Chapter 41

Props

"Jeff, get back here!" Alyssa called, followed by Ulises, Sixto, and Rosa.

"No, I told you I can't take this anymore. I need to get out of this chair. I have only one option left."

"OH HELL NO!" Alyssa began to turn red with anger.

"Jeff, we are not going to let you go through with that," Sixto added.

"And why not? Why would you want to stop me? Since when were you and I friends? It came out of no where."

"Jeff, do you even hear yourself?" Ulises asked.

"Yes I do. Life fucking sucks here. I want to go home, where I have my dad and my sister, even the crazy one that ran away."

"What about us?" Alyssa began, "Have you thought about us? If you did, what you are about to do, how do you think we would feel? You love this fucking show and most of us haven't seen more than one episode."

"Big deal! I don't give a damn about you needing me."

"Jeff, stop," Rosa replied.

"You guys are my friends, but I need more than that now. I need family."

"WE ARE FAMILY OKAY!" Alyssa shouted, "Haven't you realized that yet? I see all of you more than I see my mom, but I don't get angry about it. We are stuck here, big deal, we will get back someday."

"Really."

"Yes, we are a family, we do everything together," Ulises added, "We go to parties, we go shopping, school trips, and now Glee Club."

"Now, I was holding off on telling you this, but I guess now is the best time," Alyssa began, "I have convinced Ulises, Sixto, and Rosa, to all go to your next physical therapy session. We are going to get you walking, before Nationals."

"But Nationals are this coming weekend."

"I DON'T CARE!"

"That gives us five days," Sixto assured.

"Okay, well I am going to see you on Monday then," Jeff went out to the parking lot to get some fresh air.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Sixto asked when Jeff was far enough away.

"Yeah, he has never been suicidal before. Do you think we should tell Ms. Pillsbury?" Ulises asked.

"I don't know, don't you think it will make matters worse?" Rosa questioned.

"Hey, is everyone okay out here? I heard a lot of yelling," Mr. Schuester asked, with Emma next to him.

"Umm..."

"Hi Jeff, please take a seat," Ms. Pillsbury said, but quickly realized her mistake, "I mean, come in."

"Okay, what did you need?"

"So, I haven't had anything like this before, but I made a new pamphlet," she gave him a pamphlet with a cheesy drawing of a kid crying on it that read 'So you want to end the pain'

"I am not going to kill myself."

"But you thought about it."

"Yes, but who hasn't?"

"I just want to make sure that you are okay, and see what could have made you feel the way you did."

"Maybe it has something to do with the bullying I have gone through since I came to this school, but at least that has gone down now that Puck doesn't hate me. So, maybe it is the fact that the truck hit on Quinn's side, and now she is up walking through the halls, has a new man, and I am broken hearted and in a chair."

"Okay, maybe you need the pamphlet I gave Sam once," she gave him a new one that read 'So your girl friend is a two timing hoe.'

"No, but I do like that."

Meanwhile, down the hall

"Look at this boys," a hockey player stood next to Puck with his two buddies on the other side of him, "If it isn't Puckerman, the big man. The one that they named the dumpster by the smoking spot after because he has thrown the most nerds in it at a time. Now he is just a loser."

"What did you say?"

"You're a loser!"

"I am not a loser!" Puck pushed him up against the locker, but the other boys pulled him off.

"Do you know what I am doing after graduation?" the hockey player asked, "I am going to Ohio State, full ride scholarship for hockey. What are you doing? Oh wait, you aren't graduating."

Puck had him up against the locker again, but he was pulled off once more.

"How about we settle this, after school at your dumpster?"

"Hey, what is going on?" Ulises asked, approaching the boys.

"Go away gay, this doesn't concern you," the hockey player stated.

"Excuse you, but you can't talk to me like that."

"What did you just say?"

'Damn it what was this kids name?' Puck thought, 'U something Uncle, Ule, Ulises, that's it Ulises.'

"Mind your own business Ulises!"

"This became my business when he called me gay."

"Great, Noah, you have the queers on your side. Why don't you go get Hummel and find some nice dresses for your show choir."

"He is not on my side."

"Yes I am, We are friends, and friends stand up for each other."

"Well, I don't stand up for you."

"Then now might be a good time for you to start."

"Whatever, remember, today, dumpster, be there."

The hockey players stormed down the hall and Puck slammed the door of his locker shut.

"What dumpster? You are not going to fight them are you? Not all alone?"

"I told you to mind your own business!" Puck was enraged and rushed down the hall in the opposite direction.

Jeff rolled out of Ms. Pillsbury's office laughing at the pamphlet.

"Jeff, I need your help," Ulises said, going over to him.

"What, are you looking for the bathroom? It is down the hall and to the right."

"Yes, but it is bigger than that. It is Puck."

"What? Does he hate me again?"

"No, I think he is going to get himself hurt."

"And I should care because?"

"He is our friend."

"Since when? I don't think I got the memo. Did he send me an apology cookie tray or fruit basket?"

"No, but he doesn't really hate you. He is just being him. Remember, this is Glee and it is part of his personality."

"Fine, what is wrong with him?"

The bell rang for school to get out and the halls were filled with students rustling through their lockers

"So, they said a dumpster?" Jeff asked Ulises outside of the choir room.

"Yes, I am sure of that."

"Well, I have asked around about dumpsters."

"You talked to people about dumpsters?"

"You want my help right?"

"Yeah, so you asked around, and..."

"There is a dumpster named after Puck. It is by the bleachers. I can lead the way."

"NO! PUT IT DOWN!" Coach Beist shouted, "SHOWS OVER LEAVE!"

"I think we are too late," Jeff whispered as they watched the coach pull Puck into the locker room.

"Eavesdropping time!" Jeff rushed back into the hall and Ulises pulled the locker room door open as the entered.

"A KNIFE!" Coach Beist yelled.

"It is rubber, it is just a prop from West Side Story."

"You could get expelled!"

"What does that matter? I'm flunking out!"

"You have a record, you could get arrested for assault!"

"I don't care!"

"Well you damn well should care!"

"I'm nothing!" Puck tipped over the basket of dirty uniforms, "Don't you get it? I'm nothing! I'm the school joke! A failure! You don't know what it feels like to be worthless When nothing you do matters! Do you know how many football games or concerts my mom has gone to the last four years? NONE! And my dad has been AWOL since I was ten, but I don't care because, when he was there, all he did was call me garbage! I hope he is happy because that is just how I turned out!" his rage began to fade into sorrow, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

They hugged each other.

"You know, you and me are bad asses. People think that nothing hurts us, but it does," Coach Beist cried.

Jeff and Ulises backed, slowly, out of the locker room.

"Well, I didn't see that coming," Ulises broke the silence after almost a minute.

"I think we should pretend like we weren't here," Jeff began to roll away, but Puck came out the locker room doors.

"You two heard the whole thing didn't you?"

"Umm, no I don't know what you're talking about. Heard what?" Jeff asked.

"Don't play dumb, you aren't that sneaky. I heard the door open, but I figured it was probably just that Ulises kid."

"So, you aren't mad?" Ulises questioned.

"No, but you can't tell anyone about this."

"You have our word."

"Okay, you guys, we only have three more days until Nationals. So, we are going to be having meetings in the mornings for the rest of the week. If any of you are not willing to give it your all, leave now."

Tina stood up and began to walk to the door.

"Tina, where are you going?" Rachel asked.

"I am tired of singing background for you all of the time. I was in Glee when we were singing Sit Down Your Rocking the Boat, and Puck and Finn were still throwing slushies at us."

"Tina, you are important, I put you in charge of the costume committee," Mr. Schue rebutted.

"Wow, like that's some prize!"

"Take a lap and cool down Asian number one," Sue replied.

"MY NAME IS TINA! TINA COHEN-CHANG!" she stormed out of the room and Mike rushed after her.

"Isn't that the girl that used to stutter?" Sue asked.

"Jeff," Puck interrupted while he was talking with Sixto, Rosa, Alyssa, and Ulises, "I heard that you are doing physical therapy. I want to go with."

"Since when did you want to help Jeff?" Alyssa questioned.

"Or anyone really?" Rosa added.

"Well, if we can get him walking, we will have a better chance at nationals. This is the last chance for most of us, and I want to win."

"How do we know you don't have some kind of ulterior motive?" Sixto asked.

"Just let me go okay, I want to win, and this is going to help us. That is my motive."

"Hello, Mr. Jenni," the therapist said when the group entered the office about an hour after school got out, "I see you brought a new friend today."

"I'm not his friend, I am his team mate."

"What exercise did you want to do today?"

"I want to use the bars."

"That is the most advanced exercise and you are supposed to wait until you start to walk for that one."

"I have a show choir competition in just a few days. If I don't start walking today, I won't be dancing on that stage."

"Okay, I guess you can try," he said, leading the way to two metal bars placed about three feet from each other with a rubber mat that ran the length."

"So, what is he supposed to do?" Puck asked.

"You use the bars for support and then try to move your feet."

"Then let's get this show on the road," Puck lifted him out of the chair and Jeff grabbed the two bars.

"I don't think I can do this."

"Yes you can," Ulises argued, "Try thinking of when you could walk and what you did then."

"It was all instinctive then. I didn't have to think of anything."

Jeff pushed down on his arms, causing his feet to lift off the ground by about an inch, and tried to swing forward.

"What good is swinging on the bars going to do?" Puck complained.

"I don't know, but maybe I can..."

"Stop saying maybe and doubting yourself. Just do it," Alyssa encouraged.

Jeff tried to focus on his left foot, 'I can do this, MOVE!'

His foot slid forward about a centimeter.

"OH MY GOD I DID IT!" Jeff screamed, causing the whole room to stop and stare at him, "I took my first step."

"I didn't even see him move," Rosa whispered to Alyssa, who gave her a 'you dumb ass' look.

"Now, try the right foot," Ulises motivated.

Jeff repeated what he did for the left, and managed to move his right foot almost an inch.

"I can't believe I am walking again, and it is all thanks to you guys," he kept shimmying down the rest of the bars until he reached the end.

"Come on, Jeff. You don't need the bars," Sixto stated.

Jeff got his right leg up into the air and managed to take two steps before falling to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Rosa asked.

"I'm fine, I can walk now, and maybe, just maybe, I will be dancing at Nationals," they all supported him and he refused to take the wheelchair because he wanted to practice from now on, "I want all of you to know how important you are to me. Even you Puck. You gave up your time, and came with me to this therapy. Who would have thought it would be the last one."

Next morning at Glee Club

"Everyone, we have a surprise," Ulises announced with Alyssa, Rosa, Puck, and Sixto.

"Did the president finally come to see Lord Tubbington? He has been writing him since he was a kitten," Brittany asked curiously.

"Umm, no, it is even better," they moved out of the way and Jeff walked into the room.

"Wait, I thought he was in a chair because he liked sitting down," Brittany attempted to whisper to Santana.

"I am so glad that I can be dancing at Nationals with all of you," Jeff's voice began to sink with sadness.

"I have an announcement too," Rachel stood up, "Tina and I went to see Madam Tibadaux and she might be coming to Nationals to watch us perform."

"Wait, WHAT?" Alyssa asked, confused."

"We told miss Tibadaux how much I would appreciate a do over for my audition and she is going to be doing a show in Chicago that day."

"And she agreed?"

"Well, she didn't say for sure."

"That is great news," Mr. Schuester said, "Now, we only have tomorrow to practice and then we leave after that."