Are You Questioning My Badassness?

I walked into the choir room the next day, guitar in hand. Puck followed me, also guitar in hand. We were a little late, so all eyes were on us, including Mr. Schue’s.

“Good afternoon, guys. I was just telling the students that today, anyone who has a ballad or mash-up ready, will have the chance to perform it,” he explained, and then his eyes drifted to the guitars we held. “It looks like you two are ready to go, huh?”

“Yep,” I smiled. Puck just nodded.

Rachel coughed. “Mr. Schuester, I thought I made it clear that I always perform first. I can’t have other performers going first and making poor Mason over here nervous with their mediocre performances.” Mason gave her a “bitch please” look. “If my partner gets nervous and it shows, that’ll dock points on our overall performance. These people could be the cause of a downfall in my potential to be a star. I’m sorry, I can’t have that.”

Everyone looked over at her like she was on something. “Well,” Mr. Schue began. “I don’t think that will happen. Mason seems very comfortable with performing. And you can’t go first every time you perform, Rachel. That’s unfair to everyone else.”

“But Mr. Schuester! This is my dream…” Rachel trailed off.

“Yeah, a dream that will never come true,” Santana spoke up. “You’re here because this is the closest you’ll get to ever becoming a star, dwarf.”

“I think she and Mason should just get it over with so I could get the thought of strangling her out of my mind faster,” Artie smiled.

Rachel gave him a bitchy look, but ignored the mean comments and walked to the front of room. “I’m taking my turn now. Any protests?” she glared out at everyone. Nobody protested, in regards to what Artie had just said. “Come on, Mason.”

Puck and I took a seat with everyone else, and Mason shuffled his way up to the front of the room next to Rachel. He looked so embarrassed to be singing with her. He also looked like he wanted to punch her as much as everyone else did.

“Okay. Well… take it away, Rachel and Mason…” Mr. Schuester told them, knowing not to argue. He then mouthed the word “Sorry” to Puck and I. We understood. There was just no winning when it came to Rachel.

Mason:
“I'm limited--
Just look at me.
I'm limited,
And just look at you,
You can do all
I couldn't do, Glinda.
So now it's up to you--
For both of us.
Now it's up to you.”

Rachel:
“I've heard it said
That people come
Into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something
We must learn.
And we are led
To those who help us
Most to grow,
If we let them,
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know
If I believe that's true,
But I know
I'm who I am today,
Because I knew you.”

“Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun.
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood.
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.”

Mason:
“It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime,
So let me say before we part--
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you,
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend.”

[“Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea.
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
In a distant wood.
Who can say
If I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you—“

Rachel:
“Because I knew you—“

Mason and Rachel:
“I have been changed for good.”

Mason:
“And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done
You blame me for.”

Rachel:
“But then, I guess
We know there's blame to share—“

Mason and Rachel:
“And none of it seems to matter anymore!”

Rachel:
“Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun.
Like a stream that meets a boulder.
Halfway through the wood.”

Mason:
“Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea.
Like a seed dropped by a bird
In the wood.”

Mason and Rachel:
“Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better.”

Rachel:
“And because I knew you—“

Mason:
“Because I knew you—“

Mason and Rachel:
“Because I knew you,
I have been changed for good.”

The song ended, and I was still laughing at how dramatic they both were throughout the performance. At Rachel’s parts, she’d push Mason out of the way and behind her so that she could have all of the spotlight. And at Mason’s parts, Rachel still tried to hog the spotlight, but Mason just stood in front of her. And since he’s a giant (even a little taller than Finn), nobody could see Rachel behind him. It was just too entertaining. Almost like watching an actual show on Broadway.

They both stopped, panting and out of breath from the amount of power they put into the song by trying to outshine each other. Rachel gave the audience an overconfident smile and then stomped back to her seat. Mason just rolled his eyes and took his seat.

“Wow! The level of energy in that performance was insane!” Mr. Schuester applauded. So did the rest of us, some more enthusiastically than others. I knew for a fact that Kurt, Mercedes and I were just clapping for Mason. “Who’s up next? Nova and Puck? You two ready to go?”

“Yeah,” I began. “But if anyone else wants to go, I don’t want to take away their performance.” I was a little nervous about another Rachel moment.

Mr. Schuester looked around. “Is everyone okay with Nova and Puck going next?”

Everyone nodded. I didn’t think they’d have a problem like Rachel would.

We both took our guitars up to the front of the room and sat on a couple of stools. Puck began a small intro on his guitar, and I came in with mine a few seconds later.

Puck:
“First time we met,
Face became etched...
In my mind…”

“You were the sun.
I was the one,
Who worshipped you.
My hands were your guns.
Your eyes were my nerrrrrrrve!”

“And I knew you could never love me.
I had so much sorrow inside,
You could never reach.
But can I still keep,
A place in your heart?”

Nova:
“You broke my heeeeaaart.
You promised me the moon and stars.
I fell for your dreams, I fell for your lies!
There was no other way.
You know I tried.”

Puck and Nova:
“And I knew you could never love me.
I had so much sorrow inside,
You could never reach.
But can I still keep,
A place in your heart?”

There was a little break here where the singing ceased and the guitar continued. Puck and I spent these moments just staring at each other and grinning. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him throughout the whole song. It was strange.

Puck:
“There is something…
I want you to know.
I think you know exactly what it is.
I didn't want to save you.
I didn’t want to save yooou.
I set our house on fire,
To watch it buuuurn!
But I couldn't just leave you!”

Puck and Nova:
“And I knew you could never love me.
I had so much sorrow inside,
You could never reach.
But I'll ask you this.”

Puck:
“Will you still miss me?”
Nova:
“Yes, I miss you.”
Puck:
“Do you love me?”
Nova:
“Yes, I love you!”

Nova:
“Fate fills the sky!
“We'll both die tonight!
We’ll both die tonight!”
Puck:
“Haaaands from the sky!
Spot us a one lifeline!
As we follow the liiiight!”

Nova:
“Fate fills the sky!”
“We'll both die tonight!
We’ll both die tonight!”
Puck:
“Haaaands from the sky!
Spot us a one lifeline!
As we follow the liiiight!”

Nova:
“We'll both die tonight!
We’ll both die tonight!”
Puck:
“Spot us a one lifeline.”
Nova:
“We'll both die tonight.”
Puck:
“As we follow the light!”
Nova:
“As we follow the liiiiight!”

Puck:
“This union, a battle fought and lost.”
Nova:
“This union was not about the cause.”
Puck and Nova:
“This union was never about love…”

Nobody clapped at the end of our performance, except for Mr. Schue. Everyone else was too busy staring at us. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t really care why, either. We’d done a good job with the song.

I stood up and hugged Puck. “Great job,” I whispered into his ear.

“Thanks,” he smiled. “You were awesome, too.”

I then brought my guitar over to Mason and Kurt, and I sat down beside them. “What’s going on?” I asked, referring to the looks on everyone’s faces.

“Are you two dating?” Mason raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, no,” I gave him a confused look. “Why?”

But then I realized why we were being stared at the whole time. It wasn’t because there was food stuck between my teeth (for once), or a huge pimple on my face. Everyone thinks we’re a couple, I thought to myself. Holy fuck.

“Good job, Nova and Puck!” Mr. Schue clapped once again, and all eyes were back on us. “Who’s up next?”

“Let’s get this over with,” Finn spoke. He stood up, and gestured for Brittany to follow him. She just gave him a blank look. It took her about five minutes to get to the front of the room with Finn. This included her tripping over a few chairs along the way, and telling Finn that she forgot most of the lyrics. Not to mention she didn’t even remember the names of the song(s) she’d be singing.

“Just follow my lead,” Finn rolled his eyes. “You’ll remember it once we get started.”

She nodded, but still didn’t look too confident. They had to do the song either way, and Brittany would’ve been just as stupid with anyone else, so the partner didn’t really make a difference. They both stood up in front of everyone else, and began.

Finn:
"Drivin' home this evening.
I coulda sworn we had it all worked out.
You had this boy believin',
Way beyond the shadow of a doubt."

Brittany:
"What you've got boy, is hard to find.
I think about it all the time.
I'm all strung out, my heart is fried.
I just can't get you off my mind."

Brittany:
"Because your love, your love, your love is my drug!”
Finn:
“And it cuts like a knife!”
Brittany:
“I said your love, your love, your love is my drug!”
Finn:
But it feels so right!"

Brittany:
"Won't listen to any advice.
Mama's telling me I should think twice.
But love to my own devices.
I'm addicted, it's a crisis.
My friend's think I've gone crazy.
My judgement's getting kinda hazy.
My steeze is gonna be affected,
If I keep it up like a lovesick crackhead."

Finn:
"This wouldn't be the first time,
Things have gone astray.
Now you've thrown it all awaaaay."

Brittany:
"Because your love, your love, your love is my drug!”
Finn:
“And it cuts like a knife!”
Brittany:
“I said your love, your love, your love is my drug!”
Finn:
But it feels so right!"

Brittany and Finn:
“Na na na, na na na, na na, na, na!”

Brittany:
“I don't care what people say.
The rush is worth the price I pay.
I get so high when you're with me.
But crash and crave you when you leave!”

Brittany and Finn:
Na na na, na na na, na na, na, na!

Brittany:
"Because your love, your love, your love is my drug!”
Finn:
“And it cuts like a knife!”
Brittany:
“I said your love, your love, your love is my drug!”
Finn:
But it feels so right!"

Finn:
“Na na na, na na na, na na, na, na!”

At the end of the song, Brittany looked over at Finn. “I like your beard.”

He gave her a weird look, but pat her on the back. “Good job.”

“With what?” she replied.

He just ignored her and walked back to his seat. We all clapped, because it was pretty decent mash-up. I never thought those two songs would go together, but apparently, when you’re in the Glee club, you can make anything happen.

“Wow,” Mr. Schue looked at the both of them. “Great job! You really fit those songs together and made them one. Who’s up now?”

Santana grabbed Mike’s hand and led him up to the front of the room.

“For your information,” Mike began. “This is totally not my jam.”

“Yeah,” Santana glared at him. “It really isn’t. But he didn’t have a say in the matter.”

Mr. Schue was about to say something to her about teamwork, but she began the song without any more interruption.

Santana:
“Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick,
and think of you.
Caught up in circles, confusion…
is nothing new.
Flashback, warm nights,
almost left behind.
Suitcase of memories…
time after…”

“Sometimes you picture me,
I'm walking too far ahead.
You're calling to me, I can't hear
what you’ve said.
Then you say, go slow.
I fall behind…
The second hand unwinds.”

Santana:
“If you're lost you can look, and you will find me.”
Mike:
“Time after time.”
Santana:
“If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting…”
Mike:
“Time after time.”

Santana:
“If you're lost you can look, and you will find me.”
Mike:
“Time after time.”
Santana:
“If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting…”
Mike:
“Time after time.”

Santana:
“After my picture fades and darkness has
turned to gray.
Watching through windows, you're wondering
if I'm OK.
Secrets stolen from deep inside.
The drum beats out of time.”

Santana:
“If you're lost you can look, and you will find me.”
Mike:
“Time after time.”
Santana:
“If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting…”
Mike:
“Time after time.”

Mike:
“You said, go slow.
I fall behind.
The second hand unwinds.”

Santana:
“If you're lost you can look, and you will find me.”
Mike:
“Time after time.”
Santana:
“If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting…”
Mike:
“Time after time.”
Santana:
“If you're lost you can look, and you will find me.”
Mike:
“Time after time.”
Santana:
“If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting!”
Mike:
“Time after time.”

Santana and Mike:
“Time after time.
Time after time.
Time after time.
Time after time.
Time after time.”

The song ended, and I felt bad for Mike. He had like two parts in that whole song. Santana was such a bitch, but I also had to give her props for her amazing voice.

“That was real nice,” Mr. Schue complimented them, but I could tell that he was disappointed by Mike’s lack of singing. “Anyone else ready to go?”

“We’ll go, Mr. Schue,” Mercedes stood up with Kurt happily by her side. They both made their way to the front, and nobody said anything about her being partnered up with Sir Homosexual, because everyone knew exactly what Mercedes would do if she heard anyone say anything insulting her or Kurt or any of her friends.

They wasted no time getting started. As soon as she knew everyone was paying attention, she gestured for the band behind them to begin.

Mercedes:
“Hee-hee!
Ooh!
Go on, girl!
Aaow!
Ooh!”

“Hey, pretty baby, with the high heels on.
You give me fever,
Like I've never, ever known!
You're just a product of loveliness.
I like the groove of your walk,
Your talk, your dress!”

Kurt:
“'Cause you know I've got…
So much that I wanna do! When I dream I'm alone with you,
It's magiiiiic.
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair.
But I think you know,
That I can't let go.”

Mercedes:
“The way you make me feel!”
Kurt:
“Honey, I’m still free.”
Mercedes:
“You really turn me on!”
Kurt:
“Take a chance on me.”
Mercedes:
“You knock me off of my feet!
My lonely days are gone!”
Kurt:
“Gonna do my best, and it ain’t no lie.
If you put me to the test, if you let me try.”
Mercedes and Kurt:
“The way you make me feel!”

Mercedes:
“I like the feelin' you're givin' me.
Just hold me baby, and I'm in ecstasy!
Oh, I'll be workin' from nine to five.
To buy you things to keep you by my side.
I never felt so in love before.
Just promise baby, you'll love me forever more!
I swear, I'm keepin' you satisfied.
'Cause you're the one for me…”

Kurt:
“Let me tell you now,
My love is strong enough to last when things are rough!
It's maaaagic.
You say that I waste my time, but I can't get you off my mind.
No, I can't let go.
'Cause I love you so.”

Mercedes:
“The way you make me feel!”
Kurt:
“Honey, I’m still free.”
Mercedes:
“You really turn me on!”
Kurt:
“Take a chance on me.”
Mercedes:
“You knock me off of my feet!
My lonely days are gone!”
Kurt:
“Gonna do my best, and it ain’t no lie.
If you put me to the test, if you let me try.”
Mercedes and Kurt:
“The way you make me feel!”

Kurt:
“Ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba ba!
Honey, I’m still free.”
Mercedes:
“You really turn me on!”
Kurt:
“Gonna do my very best, and it ain’t no lie.”
Mercedes:
“My lonely days are gone!”

Kurt and Mercedes:
“Ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba ba!
The way you make me feel!”

They both ended the song by wrapping their arms around each other and pulling into a huge hug. They were such cute friends. I wished Mason and I were as cute of friends as that. But no, we were not. It was hard to be cute when everyone knew Mason as “flamer” and everyone thought I was a lesbian.

I nearly worshipped Mercedes’ and Kurt’s performance. It was just so awesomely put together. Mercedes’ part totally went with her personality, and Kurt’s totally went with his personality. I loved it.

The bell rang. We’d kind of lost track of time, and it was even worse since we were having so much fun.

“Alright, guys! Whoever hasn’t performed today has to perform tomorrow, so practice, practice, practice!” Mr. Schue encouraged us as all of the Glee clubbers walked out the door to go to our next class.