In This Song [1/?]
Title: In This Song
Fandom: Glee
Pairing(s): Puck/Rachel
Word Count: 5832
Summary: It's different in this song. Jr year and a clean slate for Glee Club. Unfortunately, clean slate's can never last because this year, like last, has secrets, lies, love triangles and more...
Disclaimer: Don't own Glee
A/N: Decided to post the story on LJ as well as having it on FF.net. The rest of the chapters (already on FF.net) are going to be posted later. So, feedback please?
INTRODUCTION
Here's what you missed on the last episode of Glee, but who would ever miss Glee, especially the season finale? Unless you were taken to jail or were kidnapped or something. But ah well, here we go. It was Regionals and New Directions performed great but before they had thought that they were going to lose because Coach Sylvester was going to be one of the judges so they all kind of gave up but Finn talked Rachel out of it and they kissed! Wow. Meanwhile Mr Schue is really upset and shouts at Figgins but they can't change anything so he goes to Ms Pillsbury for guidance - because she's the Guidance Counsellor - and in the end tells her he misses her but she confesses she's dating her dentist and he gets mad. Like, way mad. Then at Regionals tensions run high and only seconds before New Directions are to perform Finn tells Rachel he loves her. Wow again. Turns out Quinn's Mom was watching their performance and asks Quinn to come home when suddenly her water breaks. Talk about timing, huh? They rush to hospital and Quinn delivers a baby girl which Puck calls 'Beth'. Puck tells Quinn he loves her after she has the baby Beth who is then adopted by Shelby - Rachel's Mom! They're back for their results but Vocal Adrenaline win so now Glee Club is cut. So they're all really upset, even Ms Pillsbury and finally she and Mr Schue kiss and he tells her he loves her! But here's the real shocker, Sue blackmails Figgins to give them one more year! Yay! And then Mr Schue plays a freakishly small ukulele and tells them to enjoy their summer. So now they're gone to enjoy it. And that's what you missed on Glee!
…
Unexpected Surprises
It all starts the same way it began: with 'Don't Stop Believing' playing in the background. This time William McKinley's Glee Club weren't singing it but instead, it's coming from a small radio in the black Toyota that's pulling into the high school's parking lot on the first day back to school. Even after the short balding man parks the car safely in an empty space he keeps the radio on for a second or two, a smile forming on his lips as he remembers his lovely only daughter Rachel, whom was sitting in the back-seat, sing that very same song at Regionals. Finally, he switches it off and turns his head back to the back seat where the petite brunette sits.
"Are you ready, sweetie?" he asks her kindly.
She meekly nods and leans in for her Daddy to give her a light kiss on her forehead then steps out of the car. She quickly fixes her short black skirt and smooths down any invisible creases then clutches her folders to her chest, gripping it with nervousness, and heads off into the school.
It is perfectly natural for someone to be nervous on their first day back to school. Studies show that the reason being is that after such a long period away from education they have forgotten some of the basic things taught in school so they dread the lessons. Not me, Rachel Berry. I'm not supposed to be nervous over such a mediocre thing when I'm fearless standing in front of thousands singing. It's not like I can sing myself into school; I'm trying to avoid slushies this year.
Everyone does a double-take as she enters the hallway. Some Cheerios look at her with surprise and others with anger.
Cheerios never transpose to amicable people.
She looks down at her choice of attire self-consciously.
New Year, fresh start, new look?
She had chosen something very familiar to her precious fashion choice. A small black skirt that showed off her tan legs, sky blue tank-top covered by a small black cardigan (that had already been in her wardrobe), and lastly the innocent little heeled shoes which she had picked out on a memorable odd day when she had been ridiculed by her height one too many times.
She had previously debated with herself whether or not to wear any of these items and stick to her old clothes, thinking she was changing too much too soon. She had quickly pushed that idea away and put on a pair of star earrings to remind herself she was the same ambitious girl as she had been in Sophomore year - and still destined to be a star.
She hugs her folder closer to her chest. Even though she had brought along a messenger bag, that now only held her pencil case and lunch, that was big enough to hold her folder she had wanted it to cover her face in case she would be hit by an upcoming slushie.
The first day is always the worst: the Jocks made it their mission to slushie every over-achiever (geek or nerd sounded so foul-mouthed) in William McKinley to, as they said, "put them in place".
On her first day as a Sophomore it had been Karofsky to slushie her. First day as a Freshman it had been the inventor of the coarse game of slushing: Noah Puckerman. That had been when everyone had started doing it. She briskly makes her way to her locker, the place in which she has continued to hide since Freshman year, and turns the dial.
Rachel Berry, hiding? Absurd really, but not on a day like this.
Slushies soon will be flying everywhere and it was more than possible she would make contact with the icy drink.
She looks at her reflection in her small mirror and gives herself an encouraging smile.
You're Rachel Berry - you can do this!
A large muscular hand is suddenly on her shoulder followed by the words, "Sup, juicy Berry?"
"I see your language is still crude even after the summer break," Rachel says dryly, closing her locker and swinging round to face the devil himself, Noah Puckerman. He still looks the same as he did last year; same smirk, still muscular (no, Rachel is not staring), and still wearing plaid shirts. However, he no longer has the Mowhawk as it had been shaved off against his will so now his hair is very short in a buzz cut. "I understand you like to address your classmates by their last name but what has the term 'juicy' have anything to do with me?"
It takes him only a second to respond which was much faster than Finn had ever done as he was not very accustomed to her span of complex words. "I guess you haven't heard what everyone's calling you then," he says, grinning. He nods to the crowds of students who were huddled up in little groups whispering scandalously to each other, flickering their gaze to Rachel every once in a while. "Surprised what a change of clothes could do to your reputation?" he cocks an eyebrow at Rachel's awe. "So am I. But I just think you're wearing that to show off your fine body because you're on the rebound."
"Oh really?" Rachel says scornfully, glaring into Noah's hazel eyes.
He knows about the break-up? Does this mean he and Finn are friends again?
"Yep. After all, Finn and Quinn are getting pretty hot and heavy again."
Surprise fills Rachel. She had not known that Finn was finally back together with Quinn. How could she anyway? Rachel had been away for the past month and a half discovering Europe and its exciting sights with her Dads. They had taken away her cell phone and laptop, insisting she drift away for the summer to just relax and enjoy - meaning having no contact with any of her fellow Glee Clubbers.
"Shit, didn't you know?" Noah asks, shocked. "What, is Finn still your boyfriend?"
"No and no to both your questions," Rachel answers. "I did not know they were back together. Nevertheless, I am delighted that Finn has followed his heart after our break-up."
"He dumped you for her?" he says, appalled, jumping to the wrong conclusion.
"Again, no," Rachel answers impatiently and annoyed. She doesn't want the first person from Glee to talk to her to be Noah, and especially doesn't want him to be the first one she tells about that night. She sighs but decides to go on, otherwise Noah would continue to pester her. "I would like to say it was mutual, but in fact, I broke up with him. Don't interrupt if you want me to continue," she quickly adds when Noah opens his mouth to intervene. "As I was saying, I broke up with Finn. Not because he was cheating on me or anything similar to that, but because our intimate relationship was not going as well as we had thought."
She immediately thinks about that night in which she had expressed her thoughts to Finn.
He was just dropping her off at her house after an awkward date to the movies. Luckily they had an excuse to be quiet in the cinema. When he takes her out to dinner or lunch they hardly have anything to talk about. She plucked up the courage to tell him things weren't going well. She lead him to the sofa, telling him, "We need to talk."
"You're not pregnant with Puck's baby, are you?" he asked fearfully. Rachel gave him a puzzled yet disapproving look. "Sorry, but you haven't talked the whole way home and when Quinn did that she told me later she was pregnant," he explained nervously.
"Sit down, Finn," Rachel said simply, sitting down on the velvet red sofa. Finn copied her actions. "I honestly can't believe I am going to say this after trying so hard to gain your attention away from Quinn but…" she sighed, "I think you and I both know this intimate relationship is not working."
"I-I don't understand," Finn stuttered. Well you never do, Rachel added in her head. "How is it not working? I mean, I love you."
"No Finn." She shook her head exasperatedly. "You love the idea of being with me - of us as the male lead and the female lead of McKinley High's Glee Club being together."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"No, if you're in love with someone it's like you can't live without them. I thought I loved you ever since you joined Glee Club but that doesn't explain why I would have a relationship with Noah - albeit it didn't last one week but still - and then with Jesse when I specifically knew then that you wanted to start a relationship with me…"
"Are you saying you don't love me?" he asked, outraged.
"I'm saying I love you as a friend whom I care deeply about and would be very upset if something disastrous ever occurred to you and…"
"And what?"
Rachel winced. This was the part she was going to hate saying, "I think you're not over Quinn."
Those seemed to be the words that horrified Finn the most. Not that she wasn't in love with him or wasn't to break up and just be friends, but the fact that that she thought he wasn't over Quinn. "I am not in love with Quinn!" She didn't need to have had seven years going to a therapist to know that that was the classic case of denial.
"I didn't say that, did I? I said you weren't over her," Rachel began to explain, but Finn wasn't listening. He started to storm angrily to the front door. "I hate to speak in clichés but please, Finn, listen to your heart." With that, he abruptly exited and Rachel jumped when he slammed the door, thankful her Dads were not home.
I guess he doesn't like clichés.
Rachel tells all of this to Puck who begrudgingly listens and doesn't intervene until she finishes her speech with, "and left the next day for Europe with no internet connection or access to my phone. Presumably, by what you say, Finn confronted Quinn and now they're together."
"And now what, you're happy for him?" Noah asks, and for a brief moment Rachel is thinking, 'Joy! He understands!', until he adds, "I don't believe that for a second, Berry. I think you're jealous and you came to school wearing get-up like that to get a new boyfriend."
"I'm appalled by your atrocious thought about me." She glowers at him and begins to walk away. Unfortunately, Noah follows her and even her brisk footsteps are no comparison to his tall legs and he catches up to her.
"C'mon Berry, don't be afraid to admit you want some of the Puckerone," Noah teases cockily (no pun intended). "You can't refuse me, baby."
Instead of going into a useless lecture she just rolls her eyes and mutters, "What ever you say."
"Fine," he says, suddenly getting angry, "later wannabe." He turns around to leave but is stopped when Rachel unexpectedly grabs his arm.
"Wait," she spits out icily. He could easily shake her hold off then carry on in the other direction but he gradually twists around to face her again. "What did you just call me?"
Puck perks up, strangely glad to see that his words affected her. "I called you a wannabe. You're obviously trying to be popular by changing your clothes. I thought you'd learned from the 'Run Joey Run' incident but apparently not."
"And I thought you learnt to keep your innuendos to yourself after what happened with Quinn but apparently not."
She didn't know what she was thinking.
She swiftly keeps on walking before he can catch up.
Cold slushie, here I come.
…
"Mind if I sit here?" a soft voice asks and Rachel looks up from the notebook she had been scribbling furiously into after remembering some fabulous songs she hadn't yet added to her list of Possible Songs to Sing in Glee to see the familiar blond-haired, emerald green-eyed Quinn Fabray staring intently at her.
"Umm - of course," Rachel says in amazement - no explanation needed, remembering Sophomore year. She clears her things that are spread out far along the table as she had not been expecting someone to want to sit next to her.
"Finn told me what you did," Quinn begins, answering Rachel's unspoken question as she sits down. "About what you said to him when you broke up. Why did you think he still liked me?"
"He was only mad at you because you kept the paternity of the baby -" Quinn winces at the word baby, obviously still hung up over having her own daughter and giving her away, "-a secret. Well, you slept with Noah but any self-respecting boy with an IQ higher than a sloth would know not to trust him alone with their girlfriend if their relationship was in trouble - but despite that, I could see that deep down, Finn still loved you. He didn't need closure, he needed you," Rachel explains. She had babbled on more than necessary but she had gotten her point through.
"And you just told him that? What about all those months you had been fighting to get him?" Quinn questions, pleased but curious all the same.
"You would think a prince and princess would make a perfect match, but sometimes they don't. In the same way the male lead and female lead of a glee club may seem like a perfect match but in the end, the only thing they have in common is a talent for singing."
Quinn gapes at her in surprise. "You really have changed Juicy Berry!"
Rachel cringes. "Is everyone going to start calling me that?"
"Would you prefer ManHands?" Quinn asks, raising an eyebrow.
"No no no," Rachel abruptly says. Quinn chuckles, and Rachel joins in. They are both aware that they're being watched with stunned eyes from the rest of their classmates.
Their grey-haired teacher, Mr Smith, finally enters. "Fabray! Berry! Be quiet!"
The two girls stop and turn back to face the board with a smile on both of their faces.
…
Quinn Fabray bids goodbye to Rachel and shuffles over to her locker to get one of her books out. Instead of pushing through the crowd, like she had had to do last year when she was kicked off the Cheerios, the students make space for her by immediately leaping out of her way.
This year everything had changed.
All because of one scandal that summer. It was about Santana practically ripping Karofsky a new one after he had said that… that I was going to cheat on Puck with Finn because I always "had a thing for boyfriend's best friend". San really did show him.
You could say "that's what friends are for" but really, Santana and I are hardly friends. We're only teammates. Plus, the only reason she defended me was because the lovely but ignorant Brittany had tried to defend me first and Karofsky called her a "dumb blonde". Yes, she is blonde and dumb but you don't say that to her face. Brittany's also incredibly sensitive.
Now everyone looks at her differently. They cower away, scared that she would sic Santana on them.
I used to have the same reaction when I had been on the Cheerios but… no, I won't join. I have everyone in Glee and they're my real friends.
"Hi," says a voice she loves to hear, followed by a peck on her cheek. Quinn looks up at the towering figure that is her boyfriend.
She and Puck had tried dating at first but it didn't work out well. Or, work out at all. She was still heartbroken about having had to give her baby away - though she didn't want to keep… Beth… she didn't want to give the baby girl away either, much less for her to be taken away to California immediately with the adoptive mother, Shelby Corcoran.
Puck had been acting moody too. He was even more distraught than she was because he immensely wanted to keep the baby. Even though he had dismissed the idea at the hospital when Quinn had told him she didn't want to keep the baby, every time she looked into his eyes she could tell he hated her for that.
There was only one way to get Puck's mind off of things. Sex. Like he had said time and time again when she had caught him flirting with someone, he's a sex shark.
So, they had broken up. And then after a few weeks, Rachel and Finn had broken up too.
Incontestably she and Finn had not gotten back together straight away. They had had to talk. A lot. There had been screaming match, with them debating who held most of the blame and who committed the most heinous act. Finn repeatedly said it was her as she had slept with his best friend but Quinn reminded him he cheated on her way before then by kissing Rachel… several times.
In the end, they had decided to put everything behind them and start anew. Unluckily, because of their reconciliation, some things had changed - much to Quinn's disapproval and unhappiness.
Kurt is still head over heels passionately in love with Finn. Fortunately, he isn't acting like how Rachel had, prior in Sophomore year, trying to break she and Finn up; however, Kurt had taken it upon himself to avoid her and just endures her. If they ever bump into each other, they exchange a few meek words half-heartedly before continuing on their merry way. Furthermore, Kurt is closer to Mercedes than Quinn is - meaning she's been seeing Mercedes less and less often. They're just acquaintances now.
It doesn't matter that much as long as she has Finn by her side.
"Hi," Quinn greets brightly, reaching up higher on her tiptoes to give Finn a kiss straight on the lips.
"Hi," he repeats in a daze once they pull apart.
She giggles. "Hi." She closes her locker door and takes his hand in her own as they make their way through the hallway. "So how's your day been so far?"
"Boring. And sleepy. I think the teachers are as tired as us, which is weird 'cause they always act like robots - and robots don't get tired, y'know? How about you?"
"Er, same I guess." Quinn shrugs, smiling at his comment. "I had English with Rachel."
"Really? How is sh - I mean, uh, how was the lesson?"
"You can ask about her, you know," she informs him seriously. "I mean, the day after you guys broke up she left to go on holiday and you haven't heard from her since. I won't think you still like her. Or do you still like her?" she adds, her voice half teasing and half unsure - really hoping that she'd have no reason to sound like the latter.
"As a friend," he assures her lightly, his voice growing more profound as he gives the situation more thought, "at least I do, but I don't know about her. After everything that happened last year -"
"Forget about last year. It's all about this year." She grips his hand tighter and Finn winces. "And us. You're over Rachel, she's over you, and we're together again." Finn regains control over his hand again and once she lets go of it, starts massaging it gently, frowning as he checks to see if his digits suffered any damage from the death-grip Quinn had held them in. Oblivious to his pain, she continues, "and Rachel told me she had had fun seeing sights and blah blah blah."
"Good," Finn says distractedly.
Brittany bounces up to Quinn, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Hey Q!"
Santana appears by her side and shoots Quinn a fake smile, successfully conveying the message of I wish I wasn't here right now. "Hi Quinn."
Brittany looks down at Quinn's attire: a simple short sleeveless white dress with pale jeans and ballet flats. "Why aren't you wearing your Cheerios uniform?"
"I'm not a Cheerio, Brittany."
"But can't you join again?"
"The truth is, I don't want to. I might turn into my old bitch-self again… and anyway, San's doing a better job as Head Cheerleader than I did," Quinn finishes, lightly eyeing the Latina.
"You know it!" Santana declares, grinning smugly at the compliment.
"I might be losing some credibility and getting slushie facials -"
"Like anyone would even try after what I did to Karofsky," Santana interrupts, snarling the hockey player's name - after all, he had upset the bubbly little Brittany.
"Thanks, San. You're a good friend," Quinn tells her, all the while knowing she wasn't the reason Santana had stuck up for her. Santana smiles at her, sharing a guilty look with Finn over her head.
The bell went again, ringing irritatingly. "Bye Quinn, we have Spanish," Brittany informs her, surprising Quinn by knowing what her lessons were.
"Bye Q." Santana links pinkies with Brittany and they begin to walk away.
"Bye!" Quinn calls after them.
"Tell Mr Schue we said hi!" Finn shouts.
…
It's expected of course. Everyone with a low reputation who attends McKinley knows it's going to happen to them sooner or later that day.
It's slushie central in the lunch hall, much like a food fight going on in there, so Rachel avoids having a school meal that day. Instead, she rapidly walks to the Choir Room. Hardly anyone knows where it is so she's assured that it's safe territory. Slushie facials are given out in the hallways too, this being the reason Rachel is hurrying.
Going in the opposite direction, Tina passes by dressed in a black anorak with the hood covering all of her hair and zipped up tightly. Rachel noted that she's walking with Mercedes and Kurt, who are dressed in the same anoraks and she's quickly wheeling Artie. They give her a small smile and she smiles back, not daring to stop and talk.
Just by barely looking to the right to smile at her fellow Glee Clubbers, she manages to bump straight into a student's back. He turns around to face her and Rachel is shocked to see it's Dave Karofsky. "Apologies, Dave," she quickly mumbles, stepping around him to move away when he places a broad hand on her shoulder. Rachel instantaneously tenses and her eyes flash to the Big Quench cup Dave holds in his other hand.
"In a rush, Berry?" he taunts. Suddenly, everyone seems to be staring. Behind, the Gleeks stop and turn, sickeningly eager to watch. Dave looks Rachel up and down and smirks. "I didn't believe them when they told me you had changed but damn, Berry." He notices her staring intently at the slushie and he laughs. "Don't worry Berry, I'm not going to slushie you… but only if you go on a date with me."
Everyone, including Rachel, is in awe.
Dave Karofsky had just asked Rachel Berry, resident loser of McKinley, on a date.
He's threatening me with a slushie facial unless I go on a date with him?
A giggle unexpectedly escapes her lips and Dave glares at her. "I apologize for my laughter but are you bullying me to date you, David?" she asks, still not quite able to wrap her head around the idea. "Do you do this with all girls?"
Much to her surprise, everyone in the hallway starts laughing. She's glad that someone finally laughed at her joke but there's a time and a place for making jokes. Standing in front of a burly athlete with a corn-syrup covered icy-drink in his hand doesn't fill that quota. Rachel quickly brings her folder to her face and is satisfied when the pink plastic successfully shields her skin and clothes from the drink.
"I can see why you're not on the football team, your aim is dreadful," she blurts out in a word-vomit. Everyone's jaw immediately drops to the floor in shock. Dave is turning red with rage and Rachel angrily reminds herself that the slushie machine is only down the hall.
She quickly takes advantage of the awkward silence and hurries to the nearest bathroom.
…
Mercedes and Kurt immediately follow. Well, who wouldn't do that if they knew Rachel Berry?
Rachel Berry is loud and abrasive and is never afraid to speak her mind. They're well aware of that fact. What they didn't know is that she isn't afraid to speak her mind to large beefy hockey players as well, much less ones who are holding a slushie in their hand.
"What," Kurt starts incredulously, "in the name of Gucci, were you thinking?"
Rachel is standing in front of the mirror, expecting her outfit to see if any of the electric blue slushie had landed on her clothes. She furrows her brow at Kurt and Mercedes' reflection in the mirror, as if she's unsure that they're really there. She turns, crossing her arms over her chest as she looks at them through narrowed eyes. "What in heaven's name is wrong with my clothes now?"
Mercedes looks at her in disbelief. Is that why she thinks they're there? Not the fact that she has just smack-talked the captain of the hockey team?
"Miss Thang, there is nothing wrong with your clothes. Sure, they're not my taste but they look good on you," she admits - albeit reluctantly.
"We are here to ask what was going through your mind when you virtually beat down Karofsky back in the hallway," Kurt tells her. "My, it seems your fashion choice isn't the only thing that's changed."
"To be honest, I wasn't thinking at all out there," Rachel answers. "The whole thing was just ridiculous. I mean, he threatened me with a slushie facial so I could go out with him!" She laughed, shaking her head as she replayed the entire scene in her head.
"Believe me, you weren't the only one freaked out. Everyone was looking at each other like it was just some hazy dream."
"I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming," Kurt adds. "What ever came over you?"
"Word-vomit," Rachel responds with an easy shrug. "So, other than that, how was you summer?"
Kurt and Mercedes each raised an eyebrow and glanced at each other at her cheery attempt to change the subject. Was Rachel not talking about herself for once, but asking about them?
They thought they'd never see the day.
"My holiday was lovely, thank you for asking." Kurt's the first one to break the short silence. "Not as eventful as yours of course, and I did not travel at all; unless you count a road trip to Boston with my Dad, Finn and his mother to watch a baseball game traveling." He shivers as the memory of the horribly filthy seats runs through his mind once more and internally chants Prada, Gucci, Dior, Prada, Gucci, Dior in his head so he could retain his sanity.
"Same with mine, downright boring. Just hanging with Kurt, Artie and Tina."
"Speaking of which, where are those two?" Rachel inquires.
"Artie couldn't come into the girls' bathroom even though I, a male too, entered," Kurt answers. Rachel raises an eyebrow at him with a knowing look. "Yes, a lady-fabulous male, but albeit the same. Tina couldn't leave him alone; there's a safety in numbers."
"Yes, I have just realized that." She nods, looking poignant as ever while she looks over the fact that she basically has no friends sadly.
"Well, let's go," Kurt tells Mercedes, linking his arm through hers. They start to leave and Rachel frowns because she had been enjoying their conversation and company. The pair of divas stop at the door when they realize she's still standing by the sink.
"Aren't you coming, girl?" Mercedes says, impatience lacing her tone. "C'mon, like we said: there's safety in numbers."
The brunette grins widely and bounces over to them.
…
First Day lunchtime is always the worst. Nearly everyone is trying to shove their way into the dining hall to get their share of the school lunch. Will really didn't see why the lunch hadn't changed since he had gone to McKinley. It still tastes bland as ever and he keeps wondering if they're serving leftover meatloaf from the 1990's.
For some peace and quiet Will seeks refuge in the silent Choir Room that New Directions uses for practicing. It won't be this quiet this afternoon, he thinks, peering around the room. The bulky trophy case that contains the accursed Sue Sylvester's Cheerios' trophy is still in the corner. It's the biggest trophy of all the prizes the Cheerios have ever won and he had been damned with keeping it in his Choir Room. He glowers at it in anger as though the loathsome Coach Sylvester was standing right there.
He gingerly sits down at the piano and his hands hover above the gleaming white keys as he thinks back through all the songs that had been played on that very piano only a few months ago. He rests his hands on the keys and begins to play a few light notes when the door opens.
He turns around to face red-headed Emma Pillsbury standing cautiously in the doorway. "Emma," he breathes out in shock.
He hasn't seen her for the whole of the summer. Not once. After their kiss she'd avoided him the rest of the days before school let out. Every time he'd walk past her office he never saw her, nor in the Teachers' Lounge. He had tried calling her multiple times on those days, then in the beginning of the summer, but halfway through the summer he gave up, knowing that she would never answer.
It's so heartbreaking. He's finally divorced from Terri and ready for a committed relationship. With Emma and only her. But now she has someone else, someone who was ready for a relationship when he wasn't.
"Hi," she greets him quietly.
"You never answered my calls," he says softly, looking into her big brown eyes that never fail to dazzle him. "Sorry... I was just… really busy…and I…." she trails off awkwardly, unsure of what to say that would lull the guilt she was feeling.
"With the dentist?" It was an accusation, not at all a question, and it pierced through Emma.
"Yes, with Carl."
"So what, you're just going to pretend it never happened?" He raises his voice in anger, standing up from the piano bench. "You're just going to ignore the fact that I'm in love with you? That I want to be with you?"
"I…" She has no idea what to say to this. She's thought about what to tell him the whole summer, knowing she would have to confront him in order to lead a peaceful life with Carl. She finds herself desperately wishing for the confidence she had sprouted up that day when she had told Will that some things were worth fighting for.
Will watches her as she struggles to find the right words to say. He doesn't enjoy watching her strain but doesn't regret telling her what's been troubling him for the past three months. It has been terrible for him. He had jumped every time the phone rang, hoping it was her. He replayed the moment of their kiss over and over again and wondered what would have happened if Rachel had not interrupted.
Would she have admitted to being in love with him also?
"Will." He looks up at her when she breaks the silence, and frowns when he sees the resignation etched on her features. "What happened between us, it's in the past. I'm with Carl now. I've heard all over the school students saying that last year no longer mattered; it was all about the present now. I... I think we should follow their optimism and do the same."
He inhales sharply and looks away, not bearing to make eye contact because he knows it's possible that he'd break down right there. So if that's the way she wants it… if she wants to live in total ignorance and be happy with this Carl… then so be it. However, deep in his heart he knows that Emma will never be entirely happy with the dentist like she could be with him.
"If that's what you want then… okay." He nods slowly, and her eyes widen in surprise slash disappointment. Had she wanted him to fight for her? "You know what they say, 'If you love something, set them free'."
Emma nods too, again unsure of what to say. Instead of awkwardly trying to continue a conversation, she swiftly turns around and leaves the room, keeping her lips sealed shut so she wouldn't say what came to her mind once he repeated the famous saying.
If it comes back to you, it's yours.
Once she's back in her office, she opens the front drawer of her desk and takes the diamond ring out, gently sliding the band over her ring finger.
Fandom: Glee
Pairing(s): Puck/Rachel
Word Count: 5832
Summary: It's different in this song. Jr year and a clean slate for Glee Club. Unfortunately, clean slate's can never last because this year, like last, has secrets, lies, love triangles and more...
Disclaimer: Don't own Glee
A/N: Decided to post the story on LJ as well as having it on FF.net. The rest of the chapters (already on FF.net) are going to be posted later. So, feedback please?
INTRODUCTION
Here's what you missed on the last episode of Glee, but who would ever miss Glee, especially the season finale? Unless you were taken to jail or were kidnapped or something. But ah well, here we go. It was Regionals and New Directions performed great but before they had thought that they were going to lose because Coach Sylvester was going to be one of the judges so they all kind of gave up but Finn talked Rachel out of it and they kissed! Wow. Meanwhile Mr Schue is really upset and shouts at Figgins but they can't change anything so he goes to Ms Pillsbury for guidance - because she's the Guidance Counsellor - and in the end tells her he misses her but she confesses she's dating her dentist and he gets mad. Like, way mad. Then at Regionals tensions run high and only seconds before New Directions are to perform Finn tells Rachel he loves her. Wow again. Turns out Quinn's Mom was watching their performance and asks Quinn to come home when suddenly her water breaks. Talk about timing, huh? They rush to hospital and Quinn delivers a baby girl which Puck calls 'Beth'. Puck tells Quinn he loves her after she has the baby Beth who is then adopted by Shelby - Rachel's Mom! They're back for their results but Vocal Adrenaline win so now Glee Club is cut. So they're all really upset, even Ms Pillsbury and finally she and Mr Schue kiss and he tells her he loves her! But here's the real shocker, Sue blackmails Figgins to give them one more year! Yay! And then Mr Schue plays a freakishly small ukulele and tells them to enjoy their summer. So now they're gone to enjoy it. And that's what you missed on Glee!
…
Unexpected Surprises
It all starts the same way it began: with 'Don't Stop Believing' playing in the background. This time William McKinley's Glee Club weren't singing it but instead, it's coming from a small radio in the black Toyota that's pulling into the high school's parking lot on the first day back to school. Even after the short balding man parks the car safely in an empty space he keeps the radio on for a second or two, a smile forming on his lips as he remembers his lovely only daughter Rachel, whom was sitting in the back-seat, sing that very same song at Regionals. Finally, he switches it off and turns his head back to the back seat where the petite brunette sits.
"Are you ready, sweetie?" he asks her kindly.
She meekly nods and leans in for her Daddy to give her a light kiss on her forehead then steps out of the car. She quickly fixes her short black skirt and smooths down any invisible creases then clutches her folders to her chest, gripping it with nervousness, and heads off into the school.
It is perfectly natural for someone to be nervous on their first day back to school. Studies show that the reason being is that after such a long period away from education they have forgotten some of the basic things taught in school so they dread the lessons. Not me, Rachel Berry. I'm not supposed to be nervous over such a mediocre thing when I'm fearless standing in front of thousands singing. It's not like I can sing myself into school; I'm trying to avoid slushies this year.
Everyone does a double-take as she enters the hallway. Some Cheerios look at her with surprise and others with anger.
Cheerios never transpose to amicable people.
She looks down at her choice of attire self-consciously.
New Year, fresh start, new look?
She had chosen something very familiar to her precious fashion choice. A small black skirt that showed off her tan legs, sky blue tank-top covered by a small black cardigan (that had already been in her wardrobe), and lastly the innocent little heeled shoes which she had picked out on a memorable odd day when she had been ridiculed by her height one too many times.
She had previously debated with herself whether or not to wear any of these items and stick to her old clothes, thinking she was changing too much too soon. She had quickly pushed that idea away and put on a pair of star earrings to remind herself she was the same ambitious girl as she had been in Sophomore year - and still destined to be a star.
She hugs her folder closer to her chest. Even though she had brought along a messenger bag, that now only held her pencil case and lunch, that was big enough to hold her folder she had wanted it to cover her face in case she would be hit by an upcoming slushie.
The first day is always the worst: the Jocks made it their mission to slushie every over-achiever (geek or nerd sounded so foul-mouthed) in William McKinley to, as they said, "put them in place".
On her first day as a Sophomore it had been Karofsky to slushie her. First day as a Freshman it had been the inventor of the coarse game of slushing: Noah Puckerman. That had been when everyone had started doing it. She briskly makes her way to her locker, the place in which she has continued to hide since Freshman year, and turns the dial.
Rachel Berry, hiding? Absurd really, but not on a day like this.
Slushies soon will be flying everywhere and it was more than possible she would make contact with the icy drink.
She looks at her reflection in her small mirror and gives herself an encouraging smile.
You're Rachel Berry - you can do this!
A large muscular hand is suddenly on her shoulder followed by the words, "Sup, juicy Berry?"
"I see your language is still crude even after the summer break," Rachel says dryly, closing her locker and swinging round to face the devil himself, Noah Puckerman. He still looks the same as he did last year; same smirk, still muscular (no, Rachel is not staring), and still wearing plaid shirts. However, he no longer has the Mowhawk as it had been shaved off against his will so now his hair is very short in a buzz cut. "I understand you like to address your classmates by their last name but what has the term 'juicy' have anything to do with me?"
It takes him only a second to respond which was much faster than Finn had ever done as he was not very accustomed to her span of complex words. "I guess you haven't heard what everyone's calling you then," he says, grinning. He nods to the crowds of students who were huddled up in little groups whispering scandalously to each other, flickering their gaze to Rachel every once in a while. "Surprised what a change of clothes could do to your reputation?" he cocks an eyebrow at Rachel's awe. "So am I. But I just think you're wearing that to show off your fine body because you're on the rebound."
"Oh really?" Rachel says scornfully, glaring into Noah's hazel eyes.
He knows about the break-up? Does this mean he and Finn are friends again?
"Yep. After all, Finn and Quinn are getting pretty hot and heavy again."
Surprise fills Rachel. She had not known that Finn was finally back together with Quinn. How could she anyway? Rachel had been away for the past month and a half discovering Europe and its exciting sights with her Dads. They had taken away her cell phone and laptop, insisting she drift away for the summer to just relax and enjoy - meaning having no contact with any of her fellow Glee Clubbers.
"Shit, didn't you know?" Noah asks, shocked. "What, is Finn still your boyfriend?"
"No and no to both your questions," Rachel answers. "I did not know they were back together. Nevertheless, I am delighted that Finn has followed his heart after our break-up."
"He dumped you for her?" he says, appalled, jumping to the wrong conclusion.
"Again, no," Rachel answers impatiently and annoyed. She doesn't want the first person from Glee to talk to her to be Noah, and especially doesn't want him to be the first one she tells about that night. She sighs but decides to go on, otherwise Noah would continue to pester her. "I would like to say it was mutual, but in fact, I broke up with him. Don't interrupt if you want me to continue," she quickly adds when Noah opens his mouth to intervene. "As I was saying, I broke up with Finn. Not because he was cheating on me or anything similar to that, but because our intimate relationship was not going as well as we had thought."
She immediately thinks about that night in which she had expressed her thoughts to Finn.
He was just dropping her off at her house after an awkward date to the movies. Luckily they had an excuse to be quiet in the cinema. When he takes her out to dinner or lunch they hardly have anything to talk about. She plucked up the courage to tell him things weren't going well. She lead him to the sofa, telling him, "We need to talk."
"You're not pregnant with Puck's baby, are you?" he asked fearfully. Rachel gave him a puzzled yet disapproving look. "Sorry, but you haven't talked the whole way home and when Quinn did that she told me later she was pregnant," he explained nervously.
"Sit down, Finn," Rachel said simply, sitting down on the velvet red sofa. Finn copied her actions. "I honestly can't believe I am going to say this after trying so hard to gain your attention away from Quinn but…" she sighed, "I think you and I both know this intimate relationship is not working."
"I-I don't understand," Finn stuttered. Well you never do, Rachel added in her head. "How is it not working? I mean, I love you."
"No Finn." She shook her head exasperatedly. "You love the idea of being with me - of us as the male lead and the female lead of McKinley High's Glee Club being together."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"No, if you're in love with someone it's like you can't live without them. I thought I loved you ever since you joined Glee Club but that doesn't explain why I would have a relationship with Noah - albeit it didn't last one week but still - and then with Jesse when I specifically knew then that you wanted to start a relationship with me…"
"Are you saying you don't love me?" he asked, outraged.
"I'm saying I love you as a friend whom I care deeply about and would be very upset if something disastrous ever occurred to you and…"
"And what?"
Rachel winced. This was the part she was going to hate saying, "I think you're not over Quinn."
Those seemed to be the words that horrified Finn the most. Not that she wasn't in love with him or wasn't to break up and just be friends, but the fact that that she thought he wasn't over Quinn. "I am not in love with Quinn!" She didn't need to have had seven years going to a therapist to know that that was the classic case of denial.
"I didn't say that, did I? I said you weren't over her," Rachel began to explain, but Finn wasn't listening. He started to storm angrily to the front door. "I hate to speak in clichés but please, Finn, listen to your heart." With that, he abruptly exited and Rachel jumped when he slammed the door, thankful her Dads were not home.
I guess he doesn't like clichés.
Rachel tells all of this to Puck who begrudgingly listens and doesn't intervene until she finishes her speech with, "and left the next day for Europe with no internet connection or access to my phone. Presumably, by what you say, Finn confronted Quinn and now they're together."
"And now what, you're happy for him?" Noah asks, and for a brief moment Rachel is thinking, 'Joy! He understands!', until he adds, "I don't believe that for a second, Berry. I think you're jealous and you came to school wearing get-up like that to get a new boyfriend."
"I'm appalled by your atrocious thought about me." She glowers at him and begins to walk away. Unfortunately, Noah follows her and even her brisk footsteps are no comparison to his tall legs and he catches up to her.
"C'mon Berry, don't be afraid to admit you want some of the Puckerone," Noah teases cockily (no pun intended). "You can't refuse me, baby."
Instead of going into a useless lecture she just rolls her eyes and mutters, "What ever you say."
"Fine," he says, suddenly getting angry, "later wannabe." He turns around to leave but is stopped when Rachel unexpectedly grabs his arm.
"Wait," she spits out icily. He could easily shake her hold off then carry on in the other direction but he gradually twists around to face her again. "What did you just call me?"
Puck perks up, strangely glad to see that his words affected her. "I called you a wannabe. You're obviously trying to be popular by changing your clothes. I thought you'd learned from the 'Run Joey Run' incident but apparently not."
"And I thought you learnt to keep your innuendos to yourself after what happened with Quinn but apparently not."
She didn't know what she was thinking.
She swiftly keeps on walking before he can catch up.
Cold slushie, here I come.
…
"Mind if I sit here?" a soft voice asks and Rachel looks up from the notebook she had been scribbling furiously into after remembering some fabulous songs she hadn't yet added to her list of Possible Songs to Sing in Glee to see the familiar blond-haired, emerald green-eyed Quinn Fabray staring intently at her.
"Umm - of course," Rachel says in amazement - no explanation needed, remembering Sophomore year. She clears her things that are spread out far along the table as she had not been expecting someone to want to sit next to her.
"Finn told me what you did," Quinn begins, answering Rachel's unspoken question as she sits down. "About what you said to him when you broke up. Why did you think he still liked me?"
"He was only mad at you because you kept the paternity of the baby -" Quinn winces at the word baby, obviously still hung up over having her own daughter and giving her away, "-a secret. Well, you slept with Noah but any self-respecting boy with an IQ higher than a sloth would know not to trust him alone with their girlfriend if their relationship was in trouble - but despite that, I could see that deep down, Finn still loved you. He didn't need closure, he needed you," Rachel explains. She had babbled on more than necessary but she had gotten her point through.
"And you just told him that? What about all those months you had been fighting to get him?" Quinn questions, pleased but curious all the same.
"You would think a prince and princess would make a perfect match, but sometimes they don't. In the same way the male lead and female lead of a glee club may seem like a perfect match but in the end, the only thing they have in common is a talent for singing."
Quinn gapes at her in surprise. "You really have changed Juicy Berry!"
Rachel cringes. "Is everyone going to start calling me that?"
"Would you prefer ManHands?" Quinn asks, raising an eyebrow.
"No no no," Rachel abruptly says. Quinn chuckles, and Rachel joins in. They are both aware that they're being watched with stunned eyes from the rest of their classmates.
Their grey-haired teacher, Mr Smith, finally enters. "Fabray! Berry! Be quiet!"
The two girls stop and turn back to face the board with a smile on both of their faces.
…
Quinn Fabray bids goodbye to Rachel and shuffles over to her locker to get one of her books out. Instead of pushing through the crowd, like she had had to do last year when she was kicked off the Cheerios, the students make space for her by immediately leaping out of her way.
This year everything had changed.
All because of one scandal that summer. It was about Santana practically ripping Karofsky a new one after he had said that… that I was going to cheat on Puck with Finn because I always "had a thing for boyfriend's best friend". San really did show him.
You could say "that's what friends are for" but really, Santana and I are hardly friends. We're only teammates. Plus, the only reason she defended me was because the lovely but ignorant Brittany had tried to defend me first and Karofsky called her a "dumb blonde". Yes, she is blonde and dumb but you don't say that to her face. Brittany's also incredibly sensitive.
Now everyone looks at her differently. They cower away, scared that she would sic Santana on them.
I used to have the same reaction when I had been on the Cheerios but… no, I won't join. I have everyone in Glee and they're my real friends.
"Hi," says a voice she loves to hear, followed by a peck on her cheek. Quinn looks up at the towering figure that is her boyfriend.
She and Puck had tried dating at first but it didn't work out well. Or, work out at all. She was still heartbroken about having had to give her baby away - though she didn't want to keep… Beth… she didn't want to give the baby girl away either, much less for her to be taken away to California immediately with the adoptive mother, Shelby Corcoran.
Puck had been acting moody too. He was even more distraught than she was because he immensely wanted to keep the baby. Even though he had dismissed the idea at the hospital when Quinn had told him she didn't want to keep the baby, every time she looked into his eyes she could tell he hated her for that.
There was only one way to get Puck's mind off of things. Sex. Like he had said time and time again when she had caught him flirting with someone, he's a sex shark.
So, they had broken up. And then after a few weeks, Rachel and Finn had broken up too.
Incontestably she and Finn had not gotten back together straight away. They had had to talk. A lot. There had been screaming match, with them debating who held most of the blame and who committed the most heinous act. Finn repeatedly said it was her as she had slept with his best friend but Quinn reminded him he cheated on her way before then by kissing Rachel… several times.
In the end, they had decided to put everything behind them and start anew. Unluckily, because of their reconciliation, some things had changed - much to Quinn's disapproval and unhappiness.
Kurt is still head over heels passionately in love with Finn. Fortunately, he isn't acting like how Rachel had, prior in Sophomore year, trying to break she and Finn up; however, Kurt had taken it upon himself to avoid her and just endures her. If they ever bump into each other, they exchange a few meek words half-heartedly before continuing on their merry way. Furthermore, Kurt is closer to Mercedes than Quinn is - meaning she's been seeing Mercedes less and less often. They're just acquaintances now.
It doesn't matter that much as long as she has Finn by her side.
"Hi," Quinn greets brightly, reaching up higher on her tiptoes to give Finn a kiss straight on the lips.
"Hi," he repeats in a daze once they pull apart.
She giggles. "Hi." She closes her locker door and takes his hand in her own as they make their way through the hallway. "So how's your day been so far?"
"Boring. And sleepy. I think the teachers are as tired as us, which is weird 'cause they always act like robots - and robots don't get tired, y'know? How about you?"
"Er, same I guess." Quinn shrugs, smiling at his comment. "I had English with Rachel."
"Really? How is sh - I mean, uh, how was the lesson?"
"You can ask about her, you know," she informs him seriously. "I mean, the day after you guys broke up she left to go on holiday and you haven't heard from her since. I won't think you still like her. Or do you still like her?" she adds, her voice half teasing and half unsure - really hoping that she'd have no reason to sound like the latter.
"As a friend," he assures her lightly, his voice growing more profound as he gives the situation more thought, "at least I do, but I don't know about her. After everything that happened last year -"
"Forget about last year. It's all about this year." She grips his hand tighter and Finn winces. "And us. You're over Rachel, she's over you, and we're together again." Finn regains control over his hand again and once she lets go of it, starts massaging it gently, frowning as he checks to see if his digits suffered any damage from the death-grip Quinn had held them in. Oblivious to his pain, she continues, "and Rachel told me she had had fun seeing sights and blah blah blah."
"Good," Finn says distractedly.
Brittany bounces up to Quinn, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Hey Q!"
Santana appears by her side and shoots Quinn a fake smile, successfully conveying the message of I wish I wasn't here right now. "Hi Quinn."
Brittany looks down at Quinn's attire: a simple short sleeveless white dress with pale jeans and ballet flats. "Why aren't you wearing your Cheerios uniform?"
"I'm not a Cheerio, Brittany."
"But can't you join again?"
"The truth is, I don't want to. I might turn into my old bitch-self again… and anyway, San's doing a better job as Head Cheerleader than I did," Quinn finishes, lightly eyeing the Latina.
"You know it!" Santana declares, grinning smugly at the compliment.
"I might be losing some credibility and getting slushie facials -"
"Like anyone would even try after what I did to Karofsky," Santana interrupts, snarling the hockey player's name - after all, he had upset the bubbly little Brittany.
"Thanks, San. You're a good friend," Quinn tells her, all the while knowing she wasn't the reason Santana had stuck up for her. Santana smiles at her, sharing a guilty look with Finn over her head.
The bell went again, ringing irritatingly. "Bye Quinn, we have Spanish," Brittany informs her, surprising Quinn by knowing what her lessons were.
"Bye Q." Santana links pinkies with Brittany and they begin to walk away.
"Bye!" Quinn calls after them.
"Tell Mr Schue we said hi!" Finn shouts.
…
It's expected of course. Everyone with a low reputation who attends McKinley knows it's going to happen to them sooner or later that day.
It's slushie central in the lunch hall, much like a food fight going on in there, so Rachel avoids having a school meal that day. Instead, she rapidly walks to the Choir Room. Hardly anyone knows where it is so she's assured that it's safe territory. Slushie facials are given out in the hallways too, this being the reason Rachel is hurrying.
Going in the opposite direction, Tina passes by dressed in a black anorak with the hood covering all of her hair and zipped up tightly. Rachel noted that she's walking with Mercedes and Kurt, who are dressed in the same anoraks and she's quickly wheeling Artie. They give her a small smile and she smiles back, not daring to stop and talk.
Just by barely looking to the right to smile at her fellow Glee Clubbers, she manages to bump straight into a student's back. He turns around to face her and Rachel is shocked to see it's Dave Karofsky. "Apologies, Dave," she quickly mumbles, stepping around him to move away when he places a broad hand on her shoulder. Rachel instantaneously tenses and her eyes flash to the Big Quench cup Dave holds in his other hand.
"In a rush, Berry?" he taunts. Suddenly, everyone seems to be staring. Behind, the Gleeks stop and turn, sickeningly eager to watch. Dave looks Rachel up and down and smirks. "I didn't believe them when they told me you had changed but damn, Berry." He notices her staring intently at the slushie and he laughs. "Don't worry Berry, I'm not going to slushie you… but only if you go on a date with me."
Everyone, including Rachel, is in awe.
Dave Karofsky had just asked Rachel Berry, resident loser of McKinley, on a date.
He's threatening me with a slushie facial unless I go on a date with him?
A giggle unexpectedly escapes her lips and Dave glares at her. "I apologize for my laughter but are you bullying me to date you, David?" she asks, still not quite able to wrap her head around the idea. "Do you do this with all girls?"
Much to her surprise, everyone in the hallway starts laughing. She's glad that someone finally laughed at her joke but there's a time and a place for making jokes. Standing in front of a burly athlete with a corn-syrup covered icy-drink in his hand doesn't fill that quota. Rachel quickly brings her folder to her face and is satisfied when the pink plastic successfully shields her skin and clothes from the drink.
"I can see why you're not on the football team, your aim is dreadful," she blurts out in a word-vomit. Everyone's jaw immediately drops to the floor in shock. Dave is turning red with rage and Rachel angrily reminds herself that the slushie machine is only down the hall.
She quickly takes advantage of the awkward silence and hurries to the nearest bathroom.
…
Mercedes and Kurt immediately follow. Well, who wouldn't do that if they knew Rachel Berry?
Rachel Berry is loud and abrasive and is never afraid to speak her mind. They're well aware of that fact. What they didn't know is that she isn't afraid to speak her mind to large beefy hockey players as well, much less ones who are holding a slushie in their hand.
"What," Kurt starts incredulously, "in the name of Gucci, were you thinking?"
Rachel is standing in front of the mirror, expecting her outfit to see if any of the electric blue slushie had landed on her clothes. She furrows her brow at Kurt and Mercedes' reflection in the mirror, as if she's unsure that they're really there. She turns, crossing her arms over her chest as she looks at them through narrowed eyes. "What in heaven's name is wrong with my clothes now?"
Mercedes looks at her in disbelief. Is that why she thinks they're there? Not the fact that she has just smack-talked the captain of the hockey team?
"Miss Thang, there is nothing wrong with your clothes. Sure, they're not my taste but they look good on you," she admits - albeit reluctantly.
"We are here to ask what was going through your mind when you virtually beat down Karofsky back in the hallway," Kurt tells her. "My, it seems your fashion choice isn't the only thing that's changed."
"To be honest, I wasn't thinking at all out there," Rachel answers. "The whole thing was just ridiculous. I mean, he threatened me with a slushie facial so I could go out with him!" She laughed, shaking her head as she replayed the entire scene in her head.
"Believe me, you weren't the only one freaked out. Everyone was looking at each other like it was just some hazy dream."
"I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming," Kurt adds. "What ever came over you?"
"Word-vomit," Rachel responds with an easy shrug. "So, other than that, how was you summer?"
Kurt and Mercedes each raised an eyebrow and glanced at each other at her cheery attempt to change the subject. Was Rachel not talking about herself for once, but asking about them?
They thought they'd never see the day.
"My holiday was lovely, thank you for asking." Kurt's the first one to break the short silence. "Not as eventful as yours of course, and I did not travel at all; unless you count a road trip to Boston with my Dad, Finn and his mother to watch a baseball game traveling." He shivers as the memory of the horribly filthy seats runs through his mind once more and internally chants Prada, Gucci, Dior, Prada, Gucci, Dior in his head so he could retain his sanity.
"Same with mine, downright boring. Just hanging with Kurt, Artie and Tina."
"Speaking of which, where are those two?" Rachel inquires.
"Artie couldn't come into the girls' bathroom even though I, a male too, entered," Kurt answers. Rachel raises an eyebrow at him with a knowing look. "Yes, a lady-fabulous male, but albeit the same. Tina couldn't leave him alone; there's a safety in numbers."
"Yes, I have just realized that." She nods, looking poignant as ever while she looks over the fact that she basically has no friends sadly.
"Well, let's go," Kurt tells Mercedes, linking his arm through hers. They start to leave and Rachel frowns because she had been enjoying their conversation and company. The pair of divas stop at the door when they realize she's still standing by the sink.
"Aren't you coming, girl?" Mercedes says, impatience lacing her tone. "C'mon, like we said: there's safety in numbers."
The brunette grins widely and bounces over to them.
…
First Day lunchtime is always the worst. Nearly everyone is trying to shove their way into the dining hall to get their share of the school lunch. Will really didn't see why the lunch hadn't changed since he had gone to McKinley. It still tastes bland as ever and he keeps wondering if they're serving leftover meatloaf from the 1990's.
For some peace and quiet Will seeks refuge in the silent Choir Room that New Directions uses for practicing. It won't be this quiet this afternoon, he thinks, peering around the room. The bulky trophy case that contains the accursed Sue Sylvester's Cheerios' trophy is still in the corner. It's the biggest trophy of all the prizes the Cheerios have ever won and he had been damned with keeping it in his Choir Room. He glowers at it in anger as though the loathsome Coach Sylvester was standing right there.
He gingerly sits down at the piano and his hands hover above the gleaming white keys as he thinks back through all the songs that had been played on that very piano only a few months ago. He rests his hands on the keys and begins to play a few light notes when the door opens.
He turns around to face red-headed Emma Pillsbury standing cautiously in the doorway. "Emma," he breathes out in shock.
He hasn't seen her for the whole of the summer. Not once. After their kiss she'd avoided him the rest of the days before school let out. Every time he'd walk past her office he never saw her, nor in the Teachers' Lounge. He had tried calling her multiple times on those days, then in the beginning of the summer, but halfway through the summer he gave up, knowing that she would never answer.
It's so heartbreaking. He's finally divorced from Terri and ready for a committed relationship. With Emma and only her. But now she has someone else, someone who was ready for a relationship when he wasn't.
"Hi," she greets him quietly.
"You never answered my calls," he says softly, looking into her big brown eyes that never fail to dazzle him. "Sorry... I was just… really busy…and I…." she trails off awkwardly, unsure of what to say that would lull the guilt she was feeling.
"With the dentist?" It was an accusation, not at all a question, and it pierced through Emma.
"Yes, with Carl."
"So what, you're just going to pretend it never happened?" He raises his voice in anger, standing up from the piano bench. "You're just going to ignore the fact that I'm in love with you? That I want to be with you?"
"I…" She has no idea what to say to this. She's thought about what to tell him the whole summer, knowing she would have to confront him in order to lead a peaceful life with Carl. She finds herself desperately wishing for the confidence she had sprouted up that day when she had told Will that some things were worth fighting for.
Will watches her as she struggles to find the right words to say. He doesn't enjoy watching her strain but doesn't regret telling her what's been troubling him for the past three months. It has been terrible for him. He had jumped every time the phone rang, hoping it was her. He replayed the moment of their kiss over and over again and wondered what would have happened if Rachel had not interrupted.
Would she have admitted to being in love with him also?
"Will." He looks up at her when she breaks the silence, and frowns when he sees the resignation etched on her features. "What happened between us, it's in the past. I'm with Carl now. I've heard all over the school students saying that last year no longer mattered; it was all about the present now. I... I think we should follow their optimism and do the same."
He inhales sharply and looks away, not bearing to make eye contact because he knows it's possible that he'd break down right there. So if that's the way she wants it… if she wants to live in total ignorance and be happy with this Carl… then so be it. However, deep in his heart he knows that Emma will never be entirely happy with the dentist like she could be with him.
"If that's what you want then… okay." He nods slowly, and her eyes widen in surprise slash disappointment. Had she wanted him to fight for her? "You know what they say, 'If you love something, set them free'."
Emma nods too, again unsure of what to say. Instead of awkwardly trying to continue a conversation, she swiftly turns around and leaves the room, keeping her lips sealed shut so she wouldn't say what came to her mind once he repeated the famous saying.
If it comes back to you, it's yours.
Once she's back in her office, she opens the front drawer of her desk and takes the diamond ring out, gently sliding the band over her ring finger.