Remember that one fanfic author who kept promising to update but never did!?
Yeah.
Can't stand her either.
Brrrng.
"Well aren't you going to answer it?" Shelby raised a perfectly trimmed brow as she peered over from behind the crinkly pages of the mornings paper.
Rachel's phone had been vibrating on and off all morning against the coffee table.
"Hmm?" The young brunette mumbled without prying her eyes away from her book.
The phone shook one more time and Shelby folded down a corner of the paper to glance over at her carbon copy. Her younger version was draped ever so eloquently across the couch, a tattered copy of Jane Austen in her hand, head propped up against pillowy cushions and feet resting conveniently across the older versions lap.
The pair had spent the better half of the last hour lounging in the den. Shelby was skimming through the reviews in the Theater section of the New York Times and Rachel was rereading one of her favorite classic pieces of literature. They looked so peaceful and picturesque it seemed as if nothing could ever disturb them.
"Mooom! Where are they?!"
Except of course for that.
They had been waiting on Santana to hurry up and finish getting dressed. Shelby had kept yelling out every few minutes in response to Santana's frantic cries about not being able to find her favorite pair of jeans. She stopped answering her daughter somewhere in between the last three cries. Her patience was running dangerously low. The buzzing phone was not helping either.
Brrrrng
"Rachel!"
"Huh" The younger girl didn't want to interrupt Mr. Darcy or her overactive imagination with a specific tall boy dressed as him. She painfully tore her eyes away from the worn pages and stared at the phone on the coffee table as if just waiting for it to bite.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrng
Right on cue.
Sighing, Rachel closed her book, reluctantly letting go of all daydreams of poised handsome gentlemen and slowly shifted her body out of it's comfortable position from the couch. Any slower and Shelby swore she would be going backwards.
"It's probably just Kurt again."
"Oh yeah? Well are they having a good time then?"
"Well according to Kurt, Noah and Finn most certainly are."
Shelby peered over once more and furrowed her brows... waiting for an elaboration.
"When they got to the stadium to pick up their tickets, the box office manager guy ended up knowing Burt. Kurt said that Burt helped the man out when his truck broke down in the middle of a thunder storm last year and he remembered him so he gave them vip passes. As in meet and greets with the cheerleaders, club seats up in the VIP area and an all you can eat buffet at the skybox lounge."
"Oh my god!" Shelby squealed and smiled wide at the news, happy the boys were having such a good time, but that smile slowly began to falter. The experienced mother of three covered her mouth with her hand as her thoughts quickly ran ahead of her, "Oh god" She gripped her bottom lip in worry.
"What?"
It didn't take long for her mind to do the calculations. Teenaged boys and college football games was an equation capable of making any mother worry. But Her Teenaged boy. With an all access pass in the Ohio Stadium...
"Your brother better behave himself!" Shelby ran her hands through her hair in exasperation. "Noah didn't mention anything about VIP passes. I told him to call me when they got there but of course he wrote me a quick text instead, 'Hi Mom. Here. Safe. Bye mom" The single mother of three sighed heavily and after some thinking, she decided to leave all thoughts of her sons alleged behavior in the hands of fate.
And Burt Hummel.
Bless Burt Hummel
Rachel giggled as she turned away from her moms worried expression and clicked open the umpteenth text sent from Kurt that morning. "Mom, Noah will be just fine. You don't have to worry."
"Oh sweetheart. This mother always worries." Shelby pointed at her chest and folded the paper, "But your right, your right. He'll behave...besides Burt will keep the boys in check." Shelby stated in self assurance. God knew her son needed a good male role model in his life. She was so grateful he had Burt. She glanced down at her watch again, "Anyway, if Santana's not down here in five minutes I'm-"
"I'll go get her" Rachel pushed herself off the couch and made her way upstairs, quickly firing back a text to Kurt in response.
"Five minutes!"
"Gotcha!" Rachel made her way over to the staircase just as she finished typing out the last word. She closed her phone, slid it into her pocket and began wondering what on earth was taking her sister so long.
Santana had awoken unusually early and slowly shuffled herself into their mothers room not long after Noah left. It was a nice change...to relax in the morning instead of everyone rushing to go off and be in different places. It was Rachel who suggested they go and have a girls day and Santana who went ahead and booked appointments for all three at the nail salon. Rachel knew for a fact her sister had laid out her outfit...she saw it sprawled across her bed as she walked by earlier... favorite pair of jeans matched with her new blouse. So why was Santana saying she couldn't find them?
She reached the top of the stairs and quietly made her way over to Sans bedroom. Not bothering to knock, she wrapped her fingers around the door knob twisted it open and rushed inside.
"Hey San Mom said if your not down in five minutes then she-"
"Rachel!"
There was a shuffling of sorts as the fully dressed and ready to go older brunette jumped up and slammed her fingers down on the keys of her laptop. She blew a loose strand of hair away from her face, ripped her hazy gaze away from the screen and shot daggers at the intruder.
"Can't you knock!?"
Rachel stumbled as she took a step back and watched as a deep red tinge crept its way across her sisters cheeks.
"S-Sorry..i-it's just that mom's waiting and-"
"Fine. I said I was coming."
Santana gave Rachel a once over and recognized that look, knowing all to well just exactly what it meant. She sighed feeling badly, "I didn't mean to snap at you okay? Its just... knock next time alright?" The older brunette swiveled her chair back towards her laptop. She took another heaving sigh and her furrowed brows softened upon glancing at her Mac.
"I gotta go. I'll talk to you later ?"
The voice of another person penetrated Rachel's ears.
"Yeah I'll text you but you have to be nice Santana. Lord Tubbington will let me know if your not...and so will Little S."
Brittany?
Rachel leaned forward to get a better look at the screen. Brittany was laying across her bed smiling and waving, her rather large cat lying next to her.
"Right Little S? Remember San...be nice." She scolded in the same tone adults use when talking with misbehaved toddlers.
"Yeah yeah."
"Bye Brittany" Rachel waved as the blonde blew a kiss and the video chat ended. Santana snapped her laptop shut and Rachel wanted to know why she was acting all fidgety. It's not like she walked in on her talking with a boy or anything. It was only Brittany.
"Okay move it munchkin. Vamonos!" The older brunette snapped her fingers and stood up . She did one last mirror check and caught Rachel staring quizzicaly back at her. She hated that look...her little sister was really smart, sometimes too smart for her own good and that look meant she was analyzing things in her 'Rachel' way. Santana hated being analyzed, it made her feel exposed.
"What!"
"Brittany said you have to be nice to me."
"Oh please! Like I care about anything Brittany said. Psht. Hurry up midget because your taking too dam long."
The younger brunnete gasped, "Me?! Your the one who took ten years looking for a very questionable pair of jeans."
"Say what about my jeans!? These are the hottest jeans ever...I mean hello look at the way they make my butt look." Santana smirked as she checked out her assets in the mirror.
"What butt?" Rachel mumbled, slowly backing out of the room.
The smirking brunette whipped around to face her, "Excuse me?"
"Remember San. Be Nice. Lord Tubnington will find out." Rachel giggled and spun on her heel before rushing out of the room.
"You little sh.. " Santana growled, did one last quick mirror check, "I so too have a butt!" and tore off after her.
"Mooom!" Rachel ran right into Shelbys arms laughing uncontrollably, "Help!"
"Well is she coming or staying because I'm leaving."Shelby untangled herself from her youngest daughter and heard a pounding set of footsteps race down the stairs.
Rachel squealed and dodged as Santana lunged at her.
"Girls! "
"Your mine midget!"
Rachel flew out the front door, snatching the car keys and glancing back once with a giant smile plastered on her face.
Santana sprinted after her and Shelby was left standing in the foyer, arms raised in the air, wondering how she became the last one to leave the house.
"Girls!?"
"Hurry up ma or we're gonna be late!"
"Ladies ladies please no fighting. There's enough of the Puckasaurus to go around." Noah Corcoran smirked as giggles erupted around him. He was having the most amazing day ever. The tailgating had been epic. There were so many girls and so much stuff to do. He already had seven new numbers stored in his phone and to top it all off Burt managed to make the day even better by getting them all upgraded seats when they went to collect their regular tickets. VIP passes and everything. It was refreshing to get away from the house, especially after two weeks of punishment. Noah loved his mom and all, and despite him constantly saying how much his sisters annoy him, he loved those two as well but it felt real dam good to just slip away from them for the day.
No sisters. No mom. No distractions. Only football, girls and
"Hey man we kinda have to get back to the box seeing as the games about to start and everything."
Puck slowly rolled his eyes away from the group of girls and jabbed his elbow into his best friend, " C'mon Finn your supposed to be my wingman not my buzzkill." He frowned and quickly brought his attention back to the mature college girls as the one standing closest to him asked a question with a southern drawl.
"Ya'll have your own box!?"
His signature smirk slid into place, "Huh? Who us? Yeah its no big deal really." He tried to brush off any importance. "Why? Would you ladies be interested in checking out my box?"
" Our box." Finn pointed his finger between the two and Puck made a face, " Woah chill with the our stuff dude No homo."
The girl with the southern accent spoke up again, "I mean if you even really have one...You know a box that is...How big is it exactly?"
Puck took a step back and gasped for an added effect, " It's huge. Do you think we'd lie to you!?
"Yeah if we were lying then we wouldnt have these," Finn flashed the vip tickets and saw the girls eyes twinkle.
"Oh my gosh what are ya'll waiting for then? Give us a tour!" Giggles. Flip of the hair here, bat of an eyelash there and next thing Puck knew, he was leading the way through the stadium with the hottest girl of the group squeezing his arm and pressing herself up against him.
They were almost at the skybox section, Puck could see the grumpy old ticket man from before. He led the way and walked right for the door not bothering to stop and get scanned because surely the guy remembered him.
"Ahem. This is for club members only. "
"Yeah we were here earlier. You saw me and my friend here leave."
"Club members only." The man said in a monotonous tone.
Finn began fumbling around beside him jamming his fists inside his pockets.
Puck sighed and shifted his weight from one foot to the next. "Dude show this guy the dam tickets."
Finn turned his pockets inside out.
"Finn?"
"I just had them hold on." Finn's face flushed red.
"Step aside please fella's. Club members only."
"But I was just in here! You saw me earlier old man I know you did!"
"You want me to call security?" The ticket man stood up taller.
"Go ahead call them!" Puck squared his shoulders, sizing the man up.
"Um we gotta go." The girl slid her arm away from the visibly angry teen and grimaced.
"But we have a box. Finn call your dad or Kurt." Puck growled and shot his eyes around looking for the girls.
"Ladies. Wait! Party at my dorm later remember!" Puck yelled back staring longingly at the group of college girls as they disappeared into the crowd.
He didn't notice a person slide up right next to him.
"These guys are with me Phil." He shot around when he heard that smoky voice and his eyes grew wide.
"Are you sure Miss? You know these young troublemakers?"
"Trouble mak-" Puck growled and shot daggers at the old man.
"Yes. I'm sure. I know these two very well. Unfortunately."
The two in question frowned and sputtered.
"Okay Miss. If you say so."
Phil the Ticket man let all three walk in without scanning a single ticket. Puck and Finn followed behind their savior who wore a pleased grin on her face. She led them a safe distance away from Phil before she whipped around and cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Party at your dorm later!?" She raised an eyebrow and stared quizzically at Puck.
He took a moment to compose himself and let his lip curl up into a devilish smirk.
"So it's like that huh Fabray?"
"You two can thank me later." The satisfied blonde flipped her hair.
"That was pretty awesome Quinn thanks." Finn smiled and Puck nodded in approval.
"Hold up first of all what are you even doing here? And second what's that idiot's deal? I feel like going back over there and putting him in his place."
"Phil can be... difficult at times...but once you get to know him he's not so bad.
"He's a douche."
"He's the douche? Really? This coming from the guy with the dorm party later? Who were those skanks anyway."
Puck's laughed boomed, "Ha Your just jealous."
"As if Corcoran. Exactly what is there to be jealous of." Quinn lashed out as a single brow shot up.
"They were total babes. What can I say I got game. So how come that douche just let you walk in here? And you still didn't answer me. What exactly are you doing here?"
The trio had begun walking around the Clubhouse section of the stadium, Quinn in the lead with the two boys trailing after her. Puck couldn't help but admire the way her hips swayed as she walked and her hair bounced. He was so used to seeing her wear that tiny red uniform for once he was actually glad she wasn't wearing it. He liked seeing her dress different. It was kind of weird because she was always dressed in that red uniform or workout gear and he wasn't complaining because honestly thank the Cheerio gods for making them wear that but it was definitely nice to see her dressed in jeans and a Buckeye Jersey. Not to mention her hair down in wavy locks instead of being pulled up into that Cheerio pony.
"Well?"
"Corn dogs! Yes! You guys want some corn dogs?!" Quinn was about to answer the question but she was interrupted by Finn's loud yell and she laughed. So did Puck. So did Finn but only because he thought the other two were laughing with him.
The blonde made a face of disgust "No thanks."
"You sure? Well I'm gonna go get one be right back." Finn made his way over towards the long line of people waiting for what Quinn thought was a heart-attack on a stick.
"So," Puck brought her attention back to him, "As you were saying."
"Oh yeah, well my dad owns a skybox here."
"And you never invited us because?"
"Like I would ever want to invite you?" She quipped and leaned back against a railing.
"Ouch." Puck winced.
"Besides it's more of a family thing. My dad's all gung-ho on family outings to the games because it's the 'Fabray Way' She said the last part mocking her father's voice, " "Um I think I invited your sister actually a couple times last year but she never woke up early enough to come."
Puck leaned against the wall beside her. That was news to his ears. San never mentioned anything to him. Then again San would never wake up early on a Saturday for football. Quinn's brows knit together suddenly and Puck let her continue.
"Anyway my dad's running for State Senator. We're proud supporters of Ohio State football. Go buckeyes" She pumped her fist Cheerio style, flashing a shiny tight smile. But Puck didn't know who she thought she was fooling.
"Right. So I'm guessing you'll be coming here for college?"
"No way" She let out a forced laugh, "No...my parents want me to go to Yale."
There it was. Puck could see that mask she wore so well.
"Yeah it's Ivy all the way. My Dad went to Yale. As did my older sister Frannie."
"Hmm interesting."
Quinn hated whenever anyone gave such a vague response, it meant they weren't really paying attention and there mind was entirely consumed someplace else. Noah's answer clearly confirmed that. What she wasn't expecting however was for the next few words to tumble effortlessly from his mouth.
"But what about you?"
The question startled Quinn. She found Puck's eyes and was surprised to see genuine interest hanging behind them.
"What?"
"Where do you want to go?" He repeated and could practically see her mind turning the question over, examing it as if hearing those words directed towards her for the first time.
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"Um well I guess..I.."
"Oh Quinnie!"
The two teens turned their heads at the sudden high pitched voice and Puck watched as an older blonde woman dressed in red made her way over, pulling Finn alongside her by the arm and flagging her daughter down.
"Look who I ran into!"
Judy Fabray beamed as she approached the two teens. Finn finished stuffing his face with the corn dog and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he tossed the wooden stick in the trash.
Quinn forced a smile at her mother and answered tight lipped, "Mom. I know I bumped into them outside."
Judy began laughing giddily, squeezing her red manicured hand around Pucks arm. An eruption of voices boomed from across the lounge, all sounding obnoxiously pompous. A group of men all dressed in sports jackets were shaking hands and Puck recognized the loudest of the group as Russell Fabray. He gave a 1,000 watt smile when he spotted his wife and daughter and excused himself from his friends.
Quinn mentally face palmed.
"There are my girls!" Russell strode over in his expensive sports coat, shiny black shoes and slicked back hair. He wore a red ball cap, the only thing on him that showed his alliance towards the football team.
"Yes daddy we're coming" Quinn rushed out suddenly anxious to leave.
"Wait Russ come here. You remember Finn Hudson, Carole and Christopher's son."
Russell Fabray eyed the two boys and nodded in approval upon hearing Finn's last name.
"He goes to our church and is on the football team at Quinnie's school." Judy gushed and jumped to squeeze her husbands arm. Russell eyed Finn and put two and two together. "Yes of course. I know your mother from church she sits on the right side usually the pews up in front?"
Finn bobbed his head up and down.
"And I remember your father. He was a good man. Good man died an honorable death."
Quinn eyed her father curiously. He was beaming at Finn, surveying him as if he were a shiny new consolation prize.
"And you go to school with my daughter?"
"Yes. He's a year older than Quinnie I believe." Judy smiled and Puck could've sworn he caught a whiff of alcohol.
Russell turned upon hearing his daughter's name and took notice of the boy standing beside her.
"And this is?"
Puck stuck out his hand ready to introduce himself when Quinn beat him to it.
"This is Noah. He goes to McKinley too."
Russell nodded in approval as he shook Puck's hand and Quinn held her breath as he eyed the teenaged boy, "Noah...strong name. You look familiar. Do I know your parents?"
"Uh well actually-"
"Doubt it daddy he's from New York but we should really get going the games about to start." Quinn cut Puck off and he sliced his eyes at the blonde.
The fuc-
Quinn fidgeted under his icy glare averting all eye contact.
"New York huh?" Russell cleared his throat and was interrupted by someone shouting his name. He turned towards the boys, unaware of the awkward tension that had fallen over the group, "Well it was nice meeting you boys," he nodded in their direction and pumped his fist, "Go Buckeyes!"
"It was nice seeing you Finn!" Judy smiled and waved warmly at Finn. "You too Noel" She threw in an extra wave for Puck. "Quinnie!" Her mother's voice tore the young blonde's attention away from Puck.
"Um I gotta go. I'll see you two around?" Quinn didn't wait for a response and quickly rushed to catch up to her parents. Her father placed a hand on her back and greeted more of his colleagues. She chanced one quick glance back before Russell ushered his girls down the hall, leaving the two boys behind. Puck squinted his eyes. His mind spinning a million miles.
"The hell was that?"
"What?"
"That! Why did she...That was fucking weird."
"It was wasn't it? What about her mom though? Milf?"
"She called me Noel."
Puck figured that answered enough. He shook his head in disbelief and tried to shrug off that nagging feeling.
Screw Quinn Fabray
"Boys!" Puck was brought out of his trance when he heard the familiar warm voice. Burt Hummel stood in front of them, dressed in worn out jeans, an old buckeye tee and a Hummel's Auto Shop hat on his head. "Where have you two been!? The games about to start!"
The four of them made there way over towards their seats and quickly filled Kurt and Burt in on their small encounter.
"Ah don't worry about it guys. Fabrays will always be Fabrays. Forget about them. Alright? Hey! These are some seats though eh!? Right?! Fweooo," Burt whistled and couldn't keep the boyish grin off his face.
"This is awesome!"
"Yeah thanks again Burt."
"Fabulous seats Dad"
"Anytime boys! Anytime! It doesn't get better than this let me tell ya! There's nothing like a good ol' fashion game of football."
"Amen to that!"
"Boys, in life there are three F's I like to call the fundamental elements of living. Number one is Family. Always remember that alright? Family. Number two is Friends. You can never have too many of those around. Wait I take that back...you can but Im talkin about real friends...you gotta treat the real ones like gold. And number three is Football. No explanation needed there." Burt glanced back and forth between the three teens before him and ticked off his fingers, "Family. Friends and Football. The fundamentals of life."
"Only three?" Puck smirked and spoke out of the side of his mouth so only Finn could hear.
"What was that?"
"Nothin! I said thats very true." Puck admired Burt Hummel. He was a hard working man, kind and honest. He was there for his family, especially his son. Hell he was even nice enough to include him and Finn in everything. He didn't have to. He knew exactly what Burt was doing and he knew it wasn't just out of charity either. That's one thing he couldn't stand. He couldn't stand people pitying him. But Burt was different. He really did care about him and Finn. He could remember a time when his dad was like that. He used to take him to see the Rangers hockey games at Madison Square Garden.
But that was a long time ago.
Things change.
People change.
"Finn you got the drinks I gave you? Good. Kurt this ones yours. My old man let me have my first brewsky at an OSU game when I was around your age so I thought I'd keep up with the tradition."
Kurt forced a smile and took the frothy drink, already feeling nauseous just holding it, "Dad won't we get in trouble? We're underage?"
"Nah! It's just one beer. Only one. Besides we're men!" He slapped his palm across his sons back and patted his shoulder. "Alright!? Now come on it's game time! Cheers boys! Let's go Buckeyes!" Burt raised his cup and Kurt had never seen his father happier. They all clanked there drinks together and took a swig...Puck drinking a little more than the rest.
"Just don't mention the beer to your mothers"
"You don't have to worry about that one." Puck laughed and averted his eyes back to the field when a roar erupted from the crowded stadium.
The ref blew the whistle, signaling the kick off and the Hummels, Corcoran and Hudson men all joined the roaring crowd.
Puck was in the middle of yelling at a bad call from the ref when he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket, "Speaking of mothers..."
"Okay honey. I love you. Be careful. Bye" Shelby snapped her phone shut, a satisfied look playing on her face and she felt the need to explain herself to the lady currently scrubbing her feet.
"My son. He's at a football game."
The lady just nodded and smiled before turning towards the young girl next to her scrubbing on Rachel's feet and the two began talking in their native tongue.
Santana leaned forward to get a better look at her mother, "So what did he say?"
"He's fine. He said he was having a great time, he'll call later when they're on their way home. Oh and he mentioned something about running into Quinn?"
"Quinn?!"
"Quinn."
Weird San thought as she pulled out her phone.
"I told you he'd be fine mom." Rachel pitched in and picked up the tiny bottle of nail polish, "Hey San?
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure this color is okay?" Rachel asked gently.
"Yes. For the tenth time Rach that color is really pretty but if you don't like it then change it."
"Mom what do you think?"
"I think it's nice sweetheart. Keep it. It's perfect for fall."
"Okay" Rachel mumbled and handed the color over to the lady.
"Why are you so indecisive?" Santana thought aloud as she admired her own nail color. It was one of her all time favorites, Wicked by Essie.
Rachel bit her bottom lip and Shelby took the liberty of answering for her, "It's because there's so many options right baby"
Santana turned a glossy page of the magazine, not bothering to look up, "Why do you always baby her Mom!? Keep babying her and she's just gonna keep on sleeping in your room."
Rachel frowned and turned angrily in the massage chair, "I'm not babied! And I have a perfectly good reason to be sleeping with mom that doesn't concern you."
"Girls!" Shelby leaned forward to get a good look at both of her daughters, only briefly glancing at the three ladies currently working on their pedicures, still talking in their native tongues. "Now I don't know what has gotten into you two? But this ends now. I mean it!"
Her oldest scoffed and her youngest hmphed.
"I don't like the way you two just spoke to each other and I certaintly don't want you two arguing tonight over dinner."
"Dinner?"
"Yes dinner. Will is coming over tonight."
Santana groaned and slapped a hand over her forehead.
"Why must you insist on torturing me?!"
"He's not bad San and you know it. I don't know why you insist you don't like him?"
"Is that a serious question?"
"What time is he coming over for dinner Mom?" Rachel ignored her sister's comments and tried showing support for her mom.
"Seven."
"Your ordering in right? The man's allergic to shellfish. I say we order seafood." Santana quipped.
Shelby glared.
"As a matter of fact we are cooking."
"We?"
"Yes we. As in you, your sister and I. Rach will be in charge of the appetizer, a salad. I'll do the main course, a pasta dish and you my darling daughter will be in charge of dessert. I'll even let you pick. It's going to be fun."
Shelby beamed and settled back into her chair. She closed her eyes and smiled. Dinner was going to be... interesting at the very least.
This was a very big step for all of them.
She only hoped her kids would be on their best behavior.
AN:/ Ending here so I can post the next part sooner rather later. I just really want to complete this story.
Enjoy? xo