Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Disney movies or Glee. I'm just mushing them together and seeing what comes out.

Spoilers: None unless you have never seen the Buffy Musical Episode or the first two seasons of Glee.

Pairings: Quinn/Rachel (eventually), Brittany/Santana

Rating: T

This city's got a beat, and you gotta hook into it. And once you get the beat, you can do anything.

-Dodger

You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people. You speak of justice, yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help!

-Esmeralda

Puck strolled down the hallway and smiled at every girl he passed. He was cruising and he didn't care about much of anything. Why should he? He was a senior now. He was on a winning football team, he was a Glee stud, he was a badass...life was good. No, screw that, life was frikkin GREAT!

So what if he was failing some stupid class. He would still graduate and leave this dump of a town. He would make a name for himself in the world and he would be better than his father ever was. That's why he was sort of confused about this meeting. He stopped at the door and knocked on the frame, making the redhead across the desk jump a little.

"S'up Miss P." he nodded to the counselor.

"Hello Noah. Please, come in." Emma Pillsbury gestured to the chair across from her desk.

Puck sat down, flinching at what she said. "C'mon Miss P. It's Puck. You're killin my rep here."

"Sorry...Puck." she corrected. "I suppose you're wondering why I called you here."

Puck nodded, not really paying attention as he looked over his shoulder at three baby Cheerios passing the windows.

"Puck." Miss Pillsbury sighed, pulling his file out. Well, one of his files. This one was rather small, as it was his academic file. "This is serious."

Puck sighed as the three girls turned a corner. "Ok. What's up?" he turned and faced her, his eyes falling on the desk. He saw the open file and his eyes widened. "I didn't do it!" he instantly objected.

Miss Pillsbury nodded sadly. "Ya. That's sort of the problem."

Puck furrowed his brow. "Huh?"

"You're failing three of your classes, Puck." Emma said softly. "Two are electives, and you have those credits covered, but the third is a required." she closed the file and looked into Puck's eyes. "If you don't pass it, you can't graduate."

Puck stared in shock and suddenly, life wasn't so great.

~glee~glee~glee~glee~glee~

"...and that's the plan." Rachel smiled as she looked up at Puck. She frowned when he didn't respond, or even move. He was just...staring. And it wasn't at the laptop she had open to the powerpoint she had just presented, or even at her boobs (they were friends, but she was still female and he was still Puck). No, he was staring at a wall.

"Noah?" Rachel touched his arm and Puck jumped, looking around.

"What?" he muttered, glancing at the laptop. "Oh...yeah, looks great." he said.

Rachel shook her head. "You've been in a mood all day. What's wrong?"

Puck just shrugged. "Nothing."

"Noah, I've known you since you were three years old. We attend temple together and despite your best efforts since the seventh grade, I am your friend." she sighed. "I can tell when something is bothering you."

Puck looked up at Rachel and patience and caring in her eyes. He the felt his eyes burning, cause of allergies. He doesn't cry. "I...I'm failing." he said softly. Rachel waited for him to continue. "I'm failing a required class and if I don't pass it, I don't graduate."

Rachel frowned. "Well I can tutor you, we have weekends, after school, well after your practices and my dance classes and vocal lessons..." she started.

Puck jumped up, shaking his head angrily. "No, screw it. I'm done!" he shouted, stepping back from Rachel. "I gave that place five years, and they want another one from me? Uh-uh...no way!"

Rachel stood up, hands on her hips. "You can't quit, Noah! You need to have a diploma to get a solid start on life and to go to college."

Puck laughed. "College? Who said anything about college?"

"Noah, you can't just throw away your future!" Rachel reprimanded him. "Aren't you worried about what your future will be like?"

Puck shook his head. "What? Me, worry? No way. I'm badass and I have plans, Rachel." he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "Not everyone is destined for college." he said as he walked out with Rachel struggling to keep up with his pace.

One minute I'm in Central Park

Then I'm down on Delancey Street

From the Bow'ry to St Marks

There's a syncopated beat

Puck danced down the street, strutting around as he imagined his plans for the future.

Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo

I'm streetwise

I can improvise

Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo

I'm streetsmart

I've got New York City heart

Rachel shook her head and tried to reason with him, but he wasn't hearing it.

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

I may not have a dime

But I got street savoire faire

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

It's just bebopulation

And I got street saviore faire

Rachel scowled as he ducked through and allyway and tried to paint an amazing future without an education.

The rhythm of the city

But once you get it down

Then you can own this town

You can wear the crown

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

I may not have a dime

But I got street savoire faire

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

It's just bebopulation

And I got street saviore faire

Puck turned to Rachel and grabbed her hands, spinning her around in a complicated dance.

Ev'rything goes

Ev'rything fits

They love me at the Chelsea

They adore me at the Ritz

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

And even when I cross that line

I got street savoire faire

Puck stopped at the door to his house and smiled at Rachel."I got it covered, my Jewish princess. Don't worry about the Puckasaurus." he shrugged and turned to walk into the house. He felt a lot better.

Rachel just stood on the doorstep and sighed. Puck was going to throw away his future and there was nothing he was willing to do about it. He was quitting. Rachel straightened her posture and steeled her resolve. Well she wasn't going to give up on him. He was going to graduate whether he wanted to or not. She would see to that...but right now, she just didn't know how.

She wandered until she came to the temple that she and Puck went to and entered the doors. Praying never hurt, right? Noah needed help, he needed guidance, and Rachel prayed that he would get it before it was to late.

I don't know if You can hear me

Or if You're even there

I don't know if You would listen

To a loser's prayer

Yes, I know I'm just an outcast

I shouldn't speak to you

Still I see Your face and wonder...

Were You once an outcast too?

God help the outcasts

Hungry from birth

Show them the mercy

They don't find on earth

God help my people

We look to You still

God help the outcasts

Or nobody will

The people in the temple joined in quietly, Rachel never wondered why.

I ask for wealth

I ask for fame

I ask for glory to shine on my name

I ask for love I can possess

I ask for God and His angels to bless me

Rachel's voice rose again to take back her prayer, her song.

I ask for nothing

I can get by

But I know so many

Less lucky than I

Please help my people

The poor and downtrod

I thought we all were

The children of God

God help the outcasts

Children of God

Rachel stood and exited the temple. She had prayed, but she knew that wasn't enough. She had to get through to Noah, make him see that he needed to want to succeed. And if he wanted to succeed he needed an education to do so. Squaring her shoulders, she turned back down the street and back towards Noah's house. She wouldn't leave until she convinced him to at least three study sessions a week.