mini fic preview
here's the deal. i've been working on this foreverrrrrr. and this one lame little part of this fic is all i've got thus far. and honestly, i don't think it's that great and it's all subject to change, but i wanted to preview this first part here. feel free to tell me if this sucks or if i should quit will i'm ahead. seriously.
the working title is shoot me straight and true. from pistol by dustin kensrue - it's an amazing song, so i think you should at least go listen to that even if you'd like to bypass this working mess.
oh, and i imagine the premise would be helpful: 5 times rachel berry walked away and one time she didn't. some vague spoilers for the back 9. and it's puck/rachel... obviously.
Everything is perfect.
They won sectionals. Rachel had been the star of the show. And she finally, finally got the boy.
If Rachel's life was a movie she imagines that that's how it would end: Girl rises to stardom, finally gets the boy of her dreams, and they all live happily ever after.
Only, she knows her life's not a movie (yet) and she doesn't get to pause and live in this moment forever.
And everything's not as perfect as she tries to believe, though their two week hiatus (thanks to a well-timed winter break) allowed her to put her blinders firmly in place to ignore everything else.
When the glee club assembles for the first time in the new year, they are just as broken as ever. In the wake of Babygate coming to blows, half of the club has sided with Finn while the other half have decided to stand behind Quinn.
There is also a certain Mohawk-ed member very noticeably missing.
Rachel takes her rightful place beside Finn, but can't help but feel the aching in her heart when she bears to glance in Quinn's direction. Nor can she help wondering about the other boy in the center of all of this destruction.
If she's being honest with herself she feels partly responsible for the divided glee club - along with Finn's anger, Quinn's sadness, and Puck's disappearance - she was the one who told the truth about the baby. Rachel will forever believe that telling the truth was the right thing to do, but it's painful to live in the aftermath.
She can't help but flinch when Mr. Schuester finally joins them and she watches his face fall as he takes in his visibly divided club. She squeezes Finn's hand (it is still a thrill to be able to touch this boy whenever she wants) to ignore the guilt that weighs heavily upon her shoulders.
Mr. Schuester considers the situation facing him before he decides on a course of action to fix his broken club: duets.
He forces them all to switch sides and look to their right - that's who they will be partnered with. Most are not pleased with their partner (most especially Finn who ends up with Quinn).
And one of them ends up alone.
"Does this mean I get you again, Mr. Schue?" Rachel asks.
"Uh…" He tries to conceal his initial look of panic. "Where's Puck?"
"He quit," Quinn answers, an edge to her voice that makes Finn flinch beside her.
Mr. Schuester dismisses them after giving them a month to complete their assignments, but detains Rachel (who's almost too swept up in the way Finn leaves without even glancing in her direction to hear her name being called).
"Rachel, I think it's your job as captain to get Puck to come back."
"Maybe it's for the best if he doesn't come back. Finn…"
"Rachel," he interrupts sternly, "We need 12 members. He has to come back and it's your job to convince him. I'm counting on you."
---
Rachel Berry is nothing if not determined.
It takes her an entire day to find Puck (he's not in a single one of his classes) but she finally finds him alone in the gym, angrily throwing basketballs towards the hoop.
"I don't know much about basketball, but I do believe you're suppose to be getting the balls through the basket," she quips from behind him.
Puck spins around at the sound of her voice, a ball in his hand, ready to be launched. Rachel flinches, her eyes clenched close, anticipating the hit.
"Relax," he laughs, dropping the ball and letting it roll towards her. "I wasn't going to pelt you with it or anything."
"Right," she drawls, unconvinced. "I had gym with you in the eighth grade."
"So?"
"We were cruelly forced to play dodge ball for two weeks. We were on opposite teams," she deadpans.
He suddenly remembers and laughs, but turns his back to her and takes another basketball in his hands, aims, misses, and repeats.
"You weren't in glee today."
"Nope." He throws another ball and misses again.
"Quinn said that you quit." He tenses for a moment before attempting (and missing) another basket.
"Yup."
"As captain of the glee club, it's my job to convince you to come back. I think you're talented, not at basketball, obviously, but you're a good singer - you could be better, of course, but I do know talent when I see it."
Puck laughs again, the only proof he's even listening at all, because he continues to throw basketballs and miss.
Not deterred, Rachel moves to stand beside him, dodging basketballs as they ricochet back towards them. "I know things are a mess right now, with you and Quinn and Finn, but…"
He stops and turns towards her only to sneer, "You don't know anything." And then he slings another basketball towards the hoop.
"I know that you're upset. I know that you're mad at Quinn for making you lie, you're mad at yourself for betraying your best friend and you think that by quitting glee you're going to be able to avoid everyone."
He throws another ball, even more violently than all the rest. He misses.
"And you're only getting angry because you know I'm right."
"If you're trying to convince me to come back by reminding me of all the ways I've royally fucked up, you're doing a bang up job, Rachel."
She takes a deep breath, composing herself. "I think you need glee just as much as we need you."
"What makes you think that?"
"You haven't made a basket yet. If you were planning on parlaying your talent - or aggression - into this sport, I'm afraid you don't have a very good chance of being successful."
He huffs and continues to miss each shot he attempts.
"Noah," she says sternly and her hand shoots out to catch his wrist before he can reach for another ball, effectively capturing his attention. "I know you put up this tough guy act, but I also know that there's more to you than that - even if you don't want to admit it. I've seen it firsthand." He rolls his eyes, but she continues, unfazed, "So, I know you want to make things right with Quinn and Finn. With all of us."
He yanks his hand away. "Name one person who doesn't think this shit fest is all my fault," he challenges.
"I don't."
Puck looks at her skeptically, but has to turn away because the way she's looking up at him with those big doe eyes of hers.
He has no choice but to believe her.
"You got your precious Finn free from Quinn's evil claws by opening your big mouth and telling the truth about the baby's daddy," he snaps and it makes her flinch. "Why the hell do you care if I fix things with either one of them… or come back to glee?"
"It is my job as captain. It is my responsibility…"
"Oh, cut the crap, Rachel. That title means shit and you know it."
She squares her shoulders and stands a little taller. "Fine," she concedes. "If you want to know the truth, it's because we need 12 members to compete. If we lose you, we're a member short and it would be nearly impossible to find someone half as talented as you willing to join the club. And," she sighs, "because Mr. Schue decided to pair us up for duets and I'm left without a partner if I can't convince you to come back."
"See? The truth ain't so bad," he grins wickedly. "I'll tell you what," he says, a spark in his eyes. "If you can make a basket from here…. I'll come back to your gay ass club."
"And if I don't?" she challenges.
He shrugs. "Then I don't come back."
"Just so you know, Noah, I am very persistent," she tells him even as she's taking the basketball from his hands, accepting his challenge. "Even if I miss this, I'm not giving up on you."
"Yeah, whatever," he chuckles, taking her by the shoulders and positioning her in just the right spot. "We'll see," he says from behind her, his warm breath hitting her neck and making her shiver.
She instantly misses the warmth of his hands against her (does she always miss Finn when he's not touching her? She can't remember now, not when she's alone with this other boy) but she tries her best to focus on the task at hand. For glee, she tells herself. For Finn and Quinn.
Rachel takes a deep breath, says a prayer, and then awkwardly throws the ball towards the hoop.
As soon as the ball swishes easily throw the hoop, Puck's face falls - his mouth slack-jawed in shock.
She does her best to conceal her surprise and excitement and simply says, "I'll see you tomorrow at rehearsal."
He's too speechless to argue, so he just stares at her in amazement as she walks away.
the working title is shoot me straight and true. from pistol by dustin kensrue - it's an amazing song, so i think you should at least go listen to that even if you'd like to bypass this working mess.
oh, and i imagine the premise would be helpful: 5 times rachel berry walked away and one time she didn't. some vague spoilers for the back 9. and it's puck/rachel... obviously.
Everything is perfect.
They won sectionals. Rachel had been the star of the show. And she finally, finally got the boy.
If Rachel's life was a movie she imagines that that's how it would end: Girl rises to stardom, finally gets the boy of her dreams, and they all live happily ever after.
Only, she knows her life's not a movie (yet) and she doesn't get to pause and live in this moment forever.
And everything's not as perfect as she tries to believe, though their two week hiatus (thanks to a well-timed winter break) allowed her to put her blinders firmly in place to ignore everything else.
When the glee club assembles for the first time in the new year, they are just as broken as ever. In the wake of Babygate coming to blows, half of the club has sided with Finn while the other half have decided to stand behind Quinn.
There is also a certain Mohawk-ed member very noticeably missing.
Rachel takes her rightful place beside Finn, but can't help but feel the aching in her heart when she bears to glance in Quinn's direction. Nor can she help wondering about the other boy in the center of all of this destruction.
If she's being honest with herself she feels partly responsible for the divided glee club - along with Finn's anger, Quinn's sadness, and Puck's disappearance - she was the one who told the truth about the baby. Rachel will forever believe that telling the truth was the right thing to do, but it's painful to live in the aftermath.
She can't help but flinch when Mr. Schuester finally joins them and she watches his face fall as he takes in his visibly divided club. She squeezes Finn's hand (it is still a thrill to be able to touch this boy whenever she wants) to ignore the guilt that weighs heavily upon her shoulders.
Mr. Schuester considers the situation facing him before he decides on a course of action to fix his broken club: duets.
He forces them all to switch sides and look to their right - that's who they will be partnered with. Most are not pleased with their partner (most especially Finn who ends up with Quinn).
And one of them ends up alone.
"Does this mean I get you again, Mr. Schue?" Rachel asks.
"Uh…" He tries to conceal his initial look of panic. "Where's Puck?"
"He quit," Quinn answers, an edge to her voice that makes Finn flinch beside her.
Mr. Schuester dismisses them after giving them a month to complete their assignments, but detains Rachel (who's almost too swept up in the way Finn leaves without even glancing in her direction to hear her name being called).
"Rachel, I think it's your job as captain to get Puck to come back."
"Maybe it's for the best if he doesn't come back. Finn…"
"Rachel," he interrupts sternly, "We need 12 members. He has to come back and it's your job to convince him. I'm counting on you."
---
Rachel Berry is nothing if not determined.
It takes her an entire day to find Puck (he's not in a single one of his classes) but she finally finds him alone in the gym, angrily throwing basketballs towards the hoop.
"I don't know much about basketball, but I do believe you're suppose to be getting the balls through the basket," she quips from behind him.
Puck spins around at the sound of her voice, a ball in his hand, ready to be launched. Rachel flinches, her eyes clenched close, anticipating the hit.
"Relax," he laughs, dropping the ball and letting it roll towards her. "I wasn't going to pelt you with it or anything."
"Right," she drawls, unconvinced. "I had gym with you in the eighth grade."
"So?"
"We were cruelly forced to play dodge ball for two weeks. We were on opposite teams," she deadpans.
He suddenly remembers and laughs, but turns his back to her and takes another basketball in his hands, aims, misses, and repeats.
"You weren't in glee today."
"Nope." He throws another ball and misses again.
"Quinn said that you quit." He tenses for a moment before attempting (and missing) another basket.
"Yup."
"As captain of the glee club, it's my job to convince you to come back. I think you're talented, not at basketball, obviously, but you're a good singer - you could be better, of course, but I do know talent when I see it."
Puck laughs again, the only proof he's even listening at all, because he continues to throw basketballs and miss.
Not deterred, Rachel moves to stand beside him, dodging basketballs as they ricochet back towards them. "I know things are a mess right now, with you and Quinn and Finn, but…"
He stops and turns towards her only to sneer, "You don't know anything." And then he slings another basketball towards the hoop.
"I know that you're upset. I know that you're mad at Quinn for making you lie, you're mad at yourself for betraying your best friend and you think that by quitting glee you're going to be able to avoid everyone."
He throws another ball, even more violently than all the rest. He misses.
"And you're only getting angry because you know I'm right."
"If you're trying to convince me to come back by reminding me of all the ways I've royally fucked up, you're doing a bang up job, Rachel."
She takes a deep breath, composing herself. "I think you need glee just as much as we need you."
"What makes you think that?"
"You haven't made a basket yet. If you were planning on parlaying your talent - or aggression - into this sport, I'm afraid you don't have a very good chance of being successful."
He huffs and continues to miss each shot he attempts.
"Noah," she says sternly and her hand shoots out to catch his wrist before he can reach for another ball, effectively capturing his attention. "I know you put up this tough guy act, but I also know that there's more to you than that - even if you don't want to admit it. I've seen it firsthand." He rolls his eyes, but she continues, unfazed, "So, I know you want to make things right with Quinn and Finn. With all of us."
He yanks his hand away. "Name one person who doesn't think this shit fest is all my fault," he challenges.
"I don't."
Puck looks at her skeptically, but has to turn away because the way she's looking up at him with those big doe eyes of hers.
He has no choice but to believe her.
"You got your precious Finn free from Quinn's evil claws by opening your big mouth and telling the truth about the baby's daddy," he snaps and it makes her flinch. "Why the hell do you care if I fix things with either one of them… or come back to glee?"
"It is my job as captain. It is my responsibility…"
"Oh, cut the crap, Rachel. That title means shit and you know it."
She squares her shoulders and stands a little taller. "Fine," she concedes. "If you want to know the truth, it's because we need 12 members to compete. If we lose you, we're a member short and it would be nearly impossible to find someone half as talented as you willing to join the club. And," she sighs, "because Mr. Schue decided to pair us up for duets and I'm left without a partner if I can't convince you to come back."
"See? The truth ain't so bad," he grins wickedly. "I'll tell you what," he says, a spark in his eyes. "If you can make a basket from here…. I'll come back to your gay ass club."
"And if I don't?" she challenges.
He shrugs. "Then I don't come back."
"Just so you know, Noah, I am very persistent," she tells him even as she's taking the basketball from his hands, accepting his challenge. "Even if I miss this, I'm not giving up on you."
"Yeah, whatever," he chuckles, taking her by the shoulders and positioning her in just the right spot. "We'll see," he says from behind her, his warm breath hitting her neck and making her shiver.
She instantly misses the warmth of his hands against her (does she always miss Finn when he's not touching her? She can't remember now, not when she's alone with this other boy) but she tries her best to focus on the task at hand. For glee, she tells herself. For Finn and Quinn.
Rachel takes a deep breath, says a prayer, and then awkwardly throws the ball towards the hoop.
As soon as the ball swishes easily throw the hoop, Puck's face falls - his mouth slack-jawed in shock.
She does her best to conceal her surprise and excitement and simply says, "I'll see you tomorrow at rehearsal."
He's too speechless to argue, so he just stares at her in amazement as she walks away.