"What're you guys looking at?" I asked curiously as I walked into the choir room to see Kurt, Brittany, and Tina on their toes, trying to peek out of the back windows. I dropped my binder on a seat in the first row and jumped up the risers and then climbed onto a chair to see out the window.

"Oh sick!" I cried and jumped down as the other three laughed hysterically.

"Oh, ew, that's the last thing I wanted to see Jacob doing!" I shivered in disgust as Mr. Schue walked into the room.

"Hey, Finn, have you see Noah today?" I asked as I sat in my seat next to him and Rachel.

"No, why?" he asked.

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I haven't heard from him since Saturday is all. And that's kind of odd for us."

"Oh, well sorry Grace," he frowned.

"It's okay," I smiled to him.

"Sorry I'm late," Mr. Schu said as he perched himself on his stool. "I was with Principal Figgins. Bad news, guys. Puckerman's in juvie." Schu frowned and met my gaze. I felt my jaw go slack and felt like I was going to throw up.

"What?" I asked quietly as a few others laughed. Maybe I had heard him wrong.

"It was really just a matter of time," Tina nearly chuckled.

"What did he do?" Quinn asked.

Schuster gave me a slightly pained look before answering, "He drove his mom's Volvo through the front of a convenience store and drove off with the ATM."

The other's laughed at the story, but I couldn't help but try to hide my tearing eyes. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked over to see Finn with a small frown on his face. I tried to give him a small smile to show I was okay, but it probably wasn't very convincing.

"And when is he getting out?" Rachel asked.

"Unknown," Schu answered.

"He may be the dumbest person on this planet, and that's coming from me," Brittany laughed, causing me to frown harder.

"Guys," he said sharply. "Let's have some sympathy?"

"For a guy who put his needs before anyone else's?" I asked forcefully, earning a surprised look from Schue.

"Yeah," Finn added. "We need his voice; we need his bad boy stage presence."

That wasn't exactly what I had been going for but, yes, the team did need him for those things also. I was thinking more along the lines of how undoubtedly attached I had grown to him, how we were supposed to be together. We were supposed to be going on our big date this weekend. We probably would've been official.

Well, sorry Puck, but I'm done waiting.

"We can't look at this as a crisis," Schue told us. "It's an opportunity."

"For what?" Quinn quickly asked. "Further embarrassment and humiliation?"

Mr. Schu smiled, "For welcoming our new member. Sam Evans."

I tried to smile as our new quarterback came jogging in the room. He stood next to Mr. Schuster and smiled, especially once his eyes landed on me.

"Hey everyone," he greeted. "I'm Sam. Sam, I am. And I don't like green eggs and ham." Everyone stared, and nobody laughed at his cheesy pun.

"Oh, wow," Santana said from the back. "He has no game."

"Okay," Finn said in excitement and stood from his seat. "This is gunna be great. You're not going to regret joining, Sam."

Finn grinned and clapped Sam on the shoulder, and directed him into the seat next to me. I smiled lightly up at him, trying to be polite, even considering the fact I was about to lose my composure.

"Hi, Sam," I said quietly.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a worried expression. I nodded lightly and turned to face Schu.

"Question for you guys," he said while writing on the white board. "What's a duet?"

"A blanket," Brittany answered.

"A duet is when two voices join to become one," Schu continued while ignoring Brittany. "Great duets are like a great marriage; they compliment each other, push each other to be better…"

I zoned out as I thought about Noah. He was the only person I wanted to sing a duet with. Good God, I thought as I sniffed lightly and held back my tears. Next time I see him I'm punching him in the face for doing this to me.

"This week I want you to pair up and sing a duet. And since you all seemed to like our Defying Gravity Diva-Off, I'm making this a competition," Schu announced.

"What's the winner get?" Mike asked curiously.

"Dinner for two, on me, at Breadstix!"

There was a collective gasp among the group. Breadstix was pretty good, I'll admit it, but I definitely wasn't as excited as some of the others. Like, say, Santana who basically lived there.

Everyone got up and began to leave, discussing their plans on how to win and how much they love Breadsticks. I stayed in my seat. I didn't exactly want to go anywhere; I would stay here all day if I could.

Finally I stood, after deciding on going to the auditorium. I wiped my clammy hands on my jeans and took a deep breath.

"Grace?" I looked to see Mr. Schue in the doorway to his office, looking worried. "Are you okay?"

"No," I sighed as my chin quivered. "I'm not okay."

I'm not sure why I decided to skip class and go to the empty auditorium. Maybe it was because Rachel always seemed to say how much it calmed her nerves. But then again, I'm not Rachel, and I don't live on the stage.

However, at this moment I really didn't care. I was desperate to try anything and if the hobbit said it helped, then I was willing to try it.

I felt slightly out of place as I stood there, in the center of the stage, looking off into the rows of dark seats. I figured, what else was there to do on this stage than sing?

(.com/watch?v=mNCEV7ZSNFo gotta listen to this. Just about made me cry my eyes out.)

"Well, It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe. If you don't know by now; It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe. It don't matter, anyhow. When the rooster crows at the breaks of dawn; Look out your window and I'll be gone. You're the reason I'm traveling on. Don't think twice, it's all right," I gazed out to the empty seats and frowned as I closed my eyes, trying to push that empty feeling away.

"It ain't no use in turning on your light, babe; that light I never knowed. And it ain't no use in turning on your light, babe; I'm on the dark side of the road. But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say, to try and make me change my mind and stay; We never did too much talking anyway. So don't think twice, it's all right,"

I sniffed as my tears began to leak down my cheeks.
"It ain't no use in calling out my name, babe; like you never done before. It ain't no use in calling out my name, babe; I can't hear you any more. I'm a-thinking and a-wond'rin' walking down the road. You once loved a woman, a child you know; I give you my heart but you wanted my soul. Don't think twice, it's all right.
I'm walkin down that long and lonesome road, babe. Where I'm bound, I can't tell," My lips trembled terribly as I swiped my hand over my eyes. "But goodbye is just too good a word, babe; so I'll just say fare thee well. I ain't saying you treated me unkind; you could have done better but I don't mind. You just kinda wasted my precious time... But don't think twice, it's all right."

As I sunk down to the stage and cried, I didn't bother to stop when I heard soft footsteps clapping against the floor as they approached me.

I raised my shaking hand as I looked up and tried to wipe away my tears. "Berry?" I chocked out as I noticed through my bleary eyes that it was her approaching me.

"Hi, Grace," she said hesitantly before smoothing out her skirt and sitting next to me. "That song… it was very moving."

I didn't speak as I nodded while trying to compose myself. "I… I would like to offer my condolences about Noah," she said again while folding her hands in her lap.

"Why do you always talk like that?" I asked with a watery laugh. "If you want to say sorry just say it."

"I am really sorry, Grace. I can only imagine how you're feeling," she frowned.

"Like I've been kicked in the gut by a horse," I sniffed. "That's a start to how I feel."

Rachel nodded silently as a fresh wave of tears came down my cheeks. "Like I just lost my best friend," I continued crying. "You know that we were going on our first official date this weekend?"

"No… I didn't know that…" she answered quietly while shaking her head with a downward gaze.

"I just feel like I've wasted all of this time trying to be with him when he was still thinking only about himself. I… I don't know what to do, Rachel," I admitted to her.

"I think you need to get all of your crying out; it's like a mourning process," she said. "Once you've done that, do some thinking about what is best for you."

I nodded and I watched Rachel wring her hands before looking to me again. "Grace, would you like a hug?" she asked.

I looked Rachel in the eyes, and on the inside I was laughing at the situation- I was confiding in Rachel freaking Berry and she was offering to console me- on the outside I just nodded and flung my arms around the girl. "Thank you, Rachel," I mumbled.

"You're welcome, Grace," she said as she patted my back. "That's what friends are for."

I was standing at my locker swapping books when Quinn approached my and leaned against the wall next to me. "So, what do you think about that new guy, Sam? He's pretty cute, huh?" she asked with a smile.

I looked at her as I slammed my locker shut and began to walk to my next class. Quinn pushed off the lockers and quickly fell in step with me. "This is about Puck isn't it?" she asked as we walked down the hall. "I'm sorry," she continued. "You must be pretty upset, and I haven't been a very sympathetic…"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Rachel actually gave me a hug and helpful."

"You let Ru Paul hug you?" she asked with a scowl.

"Don't call her that," I frowned. "She's actually pretty nice."

"Quinn crossed her arms and shrugged. "Whatever," she muttered. "I've gotta get to class. I watched as Quinn rounded the corner and left me in the hallway. I sighed and rubbed my face before turning down the opposite hallway and gasped as I saw Azimio and Karofsky walking away from a stunned, and slushy drenched Sam.

"Oh, Sam," I sighed as I grabbed his arm. I directed him into the empty girls room and grabbed a wad of paper towels as he turned on the faucet and leaned over the sink.

"I'm really sorry," I frowned. "But, hey the red ones are the easiest to get off."

"Is that supposed to make me feel any better?" he asked as I tried to rid the frozen drink from his hair.

"Well, if it had been a blue one you'd look like a creature from Avatar," I smirked.

Sam looked up at me and smiled. "I love Avatar," he said. "I saw it like 6 times."

"Oh," I chuckled lightly. "I saw it once. Puck had, I mean has, it…. Anyways, you'll get used to the slushies eventually. The first one's always the worst."

"Why do you put up with it?" he asked. "Is Glee Club really worth the slushies?"

"I love to sing," I told him with a small smile. "And I love each one of those guys in Glee Club; they've all been there for me when I needed them. So, yes, getting a slushy facial every now and then is worth it."

"You're not like most girls," Sam stated. I turned to toss the paper towels in the trash and raised an eyebrow at him.

"You don't seem like you're concerned with being popular or well liked…it's different, most girls are obsessed with it," he said.

I shrugged. "I figure all that really matters is whether I'm happy or not. I mean, once high school is over, no one cares if you were at the top of the social pyramid."

"I can see why Puckerman liked you so much," Sam said with a light smirk.

I paused painfully for a moment. "So I heard you're doing a duet with Kurt?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, he pretty much told me we were partners," Sam chuckled. "I was kinda wanted to ask you, but y'know, now I can't."

I wrung my hands nervously as I looked at Sam. "Well," I said. "If things fall through with Kurt, you know where to find me." And, knowing Kurt, they probably wouldn't. Once Kurt had his mind set, there was not turning back.

Sam smiled and I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to cry again as I glanced to the door. "I better get to class," I sighed.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Thanks for your help."

I nodded and quickly disappeared out the door.

After listening to Mercedes and Santana- yes I was surprised too- bust out an amazing duet and tagging along with Quinn for lunch, Sam came up to me, with a rather large grin, as I grabbed my binder from my locker. "Hey," he said happily while stopping next to me.

"Hi," I greeted back skeptically as I noticed his guitar, cased and hanging from his hand.

"So, Kurt just bailed from the duet," he said. I felt my stomach drop. No way. No freaking way.

"Oh?" I asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. "So, I was wondering if you would like to do a duet with me?"

I shut my locker gently before turning to face the blonde boy. "Okay," I nodded after seeing the hopeful look in his eyes. "Yeah."

"Great," he grinned. "Follow me."

I sighed and trailed behind Sam as he led me to an empty science room. "You like astronomy?" he asked as he pointed to the Styrofoam planets that hung from the ceiling.

"I guess," I shrugged.

"I do," he smiled. "The universe is so huge…it makes all of my problems seem so small."

"Huh," I mused as I thought about it. He was right, it did.

"Venus," he said while pointing to the wrong planet. "The planet of love."

"Actually, Mars," I smirked. "Planet of war."

"Would it be too forward to ask which one we're on?"

"Um, yes," I nodded. "And for the record I'm on Earth and you'd better come back to it."

"Got it," Sam nodded as he took his guitar out of its case. "So I had an idea for a song."

"Let's hear it," I smiled lightly as he began to strum, but as he started to sing, I couldn't help but feel slightly angry.

"Maybe it's the way you move. You got me dreaming like a fool. I could steal your heart away, I could steal your heart away," Sam sang with a smile while behind his guitar.

"Not matter what it is you think, I'm not the kind of girl to break and give my heart away," I sang back to him with a pointed look. "Stop trying to steal my heart away."

Sam stopped strumming and frowned lightly at me. "Grace," he said. "I'm really trying here; trying to do a good duet with you, and really trying to be your friend, but your being really difficult."

I sighed inwardly; Sam was right. He was being really great, and sweet, and nice. And I was being a bitch to him for no reason. After a moment of silence I spoke. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "But if we're going to win, we've gotta ditch the Enrique."

Sam nodded. "Okay, fine," he smirked. "Come stand behind me."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but walked behind him, so I was standing by the neck of his guitar that was strung over his shoulders. "Put you're hand here, place your fingers like mine."

I rolled my eyes as I walked out from behind him and grabbed the extra acoustic. "I know how to play," I told him. "And I'd rather stand behind my guitar, than stand behind you. No offense."

"None taken…I guess," Sam said as he started to strum a new tune on his guitar.

"She calls me from the cold; just when I was low, feeling short of stable; and all that she intends and all she keeps inside, isn't on the label. She says she's ashamed and can she take me for awhile? And can I be a friend, we'll forget the past."

"But maybe I'm not able, and I break at the bend," I interrupted, finishing the verse for him while stepping towards him.
"We're here and now, but will we ever be again.'Cause I have found all that shimmers in this world is sure to fade away again," we finished the chorus together.

I paused in front of Sam and looked up at him. My breath caught in my throat as he leaned forward. What the hell am I doing?

"No," I said suddenly and quickly backed away. "No, I can't do this."

"Grace, I'm -"

"I can't…and don't say I'm selfish, because I'm not; you have no idea what I've gone through," I said quickly.

"I wasn't-"

"He's been gone less than a week," I said as I ran a hand into my hair.

"Grace-"

"This duet isn't going to work for me," I said quickly.

"I'm sorry," Sam put it. "I shouldn't have tried that."

"I made a mistake," I said quietly. "I can't…I don't want to sing with you."

"Can't or wont?" he asked with a pained look.

"Both," I nodded before hastily leaving the room.

"Hey Grace," Rachel smiled as she found me in the empty choir room the next day after Kurt's duet with himself.

"Hi, Rachel," I forced a small smile as she sat next to me.

"How are you?" she asked.

I shrugged and let out a sigh. "Okay? I don't know," I answered.

"Well, I was wondering if we could talk about something," she asked hesitantly.

"What?" I asked her while pushing my hair behind my ear.

"Sam."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I heard you backed out of doing a duet with him?"

I turned and looked at Rachel suspiciously. "Uh-huh," I nodded as I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking?"

"Look," she said. "I know you don't care much whether or not you win this competition, but you are hurting about Noah being gone. I guess I just thought that this might be the perfect distraction for you. I mean, Sam is very nice, and obviously attracted to you. I don't see why you can't-"

"Puck hasn't even been gone a week," I interrupted her. "How do you think that makes me look?"

"You guys weren't even dating," she said back.

"Thank you for reminding me," I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Grace, I was only pointing out the obvious. No one will think less or you for simply singing a song with Sam. Because that's all it is, a song, not a marriage proposal," she argued.

"I don't get why you're pushing this," I told her. Rachel stiffened, only the slightest, but it was enough for me to be complete suspicious of her motives.

"I just want him to feel comfortable in the group. I think we can both agree that Sam leaving would be detrimental to the New Directions. We need him, and you know that."

"I do," I nodded in agreement.

"The fact of the matter is that you are the most personable member we have. You're laid back and funny, and people are comfortable around you. I think if we want Sam to stick around, you'd be the one to get through to him."

"You really think that?" I asked as I eyed her.

"I do," she nodded. "And I would hate to see you push away the chance at a new friend."

"It's not that I'm afraid to be his friend," I admitted to her. "I'm afraid of him wanting more than a friendship."

"It might not be that terrible of an idea," she shrugged. "He's kinda cute… in a big lips kind of way…"

A spout of giggles escaped my mouth and Rachel smiled widely. "Thank you, Rachel," I smiled to the girl. "You're really a lot cooler than I give you credit for."

Rachel tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and gave me an almost shy smile. "Thanks, Grace," she smiled. "Now are you going to sing with him or not?"

"That was really offensive," Artie spoke first as we all stared at Finn and Rachel in shock. Rachel was supposed to be dressed as a nun while Finnocence was a priest. And they just sang a song about being born again with each other.

Holy crap.

"I kind of want to hit both of you," Quinn said with a scowl.

"Wh-what?" Rachel asked as she glanced up at Finn. "I don't understand."

"Yeah, I am really surprised right now," he nodded.

Okay, now I really know something is wrong. They're terrible actors. I rolled my eyes as they sat down. They're purposely losing, although I'm confused as to why. Rachel never loses. At least not purposely.

"Who's next?" Schue asked. I looked down to see Sam stand and look back to me with a smile. I took a breath and stood, walking down behind Sam and the two of us picked up our guitars and faced each other.

Looking up at Sam and took in another breath and smiled at him before plucking my chords.

(A/N: Grace Sam Both. Falling Slowly- Cover by Lee Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox)

"I don't know you,

But I want you

All the more for that,

I zoned out as I stared at Sam as we sang.

Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react

I smiled as Sam's blonde hair suddenly faded into a black mohawk and his pale skin became an olive tone.

And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

I smiled as I sang to what I had began hallucinating was Puck. His nose was crinkled with his smile as he sang back to me.

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now

Falling slowly,

eyes that know me
And I can't go back

Moods that take me

and erase me
And I'm painted black

But you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing it loud

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time

I stepped away from Sam as everyone clapped. The vision of Noah disappeared, causing me to frown. I placed the guitar down on it stand and quickly took my seat next to Quinn. Sam stared at me oddly as he put his guitar down as well.

"Guys, that was great!" Schue smiled as he stood in front of us. "You've all been great!"

"Except a certain power couple," Artie muttered about Rachel and Finn.

I folded my arms and began to chew on the inside of my cheek as I continued to listen to Schue. Quinn nudged my arm and I looked over to see her passing me her spiral notebook with a note scribbled on the fresh page.

What was that? It asked. You were grinning at him like an idiot while you sang.

I grabbed the pen out of Quinn's hand as I wrote back. It sounds stupid, but I was kind of imagining him as Puck.

I passed her notebook back and watched out of the corner of my eye as she read. Slowly she pursed her lips and shook her head.

When the bell rang I followed Quinn out into the hallway as she walked briskly. "Quinn, what the hell?" I asked.

"You're asking me that?" she asked while turning swiftly to face me, her ponytail swishing behind her. "You're doing a duet with Sam and picturing him as another guy! How screwed up is that?"

"What's wrong with you?" I nearly shouted. "You haven't been a pretty shitty friend since Puck left!"

"You guys weren't even dating!" she shouted through gritted teeth I watched as she straightened herself and let out a breath as she adjusted the bag hanging from her shoulder. "But I guess that's why you have no problem replacing him with Sam."

I tried to keep my composure as I looked her straight in the eyes. "Fuck you, Quinn." I promptly turned on my heels and stalked down the hallway, quickly brushing away my new tears.

"For a place called Breadsticks, these things really suck," I grumbled and picked apart my stale breadstick, leaving crumbs all over my plate.

Sam nodded half heartedly, "Yeah."

I'm cursing ever single Glee Clubber whose vote was for Sam and I. I didn't even vote for us. I voted for Mercedes and Satan. Most because I wanted her to shut up about it. Seriously, I don't understand how she can be so obsessed over this place. Then again, I'd like it more if I never had to pay either.

"So, Run DMC, huh?" Sam asked awkwardly as I tried to avoid eye contact from across the booth.

I glanced at my sweater and then up at him, "Yep."

"I can't really say that I'm a huge fan," he shrugged.

"Oh," I frowned. "That's too bad."

Sam sighed, "This must be kinda weird for you, y'know, because of Puck and everything."

"Y'know, I really don't want to talk about Puck right now," I sighed.

"Sorry."

I put my breadstick down on my plate and glanced around before finally looking him straight on. His face was so much softer and more boyish than I was used to. And his Bieber cut blond hair didn't help the look. He really wasn't anything like Puck, looks or personality, but there was something to him. Something that I found I could possibly get used to.

I sighed and gave him a half smile, "You don't have to apologize. Puck is an insensitive jerk, who is incapable of thinking about anyone but himself."

"You don't really think that, do you?" he asked quizzically.

I shrugged, "I don't really know what I think anymore. Puck and I weren't ever 'official' or anything, but for the past few months since summer we were only ever with each other."

Sam nodded understandingly and I sighed, "I'm really trying to put Noah in the past. I don't know when he's coming back, and I'm done waiting around."

I was taken off guard by his next comment, which was said in a very awful celebrity impersonation.

"What was that?" I asked with quirked eyebrows.

"That was my Matthew McConaughey impersonation," he smiled and tried again. When I continued to give him a blank stare, he stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. "I thought maybe it could get you to smile."

"Does that work on the other girls from where you came from?" I asked blankly.

"Coming from an all boys school," he reminded me. "So, I wouldn't really know."

"Oh," I sighed, slightly embarrassed. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."

"Yeah, McKinley's been a lot different. I still have no idea how to impress girls and, obviously, I'm doing a terrible job at it with you," he frowned in frustration.

"You shouldn't be trying to impress me, Sam," I told him. "There are so many other great girls at this school; girls who aren't toting around emotional baggage like I am."

"Why are you so against getting to know me?" He asked bluntly. "I mean, you agreed to do a duet with me, but I feel like you still won't let me try and be your friend."

I looked down at my lap, suddenly feeling ashamed of myself and the way I've been acting. Just because Puck isn't here doesn't mean that I should act like a bitch. Sam's been nothing but kind to me.

"I'm sorry," I finally said after a moment of silence. "You're right. I guess…I've just been really confused this week. I just really miss Noah…he was my best friend, but at the same time I'm really angry and I'm not usually like this, really."

Sam nodded as he listened to me and I swiped my thumb under my eyes as I tried not to get emotional. That was the last thing I needed.

"I am sorry about Puck…I just would hate for you to miss out on new things 'cause you're stuck being angry on something you can't change," Sam said.

I think it was then that something kind of clicked in my brain. Screw Quinn. I smiled lightly as I nodded and reached across the table for the coupons.

"What are you doing?" He asked as I tucked the cards into my bag.

"You're paying," I told him.

"Why?" he asked curiously

"Because a gentleman always pays on the first date," I answered.

It was the first time Sam gave a true smile all night...

And it was nice.

A big thank you to:

JohnnyStormsGirl

And

LilyBelleMichele188

I really really appreciated your reviews! I am so glad you love the story! So, this chapter was for you two :)