Find Yourself:
OK so I have outlined this piece to end at 50 chapters (well 51 if you include my interlude 'Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night' Anyway there will still be some time gaps and mindless fluff/filler but that's just me and my style LOL… I definitely hope you all still like reading this verse as much as I love writing it and although I have a few potential ideas for continuations once this ends we'll just have to see how well reviewed this gets by the time the last chapter rolls around as to how I decide to end this piece LOL…I'm sneaky that way. Songs used in this chapter are once again 'Ten Minutes ago' as well as the song 'What A Catch (Donnie)' by Fall Out Boy, which excerpts some other songs from the band's catalogue…
Enjoy..
March 22nd 2010:
Entering school on Monday morning the halls were still buzzing about Friday Nights game and Noah Puckerman giving the team the only win of the season.
She looked over to see Rachel beaming hanging on her boyfriend's arm most likely thinking that this was one day she would not be slushied.
However she didn't regret for one moment that she missed her friend's moment and spotting her own boyfriend wheeling over to her, a grin on his face was the reason why.
She bent over to let him kiss her gently on the lips. Who needed coffee this was the way to start the day.
"If law school doesn't work out you know that you should seriously consider going to cooking school."
"I'll keep that in mind."
As they stole another kiss Santana walked by giving them a death stare. It wasn't that the Cheerio was jealous or anything as jealousy wasn't sexy… ok fine she was jealous but it wasn't like she wanted to snake Artie from Kristina or anything she simply wanted something special like they had.
"Hey San," Brittany said with a smile on her face.
The brunette shook her head and smiled brightly at her 'best friend' who seemed to make any moment a million times brighter.
"Hey," she replied.
"Friday Night wasn't a dream was it?" she asked in her sweetly clueless tone as she looked over to where Puck and Rachel stood in the hallway batting off admirers.
"No, we won."
She smiled as she took her friends hand and skipped off to homeroom.
--
Finally the bell rang and homeroom began.
Slipping next to Kristina just before the late bell Puck smiled.
"Who knew that winning a game would make this stud even studlier."
"I swear sometimes it's your narcissism that draws you and Rachel to one another."
Shrugging he flashed her a smirk.
"What can I say, we're two hot narcissistic Jews."
She just shook her head and let out a laugh as class actually began.
-
There was nothing manic about this Monday as Lunchtime came and went, as did every other class. Seriously there was just something soothingly refreshing about the repetitiveness of Public School that Kristina was beginning to like.
Soon it was time for glee, which was one of the highlights of her day as it was the one time of day she was guaranteed to chill out with all her friends.
Today's practice was no exception though it definitely seemed like spring was in the air and people were beginning to couple up…or at least to her it did.
Puck was with Rachel, Finn was with Kurt, she was with Artie, Santana and Brittany seemed to be scooted a bit closer to one another though that one could be due to them scheming about something for Coach Sylvester, she really didn't know…and Mercedes and Mike seemed to be all smiles with one another.
"Ok," Will said as he entered the room and looked over to his students, "Regionals are getting closer and closer and it's time to get serious."
The group just looked at him wondering what the next thing that would come out of his mouth would be.
"Anyways," he continued, "it's time to think about a finalized set list and this time…"
He paused to glare over to where Brittany and Santana sat.
"…please don't leak the list to Sue."
Santana crossed her heart while Brittany raised her hand.
"Yes Brittany."
"We can still give her a fake list right?"
Will nodded thinking what a hoot it would be if once again the coach leaked the list to their major competition and to see Vocal Adrenaline singing the songs on the mock list…he made a mental note to think of some of the most random songs to list before getting himself back in the moment.
"Anyway your last assignment before we get into rehearsal mode is to list your top three songs that we have done thought the year that you want to see done at Regionals. Keep in mind we need a ballad, a duet…."
He began to list what elements were required in the set list when Artie raised his hand.
"Yes Artie."
"Before we begin to deliberate Mr. Schu can I submit one more song into our repertoire."
The teacher looked over to the club's co-captains Rachel and Finn who nodded while Artie looked over to a giggling Kristina.
"I don't see why not…" the teacher smiled, "is it the song that you gave me the other day?"
Artie nodded as Will handed sheet music to the pianist in the room and watched as the young man wheeled into the center of the room with Kristina getting up and heading over to his side.
The music began and he put out his hand for her to take while he began to sing:
Ten minutes ago, I saw you I looked up when you came through the door,
My head started reeling you gave me the feeling the room had no ceiling or floor.
She smiled over to him as they danced the way they did in her living room on Friday night before Diane so rudely interrupted them…
Finishing the song they were met with applause as the teacher looked over to the club with a smile on his face.
"Does anyone else have any last minute songs that they want to add before we go on."
No one answered and so the teacher nodded as he motioned for Quinn to pick up a dry erase marker and write down all the songs that they as a club had sang, from the many pre-sectionals numbers (some of which Kristina hadn't even heard the group sing) to the songs they did this semester including but not limited to: Puck's rendition of 'My Girl' from the invitational, also from that performance Artie and Kristina's 'Love Bug/I'm Yours' mash-up. Other songs on the list were 'Cell Block Tango' and even the impromptu 'Honey Honey' duet that Rachel and Kristina did just the other week…So many various song choices it was definitely going to be a hard time trying to cut it down to the five or six songs that they would actually be singing in competition. And for all thirteen members of the club (yes Quinn was getting a say even though she physically couldn't perform) cutting a list of only three songs by Wednesday was going to be a challenge. Though one thing was for certain… Mr. Schuster explicitly stated the new ensemble song they were currently working on would definitely make the cut so they didn't even have to list it.
--
"I still think Falling Slowly should be on the list," Finn said smiling over to Kurt as the group left the choir room at the end of rehearsal.
Waving his cast Kurt let out a little chuckle.
"Don't use that as an excuse," Finn said smiling as he took Kurt's free hand, "you can get someone else to play the piano."
Kurt shook his head.
"It's not the same…" smiling he turned to his attention to Kristina and Artie, "so what one of your duets do you want me to put on my list…cause I'd put both of them but it wouldn't be fair."
Artie and Kristina looked at one another and said as one, "the Mash Up."
"Ten Minutes Ago is good and all," Kristina said, "but it's kind of personal to us."
"If it's personal then why did you sing it today," Rachel asked?
Artie and Kristina both shrugged. They really didn't know.
"Anyway as far as personal songs go I am totally putting 'My Girl' on my personal list."
"Seriously Rach…don't."
Rachel looked over to her boyfriend.
"Why not?"
He thought of a valid excuse though all he could come up with was…
"Mr. Schu probably wants less solos and more ensemble pieces and so a solo for me means that you'll loose one."
Rachel smiled thinking that this was so true and that her three picks would now be 'Defying Gravity, Honey Honey and Cell Block Tango…' she would of picked 'Don't Rain on My Parade' but she didn't want the public to think she was a one trick pony.
--
Tuesday afternoon was a nice day and so after glee rehearsal Kristina had decided to pick Molly up and swing by the park where she was met by Tina and Mercedes.
"So girl," Mercedes asked, "are you having as hard a time picking out three songs as I am."
"Not really, I mean I don't know some of your earlier numbers so it's not as many songs to pick…what about you Tina..what songs do you think we should do?"
Tina shrugged.
"Seriously I don't know…I mean we had so many great numbers this semester alone…anyway I was thinking…."
"About?" Mercedes asked a devious glint in her eye.
"I mean I know we're not really friends with Quinn outside of glee and that girls day we had a few weeks back but…"
"We should totally throw her a shower!" Kristina said finishing Tina's thoughts.
"My parents are out on business this weekend…not like that's anything new but we can use my place… nothing too big just the three of us plus the rest of the kids from glee and well if Santana, Brittany or Matt have a boyfriend or girlfriend we don't know of…."
They sat in the park watching Molly playing, Mercedes picking her phone up to call Kurt who in turn thought it was a splendid idea and so the party was on. Though it likely wouldn't go off hitchless.
--
It was only one week ago that the incident took place. Man it seemed like allot longer. However being called to the office midway though the school day was not a good sign. Seeing that Kurt, Puck, and Quinn were also standing outside when she arrived however made Kristina feel slightly better about herself.
"Do you think Kiefer had the balls to show up here again?" Kurt asked in a nervous tone.
"I will kick his ass!" Puck said.
"Um… I'm sorry but if this has to do with Kiefer then why would I be called down?"
They looked over to Quinn whose hand gently rested on her belly and were all in agreement. No this wasn't anything to do with Kiefer at all.
-
The door to the office opened and the foursome instantly spotted a familiar streak of dark hair sitting down in Miss Pillsbury's office.
"Kristina, this woman says she's your sister." Emma said.
Kristina nodded introducing Sam to the councilor.
"Ok, so I get why she wanted to see you but the others."
"Well if you can let me explain," Sam said smiling at the red head that after the past weeks events was just doing her job to protect the students of McKinley.
Sam gave the readers digest version of things. She was Kristina's half sister, she couldn't have kids of her own, Puck and Quinn were willing to let her adopt their daughter but she had to go back to New York to tie up loose ends, she was now about to relocate to Lima and just wanted them to know this.
Puck and Quinn smiled while Kurt raised his hand.
"Excuse me for being the voice of reason but so you moved to Lima so what now? You move into the guest room at your mom's house? Where will the baby sleep? What will you do for a career?"
Sam smiled at Kurt's concern.
"Kurt you have every right to ask those things. Yes I'll be staying with my mom and sisters and for now the baby will stay in the guest room with me. As for a job once I get into a rhythm of sorts your dad has offered me a job in the garage."
"No offence but I can't picture you as a grease monkey," Puck said.
Sam explained about her time working as a salvager and how she was well versed in mechanics.
They talked for some more about the situation before the four teens handed their proposals to the councilor to hand over to Mr. Schuster before they checked themselves out of school for the day to talk to Sam some more.
-
By the end of that evening word got around to Artie, Tina, Mercedes, and Finn amongst the other members of glee about how Sam McCall was back in Lima for good and was going to be the adoptive mother of the baby.
"Isn't it a bit weird," Finn had said to Kurt when the young man had told him, "she's going to be Kristina's niece."
Kurt just flashed him a smile. Yes it definitely was weird but not as weird as it was when they initially heard that Quinn was pregnant and everyone including the blondes boyfriend at the time Finn (who was a virgin mind you) thought that the baby was the jocks.
-
By the end of spreading the word round it was totally unanimous. Sam would also be the guest of honor at their shower; after all she would be the one to raise the baby.
-
By Thursday's rehearsal everyone was wondering just where this week had went to as they mentally began to count down the days till Regionals. Including that afternoon and the day of 10 was the magic number. 10! Soon it would be single digits and they still had no clue as to what the final set list was to be.
Reaching behind her Artie began to give Kristina a back rub letting a sense of relaxation rush over her.
"Thanks, it's been a rough few days what with prepping for Regionals, Sam coming back, the…" she paused lowering her voice just in case Quinn entered the room,"shower."
Artie nodded.
"Just don't forget to breathe, I don't know what I'll do if you drop dead of suffocation."
"You did fine the past sixteen years."
"Yea but that was before I landed myself one of the prettiest girls in school."
"One of."
She watched as his eyes drifted to where Tina was sitting with Finn and Kurt causing her to smile at the affectionate way he still treated his best friend and almost lover.
-
"Alright guys," Will said as he entered the room clapping his hands in delight, "I've went over your proposals and it seems that allot of you have had similar ideas as to what you wanted to sing for Regionals…"
He walked over to the white board and began to write down the names of a half dozen numbers that they had sung. Some were predictable pieces but others were definite shocks leaving members of the club to wonder who actually voted for THAT song. All and all the verdict was that they had made a good choice.
After the announcement was made the teacher began to talk about individual rehearsals during the next week for those that were chosen to sing solos and duets before announcing that he wanted them to run their finale number a few times through.
--
…Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman
Maybe he won't find out what I know
You were the last good thing….
Puck began to sing as he worked out the choreography of their finale number once more Friday afternoon. The thing that the group liked the most about this particular number was that it broke down into a medley of the artist's songs letting multiple people have a 'moment'. Finn took the next line as he did his bit.
…We're going down, down in an earlier round
And sugar, we're goin' down swinging…
Tina took the next verse while Artie and Kristina took the final two verses respectively.
…Dance, dance, we're falling apart to halftime
Dance, dance, and these are the lives you'd love to lead….
…This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race…
…One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Even though they weren't so great
He tastes like you, only sweeter…..
Rachel wrapped the rest of the song up in a nice big bow before the teacher gave them a huge applause though from the look on his face he felt something was off though he didn't know what. He mentally decided he'd sleep on it during the weekend and if need be give them something new come Monday cause he knew that could take it, after all 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was put together in a matter of moments and they won Sectionals didn't they?
--
Quinn was shocked when Kristina had invited her over after school, ok so not really as she knew that she needed to get to know not only Sam but the place where her daughter would be living better (seeing as how she had since changed her mind and decided to go forth with the open adoption as opposed to a closed one) However she was shocked when Kristina has somehow down the road convinced her along with Sam to tag along while she spent the evening at Tina's.
Quinn wasn't as close to the young punk chick like she was to Kristina and so she was a little skeptical but wound up giving in.
"Surprise!" everyone shouted as the trio entered a sea of Pink as they entered the Cohen-Chang home moments later.
Quinn smiled.
Sam was impressed.
The party was just about to begin.
--
TBC
Do you like the way I am now showing multiple days in a chapter or would you prefer more of one chapter equaling one day. Also what songs do you want on the set list? Keep in mind ANY song sung on cannon in the first 13 episodes along with any song sung in this cannon is fair game. Also if there are any scenes you wish to see I still have a lot of space for Filler… and on a final note. Brittany and Santana have been bumped up to series Regulars in SEASON 2!!!!