(Quinn's point of view)
I stood in front of the full length mirror in Finn's room.
I didn't even recognize the girl staring back at me.
Her pail skin looked so fragile and her split ends took all of the attention away from her cute headband. And to top it off, she was fat. No. Not fat, just pregnant. If I was fat, I wouldn't be crying myself to sleep silently every night while Finn snored. I wouldn't be crying at all. I would be strutting the halls of McKinley High ignoring the Glee losers and finding a new way to insult Rachel. But now Glee is all that I have, and slushie facials are a ritual.
The girl sighed in the reflection. She moved her hand to her bump as if she was mocking me. All of a sudden, the door bursts open.
"Finn?" I say without turning away from the mirror.
"Hey Quinn." He said with a nervous laugh. I turned around and hugged him, well I tried to but it turned out to be more like an awkward half hug that guys do. What's up with him?
He went to the other side of his, our, room.
"Glee is having a Christmas party and I was wondering if you would come with me?" He said in one breath. That's what this is about?
"Sure. I'll grab my coat." I said.
If I was going to act like everything was fine and that we were still normal teenagers with normal lives, I decided I had to pretend that I wasn't pregnant and that I was fat. I bit back the tears again.
Of all of things that I lost; my BMW, my friends, my room, the Cheerios, losing my parents was the thing that shook me the most. It fazed me more than I cared to admit. I sighed.
"Are you okay?" Finn asked as he took my hand. I didn't realize that he moved from the other side of the room until my hand was in his.
"I will be." I answered him honestly for the first time since I messed up his future when I lied to his face.
…
(At the Party)
(Finn's point of view)
I'm humming to 'Gotta Know' by Lecrae, when Puck pats me on the back. I swallow hard.
"Sup man? Did you tell her yet?" He asked.
I sighed.
"Almost. I hope I keep this job. I can't remember ever having one." I said.
"Hey don't sweat it. Mrs. Shue is way cool. She won't fire you." Puck offered.
A random girl brushed Puck on his shoulder and smiled over her back when she passed him. He grinned. I turned towards the mini bar in my chair, almost positive he was going to follow her, but he didn't.
"Bro, look at it this way. You've got your foot in the door. Now you can give her the money she needs." He threw back his drink in one gulp.
"Thanks dude." We did our Bro handshake.
"No problem buddy." He smiled. The next thing we knew, the song went off and Rachel announced over the mix that the next hour should, will, be karaoke. So without much hesitation, I joined in the fun. Just for a moment I was free of my fears.
….
(Puck's point of view)
As soon as Finn went up to sing with Berry, I took off in hopes of finding Quinn. It really wasn't that hard. If you knew Q the way I did, you knew that she really kept to herself most of the time. The high pony and the uniform didn't fool me, let alone scare me.
"Hey." I smiled. She offered a small smile before she turned to leave.
"I figured you'd want to dance before you leave?" I called after her. She stopped, contemplating my offer.
"Just a dance. No tricks or baby talk. I promise." I said. She faced me.
"One dance Puckerman." I took her small frame into my arms. She lost weight. Don't ask me how I know, but this isn't the Quinn I know. We began to slow dance, catching the first note of a Christmas love song that Finn and Rachel were singing.
"How are you?" I whispered against her ear.
"I'm fine." Her voice shook. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the crook of my neck, something she always does when she's avoiding something.
"Quinn?"
"Puck."
"Yes?" I answered. We danced in silence, until I broke our movement.
"What is it Q?" I asked making eye contact. She shook my arms away and mumbled, "Merry Christmas" and once again I stood there in the dimly lit room, waiting for her to turn back, but she never did.
…
(Terry's point of view)
"Hey baby." He kissed me.
He moved to kiss my stomach, but I stopped him.
"Will, you know that at any minute, extra pressure can make our baby's head come out weirdly shaped. That's why I have to take these pills that the doctor gave me." I reminded him as I walked towards the kitchen. He trailed hot on my heels. He laughed out loud.
"Terry that sounds like something your sister would say." He said as he grabbed a beer from the fridge.
"No it doesn't." I defended myself, as I recalled all of the things that she told me to do to pull this off. Since I was completely faking my pregnancy, I had to be good at it until I could think of something else. I sighed. I turned on the water and started to wash a glass for some water. Will came up behind me, and held me.
"I'm sorry Terry. I was being mean." He whispered in my ear. If only he knew what I really was upset about. To afraid to move, I let him hold me. I didn't say a word. I just rubbed his arm to comfort him.
"I really am." He said. He kissed my neck, and left me in the kitchen alone with my thoughts.
(Tina's point of view)
DDDIIINNNNGG
Glee was set to start in 5 minutes, so as usual, everyone showed up early to gossip.
"So apparently Puck is in Jail, for robbing an ATM machine." Mercedes said. I snorted.
"Wow. Why didn't I think of that?" Brittany said. Santana looked at her funny.
"Are you serious?" Artie said.
"What did you guys expect? This is Puck we're talking about." Quinn added.
"What's everyone talking about?" Kurt asked partially texting, partially listening. Before anyone could say anything, Rachel walked in.
"They're obviously talking about more songs that are compatible with my voice. I already made a list of songs and before I settled, I sang each song twice." Rachel beamed. Artie folded his arms and Santana rolled her eyes and mumbled, 'ooh brother' or at least that's what I thought she said. I think she was in between speaking Spanglish. Right on the dot, Finn came in with Mr. Shue on his heels. Everyone took their seats.
"Alright Guys. This week's theme is something really exciting." He rubbed his hands together as he looked around.
"Did anyone see Puck?" He asked.
"He's a little occupied." I said.
"Puckerman is in Juvee." Quinn spat.
"Ouch." Finn said.
"Well that's unfortunate." Rachel commented.
"Now Mr. Shue, I came up with a list of songs…"
"Yes. That's nice Rachel, but I have other ideas." She frowned, but she snapped out of it when Finn gave her a hopeful smile.
Sometimes I wondered if Finn would look at Rachel that way forever, and let Quinn stand in his way. Asian eyes see everything.
"Alright guys. Pair up and let's get started!" Mr. Shue said.
…..
(Puck's point of view)
Da truth's 'Real love' was playing in someone's speakers as they drove by the hospital. It set my head space as I reflected.
March came quicker than I thought. After the whole ATM incident, Quinn considered me to be joke. I went back to McKinley with my superior badass attitude, but she didn't dig it.
Embarrassingly, the next week, I shaved my hawk because my mom thought she saw 'mole.' I lost all of my respect. I was close to losing everything, so I decided that maybe if I hint to Quinn to name her "Beth" then she would remember how much I still cared.
I mean I sold my stuff. I gave Quinn money. I even considered stealing some from Artie's fundraiser for the special bus, and from the bake sales that we had. I comforted her and I even drove her to a few of her appointments before the whole Juviee thing. I sacrificed things because I wanted to be there for our kid, but it wasn't enough. I mean, she was planning to let him believe that it was his daughter and I didn't think that was fair. If I couldn't woo her, I would come up with something else. I just didn't know what yet.
I rinsed the bucket out and got fresh water. I grabbed the mop. It was on a Wednesday, a little past 9pm when I decided to mop the pediatric unit. I'd never forget that day.
I stopped mopping the floor when I heard a string of coughing.
The nurses will take care of that, I thought.
It was quiet except for the weird noises that followed the coughing which had gotten my attention. I dropped the mop and ran down the hall toward the room. When I got there my heart broke. A little boy, no more than 6, was choking.
I panicked.
My mom was the nurse, not me.
I moved impulsively. I pressed the red button that paged the nurses. I tried to ask him if he was in pain, but he started to shake violently at that point, so I pulled the oxygen mask off and instead I gave him mouth to mouth. I prayed it worked. He was wheezing when the nurses pushed their way around me. I shook like a leaf, but I was frozen in the doorway of the room, completely haunted by the experience.
Ms. Daisy grabbed me by the arm out into the hallway.
"That was so risky of you Puck!" She fumed. My face dropped.
"If you caused more harm than help, you could've been sued by his parents!" She emphasized. My anger threatened to overtake me, but it didn't. I wasn't going back to juvee.
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." I said in monotone to the tired older head nurse. I turned to go get my mop and she ran her fingers through her hair before finally settling on tapping a pen against her clip board. Once I rounded the corner, I started to dry heave.
I could've killed him, I thought.
I sat with my back against the wall and my eyes closed. I don't know how long I sat there for but no one bothered me so I didn't care. My hands shook for a while.
Maybe I shouldn't help ever, I thought. All of a sudden, I got up and I kicked the bucket of water I was using earlier. All of it spilled. I threw the mop and I slapped the bottom for the elevator. To hell with everyone.
"Puck?" The elevator dinged the same time she called my name.
"Yes Ms. Daisy?" My back was towards her.
"What you did back there was incredibly brave." She began. I waited for her to continue.
"You hit the page button, and…" She stood next to me, turning me by the shoulder.
"You saved his life." She finished with a laugh. I let out a breath I never knew I was holding. I got so excited I hugged her. She laughed happily.
"He's breathing normally and sipping on water." She said when she calmed down.
"That's great news!"
"I normally don't do this, but…you shouldn't be mopping floors." What was she saying?
"Apply to be a pediatric care tech. I know that mopping is just temporary, but you can really give to kids who need it." She said. She left me with that thought as the elevator doors closed without me on it.
….
(Puck's point of view)
The walk home that night was pretty peaceful. I had to admit, if my license wasn't taken away for three months, I wouldn't be here. But the hospital was close, and it would save me the embarrassment of walking the streets to collect trash.
Tonight, this thirty-minute walk home was different.
It was light, almost full of hope.
I saved a kid's life! He could've died, but I saved him. Me! I did a happy dance in the middle of the street, until the wind reminded me that Ohio nights are not as warm as the mornings.
I walked a little faster than usual, all the while snapping my finger to a stupid song that I made up.
(Finn's point of view)
I was locked in the bathroom starring at my reflection in the mirror. Quinn had 'Intentional' by Travis Greene playing on my loud speaker. I guess it brought her comfort. I claimed that I needed to finish washing my face, but truthfully, I didn't want to have this conversation with Quinn. I couldn't. I mean, now that I was going to be a father, I had to figure out what really mattered to me. When I closed my eyes, Rachel flashed across my head. I opened them quickly before the guilt could hit me. This is it, I thought as I opened the door. I braced myself. With every step I took, I felt the nerves going off. I hope she didn't see the letter.
"Finn?" I gulped. I sat on the bed next to Quinn.
"Yes?" She looked me in the eye.
"I saw you talking to a recruiter last week. How'd it go? Did you think you'd get accepted?" She asked. Her expression was careful. Mine was, well I hoped it was composed. I knew that when I was in an awkward place, I'd usually offer an awkward dopey smile. At least that was what people told me.
"Are you smiling because you got an offer?" She asked thrilled.
"What?" I asked alarmed.
"No." I said. Her face dropped.
"I mean, no, that wasn't the reason why I smiled." I said getting uncomfortable.
"I, yes, I am happy that they accepted me, but.." She screamed! Taken off guard, I let out a huge sigh in relief. Quinn hugged me tightly.
"It's not official yet because I'm not 18, and I didn't apply for Ohio State." I rambled on. Quinn beamed. I forgot that my door was still open.
"What's the celebration about?" My mom asked from the door. Quinn immediately got off of me. I blushed.
"Tell her Finn." Quinn encouraged as she clasped my hand.
"Mom, I was recruited to play for Ohio state. They promised me a full Scholarship if I keep my grades up!" I said feeling relieved that I could talk about it.
My mom covered her mouth to muffle her scream. All at once, the three of us hugged and cheered.
"I'm proud of you son." She repeated before she shut my door behind her.
I wasn't sure when we would factor in the baby, but I wanted to enjoy this moment. I didn't realize that I was so tense until Quinn's hand slid across my shoulders.
"I know that you're thinking about the baby." She said quietly. I didn't answer her. She turned on her side to face me.
"Finn, you are going to college. Okay? Finn, you cannot reject that offer. That's your ticket out." She finished.
"And what about yours?" I asked, almost afraid of what she'd say.
"I'm going to Yale." She said. She cleared her throat, and then it registered.
"So what about the baby?" I asked.
I waited for her answer for a very long time. My eyes were closing on their own accord.
"I've decided that I'm giving her up." She said so quietly. My bloodshot eyes opened quickly.
"What? Quinn?"
"Finn, we're too young to be parents. We've got our whole lives ahead of us." She reasoned.
"Plus, with us going to different schools, I don't see how it would even be possible." She added. My jawline tensed. She sighed.
"Quinn, give us until senior year to figure things out. I mean, my college offer could change."
She butted in say something, but I kept going.
"What if I get recruited to go to some school near Yale? We could make it work." I practically begged her. She didn't say anything, but I knew her answer. The tears told me that it was a lost cause. I wanted to think of a good reason to prove her wrong, a reason for her to change her mind, but I couldn't come up with anything else.
"Rachel's mom will take care of her. She can't have children anymore." Quinn finished. Her voice cracked as the tears came more often. I sighed.
Too overwhelmed to speak, I nodded. I turned on my side as the first tear hit my pillow. That was the first time in a long time that I cried myself to sleep.