time to think (OPEN!)

[rachel berry]

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LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACES
little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
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<sup>I looked up at the sign above the shop before walking in. I needed a drink, because it was ridiculously warm for a September morning and if I got dehydrated my singing voice would not be its best. And with glee club practice later, I had to make sure my singing voice was spot on. Other members of the club were perfectly content with being mediocre but I for one was not going to be average. What was the point in doing something if you didn't do it to your best? People called me a perfectionist, but there was nothing wrong with being perfect. I reached the chilled drinks aisle and let my eyes run across the labels on the drinks, before putting my hand out and grabbing a Diet Pepsi.

The bottle was refreshingly cold, and I intended to get it to the checkout before the contents dropped to a lukewarm temperature. I got in the queue behind an elderly woman who had filled a basket with her weekly shopping, and sighed quite audibly. This was going to take a while. My mind wandered back to the summer that had just gone. Even though we had broken up for three months, I hadn't let that stop my planning for this year. We were going to win Regionals this year, I was sure of it. There was no way I was leaving this cow town without anything to show for my many years here. Being part of a glee club was just okay, being part of a glee club that was the best in the mid-west was amazing. Any Broadway director would be lucky to have me.

I broke away from my thoughts, looking up at the woman in front of me as she began placing each individual item onto the counter one after the other. This was getting stupid. My mouth was getting dry. If I dropped dead from dehydration right now, that woman would have the responsibility of my death on her conscience for the rest of her life. I cleared my throat loudly and the woman behind the till shot me an apologetic look. I simply raised my eyebrows at her, expecting her to hurry the customer along. The day I left this town couldn't come a moment too soon.</sup>

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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
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tagged; open!
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
listening to; nothing by no one!
word count; 380 w/out code
outfit; skirt, vest top and ballet pumps
credit; to brooke (template) and sarabi! (picture) from caution

[noah puckerman]

-------------------------------------- I SEE YOUR TRUE COLOURS SHINING THROUGH.

I wasn't entirely sure if I was on the correct aisle any more. I was meant to be getting the things on the grocery list for my mother while she was at home soaking up the sun. 'I may never get a tan if I don't bathe now, Noah!' she'd told me. So, because I was in a generous mood, and it was my mother, I put my trainers on and walked out of the door with her list in my hand and some money to pay for the groceries. So far, I'd got three things on the list. Kitchen roll, toilet roll and some weird things that only she ate. I didn't know where anything was. When it came to shopping, I was about as educated as.. well, as I was at anything else. I didn't grocery shop on my own. Never. I was starting to regret my earlier generous mood. I wasn't feeling like that any more. Instead, I just felt plain irritated. I mumbled to myself quietly about not being able to find things and then turned towards what looked like the toiletries part. I'd figured cat food wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Since we didn't have a cat. Or have a diet of tuna in jelly. No thanks.

I walked down the toiletries aisle and then stopped, sighing deeply. I didn't even know what I was looking for any more. I frowned and then turned back around, trying to find my way back to the checkout counters. The only time I'd ever been lost in a 7-Eleven was when I was about four years old. This time, I didn't have my mother there. I was just lost, basically. I looked down at the contents of my basket and then rolled my eyes, looking around me quickly. I dropped the basket down and put my hands into my pockets, walking away from the things I'd picked up. I'd just tell my mother that I couldn't find what she wanted. She'd believe me, most likely. I'd just go find something for myself now. I pulled my hands out of my pockets and then turned my head. I smiled slightly when I spotted the checkout counters. I walked towards them, looking down the other aisles as I did. My smile widened when I saw what I wanted. I walked down the aisle, towards the big refrigerator. I put my hand around the can of Monster and then looked at it for a moment. I checked the price and then walked back down the aisle, grabbing a random bag of crisps as I went past.

I held the items in my hands firmly, walking to the checkout counter nearest to me. I didn't actually realise who was stood in front of me until she turned her head slightly to look at the cashier. I smirked very lightly, rolling my eyes at the same time. I didn't know whether to say hello or just simply push her slightly. I decided on both. "'Sup, Berry?" I said to her quietly, my smirk slowly changing into a light grin.


words; 519 c: sorry. baha. (w/out code)
outfit (:
credit; template and image to me. c:

[rachel berry]

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LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACES
little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
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<sup>The woman in front of me had finally finished paying for her goods and walked out. Happily, I walked up to the counter and put my drink down, unzipping my pink purse and taking out a few coins, dropping them onto the counter next to my goods. Anyone would be completely embarrassed with my purse, I was sure of it, but I thought it was adorable. It was pink and had a few pictures of kittens on it. One of my fathers had brought it back with him from a trip to Columbus. I was waiting for the cashier to finish scanning my bottle of Pepsi and give me the receipt and my change when someone pushed me. Startled, I spun round to face the culprit.

Noah. Why did I expect anyone else? He was such a loser. I raised my eyebrows at him and turned back round to get my change and receipt, putting them in my purse and zipping it back up. I took my drink and turned back round to face him. "Hello Noah. How was your summer?" I asked, smiling and unscrewing the top of my bottle, taking a drink and swallowing it. I was going to be nice to Noah because up until just under a year ago, I was the regular victim of his Slushee facials. He was also my ex-boyfriend, although I had never been particularly interested in him romantically. It had all been a plan to make Finn jealous.

I stepped aside from the checkout so that he could pay for his energy drink. Not that I understood why he had to drink something that full of sugar and caffeine when he was so full of energy anyway. I didn't drink sugared drinks that often, my energy was all natural. So is my voice. Sure, it might have been fine tuned by singing lessons but I had always been naturally talented in musical pursuits. Jesse, although the spawn of Satan, had been right about that. It was my destiny. My dreams weren't fantasies, they were inevitabilities. I pulled myself away from remembering Jesse St. James' finest flattering remarks and instead awaited a response from Noah, taking another sip of my drink.</sup>

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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
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tagged; open!
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
listening to; halo/walking on sunshine by glee
word count; 366 w/out code
outfit; skirt, vest top and ballet pumps
credit; to brooke (template) and sarabi! (picture) from caution

[noah puckerman]

-------------------------------------- I SEE YOUR TRUE COLOURS SHINING THROUGH.

I had a more amused grin on my face when she turned around. I was half expecting her to pick up her Pepsi and throw it at me. That would've resulted in her being covered in Monster energy drink. I rolled my eyes when she didn't do anything other than pay for her drink and then call me Noah. I didn't like it when she called me that. Everyone else called me Puck. That was who I was. I sighed deeply and then looked at the bottle of Pepsi in her hand and then back to her face. She was my ex of about a week or so. It didn't bother me. I had to face a lot of the girls I'd slept with or dates back at school. I was used to it. "Uh.." I mumbled quietly at first. I didn't like niceness. Rachel had some way of making me feel bad before I'd even done anything evil. It must have been the kittens on her bag. I shook my head, putting my Monster and crisps down on the counter and then clearing my throat.

"Pretty amazing." I told her, smiling very lightly. I gave the money to the woman who'd just scanned them, not actually looking away from Rachel. "Cleaning pools, y'know? Other fun stuff." I didn't actually do much this summer, if I was being honest. I hadn't seen Finn ever since Regionals. I hung around with Quinn sometimes, but I wasn't exactly sure where we stood with each other anymore. I picked up my drink and crisps as well as my receipt and change. I moved so I was stood beside Rachel and then opened my can.

"How about you?" I asked her quietly. I took a small drink of my monster and then looked at the floor for a second. I raised my eyebrow and then looked back to Rachel, my eyebrow still raised. I took another drink and then stopped raising my eyebrow. I knew we were in the way of other customers. I didn't really care. If they wanted to get past, they could open their mouths and say 'excuse me' or just go around. It wasn't like there was an invisible forcefield stopping them. I rolled my eyes at the man who was unloading what looked like a years supply of food. He glared at me. I glared back for a moment before finally looking back at Rachel one more time.


words; 409. (w/out code)
outfit (:
credit; template and image to me. c:

[rachel berry]

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LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACES
little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
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<sup>I listened to him talking, nodding at the appropriate times. I was naturally talented at acting too, and I sort of had to be to keep a conversation going with Noah. He wasn't as compelling as Finn was, if Finn went off on a tangent that I couldn't care less about I could just get lost in his eyes... I mentally clicked my fingers, bringing me back to the current situation. Cleaning pools, y'know? Other fun stuff. I blinked. He still cleaned pools? I wondered how he kept his business alive and lucrative in Ohio. But maybe the secret to his success was in the 'other fun stuff'. "I'm impressed you still have your business, Noah. You're on the verge of escaping your label of a Lima loser." I said, smiling and taking another drink.

A man in the queue glared at me and pushed quite rudely past to get to the checkout. I was hardly in his way. It was disgusting how the idiots in this town treated people. Especially me. He would look back and be remorseful when I was an award winning Broadway actress. I stepped further out the way of the queue for now though, I didn't want to cause a scene. Then Noah asked me what I had done. The answer, I was scared to admit, was actually next to nothing. But I wasn't going to tell him that. "I spent a large portion of my summer holidays brainstorming the future of New Directions. If we're going to win Regionals we need some bright ideas and I will most likely be the only one supplying them." I said. It made what I had done sound so much more important.

But it still sounded like I had done hardly anything in my vacation and, realising my previous description wouldn't suffice, I carried on. "I also uploaded videos of me singing to my Myspace. You're my friend on there though, I'm sure you've already seen and favourited them all." I smiled smugly and sweetly at the same time. I knew that was probably not true, Noah probably spent most of his time on the internet watching pornographic films or catching up on Desperate Housewives (the whole junior year at McKinley High knew he had a thing for cougars), but I hoped that by saying that, my videos were the first thing he checked out when he got home. I was sick of all the comments left by hateful, jealous cheerleaders. Just because they had hardly any ability and thought that cheerleading was both a sport and a performance.</sup>

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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
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tagged; open!
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
listening to; bohemian rhapsody by glee
word count; 428 w/out code
outfit; skirt, vest top and ballet pumps
credit; to brooke (template) and sarabi! (picture) from caution

[noah puckerman]

-------------------------------------- I SEE YOUR TRUE COLOURS SHINING THROUGH.

I raised my eyebrows at her and then laughed lightly. I looked away for a moment. It wasn't really the pool cleaning that got me the business. It was more the stuff I did afterwards. I wasn't a male prostitute. I was just.. helping out the older ladies feel young again. I cleared my throat, looking back to Rachel and taking another drink of my Monster. I glared at the man who pushed her, moving my arm idly to stop her falling over. I sipped some more of my drink and then sighed. Lima-loser. That was me alright. I chuckled fakely and then took her arm, moving her quite gently out of the way of a woman who looked as though she was about to pounce on Rachel. I'd already checked her out. She wasn't worth cleaning out, so I glared at her.

Suddenly, I realised that Rachel would go into epic detail about what she'd done this summer. What clothes she'd probably worn, the songs she'd put on Myspace. I had to admit, I'd looked a few times when I was incredibly bored. Only because my sister used to watch her videos and favourited them. I never commented and rarely actually listened to them. I used to just watch her make a fool of herself in front of many, many Myspace users. I used to read the comments from the cheerleaders too. They always amused me. Still did, sometimes. I nodded when she said she'd done something about New Directions. I wasn't really listening much. I had the attention span of a rock, to be fair. And Rachel didn't really interest me as much as other people. It was okay talking to her for a while, but then the rambled on. I got lost in her words because half of the things she said were like a different language to me. I knew this meant I needed to start listening in school.

"Yeah, that's cool, right? Yeah. Things will be better this year, I think." I told her, nodding my head lightly. I didn't know if they were. Frankly, I didn't care. Hopefully, we wouldn't win, and then Glee would be over. Then I wouldn't have to worry about performing and singing. Plus, I wouldn't have to put up with Rachel's rambling and the constant talk. If I was focused on football, I'd escape the total grasp of being a 'Lima-loser'. I nodded when she said she'd uploaded new videos. "Yeah.. saw them." I told her "It's good. Clearly, you've been practising over the summer." I shrugged and took another big drink of Monster. I turned my head to look around as slyly as I could. I knew she'd do her 'upset face' if she knew that I actually wanted to go. It was my fault, anyway. I'd pushed her and called her Berry. I was a stupid Puck. Then again, she was the one who continued the conversation.

words; 490. (w/out code)
outfit (:
credit; template and image to me. c:

[rachel berry]

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LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACES
little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
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<sup>I smiled gratefully when he put his arm out to help me stay upright. If Finn had done that I would have found it positively charming but it went pretty much unnoticed. But he had been a little more touchy feely today, and he was holding a conversation. Was he flirting with me? I knew that was probably the most laughable idea I could possibly materialise but my brain had this thing where it exaggerated every minor movement the other person did so it seemed like they liked me. No wonder my self esteem was larger than anyone else's in the show choir. My body was biologically programmed to make me a star, unlike the rest of them.

When he spoke again, my smile widened even more. Things will be better this year, I think. Of course they will be. Last year we were unsure about ourselves, heading into new territories. This year we knew what we were doing. "Think about it, Noah! New Directions, the best show choir in the mid-west. We'll all be stars!" I said, my voice bursting with enthusiasm. The possibilities would be endless. I was excited now, and if the scenario wasn't so awkward and inappropriate, and my life was a musical, I would burst into song and dance. Instead, I stood there with my stupid yet show stopping grin, pausing to take another drink before continuing to smile.

But what he said next shocked me greatly. He had watched them? He thought they were good? That was so unbelievably flattering. Unless he had, of course, just said that to get me to make out with him. I was sure that alongside football and glee club, seducing high school girls and married women was his favourite hobby. "I'm glad you enjoyed them. Maybe you should recommend them to your friends, you know, the non-retarded ones." I suggested, tilting my head a little. I didn't wait for a response before continuing to talk. "Not just all summer, all my life. That's why I have an advantage on the rest of the aspiring soloists in New Directions." I told him, nodding and finishing my drink, dropping the empty bottle in the trash can near the counter. I looked at the cashier who was giving me a look as if to say 'please-leave-the-shop-before-I-make-you'. Looking back at Noah, I chose to ignore her look.</sup>

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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
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tagged; open!
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
listening to; nothing by no one
word count; 392 w/out code
outfit; skirt, vest top and ballet pumps
credit; to brooke (template) and sarabi! (picture) from caution

[noah puckerman]

-------------------------------------- I SEE YOUR TRUE COLOURS SHINING THROUGH.

I blinked at her and for once, I actually wished I could share her enthusiasm. We weren't amazing. We weren't even close to Vocal Adrenaline. And with Sue clearly being on any side but ours, we didn't really stand a chance. As long as all the club members had their differences, we'd never truly have the connection that the other show choirs had. I doubted that Finn would ever trust me as much as he used to. I couldn't see myself befriending Hummel or Abrams. I didn't even know here I was with Santana. In fact, I wasn't sure where I was with Quinn any more. My constant flirting, and more, with the mothers I 'helped' wasn't doing much for my relationships. But that was just me. It wasn't like everyone was unaware of my attraction to older women. They were more experienced than the girls from school. Plus, they gave me money. That was always good, too. And it was only the hot ones. I wouldn't ever go near pensioners. Ew, the thought of it just made me shiver. And not in a good way.

"Yeah! Woo!" I said with little enthusiasm. "Thought of any new songs, then?" My goal was to make her do the talking while I just pretended to listen. At least that way, it would make the other girls jealous. Rachel wasn't exactly 'I gotta hit that hot' but she was enough to make people jealous. I finished the rest of my monster and then threw the can into the bin, turning back to her and then looking down at my crisps. I wasn't really waiting for her to answer. I knew she would anyway. "In a fantasy land, yeah. I doubt Figgins will bother with Glee even if we win this year." I mumbled, more to myself than to Rachel. I was kind of hoping she'd turn on me. It would give me an excuse to leave. I usually faked the phone call, but I'd decided to leave my mobile at home. I looked down at my crisps again. I didn't really want them anymore.

Enjoyed them? My sister did. I just watched them with her. "Yeah. My sister's a big fan of yours." I told her, nodding slowly. At least that was a nice comment. Then she could muse over the fact she had an admirer which just happened to be my little sister. I was actually tempted to say she should come and do a small live show. Then she'd probably think that I only wanted her to come so I could get in her pants. I wouldn't say no. Then again, I was pretty sure she was with Finn. I couldn't break the bro-code twice in one year. Now that was just messed up. I blinked and then shrugged. "Sure. If I find any non retarded friends." I said quietly. I wasn't being serious. I didn't think most of my friends were retarded. Just a handfull of them. But I don't think they'd appreciate videos of Rachel Berry singing about love, either. I looked over at the woman and then back to Rachel, smirking slighty. "Rebel."

words; 525. (w/out code)
outfit (:
credit; template and image to me. c:

[rachel berry]

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LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACES
little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
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<sup>I understood he and the majority of New Directions didn't hold my level of enthusiasm for the club, but I wasn't sure exactly why. Our vocals were outstanding (even if I did say so myself) and we had so much more heart and passion than Vocal Adrenaline. If it hadn't been for Aural Intensity doing a mash-up of Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban, along side Coach Sylvester's blatant cheating, we would have placed in second. But that was the past, and if we were to take Regionals by storm this time around, we had to concentrate on the present, with an eye on the future. When Noah spoke again, I rolled my eyes at his fake enthusiasm.

Actually, I had created a list of all the songs and possible themes we could do for this year's competitions, but I knew he wouldn't know half the show tunes and he would probably walk off before I got onto the Bs. So instead, I just nodded. "Yes, actually. A mixture of classics, RnB and songs from my all-time favourite musicals." I said, smiling again and stepping out the way when a lady with a child in a buggy got to the counter. People might find me as annoying as hell but I was never deliberately irritating. I was about to go on and explain how I had selected a broad selection of genres, each highlighting a certain area we were talented in, for example, soft rock for Finn or popular hip-hop for Mercedes. But then he stopped me. "That's outrageous! How can you have so little faith in our club? Of course Figgins will give us another year! Whether we win or lose he will see the error of his ways and realise how truly amazing we are!" I said, my voice full of passion.

I was on the brink of walking out when he managed to tame my anger with his next comment. My sister's a big fan of yours. I had a fan? I mean, I knew it was inevitable and it wasn't a great surprise, but it was so delightful to hear I had a follower so early on in my career. "Really? Well if she ever wants anything autographed I'd be happy to sign it for her." I replied, grinning like the Cheshire Cat from Alice and Wonderland now. It was so flattering Noah's sister enjoyed my voice. My smile turned down a notch when he called me a rebel, more of an innocent smirk now. I began to take a few more steps towards the exit, although still facing Noah, suggesting he could follow me if he wanted.</sup>

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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
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tagged; open!
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
listening to; the england match on television!
word count; 438 w/out code
outfit; skirt, vest top and ballet pumps
credit; to brooke (template) and sarabi! (picture) from caution

[noah puckerman]

-------------------------------------- I SEE YOUR TRUE COLOURS SHINING THROUGH.

I put the crisps into the pocket of my hoodie after deciding I didn't want them anymore. I'd offer them to my mother and tell her it was the only thing they had that I thought she'd like. She probably wouldn't believe me and just come shopping herself. I sighed lightly, watching Rachel and then looking towards the exits. She didn't really go off on me when I'd hoped she would. I sighed again and then smiled lightly. I needed to try and be nice, at least.

I blinked at her next words and then nodded. "Such as?" I asked her. "Tell me some, I might be able to practise them. " I shrugged. I didn't really watch musicals. They weren't my thing. I rarely even listened to much music. The only music I'd listened to was whatever my sister played. Her all-time favourite musicals? I hated to think what they were. Probably some weird old musicals which only my Nana would know. I'd have to ask her to help me if they were. Rachel, not my Nana. I watched the woman with the buggie for a second before looking back to the queue. I half smiled at this woman who was looking quite hot. She smiled back at me and I grinned lightly. She grinned back for a second before turning her head to the cashier to pay for her things. I didn't look back to Rachel.

"Hmm?" I asked, finally moving my head back to Berry. I hadn't been listening to her ramble on. I'd just heard something about me having little faith in the club. I frowned and then shrugged once more. I moved my head to look back at the woman. She was now looking back at me while picking up her bag and turning to walk past me. I smirked as she 'accidently' nudged me and then walked off. I watched her walk away, waiting until she was actually out of the shop before I looked at Rachel. She was now stood next to me, walking slowly towards the exit as well. I followed her slightly, nodding at what she said. I didn't actually know as I hadn't been listening. I just knew it was about my sister. "Yeah. Cool, sure. Okay. She'd like that." I hoped that had linked with what she'd said to me.



words; 390. (w/out code)
outfit (:
credit; template and image to me. c: "reminder for mee. "