Chapter 5 – Taking Chances
A.N.: So, as you saw in the last chapter, I am going to put my own spin on "Sectionals" so this is AU for those purists out there. Otherwise, it's just me having a little fun, and hypothesizing how the situation went from fisticuffs to a happily ever after musical number. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: My Glee DVDs are in transit. I own nothing more than those.
The morning of Sectionals was bright and sunny, the perfect day. Except.
Rachel sighed as she got out of her father's car and onto the school bus. Time for the gauntlet that is finding a seat on a school trip. As she looked around the bus, she tried to smile. Kurt and Mercedes, across from each other, of course, and Santana and Brittany. Mike and Matt....Can no one sit next to people anymore? Oh, and there's Quinn...Rachel smiled at her tentatively, and Quinn tried a half-hearted one in return, but ended up looking out the window instead. Definitely not going there. Tina is obviously waiting for Artie. Her gaze found Puck and she sucked in a breath. Not going there. Not at all. She swallowed and sat by the window by herself. Oh no...Rachel grimaced as she watched the necessary 12th member approach. This may be the one moment when I doubt I did the right thing...
Jacob Ben-Israel sank onto the seat next to her.
"Hello, my abundantly breasted songbird. I am extremely gratified to be included in the launch of your career and I can't wait to reign by your side, now that an inconvenient Neanderthal has idiotically relinquished that role."
Would that I could say the same...She made the mistake of glancing around and caught Puck looking on with a smirk.
I almost feel bad. Almost. Puck sat back. God, I am so beat. After all that crap, and I got nothing out of it...He looked at Quinn, staring out the window. Oh, get over it, Q. He's not coming! He punched the empty seat in front of him, making the Gleeks jump and look at him. He smirked at them all, ignoring Quinn's glare, and stretched out in the seat at the back of the bus to let the vibrations of the wheels beneath him lull him back to sleep.
***
"Jacob!" Rachel fumed. "For the last time, I did not break Babygate, which incidentally is a ridiculous moniker, to have you anywhere near me!" This is what they mean by no good deed goes unpunished. Why, Rachel, why did you actually give a damn about Noah Puckerman being in pain? He obviously doesn't give a damn about yours!
Puck woke with a start. What the hell? He blearily lifted his head from the window. Whoever it is is gonna get-
Rachel continued, shoving ineffectually at Jacob. "You are repugnant and will always remain so," she bit out. "You are simply a necessary evil, and one I would gratefully forgo were it not for my gross misjudgment precipitating our lack of the required number of members!"
Puck swallowed. Her soft words in the parking lot drifted back to him, "...for you, like I suspect..." Hell...He got up and moved down the aisle, ignoring Ms. Pillsbury's nervous protest, to grab the offending Jew by his collar and toss him into the vacant seat on the opposite side of the bus. "Stay," Puck ordered firmly.
"B-but Rachel and I -"
Yeah right. "Berry?"
She leaned around Puck. "You are a cretin. Stay away from me."
Puck raised a brow and faked a lunge at Ben-Israel, laughing as the idiot's flinch had him hitting his head against the window. "Got it?" Puck asked.
Jewfro nodded rapidly.
"Good." Puck turned to walk back to his seat when Rachel grabbed his arm. "Thank you, Noah," she said quietly. Seeing Ben-Israel extract a notebook, Rachel snatched her hand back. "You write anything in that blog of yours, I swear to Adonai you will regret it," she hissed across the aisle.
Puck smirked, grabbed the notebook, opened a window, ignored Pillsbury's squawking, and threw it from the bus.
***
Rachel was fuming as she stormed into the Green Room later that afternoon. How dare they cheat? At least when we screw up and break the rules, it's for something important! She caught herself with a gasp, nearly grinning deliriously as the thought crossed her mind. Wholly inappropriate time for that, Rachel. Wholly inappropriate. Laugh later. Thank goodness I told them five minutes. She sat down, pressing her hands to her forehead, and slowed her breathing, running a mental inventory in her head of what they needed to accomplish. We need a ballad, and two songs we can sing together. We can do this. We can.
The Gleeks filed into the room dejectedly, claiming seats to mope in. Before Rachel could say a word, Kurt launched to his feet.
"You leaked the set list!" he accused, glaring at Brittany and Santana. "You don't want to be here, you're just Sue Sylvester's little moles."
"I know for a fact that's true. Sue asked us to spy for her," Quinn said flatly as she rejoined the group from the bathroom.
Santana made an insulted sound of protest. "Look, we may still be Cheerios, but neither one of us gave Sue the set list," she defended.
Brittany looked up uncomfortably. "Well, I...I did, but I didn't know what she was gonna do with it," she said quietly.
Mercedes scoffed disgustedly as Santana stepped forward.
"Okay, look. Believe what you want, but no one's forcing me to be here. And if you ever tell anyone this, I'll deny it, but I like being in Glee Club. It's the best part of my day, okay? I wasn't gonna go and mess it up."
"I believe you," Rachel said softly from her perch on the wall. Time to step up, Rachel, and be the captain. "Okay, look. There's no point in us arguing anymore, we go on in an hour-"
"And we have no songs," Tina said hopelessly.
"I could improvise some of my Def Poetry jams," Artie volunteered.
Even Tina shook her head at that as Rachel said, "No. Look, we're going to do this the right way. Let's start with a ballad. Mercedes, do you have anything else in your repertoire?"
Mercedes sighed. "Yeah, but, it's not as good as anything you're gonna sing."
"No, we- we agreed-"
"We agreed I would sing 'And I Am Telling You', and that ain't happening." Mercedes stood and rounded on Rachel.
Rachel looked at her blankly. Am I dreaming? I was so ready to let it go, and now...
"Look, Rachel, the truth is, you're the best singer that we've got." Mercedes looked at her sternly, her tone brooking no argument.
Rachel darted her eyes quickly around the room, waiting for the statement to be followed by a rain of insults and possibly a slushie. But, I thought -- you all really don't even --
Kurt cut in disdainfully. "As much as it hurts me to admit it -- and it does -- she's right. Rachel's our star. If anyone's going to go belt it on the fly, it should be her."
I think my heart might gallop out of my chest. Breathe, Rachel. She smiled and offered, "Well, I do have something that I've been working on since I was four..."
Mercedes only laughed and shook her head.
Rachel's heart swelled. Maybe we can survive this...
Quinn spoke from the other side of the room. "Then I guess we have our ballad. And we can close with 'Somebody to Love'. It's a real crowd pleaser," she said, with only a slight eye roll.
Her tear-stained voice cut like razors under Puck's skin. I'm still not good enough for you...for anyone. And now I actually give a damn about something, and it ends up ruined. His voice was bitter as he replied, "Yeah, that and a can of soup will guarantee us third place." Big surprise, everything I touch goes to crap. "We still need another song we can all sing together."
Rachel turned in his direction with a blank look. I will not kill him. I will not. But...Damn it, Noah! Must you be such a pessimistic a---
A hush fell over the room as Gleeks started looking towards the door.
"I have one," said a familiar voice.
Finn?! Rachel looked over. Oh thank goodness! She smiled uncertainly as he explained his plan, but looked down at the music and smiled. Oh, Finn. It's...perfect. She let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "It's good to have you back, Finn," she said softly. And no more Jacob! Maybe this can all come right in time. Or...oh no...or...
Puck's stomach dropped as Finn turned away. So maybe asking,"Cool, dude?" was not my smartest move. Could've worded that better. He sighed. Screw it, Berry was right. He's gonna hate me. He looked at Quinn's tearful face, saw how heartbroken she was. But I just want to do the right thing, doesn't that get me any points?
Rachel cringed as she watched the scene that wasn't unfold. Noah, you idiot, you didn't honestly think that he'd gotten over it. She heard Quinn call his name, but Finn walked over to her instead. "You okay?" she asked. This is just...I'm so sorry...Her eyes must've conveyed her sorrow as he answered.
"Don't worry about me, okay? This is all up to you now. You wanted the solo, you want the chance to be the star -- this is your chance. Don't screw it up," he said with a small smile.
Oh no. Rachel took a deep breath, and from the corner of her eye, she looked around the room, full of people now studiously ignoring her to cluster around their impromptu choreographers. He's right. It's on me now. Again. And now that Finn is here, and they're reminded of what happened...She swallowed. It was so much better when we were united against Jane Adams and that deaf school. Her hands fluttered vaguely as she resisted the urge to wring them. How are we supposed to be a team when we're being petty and hurtful, and I'm only tolerated when they need me? She sighed heavily and left the room. I need to think.
Noah watched her walk out of the room with a frown. Where the hell is she going? He looked around the room and realized no one, not even Finn, noticed her departure. Or at the very least, no one tried to follow. Well, crap. He turned his attention back to the other Gleeks dissecting the music. Now of all freaking times? Is she that damn good that she doesn't need to look at the music? They discussed the moves while the minutes ticked by, and as they took a break, Puck claimed a seat on the couch.
"Frankly, I'm shocked she hasn't thrown herself at him," came a catty voice behind him. "I told you all she would tell."
Hummel. What a bitch. Puck turned, unsure what he intended when he heard Finn's angry voice.
"Hey, lay off her. That's what friends do. They tell you the truth, even when it hurts. Especially then." Finn looked at each of them. "Right?"
None of the Gleeks looked him in the eye.
"Wait." Finn looked at them all again as realization slowly dawned. "Kurt, did I...did I hear you say you told everyone Rachel would tell?" Kurt looked away guiltily. "You knew?" Finn turned from one to the next as each turned away. "You know, I can't believe you guys. You all knew and only Rachel cared enough to tell the truth."
A throat was cleared, and a small voice added softly, "Noah wanted to tell you too. He didn't think he could."
Puck turned in shock to find Rachel had walked back in. Berry, what the hell are you doing?
"I know you all don't regard me that highly for..." Rachel gestured vaguely at the room. "To be truthful, I have been trying, but I don't regard most of you that highly either. You all knew and you let everyone involved suffer. For what? For this? I've dreamed of this moment since I was a zygote, but it's not worth it if people you care about are torn apart." She looked from Quinn to Finn and lastly to Puck, holding his eyes for a moment, before turning back to the Gleeks clustered in the corner. Here's hoping we can be mature about this...She squared her shoulders and continued. "So, I suppose this is as close to an apology as you will get. I don't regret that I wanted to help my friends. I don't regret that I told the truth when no one else would. I will admit my timing was nearly disastrous, but we're here now. We're talented. We work hard. And we deserve this. So I am going to do all I can to get us there. I hope you will each do the same. If you share that limited sentiment with me, I would like to put this debacle aside and concentrate on our current quandary."
Brittany tilted her head and opened her mouth to speak.
"She wants us to just sing, Brit," Quinn clarified. She swallowed hard. "I'd like that too," she offered tentatively.
Rachel nodded. "I suggest we break up into voice parts. Let's learn the harmonies, put it together with the choreography, and make it as good as we can. Anything else...can wait."
"Agreed," Finn said quietly, nodding. "It makes sense. We have to be a team, and we can't do that if we're at each others' throats."
Rachel bloomed under his approval. Finally, someone I can help...
Puck watched her look at Finn and heard her voice in his head, trying to defend him. Hell. After all the crap I've put her through, she still tries to stand up for me. He looked around the room at the people surrounding him, the weight of their judgment still looming. Maybe I made the wrong call. I could use a friend like her. He took a deep breath and crossed the room to her side. "Um, Berry?" he said hesitantly.
Leave Noah Puckerman alone, Rachel, haven't we figured out that that is the appropriate course of action? She turned to him, plastered a smile on her face. "Yes, N--Puck?"
He licked his lips. "I, uh...I just wanted to, you know..." Way to sound like an idiot. He swallowed and looked her in the eye. "Thanks."
Her eyes softened as the smile turned genuine. Oh, Noah..."I told you I would stand up for you. While this was less than ideal," she cut her eyes to Finn, looking pensively out the window, "it needed to be done. None of you -- Quinn included -- were truly happy with the way things were. Now, you all make your choices with all the facts at your disposal. It's for the best." Even if now I'm more of a pariah than ever, she thought mournfully. They were never really my friends, anyway...
Puck watched the shadow cross through her eyes and tried to ignore the knot in his stomach. Yeah, our best, not yours. "Listen, if...if anyone gives you crap..."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "I should, what, send them to you? Noah, you are one of them," she laughed.
"Not anymore," he said firmly. I'm gonna be better, I swear I am.
She eyed him dubiously and subsided into a smile. "I'll keep that in mind, then, thank you."
That actually felt pretty damn good. Puck gave her a head nod, and headed back to the piano to pick up his music and join the guys.
Rachel flitted through the room, listening to the work the groups were doing, correcting pitches or harmonies as needed. This is almost as enjoyable as performing, she smiled to herself. She started putting the parts together, to see how they sounded. I think I might like teaching...when I'm done performing, of course. She clapped her hands together. "All right, everyone, I believe we've merited a small intermission. Take ten minutes, and reconvene for runthroughs with choreography!"
She drew in a long slow breath with her eyes closed, and twirled a small circle, humming softly to herself.
"Streisand, Berry?" Puck smirked at her from the windowsill. "Isn't that a little predictable?" Dude! What the hell are you still doing here, Puckerman?
His voice was almost as much a shock as his identification of the song and she opened her eyes with a hesitant smile. "It's my heritage as a Jewish performer, which I am sure you understand, considering..." She ignored the quick constriction of her heart as she continued, "...Your stunning rendition of Neil Diamond." She met his eyes, held his gaze for a moment. I should've appreciated it more...Can you tell that I'm living to regret it, Noah? "She is the epitome of all I want to be. As a songstress, that is."
As Rachel's deep brown eyes caught his, he was paralyzed by an unfamiliar longing. Man up, Puckerman, it's Rachel Berry, she broke up with you. Breaking away from her gaze, Puck scoffed, and picked up his guitar. He shifted uncomfortably. Yeah, broke up with me, and then ruined any chance she might've had with Hudson 'cause I asked her to, and kept standing up for me even when she didn't have to. "Does anyone use that word besides you?"
Damn it, Rachel! You should've just- Don't you let him- She took a deep even breath. "I'll leave you alone," she said quietly, turning to leave. You should've listened to the damn sign.
"Wait," he said quickly. Quit being such an idiot! "Damn it, I'm..." He huffed out a breath. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? You helped me out and I still can't...I can't get my default setting off 'asshole'."
"Is that why you said...? With Finn?"
He nodded once. I just...want all of this to go away...
Rachel pursed her lips in amusement. Hmm. Maybe he can be taught. "At least you have insight. It's a start." She sat at the piano, played the opening chords of "Don't Rain on My Parade."
"So, why do you always pick these show tunes when you actually know music from outside the geriatric ward? Why don't you sing something from this century? Might help people think you're less of a freak," he offered.
Gee, thanks. Rachel rolled her eyes at him. "I do, Noah, you've eavesdropped on some of them."
Puck ran a hand over his head. Yeah, every time you've been heartbroken over Saint Finn. He ignored the bitter taste in his mouth at the thought. "Yeah, true."
Rachel smirked down at the keys. Poor boy looks so uncomfortable. "I just find the classics a better vocal exercise, but for enjoyment, I think I'd surprise you with my choices."
"Really?" Let's see what you've got, Berry. Puck started strumming a tune.
Seriously? Rachel sighed, "Use Somebody, Kings of Leon. That was easy, Noah."
He raised a brow, played another.
"All You Deliver, Jose Gonzalez. Though I'm surprised you listen to him."
He smirked at her. This is kinda fun. "You're not the only one who's more than they seem. It's a dude and a guitar." He gestured down to himself. "Duh, Berry."
Rachel playfully stuck her tongue out at him and played one for him.
Oh, kill me now. He rolled his eyes. "Younger sister, Berry, Taylor Swift, and really? Love Story? Played out, forever."
She laughed, and the joyous abandon in her tone filled the room. "Want a challenge then?" She played the opening of one of her current favorites.
Puck shrugged. "Piano's gorgeous, but just chords? I have no idea of the song."
She sang from where she was in the piece.
"You hold me without touch...
You keep me without chains.
I never wanted anything so much,
Than to drown in your love, and not feel your rain...
Set me free,
leave me be...
I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity.
Here I am, and I stand so tall...
I'm just the way I'm supposed to be.
But you're on to me, and all over me..."
She swallowed and blinked back her tears. Okay, instincts not on your side, Rachel. "Gravity. Sara Bareilles," she whispered softly.
Aw, hell..."Berry-"
"Noah, don't. I'm...it's okay." She gave him a watery smile. "I've realized that if...if Finn and I were supposed to happen, we would've. It's well past time to get over my cliched fixation." Or I'm beginning to think maybe I already have, and just landed in a different mess...
He looked over at her skeptically. Well, if I can't say it in words...He strummed the guitar, picking out a melody.
"Jason Mraz, Details in the Fabric," she said absently. Another guy with a guitar, of course.
He nodded and kept playing, glancing up at her and nodding towards the piano.
Rachel frowned in confusion, but smiled as she understood. He wants me to join in? She started playing along with him as he sang.
"Calm down
Deep breaths
And get yourself dressed, instead
Of running around
And pulling all your threads and
Breaking yourself up
If it's a broken part, replace it
If it's a broken arm, then brace it
If it's a broken heart, then face it...
And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way...
Hold your own
Know your own name
And go your own way,
And everything...will be fine..."
He gave a small smile as he kept playing the guitar fill. At least she doesn't look like she's gonna fall apart anymore. "If you know the song, then I bet you know the James Morrison part?"
She rolled her eyes. It's music, it's only my livelihood. "Um, of course," she answered, raising her eyebrows disbelievingly. "You have to ask?"
"Good," he said with a smirk. "Keep up." Quit thinking about her boobs, dude.
Rachel joined in on harmonies as the next verse picked up.
"Hang on...
Help is on the way
Stay strong...
I'm doing everything
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And everything, everything will be fine
Everything..."
Our voices sound rather lovely together...Rachel took over the melody with a smile.
"Are the details in the fabric
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling?
Are the things that make you blow
Hell, no reason, go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault
Of faulty manufacturing.
Yeah, everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Everything...
Hold your own
And know your name
And go your own way..."
She smiled shyly at Noah as he reclaimed the melody and she the backup vocals for the end of the song.
"Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling? (Go your own way)
Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic (Go your own way)
Is it Mother Nature's sewing machine?
Are the things that make you blow (Hold your own, know your name)
Hell no reason go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault (Go your own way)
Of faulty manufacturing
Everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Hearts will hold..."
She closed her eyes as she and Noah played the ending, opening them with a soft smile. "That was lovely, Noah, thank you." And I am not going to think about whether you're trying to tell me something with your song choices, lest I drive myself insane. I'm going to take this all at face value, as fun.
Yeah, it kinda was. Well, not lovely. That's a girly word. But...whatever. He shrugged. "No big, Berry. You're pretty decent to jam with."
Her smile widened, then froze as the door opened. Oh no...
As Finn looked from Rachel to Puck and back again, he turned to leave.
"Don't," Rachel said softly. "Please." She looked at Puck and then cut her eyes to Finn. Talk to him, now that your default is off 'asshole'. She pushed back from the piano and walked over to Finn, gently laying her hand on his arm. "Finn, just...try to hear him out?"
"Why," he whispered harshly. "I thought you said we'd deal with this after Sectionals."
She leaned around to catch his gaze. "I know, Finn, and we will. But I think Noah has something to say to you, don't you, Noah?" She turned to Puck then, eyes flashing. Now would be the time to actually apologize!
Puck swallowed and put the guitar down, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked over to Finn and Rachel. "Dude...Finn...I'm...dude, I'm sorry. I know...I know that's not enough, but I know I screwed up. I just...I wanted to tell you, and Quinn...she just..." He took a deep breath. "We were both drunk and it didn't mean anything to her and I've been trying to be a part of the baby's life and take the burden off you but she wouldn't let me and I should've said something anyway."
Finn refused to look at him, shrugging off Rachel's hand to stalk to the window.
Rachel glared at Puck. Do something!
Puck glared right back. I'm trying! He ran a hand awkwardly over his Mohawk. "It's a good song," he offered. "That you picked. Because you can't. Get what you want. I didn't. You didn't." Berry didn't either, he reflected, glancing down at the brunette. "But...maybe..."
"You get what you need," Finn said softly. "Yeah, maybe." Secrets and silence weighted the air, until Finn spoke again. "I hope so."
Rachel looked from one to the other with a hopeful heart. Maybe that's a start.
***
Getting into character, she ripped the curtains apart and launched herself into fulfillment of a childhood dream. I've been working on this since I was four in more ways than one...The words poured from her lips and carried her soul with them. It's all true, this is my song, this is my life, and I deserve sunshine. I deserve this moment. We all do.
"But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection
A freckle on the nose of life's complexion
The Cinderella or the shiny apple of its eye..."
I claim this, damn it. I claim the spotlight, and the audience, I claim myself and my potential. I claim the right to be the first choice, to be the star and not the understudy.
"I gotta fly once, I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Oh, life is juicy, juicy and you see,
I gotta have my bite, sir..."
The spotlight found Rachel and she basked in its glow like a flower in the sun. I'm home, I was born for this...
"Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a 'comer'
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer!
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!
I'm gonna live and live now!
Get what I want, I know how -
One roll for the whole shebang -
One throw that bell will go clang -
Eye on the target and wham -
One shot, one gun shot and bam!
Hey, Mr. Arnstein...here I am..."
Rachel opened her arms to the world she wanted to conquer. This is only the beginning...
"I'll march my band out! I'll beat my drum!" She watched the two men in her life approach from opposite aisles. There's some meaning here, if I only knew what it was.
"And if I'm fanned out…your turn at bat, sir,
At least I didn't fake it. Hat, sir,
I guess I didn't make it…
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer!
Nobody, no, nobody, is gonna…rain on my parade!"
She poured her heart and soul into the last note, cutting off and breathing heavily. Oh God...please...
The thunderous applause only mirrored the thundering of Rachel's heart. This is it. This is what I want, for the rest of my life. She smiled widely, gesturing behind her. "Ladies and gentlemen, New Directions!" As the choir began to sing, Rachel joined them. And these are my people.
Finn took his place as leading man, and let the music brighten the dark shadows in his heart.
Puck watched them both, watched them circle and sing. Wonder how long it'll take before the two of them get together. He forced himself to ignore the nauseous feeling the thought caused, and looked from one to the other. It makes sense, the two leads getting together. And Berry's been pining for him all year. It's like a chick flick. The happy ending. Right? He shook himself. Get a grip, Puckerman, you're thinking like a girl. Who cares if Crazy and Frankenteen hook up? He turned his attention back out to the audience. Wonder if there are any hotties I can hook up with before we go...
***
"And in second place, Jane Adams Academy, which means McKinley High's New Directions are our first place choir! Congratulations!"
"We won!" Rachel cried, leaping from her seat. It's a sign, this is my path! "Guys, we won!" She grabbed Finn's hand, dragging him to the stage with her. We did it!
"Oh, no..." Mercedes groaned. "She's gonna represent our school?"
Rachel looked out at the beaming faces, accepting the microphone as Finn hoisted the trophy. This isn't right. She shook her head and gestured for the trophy.
"Huh? Rach, just go ahead..." Finn whispered frantically.
"No! You won this for us, Finn. You. You deserve this moment." She smiled. And I think you need this moment too. "I already had mine."
Finn swallowed, and took the mic as Rachel struggled under the trophy. "Um, we just want to say, thank you so much. You have no idea how much this really means to us." He looked at the other choir directors reproachfully. "I know it may seem like we're just your average middle-class school, and that stuff like this doesn't matter, but...you have no idea how much we've overcome to get here, and how much we've had to ignore just to make it through today. It's been a struggle, and it's..." He turned to Rachel with a smile. "Winning can make everything good, for a little while."
Rachel beamed up at him. Here's hoping for more than a while.
***
"We should do something," Rachel declared on the bus ride back. "For Mr. Schue. Since he didn't get to see us perform after all his hard work." Team morale takes constant maintenance!
"I think that's a lovely idea, Rachel," Ms. Pillsbury agreed.
"Like what?" Artie asked.
Rachel glanced at Puck with a small smirk as she answered, "How does everyone feel about Kelly Clarkson?"
***
Rachel prowled the Choir Room before Glee while everyone else took a break before Mr. Schuester's arrival. "Are we absolutely certain we hit all the highlights with the choreography? The mash-ups, Single Ladies, the assembly, the invitational, hairography, Proud Mary, our auditions..." She bit her lip. "I just want this to be perfect..."
"Chill, Berry," Puck drawled as he sprawled on a chair. "We got it." And you doing laps in that little skirt is driving me nuts. And it shouldn't. He barely contained a snicker as she flitted around the room. "You sure you're not on Vitamin D?" Either that or you've got enough nervous energy to power Lima. I could think of much better ways to burn that off. What? Where the hell did that train of thought come from?
"Noah!" she protested. "That was an unfortunate lapse of judgment which I will not deign to repeat." I want to properly thank Mr. Schuester for all he's done for all of us, that's why I'm so jittery. It has nothing to do with the fact that being alone with Noah makes me...itchy.
He grabbed her hand on her next pass. What the hell, Puckerman? Touching Berry should not make your hand tingly. Hauling her down into a seat, he leered at her. "Wanna make another?"
She slapped his arm and laughed. Rachel! What happened to leaving him alone? Her brain and her mouth parted ways as she replied. Screw it -- 'I gotta fly once, I gotta try once', right? "Puckerman, if I got back together with you, it wouldn't be because of a lapse in judgment, I promise you that." She dropped a kiss on his cheek and went back to orbiting the room.
Huh. That was totally not what I expected. He watched her hips sway away from him as the rest of the Gleeks filed back in, glancing briefly at Quinn before looking away. "But if you try sometimes...well you just might find...you get what you need." The lyrics echoed in his head as Puck called Matt over. What the hell, I've taken stupider chances..."Dude, switch places with me in the line dance."
"Huh?" Matt looked at him, perplexed.
Oh, come on. "The line dance, with the cowboy hats. Switch places with me."
"Um...sure?" He looked at Puck and his eyes widened as he realized. "Dude! You mean the part where Ra-"
"Cool," Puck said, and walked away.
Rachel pretended not to notice the switch, and Puck pretended the feel of her body behind him didn't set him on fire in the good way.
Just makes sense to have the better dancers on the outer ends, where you see them, he justified to himself. Yeah. That's it. He watched her jump around happily and licked his lips, remembering the taste of strawberry lip gloss, the feel of short skirts and tight blouses.
Yup. That's all.
Musical note: Well, Rachel and Puck already told you what the songs were. Though I would highly suggest checking out all of the songs they were playing to each other. You'll see why Rachel didn't want to think too deeply about them.
A.N.: Yeah, okay. So. I want my Puckleberry, but it didn't feel right to hook them up romantically...yet. Hence, the wondrous time machine known as an epilogue! Should be up relatively soon…if anyone's interested. What's that? How would you let me know you're interested? REVIEW! Thanks! :)