PREVIOUSLY: The New Directions Alumni were now back together officially as The New Directions. They had all been brought together by Michael Baxter, one of their fans of their past, and wanted them to compete at the World Championship of Show Choirs, which was funded by his family.
Michael even built them a training base to train from, and they have just finished receiving their official tour. Now they can relax before the fun really begins.
And now the continuation:
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CHAPTER 26 - SETTLING IN
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The New Directions Alumni, who were now officially back as The New Directions, were all in the cafeteria eating their lunch. They were starving.
At one table sat Mercedes, Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine.
At another sat Santana, Brittany, Jake and Tina
At another sat Kitty, Artie, and Puck
And at the last table sat Mike, Sam, and Quinn.
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"Have you spoken to Mercedes yet, Sam?" asked Quinn
"Not really," replied Sam "I haven't really had a chance to have a one on one time with her."
"Maybe you should try and ask her for a chat in private?"
"I'm not really worried to be honest," said Sam "She can come to me, if she wants to talk."
"Isn't that a coward way to look at it?"
"No, I'd let her come to me."
"She's probably thinking the same thing,"
"I don't think so. She's not like that."
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Over at the other table Kitty was sitting so close to Artie, that they were whispering in each others ears.
"What is up with you two?" asked Puck
"Nothing," giggled Artie
"Yea nothing," giggled Kitty
"So I take it, you don't want me to approach Tina any more?"
"Na, it's a waste of time," semi smiled Artie "You do it for yourself, if you want to."
Puck looked at the table where Tina sat, she was on her phone texting.
"I may just do that," said Puck to himself
Artie and Kitty looked at each other and kissed.
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Over at the other table Brittany, Santana, Jake and Tina were eating their lunch.
"When did that happen?" asked Brittany
"When did what happen?" asked Santana looking over at Quinn
"Artie and Kitty, they seem to be canoodling."
Tina looked up from her phone.
"It's just a rouse," said Tina
Santana looked over at Tina "You're just jealous, you forced him into her arms because of what you did. You made your bed, now lie in it."
"Shut up," said Tina "Just leave it alone."
"Well then don't make silly comments."
Tina shook her head.
Brittany leaned in to Santana and whispered "What's up with you and Fabray? You keep looking at her."
"My radar's going off Brit," whispered Santana back
"Which radar? It can't be your gaydar."
"Something is going on between her and Money Bags."
"Money Bags being?"
"Our benefactor."
"No way," whispered Brittany shocked "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"What are you girls whispering about?" asked Jake
"Probably about me," sighed Tina
"Not everything's about you, Cohen-Chang," snapped Santana
"It's about something else," replied Brittany
Tina rolled her eyes and stood up, and grabbed her food tray, and headed towards the front counter.
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On the other table Finn was whispering sweet nothings in Rachel's ear, and she was giggling. Mercedes was smiling because Rachel seemed really happy to be back with Finn.
"So are you to approach Sam, Mercedes?" asked Blaine
"Why?" asked Mercedes
"Because of your history with Sam, don't you want to try to get back with him?"
"I have been looking after myself for the last 10 years," started Mercedes "Just focusing on myself. I didn't think of Sam once. So I'm not thinking about him now."
"Isn't that harsh though?" asked Blaine
"Why would it be harsh?"
"He's possibly thinking about you though!"
Mercedes looked over at where Sam was, and they made eyes contact. He smiled and gave a little wave. Mercedes semi smiled back. She felt nothing.
"I don't feel anything," said Mercedes to Blaine
"It'll take time for it to come back," said Kurt
"We'll see,"
"Why don't you talk to him now?" asked Rachel from out of the blue
"Maybe later,"
Finn saw Puck walk by who was watching Tina walk out of the cafeteria. Puck walked up to the front counter, and placed his tray down, and smiled at the supervisor, who was a female, and then began to head for the door.
"A penny for your thoughts?" whispered Rachel to Finn
"Something's up with Puck," said Finn a bit louder so everyone at his table could hear.
"When isn't anything up with Puck?" laughed Kurt
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Tina was heading for the lift.
"Wait up Cohen-Chang," came Puck's voice
Tina stopped and sighed. What was Puck wanting. Puck walked up.
"Where are you going?"
"We've got that counseling session that starts in 10 minutes,"
"Oh yeah, that's right."
Tina looked at Puck "But you weren't asking me that for a reason. What do you want Noah?"
"Why are you being so secretive?"
Tina rolled her eyes "Not you too."
Tina turned and walked towards the lift.
"Well you are being secretive and being bitchy about it," said Puck
"Did Artie put you up to this?" asked Tina getting to the lift, and pushing the button
"He wouldn't stop pestering me about it."
"Well I don't think he's going to be pestering you any more. He's busy with Kitty."
Puck walked up to Tina "That's just a show."
"No, Noah, it may have started out as a show, but Kitty's pretty convincing when she wants something. She has Artie back."
"Are you jealous?" asked Puck
"Are you for real?" replied Tina
The lift doors opened, and Tina walked in. Puck followed.
"Why did Artie think that there was something going on between me and you then?" asked Puck
The lift doors closed.
"Did he say that?"
"Yes."
"I don't know... If that's what he thinks then that's his problem."
Puck turned to Tina "Come on Tina, what is going on?"
Tina just stood there waiting for the lift to arrive at the 5th Floor.
"Please Noah, just leave it alone."
"Why?"
The doors opened, and Tina went to step out, but Puck grabbed her arm.
"Why?" asked Puck quietly this time
Tina sighed "Do you not remember what happened the day after that incident 10 years ago?"
Puck looked at Tina weirdly "Up until a month ago, the whole ten years I spent drinking to forget that night of the party."
"I know," replied Tina "I was with you when you started the 10 years of Drinking."
"Were you? I don't remember."
Tina pulled away from Puck's grip "And there's the answer to my question. You Don't Remember!"
Tina stormed out of the lift, and Puck was shocked. He followed.
"Tina, what the hell?"
Tina spun around and yelled: "YOU CAN'T REMEMBER SO IT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO YOU AS IS IT IS TO ME. SO UNTIL YOU CAN REMEMBER, LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE."
Tina spun back around and stormed off towards the counseling area, leaving Puck stuck to the spot. Michael and Dan walked out of their offices. Michael saw Tina walking fast towards the Counseling areas, and Puck was standing steadfast.
Michael walked up to Puck "Another argument Mr Puckerman. You seem to be involved in so many."
"Yeah go on blame me," said Puck
Puck stormed off after Tina.
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10 minutes later everyone was sitting in the Counseling waiting room except for Puck, who was pacing around very angry.
"What's up with you Puckerman?" asked Sam
"Nothing," Puck bit back.
"Woah, okay," said Sam putting up his hands "I was only asking."
The doors to the offices opened and out came all 15 Councillors.
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*"Miss Berry?"
"That's me," said Rachel standing up.
"My name is Wanda Wilson, follow me."
Rachel smiled back at Finn, and walked after the councilor.*
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*Mr Kurt Hummel?"
"Yes," said Kurt
"I'm Patrick Stillger. Follow me."
Kurt got up and followed his councilor.*
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*"Miss Santana Lopez?"
"I'm here," smiled Santana
"I'm Patricia Lomax, follow me please."
Santana got up, kissed Brittany on the head, and followed her councilor.*
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*"Miss Kitty Wilde?"
"Here" said Kitty
"I'm Joanne Sinclair. Follow me."
Kitty leaned over and kissed Artie, got up and followed her councilor.*
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*"Mr Jake Puckerman?"
"That's me," said Jake
"I'm Andrea Zalta. This way please."
Jake got up and followed his councilor.*
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*"Mr Noah Puckerman?"
"That's me," said Puck sternly "And it's Puck."
"I'm Zac Gifford. This way please Mr. Puckerman."
"I told you, it's Puck," continued Puck, walking after his councilor *
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*"Mr Finn Hudson?"
"Yes that's me," said Finn
"I'm Roger Burton. Follow me please."
Finn got up, and followed his councilor.*
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*"Miss Mercedes Jones?"
"Here" said Mercedes
"I'm Maria Wilson, follow me please."
Mercedes got up, and followed her councilor.*
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*"Miss Brittany S Pierce?"
"I am here," smiled Brittany
"I am Cherry Cleasen. Follow me."
Brittany got up and followed her councilor.*
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*"Mr Sam Evans?"
"Yup." said Sam
"I'm Jacob Van Kempen. Follow me."
Sam got up and followed his councilor.*
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*"Miss Tina Cohen-Chang?"
"Yes," said Tina
"I'm Christine Larsen. Follow me."
Tina got up and followed her councilor.*
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*"Mr Blaine Anderson?"
"Here," said Blaine
"I'm Barbara Vickers, this way please."
Blaine got up, and followed his councilor.*
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*"Miss Quinn Fabray?"
"That's me," said Quinn
"I'm Colin Simmons, follow me please."
Quinn got up and followed her councilor.*
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*"Mr Artie Abrams?"
"Yes," said Artie
"I'm Kathy Young, follow me."
Artie wheeled himself after his councilor.*
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*"Mr Mike Chang."
"Yes." said Mike
"I'm Gregor Robertson, follow me please."
Mike got up and followed his councilor.*
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The New Directions walked into their respective councilors offices.
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Puck walked into his Councillors office and started pacing.
"Please have a seat Mr Puckerman," said Zac Gifford
"I'd rather stand, and like I said, I preferred to be called Puck."
Zac semi smiled as he walked over to his chair and sat down.
"You looked all worked up? Why so angry, 'Puck'?"
"You have a very good perception," said Puck sarcastically "Well done."
"Thank you."
"It wasn't a compliment."
"I know it wasn't."
Puck shook his head and kept on pacing. Zac watched him, trying to make sure where to start his next point of attack. He looked down at his notes.
"I understand that you spent a whole month in rehab after years and years of drinking. Do you feel anxious at the moment?"
"Nope," said Puck "It's got nothing to do with that!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm bloody sure. I KNOW why I am angry."
"Mr... 'Puck' you need to calm down. You are very defensive."
"Of course I'm defensive," said Puck "You're a shrink, I hate shrinks. I don't know you. And then there's the whole ten years of being drunk. I don't even know or can remember what was so important about 10 years year ago.
Zac smiled "And there it is. Your reason for being angry."
Puck shook his head "You're very good."
"So what was important that you need to remember 10 years ago?"
"I don't know. I have to remember though," said Puck sitting down "It's important to someone else."
"So it doesn't actually relate to you as such? It's important to someone else?"
"Yes, but it involves me!"
Zac sat back "Is this person part of the New Directions?"
"Yes."
"It sounds like you being able to remember is really important to this person."
"Yes it does sound like it."
"I understand what happened 10 years is go is hard all these years later."
"Yes it is."
"And I don't have any details on what happened. But it's really important to Mr Baxter that you guys work through these issues. The sooner you do, the sooner we can put things in place, and then you don't have to see me any more."
"That's good," said Puck "I understand."
"So do you want to talk about it?"
"Nope!"
Zac got up and nodded. "Okay I understand. Is there anything you do want to talk about?"
"I need to find out what I need to remember, so I'm not in Tina's bad books anymore!"
Zac smiled "So Tina is the one who asked you to remember?"
"Oh You are a very good head shrink, I didn't even see that coming."
"I didn't lure you in to saying that, Puck, you feel comfortable enough to say it."
"Whatever you think," said Puck in disbelief
"Is Tina important to you?"
"Nope, not really."
"Have you had anything to do with her in the past, apart from being in the New Directions?"
"Nope."
"So she's not important to you in any way?"
"Dude, I already said no."
Zac walked over to a cupboard, and opened it. He took out a box. He walked back over to where Puck was, placed it on a table in front of him.
"What's that?" asked Puck
"An experiment," smiled Zac
Puck looked at the box, and then back at Zac.
"You are a very weird head shrink."
"Have you had one before?"
"Not really, no!"
"Tell me 'Puck' when was the last time you had a drink?"
"32 days ago. Your boss was with me, when I had my last drop."
"How long did it take for the withdrawals to disappear?"
"About two weeks. Two very long weeks. What does that have to do with what happened 10 years ago?"
"Just bare with me, please," said Zac "When was the last time that you felt you really needed to drink again?"
"Up until before, yesterday back in Dallas."
"What made you want to touch a drop?"
"Oh I dunno... Maybe it was because I saw Mike Chang for the first time in 10 years, and I ended up hitting him."
"Is Mike, part of the the group?"
"Yes, he's here."
"Why did you hit him?"
"No comment," said Puck getting defensive again
"Puck I'm trying to help you out here. You need to give me some answers to my questions in order to provide me enough information to help you out."
"I don't need to do squat," said Puck standing up "I'm sick of this already."
Zac walked up to Puck, and placed his hand on his shoulder and spoke quietly.
"I didn't mean to work you up, I'm just needing to ask special questions, which at the end of the day, will help you out. Do you want to stop being angry?"
Puck looked at Zac, somehow he felt calm.
"Some of those questions you are asking are stupid," replied Puck sitting down
"I know and well I'm sorry," replied Zac "I have to ask those questions... I'll ask again, why did you hit this Mike Chang?"
Tears came to Pucks eyes.
"Dude," said Puck calmly "His girlfriend was the the cause of the incident 10 years ago. I spent the last 10 years drinking away the pain, drinking to forget."
Zac knelt down beside Puck "So all of this is bring back the rawness?"
"Yes."
"So do you feel like drinking?"
"Yes."
Zac stood up and stared down at the box, and was in contemplation mode. He made the decision to go for it, and he opened the box and took out a glass and bottle of whiskey. He placed it down on the table in front of Puck.
Puck stared at the glass and the bottle in disbelief.
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What is Puck's Councillor, Zac Gifford playing at? Will Puck take the bottle and drink it? What will happen if he does?
Stay tuned.