What If Chapter 13: The Purple Piano Project, a glee fanfic

Chapter 13 The Purple Piano Project

"Oh I like this one," said Rachel, thumbing through a catalog. "And this one. Oh, this one is just gorgeous!"

"I still think you should lay off the designer gowns and go to David's Bridal," said Noelle. "99 dollar sale, hello!"

The summer had flown by super fast for the Glee Club. Both the Pillsbury-Schuester and Hudson-Berry weddings were in full planning mode. Will and Emma had decided to have their small intimate ceremony in the choir room with the New Directions, Emma's parents, Will's family, and the Hudson-Hummels and then host a small reception afterwards at Breadstix. They had set their date for Valentine's Day of 2012. Finn and Rachel were planning on a spring wedding, right after Nationals. The Hudson-Hummels were overjoyed at the news, however, Rachel's dads weren't. Rachel stormed out of the Berry house in a huff with her belongings and showed up at the Hudson-Hummel house. Noelle had been furious when Rachel had told her what her dads had said about Finn.

"They told me that Finn's ruining my life and that a broadway star should not be married and they just ranted awful things about Finn," Rachel said to Noelle and Kurt. "I'm done with them trying to run my life. I moved out." Rachel turned to Carole and Burt. "I can stay, right?"

"Of course you can, Sweetie," said Carole. "You've always been like a daughter to us. You are more than welcome here."

"You can share a room with Finn," said Kurt. "I'll take the couch."

"I couldn't do that to you," Rachel said.

"Actually," interrupted Quinn as she and Puck came down the stairs, "Puck and I are going to move back into my mom's house with Beth, so you two can have your own rooms."

Quinn and Puck moved out that weekend, taking Beth with them, and Kurt got back his old room and Rachel got the spare bedroom. The first day of school was tomorrow, but that wasn't stopping Rachel from doing more dress shopping.

"Noelle, as much as I appreciate your enthusiasm for a good bargain," started Rachel, "my savings account that is in my name only has over 50 grand in it. 1200 bucks is chump change."

"Well, that money was supposed to be for New York, right?" asked Noelle.

"Part of it, yes," said Rachel.

"What are you going to do when that money is gone?" asked Noelle. "How are you and Finn going to make ends meet?"

"Finn's going to work while I take classes at NYADA or wherever I get into," said Rachel. "He's looking away from going to school now."

"Will you at least come to David's Bridal with me and try on the sale dresses?" asked Noelle. "You might find something you like."

"Alright, we'll go tomorrow after school," said Rachel.

"I have cross-country practice until four," said Noelle. "We can go after that. How about a venue? Have you and Finn decided on that?

"We're going to have a Justice of the Peace marry us in the park and then the reception is going to be here at the house," said Rachel.

"Well at least you're not going over the top," said Noelle as Finn came down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" asked Finn, giving his fiance a kiss on the lips.

"Just going over wedding stuff," said Rachel. "Noelle's going to take me to David's Bridal tomorrow to see their sale dresses."

"Which reminds me, I wanna call the girls and have them come with us," said Noelle, getting up from the kitchen island and heading for her bedroom.

"You don't think we're overdoing this, are we?" Finn asked Rachel.

"No, it's going to be small, simple and quiet," said Rachel. "Right?"

"Right," said Finn, kissing her again. "I've got bad news though."

"What is it?" asked Rachel with worry in her voice.

"I just found out that Sam and his family moved to Kentucky," said Finn. "We're down a member this year. His dad got a job finally but they had to move."

"Well where are we going to find a replacement tenor?!" asked Rachel.

"I don't know, but I'm going to ask around tomorrow."

When Noelle and Josh walked into the choir room the next morning, they were surprised to find three purple pianos sitting in the choir room.

"What in the world?" asked Noelle. Will came in behind them.

"Hey Mr. Schue, what's with the purple pianos?" asked Josh.

"Take a seat you guys," said Will to the members of the New Directions. "This is your assignment for this week."

"Assignment?" asked Harmony. "What kind of assignment?"

"Well, as most of you know, Sam moved to Kentucky, which means we've lost a member," said Will. "These pianos were donated by Al Motta of Motta's Music Emporium. They were badly in need of repair. So I fixed them up, and painted them purple. All week, you will see these pianos in a random place around school. When you do, you will get up and perform, to try and encourage people to join Glee Club."

"Oh god, this is going to be a repeat of last Christmas when we went caroling," groaned Kurt.

"They threw food and a teacher threw a shoe at us!" said Tina.

"And where is Quinn, Puck?" asked Noelle.

"I don't know," said Puck. "She dropped Beth off at daycare this morning and said she would be late to school but I haven't seen her at all."

"Oh geez, don't look now," said Noelle, pointing to Quinn, who walked in the choir room.

"Quinn, what the hell?" asked Puck, looking at his girlfriend. Quinn was now sporting a half pink-half blonde hair do, cut short and flipped out at the sides.

"I was so over being a full blonde," said Quinn. "I needed a new look." New look was right. Now only was Quinn sporting pink hair, she was wearing all black and had a nose stud.

"We'll talk later," said Noelle, pointing a finger at Quinn. She knew that Quinn was finally going through post-partum depression. She just had that feeling.

"Come on guys, we gotta find some more members," said Finn. "Sam was an important asset to the club. Where are we going to find someone like him? We won't know unless we do this."

"Finn's right," said Harmony. "There surely has to be someone that sings well around here that can take Sam's place."

Just then, Rachel came rushing into the room.

"You guys, we have a MAJOR problem!" said Rachel.

"What is it?" asked Will. Rachel took a deep breath.

"It's my mother," said Rachel. "Shelby is here. Teaching at McKinley. And she's starting her own glee club."

Later that day, Tina and Mike had stumbled across the first purple piano. The two of them had started to sing while Harmony had played the piano for them and were interrupted when Coach Sylvester came out into the hall, cutting the strings on the piano. A geometry teacher poked her head out and thanked Sue and expressed her disdain for the Arts. That caused Sue to announced her candidacy for Congress and vowed to cut the arts from schools.

Meanwhile, it turned out that Al Motta, the same guy who had donated the pianos, had a daughter at the school named Sugar. Turned out Sugar was a horrible singer with Asperger's Syndrome and had auditioned for the New Directions and Will had turned her down. When she told her father, Al Motta paid for a second glee club and hired Shelby to be the vocal coach.

Noelle sat with Quinn outside on the bleachers that afternoon before their practices.

"So want to tell me why the new look?" asked Noelle.

"I don't know," said Quinn, looking down. "I just felt like it."

"Quinn, is everything okay with you and Puck?" Noelle asked.

"Yeah," said Quinn. "But to be honest, I feel like I'm not doing enough for Beth."

"Quinn, don't get me wrong, but I think you're suffering from post-partum depression," said Noelle. "Have you talked to your doctor?"

"She said it was normal, but why it could be delayed, I don't know why," said Quinn.

"You should go see a therapist," said Noelle. "Talk to Puck and your mom about it. Beth needs you."

Meanwhile, Rachel was rehearsing for her audition for the school musical. This year was West Side Story and she wanted to secure the role of Maria.

"Your range is better," said a voice from behind Rachel. Rachel turned around to see Shelby standing there.

"Hi," said Shelby. "Will said I could find you here."

"This is a private rehearsal," said Rachel. "If you're here to get me to join your little group, my answer is no. My loyalty is to the New Directions."

"Actually, I just wanted to apologize," said Shelby. "For my behavior a couple years ago."

"My dads know that you're here?" asked Rachel.

"No, not if you want me to tell them," said Shelby.

"Well, it doesn't matter because I moved out and moved in with Finn and his family," said Rachel. "Finn asked me to marry him and I said yes and my dads weren't too happy about it."

"Ah, I see," said Shelby. "When's the wedding?"

"Next spring, right after Nationals," said Rachel. "Finn's parents are supporting us and the wedding."

"As long as your happy, sweetheart," said Shelby, placing her hand on Rachel's. "That's a beautiful ring."

"We picked it out together," said Rachel.

"You love Finn a lot," stated Shelby.

"Yes," Rachel nodded. "More than life itself. We're soulmates." Shelby smiled. "In fact, I have to go meet the girls. We're going to David's Bridal in a bit to look at dresses."

"Rachel, I want to be a part of your life," said Shelby as Rachel collected her things. "If you'll let me. Do you mind if I tag along? I am your mother after all."

Rachel nodded. "I would like that. I would like that a lot." Shelby took Rachel in a hug and Rachel returned it, crying into her mother's arms.

"What's SHE doing here?" Quinn said angrily as Rachel and Shelby met up with the other girls at David's Bridal. Noelle had convinced Quinn to go back to her blonde hair and ditch the nose ring and they had picked Beth up from daycare and drove to the shop.

"Mother and daughter have made up," said Rachel. "Don't worry, I'm staying with the New Directions."

"Good, because we need you," said Noelle. The others nodded.

"I'm not here to try and sway any of you to my glee club," said Shelby. "I'm just here to support my daughter as she walks down the aisle. And this must be Beth." Shelby knelt down to Beth's level.

"She's two now, right?"

"16 months," said Quinn. "She's shy." Beth was hiding into Quinn's leg.

"Hi Beth. I'm your Aunt Rachel's mom," said Shelby. "Oh well, maybe another day. Now let's go find you girls some dresses."

The group entered the shop and they were greeted by the desk receptionist. Noelle stated they had a bridal party appointment and the receptionist led them to Rachel's appointed stylist.

"Welcome ladies, my name is Mya," she said. "Who is the lucky bride?"

"I am," said Rachel, raising her hand.

"Okay, do we have a color preference for your bridesmaids, young lady?" Mya asked.

"Pink," said Rachel.

"Alright ladies, let's get started with you and then we will work on the bride-to-be."

"I look hideous in pink," stated Santana as she stood in front of a mirror.

"I think you look pretty in pink, San," said Brittney. "It makes you look like a woman."

"You look lovely, Santana," said Shelby, placing a hand on Santana's shoulder.

"Thanks, I guess," replied Santana. Noelle and Quinn stepped out of their dressing rooms, followed by Mercedes and Harmony. Tina was standing in front of a mirror, twirling.

"I feel like a princess," said Tina. "I can't wait until Mike and I get married."

"Wait about five years," teased Noelle. "If I know your parents they'll lock you in a temple."

The girls laughed as Tina glared at Noelle. She had a point though. The Cohen-Changs were very strict and religious.

Rachel, meanwhile, was trying on dress after dress, trying to find the right one. Nothing seemed to work until Noelle handed her a beautiful, short, fairy-tale like gown.

"You guys, I think this is the one," said Rachel, coming out of the dressing room. The girls gasped and Quinn smiled.

"Yes, definitely!" said Quinn. "You look amazing."

"Pretty!" said Beth as she stood in her flower girl dress. Quinn had put her in a 2T since she was going to grow into it.

"Sweetie, you look beautiful," said Shelby.

"I'll take it," said Rachel, turning to Mya.

A couple days later, the New Directions were sitting at the lunch table, carefully eyeing the purple piano and the jazz band sitting over against the wall.

"Well, do we get up and sing?" asked Quinn. "I'm kind of afraid."

"Come on guys," said Noelle. "What's the worst that could happen? I mean, come on, we won Nationals last year and got second place the year before. We're popular now. Sort of."

"Noelle's right," said Finn. "Mr. Schue gave us an assignment and we have to follow through with it."

"I have just the song," said Rachel. She nodded to the band and they started to play.

Rachel:

See the people walking down the street

Fall in line just watching all their feet

They don't know where they wanna go

Rachel with New Directions:

But they're walking in time

They got the beat

Yeah, they got the beat

Santana:

All the kids just getting out of school

They can't wait to hang out and be cool

Hang around 'til quarter after twelve

Santana with New Directions:

That's when they fall in line

They got the beat

Kids got the beat

Yeah, kids got the beat

Brittany:

Go-go music really makes us dance

Do the pony puts us in a trance

Do watusi just give us a chance

Brittany with New Directions:

That's when we fall in line, 'cuz

We got the beat

Yeah, we got it

New Directions:

We got the beat

Santana (New Directions):

Everybody, get on your feet (We got the beat)

Brittany (New Directions):

We know you can dance to the beat (We got the beat)

Rachel (New Directions):

Jumpin' get down (We got the beat)

Rachel, Santana, and Brittany:

Round and round and round

Whoooo!

Brittany (New Directions):

We got the beat (We got the beat)

Rachel:

We got the beat

Santana (New Directions):

We got the beat (We got the beat)

Rachel:

Whooo!

We got the beat!

Rachel and New Directions:

We got the beat

As the song ended and the New Directions stood back in front of the band, Becky Jackson came up to Rachel and threw peas at her. Another kid threw a slushie at Noelle and she gasped.

"Oh no," said Puck with a look of horror on his face.

"FOOD FIGHT!" cried Ben Jacob-Isreal. As people started to throw food, the New Directions girls screamed as spaghetti and other arrays of food flew towards them.

"Oh hell to the no!" cried Mercedes. As everyone tried to take cover, the guys were defending their girlfriends and getting the majority of the food thrown on them. Rachel was sobbing left and right because her hair was covered in noodles.

"That was horrifying," stated Santana. "Never again."

"I have pepperoni in my bra," said Brittney, looking down her uniform.

"Those are your nipples," replied Santana with a look of disbelief on her face.

"Ugh, spaghetti sauce stains are the worst," said Kurt. "This is never going to come out."

Will walked into the choir room to find the food-covered group standing there, attempting to clean themselves off.

"What happened?" asked Will.

"We performed in the cafeteria, just where the piano was, and Becky Jackson and some big dumb jock started a food fight," scowled Noelle.

"I keep finding peas in my weave," replied Mercedes.

"Let's face it, Mr. Schue," started Finn, "no one wants to join Glee Club."

"We may as well just perform with who we've got," said Rachel. "We still have enough members."

Friday came around and the group was still recovering from the food fight. Noelle asked Mr. Schue to place the last purple piano in the courtyard so she could try something to get people's attention.

"Come on, Noe, no one is gonna go for this," said Finn. "Do you want a repeat of Wednesday?"

"It doesn't hurt to try," said Noelle. She nodded to the band and they started to play The Bangles "Walk Like An Egyptian". With the exception of Quinn and Brittney, the Cheerios, including Santana, joined Noelle in her performance to everyone's shock and horror.

Noelle (Cheerios): All the old paintings on the tombs

They do the sand dance don't you know

If they move too quick

(Oh whey oh)

They're falling down like a domino

Santana (Cheerios): All the bazaar men by the Nile

They got the money on a bet

Gold crocodiles

(Oh whey oh)

They snap their teeth on your cigarette

Noelle and Santana (Cheerios): Foreign types with the hookah pipes say

(Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh)

Walk like an Egyptian

Santana (Cheerios): The blond waitresses take their trays

They spin around and they cross the floor

They've got the moves

(Oh whey oh)

You drop your drink then they bring you more

Noelle (Cheerios): All the school kids so sick of books

They like the punk and the metal band

When the buzzer rings

(Oh whey oh)

They're walking like an Egyptian

Noelle and Santana (Cheerios): All the kids in the market place say

(Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh)

Walk like an Egyptian

Noelle (Cheerios): Slide your feet up the street bend your back

Shift your arm then you pull it back

Life's hard you know

(Oh whey oh)

So strike a pose on a Cadillac

Santana (Cheerios): If you want to find all the cops

Noelle: They're hanging out in the donut shop

Noelle and Santana: They sing and dance

Cheerios: (Oh whey oh)

Noelle: They spin the clubs cruise down the block

Santana (Cheerios): All the Japanese with their Yen

The party boys call the Kremlin

And the Chinese know

(Oh whey oh)

They walk the line like Egyptian

Noelle (Cheerios): All the cops in the donut shop say

(Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh)

Walk like an Egyptian

To everyone's horror, Santana and the cheerios had dumped lighter fluid on the purple piano and Brett the Stoner Guy flicked his cigarette at the piano, causing the piano to burst into flames. The courtyard went silent except for Brett.

"Whoa, cool fireball!" exclaimed Brett.

Noelle sighed with exasperation and a look of horror on her face.

"I can't believe you Santana!" cried Noelle later that day. "How could you do something like that?"

"Simple, Coach Sylvester asked me to," replied Santana, shrugging her shoulders. "Told me I had to or I wouldn't be captain."

"I'm very disappointed in you, Santana," said Quinn. "That woman is a nightmare. I don't even know why I'm still a Cheerio."

"Because you love to cheer," said Puck.

Will stood there, looking at Santana.

"Santana, I have no choice but to ban you from Glee," said Will.

"What? You can't do that!" said Santana.

"Until you decide where your true allegiance lies, I'm banning you from Glee," replied Will.

"Fine," said Santana, collecting her things and getting up. "Maybe I'll go join Shelby's glee club then. Anyone else that feels like they are left out in this Glee Club can join me and that rich bitch Sugar Motta. Come on Britt, we don't need these losers."

Everyone stared at Brittney, who looked back at Santana.

"I'm sorry guys," said Brittney to the rest of the group. As the two left, everyone sat there in disbelief. They were now two more members. The group was even more shocked when Mercedes stood up.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Schue, but Santana's right," said Mercedes. "I haven't had a solo in months. It's been Noelle, Rachel, Finn, and Quinn. Sorry guys." As Mercedes left the room, the group heard her called out to Santana and Brittney to wait up for her.

"Well that was a shocker," said Artie. "Now what do we do? We just lost three of our best singers and two of our best dancers."

"Cheer up guys," said Rachel. "We still have twelve members. And despite everything that's happened, we shouldn't try to let Coach Sylvester sway us into disbanning. In fact, I had something prepared for our group number. Let's go to the auditorium."

Rachel:

You can't stop an avalanche,

As it races down the hill,

You can try to stop the seasons

But you know you never will

And you can try to stop my dancin' feet

But I just cannot stand still

'Cause the world keeps spinnin'

Round and round

And my heart's keeping time

To the speed of sound

I was lost 'til I heard the drums

And I found my way

'Cause you can't stop the beat...

Five, six, seven, eight!

Rachel and Finn:

Ever since this old world began

A woman found out if she shook it

She could shake up a man

And so I'm gonna shake and shimmy it

The best that I can today

'Cause you can't stop

The motion of the ocean

Or the sun in the sky

You can wonder if you wanna

But I never ask why

If you try to hold me down

I'm gonna spit in your eye and say

That you can't stop the beat!

Kurt:

You can't stop a river

As it rushes to the sea

Artie:

You can try to stop the hands of time

But ya' know it just can't be

Kurt:

And if they try to stop us, Artie

Kurt and Artie:

I'll call the N-double-A-C-P

Kurt:

'Cause the world keeps spinning

'Round and 'round (Artie: 'Round and 'round)

And my heart's keeping time

To the speed of sound (Artie: Speed of sound)

I was lost 'til I heard the drums

Kurt and Artie:

Then I found my way!

Kurt:

'Cause you can't stop the beat

Kurt and Artie:

Ever since we first saw the light

A man and woman liked to shake it

On a Saturday night

So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it

With all of my might today

Kurt:

'Cause you can't stop

Kurt and Artie:

The motion of the ocean

Or the rain from above

You can try to stop the paradise

We're dreamin' of

But you cannot stop the rhythm

Of two hearts in love to stay

'Cause you can't stop the beat!

New Directions:

Badababa ba ba...

Noelle (Tina with New Directions):

You can't stop today (No!)

As it comes speeding down the track (Ooo ooo ooo)

(Child ya'!) Child, yesterday is hist'ry (He's gone!)

And it's never coming back (Don't look back!)

Cause tomorrow (tomorrow) is a brand new day (Brand new day)

And it don't know white from black (Yeah!)

Noelle (with Finn and New Directions):

'Cause the world (keeps spinning' round and 'round)

And my heart's (keeping time to the speed of sound)

I was lost ('til I heard the drums, then I found my way)

'Cause you can't stop the beat!

Finn with New Direction Boys (Tina with New Direction Girls):

Oh.. (oh, oh!)

Oh.. (oh, oh, oh!)

Tina with New Directions:

(Noelle: Yeah!)

Ever since we first saw the sun (Noelle: Saw the sun!)

A man and woman liked to shake it

When the day is done (Noelle: Day is done!)

So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it

And have some fun today (Noelle: Today!)

'Cause you can't stop

The motion of the ocean

Or the rain from above

You can try to stop the paradise

We're dreaming of (Noelle: Dreaming of!)

But you cannot stop the rhythm

Of two hearts in love to stay (Noelle: To stay!)

Tina:

You can't stop the beat! (New Directions: You can't stop the beat)

Tina, Rachel, and Noelle with New Directions:

You can't stop the beat! (New Directions: You can't stop the beat)

You can't stop the beat! (Noelle: Yeah..., yeah...!)

New Directions:

Badababa ba ba...