Okay. I fail. Epicly. The word 'deadline' doesn't exist in my vocabulary, apparently. I'm SO sorry for the long wait! I knew it would become difficult to juggle school, band, and this eventually. That, on top of a major writer's block and loss of motivation to write the story, did not help. However, one thing especially did: the Season 2 premiere of Glee! Strange to say that, seeing how one of the biggest characters of this story is no longer in the show... SAD FACE times INFINITY :(((
But that's exactly why I HAD to keep writing. To let the legacy of Matt Rutherford live on! Perhaps one day he will return...
It also sucks because I was hoping this story would line up with the show's plot. We'll have to see how well that plays out in the end.
Now, on to this chapter. This was so much fun to write! It's my favorite chapter so far, and it's also the longest (I think...) and most plot-filled so sit back, relax, and enjoy!
READ AND REVIEW!
DISCLAIMER: I own everything! However, in my world, everything=nothing. Therefore, I own nothing... :( but I can still manipulate characters to do my biddings! MUAHAHAHAHA! Okay, I think I'm talking WAY too much...
Chapter Six - Mistakes
Throughout the next several days, there were virtually no problems.
Rachel still ignored Quinn and Santana, thus Santana ignored Rachel, Mercedes, and Tina.
Quinn and Mercedes still promised to be best friends forever.
Matt and Quinn's friendship continued to grow.
Brittany lost her bible.
Mike kept his confused feelings secret to only Kurt.
Santana confessed to throwing Brittany's bible out the window while they were driving.
Brittany easily forgave Santana and they shared a slushie.
Finn seriously considered Mike's advice, but took no action to solve the problems just yet.
Consequently, Finn and Quinn avoided each other.
Due to their leeway time of more than two weeks, the Gleeks advanced slowly. With fifteen days to go, they soon found themselves driving in Oklahoma, soon to arrive in Tulsa. The sun was already setting, painting the sky a brilliant orange. The few clouds surrounding the departing sun were bathed in a subtle shade of pink.
Brittany was staring at the scene in awe. "I like sunsets…" she said to her best friend sitting next to her without turning her head.
"Eh…I could care less about them," Santana answered, going back to filing her nails. Finn, who was sitting in the front seat, turned around.
"It's okay, Britt, I like sunsets." Santana gave him a dirty look, prompting him to turn back around and talk to Mercedes, who was currently driving.
"So…I'm hungry, and it's dinner time. I want to go to Applebee's!"
"Finn, you're so…actually, that sounds like fun!" she answered.
Mercedes texted Matt in the other car, and before the Gleeks knew it, they were stopping in some medium-sized city's Applebee's for dinner.
The somewhat out-of-place group of teenagers entered all at once, laughing and/or arguing as usual. A blonde waitress walked up to them: "How serve may I you today?" She grew wide-eyed at her fumble. "Oh…I'm sorry, this is my first day. I've been practicing all week to make sure I didn't mess up, but it looks like that training just all flew out the window! Hehehe…" She motioned her words with her hands, then laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. Mercedes just smiled and nodded, pretending she was interested. "So…why don't I get a couple of tables together for your group…?" the novice waitress showed them to their table, and they ordered their drinks.
As they awaited the arrival of their beverages, Rachel spoke up: "I believe we should limit what we spend here. If we continue to blow through the money provided to us by our parents, we might run out before we get to Hollywood!"
"I doubt that'll happen," Santana argued, "We can get what we want here, and we don't need you of all people to tell us otherwise."
"I'm just saying that we would be better safe than sorry."
"And I'm just saying you're not in control."
"Santana, would you really want to run out of money and be stranded somewhere miles away from home?"
"Berry, that's not going to happen, so quit talking."
And of course, Rachel argued with Santana, and Santana argued with Rachel.
This exchange of heated words continued for a while. Brittany and Finn had to order Santana and Rachel's meals because they wouldn't shut up long enough to order them themselves. About halfway into the meal, everyone was shaking their heads in annoyance at the disagreeing duo.
The waitress stopped by and gave them the check, and Santana and Rachel were somehow now arguing about a topic completely different than before.
"I have to go to the bathroom, be right back," Finn informed Rachel, who ignored him. He got up and left.
Puck was getting annoyed at the disagreements. "Will you two just shut up!" he yelled.
"Not until Santana here realizes that West-Side Story was a brilliant creation!"
"I've never even heard of it!" she argued. Rachel gasped, and the two continued arguing.
Brittany stood up, "I'm going to go fix my hair before we leave."
She was ignored…
"You deprived human being, how could you not have heard of West-Side Story!"
"I'm not deprived, I'm normal! Not that you would understand that word!"
"I am beyond normal!"
"You wish!"
The two kept at it even as Mercedes paid the dining bill, even as everyone piled into the cars to drive away and find a motel, and even as the group was getting out of the car after arriving at the motel, ready to separate into their gender-specific rooms.
"I'm obviously right about this."
"No, Berry, you're not. I am, and that's that."
"I'm sure Finn would back me up, wouldn't you, Finn?"
"Well, Brittany obviously agrees with me, don't you, Britt?"
"Finn?"
"Brittany?"
The teenage girls snapped out of argument mode and looked around for their friends.
"Finn, where are you?"
"Brittany, quit playing around!" Their eyes wandered around in search of their friends, but to no avail. That's when they realized it.
"Oh my god…" Rachel uttered.
"We left them at Applebee's!" Santana panicked.
GLEE
"…I don't think their coming back…" Finn said, having returned from the bathroom only to an empty table. Brittany was sitting next to him and staring blankly into space.
"That's…not cool," she said. The two sat in amazement for a while.
"We should call them…" Finn said, breaking the silence.
"I don't have my phone…it's in Matt's car…"
"Mine too…"
"That sucks…" They sighed.
The waitress stopped by.
"Um…your friends already paid the bill…but did you want to order something else and start another one?"
"Actually, I'm pretty full. What about you, Brittany?"
"No, I'm good."
"Alright." She walked away. Brittany narrowed her eyes slightly in thought.
"Why do they call it 'being full'?" she asked Finn. He cocked his head to a slight angle, thinking about it.
"Um…because our stomachs are full…?" he answered.
"Well…if we say we're full when our stomachs are full, why don't we say we're empty when they aren't?"
"Empty?"
"Yeah."
"That kind of sounds like our stomachs are out of battery power or something…like we have an imaginary measuring thing that measures our hunger…"
Brittany looked confused.
"Then, next thing you know, you'll have people like Rachel saying 'My energy meter has depleted considerably' when she's hungry, you know, with her big words…and stuff…"
Brittany laughed. "You're pretty funny, Finn."
"You think?...Rachel doesn't always seem to think that…"
"Rachel doesn't sound like a very good girlfriend right now…she did forget you here, and she hasn't come back yet…"
"Santana doesn't seem like a great friend, either. She also hasn't come back yet."
"So…do you want to try and find the motel ourselves?"
"…Yeah, sounds cool." Finn stood up from the chair and headed for the door. Brittany followed.
Several minutes passed and they found themselves on a street with shops on either side of the road, most of which had a "Closed" sign hanging in the front window.
"Oh, Finn, can you buy me that pair of jeans?" Brittany begged, pointing to one of the display windows.
"That store is closed, Brittany, and even if it wasn't, I have no money."
"Aww…how about those shoes?"
"Again: the store's closed; I have no money."
"Oh my gosh, I have a skirt that would go great with this jacket! Can we get it?"
"Brittany!"
"Sorry…" Brittany laughed like a child. Finn just shook his head and smiled.
"I'm going back to Applebee's to find them!" Rachel declared angrily yet determined, turning to Mercedes for her car keys. She, along with the other Gleeks, was standing outside the motel rooms, discussing their most recent mistake.
"Girl, don't be crazy," Mercedes said in response, "I'm not letting you drive my car when you're this mad."
Rachel scoffed and turned to Matt.
He laughed, somewhat sarcastically. "No, I can't trust you right now. How about I go back for them?" he answered. "You and Santana have done enough for today, so please…go to bed…silently."
"Well, if we're done here, I have a nightly facial routine which I have to perform," Kurt said, crossing his arms, "so good night everyone." Kurt walked back into the room, followed by the other guys.
Santana walked up to Matt threateningly. "You better bring Brittany back." She glared at him, but then looked away. For a brief second, the first second in a long time, Matt sensed a hint of vulnerability. "I feel like an idiot…leaving her there…"
Matt looked at her blankly, but then smiled comfortingly. "We all are at fault here. We have to hope she forgives all of us, but don't worry about it. People make mistakes."
"I'm not worrying!" Santana pulled up her best possible glower, crossed her arms, and walked away. Matt silently chuckled, turning to walk to his car. He was surprised, however, when Mike jogged up next to him.
"Uh…mind if I tag along?" he said.
"Yes…I mean, no…wait…no, I don't mind, sure, you can come along…"
Mike chuckled, and Matt smiled. They hopped into the minivan and drove off.
"Finn…my feet hurt," Brittany complained.
"I can't do anything about your feet." Finn stopped walking and looked around. They had somehow found themselves strolling a through a pleasant neighborhood, one of those picture-perfect streets with houses that have white picket fences and signs showing off top-quality security company logos. "I don't think we're going the right way. How did we end up here, anyway?"
"We stopped at that last crosswalk and you said the motel has to be down this street and I said we should turn back but you disagreed and started walking anyway."
Finn looked at his blonde friend blankly. "…Shut up."
Brittany pouted, but then stopped and pointed ahead of her.
"Look! A bench!" She smiled and started skipping happily toward the seat. Finn just sighed and tried to keep up with her.
The bench was situated in front of a grassy park and accompanied by a single light post, granting the quaint area a small glow.
Brittany sat down, Finn in tow.
"Now what?" Finn wondered. Brittany sighed and put her head on her friend's shoulder.
"I'm tired," she sighed, closing her eyes.
"Brittany, don't…" Finn was too late as she had already begun to snore. He sighed and leaned his head back, ready for his own nap.
Rachel, Santana, Mercedes, Tina, and Quinn were in their motel room. Santana was sitting on the bed face down in anger, Tina was already asleep on the other bed, Quinn was making her own bed on the floor, and Mercedes was getting some pajamas together. Rachel stood up. "This is an outrage. I should be the one looking for Finn."
"Rachel, we already agreed against that. Give it up," Mercedes argued. Rachel scoffed.
"Whatever."
"Now, I'm going to go take a shower, and you need to calm down." Mercedes headed for the bathroom.
Rachel crossed her arms and sat firmly on the motel's chair. The other Glee girls ignored her
Rachel sighed, and looked around the room. Three things popped out to her: Quinn was a natural at making beds on the floor, Animal Planet has way too many shows about animals mating, and Mercedes had left her car keys on the table by the door…
To Rachel's luck, nobody was paying attention to her.
Mike and Matt hastily walked back into Applebee's, searching around for their friends. The same waitress as before greeted them.
"If you're looking for your friends, they left. If you're looking for a date, call me!" She handed Mike a small piece of paper. Matt glared at her.
"Never mind, let's go," he said, turning around. A shocked Mike was dragged along.
The two stepped outside and looked both ways. To the right, there was a series of stores and small shops. To the left, there were several hotels and motels, including a sign pointing to their own.
"Well, obviously, they must've gone in that direction!" Mike said, pointing to the left. He followed Matt into his car.
"So…what was up with you back there?" Mike asked his friend.
"Um…nothing. You know, I was just anxious to find Finn and Britt."
"I see…"
"Yup…"
Mike pulled out the small paper he was given, but before he could even comprehend what was written on it, Matt grabbed it and tossed it out the window.
"Don't bother with her, she's married," Matt explained.
"How would you know?"
"She had a ring on her finger."
"Oh…"
"Yup…"
The car fell awkwardly silent. The two boys continued looking out the window for their friends.
"…Were you jealous?" Mike said half-jokingly. He chuckled and looked at Matt, who stared blankly ahead. Suddenly, he pulled to the side of the road and looked at his friend, whose face was now showing obvious signs of confusion.
"Matt, what are you…" Before Mike's question could be finished, Matt leaned over and kissed him, quickly and lightly, and then pulled back.
Mike said nothing.
Matt said nothing.
The two stared into each other's eyes for a while, until Matt spoke up: "This is a mistake!" Matt jumped out of the car and onto the street, leaving a still shocked Mike behind.
Rachel was speeding along in Mercedes' car toward Applebee's. After she entered and received no sign of Brittany and Finn (although she did receive a piece of paper with that waitress' number, strangely enough), she left.
Eventually, she came across two streets. To the right, there was a series of stores and small shops. To the left, there were several hotels and motels.
"Knowing Finn and Britt…" Rachel said to herself, "…they wouldn't have noticed the signs for the hotels and motels. Knowing Matt and Mike, they wouldn't have realized this, thus turning left toward the motel to find them. In that case, they would have already found the two and would have returned to the motel, and upon realizing I was missing, would have called me. However, seeing as how I have yet to be called, they must not have found Finn and Brittany, meaning they did not go left. In conclusion, I shall go right!" Rachel beamed at her ability to somewhat overanalyze certain situations.
She drove for a while, using her knowledge of Finn's mind to follow their exact path. At one point, she parked in the parking lot of one of the stores and began to walk in an effort to figure out Finn's path even more.
"Let's see…" Rachel looked around at the quaint neighborhood. "At this point, Finn must have been getting tired, so he and Brittany must have been drawn to the nearest form of light, hoping to find rest." Rachel smiled at her odd ability before approaching the small glow of a street lamp, seeing two figures in a bench cuddling comfortably.
"So, if I take several more steps this way, I should see…" Rachel's face turned to sheer horror. "FINN!" She shrieked.
CLIFF HANGER! HANGING FROM A CLIFF!...AND THAT'S WHY HE'S CALLED CLIFF HANGER!
Oh my goodness, I just had a major brain fart. Where is that cliff hanger song from!
Anywho, uh-oh! Tons of mistakes being made in this chapter! What'd you think? Review with your thoughts!
I really don't want a repeat of this update in that I took too long, so Reviews will definitely boost my spirits and keep me writing! Again, so sorry for the huge delay!
Also! Nobody has guessed the movie yet! I'm just gonna throw this huge hint out there right now: the director who chose Tina for her role in the first chapter shares his first and last name with one of the brilliant brains behind a popular musical movie. I'm 99.99999% sure you have heard of this movie.
Okay, I won't distract you anymore with my incoherent babbling. REVIEW!