I Guess I'll Settle for Second Best

(Or Wuthering Heights: The Next Generation)

(F/R/P/Q, F/R, R/P, P/Q, F/Q) (PG-13)

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Chapter V

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Ensemble – Dialogue, number II; "You are everything":

When Rachel walked into the chorus room, she was surprised to see that she was last. Football practice was canceled due to Finn's… eh-hem, injuries, and Puck's bruised knuckles. Coach Tanaka wouldn't have an inebriated Quarterback and a furious Left Tackle messing up his practice, so he sent all the football players off to Glee early. Rachel noticed the light swelling on Finn's jaw and Puck rubbing his right hand clenching and unclenching it into a fist. She looked to Kurt with a questioning stare. He answered silently by looking from Puck-to-Finn-to-Puck and then punching his left palm with his right fist, then it all clicked for Rachel. Her expression went from shock, to disappointment, to an expression that can only be classified as 'Rachel Berry' as she stormed into the room and sat down between Artie and Tina, equal distance from both boys.

Mr. Schuester began to talk about how the mash-up project isn't turning out so well because everyone is so worried about the current slushy war raging in the halls and maybe they should scrap it, but then something unexpected happened. People in the room were even more surprised this time than they were the first time Puck offered to share a solo he had put together since he had turned down 'Bust A Move'. Mr. Schue inquired whether or not he would be okay to play guitar when his strumming hand is injured. Puck, however, refused to sit down, insisting that if his hand started to hurt he would stop playing but continue singing. "I don't plan on using my guitar the entire time anyways."

"Well, alright than. Let's hear it."

Before Puck could get all the way out of his seat Finn was objecting to the idea. "But Mr. Schue, he already had his chance. C'mon…." Finn whined.

"Finn, he's entitled to a second chance," he looked at Rachel as though it was directed at her about her and Puck, "just like everyone in this room." Finn let out a sigh of defeat and sat back as he watched Puck strap on his guitar and strike up the band.

You're a falling star; you're the getaway car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.

Rachel's eyebrows shot up. He was really singing to her? Again? For a second time?

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.
Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby, don't pretend that you don't know it's true.
Because you can see it when I look at you.

And in this crazy life and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

Puck spun the strap on his guitar and turned it around. His hand was starting to hurt and now was the perfect time to begin phase two of his plan. He walked right over to Rachel and took her hand lifting her to her feet. Her breath hitched as he began to dance a hybrid version of the waltz with her. The rest of the group gasped at his sincere and sweet gesture.(He leaned forward as if about to kiss her and the spun her away.)
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my every day.

And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

In the break he began spinning her across the floor.

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La(On his tempo change he lifted her up by the waist and spun her through the stanza.)
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everythi-i-iiing. (He put her down and never broke eye contact with her the entire decent.)
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.
Yeah, yeah

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

The rest of the group joined in on the last batch of 'La's.

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

And to finish off the dance he dipped her low and held her for longer than needed, even after the applause died down.

Puck lifted her back up and hugged her. It was a very private moment, but he didn't give a damn about what they thought, especially not Finn. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and whispered into it, "I'm sorry."

"I know." She said as she held him tighter. "I know, and I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have let you go." And she pulled back, looked into his eyes and kissed him. Then nothing mattered. Her foot popped, the Glee Club cheered (minus Finn, Quinn, and Santana, of course), and all was perfect in that very moment. They were no longer second best.

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FINÉ

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The song is "Everything" by Michael Bublè. I don't know if I want to make a sequel to this or not. It felt complete but there is still some stuff I regret not putting in there. I'd like to put in Finn finding out about Puck being the father of Quinn's baby, and that scene in the hallway where Puck gets slushy thrown in his face, The choosing between Football and Glee, and maybe even a more… eh-hem, more intimate scene between Puck (or as Rachel would call him, Noah) and Rachel. Tell me what you think I should do.

Thanks,

Sigma

P.S. if anyone would be willing to make me a banner and/or a fan video to go along with the fic to post on my personal fic website, /sigmakutie, I would very much appreciate it. I'll give you full credit. And may I suggest, if you're willing to make a video, that you use the song "Everything". Much love and hugs!