flirt - noah puckerman

Chapter 16

chapter sixteen - journey to regionals

Finn's POV

"No one wants any pizza?" Mr. Schue gives us a small frown, walking into the living room of his apartment where the rest of the Glee Club sat looking down at the ground hopelessly.  "All right, well, let's get started.  Thank you for coming to the first annual New Directions' Regionals' set list nomination party," he smiles. 

"What's the point, Mr. Schue?" Artie sighs. "Coach Sylvester is one of the judges-- she's gonna crush us."

"Artie, you don't know that," Mr. Schue frowns. 

"Yes, we do.  She told us at Cheerios practice," Santana groans. 

"Yeah, she said, 'I'm going to crush Glee Club,'" Brittany mutters. 

"A whole freaking year," Puck frowns. "All that hard work for nothing."

"I just can't believe it's going to be over in a week," Tina lets a tear fall down her cheek.

"Wait, who says it's going to be over?" I scoff at their lack of confidence.   

"Please," Mercedes rolls her eyes. "Do you think Puck and Santana will even acknowledge my existence once we're not in Glee Club together anymore?"

"She has a point," Puck shrugs.  I look over on the couch beside me and see Rachel quietly crying.  I frown and grab her hand, pulling her into the kitchen. 

"We had a chance of keeping it together until you broke down," I frown at her.  "You're our leader, Rachel.  The way you're on everyone all the time is annoying, but it's also what keeps the club motivated.  You and I are going to fix this.  We're going to Regionals, and we're going to win this thing."  She looks up at me hesitantly before quickly pushing her lips against mine.  My eyes widen in shock before I slowly kiss her back.  She pulls away and looks at me, with a more hopeful look in her eyes.  I grin as she takes my hand and pulls me back into Mr. Schue's living room to see the rest of the Glee Club.  

"Mr. Schue, Finn and I have something we want to say," Rachel grins. 

"Hang on," Mr. Schue cracks a small smile. "I just thought of something... Who cares what happens when we get there when the getting there has been so much fun?  Guys, we need to do a Journey medley." 

My face obviously lights up as I look across the room to see Erin playfully rolling her eyes at me.

"Rachel, you wanted to say something?" Mr. Schue grins.

"Just that we're all really glad you didn't become an accountant," she lets a small tear fall down her cheek.   I smile over at her and give her hand a squeeze. 

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Erin's POV

I follow the rest of the Glee Club into the greenroom.  I scan the room and spot an empty seat, looking up to see it was right beside Noah.  I lock eyes with him and he gives me a small smile as I continue to scan the room.  I sigh in relief and take a seat beside Quinn.  We turn on the speaker in the room and hear them announce the judges: Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Rod Remington, and Sue Sylvester.