And these are all the chapters I have written so far, I'll get to work soon.
IluvTwiBoyz is probably my favorite person, ever! Thank you. (:
I don't own glee, only my original characters.
Jazz washes away the dust of every day life. – Art Blakey
Jazz sat in the corner with Cory playing uncle. Every once in a while they'd glance over to where Puck and Quinn were talking.
"Hey, guys." Mr. Shue said, walking in just as Cory made Jazz say uncle. Quinn took a seat near Finn and Puck came and put his arm around Jazz. Cory scowled. "Well, I have found my replacement. So, give it up for Ms. Pillsberry."
Jazz clapped loudly, loving the counselor, as Puck whispered in her eye. "Another ginger." She laughed and nudged him.
"So," Santana twirled her hair around, not looking at Puck and Jazz for once. "Do you even know anything about music?"
Ms. Pillsberry looked ready to answer but Mr. Shue cut her off. "What's important is that she cares about you guys every bit as much as I do." Jazz nuzzled against Puck, praying she wouldn't cry. "Now, I don't know what the future holds for me and for us, but I know Saturday, you're going to make me proud. You guys are going to be great. So, goodbye for now." Puck kissed the top of her head and she sobbed.
"Wait," Mercedes spoke up, "What about our set list?"
"I-I can't help you with that." He told them. "You've got to figure that out for yourselves." Cory put a comforting hand on Jazz's leg, hitting Puck's away. "Alright, guys." And he was gone.
"Well, we have to do Proud Mary in wheelchairs." Artie said. "That's in."
"And Don't Stop Believing, for sure." Finn added.
"What about the ballad?"
"I would be thrilled," Rachel started, standing up to the front of the room. "To contribute a ballad of my own." Jazz rolled her eyes.
"Okay, you know what Ms. Bossy Pants?" Mercedes stood up, riled. "Enough. I've worked just as hard as you and I'm just as good as you, and you always end up stealing the spotlight."
"Mercedes, do you honestly think you're as strong of a balladeer as I am?" Mercedes turned towards them and mouthed Balladeer. Jazz snorted into Puck's arm. "Ballads are kind of my thing."
"Okay, Rachel. Why don't you let Mercedes give it a try?" Ms. Pillsberry compromised.
"Thanks, Mrs. P." Everyone took their seats. "Do I even need to tell you which song? Horns and strings, keep up."
Mercedes sang a beautiful rendition of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going from Dream Girls. As she finished, breathing hard, Jazz jumped out of her seat where Puck had been kissing her neck, and screamed. He sighed.
"Thoughts?" Mercedes asked Rachel as she approached.
"It's clear the room adores you." Rachel pointed out.
"Yeah!" Jazz yelled, sitting back down.
"And, although it wouldn't be my first choice, but I can't wait to see you sing that song at sectionals. You are amazing Mercedes, and you deserve it. I'm going to hug you now." They embraced.
"Aww," Jazz yelled out, grinning.
As they hung out the rest of the class, Jazz caught Rachel and pulled her off to the side.
"Hey, I know we don't talk much," Jazz said, rubbing the back of her head. "Mostly because I find you highly annoying, but what you did for Mercedes there was pretty awesome."
Rachel looked stunned and muttered, "Yeah."
"We don't get along, and I'm fine with that. You don't like me because I'm just as good at singing as you. But what you need to do is leave Quinn and Finn alone. Everyone knows you like Finn, but he and Quinn are happy together. I saw you talking to Quinn earlier today and you need to just leave them alone, please and thank you." Jazz turned to walk away.
"I don't think it's your place to say what I can and can't do." Rachel snapped at her.
"I don't think it's your place to ruin people's lives." Jazz snapped back and returned to Puck as they were dismissed.
She hugged him tight and said, "I think it's awesome how you take care of them."
"Of who, babe?" He asked into her neck.
"Of Quinn and Finn. They need all the help they can get." She said, looking into his confused eyes.
"You god damned liar." Finn yelled, ripping Puck away from Jazz and punching him full force in the face. Puck couldn't even defend himself; Finn was hitting him so hard and fast. Jazz was stunned.
"Stop it!" She yelled over and over again, but Kurt and Mike held her back.
Ms. P ran out of the room and back in a minute later, Mr. Shue in tow. He yanked Finn off of Puck and Mike and Matt grabbed him and released Jazz who bent down to check on Puck.
"What's going on?" Jazz asked him, touching his cracked lip. Puck shook his head like he didn't know and stood.
"Tell the truth!" Finn screamed, trying to get out of the other football players grasp.
"The punk just walked in a sucker punched me!" Puck yelled back, Jazz put a hand on his chest to hold him back.
"Don't play dumb!" Finn was still wrestling. "You're too freaking dumb to play dumb." Jazz couldn't figure out why they were fighting and neither could Cory, but everyone else seem to know.
"Who told you, Finn?" Quinn asked, crying.
"Obviously it was Rachel." Kurt told them.
"What? I didn't do anything." Rachel said.
"What's going on?" Jazz demanded looking lost.
"Yeah, it was Rachel." Finn said after he had stopped wrestling. "But I want to hear it from both of you."
"Finn," Mr. Shue tried again, "Just calm down."
"No," He yelled, getting riled up again. "They're both lying to me." Jazz looked searchingly at Puck's face, trying to figure out what it was but he wouldn't meet her gaze. "Is it true? Just tell me, is it true?"
Quinn stepped forward. "Yes," She told him in a soft voice. "Puck is the father."
Jazz's world crashed. She stepped away from Puck, dropping her hands. He tried to hold on but she pushed him off.
"Don't touch me."
"All that stuff from the hot-tub? You just made that up?" Finn asked, not wanting to believe it.
"You were stupid enough to buy it." Puck yelled, not taking his eyes away from Jazz's face. Jazz scowled and continued to back up. Finn made a jump for him but Mr. Shue and Cory made a wall to hold him back.
"I'm so sorry." Quinn said, although her eyes were flashing towards Cory, who looked like he could cry too.
"Screw this," Finn said, throwing down his hands. "I'm done with you. I'm with- I'm done with all of you!" He stormed out of the room after kicking a chair. Jazz made to follow him but Puck grabbed her arm as she turned around.
"Jazz, it was before I knew you…" Puck told her, she held up her hand to stop him.
"Don't feed me that crap, Puckerman." She snapped as Cory walked up behind her. "It doesn't matter whether it was then or now. You slept with you're best friend's girlfriend. And you," She turned around to Quinn. "I, Finn and Cory have all been here for you, and this is how you repay us. You're nothing but a slut."
"Jazzebel." Mr. Shue warned. Jazz ignored him.
"And I never want to see your face again, Puckerman." She started crying here. "I can't believe I fell for your stupid trap. Never again. Jackass." Jazz turned to leave, "I'm done with this. Carmel was better for me." Something blurred past her, and Puck was knock to the floor holding his eye, Cory standing over him. She let out a sob and fled the room, looking for Finn.
Cory took one last look at Quinn, shook his head, and left too.
Finn was in the auditorium, just like when he had found out Quinn was pregnant. Jazz and him looked at eachother and then hugged, both of them crying.
It took an hour until both of them were ready to talk.
"I'm sorry," She finally got out. "I shouldn't be crying. It's more about you than me."
"No," Finn muttered. "You were hurt by this too."
"Well, aren't we a sorry bunch of kids." She said, trying to joke. He smiled.
"I can't go back to glee club." He told her, looking away.
"Neither can I." She agreed. "We can get through this together, I promise.
"Rachel!" Jazz yelled down the hallway, her eyes bloodshot. The brunette turned around and spotted her, her face scrunched up as if waiting for pain. "Stop that, I'm not going to hurt you."
"Oh, then what do you want?" She asked, cautiously.
"To thank you." Rachel looked surprised. "He deserved to know the truth, and you were the only one with the guts to tell us. So, thank you."
"We need you for sectionals, all three of you."
"Not a chance, I've got to go." Jazz turned and walked away, leaving Rachel there looking lost. She smiled at Oliver on the way out, having a feeling he knew exactly what had just happened.
Today, McKinley High glee club would be performing at sectionals. Today, Jazz was sitting at home in her pajama's watching The Notebook. Cory walked in a threw a pillow at her.
"What?" She snapped her eyes still full of tears. The boy (Jazz refused to even think his name) and Allie had just kissed in the rain, such a wonderfully beautiful scene.
"We're going to Sectionals." Cory told her, handing her a pile of clothes and her costume on a hanger.
"No, I told you…" Jazz started, frowning.
"Sue leaked the set list. They don't have any songs. They need us Jazz. Not Puck, not Quinn, but the rest of our new family." Cory left her in the room.
In less than two minutes, Jazz was dressed and in the drive-way. The two siblings were waiting for Finn.
He pulled up and told them to hurry. Jazz jumped in the back while Cory slide into the passenger's seat.
"Okay, set list." Finn said hurriedly. "I got You Can't Always Get What You Want, and I have the music. We can figure out choreography when we get there."
"And we'll do Things Can Only Get Better." Cory said, looking at Jazz cautiously.
"Fine, but only for the club." Jazz mumbled, staring out the window.
"We still need a ballad though." Finn said, his voice impatient.
"I have one; I and Rachel can do it." Jazz chewed her lip and stared at the road ahead.
"If anyone's going to go belt it on the fly, it should be her." They heard Kurt say through the door.
"I have something," Jazz said, pushing through the door with Cory, Finn stayed in the hallway for a moment longer. "Rachel, will you sing it with me?"
Rachel beamed at her and shook her head. "Of course." Jazz handed her the music and they embraced.
"We have that then, and we can close with Things Can Only Get Better." Quinn said, looking at Cory. Jazz avoided Pucks gaze.
"Yeah, that and a can of soup will guarantee us third place." Puck retorted. "We still need another song we can sing all together."
Everyone eyes turned towards Finn as he walked in slowly. Jazz gave him a reassuring smile, her arm still around Rachel.
"I have one," He said nervously. "I found the sheet music online. I used the cheerios copier to make copies. And I trashed the thing." He passed the music around. "Mike, Matt, Brittney, Santana. You're our best dancers. Figure something out and we'll all follow your lead."
"It's gonna be choppy." Mike told him.
"Good," Jazz said, walking over to Finn.
"We're best when we're loose." Finn told him. Those four got up and started talking. "Look, all we have going for us is that we believe in ourselves and what we're singing about. If we can show the judges that, we might have a shot at this thing."
Everyone smiled and got to work.
"It's good to have you back Finn." Rachel said, offering him a smile. "And Jazz and Cory."
"Cool if I take my spot back?" Finn asked the guy with an afro and glasses. Jazz was wondering where he came from.
"Quite," came his nasally voice. "I was just here cause I was hoping to get into Rachel's pants." Jazz giggled as Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Way to lead, my brother." Jazz said, holding his arm.
Puck walked up on his other said, his gaze only going to her once. He held up a hand and she scoffed at him. "Cool dude?"
Finn sized him up and said, in a soft voice, "No." Jazz held his arm and led him away.
"Finn… I…" Quinn started, but he made his way to Rachel, Jazz let him go and pushed past Puck, over to the rest of the club who were planning the show. Puck shook his head at her.
"And now, for I final team. McKinley high's New Directions!" There was applause and Jazz looked around the edge the door. Her slightly curly hair barely showing. She flattened her black dress and adjusted the red bow. The music started up and Jazz walked out of a side door.
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
As she sang, she walked across stage until she was in the corner of the other side, staring at the doors at the far end of the auditorium.
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.
She put her emotion into it. Rachel stepped onto stage from the opposite end of the curtain, Jazz turned towards her and smiled at her as she sang.
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
Rachel came and stood by Jazz, singing the next line directly towards her. "Because I knew you."
"Because I knew you." Jazz sang back.
"I have been changed for good." They finished together.
"And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness for the things I've done you've blamed me for." Rachel looked searchingly at Jazz.
"But then I guess we know there's blame to share." Jazz retorted, grabbing her hands.
"And none of it seems to matter anymore." They sang together, turning to face the doors at the end of the auditorium.
"Like a comet pulled from orbitas it passes a sun.Like a stream that meets a boulderhalfway through the wood." Jazz sang while Rachel harmonized with "Like a ship blown from its mooringby a wind off the sea.Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood." As they sang this part, the rest of the Glee club piled through the doors and took their places on the riser.
"Who can say if I've beenchanged for the better?I do believe I have been
changed for the better." They sang together. Jazz's eyes went from Cory, to Finn's, to Kurt's, back to Rachel's.
"And because I knew you." A tear leaked from Jazz's eye as her and Rachel turned to face eachother.
"Because I knew you." Rachel grabbed Jazz's hand and gave them a squeeze.
"Because I knew you." They stared at eachother and stepped back. "I have been changed, for good."
The audience went wild and Rachel and Jazz released eachother, smiling, and took their spots on the risers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Rachel said, motioning to the group. "New Directions."
The opening cords of You Can't Always Get What You Want started and the choir took to it immediately. They sang through it flawlessly, and although the choreography was choppy, it was perfect.
Things can only get better started. Puck walked to the front of the stage and began. "You can walk my path.You can wear my shoes. Let her talk like meand be an angel too."
Jazz walked up from the risers and grabbed his arm singing, "But maybe,you ain't never gonna feel this way. You ain't never gonna know me. But I know you...Teach you now that."
"Things can only get better. Can only get, can only get. They get on from here.You know, I know thatthings can only get better." They sang together, walking around eachother, as if sizing eachother up. Then Jazz ran to the other side the stage.
"I sometimes lose myself in me. I lose track of time. And I can't see the world's formed trees." As Puck sang this part, he walked towards her until he was over her.
"You set them alight, burning the bridges as you go.I'm too weak to fight you.
I got my personal health to deal withand you say," Jazz ducked under him, leaving him and switching sides of the stage. She sang and motioned to him, really feeling what she was saying.
"Walk my path. Wear my shoes. Talk like me. I'll be an angel and" Puck finished it off, and as he sang they circled eachother once and took a place on the first riser.
Things can only get better
Can only get better
Now I've found you
(That means me)
(Will you teach me now)
Things can only get better
Can only get better
Now I've found you
Things can only get, can only get
Things can only get, can only get
Things can only get, can only get
Things can only get, can only get
Things can only get better
Can only get better
Now I've found you
(That means me)
(Will you teach me now)
Things can only get better
Can only get better
Now I've found you
The song finished and Jazz found herself in Puck's arms. The audience was immediately clapping, so she quickly jumped away from him. Everyone ran off stage and were hugging eachother and smiling.
They hung around the judge's door, waiting to see what would happen next. Artie set a glass cup next to him to see if he could hear what was going on. Jazz sat on the floor next to Finn, her head on his shoulder. Puck and Quinn stood off to the side. Santana was talking with Cory and the rest of the club were standing around, wringing their hands.
"It doesn't sound good guys," Artie told them as he wheeled away from the door.
"Hey," The coach from Jane Adams spoke as she walked up to them. Finn stood and pulled Jazz up. "Um, I just wanted to say how great you all were and I thought you were amazing."
"I would say the same, except I think I've seen that performance before." Jazz spat back. Cory grabbed her shoulder.
"We have nothing to say to you." Rachel said as everyone glared at her.
"Because we cheated," Jazz nodded, chewing her lip. "I know, I feel terrible about it. But, I'm gonna tell the judges right now that we don't deserve to win."
She made for the door, but just as she was reaching for the handle, it opened.
"And your email addresses?" The star news anchor asked as he walked out.
"You guys were so much fun to watch, you should be very proud." The blond lady told them. Everyone of them beamed back.
"Get me the hell out of here." An angry black woman pushed through the door and down the hallway.
"Um, excuse me." The Jane Adams teacher grabbed the male judge. "Um, I have something I need to tell you." Jazz nodded her head at them.
"I'm sorry," The male judge said back, "We've made out decision."
The teacher looked back apologetically and then walked off towards the stage.
"We'd better get out there." Jazz put out, grabbing Arties chair and wheeling him to the stage. The rest of the club followed. Jazz grabbed Cory and Finn's hand and closed her eyes tight.
"Thank you, everyone, who came out to see the Ohio sectionals competition." There was a round of applause and the male judge came forward with the envelope. "And our runners-up are…" Everything was quiet, Finn's hand twitched in hers. Jazz was never sure if she actually heard what he'd said, but it turned out to be the school for the deaf. She let out a sigh of relief. Finn moved his arm around her. "And the winner of the Ohio Show Choir Sectionals is…" Jazz took a deep breath, her eyes flashing to the Jane Adams girls. "William McKinley High, New Directions."
Everything went blurry, tears fell from her eyes and Finn grabbed her and spun her around. Jazz was jumping and hugging and crying. After about half an hour, Jazz was just handing the trophy back the Ms. Pilsbury and making her way to the audience.
"Hey, bud." There was a voice like that hidden in her memory. One that was blurred of distance and phone lines. Jazz turned around slowly. Before her stood her father, his long hair back in a ponytail and a camera over his brown shirt. She jumped into his arms, the tears coming again.
"What're you doing here?" She shrieked. He held her and laughed a deep booming one.
"One of your friends called me and told me about this, and I decided I couldn't miss it."
"Who was it?" Jazz asked. Her father pointed over towards the stage.
"I'm going to go find you're brother, and then we can go out to dinner and discuss Winter break." He winked and walked off.
Jazz turned in the direction he had pointed and looked around for someone there. Finn was off to the other side with his mom, Kurt had already left with his dad, and the only people there were Puck who was looking right at her. She ignored him, it couldn't have been.
Then none other than Oliver Jones stood up behind him, beaming. Jazz slowly made her way over, making a point to avoid Puck and Oliver met her half way.
"You did wonderfully up there." Oliver told her while her eyes searched his face.
"You're amazing you know that?" Jazz grabbed his shirt in her fist and pulled him down to kiss him.
Puck watched for a second, nodded his head and walked out.
Jazz was going to England for three weeks with her Father, Oliver, and Cory. She was beyond pumped and couldn't wait to get out of here. But she had one more thing to do.
Everyone was gathered in the choir room when she led Mr. Shue in.
"Just stand here." She told him, joining the club.
"Well, we have a few things we'd like to show you Mr. Shue." Finn said a serious look on his face. Everyone mimicked the expression. "First…" Mr. Shue was looking around skeptically, but Finn jumped out of the way to show Artie holding the first place trophy.
Rachel rolled Artie up and handed Mr. Shue the trophy. The Glee club was smiling and laughing. "I am so proud of you guys. You won fair and square. The result was unanimous. And the judges didn't even know about all the shenanigans that were going on before this. So, congratulations." Jazz opened her arms and walked forward and hugged Mr. Shue tightly. When she let go, he said, "You earned this."
Everyone clapped. "But," He said, turning serious. "Now, we have regionals to worry about. And you can bet Vocal Adrenaline is hard at work so we should be too. So, let's get started."
"Wait, Vocal Adrenaline is our competition?" Jazz asked, exchanging a glance with Cory, who was trying to hide a grin.
"Yeah, like our biggest Competitor." Mercedes said, giving her a strange look. "Why?"
"Just wondering."
Mr. Shue was shooing them up to their seats.
"Ah, wait Mr. Shue." Puck said, keeping his eyes looked forward. "There's one more thing."
"Since you weren't able to be there to see us perform… we put together a special number just for you." Rachel finished, grabbing Artie's shoulders.
"Take a seat," Jazz said in a sing-song voice as Finn sat him down.
"Lalalalalala," the entire choir sang, walking to their positions. "Lalalala. Lalalalalala. Lalalalala."
"Guess this means you're sorry." Rachel took the lead, stepping forward as the choir performed dance moves behind her. Stuff they'd done all year. "You're standing at my door. Guess this means you take back, all you said before."
"Like how much you wanted anyone but me." Jazz sang doing her moves from Last Name, including hitting Finn and Mike's butts and dancing behind Puck. "Said you'd never come back, but here you are again."
"Cause we belong together now, yeah." The club picked it up, smiling and laughing. They each formed groups and did all the moves they'd performed before. "Forever united, here, somehow, yeah. You got a piece of me and honestly, my life would suck without you."
"I know that I've got issues, but you're pretty messed up too." Finn and Rachel sang in duet, still dancing.
"Even though I found out, I'm nothing without you," Puck and Jazz picked up, landing in his arms and jumping off.
"Cause we belong together now, yeah." Once again, the choir got the chorus. While they sang, they performed moves from Push It, Jazz was with Artie. "Forever united here somehow, yeah. You've got a piece of me and honestly, my life would suck without you." They all formed lines and went up one by one to perform a move. Jazz did a chanie' turn into an attitude leap. "Cause we belong together now, yeah. Forever united here somehow, yeah. You got a piece of me, and honestly, my life would suck without you."
As soon as the song ended, everyone froze. Mr. Shue didn't clap, but instead he shot up and ran out of the room.
"Not even a 'nice'?" Jazz said, dropping her pose. Cory came and clapped her on the shoulder, handing her a bag. She turned to the room, getting ready to say goodbye. "Bye' for now I guess."
"What do you mean, 'bye'?" Finn asked, showing that famed confused look.
"Oliver, Cory, and I are going to England for three weeks…" Jazz said slowly, Puck and Finn froze. Kurt was the first one on her.
"Don't leave me with these imbeciles." He whined into her hair.
"I'll be back before you know it." Jazz said patting his back until he let go. Mercedes, Tina, Artie, Matt and Mike all came up and hugged her and wished her and Cory a safe trip. "I'll miss you guys! Text me."
"You have to leave now?" Finn asked, sidling up to her. He looked downtrodden.
"Yeah, my dad's only in England for three weeks, then he moves on to Antarctica." Jazz told him. He hugged her around the waist, picking her up off the ground. She whispers into his ear. "Call me every night, we'll get through this."
"Thanks," He said, setting her down. He patted her head and made way for Rachel.
"I can't believe we just became friends and you're leaving me," Rachel slowly walked up to her, her eyes moist. Jazz started to tear up to. "You're really my only friend."
"Aw, Rachel," Jazz grabbed her around the neck and crushed her. "Only three weeks." She grabbed Rachel by the shoulders and turned her around to face the choir, "and every single one of these people are you're friends, whether they like it or not."
Rachel turned around and gave her one last hug.
Puck and Quinn stood off to the side, looking like they desperately wanted to come say something. Puck made a move, but Jazz gave him one sad look and let Cory steer her out of the room.
Down the hallway, they saw Mr. Shue holding Ms. Pilsbury.
"Finally," Jazz muttered to Cory, who grinned. "Mr. Shue," She called out, making them both come back to attention. "We're leaving."
"W-what? Where too?" He asked as Cory and she reached the couple.
"England, three weeks," Cory said, and Mr. Shue looked ready to object. "We need this Mr. Shue, but we'll be back and ready to rock in three weeks."
Mr. Shue clapped him on the shoulder.
"Thank you," Jazz said, giving Mr. Shue another hug. "You've given me something that I'll never be able to forget the rest of my life. Thank you."
"And Ms. Pilsbury." Jazz said, turning to the red-head. "Thank you." They embraced. "For all you did to the Glee club." Ms. Pilsbury nodded.
Cory grabbed Jazz's hand and together they made their way out of McKinley High, neither of them looked back.