Never done a one shot before, never really liked the idea of writing what is basically one chap and then giving up, but I was bored and short on time, and then this idea came into my head.

So, here it goes:

The whole school was buzzing, which was ironic, because Rachel had dreamed her whole life of being important enough to warrant a gossip trail that reached every student, and now that it was finally happening she could be happy about it. Because it came at literally the worst moment of her life.

She'd thought being slushied every day had been bad.

She'd thought being called Man-hands and Ru-Paul on a regular basis had been bad.

She'd thought coming last at Regional's in her sophomore year and nearly losing Glee, the one good thing she had in her life, had been bad.

She'd thought Finn dumping her three months into their senior year to get back with Quinn after she'd rejoined the Cheerios had been bad.

But she'd been wrong.

No, the worst moment of her life was the moment she opened her letter from Julliard. She'd gotten in, of course; she had had no doubt she wouldn't. What was really bad was the letter that came attached. It read:

Miss Berry,

We were extremely pleased to have such a wonderful application, and while you are by far the student with most potential to succeed here at Julliard, we – being stuck up and somewhat self-involved – happened to have noticed the small part of the application form that mentioned your father's recent and unfortunate financial situation. So, as we are selfish, and probably don't want to think about what a great student we are losing, we regret to inform you that your place at the Julliard School is no longer available.

But thanks anyway for applying. It brightened our day, I am sure.

Best regards,

Some Snobby Bitch

Rachel was paraphrasing, of course, but she felt bad for being unnecessarily harsh to the financial adviser. It wasn't her fault that there was a recession and her Daddy – the better paid of her two fathers – was laid-off a month before applications could be sent off.

This moment of guilt lasted only a minute, mind you, because then Rachel was reminded that she could no longer go to her dream school; essentially ruining her life, and then the tumble into darkness and despair began all over again.

Puck was among the first to hear, being an ex-Glee member; he was a year older than most of the group, and was working full-time now as a pool cleaner. Only now he had a business, with employees to do the actual cleaning and a client list that pretty much covered the whole of Lima.

"What. The. Fuck?" Puck emphasised each word as he spoke across his counter to Santana, who was both eager and (being accidentally tainted by the Gleeks' friendly nature) somewhat appalled to spread the news of Rachel's predicament.

"Totally not going to Julliard." She was speaking in a higher pitched voice than she ever had before. "Her dads are broke or something, and now she's just wandering around the school in, like, a state-school-coma."

Puck shook his head. "And she didn't get a scholarship? No fucking way!"

Santana agreed vehemently, and the pair parted with a few crude innuendos.

Puck was dazed all morning, and he didn't even care about Rachel. Imagine how she must be doing! And that's all he could think about. Was she okay? Not that he cared…

Rachel hadn't brushed her hair that morning. It took her until third period to realise, and even then she didn't care enough to brush it. What was the point? What possible reason did she have anymore to brush her pointless hair in her pointless life?

Mr Schuester, being the 'cool' teacher that he must be, because he had an in with the students, had heard through some students in Glee what had happened.

"Rachel?" He approached her in the hallway as she pondered shaving her head to save from brushing in the future.

She stared into space for a few seconds before her eyes focused on his face. "Yes?"

There was no expression in her voice.

Mr Schuester smiled weakly. "Are you okay? I heard about… Well, is there anything I can do?"

Rachel shook her head and began walking past him. "Frankly Mr Shue, there is nothing that anyone less than a God could do, and you're just not a God."

She left him there dumbstruck so that she could make it to class on time and not actually have to rush. Being constantly in transit meant less thinking and less time to ponder how her life could have ended to badly, and so early on.

Rachel got home at around four o'clock (she'd walked home to have something to do, now that all of her classes and rehearsals were cancelled because they had no money) to find a small envelope on her doorstep. She picked it up slowly for fear it was a prank, but found nothing nasty inside but a letter.

She pulled it out and examined it. And then did a double take.

This letter was from Julliard. It said her tuition fees had been paid for her entire college experience, and that there was a student bank account in her name. They tanked her for sorting everything out and wished her the best of luck at the Julliard School.

She rushed inside.

"Daddy? Dad?" She ran into the kitchen and found both men reading newspapers and drinking coffee. "Did you do this?"

The men took the letter from her and read it between them, smiles gradually growing on each of their faces.

"No." Rachel's Daddy told her. "We really don't have that kind of money… There's no way this was from us."

Dad agreed. "You must have a college-fee guardian angel!"

Rachel beamed. Maybe her life would be perfect after all.

Looking at his apartment for the last time, Puck sighed.

He snatched up the last box and headed out the door, almost running into his mom on the other side.

"This is the last one." He sighed.

Puck's mom shook her head as they walked back to the car. "I just don't understand it. I thought your business was doing well?"

Puck nodded. "It is, I was just… being over indulgent. Too much beer and pizza, you know."

With a look of suspicion in her eye, Puck's mom grunted. She'd always had a way of telling when her son had been lying, and when she should be asking more, but this time she felt as though he were hiding something… good from her. Something… kind. As if…. She didn't know, but she'd let him get away with moving back in if it meant he was being a better person, and more importantly a better Jew.

"Okay, Noah." She opened the door to his apartment building for him. "Well, we'll get through this. No more beer and pizza…"

Puck got the idea that she knew he wasn't being honest, and gave her a grateful look for not delving further. He might tell her at some point, but for now, he'd maintain his badass status. Just now, he'd be in his old bedroom again.

He sighed to himself. Julliard had better be worth it; those god damn tuition fees had cleaned him out, and then some.

Times would be hard for a while as he paid off the debt, but it was worth it. Because, no matter how long he'd denied it for in the past, he loved Rachel Berry. And now she would be happy, she would be living out her dream life at her dream college.

He smiled. And maybe someday he'd find her, and tell her what he did for her.

But, until then, he'd make himself worthy for the great Rachel Berry.

Anyways, I thought this was a really nice idea, but I just haven't the time to extend it, unless you are okay waiting a few months between chaps (maybs a bit of a whatever, can't actually remember the word. my internet broke down, and now it's morning, and i'm tired...)

So please REVIEW to let me know what cha thought, maybs to ncourage me to do more one shots? i dunno