Chapter 30
"Attention children," Principal Figgins said into the microphone. "We will now announce the winners of this year's prom king and queen. Will the nominees please come to the stage?" He spoke insipidly.
Santana, Ali, Quinn, and Emily all walked onto the stage followed by Puck, Finn, Sam, and Rick "The Stick". Quinn smiled and winked at Puck across the stage and Santana rolled her eyes. "I'm so gonna win this thing, Fabray," Santana joked.
"I doubt it," Quinn shrugged and turned her attention back to Figgins.
"And your prom king is…" Figgins started, opening the envelope. "Finn Hudson."
People in the audience cheered and yelled Finn's name. Even the other king nominees were clapping. Finn smiled a little and walked forward to get the crown. Figgins placed the crown on his head and then opened the envelope with the queen's name on it. "And your prom queen is," he began, glancing at the nominees, "Quinn Fabray."
Quinn was shocked when her name was read. She glanced at Puck and then at Ali before grinning and walking over to get the crown. "Finally got what you wanted," Finn mumbled to her, smiling a little. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Quinn smiled.
"And now the first dance of your 2012 leaders," Figgins announced, moving aside for Puck and Santana to sing.
Lyin' here with you so close to me
It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe
I'm caught up in this moment, caught up in your smile
Santana started, smiling as Quinn and Finn walked onto the dance floor. Finn held Quinn's hand as they reached the middle. "I thought you didn't care about prom queen anymore?" Finn asked as he faced her and put his hands on her waist.
She shrugged and put hers around his neck. "I don't," she smiled. "I guess I just got lucky."
"Yeah," Finn nodded. "It's been a great year for me, Q. Even though we had all of that drama the two of us managed to stay on top and that's how things are supposed to be."
"I know," she grinned. "I like it this way."
"Well it will always be this way for me," he shrugged. "You'll always be my prom queen even though you're not my girlfriend."
"It's going to be great next year in Connecticut. We can just get a new life and forget about glee club drama," she nodded. "Have you and Rachel worked it out yet? How is everything with Sophia going to work?"
"It's not going to work," he sighed. "But we'll take it day by day until we can't anymore."
"That's smart," she smiled.
"What about you and Puck? Is he going to be joining us in Connecticut next year?"
"I don't think so," she shook her head. "He's going to California."
I've never opened up to anyone
So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this, let's just take it slow
Puck sang, looking directly at Quinn. "So are you two going to try and make it work?"
"We'll see," she sighed. "I doubt it."
"Well you love him, you can't just forget and try to move on like that," Finn frowned.
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
No, I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby, I'm alright with just a kiss goodnight
Santana and Puck sang together. "I know and believe me, I don't want to. But if long distance is gonna be hard for you and Rachel than I can't imagine how hard it will be for Puck and me. We've barely been together a week."
"But you love him so much and I can tell by the way he's looking at you right now that he loves you just as much if not more," Finn insisted.
"I know," Quinn mumbled. "I want it to be forever but I just…I just can't handle it," she sighed.
Finn shook his head and pulled her closer as they swayed to the music. Quinn looked at Puck who was smiling a little at her and all she could do was stand there and dance with Finn. She felt a few tears start to roll down her cheeks and she looked away from the stage at the floor. "Yes you can. You're Quinn Fabray, remember?"
I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real, no, it's never felt so right
"I'm not as strong as everyone thinks I am," Quinn said. "I can't take all of that pain. It's better if we just end it now before it's too late." She was still crying and Finn could hear the tears choking her up.
"Hey, it's okay," he softly rubbed her back, trying to calm her down.
"No it's not," she shook her head.
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No, I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby, I'm alright with just a kiss goodnight
Finn sighed. "Why can't you ever let yourself be happy?"
"Because I know it's all going to be over in a few days," she frowned, trying not to ruin her make-up. "Look, I love him and he loves me but we can't be together once I move because it's gonna be way too hard and we're just going to grow apart and cheat anyways. It's as simple as that."
"It's not simple," Finn sighed. "You can be together, Quinn; I know it."
No, I don't want to say goodnight
I know it's time to leave
But you'll be in my dreams
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby, I'm alright
"No we can't. Just give it up, Finn," Quinn rolled her eyes a little and wiped away a few more tears. "I'm done fighting for something that won't work out. I just want to let go of my past and start my future. Is that too much to ask?"
"No," he said. "But Puck is your future."
"He's not; he can't be," she shook her head and pulled away from him.
Oh, let's do this right with just a kiss goodnight
With a kiss goodnight, kiss goodnight
Quinn didn't wait a second after the song ended to run out of the gym and into the girl's bathroom. She needed to be somewhere to think where she knew Finn and Puck couldn't follow her. Unfortunately for Quinn, Santana did. "What the hell just happened?" Santana asked Quinn.
Quinn could barely reply, she was sobbing so hard at that point. "I don't know," she cried as Santana walked over and hugged her tightly. They stood there hugging for a few seconds before Quinn pulled away. "I need to break up with Puck."
"No, don't do that," Santana frowned. "That would be so stupid, Q."
"Now I know why they call prom night the night of heartbreak," Quinn cried, leaning back on the vanity. "I love him; I just can't be with him anymore. It's not going to work with me in Connecticut and him in California."
"Then wait and see, don't break up with him," Santana frowned and took Quinn's hand in hers. "How about we go back to my house and you text Puckerman saying that you got sick so you went home and you and me can have some girl time? We really need to catch up and we don't have a lot of time left to be together, you know?"
"Sure," Quinn nodded. "That sounds great."
Finn didn't wait any longer than 15 minutes for Quinn to come out of the bathroom before leaving. He wanted to see Rachel that night and it was already getting late. He considered telling Puck what was going on but didn't want to be the one to ruin Puck and Quinn's relationship. He reached Rachel's house a little after 11 and when he got there, he immediately walked over to the crib where their baby laid sound asleep. "Hey," he whispered when he saw Rachel on the couch. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," Rachel smiled a little when she saw Finn. "How was prom?"
"Okay, I guess," Finn shrugged. He handed her the prom king crown. "I won prom king."
"Did Alison win queen then?" Rachel asked, smiling weakly. He shook his head, looking down as she waited for him to reply.
"No," he answered simply.
"Who did?"
"Quinn," he told her, sighing a little. "She was really happy at the beginning of our dance and by the end she ran out crying. I don't know what happened; she and Puck were so happy and making annoying couple comments and then all of a sudden she was saying that she couldn't be with him anymore after graduation."
"Wait what?" Rachel frowned. "So they're breaking up?"
"We'll see," he shrugged. "I hate talking about her, can we not?" He sighed and she shook her head.
"I'm fine with that."
"So are you going to get to perform at Nationals?" He asked, changing the subject.
"I don't think so and I honestly don't care anymore. You guys can win without me," Rachel shrugged. "I'm not ready for all of that dancing."
"Well Mr. Schue said that if you can't compete I have to sing with Quinn instead," Finn said. "Things are still really awkward between the two of us."
"It'll be fine. And I thought you were doing Dark Horse so Quinn can double up with Santana and you can split with Artie," she suggested. "Talk to Mr. Schue about it?"
"Sure," he nodded. "I guess."
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The next weekend was Nationals. No one had talked to Quinn other than Santana all week and they all thought it was strange that she hadn't even showed up to glee club or cheerios practice. Puck was scared that something happened to her and Finn was annoyed that she hadn't even called him after the dance. "Where the hell is Quinn?" Mr. Schue frowned when he saw Finn and Puck walk into the rehearsal room in Cleveland, Ohio.
"I have no idea, I haven't seen her all week," Finn shrugged. "She wasn't in class yesterday or Thursday."
"I'm here," Quinn sighed as she walked in. "I memorized my half of Because but I'm still trying to get Dark Horse down."
Santana was standing next to Quinn and holding her up. "She hasn't gotten a lot of sleep lately."
"Quinn, are you drunk?" Will asked her.
"No," Quinn lied, shaking her head as she stumbled away from Santana and over to Sam. "Hey there hot stuff. I can't believe we broke up. You're such a jerk; I can't believe I let you be mad at me."
"Santana, what's going on?" Will frowned.
"She might have had a little bit too much to drink," Santana admitted. "Please let her sing. She's been practicing this song all week."
"We can't let her sing in this condition, Will. She's too hung-over," Shelby told him.
"Tina will take Quinn's part," Will sighed. "We're on in five, show circle time."
(Santana, Tina, Artie, Finn)
Yeah, y'all know what it is!
Katy Perry
Juicy J
Uh huh, let's rave!
I knew you were
You were gonna come to me
And here you are
But you better choose carefully
'Cause I...
I'm capable of anything
Of anything
And everything
Make me your Aphrodite
Make me your one and only
But don't make me your enemy
Your enemy
Your enemy
So you wanna play with magic
Boy you should know what you're fallin' for
Baby do you dare to do this
'Cause I'm comin' at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for
Ready for
A perfect storm
Perfect storm
'Cause once you're mine
Once you're mine
There's no goin' back
Mark my words
This love will make you levitate
Like a bird
Like a bird without a cage
We're down to earth
If you choose to walk away
Don't walk away
It's in the palm of your hand now baby
It's a yes or a no
No maybe
So just be sure
Before you give it up to me
Up to me
Give it up to me
So you wanna play with magic
Boy you should know what you're fallin' for
Baby do you dare to do this
'Cause I'm comin' at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for
Ready for
A perfect storm
Perfect storm
Cause once you're mine
Once you're mine
There's no goin' back
She's a beast
I call her Karma
She eat your heart out
Like Jeffrey Dahmer
Be careful
Try not to lead her on
Shawty's heart was on steroids
'Cause her love was so strong
You may fall in love
When you meet her
If you get the chance, you better keep her
She swears by it but if you break her heart
She turn cold as a freezer
That fairy tale ending with a knight in shining armor
She can be my Sleeping Beauty
I'm gon' put her in a coma
Woo!
Damn I think I love her
Shawty so bad
I'm sprung and I don't care
She got me like a roller coaster
Turn the bedroom into a fair
Her love is like a drug
I was tryna hit it and quit it
But lil' mama so dope
I messed around and got addicted
So you wanna play with magic?
Boy you should know what you're fallin' for
(You should know)
Baby do you dare to do this
'Cause I'm comin' at you like a dark horse
(Like a dark horse)
Are you ready for
Ready for (Ready for)
A perfect storm
Perfect storm (A perfect storm)
'Cause once you're mine
Once you're mine (ohhhh)
There's no goin' back
The crowd applauded loudly. Everyone sounded amazing and they all loved the feeling of accomplishment growing inside of them. Everyone other than Quinn and Santana went to the back of the stage for the next song.
(Santana, Quinn, Both)
I will not make the same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break the way you did,
You fell so hard
I've learned the hard way
To never let it get that far
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I'm forced to fake
A smile, a laugh everyday of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don't know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty
Because of you
I am afraid
Because of you
Because of you
The audience cheered and Santana and Quinn hugged, smiling to themselves. They were glad they nailed the song after all of that rehearsal even though Quinn was so drunk that she didn't know what she was doing. For the next song, everyone in the glee club sang together.
I'll believe when the walls stop turning
I'll believe when the storm is through
I believe I heard them say
David won't you stop writing songs
I never wanna shake their hands and stay
I never wanna shake their hands and stay
Oh no let's go
We are young, we are one
Let us shine for what it's worth
To your place, place, place
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way somehow
Hold me close, close, close
We're losing time, time, time
We're losing time, time, time
I'm falling to the ground
I'll believe when the sky is burning
I'll believe when I see the view
I believe that I heard them say
David won't you stop dreaming now
And everybody clap your hands and shout
And everybody clap your hands and shout
We are young, we are one
Let us shine for what it's worth
To your place, place, place
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way somehow
Hold me close, close, close
We're losing time, time, time
We're losing time, time, time
I'm falling to the ground
We are young, we are one
Let us shine for what it's worth
To your place, place, place
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way, way, way
Hold me close
We're losing time
Hold me close
We're falling to the ground
Taxi driver sun is rising
Damn the sirens, keep on driving
Flashing light, oh what a night
I miss her bed, I lost my head
And it's sunning, we're still running
For her rooftop, our last stop
Barefoot, naked, don't you let me go
To your place, place, place
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way somehow
Hold me close, close, close
We're losing time, time, time
We're losing time, time, time
I'm falling to the ground
We are young, we are one
Let us shine for what it's worth
To your place, place, place
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way, way, way
We're on our way
La la la la la
(This Night Will Never End)
Hold me close, we're losing time
Hold me close, we're falling to the ground
When they finally finished, everyone ran off stage and hugged, clapping and cheering. "We totally kicked ass!" Santana said, high fiving Quinn.
"Totally," Quinn nodded and stumbled away from her over to Puck. "Can we please talk?"
"Not right now, Q. You smell like whiskey. Why were you drinking whiskey? You hate whiskey," Puck sighed.
"Well Sam likes whiskey and my mom likes Sam so yeah," Quinn shrugged and put her arms around his neck. "Let's go back to your place after the competition. Does that sound good to you?"
"No, we can't do that, Quinn," Puck sighed. "What is wrong with you?"
"My mom hates me and she hates you but she'll like me if I like Sam so I'm gonna pretend I hate you and act like I like Sam. Okay?" She asked, confusing Puck.
"No, not okay," he sighed. "Whatever, I can't deal with this right now." He shook his head.
"Come on babe, don't be so boring," Quinn said, smirking. "You know you love this." She rested her hand on his shoulder and moved closer, kissing his neck. "I know it because you always tell me so when I do it in bed."
"Quinn, this isn't okay right now," Puck looked down. "Stop it."
"Never," she smiled and began to bite lightly on his ear. She knew it drove him crazy. "Never ever, ever."
"Look, babe, I love you but would you please have some water and try to get the alcohol out of your system?" He frowned.
"No," she said stubbornly and moved closer to him. "You can't tell me what to do."
"Okay, come here," he sighed and grabbed her hand, pulling her into a closet.
Graduation came up fast; no one was expecting it to sneak up on them like that. Quinn was late to the ceremony and when she got there it was once again with Santana. Everyone, especially Finn, wanted to know why Quinn was drinking so much and what her problem was. She hated alcohol ever since her father started drinking. Finn never told her but the reason he never drank was because of her dad. He didn't want to become that person. "Quinn? Where were you? Graduation is starting in five minutes!" Puck frowned when he saw Quinn in the hall drinking out of her water bottle.
"I don't want to go to college next year," Quinn sighed and reached for Puck's hand. "I just want to stay here and fuck you all of the time," she smirked and forced him into a kiss as she slammed her locker shut.
"No, Quinn, stop," he pulled away. "I love you so much and it hurts to see you like this. Just tell me what's going on."
"We have to break up," she sighed. "We just have to face the truth that next year you're gonna be God knows where doing God knows what with God knows who. And I'm gonna be in New Haven in school with Finn and Mike and anyone else who ends up in Connecticut."
"Quinn, I'm never gonna get over you. The only truth we have to face is that you and I are meant to be together," Puck explained. "We're Puck and Quinn, Quinn and Puck. We're not Finn and Rachel or Mike and Tina; we don't have that faithful, trusting relationship that they have. All we have is love but that's enough for me." He sighed. "I don't know about you but I'm not gonna touch another girl until you tell me you don't want to be with me at all. Finn is gonna be an hour away playing football at UConn and Mike is gonna be dancing there, too. They're not gonna be bugging you as much as you think they are. But I am. I'm gonna call you every night and text you every hour of every day until the day you graduate from Yale and when you do, we're gonna figure out where our lives will go together from there."
"You're so naïve! Why can't you just get the hint? We're done," she sighed and looked away, starting to walk to down the hall. "I just think our time was high school and you wasted all of it on other cheerleaders and I wasted it on Sam. I'm done talking about this and I'm so done talking to you."
"Quinn, wait…"
"No way," she shook her head and opened the door to the auditorium. "I'm so done waiting for you, Puck. I'm just…" She started to tear up. "I'm just done."
"Quinn we can figure this out." It was the first time she had ever seen him even close to tears and he was already letting a few fall. He knew this was insane and they would end up back together again anyways. But something about the way she was talking made him feel like she never really loved him at all. That wasn't true; she told him she loved him all the time. But she was right with every single word she had just said.
"Are you okay?" Finn asked when he saw Quinn come into the auditorium.
"I just need to get out of here," Quinn shook her head, still trying her hardest to hold back tears. "When are we going to start?"
"I don't know…" Finn started but was interrupted by Rachel.
"Quinn, are you okay?" Rachel asked, frowning when she saw Quinn. "Have you been crying?"
"I'm fine," she lied. "I just want to get this over with."
Soon Puck was onstage and rocking out to Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen, trying to avoid looking at Quinn. "Rachel Berry," Figgins said into the microphone after a few other names were called. It went in alphabetical order so she was one of the first names. Rachel smiled as she ran up to the stage and accepted her diploma, giving a weak hug to Miss Pillsbury who was giving the diplomas. A few more names passed. "Michael Chang Jr." Mike ran onstage and high fived Miss Pillsbury, accepting his diploma before joining Rachel and hugging her a little. "Quinn Fabray." Quinn slowly walked onstage and took her diploma, ignoring Puck and Miss Pillsbury. "Finn Hudson." Finn smiled as he accepted his diploma, grinned at Puck, and hugged Miss Pillsbury, later joining Rachel, Mike, and Quinn.
"Hang in there," he smiled at Quinn. She sighed and wiped away a few tears before hugging him.
"Kurt Hummel." Kurt ran onstage and did the same as Finn besides the hugging Quinn part. "Mercedes Jones." Mercedes bowed as she took her diploma and hugged Miss Pillsbury, joining the rest of them on the stage. "Santana Lopez." Santana curtsied as she accepted her diploma and hugged Miss Pillsbury, waving at Puck. She then ran to everyone else and hugged Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Mike, and Mercedes. When she noticed Quinn was crying, she sighed and hugged her tightly.
"It's gonna be okay," she assured her. "You'll be fine; I promise."
"Noah Puckerman," Figgins said in his regular monotone voice and Puck took the diploma. He waved slightly at his mom and his sister in the audience and then hugged Emma slightly, giving Coach Beiste, who was standing in the audience, thumbs up. He then walked over to Rachel, Mike, Finn, Kurt, Mercedes, Quinn, and Santana and they all did a giant group hug. Finn and Puck fist bumped and Rachel and Santana did a crazy handshake they somehow had the time to make up. Rachel waved at Tina in the audience and Mike blew Tina a kiss. Kurt waved at Blaine and Finn laughed slightly when he saw his mom crying. Santana saw her mom and waved a little but then saw her Abuela and covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming with excitement.
Puck smiled as he pulled Santana into a hug and when they pulled away they both laughed. Quinn stayed standing still, just wanting to get out of there. She wasn't even sure where her mom was sitting. She saw Puck and Finn's moms standing with Kurt's dad and Puck's sister in the front row, though. Rachel grinned widely at her dads and Allie. Sam hugged Rachel and then waved at his parents and Stacie and Stevie, his little sister and brother. After waving to his family, Sam walked over to Quinn and pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you, Quinnie," he smiled and kissed her head. "Keep in contact, okay?"
"Okay," she nodded a little, still crying slightly. "Bye Sam."
"Bye," he tried to smile as he walked away.
"Quinn," Puck smiled weakly at her and hugged her. After a little hesitation, Quinn hugged back and let her tears fall harder and faster. "I'm sorry, okay? I don't care how it's gonna be next year for me. You get to call the shots here and I know that. You're the one going to an Ivy League; you know what the smart thing to do is. Just promise me we'll still talk."
"I promise," she nodded and pulled away from the hug to kiss him one more time on his lips. "I love you, Puckerman."
"I love you, too, Fabray," he smiled. "Always have and always will."
She wiped away some more tears and walked over to Rachel. "Hey," she said. "I'm sorry for everything, Rachel. Good luck next year in New York and with your baby and everything else. I promise all I want is the best for you."
"It's okay," Rachel nodded and hugged Quinn. "I forgive you for everything. And I'm sorry for all the stupid things I said to you and about you behind your back and to Finn. None of them were true and it just made everything worse so I'm sorry."
"I forgive you," Quinn said and then smiled at Finn as Rachel walked away. "Finn…"
"You don't even need to say it, Q. I know what you're thinking," he sighed and hugged her. They both closed their eyes and smiled. "I'll see you in September?"
"I'll be at every single football game that Rachel can't make it to."
"I'm holding you to that," Finn chuckled and pulled away from the hug. Quinn then went to go find her mom and Finn walked over to Rachel. "Hey."
"Hey."
"We're gonna figure it out right?" He asked her.
"Let's not worry about it right now. We'll talk this summer," Rachel shrugged. "We have until the end of August before you go to Connecticut and I'm going to New York."
So longest chapter ever…this was like 5,000 words. I was trying to fit the whole story into 30 chapters but I'm gonna make it 31 and have an epilogue so THE END! Next chapter is the epilogue. Review or PM to tell me what you thought of this chapter or the whole story. I promise the epilogue will end almost all of the storylines.