(Finn's point of view)
I can't believe Shelby would send Quinn a letter and not me! Did they talk? Did Quinn meet up with Beth behind my back?
I was furious! As if Andy Mineo singing Bitter in my earbuds helped.
I don't want to be bitter, bitter, bitter
I don't want to be bitter, bitter, bitter
I don't want to be bitter, bitter, bitter,
I don't want to be bitter, so take it all away
Knock, knock
"Finn, we're going to the grave site to put fresh flowers down." Mom said as she stood in the doorway.
I sat with my back to her.
"Ok. I'll be down in a second." I finally said. I waited until my door closed to look at the letter again. I took a picture of the P.O. box.
I knew I didn't have Quinn's number anymore, but I knew who might.
Santana.
…..
(Puck's point of view)
"Ok sweetheart. Time for school. Are you all ready to go?" Shelby asked.
Beth nodded, too sleepy to be excited.
I grinned. She was definitely not a morning person.
It had been a week since I sent the letter off to Quinn. I wonder if she'd ever respond. I wonder if she figured out that it wasn't Shelby, and that it was me. I wonder if she read it?
I sighed, waiting for something, anything, when the knock on the door brought me to my feet.
It was 8:35AM. Who could that be?
"We need to talk." Said a flustered Santana.
She ran straight for the coffee.
"Finn came to my house asking for Quinn's contact info." She admitted without looking me in the eye.
I froze. What would he want with Quinn?
"I told him I didn't have it." She said without blinking.
My face fell. I was secretly hoping that she did and that she could tell me how she was doing.
"What?"
"Did you get a response from your first letter?"
I sighed rubbing my eyes as I plopped down in the chair.
She set her cup down and grabbed a pen from her purse.
"Well. Write another one." She offered.
"San, are you crazy? What if Quinn's mom told Finn about the letter and that's why he wants to talk to her? What if he read the letter?" I panicked.
"Easy Puckerman! Finn could barely tie his shoes without asking for help. Now, if you want to rock the boat, I suggest you start writing. It's only a matter of time before Shelby finds out, or Finn, or Quinn comes back."
I paused. She was right. I had to risk it, and fast.
….
(Quinn's point of view)
Dear journal,
Today was about coping. After four years of being away at Yale, I had no reason to hide anymore, so I went to New York for a fresh start. Well, today was the big day, the test that would prove if I really moved on or not.
My plane lands in a half an hour, and since I'm nervous and I couldn't sleep the night before, I've decided to make a list of things to do to help keep my mind off of things.
Today:
-Rent a car
-Go through the mail
-Dinner with mom
-Call dad?
I erased the last one a few times, swopping 'Dad' for 'Daniel' before getting annoyed and slamming the journal shut. I closed my eyes, taking quick breaths.
I found my earbuds, and decided not to think as Coldplay's Paradise drowned out the voices in my head.
What was I going home to? Who would I see? What if I couldn't do this? What if, what if I...
"Welcome to Ohio!" The Flight attendants cheered.
I swallowed, looking through the plane's window, wishing to be anywhere else but here.
….
"There she is: Everyone's favorite blond." She hissed. It seemed like time didn't change a thing about my best friend.
"Thank you for picking me up from the airport. I almost turned around and went back home." I admitted adding a nervous laugh. Santana folded her arms displeased.
I missed the Latina.
Embracing her, I relaxed remembering that no matter what happened, I knew Santana Lopez would be there for me.
"How've you been?" She asked calmly.
"Good, well until my mom mentioned the whole divorce thing." I said.
Sensing her discomfort, I fell silent.
"Quinn, there's something you should know." She started. I prayed nothing was wrong with Beth.
Once she was born, I asked Santana to be her God mother and watch her since I wouldn't. Shelby agreed.
I made Santana promise to never give me updates about Beth, Finn or Puck once I left for school. There have been times where she threatened to break that, but she hasn't and I know that even though she hopes I ask, she won't tell me because deep down she cares about how it will affect me long term.
We've always had our share of arguments and betrayals, but in the end, I knew that our friendship would be a hard one to break.
"Kurt's dad died, so Finn moved back home to comfort his mother and Kurt for some time."
Oh no. He was such a kind man.
Finn was back. And Puck? Was he still here too?
I started to feel nauseous.
Santana noticed my face, and pulled out a bottled water.
"He works at McKinley and he helps Mr. Shue with Glee." She finished. I nodded. I opened the water, and drank it all in one sitting, wishing it was liquor.
This trip couldn't get any better.
…
(Shelby's Point of view)
I was reading a bedtime story to Beth when my phone buzzed.
"Shelby?" I froze.
I checked the caller ID, and sure enough it was her. Rachel.
"Hi Rachel." I managed.
"Hi. Umm, I'm flying into town to be with Kurt and his family because his dad passed. Would it be ok if I come and see you? She trailed off.
"I'd love that." I said relieved. I almost thought that she forgot about us here in Ohio.
"Mommy, can you finish the story?" Beth begged.
Hearing Beth's voice, Rachel said, "Ok, so I guess I'll call you back to set up a date. I'll let you finish what you were doing. Good night Shelby."
My eyes closed. "Sweet dreams Rachel."
….
(Finn's point of view)
Mr. Shue had me lock up after Glee was over for the day, but I had other plans.
My fingers had a mind of their own.
It's been a long day, without you my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
"I never thought I'd find you here, playing a piano." Rachel added.
I stood up slowly, taking her in. Her five foot four frame changed her plaid out for a plain fitted sweater dress with long socks on. I always thought she was beautiful in high school, but now, she was absolutely gorgeous.
"It's good to see you Finn." She said approaching me slowly. I smiled inviting her to join me.
"Rachel? What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to pay my respects. Kurt's dad was so loving. He was taken too soon." We sat in silence for a few.
"I also decided to visit Shelby before I go back." Rachel admitted nervously. I smirked.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked.
"You'd do that for me?"
"Of course, I would. What are friends for?"
"Friends." She repeated blushing, holding her necklace in between her fingers.
….
(Quinn's Point of view)
This whole day has been a blur.
Once Santana picked me up, she took me to get my rental. A little after we parted ways, Daniel called mentioning something about a surprise. I wasn't really paying attention. I was just glad that we weren't fighting anymore.
He'd forgiven me, and now we'd be able to move on once I got back to New York. If I ever got back.
My mom had me doing everything: talking to the insurance company, reaching out to different maintenance services to renovate the house, calling the lawyer, going food shopping for tonight's dinner that she was preparing right now.
"Quinny, pass me the wine." I glanced up to see my mom doing her favorite dish: Chicken Marcella.
I wasn't hungry. I had too much on my mind. As if I wasn't occupied enough, the doorbell rang.
"Quinny, can you get that for me?"
I dreadfully obliged, and to my surprise, it was Daniel.
"What are you doing here?" I said, shocked and light headed all of a sudden.
"Your mom called the phone at the apartment hoping to catch you before you got a flight out of New York. She got me instead, so I figured I'd come and surprise you." He beamed.
I hugged him, so that he wouldn't study my face.
Right on cue, my mom greeted Daniel.
"Welcome to our home. Quinny tells me so much about you. I hope you're hungry. The food is almost done."
…..
I don't remember tasting the food, or hearing any of the conversation until Daniel made me stand.
It all happened way too fast: him getting on one knee, my mom crying tears of joy, and me shouting 'yes' before he could change his mind.
I've never been so happy. I was finally getting my life back, or so I thought.
I fished through the mail, hoping to collect Dad's mail and leave it in the mailbox to avoid awkward run ins, when I saw my name on a letter from Shelby.
"You still get mail sent here?" Daniel whispered in my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"No, I think an old friend has been trying to reach me but she doesn't have my address in New York." I said hiding the nerves. He smiled before kissing me, and retreating to the guest room for the night.
I climbed two steps at a time, the letter feeling a million pounds heavy in my hand. I slammed my door, a little too hard before ripping the envelope open.
It read:
Quinn,
I hope you've found a way to forgive me for the last letter.
The picture was probably not something you were expecting, and while I wish I was more sensitive, that's the last one I will send until you say it's okay to send more.
I froze.
Shelby sent me a letter before this one, and it had a picture of Beth in it?
I clutched the letter against my chest, hoping and praying that my mom didn't toss it in the trash.
I wonder what she looked like now.
No, I wouldn't entertain the thought! I couldn't. I wasn't staying.
I twirled my engagement ring in my hand, thinking.
What if my mom found the letter? What if Finn got a letter too? Did he know that Shelby let me meet Beth secretly? Did Finn find out that he wasn't Beth's real father?
How was I going to keep Daniel from Finn? What would I say to Daniel about Puck?
Overwhelmed, I slid down against my door.
Something told me that Santana knew all about this.
…..
(Shelby's point of view)
DING DONG!
At 7:30 sharp, my heart skipped a beat.
What if Rachel was allergic to what I cooked? Did she like wine? I wonder what she's been up to all these years.
"There's only one way to find out." I muttered soothingly to my reflection before getting the door.
"Rachel! Hi!" I embraced her.
"I hope you don't mind that Finn will be joining us. He's just parking." I nodded so happy that she actually agreed to meet up.
…
Dinner was nice. In all these years, I was never this genuinely happy, this free.
If anything, I should have known that Finn wasn't nervous because he is in love with Rachel. By the occasional glances around the house, and the shy smiles, I could tell he had questions of his own. Questions I knew would come eventually.
How could I be so naïve, I thought.
"Shelby, is this your God daughter you were telling me about?" Rachel asked referring to Beth's picture.
I nodded, forcing a smile before grabbing my wine.
"She's beautiful. She almost reminds me of someone." Finn said matter factually.
"Shelby, what is he talking about?" Rachel asked confused.
Just like that, my place in Rachel's life was going to disappear. She was going to find out the truth.
"That's my daughter. Shelby is raising her." Finn said shattering the silence.
Rachel froze, looking down at her wine attempting to hide the tear that escaped.
Hurt, betrayed, and ashamed, I cleaned up my plate at the sink to gather myself, to hide from Rachel, from the lie.
"I want to know what you and Quinn are up to. I found the letter you wrote to her." He pressed after some time.
"I never wrote a letter to Quinn, or you. The last time I spoke to her was five years ago. She made that clear." I hissed.
"So who wrote this one?" He questioned repeating the P.O. box number. I sighed. I knew that number anywhere.
"I think it's time for you two to go." I said calmly.
Rachel grabbed her coat before saying "I hope your replacement will suffice. Goodbye Shelby."
"When I find out what's going on, I will come back for her. I will see my child." Finn threatened before storming out behind her.
Panicked, I scrambled for my phone. It was a miracle that I got her on the first ring.
(Puck's point of view)
Santana, Beth and I were getting in our cardio for the week playing just dance when her phone buzzed.
"Hey! How'd it go?" San pushed. I continued playing Beth.
How was it that she was beating me in What Lovers Do? Maroon 5 was always my aim in life.
After some time, Santana disappeared.
Fifteen minutes later, she motioned for me to join her.
"Puck, Shelby found out about the letter. I told her that I did it and used your P.O. box because I promised myself to keep a record for the day that Quinn would ask me for it." I paused. I had a feeling that there was more.
"Finn told Rachel the truth, and it forced me to tell Rachel the truth about Finn. So, in order to fix all this, Rachel will get Finn to drop the letter back to Quinn's house or give it to Shelby to avoid breaking his heart." She finished proudly. I gave her a high ten.
It was all coming together after all.
(Rachel's point of view)
I couldn't believe it. My mind was racing a million miles a second as I replayed the events of the evening.
Finn and Quinn gave their baby to Shelby, my birth mother, and Shelby never told me? And for Finn to find out the truth, he had to find out where she lived and how to get her attention.
That's what I was used for. I was the collateral damage, the bait that he threw at Shelby.
He knew from my questions that I didn't know about this arrangement and he didn't care how I responded or what it would do to my non-existent relationship with Shelby. He was just like his ex. No wonder they were perfect for each other.
FLASHBACK
"Rachel.."
"Finn, I'm sorry about your daughter. I hope you get to see her again." I said.
"I'm sorry Rachel. I came as a friend.."
"No, you used me Finn! You used me to get your answers. Just like Quinn used to do." He froze attempting to hug me but I dodged his arms, knowing that Finn Hudson could make me do anything.
"I'm leaving town on Friday. I think it's best if we part ways here. Kurt is on his way. He'll take me home." I said not looking at him. I don't remember when I left him, but I did and I didn't look back.
RING RING!
That must be Kurt, I thought to myself not even looking at the caller ID before answering.
"Man hands! I'm glad that you still answer on the first ring. Well, actually that might be the reason why Finn dragged you into this mess." I cringed. I rolled my eyes at Santana. I knew she was right.
"What do you want Santana?"
"I want to help you set things straight with Shelby." I snickered. Help and Santana was never in the same sentence.
"What's in it for you?" I spat.
"You don't get it. Finn won't love you back unless Quinn is out the picture because she reminds him of his daughter that he can't see. Well, I have some news for you man hands, if Finn opens that letter he will learn the truth, that he is not the father of Quinn's baby." I gasped.
"And Shelby won't ever love you again if Finn reads that letter. All she'll remember about you is that you're selfish for causing her to lose her God daughter for good, and Finn will leave you once he realizes that you remind him of the lie that stole his life. He'll resent you, and leave Lima without so much as saying goodbye. You'd be all alone." Santana proposed.
Finn wasn't the father? Quinn lied to him like Shelby lied to me. He deserved better. I had to help him, one victim to another.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked.
END FLASHBACK
I was going to save Finn, with all the muscle and strength that I could muster up.