Thanks for all of the great feedback and suggestions! Please keep it coming! Also, the songs (especially the one Puck sings) are probably not what would be typically used in the situation, but I think it fits, even if it is in a slightly unconventional way. Also, I think both of them would sound great singing them, and they are both beautiful songs. I'll leave the links at the end, and I highly recommend taking a listen.
Puck sat up quickly. Everything from last night had come back to him in a rush when he had seen the indent Rachel's head had left on her pillow. As he remembered how he had woken up at one point to find that they had somehow adjusted so her head was on his chest and his arm around her back, he couldn't fight back the small smile on his lips. He figured Rachel had just gone to the bathroom or to help his mom with breakfast because she was awesome like that, so he decided he would just go relieve himself, and then maybe Rachel would be back and they could take a nice nap together before everyone else woke up.
It wasn't until he got back from the bathroom (where he had not run into Rachel) that he noticed her shoes and purse were no longer at the edge of their blanket where she had left them. Now, he was worried. He hadn't like fondled her in his sleep had he? Fuck, he hoped not. He turned and ran up the stairs to the kitchen as fast as he could, hoping he would find a laughing Rachel cutting bagels with his mother, for some crazy reason wearing her shoes and purse, but instead he just found a bag of bagels on the island with the note:
Share these with your friends. Went to run errands. –Mom
Puck knew Rachel could have left for a million reasons, most of them not concerning him, but he knew her, and if something wasn't wrong, she would have left a note if she had to go home early or sent him a text when she got home or something. She was big on polite crap like that. He went back downstairs to get his phone to see if he had any messages or missed calls, and when he got down there, everyone seemed to have woken each other up. Most of the girls looked embarrassed and most of the guys looked ecstatic when they remembered what they had done last night and why they were in this random basement. Puck didn't really give two shits about any of them right now, especially after checking his phone and seeing he didn't have any sort of message, but he knew both Rachel and his mother would kill him if he left his house full of almost-stranger teenagers to go try and find his teen committee co-chair.
"Uh, Mornin'. Bagels upstairs." He announced to the crowd. If he hadn't been so confused and worried, he probably would have been pissed Rachel had left him alone to play host to these kids he didn't really know. At the mention of food, most of the boys stampeded past him up the stairs. The girls took a little longer, most fixing their hair and makeup and whispering with their friends before lazily heading up the stairs. Most girls gave Puck the once-over as they passed, but Puck didn't care about any of them. The only girl he wanted to look at him like that was the one who had vanished into thin air.
Rachel woke up feeling very comfortable, but not quite sure where she was. She could feel arms around her and her nose was buried into a very defined chest, and it just all felt so nice. Even though the physique and smell were nothing like Finn's, in her half-asleep state, Rachel just assumed that when she opened her eyes and picked her head up to look at her sleeping partner, she would see the face of her boyfriend of three months. They had fallen asleep together watching movies or talking many times when it was late. His mother had always called fifteen minutes before his curfew to make sure he was on his way home, so they had never worried about sleeping for too long.
However, this time, it wasn't such a boyish face she saw when she finally sat up. Even though no one else was awake to witness it, the shock on her face was evident and suddenly the events from last night came rushing back. She felt a dull ache in her chest remembering breaking up with her boyfriend and a small zing in her stomach remembering her late night conversation with Puck. Then, she just felt nauseous remembering she had been drunk during all of it. What if all of these feelings hadn't been real…just a product of my peer-pressure induced binge? The thought was scary to her, because she had made a lot of major decisions last night that could affect everything. What kind of horrible person tries to get with her ex's best friend the same night that they break up? That thought made her feel worse than the alcohol-related one. She felt like an awful person. Not only had she let alcohol influence her decision-making and ended her relationship with the sweetest boy she had ever been with over a stupid fight, but then she had preceded to seduce that same boy's best friend, who not only had a girlfriend, but was also the person it would hurt Finn the most to see Rachel with.
She couldn't be here, surrounded by all of her bad decisions, watching him sleep peacefully. She just couldn't. Rachel Berry didn't run away from much, but this was something she just could not handle at seven in the morning. She needed to think this through. Rachel Barbara Berry thought everything through and came up with a logical solution. Just having a plan to think about all of this somewhere else made Rachel feel slightly better, and she was able to keep herself from running to her car, instead keeping a nice, normal walking pace.
Puck had finally gotten all of the freeloading brats out of his house by noon, and if he had had his way, they would have all been gone the second Rachel hadn't picked up her phone the first time he had called her. He also wanted them out when she didn't pick up the second time, and then the third, and then the fourth. He was getting legitimately worried that something had happened to her, so the second his house was empty, he grabbed his car keys and headed to her house.
She didn't look surprised to see him when she opened the door and just silently led him to her room. Once she had shut the bedroom door behind them, he couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Alright, what the hell Berry?" He saw Rachel flinch at the use of her last name, but now that he had seen she was alright, he was pissed that she hadn't answered her phone and had made him worry.
"What seems to be the matter, Puck?" He didn't miss the revenge-last-name thing, but decided to ignore it because he was more interested in finding out where the girl he had fallen asleep with was and how he could get her back.
"Why'd you run off this morning?" He tried to soften his tone because she just stood there looking so hard and cold, and Puck really wanted that stony look on her face to go away. "Look…Sorry…I was just…Shit! You scared me!"
"Language, Noah." She scolded passively, as if nothing else had had said had affected her, but hey, at least she used his first name. "If you must know, I just had a lot of homework to do today. In addition, I need to figure out an impeccable selection for Glee club. After that, I thought I would begin to plan next week's event for the temple. I was considering a movie night with a Jewish theme, For example-"
"Rach, stop!" Puck threw his hands up. He had been too busy staring at her, trying to figure out what she was talking about to stop her rant earlier. How could she be talking about all of this crap that meant nothing when he had poured his fucking heart to her last night? Did she really not care now that she wasn't in the moment or some shit? The thought caused his chest to constrict slightly, and he tried to shoo it away. "Stop bullshitting me and tell me what's up, because I remember last night, and I know you do too." Her face crumpled a bit.
"Of course I remember last night, Noah." She whispered, sitting on the bed. "It was all a huge mistake." Alright, his chest definitely constricted at that.
"No." He insisted, sitting next to her. "It wasn't."
"Listen," She had her rant face on, so Puck prepared to do just that and not interrupt. "We were both intoxicated last night and said things we may not have meant. Even if we did mean them, I was vulnerable due to my hasty breakup, and you have probably been feeling like you need a way out of your relationship, because you are not the relationship type. Now, even if we pretend, just for a minute, the things we said were accurate and not due to outside factors, there is nothing we can do about it. It would kill Finn, who is one of your best friends, and who I may or may not still be dating-"
"Hold up!" Puck had been trying his best not to interrupt (or like fucking cry), but that was too much. "May or may not be dating?"
"Well, I called him earlier and he came over briefly before you arrived." She explained. "I apologized as did he, and he said he would love to get back together under the condition that I find a new co-chair and do not associate with you outside of school."
"Well, what the fuck did you say to that?" He really didn't recognize this girl as the same one he had slept with last night.
"I told him I would have to think about it." She said quietly, looking away from him.
"What the hell?" He shouted, not caring if her fathers were downstairs and could hear. "What about us?"
"Noah!" She turned to him with tears in her eyes. "I am just so sick of hurting him! And if you dump Lauren, you'll know what I feel like right now and it's awful and I don't want to do that to you! We can't possibly ruin four lives because of one drunken decision!" She was shouting too and he kept alternating between wanting to hug her senseless until she felt better and slapping her across the face.
"Hey Rach!" He shouted, shutting her up. "Remember that stupid Pretending song Finn wrote last year? Well, now I get it! I'm fucking living it and I'm sick of it! I'm sick of pretending seeing you with another guy doesn't bother me and I'm sick of pretending I care about my girlfriend more than you, so you do whatever the fuck you want. Keep lying to Finn. Keep lying to yourself. I don't fucking care, but I'm not doing it anymore! Let me know when you're ready to be a grown up and follow your heart. 'K?" Without waiting for an answer (because he knew he would get none but tears right now), He threw open her door, slammed down the steps, banged open the front door, and marched to his car. He didn't finish shaking until he pulled on to his driveway.
How dare she! He kept thinking over and over. He had been so happy last night, and now he was fucking miserable. He knew this was a lot to deal with for her, but it fucking hurt that Finn's feelings were always going to be more important than his. It didn't matter. He had meant what he said. He was dumping Lauren tomorrow when he saw her at school, and at Glee, he was going to make sure his assignment meant something.
The thought of his Glee assignment and what he could do with it gave him hope for the next day, and he sat down at his computer to try and find a song that fit. Unfortunately, he couldn't use his own iPod library because songs he listened to all the time probably wouldn't fall under the category of "unexpected", so instead he jumped immediately to the playlist titled "Mike's Tunage". Mike had gone through a big "alternative music" phase sophomore year, and had tried to get his buddies into it too. He had downloaded his library onto Puck's computer, even though Puck had told him he wasn't going to listen to "that indie garbage". Mike had insisted Puck would eventually change his mind, but Puck still hadn't listened, not until now. There were a gazillion songs and Puck had little time, so he texted Mike explaining what kind of song he wanted (although not why, because ya know, Rachel was being a freak about this whole thing, so he doubted she wanted anyone else to know what was going down right now), and Mike texted him a few suggestions. Puck finally found one that didn't suck too badly, and smirked. Yeah, he was done posing. He hoped this song would convince Rachel she should be too.
As much as she tried to remain calm the next day in Glee, Rachel was very much freaking out. She had heard through the Mercedes-Kurt gossip network that Puck had dumped Lauren because he was "into someone else". Apparently, the girl had taken it better than expected, saying she was interested in some wrestler from another town anyway. As glad as Rachel was that Lauren wasn't upset, she was worried about what Puck would do next. Would he tell everyone what had happened Saturday? She really hoped not. Her decision yesterday hadn't been easy, but she had realized that everything in her life before this had been carefully planned. Finn had taken months to attain every time they had dated. She had been preparing to be a Broadway star since she was three. Her morning exercise routine had not varied in four years. She did things according to a well-thought out plan. Saturday had not been thought out. Finn was thought out. However, she knew their history was not necessarily enough of a reason to get back together, and Puck had been right in saying that she would be basically lying to him if she told him she wanted to get back together since she might have feelings for someone else.
The whole thing was very confusing and she didn't need Puck making it worse by making the dilemma public knowledge. That would kill Finn. At the thought of the boy sitting next to her, she turned sideways to look at him. He had told her he wanted an answer today after Glee, and had been nervously looking at her all day.
"Being with you makes me scared to lose you all the time."
What Finn had said Saturday during their break-up had been running through her head all day. She couldn't get back with him if she wasn't sure it was what she wanted and that she would stay. Was she sure? Looking, at the beautiful mohawked-boy on the other side of the room, she knew she wasn't.
"Sorry I'm late. Sue bolted the door closed on my Spanish room, so I couldn't get out." Mr. Shuester walked in then, snapping Rachel out of her thoughts. The kids around her were either laughing at Sue's genius or showing concern for their poor teacher, but he held up his hands to quiet it all. "Let's not waste any more time. Rachel, aren't you up first for your assignment today?"
Rachel quickly stood up and strode to the center of the room. Taking center stage always made her feel better. "Now, as you all know, the assignment this week was to do an unexpected performance. I searched my repertoire, but I realized that I have such a fantastic range that you have all heard me do almost every type of song." She ignored the groans from Mercedes, Santana, and Quinn. "So, to be completely unexpected, I am just going to relinquish my right to perform for this assignment and withdraw myself from the competition." She smugly took in everyone's shocked expressions. If she hadn't just disqualified herself, she totally would have won.
The only person who didn't look shocked, amused, or pleased with this development was Puck. He was staring at her like he could see right threw her "nothing I could sing would be shocking" justification. He knew that singing was her outlet for her feelings and knew that, right now, she wasn't sure what any of those were. Therefore, he didn't look surprised that she had found a reason not to sing. Although, she tried not to notice, his look held slight disappointment.
"Wow, Rachel." Mr. Shuester responded before the crowd could verbalize their shock. "That is extremely cunning and noble of you. As much as I would have loved to hear your contender for sectionals, I am quite impressed. Let's hear it for Rachel guys." Even though she hadn't performed, Rachel bowed for the audience's applause. It had been a brilliant idea, even if there were slight ulterior motives behind it. As she made her way back to her seat, Mr. Shuester called Puck up to perform, and Rachel tensed. This was it. If he was going to out her, she knew it would be through song.
"This isn't the type of song I normally sing, but I think its theme is uh relatable, so enjoy." Puck winked at the crowd in typical Puck fashion and Rachel thought she might be safe. Then, he turned slightly in his chair so he was looking right at her, and knew she wasn't.
The yellow walls are lined with portraits
And I've got my new red fetching leather jacket
All these poses such beautiful poses
Makes any boy feel like picking up roses
There's never been such grave a matter
As comparing our new brand name black sunglasses
All these poses such beautiful poses
Makes any boy feel as pretty as princes
The green autumnal parks conducting
All the city streets a wondrous chorus singing
All these poses oh how can you blame me
Life is a game and true love is a trophy
And you said
Watch my head about it
Baby you said watch my head about it
My head about it
Oh no oh no oh no
Oh no oh no no kidding
Reclined amongst these packs of reasons
For to smokes the days away into the evenings
All these poses of classical torture
Ruined my mind like a snake in the orchard
I did go from wanting to be someone now
I'm drunk and wearing flip - flops on Fifth Avenue
Once you've fallen from classical virtue
Won't have a soul for to wake up and hold you
In the green autumnal parks conducting
All the city streets a wondrous chorus
Singing all these poses now no longer boyish
Made me a man ah but who cares what that it
And you said watch my head about it
Baby you said watch my head about it
My head about it
Oh no oh no oh no
Oh no oh no well you said
Watch my head about it
Baby you said watch my head about it
My head about it
Oh no oh no oh no
Oh no oh no no kidding
His eyes never left Rachel's the whole time he was singing, and his voice, and the song, were entrancing. It was different from anything she had expected to come out of his mouth, and it was not a typical love song. In fact, it wasn't a love song at all, but his message was clear. He might as well have stood up and sang "Don't pretend to be something you're not. Get over yourself and your need to be what they think is perfect." over and over to the same melody. He was right, but she was still so confused.
In an uncharacteristically unplanned decision, She decided to try and make him understand that the same way he had tried to make her understand. She ignored Finn's questioning and accusing glances to the side of her head from Puck's song, and stood up, clutching sheet music from the emergency Broadway stash in her bag. She ignored the applause and the beginning of what Mr. Shuester was about to say to the boy who had just performed, and just marched over to Brad and handed him her music.
"Pardon my interruption, and I am still not attempting to enter the competition, since this song is Broadway and in my range, so it is not surprising, but I still would like to perform a selection from the musical, Chess, if you do not mind." She explained, moving once again to the center of the room to claim her spotlight.
"Rachel, can't this wait until after we've discussed Puck's performance? It was an amazing change for us to see in him." Mr. Shuester tried to protest.
"Nah, It's ok, Mr. Shue, I wanna hear what she has." Puck reassured the teacher. "We can discuss my stuff after or tomorrow or whatever." Mr. Shuester (and the rest of the kids) seemed to have caught on that there was something going on here that he wasn't a part of, so he just shrugged.
Rachel knew that if she hadn't wanted the fact that something weird was going on between her and Puck to go public, she shouldn't have done what she had just done. She didn't know exactly why she had done it, but she knew she needed to sing this. No one seemed to understand that she was trying to stay neutral, trying not to hurt anybody, and that she kept getting hurt in the process. She stared between a waiting Puck and a confused Finn. She knew what she was about to sing was going to hurt Finn, but how could she keep lying to him? How could he love her so much and ask her to stop spending time with one of her friends just to be with him? How could Puck not understand that she couldn't be with him two days after breaking up with his best friend? She opened her mouth, and gave them both a musical lashing.
What's going on around me
Is barely making sense
I need some explanations fast
I see my present partner
In the imperfect tense
And I don't see how we can last
I feel I need a change of cast
Maybe I'm on nobody's side.
And when he gives me reasons
To justify each move
They're getting harder to believe
I know this can't continue
I've still a lot to prove
There must be more I could achieve
But I don't have the nerve to leave.
Everybody's playing the game
But nobody's rules are the same
Nobody's on nobody's side
Better learn to go it alone
Recognize you're out on your own
Nobody's on nobody's side.
The one I should not think of
Keeps rolling through my mind
And I don't want to let that go
No lovers ever faithful
No contract truly signed
There's nothing certain left to know
And how the cracks begin to show!
Never make a promise or plan
Take a little love where you can
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never stay too long in your bed
Never lose your heart, use your head
Nobody's on nobody's side.
Never take a stranger's advice
Never let a friend fool you twice
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never be the first to believe
Never be the last to deceive
Nobody's on nobody's side
And never leave a moment too soon
Never waste a hot afternoon
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never stay a minute too long
Don't forget the best will go wrong
Nobody's on nobody's side.
Better learn to go it alone
Recognize you're out on your own
Nobody's on nobody's side.
As she finished, she felt her eyes watering up, and she ran out of the room before the rest of the Glee Club members could see her waterworks. She felt footsteps follow her out into the hallway, and turned, not sure if she would find brown or hazel eyes behind her.
Songs:
Poses- Rufus Wainwright
http:/wwwdotyoutubedotcom/watch?v=npebzYHKRSQ
Nobody's Side-Chess
http:/wwwdotyoutubedotcom/watch?v=vLS9yRdptfI&feature=fvst