The Quarterback's Bestfriend

Sectionals

I've been too busy to text Kaydon back but that's all I've been thinking about. What he possibly could have wanted that was so important.

"Hey, guys, let's, uh let's gather round. Well, I have found my replacement. So give it up for Miss Pillsbury."

Brittany whispers to Santana, narrowing her eyes at the guidance counselor, "She's the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that bird in my locker."

"So do you even know anything about music?" Santana asks, ignoring Brittany altogether.

We all turn to him, waiting for the answer, which I know to be no. He quickly shares a panicked look with Miss P, "What's important is that she cares about you guys as much as I do. Now I don't know what the future holds for me and for us. But I know, Saturday, you're gonna make me proud. You guys are gonna be great. So good-bye for now."

Before he reaches the door Mercedes, realizing that he's not helping at all, calls for him, "Wait. What about our set list?"

He presses his lips into a thin line before turning to leave again, "I can't help you with that. You've gotta figure that out for yourselves."

Everyone starts panicking before I yell to get everyone's attention because Artie and I decided we were going to get our setlist together, "All right, guys. Oh, God. Well, we have to do "Proud Mary" in wheelchairs. That's in."

Finn agrees, "And "Don't Stop Believin"' for sure. What about the ballad?"

"I would be thrilled to contribute a ballad from my repertoire," Rachel suggests, parading to the center of the room, assuming we're going to hand it to her.

Mercedes looks at me, I can tell by the look in her eyes she's ready to kill Berry too, "Okay, you know what, Miss Bossy Pants? Enough. I've worked just as hard as you, and I'm just as good as you."

"No Mercedes is being modest, she's better than you Broadway," I tell her, throwing my arm across my best friends shoulders, offending Rachel.

Mercedes continues her speech, more confident than ever, "You know, you always end up stealing the spotlight."

"Mercedes, do you honestly think you're as strong of a balladeer as I am? Ballads are kind of my thing."

Miss P looks at me, trying to decipher what Mr. Schue and I would tell her to do without exposing my leadership position, "Okay, um, Rachel why don't you let Mercedes give it a try?"

I give her a miniscule nod, giving her a thumbs up as Mercedes beams instructing the band, "Thanks, Mrs. P. Do I even need to tell you what song? Horns, strings, keep up."

Mercedes wails out her fantastic ballad and when she crescendos into the last note, I start hopping up and down as does everyone else, "Yo! That's my girl!"

Breathless, Mercedes smirks at her praise, turning to a quiet Berry, "Thoughts?"

"It's clear the room adores you. And although it wouldn't be my first choice, but I can't wait to see you sing that song at Sectionals. You're amazing, Mercedes, and you deserve it. I'm gonna hug you now. Okay. "

The following morning I'm sitting in Mr. Schue's office chair and Puck's spinning me in circles, trying to get me dizzy until Finn sprints into the room, connecting his fist with Puck's square jaw. Mr. Schue and Miss Pillsbury barrels into the room, seeing the scene from the hallway and Mr. Schue helps me peel Finn off of Puck. Finn squirms in our arms, trying to pounce back onto Puckerman, "Hey! Tell the truth!"

"Punk just walked in and sucker-punched me!" Puck screams over the commotion, explaining the random turn of events to Mr. Schuester.

Finn lets out a low growl, advancing yet again toward his 'best friend', "Don't play dumb! You're too freakin' dumb to play dumb."