Cupcake

Grounded

Rachel went back upstairs and sat in her room. She could hear her fathers shouting from downstairs. Hiram was saying how Leroy overreacted, and Leroy was saying that he was just trying to protect Rachel. Rachel rested her head on her balled fists and sat staring at the wall. Suddenly she got a text message. It was from Puck. It read "help with glee?" Rachel ignored the text for a minute. She didn't want to deal with having to tell Puck no, or worse, going downstairs and facing her fathers. She heard her dad, Leroy, yell that she was grounded for life. She knew Hiram wouldn't let that happen.

She sat there for a minute until she heard a knock at her door.

"Come in" she yelled not taking her eyes away from the wall she was staring at.

"Hey baby." It was Hiram. He sounded serious. "We decided that you will be grounded for the next 2 weeks." He looked at Rachel with sympathetic eyes and then turned for the door to leave. Right before he left he said "And maybe you shouldn't bring Finn here anymore." And with that he left.

Rachel eyes started to tear up. Whether it was because of what just happened or from staring too long, she didn't know.

She remembered the text message and answered "can't I'm grounded" then put her phone under her pillow. She was pretty tired so decided to take a quick shower then nap. When she woke up she looked at her clock. 3:46 a.m. She sat up and took out her phone. She texted Finn saying "hey sorry about earlier, you know my dad." She didn't expect him to respond but she had to say sorry before she forgot.

To her surprise he answered "it's fine. Did you get in much trouble?" Rachel answered "grounded for 2 weeks" she waited for Finn reply, which answered "oh that sucks. What are you doing up so late?" Rachel smiled at her phone. Was he worried about her? She replied with "I could ask you the same thing" Finn's reply read "I want to show you something. Meet me outside your house." "Im grounded I can't leave!" Rachel replied back. "Fine then." Finn replied. Nothing else. Rachel then wondered if she hurt his feelings somehow.

She decided to not think about it and just fall back asleep. She hoped that tomorrow would be a better day.

Rachel woke up and looked at her clock. 7:34 a.m. she panicked as she realized she was late for school. She rushed out the door. Her dads were already at work.

When she got to school she went to her locker. While she was getting her books for her next class she felt a tap on the shoulder.

She turned around and saw Puck. His face glowed in this light. His sweet and gentle eyes glistened with the light, dancing together in perfect steps.

"Hello? Earth to Rachel!" He shouted.

Rachel shook her head. "Huh, what?"

"I asked what you got grounded for."

"Oh..." but before she could finish she heard a familiar voice finish her sentence.

"Having me over." Finn said as he walked up and out his arm around Rachel.

Rachel stood there looking at the two of them. They were both staring each other down and both of their eyes were filled with so much hatred for one another.

"Anyway, when can you help me with glee?" Puck asked turning his attention to Rachel.

"Umm..I don't know. My dads grounded me for two weeks."

"Oh, damn." Puck said with a disappointed look on his face.

"Ya. I better get to class." She said looking at Finn's arm around her."

"I think that means get your hands off of her" Puck said, clearly talking to Finn now.

"Back off man" Finn said, very annoyed.

They argued some more but Rachel blanked out. They used to get along so well and now they don't. Was this her fault?

Before she knew it the two were wrestling on the ground. She didn't know what to do and then finally whistled as loud as she could and said they were both acting childish. That seemed to get their attention.

"You used to be best friends, what happened?" Rachel asked looking at them with disappointment.

"Something- or someone- got in the way." Puck said while staring at Finn with disgust. Finn gave him a face back.

They both looked at Rachel and she was white and still.

"Rachel?" Finn asked, waving a hand in front of her face.

"This is all my fault" Rachel said. She said it more than asked.

"I'm the reason you two hate each other now. But why?"

"Because you're beautiful." Puck chimed in.

"And amazing" Finn said taking her hand. Her guided her to the bench do she could sit down.

"Miss Rachel Berry can you please report to the principals office" came over the speakers.

Rachel got up, both Puck and Finn rushing to get aid to help her, and walked to the principals office. The door opened and she looked surprised.

"Dad?"