Hey everyone! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I was disappointed I didn't get more reviews on the last chapter, as it was one of my favorites, but I know not many people had as much time to come online during a holiday weekend. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to keep writing!

Chapter 8: Mashup

As Finn walked through the halls of McKinley with Quinn, he felt a slushie hit his face. At that moment, he had no idea how Rachel put up with these every day. His eyes stung and his face was cold. "What the hell, Karofsky?" he shouted when he saw who'd done it. Dave Karofsky, the biggest bully in the school.

"Oh, I've wanted to do that ever since fifth grade, when you made fun of me for getting pubes," Karofsky sneered. "Now that you've joined Lullaby Leauge and insperminated the queen of the Chastity Ball and dropped below us hockey dudes on the food chain? It's open season."

"Screw you, Karofsky! You and your Neanderthal puck-heads are nothing!" Quinn snapped.

"You're gonna pay for this, dude!" Finn said.

Karofsky smirked. "No, I'm not. You two don't have the juice anymore. Welcome to the new world order."

Great. Now all Finn was going to hear about was Quinn's obsession with popularity.

"We're going to get some advice on this," Quinn said. "We can't have slushies thrown at you anymore. We need to win prom king and queen."

They were only sophomores. It's not like they could win. But Finn knew better than to say anything.

x

Quinn was serious about wanting advice. Later that day, the two of them were sitting in Miss Pillsbury's office. Finn couldn't believe Quinn was doing this.

"So, how can I help you kids? Is it too many friends on MySpace?" Miss Pillsbury asked.

"I can't believe we're saying this... but we need some advice on how to be cool," Quinn said.

Finn attempted to back her up to avoid her getting upset with him. Still, he thought what they were doing was pretty stupid. "Yeah, you must have picked up some ideas... about what cool people do from watching them over the years. Not that you were never cool yourself." What had he just even said?

Miss Pillsbury looked confused. "But you're two of the most popular kids in school."

Now, that wasn't true. At least not for Finn. He'd never felt popular. Sure, people assumed he was popular because he was the quarterback, but he felt like an outsider with the football team, and he didn't have very many friends outside of it. Then Quinn started talking. "We were, until we joined Glee Club. That's why he got a slushie facial. I'm sure of it."

Miss Pillsbury appeared to think this was just as weird as Finn thought it was. "Okay. I see. Um, don't really have any... pamphlets on how to be popular. Well, let's talk about this. Why is it so important for you to be cool? Huh? Don't you like being in Glee? It's fun."

Yes, Finn liked it. But all Quinn talked about was popularity. And now she was starting it again. "Status is like currency. When your bank account is full... you can get away with doing just about anything. But right now, we're like toxic assets. When my mom applied to college... she put being popular as her main extracurricular activity. And she got into Arizona State."

Quinn's mom had really done that? Miss Pillsbury looked out the window. "Sunglasses are so sexy. Sunglasses. Yeah, sunglasses are, um, really, really cool. I'm always seeing celebrities wear them... in magazines, even at night. Doesn't need to be day. Very popular. Gives you a sense of mystery. You know... rappers." She sounded like she was just thinking things up.

Maybe that was something. "Totally," Finn said. "You can't see their eyes, so they have all the power. I could be looking at your boobs, and you'd have no idea."

Quinn gave him a look of disgust.

"Kids, look. The most important thing is that you be yourselves. Okay? And if people don't like you for that, then I'm sorry, but who needs 'em," Miss Pillsbury said.

Well, that was how Finn felt, but not how Quinn felt.

x

Rachel was at her locker, looking at her Broadway songbook, when she saw Puck approach the locker with a slushie in his hand. She couldn't believe he was about to do this. Did he not care that Finn had just been slushied earlier?

To her surprise, Puck handed it to her. "I picked it up for you when I was buying dip. It's grape. I know that's your favorite, because the last time I tossed a grape one in your face... you licked your lips before you cleaned yourself off. Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to work together on some mash-up ideas."

"Why would you want to work with me?" Rachel asked. "You think I'm annoying, I know you do. And you throw slushies on me."

"Well, you are pretty hot," Puck said. "And you're a Jew, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Rachel said. Well, one of her dads was a Jew, the other was Christian, but they celebrated both holidays. Wait. He called her hot? Not even Finn had done that!

"Yeah, we're two hot Jews," Puck said.

"Well, okay," Rachel said. "Want to come to my house after school?"

"It's on," Puck said.

x

Puck hadn't been much help with coming up with ideas for a mashup. He was a good singer, but he didn't seem into any of the songs Rachel suggested and complained that they weren't his type. He was good at the guitar though. When Rachel was singing yet another song, he gave her a look. "My ears are starting to hurt. Can we take a break?"

"Okay," Rachel sighed.

"You wanna make out?" Puck asked.

Rachel didn't want to make out with Puck. She wanted to make out with Finn. But this was the best she was going to get. "Sure." She lay on the bed with him and pictured Finn in his place to motivate her. While picturing Finn, she did feel more motivated.

"You okay, baby?" Rachel now remembered who was really under her. What she was doing wasn't right.

"I can't do this," Rachel said.

"Why?" Puck asked. "We're a couple of good-lookin' Jews. It's natural."

Rachel couldn't say the real reason. She just tried to think of a reason. "I can't give myself to someone who isn't... brave enough to sing a solo. If you don't have the guts to do that, then how are you gonna be bold enough to deal... with the ups and downs of loving an admittedly high-maintenance girl like me?"

"Are you questioning my badassness? Have you seen my guns?" Puck asked.

"Noah, I'm sorry," Rachel said. "Your arms are lovely, but I just don't see us working out."

x

Maybe Puck really did like her. He had sang that song for her in front of the whole Glee club. And he'd sounded pretty good. Even though he wasn't Finn, Rachel admitted that it did feel good to be walking down the hall arm in arm with another boy. Then a slushie hit Puck in the face, and Rachel took him into the bathroom to clean him off.

"You're good at this," Puck said.

"I've had a lot of practice," Rachel said. Which was true.

"I'm really sorry I ever did this to you," Puck said.

"It's okay," Rachel said.

"No, it isn't," Puck said. "No one deserves this feeling. You know what the worst part is? It's not the burning in your eyes... or the way the Slushee drips all the way into your underpants. It's the humiliation. I feel like I could burst into tears at any moment. Rachel... I'm sorry, but today when the clock chimes 3:30..."

Rachel remembered the new mandatory football practice. "You're choosing football over Glee, which means we probably can't be together anymore." She knew this wasn't going to last. And maybe it was for the better.

x

Finn felt guilty for choosing football over glee club, especially because all the other guys in the glee club had chosen glee. The truth was, he wanted to choose glee, but he saw how worked up Quinn was about status.

Things got worse when he went to football practice. At the end of practice, Karofsky had told him to throw a slushie at Kurt. He'd never thrown a slushie on anyone, not even before he joined glee. He didn't want to do it, but Karofsky and some other football players were watching him. He took the slushie and found Kurt at his locker talking to Rachel and Mercedes. Oh no. Rachel. He was already suspicious she'd moved on with Puck. He didn't like that.

Kurt seemed to know what Finn was about to do. "Do it." He looked at Finn with anger and hurt.

Finn sighed. "I really don't want to, honestly. I know how picky you are about what products you use on your face."

Kurt gave Finn an annoyed look. "But you've been getting so much pressure from the gorillas on the football team. I guess they didn't appreciate me resigning from the team and choosing Glee."

Finn wasn't surprised Kurt had quit. He'd only joined to impress his dad. "Probably would have went over better if you didn't announce it in the showers." Why couldn't he have done that.

Mercedes lunged toward Finn. "You are not gonna Slushee on my man Kurt."

"Why wouldn't he?" Rachel asked. "He's made his choice. He doesn't care about us losers anymore."

Finn's heart dropped. Rachel thought he didn't care about them? Or about her? "No, that's not true. It's just that if I don't do it... the guys on the team are gonna kick the crap out of me."

Kurt took the slushie. "Well, we can't have that, can we?"

"What are you doin'?" Finn asked.

Kurt threw the slushie on himself. "It's called taking one for the team. Now get out of here. And take some time to think whether or not any of your friends on the football team would have done that for you." He turned to Mercedes and Rachel. "Someone get me to a day-spa stat!"

Rachel gave Finn an annoyed look as she and Mercedes walked away with Kurt.

x

"Hey Rachel, can we talk?" Rachel looked up from her locker. It was Finn. What did he want? She was with someone now, and he'd chosen football over glee, over her.

"What do you want?" Rachel snapped. Still, she couldn't help but be happy to see Finn.

"Are you and Puck really together?" Finn asked, looking upset.

"Well, that's what it says on Facebook, isn't it?" Rachel asked. "So, how's football?" She couldn't help but be mad at Finn for walking out on glee.

"I miss glee," Finn said.

"Well, you could have chosen glee, all the other guys did," Rachel said. "But I know you just want to be cool."

"It's... complicated," Finn said. "It's just that Quinn..."

Of course Quinn had something to do with this. "You should make your own choices," Rachel said.

"So, why are you with Puck?" Finn asked again. "You deserve a lot better. Puck doesn't care about you. He cares about sex. He's always bragging about all the women he's slept with. I'm practically sure he slept with my mom once. If you don't put out to him, he'll cheat on you. Like I said, you deserve better."

"Like what?" Rachel asked. "I don't see any other guys interested in me, except Jacob Ben Israel, but he's into every girl." She wanted Finn. "And while we're talking about people who deserve better, you deserve a lot better than Quinn." She had herself in mind there.

"Well, it's not like I can do anything else right now," Finn said. "She's having my baby."

"Well, maybe there are other people I'm interested in and they're not available," Rachel said, her heart stinging from Finn's last comment. She couldn't be with Finn, maybe she never could. If the baby was given up for adoption, maybe she could one day, but if they kept the baby, he'd be with Quinn forever. Even if they gave up the baby, Quinn probably wouldn't let Finn go. Rachel knew Finn was intimidated by her.

Finn didn't say anything. Even though Rachel hadn't said it flat out, they both knew who she was talking about. "Rachel, that's not a very good reason to be with someone," Finn said. "Just for the sake of being with someone, you know? You should be with someone because you're into them."

"I guess you're right," Rachel said. "And I hope you consider coming back to Glee." She left Finn there, knowing what she had to do.

x

After school, Rachel found Puck on the bleachers, watching football practice. "You miss it?"

"Hell, no," Puck said.

"I hope you didn't choose Glee over football because of me," Rachel told him.

"Why?" Puck asked.

Rachel didn't want to say anything about Finn. "Because I don't think this relationship is gonna work out."

"It's cool. I was gonna break up with you anyway." He wasn't that into her either.

Rachel decided to fight back. "No, you weren't."

"Yes, I was. You won't even let me touch your boobs. It's Finn, right? He's never gonna leave Quinn. Not with that baby in her belly." He knew!

Rachel noticed he didn't sound too happy about Finn being with Quinn. "You like her, don't you? I can see you staring at her when I'm staring at Finn. Is that why you joined Glee? To be closer to her?"

Puck didn't admit it, but Rachel could tell by the tone of his voice that he did. "Like I said, they're never breaking up. God, what's the matter with me? I'm a stud, and I can't even hold on to a chick like you? No offense. Why don't girls like me?"

"Cause you're kind of a jerk. No offense," Rachel retaliated. "I just think you want it too much. Which is something I can relate to. I want everything too much. Our relationship was built on a fantasy. Like every other one in my life. I think I just agreed to us being together because I thought it would make Finn jealous."

x

Finn looked up at the stands where Puck and Rachel were talking. He knew that Rachel was just settling for Puck and he hoped he'd taken what he'd told her seriously. Then Mr. Schue came over. "Hey Finn. Want to have a catch?"

"Sure," Finn said. He knew why Mr. Schue was here. "I'm not coming back."

Mr. Schue tossed the ball at Finn. "These are the moments, Finn. They're the crossroads. They're the ones you look back at when you get old and think what if?"

"I don't buy that. I don't think any one decision makes your life... unless you accidentally invent some kind of zombie virus or something," Finn said. He wanted to come back. He'd feel less bad about leaving glee if people would stop talking so much about it.

"No. You're right," Mr. Schue said. "Life's a series of choices. Big combination of moments... little ones that add up to big ones... that create who you are. You're letting other people make those choices for you, Finn. You're letting them decide who you're gonna be. People you're not even gonna know in three years. People whose names you're gonna forget when you run into them in the hardware store."

Finn tossed the ball back. "You don't understand the kind of pressure I'm under."

Mr. Schue came up to Finn. "Yes, I do. Because of all the students I've ever had, you remind me the most of me. Come back to Glee, Finn. It's where you belong."

x

The next day at glee practice, there was a knock at the door. Rachel went to it and saw Finn with a tray of slushies. Was he here to slushie all of them?

Finn smiled softly. "Hey Rach. Can I come in?"

"Of course," Rachel said.

"Hi Finn," Mr. Schue said. "Nice of you to visit."

"Actually, I'm wondering if you'll take me back," Finn said. "I talked to Coach Tanaka, and he agreed to cancel that practice. And he'll take all of us guys back on the team. So now we can do both."

Finn had done that? Rachel felt so proud of him.

"Well, I'm not going back to football," Kurt said. "They treated me like crap."

Finn laughed. "Well, I missed glee. And I got slushies for everyone. These taste much better in our stomachs than on our faces."

"I'm glad you're back," Rachel whispered to Finn. "And I bet you'll be happy to know, it's over."

Finn seemed to know what Rachel meant by it. He gave her a small smile before turning to the rest of the group. "So, what do you think about my welcome back gift to the club, huh, guys?"

"Thanks for the slushies, Finn," Mr. Schue said.

"They're delicious," Rachel said. Finn was right - they were much better in your stomach than on your face.

"And loaded with empty calories," Kurt rambled. "You know why they call them slushies? Because your butt looks like one if you have too many of them."

"I'd like to propose a toast," Finn said. "To Mr. Schue. You were right about Glee Club and football being a killer combination."

"Mr. Schue, I am sorry to report that we've all been remiss about completing our assignment this week," said Artie.

"Yeah, none of us could find a good groove for Bust a Move," Mercedes added.

"And I personally feel like a failure," Artie said.

"Well, that's okay, guys," Mr. Schue said. "Because I feel like the lesson landed. And that's what's important. And we are glad to have you back, Finn."

Rachel was sure no one was as glad as she was.