It's Called Being Sassy

Tale of Two Cities er... Thruples

"This actually makes sense!" Puck exclaims.

"Told you!" Mercedes sticks her tongue out at Quinn, who quickly reciprocates.

"How is it my fault he doesn't understand it the normal way?" The blonde asks sullenly.

"This is the normal way. Every way to learn is the normal way." Mercedes turns back to Puck. "Now do the next one."

Puck sticks his tongue out as he concentrates on his biology homework. He and the girls have been studying the entire lunch period and he thinks he has a shot at actually learning something. Mercedes is a great teacher and very patient with him, which he appreciates. What he doesn't appreciate are Quinn's unnecessary comments about his intellect.

Quinn chews on her pencil as they watch Puck figure out the questions on his worksheet. She knows it's way too soon to gripe about him but she can't help it. Mercedes is being way too nice to the jock and it's driving her crazy!

Mercedes doesn't understand why Quinn is being so hard on Puck but she's proud of him. He admitted to needing help and gratefully took it. She knows a lot of people (especially males) refuse help when they really need it so Puck reaching out is showing her how much of a man he is. And she really likes it.

"Okay! I think I got it!" Puck slams down his pencil with conviction. He slides the paper to Mercedes.

She takes it and looks it over. "You got them all right! You did it!" She jumps up. "You did it, Puck! You did it!"

The librarian comes over to check out all the noise. She presses her finger to her lips and shushes them.

Mercedes sits down sheepishly. She waits until the older woman is gone before jumping up again and giving Puck a hug. She claps her hands silently and whispers, "I'm so proud of you!"

"I like studying with you, Mama. You don't make me feel stupid!" He glares at Quinn.

Quinn rolls her eyes. "Lunch period is almost over. You should get rid of our trash, Puck."

He glares more fiercely. "I didn't know your legs were broken."

"You're a gentleman, right?" It's not a question. "Gentlemen take care of the small details. Merce likes gentlemen. Look at Sam. He opens doors, lets women walk in front of him, he carries their things, he's respectful. All signs of a true gentleman."

"You don't have to do that, Puck. I can throw away the stuff." Mercedes moves to get off his lap.

Puck lets her but says, "Q's right. You should never touch trash."

She does every time she touches you! Quinn mocks internally.

"Puck, it's just garbage. I can do it." Mercedes refrains from giggling but barely.

Puck stands and grabs every bit of refuse from the table. "I don't wanna hear it!" He walks to the trash receptacles by the entrance of the library.

"Quinn, why'd you send him away?" Mercedes turns to the blonde with a no nonsense glare. "And that gentlemen spiel?!"

"Please! Whenever Sam does any of that country boy routine he has stashed in his back pocket, you act like he invented it!" Quinn rolls her peridot eyes.

"He grew up with manners!"

"Which are important to people like us! If Puck wants you like I believe he does, he needs to step it up!" Quinn leans back. "Besides I wanted to spend two seconds with you! La knows I can't do that with you alone anymore!" The last bit is murmured too low for Mercedes to hear.