Okay, really. I give my biggest apologies for such a long wait. I'm a pretty terrible person. But, if it counts for anything I did happen to move and start a new job. So things are pretty crazy for me. And my room mate is nuts too.

Anyways! A GIANT THANK YOU to: JohnnyStorms Girl, LilyBelleMichele188, and CalaisForever! I will say that your reviews were really what made me get my butt into gear and finish this update!

I'm working on the next chapter as we speak, so I hope it will be out within this week! I hope you enjoy!

The last thing I wanted to hear on a Sunday morning- the last day to sleep in before the week started- was my cell phone ringing.

I pushed myself from under the covers of my bed and sleepily snatched my ringing cell phone from off of my nightstand. "Hello?" I answered while rubbing a hand down my face.

"Don't tell me you forgot about our Sunday morning dates, Gracie."

I smiled as I threw my legs over the side of my bed. "Sorry Luke, give me a minute to put some pants on," I said.

"Yeah, you didn't really need to tell me that," he responded. I rolled my eyes and hung up on him as I pulled on a pair of sweats and wrapped a blanket around myself before sitting in front of my computer and logging onto Skype. It was moments before my brother's face popped up in front of me.

"Hey, Lady," he smiled. "Nice blanket."

"Hey buddy," I greeted back before looking down at the blanket I had snatched from my floor. The brightly colored dinosaurs stitched into it reminded me that I had taken this from Noah's room only a few weeks ago, causing a swell of sadness in my gut.

"So what's up? You usually don't sleep past 10," he spoke and I watched as he took a drink from a batman coffee mug.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Long week," I said. "I've been pretty tired the past couple days. How're your classes?"

"Same old, same old. I met this awesome chick in my botany class; Casey. You'd like her."

"That's nice," I smirked. "When're you coming home?"

"I'll be out over Thanksgiving break next month," he smiled. "What're your big plans for today?"

"Nothing," I shrugged. "Sleep some more maybe."

"What?" he chuckled. "What about Puckerman, you two are attached at the hip."

"Puck's in juvie," I said blankly.

"Well shit," Luke said with a surprised look. "I'm sorry Gracie. Are you okay?"

"I don't think I'll ever be okay about it, but I'm doing fine. Anyways, can I ask you something? And will you be totally honest?"

"Duh," he nodded. "That's what big brothers are for."

"Okay," I nodded. "So I've kinda been hanging out with this guy Sam-"

"Whoa whoa whoa," Luke stopped me. "Hold the phone. How long has Puck been in juvie?"

"Um…about two weeks…" I answered while playing with the edges on my blanket.

"And you're already onto another guy?" he asked. "Gracie, what the hell are you doing?"

I leaned my head back and groaned. "I'm not dating the guy, Luke," I said. "We've just hung out a couple times. I'm just trying to be normal."

"That's not being normal, that's being a…floozy. And, I'm censoring myself for your sake," Luke said as he folded his arms over his chest.

I dropped my jaw as I looked through my computer monitor at Luke. "I don't know what to say…" I told him quietly.

"Listen," Luke said seriously. "I'm going to tell you this once, and only once."

"Okay?" I looked back at him in confusion.

"You and Puck are endgame."

"What the hell?" I asked. "You did not just say that. I'm shutting my computer off now."

"Shut up, Grace," he smirked. "You know it's true."

"I'm done talking to you," I told him. "Goodbye.
I ended the conversation and logged off before I sat back in my chair and ran my hands through my unkempt hair.

The picture sitting on the desk top next to my laptop mocked me as I stared at it. Mine and Noah's silly faces stared back happily. I turned and dove into my bed, letting out a frustrated scream into my pillow.

I walked into the choir room with Quinn and sat next to Sam with a sigh. "Hey. Grace," Kurt turned and smiled to me. "What're you going to be for Halloween?"

I thought for a moment before shrugging. "Probably nothing, I'm just taking Puck's little sister trick or treating."

"Yeah, but you could still dress up," Quinn told me.

"I guess I'm just not really into it this year," I told them with a half hearted smile.

I looked forward as Schue entered the room and clapped to get our attention. "Great news, guys! I had a little bit of inspiration; this week's musical lesson isn't really a lesson," he began to explain. "It's a musical!"

I noticed Rachel with her hands clutched to her chest as she whispered quietly to herself and rolled my eyes. Everyone else seemed to be pretty peppy about the whole idea. I wasn't so excited.

"Rocky Horror!"

Okay, I kind of take it back. That movie is freakin' hilarious and crazy. I could dig that. And, apparently so could the others, since they were all smiling and nodding along.

"I've never seen it," Finn said blankly.

"Don't worry," I smirked as I leaned down to talk to Finn. "Most heterosexual dudes haven't," I patted his shoulder before leaning back.
"Mr. Schue," Rachel spoke.

"Yeah?"

"While I admire your choice of the groundbreaking 70's musical, aren't you worried that the adult themes might be point of controversy?" she asked. Her long winded sentences made my head hurt.

"Seriously," Kurt agreed. "A school in Texas couldn't do RENT; it cause an outrage and they cancelled the show."

"Isn't that the whole point of the arts?" Schue asked. "Pushing boundaries? Doing things as an act of self expression? Look I've edited some of the more risqué sections, and I'm sending home permission slips to all your parents to make sure they're okay with it. And, we're going to charge admission to use the proceeds to help for transportation to Nationals!"

I stared at the permission slip in my hands and pursed my lips. Did I really want to do this? Sure, it could be fun… but, I'm not sure. Maybe I'll just tell Schue that my Dad wouldn't sign it…

"Okay, let's talk about casting," Schue said.

"Oh!" Rachel's hand shot in the air immediately. "Finn and I will play Brad and Janet."

"Great!"

"And I'll be playing the guy in the wheelchair…right?" Artie spoke slightly sarcastically.

"That's what I was thinking," Schue chuckled. "And how about Kurt playing the role of Frankenfurter?"

"No," Kurt objected loudly. "There's no way I am playing a transvestite in heels and fishnets and…wearing lipstick…"

"Why?" Santana laughed. "'Cause that look was last season?"

"I'll do it," Mike volunteered, catching everyone off guard.

"Really?" Tina asked him with excitement. "That's, like, the male lead!"

"I know," he smiled. "I've been feeling more confident about my singing."

"Woo Mike Cheng," I smiled and pumped my fist in the air.

"Great!" Schue grinned. "I have no problem with that. But, we are short on female roles. So, we're going to have to double up on Columbia's and Magenta's."

"Standard practice on Broadway," Rachel mused. "It'll preserve your voices."

"I'd like to preserve you," Mercedes smirked down at Rachel from her seat.

"Yeah," I nodded with her. "In a jar, in my basement."

"Sam," Schue ignored us and pointed to the blondie next to me. "I'd like you to play the role of the creature."

"From the black lagoon?" Sam asked back in confusion.

"Rocky," Quinn corrected him. "He's the Frankenstein character, but blonde. He's cute."

I glanced at Quinn and briefly cocked an eyebrow, slightly confused by her words.

"Better start workin' on those abs," Santana smirked.

"Are you kidding?" Sam asked. "You could cut glass with these babies. I have no problem showin' off my body."

"It's settled then! Looks like we've got ourselves a show!" Schue announced. And, while everyone else cheered, I glanced at Quinn to only notice her smiling her signature flirty smile directly at Sam.

Quinn is totally into Sam.

Shit.

I let my locker slam shut when I heard my name being called from down the hallway. I turned and waved lightly as Sam as he jogged my way.

"Hey," I greeted and he grinned down at me. "What's up?"

"Do you want to help me watch my little brother and sister today?"

"Uhh," I paused and thought it over for a moment before shrugging. "Sure."

"Great," he smiled. "Follow me over to my place?"

"Yeah, okay," I nodded and followed Sam to the parking lot and got into my car with a large sigh. I was in over my head. My best friend secretly likes the guy I may or may not be sort of seeing, we're doing Rocky Horror in glee club and I couldn't be more unenthusiastic about it, and well, if I'm going to be completely honest with myself I miss my other best friend. And I can't decide if I want to be completely pissed off, sad, or what.

When I pulled up to Sam's house I couldn't help but smile a little. It was your average all American house. White picket fence, red front door, and- get this- a tire swing in the front yard. For some reason I could completely imagine Sam living here.

I climbed out of the front seat and smiled at Sam as he leaned against his small pick up truck. "Nice house," I said while shoving my hands into my pockets.

"Thanks," he grinned. "I like it too."

Sam motioned for me to follow him, so I sighed quietly and trailed behind him and through his front door. Upon entering, the noise of two young children could be heard along with two sets of feet running down the stairs. Sam chuckled and greeted to two blondies that came running at him full force.

"Sammy!" they shouted together as their brother lifted them into the air.

"Hey, guys!" he smiled lovingly at the duo. "I want you guys to meet my friend Grace."

I smiled and waved at the two who looked identical to Sam, especially the boy. "Hi," I greeted them

"Hi Grace!" the girl waved enthusiastically. "I'm Stacie!"

"Nice to meet you Stacie," I grinned.

"I'm Stevie," the boy smiled brightly, showing me that he was missing a front tooth.

"Hi Stevie," I laughed. Jesus Christ, what's up with this family? Sammy, Stevie, and Stacie?

"Where's mom at?" Sam asked the two giggling munchkins who shrugged in response.

"I'm coming!"

I looked up and watched as Sam's mom came walking down the stairs. I froze as I noticed how closely she resembled my own mother; the long blond hair, the baby blue eyes, and slender legs. She was beautiful.

"Hi there," she flashed me a large smile as Stacie ran to her and wrapped her arms around her mother's stomach.

"I'm Serena," she stuck her hand out to me.

I wonder what his dad's name is. Stan, maybe?

"Hi, I'm Grace, nice to meet you," I smiled back and shook her hand.

"Oh! You're Grace! Sam's told me about you," she spoke while running her hand through Stacie's hair affectionately. Sam's mom caught my wide eyed expression and laughed lightly. "It was all good, I promise!"

I nodded and chuckled along with her. "That's good," I smiled nervously.

"Listen, I've got to get going," she told her three kids. "I'll be back in a couple hours. Stevie, Stacie, be good for your brother and Grace!"

The two munchkins nodded enthusiastically and hugged their mother goodbye and I waved awkwardly as she stepped out the door.

"Sorry about that," Sam mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's okay," I assured him with an inward sigh.

Stacie ran up and grabbed my hand tightly. "Come see our house!" she exclaimed, tugging my arm so I would follow. I smiled and laughed at the little cutie and trailed behind her.

"That's the kitchen, and that's where we eat dinner, and this is the living room, and this is the den! I like to play the piano in here!" she pointed out each place quickly before tugging me into a side room with a bookshelf and a computer, a few guitars and… a piano that had me dropping my jaw a bit.

I sat behind the beautifully polished upright Piano in amazement. "This is a Chavanne…these things are made in Paris…I just have a Rodger's traditional at home." I gaped at the instrument and looked between it and Sam, who had just walked into the room, and was nearly rendered speechless.

"Yeah," Sam shrugged. "I don't really know much about Pianos… my mom loves them."

"My Mom has been teaching me to play!" Stacie said excitedly as she climbed onto the bench.

I looked up at Sam and smiled before looking at his little sister. "My mom taught me how when I was little, too," I told her.

"Can you play something for me?" she asked while giving me a pouty face.

"Well jeez," I chuckled. "I can't say no to that face. Do you have any requests, Miss Stacie?"

The small girl brought her finger to her lips and thought for a moment before smiling again. "Coldplay, my daddy always plays them," she answered with a light giggle.

"As you wish," I smiled to her and placed my hands on the keys, smiling lightly at Sam as he leaned against the doorframe and watched as I began to play.

"Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry. You don't know how lovely you are. I had to find you, tell you I need you; tell you I set you apart. Tell me your secrets, and ask me your questions. Oh let's go back to the start. Running in circles, coming up tails. Heads on a science apart," I sang gently. I felt myself smile as I glanced down to Stacie to find her grinning from ear to ear with her hands clasped eagerly.

I jumped lightly as Sam started singing the chorus with me, "Nobody said it was easy. It's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard. Oh, take me back to the start."

"I was just guessing at numbers and figures, pulling the puzzles apart," I sang. "Questions of science, science and progress. Do not speak as loud as my heart. And tell me you love me, come back and haunt me. Oh and I rush to the start. Running in circles, chasing our tails. Coming back as we are."

"Nobody said it was easy," I looked at Sam again as I started the chorus, but he didn't join in this time around. "Oh, it's such a shame for us to part." Sam crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the ground as I continued. "Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard. I'm going back to the start."

I took my hands off the keys and placed them in my lap as Stacie clapped loudly. "That was so good!" she gushed, getting onto her knees next to me and nearly head butting me in the process.

"Thanks, Stacie," I smiled lightly before turning to Sam. He was wearing a grim expression that had me worrying slightly, but he still didn't speak; even after his little sister ran from the room.

"Maybe I should leave," I spoke quietly.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea."

I walked out of the choir room as Rachel and Finn were about to run through 'Damnit Janet' and clutched the hallpass that Schue had given me to go see Ms. Pillsbury. Apparently she's been wanting to talk to me… and apparently Schue agreed that I needed to see her.

I lightly tapped on the glass door to her office and let myself in. "Hey," I greeted lightly as she sent me a large smile.

"Hello Grace!" she greeted back cheerfully. "How is glee club going?"

I shrugged, "It's fine."

"Well, that's always good," she smiled.

"Yup," I nodded, popping my p. "So, why'd you want to see me?"

"I wanted to give you this," she said while handing me a pamphlet from across her desk. I wearily grabbed it before staring down at it.

My boyfriend is in juvie. What do I do?

I looked down at the pamphlet in my hands before looking up and raising an eyebrow at Ms. Pillsbury. When in doubt, Ms. P's pamphlets have all the answers.

"So, Grace," she started out as she neatly folded her hands on top of her pristine desk. "How have you been?"

"Well," I sighed as I slumped into my chair. "I'd say a train wreck would be a good place to start."

"Oh…my," Ms. P's smile faltered for a moment. "Then let's start cleaning up the pieces, shall we?"

I smiled hesitantly at her chipper attitude. "Okay," I agreed quietly.

"Now, I would say an important step would be keeping yourself busy and your mind off of Noah…like a hobby! Do you knit? Maybe take up scrapbooking?"

"I stay pretty busy, with glee club and everything," I nodded. "I actually started hanging out with the new kid, Sam Evans. I helped him babysit his younger brother and sister the other day."

"Perfect!" she clapped. "Sam seems so nice and well rounded."

"My brother didn't think it was such a good idea," I frowned.

"What? Why?" she asked quickly.

"My brother said that…that Puck and I are 'endgame'," I rolled my eyes.

Ms. P looked at me blankly for a moment. "What does that mean? Is that some sort of video game reference?" she asked.

"I guess it basically means we're soul mates…y'know together until the end," I shrugged.

"Oh," she spoke quietly. "Don't you think it's a tad early for you to think about those things? What about college? You ever think about college?"

I was slightly put back by the enormous jump in topic, but then remembered who I was talking about. It's Ms. P; she's never been too good at the relationship topic.

"Um, I guess I just figured I'd go to OSU since that's where Luke is," I nodded. "I mean, I still don't really know what I want to study."

"Well, I'd say that this is the perfect opportunity for you to get some 'you' time in! Find out what you like, what you want for your future, you know all those good things!"

"Yeah…" I sighed. "I guess that wouldn't be so bad."

"Great!" she said with a clap. "Now, I'd don't want to hold you from class any longer, so you can go. But, next Wednesday maybe?"

"Uh, yeah. I'll be back next Wednesday," I nodded while walking to the door.

"Have a good day, Grace," she waved lightly.

"Thanks Ms. P. You too."

I exited the main office and leisurely made my way back towards the choir room when I saw Schue walking away from Sue.

"Grace," he smiled. "How'd your meeting go?"

I shrugged indifferently. "It was fine," I sighed. "I mean, we didn't really talk about much."

"Well, there is something that I would like to talk to you about," he spoke while looking down at me as we stopped in front of the choir room. I could still hear Rachel and Finn singing Damnit Janet.

"Oh," I frowned. Here we go again.

"First of all, I haven't gotten a permission slip back from you," he sighed. "Have you talked to your dad?"

"I haven't gotten to talk to him yet." Lie. "He's been working extra lately on top of helping Burt get set back up at the garage." Truth, actually.

"Well, make sure you get that done soon, I'd really like if you could be apart of this," he stressed.

"Yeah, of course," I nodded. "Was that it?"

"I wanted to see how're doing with everything; with Puck being gone." Here we go again.

"I'm doing fine," I almost snapped back.

"Are you?" he raised his eyebrows. "It's been almost three weeks and everyday I see you pull more and more into your self. Every single person in that room behind me cares about you Grace, and we all want to help in whatever way we can-"

"Are you kidding?" I laughed. "The only person to come to me to try and help since Puck's been gone has been Rachel. None of them have spoken a word to me about it. So I'm handling it myself, thanks." My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to read a text from Mrs. Puckerman I sighed and slid it back into my pocket.

"Sorry, Mr. Schue, but I can't come back into glee club today. I need to just leave and calm down."

"Okay," he nodded dejectedly. "But, the offer still stands. You need anything-"

"I know where to find you."

"Thanks for coming over on such short notice, Grace," she said with a quickly smiled while gathering her purse and digging to find her keys.

"It's no problem," I nodded while clasping my hands in front of me as we stood at the front door.

"Lizzie doesn't know I'm going to see Noah. I told her I had to stop at work; she'd be devastated that I didn't take her with," Mrs. P told me in a hushed tone.

"I understand," I nodded solemnly.

Noah's mom frowned and nodded to herself before pacing towards the staircase. "Elizabeth, I'm leaving. I'll be home shortly; Gracie is here," she called up the steps, but there was no answer.

"She's taken to hiding upstairs," she informed me. "You'll probably find her in Noah's room."

"Okay," I nodded and watched her leave, locking the front door behind her, before I began to trek upstairs.

"Lizzie?" I called softly as I padded down the hallway. I poked my head into her room to find it empty. I sighed and kept walking further to only stop in the doorway of Noah's bedroom. I clutched the doorframe and frowned as I saw her in his bed, clutching her stuffed horse to her chest.

"Liz," I said softly to her. She barely moved, but I could see her eyes dart towards me, looking sad. I braced myself while entering his room and climbing onto the bed next to her. "What're you doin' in here, silly?"

"I miss Noah," she sniffed. "It's lonely without him."

"I know what you mean, kiddo," I said while laying my head on the pillow next to hers. "And I know he misses you too."

"How do you know?" she asked, looking up at me with her sad brown eyes.

"Because Noah loves you very much," I told her. Liz buried her face into her stuffed horse before looking up at me.

"Did you know that Noah got me Harold?" she asked.

"Harold?"

"My horse," she explained quietly while rubbing her hand over the soft material of the stuffed animal.

"Did he name it Harold?" I smirked.

"Yeah, he gave me Harold for my 7th birthday," she smiled lightly.

"Your brother would name him Harold the Horse," I chuckled lightly.

"Yeah," Liz flashed a brief smile. "He's never been so good at naming things."

"You remember his goldfish Garfunkel?" I asked.

Lizzy nodded enthusiastically. "Poor Garfie died last winter when the power went out for a few days," she said with a lightly giggle.

"Actually, I think your brother just forgot to feed him," I laughed. "He can barely take care of himself, he should never have pets."

Liz rubbed her eyes and sighed before looking at me sadly. "Do you miss him too?" she asked quietly.

"Of course I do," I told her quietly. "It's hard not to miss your best friend."

Lizzy suddenly popped herself up on her elbows and looked at me seriously. "What?" I asked.

"If you and Noah get married, we'll be sisters," she said quickly.

"That's a really big if, Liz," I smiled. "Plus, I already think of you as my little sister."

"Yeah, but it'd be better if you guys got married," she smiled.

"Let's change the subject," I chuckled while folding hand on top of my stomach.

"Are you still taking me trick or treating?"

"I pinky promised you, didn't I?"