Can I ask what you're going to do about you and Puck?"
"I think both Puck and I need to sit down and discuss our issues and then see what our hearts want from there." Answered Quinn.
"I'm so happy for you Quinn! But just don't lose the fearless, take no prisoners Quinn who ruled McKinley High as head bitch in charge for so many years!"
"Don't you worry your pretty little self Rachel, I haven't lost any of my sass or bitchiness so if Puck and I end up getting together he better keep his ass in line!" joked Quinn.
"Well since were two strong independent women, how about we finish off with a song?" suggested Rachel tilting her head towards the stage.
"You know why not and I have the perfect song! Let's go!"
Rachel and Quinn went over to the stage and hopped up. Rachel grabbed some microphones as Quinn programmed in their song and Rachel had to let out a smile as she recognised the song as the music started playing. She handed a microphone to Quinn as they waited to start singing…
Now there was a time when they used to say
That behind every great man there had to be a great woman.
But in these times of change you know that it's no longer true
So we're comin' out of the kitchen
'Cause there's something we forgot to say to you
We say:
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Standin' on their own two feet an ringin' on their own bells.
Sisters are doin' it for themselves.
Now this is a song to celebrate
The conscious liberation of the female state.
Mothers
Daughters and their daughters
Too
Woman to woman
We're singing with you.
The inferior sex has got a new exterior
We got doctors
Lawyers
Politicians
Too.
Everybody
Take a look around
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see there's a woman right next to you.
We say: Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Now we ain't makin' stories and we ain't layin' plans
'Cause a man still loves a woman and a woman still loves a man
Just the same though -
Sisters are doin' it for themselves.
Now there was a time when they used to say
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
The music faded out as the two girls were laughing and hugging each other while the crowd erupted into loud applause. They jumped off the stage and headed back towards the booth they were sitting in and grabbed their stuff.
"Thanks for that Rachel it was fun!" exclaimed a jubilant Quinn.
"No worries Quinn! You know me any chance I can get to sing I'm going to take." Rachel flippantly responded.
"Don't I know it!" Quinn cheekily quipped back.
"Hey! I was on my way to a nail appointment you want to come with me?" asked Rachel as she put her coat on.
"Sure, I haven't had a good manicure in ages. Lead the way…sister!" quipped Quinn while both her and Rachel started laughing.
The two girls grabbed their handbags and headed out the front door of the diner and headed off towards the nail salon. Both Rachel and Quinn feeling happier after entering the diner than they did before they went in. Quinn because she finally felt she was in a place to do something about her feelings for Puck, and Rachel because she was able to help out her friend deal with her issues.
Puck shrugged off his coat as he entered the Spotlight Diner after walking aimlessly around the city. He had been just walking and thinking ever since the meeting of him and Quinn at the studio. Why couldn't things just be easy, instead of all this going backwards and forwards? She wants me…she hates me…she wants me again it was bloody frustrating. I guess that's why they say, 'women can't live with them, can't live without them'. Puck knew he was known as a ladies man but with all the women he had been with he could say conclusively none of them had touched his heart quite like Quinn had. She was fierce and strong and didn't take any bullshit from anyone, himself included which is what Puck admired and loved about her. Most girls were all flirty and throwing themselves at him, but Quinn…Quinn could level you with just one stare. She was an enigma for Puck because she was this strong independent woman but also when she let you see the real her, she was flirty and funny and just down right gorgeous.
It pissed him off actually which is why he's been aimlessly walking around the city like some vagrant. He decided to stop in at the diner to see if Rachel or Santana were working to see if he could score a free meal or at the very least a cup of coffee. It's not that he couldn't afford a meal; he just always thought it tasted better when he didn't have to pay for it. Also his reasoning was it would help take his mind off Quinn by trying to schmooze Rachel or Santana into allowing him a free meal.
Unfortunately for Puck neither Santana nor Rachel were working today, which might have been a blessing in disguise. Because if Santana had been working and Puck pushed her to far, he might have just got a blunt fork to the head; but now that he was here he decided to warm up a bit in the comfort of the diner. Puck took a seat near the empty stage and started perusing the menu. Not seeing much that interested him on the menu Puck looked back at the stage and thought why not; it seems to help Finn when he needs to get his emotions out.
So he jumped up on the stage and programmed in the music for the song he wanted and waited behind the mike. The music started playing as Puck started singing…
Step out into the Indian dust
I can feel the cracks in my spirit
They're starting to bust
Drive by your house, nobody's home
I'm trying to tell myself that I'm better off alone
All of my friends say I should move on
She's just another girl, don't let her stick it to your heart so hard
And of all my friends say it wasn't meant to be
And it's a great big world, she's just another girl
Quinn was walking along the street with Rachel when she remembered she had left her favourite scarf back at the diner. After telling Rachel she would meet her at the nail salon, Quinn hurried back to the diner hoping her scarf was still there. Just as she got back to the diner as was about to open the door she heard music and someone singing and thought that the voice sounded very familiar. Quinn got the shock of her life when upon entering the diner was confronted with Puck singing up on the stage.
I went to see a fortuneteller, that was a trip
Maybe this confusion's got me losing my grip
I can't believe you're out there flying with somebody else
Now Jason's getting married in the blink of an eye
I got an invitation but I didn't reply
Tell your little brother that we put down the gloves
And give him all of my love
All of my friends say I should move on
She's just another girl, don't let her stick it to your heart so hard
And all of my friends say it wasn't meant to be
And it's a great big world, she's just another girl
All Quinn could do was stand there stunned as she listened to Puck sing about thinking of moving on. She was slightly comforted in the fact that the song suggested he was only thinking about moving on and that maybe she wasn't just another girl. Still it pained her that she was the reason for all the emotion and heartbreak in the lyrics and emotion behind Pucks song.
I could be reeling them in left and right
Something's got a hold on me, tonight
Well maybe all of my friends should confront
The fact that I don't want another girl
All of my friends say I should move on
All of my friends say
All of my friends say
All of my friends say
She's just another girl
Then why can't I sleep at night
And why don't the moon look right
The sounds up, the TV's on
And it's a great big world
Just before the song finished Quinn snuck over to where her and Rachel had been sitting and thankfully was able to locate her scarf. She took one last longing look at Puck up on the stage before sneaking over to his table and grabbing a napkin and writing something on it before hurrying out of the diner. As she made her way back to the nail salon to meet up with Rachel all she could think about was that it might be slightly harder than she thought to get Puck to forgive her.
She's just another girl,
Don't let her stick it to your heart, boy
She's just another girl
All of my friends say she's just another girl
Another girl
The song finished and Puck jumped off stage and went back to his table. As he lifted up the free jug of water to pour himself a drink he noticed a folded napkin with his name written in neat cursive on the front. Intrigued he unfolded the napkin and read the note that said, 'No matter what your friends say, you and I both know I'm not just another girl! Nice song choice though, see you later Killer'. Puck looked around expecting to see the girl he knew wrote the note but saw no one. Puck smiled to himself as he tucked the note into his pocket now confident in the fact that he wasn't crazy and that maybe just maybe there was some slight glimmer of hope for him.
Hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter and maybe the reunion of Puck and Quinn. That is Quinn can get Puck to forgive her and she can get over her own insecurities. The songs used in this chapter were, 'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby' by Sam and Dave, 'Miss Independent' by Kelly Clarkson, 'The Trouble With Love Is' by Kelly Clarkson, 'Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves' Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox and 'Just Another Girl' by The Killers. Like always see you next time. Have a good one and don't do anything I wouldn't do.