A/N: They're going to get longer. As demonstrated below.
Those of you who guessed which song I chose will probably have a surprise your way XD

Mercedes
Tina
Both

That night, I look up Tina's mobile number on Facebook and call her.

"Hello?" her sweet, quiet voice asks.

"Hey Tina. It's Sam."

"Oh, hey Sam. How did you get my number?" We're not particularly close.

"I found it on Facebook." She aha-ed on the other end of the phone. "Have you had any luck with the glee assignment this week?"

"Well, I haven't really started. I was going to look through some albums tonight. Why?"

"I have the perfect song for you to sing."

Back in high school, if you looked past the disgusting fashion sense, Rachel Berry was practically the female version of me. She was a diva like me, she had a similar vocal range to me, and somehow she and I twice managed to be chasing after the same guy. The first time, she won. The second time, I did. And I couldn't help but be a little bit satisfied by that.

There was an advantage to being very similar to Rachel (and it was probably the only one). I was pretty much always able to tell what she was feeling, and what her motives were.

So, at that point, I knew that she was really lonely. Very, very lonely.

I walked over to her locker the next morning. "Hey, Rachel."

"Ummm… hi Kurt. Why are you talking to me?"

I laughed a little, as though what she was saying was insane. It wasn't, but that didn't really matter. "Look, Rachel – I know you're lonely." She frowned a little. "The kind of turmoil your relationship with Finn went through would have driven me insane, and I can't even begin to imagine what you went through." She nodded, her face downcast. "A wise person once said to me, 'we're going to win Nationals this year, and do you know how we're going to do that? Because we have you.' It couldn't be truer Rachel. You might be lonely, but you're not alone." Rachel smiled, and laughed a little, and she nudged me on the shoulder. "I was wondering if you might like to, maybe, sing a duet with me. I think you'll be happy with my song selection, it's sort of completely who you and I are."

"You want to do it for this week's assignment?"

"No. I think this one could be just for us."

She smiled, and shut her locker. I took her hand, and we both turned around, only to be greeted by a sight that made my day.

"Blaine!"

I'm sitting in glee club, on top the world because of my idea for Tina to sing that song, which she insisted I let her include Mercedes into. I agreed, because the more the merrier, right? I watch the door, eagerly awaiting Kurt's arrival, because I know he's going to be amazed with the choice of song, and understand completely what's going on.

Which is why I'm completely angry and upset when he walks in with that evil devil spawn on his arm.

I know I'm not the only one. Artie's face steels, and Finn's eyes widen. He shoots a glance my way before furiously whacking Puck in the arm, whispering in his ear desperately. Puck then shakes his head, and Finn begins talking more insistently. I hear throwaway phrases like "it'll be easy" and "he'll forgive you", but I have no idea what they're talking about.

Mr. Schue walks into the choir room, and notices Blaine. "Hey, Blaine. What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd come and surprise Kurt. See how he's doing." Sure you did. Like you care. "I just figured that he might be missing me as much as I'm missing him." Oh how adorable. NOT.

"Eugh."

"Sam?" Kurt turns at me with a puzzled look on his face.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?"

Kurt nods.

Blaine turns to look at me as well, and I give him a look that I'm hoping says 'I obviously don't like you, so don't try to fool yourself by thinking that I might lighten up because you're Kurt's boyfriend'. It probably looks like I'm passing wind, but whatever.

"I had a really bad breakfast burrito. I think it's making a repeat appearance on me."

"Gross, Sam!" Kurt complains.

"Right, guys. Can we get on with the order of things? Does anyone have anything they want to perform?"' Mr. Schue is obviously eager to change the subject fast.

Quinn raises her hand, and Mr. Schue nods.

"This song," she says, "is from Kylie Minogue's last album, called Aphrodite. It's actually the title song, and was never released as a single, but I've always liked it because it just made me feel empowered." She nods to the band, and begins to sing.

Can you feel me in the stereo?
Can you feel me in the stereo?
Can you feel me in the stereo?
Can you feel me in the stereo?

This song lets you in
Gonna get back down and up again
I got you on my side
It's just a roller ride
It's the truth it's a fact
I was gone and now I'm back, yeah

I don't think that Quinn quite understands just how relevant the lyrics to this song are to her relationship with Finn, but regardless, they are pretty telling about how things have gone on between them.

Can you feel me in the stereo?
Can you feel me in the stereo?

Oh, I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty
I'm a golden girl, I'm an Aphrodite
Alright, alright, yeah yeah hey

I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty
Don't you mess with me, you don't want to fight me
Alright, alright, yeah yeah hey

You know that I'm magical
I am the original
I am the only one to make you feel this way

The moment that you kissed me
You know that you missed me
I am the only one

Can you feel me in the stereo?
Can you feel me in the stereo?
Oh, can you feel, hmm?
Can you feel me in the stereo?
Can you feel me in the stereo?

I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty
I'm a golden girl, I'm an Aphrodite
Alright

Quinn finishes the song, and we all smile and cheer for her as she takes her seat.

Tina raises her hand. "Mr. Schue, Mercedes and I have prepared a number, with a little bit of help," she says, flashing a concealed look my way, "as a duet. Is that okay?"

Mr. Schue nods. "Go for it."

I smile.

Tina and Mercedes took two stools and sat at the front of the choir room.

"This song isn't just some song," Mercedes said, and Tina nods.

"We're singing it about someone we care about, who we love very much, who is worrying us a lot," Tina finished.

They both looked at me, and Tina began to sing.

She is a pyramid
But with him she's just a grain of sand
This love's too strong like mice and men
Squeezing out the life that should be let in

She was a hurricane
But now she's just a gust of wind
She used to set the sail for a thousand ships
Was a force to be reckoned with

She could be a statue of liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he's scared of the light that's inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark

Oh she used to be a pearl
Yeah she used to rule the world
Ohhh can't believe, she's become a shell of herself
Cause she used to be a pearl

The song they were singing… I wondered if it could be about me. About Blaine and me. I turned to look at Blaine, and was shocked to note that he wasn't looking at the front at all. Instead he was looking further in the vicinity of Puck's guns.

I sighed, and immersed myself back into the girls' duet.

She was unstoppable
Moved fast just like an avalanche
But now she's stuck deep in cement
Wishing that they'd never ever met

She could be a statue of liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he's scared of the light that's inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark

Oh she used to be a pearl
Yeah she used to rule the world
Ohhh can't believe, she's become a shell of herself
Cause she used to be a –

Don't you know that there's a way out
There's a way out
There's a way out
There's a way out
You don't have to be held down
Be held down
Be held down
Be held down

Cause I used to be a shell…
Yeah I let him rule my world
My world oh oh yeah

But I woke up and grew strong
And I can still go on
And no one can take my pearl

Tina cast a guarded glance at Artie before they continued, and I knew that it was true.

You don't have to be a shell, no-oh-oh-oh
You're the one that rules your world, Oh-oh-oh-oh
You are strong, and you'll learn
That you can still go on
And you'll always be a pearl

The music slowed, and tears were falling from my eyes. I could definitely tell that the song was for me (especially since both girls were looking at me the whole time), and it was truly beautiful.

She is unstoppable

The song ended, and I clapped furiously. I turned to look at the rest of the club, and they were all also cheering as hard as I was. Blaine was clapping unenthusiastically, and lethargically. I scowled at his lack of gusto for the amazing performance we'd just been treated to.

When I looked at Sam, I noticed that he was looking at me, and we beamed broadly at each other. I was proud of my friends singing the song – and he was smiling like he was proud too.

I wondered if Sam had something to do with this, but decided that was very unlikely.

Right?

"That was great, guys!" Mr. Schue says. "Now, you're going to have to forgive me for not being very in with the times, but which song was that?"

"It's called Pearl, and it's by Katy Perry, from her Teenage Dream album."

"Great job finding it, it's a real gem! Wow!" Mr. Schue's boundless enthusiasm emerges again, and he's really excited for the two girls.

"Actually, we didn't find Pearl," Tina says, with a sly look on her face, and I'm glaring daggers at her, because we specifically agreed that I wasn't to be identified as the culprit behind this song.

At least, until Kurt and I are in a serious relationship and he'd find it flattering.

"Who found it, then?" Kurt asks, and from the way he says that, I just know it's because he knows it's about him.

"Sam did," Mercedes says, and I wonder if it's legal to murder, before realizing that it has been for thousands of years. There goes that idea.

"Well, then, hats off to Sam for finding the number!" Mr. Schue says.

Kurt turns to me and smiles, and I'm on cloud nine. I made him smile! I nod, and smile back humbly. The girls both take their seats.

"So, who's next?" Mr. Schue asks, and Puck stands up.

"I found this song on Bruno Mars' Doo-Wops and Hooligans, and I totally get what he's saying, so I figure I'm gonna sing it." He smiles at Lauren, who smiles back, before smiling at Blaine, who also returns the gesture.

Kurt, I'm pleased to note, does not look amused.

The intro to the song is fast and long, and Puck gets right into it.

Ah yes
Well looky here looky here
Now what do we have
Another pretty thing ready for me to grab
But little does she know that I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing
Cause at the end of the night it is her I'll be holding

I love you so
That's what you'll say
You'll tell me baby baby please don't go away
But when I play
I never stay
To every girl that I meet here this is what I say

Run run run away run away baby
Before I put my spell on you
You'd better get get get away
Get away darling cause everything you've heard is true
Your poor little heart will end up alone
Cause lord knows, I'm a rolling stone
So you'd better run run run run away run away baby

Puck finishes, and we all cheer. He quakes his eyebrows at Blaine suggestively, and then returns to his seat and slings an arm around Lauren.

"Great job, Puck!" Mr. Schue says. "Now, guys –"

"Sorry, Mr. Schue, I just remembered – Coach Bieste wants me to do some laps this afternoon? I don't want them to go on too late. Can I go?" He's acting very suspiciously. I don't remember Coach setting him any laps, but I don't say anything.

"Sure, Puck. That'll be fine." Puck nods and winks at Blaine almost unperceptively, but I don't think Kurt notices.

Well, that had been… different.

The moment Puck left, Blaine stood up. "I should probably get going too. It's a long drive back to Westerville," he said. He leaned down and gave me a short kiss on the cheek, then walked away.

Mr. Schue started talking again, but I wasn't really paying attention. I was too busy trying to understand just what had happened between Puck and Blaine.

Finn interrupted Mr. Schue, after a few minutes. "Oops! I think I forgot my gym bag in the locker room. I think I'm going to have to go get it."

"That's okay, dude," Sam piped up. I think I left some stuff in my football locker that I need to take home."

"Don't worry, Sam, I'll get it," he said, almost panicking, then relaxed. "Actually, if you could get it, that would be great."

Sam gave Finn a confused look, and walked out to the locker room. Why was Finn acting so suspicious?

I walk to the locker room, completely confused. Why was Finn being so weird?

I opened the doors and gasped.

Sitting on one of the changing benches, making out furiously, were Puck and Blaine.

…

"WHAT THE HELL?"