Something - Quinn Fabray

Chapter 5

In the Carmel High auditorium, Shelby was running Vocal Adrenaline through the set list she had decided on for Regionals. They would be doing Lady Gaga and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. They would be going up against Oral Intensity and New Directions, and after analyzing their performances she had decided that they would need to resort to theatricality to beat them. Unfortunately, he students seemed to be soulless automatons with absolutely no emotion.

She wasn't completely focused on her students though. It had been a month, but she was still thinking about Ryan. She'd spent the past few weeks beating herself up for missing out on her son's life. He was fifteen now. He didn't need her anymore. But she thought that maybe she could still get to know him. If not as his mom, then as a mentor, a friend, or whatever. She'd take anything she could get. That is, if her son wanted to get to know her. What if he didn't? Shelby didn't know if she'd be able to handle it if her son didn't want her.

But if she wanted to get to know him, she couldn't keep her identity from him forever, she'd probably crack under the strain. She'd spent thirty minutes with the boy at the garage and she'd almost blurted out her secret multiple times. That was why about two weeks ago she'd called Hiram Berry to arrange a meeting.

**Flashback**

"We were surprised to get your call, Shelby," Hiram said, as they sat in a secluded corner of a small coffee shop. "I didn't even know you were back in Ohio."

Shelby hid a wince. "Things didn't exactly work out like I planned. I've been here for almost five years now."

"What do you want, Shelby?" Leroy said abruptly. "Our son is only fifteen, the contract doesn't expire for another three years."

Shelby took a breath. "I've already met him. I didn't mean to," she hurried on, forestalling the upset comments that the two men were about to make. "I took my car to the garage where he works, and he was there."

"Did you talk to him? Did you tell him who you were?" Leroy demanded.

Leroy always was the hotheaded one, Shelby thought. "I didn't tell him." I wanted to though.

Hiram put a hand on his husband's arm. "So what now? You want a relationship with him?"

"She can't," Leroy broke in. "We still have the contract. We can't sue you for accidental contact, but we will if you contact him on purpose."

He's half mine too. "I'm not trying to take him away from you," Shelby tried to placate Leroy. "I know you're his parents. But I've missed him for fifteen years. I just want to talk to him, get to know him. Please."

Hiram sighed. "What happened when you met?"

Shelby related what had happened that day at the auto shop. "He didn't know who I was, but he knows me as the glee coach for another school." She hesitated. "I may have offered to give him vocal lessons."

"What did he say?" Hiram asked, before Leroy could get a word in. "Did he accept?"

"He said he'd get back to me," Shelby said, hiding her dejection. "He hasn't yet."

The two men looked at each other, having a silent conversation that lasted a moment before Hiram spoke. "How about this. You can talk to him, see if he wants to talk to you, but you can't tell him who you are. And if he wants you to back off, you back off."

"And he needs to initiate contact," Leroy added firmly.

Shelby thought about it, disappointed at the terms. How was she supposed to keep a secret like that to herself? And what if Ryan found out by himself? He'd be so upset and angry with her. But still, it would allow her to at least talk to her son. She could figure out the rest later. "Fine."