As the Cheerios finished their performance of California Girls wearing itchy blue wigs, Coach Sylvester went to pick up her megaphone.

"I'm bored. Ladies, I am at a loss. Brittany, please remind me of how I single-handedly put cheerleading on the map."

"In 1979, you directed a made-for TV movie about the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders called The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders." Brittany answered. Coach Sylvester nodded at her answer.

"That is correct, and in the meantime, what's changed?" She asked.

"Personal grooming habits?" Quinn offered.

"Loss of inspiration?" Haley asked.

"What's changed is I have completely lost interest, and ladies, I blame you." She turned to look at Becky who gave out chicken to each of the girls.

"You will each enhance your bust with an additional pair of chicken cutlets in an attempt to add some jiggle to what is the most boring routine I have ever witnessed." Coach Sylvester explained.

"But, Coach Sylvester, this is the most elaborate routine the Cheerios have ever done." Quinn tried to argue.

"She's right, Coach. We're shoo-ins at regionals next week, and we're the favorite to win at nationals." Haley added.

"Yet, I am still so very bored!" She yelled the final part of her sentence into the megaphone. "Even things I used to think were hilarious. Case in point: Sandbags slap yourself with a chicken cutlet. You too Shortstack" she gestured to both Haley and Santana who sighed and smacked the chicken against their skin.

"Now slap Brittany." Santana slapped Brittany. "See? Not even a chuckle."

"See, the problem is you continuously try to create big spectacles for every routine." Haley spoke up, holding onto her chicken cutlets. "Even if we try our hardest, it isn't worthy or given the go ahead unless you find a way to make it interesting for yourself. You are merely trying to top yourself."

"You have a point shortstack. To be sure, slap Quinn and Santana with a chicken cutlet."

----

Everyone gasped as Artie rolled in covered, and I mean COVERED, in red slushie from head to toe.

"Artie!" Tina gasped.

"It was awful." He trembled.

"That's it. Screw rehearsal." Finn demanded angrily getting up. "This ends now."

"We're gonna go all Thunderdome on those guys." agreed Puck, as he followed.

However, they didn't get to exit the door because at the same time, the football team walked in. Haley sighed, watching the Glee guys block their group rather protectively.

:So this is what the ladies' lounge looks like on the inside." smirked one of the football players.

"This is the choir room." corrected Sam. "Now put up your fists because you and I are gonna do some dancing."

"No, I got this, Sam." Finn said, literally pushing him as he brushed him off.

"Coach Beiste told us to come. Where is she?" Karofsky asked.

"Watch it." Coach Beiste said as she walked to the middle of the boys. "Everyone, have a seat."

"You too, guys.: Mr. Schue said to the New Directions, as he watched both groups move to sit on opposite sides of the room. "Alright. New Directions, let's give a warm welcome to the newest members of Glee Club."

"You have to be kidding me!" Haley yelled. She pointed to one of the guys. "He sexually harassed me during the second week." She had the courage to stand up for herself. Everyone looked at her.

"No I didn't." he responded smirking.

"Yes you did. You made me very uncomfortable, pushing me against the wall, and touching me. Fortunately, I have someone with me right here who got you to leave." She gestured to Sam who sent her a sympathetic smile.

"Mr. Schue. ARe you serious?" Finn asked standing up.

"These guys made Kurt transfer." Haley pointed out.

"And there's no way that I am sharing the choir room with a known homophobe." Rachel agreed.

"I don't disagree with you guys, but I talked to Coach Beiste about it and she and I both agreed that the kind of bullying that David does is born out of ignorance. Having him in here, as difficult as it may be for us, is an opportunity to show him and the rest of the guys that being in Glee Club is kind of cool. You know, find some common ground."

"All of you are gonna be in this Glee Club for one week, no exceptions." Coach Beiste announced to the team.

"She's bluffing. Next week is the championship game. Without us, she has no team." Karofsky said, rolling his eyes.

"With you, I have no team. She yelled and continued yelling. "You guys have gotta find a way to come together or we're gonna get our asses kicked from here until Tuesday finds a saddlebag full of buckwheat."

"If I have to stay, I'm not singing no show tunes. That is the music of my oppressors." Azimo stated.

"Do you even have any ideas what we do in here?" asked Puck.

"No. None of them do. We have to show them." Mr. Schue said. "Rachel, Puck haven't you guys been working on something? Why don't you give it a whirl?

"Fine. As offended as I am by their presence here, I won't let anything get in the way of a performance."

{NEED YOU NOW-SUNG BY NOAH PUCKERMAN AND RACHEL BERRY}

"The girl with the Mohawk had a really nice voice." Azimio commented.

"That's good, man. That's good." Puck said masking a fake smile. Suddenly, he charged at the football team, causing everyone in the room to scream and yell at each other. Coach Beiste and Mr. Schue struggle to hold them back but it took them a while.

"Boy it is going to be one hell of a long week." Haley muttered.

----

Later during Cheerio practice, Coach Sylvester directed the girls out to the field where a huge cannon was stationed.

"Ladies my Sueclear weapon. Becky." She called. The girls frowned as Becky smashed a bottle of champagne against it.

"Shortstack, climb on. You are doing the stunt for the competition." she directed, pointing at Haley, who frowned.

"I don't want to die...I'm only on Season 5 of How I Met Your Mother, and One Tree Hill still has a foreseeable future." Haley said, shaking.

"Fine." To put your toddler-fist and shortstack mind at rest we'll do one final test run." Coach Sylvester said, rolling her eyes.

Haley watched as two of the cheerios grabbed a dummy and shoved it down the cannon. She winced as the coach took a shovel and shoved the dummy down further, and got down, pushing the button. With a loud boom, the dummy flew out of the cannon ripping into bits and pieces. Everyone including Haley gasped.

"Any of you take German? She asked. "I may have to read the owner's manual." Coach Sylvester said.

Haley sighed, walking off to calm her nerves, with Brittany, Santana and Quinn by her side.

----

The cheerio's competition had been set to the same day as the game, giving four particular Cheerios hard decision to make.

"Zombie camp was funner than I expected." Quinn sheepishly admitted, as the four girls stood taking their makeup off in the bathroom.

"And the Glee Club together with the football team...It's like a double rainbow." Brittany added. "A zombie double rainbow."

"What the hell are we gonna do? If we go to our cheerleading competition then we miss the halftime show and we're out of Glee Club." Quinn debated.

"I'm torn." Santana said.

"Well...I'm 50/50. Both have pros and cons." Haley stated, continuing to look in the mirror.

"I'm Brittany."

"Look, we all know that coach Sylvester won't back down from the cannon idea, meaning that I'll be forced to do the stunt if I want to or not. I don't want to do it." Haley said.

"Couldn't help but overhear your conversation." the coach said as she walked out of one of the stalls. The four girls jumped and turned to look at her.

"What were you doing in there the whole time?" Haley asked, slightly annoyed.

"Enjoying the eavesdropping afforded me by the Swiss timepiece regularity and utter silence of my 2:00p.m. ninja poops." She said while pulling some pieces of paper from her pocket. "Well, I typed these up for you ladies requiring your signatures tendering your resignation from the Glee Club." she said, handing them the paper.

Quinn jumped to defend Haley. "Coach, we know, and you know that the cannon is going to kill Haley. "Is that really worth it just to win a stupid national championship?"

"Seventh consecutive stupid national championship."

"This is ridiculous." Quinn said. "And unreasonable." Haley added.

"You had quite a year last year, Q. And as I recall, you didn't' have such a good time out of that Cheerios uniform. Ladies, I am giving you the chance right now to choose once and for all where your true loyalties lie. Choose the Cheerios or the Glee Club!"

"Oh hell.. You know what. I'm choosing the Glee Club. They are truly my second family. I don't feel forced to comply with any dangerously unreasonable stunts. I feel safe. If I knew I'd be safe, I would choose Cheerios." Haley ranted, as she began walking to the door. She turned around. "I am taking a stand, and choosing to stand up for myself. I am brave. That's why I, Haley Aldrin, hereby resign my co-cheerleader position from Cheerios."

"You can't quit. You're my co-captain.. We don't know what will happen if you aren't there." Coach Sylvester protested.

"Yes I can. This is me walking out." Haley said, storming out of the bathroom.

She suddenly reopened the door to add something else. "I know that you girls are being indecisive right now, but we all know that you have truly made your decision. Remember who your real family is, where you feel safe and accepted 24/7." She added before giving them a look and closing the door.

----

Later on, Haley sat on the bleachers staring out at the field. She sighed. Sure, she was mad that her best friends had chosen to remain on the Cheerios, but what could she do? It was like she was always losing the things that mattered most to her.

She heard someone come to sit beside her. She glanced up to see Sam. He sent her a sad smile.

"Hey." He said.

"Hey." she replied.

"Are you okay? You've been crying." he said, pointing out her visible tear stained face.

"Oh is it that noticeable? Um...Yeah, I guess. I just always seem to be losing the things or people that matter to me the most." She said.

"That's hard. I'm sorry, you feel that way." Sam replied. Suddenly an idea got to his head. "I think I know what would cheer you up."

"What?" she asked. "It isn't possible to be cheerful right now, when everything in my life has been miserable." she muttered.

He didn't say much in return... "Well I'll tell you what, let's go get ice cream and we can go talk and maybe my impressions and some jokes will cheer you up." He suggested.

She nodded. "Thanks Sam, I'd love to. I appreciate the offer." She said gratefully.

And with that, the two headed off to get ice cream and Haley realized that she was really in love with this lovable and quirky boy. He made her feel better, and she loved having him accompany her. "Still he probably doesn't like me back." she kept telling herself.

----

"Why can't we just let them back on the team just for this game? Sam asked.

The glee kids sat in the choir room, sad and upset that no one had signed up for the team.

"No." Coach Beiste said sternly. "We carry this thing through even if it means having to forfeit the game."

"I can't believe this is it." Finn said.

"While maybe it isn't." Haley spoke up walking to the front, Tina and Mercedes standing behind her.

"We want to join the team." Rachel added, standing beside Haley, who moved to keep her space.

"We we?" Artie asked, confused.

"All of us Glee girls." Mercedes clarified. "We want to join the football team and want to play in the championship."

"Come on guys. Stop screwing around. That's not cool." Mike replied.

"What's not cool is you guys not respecting women enough to realize we're perfectly capable of playing football." Lauren spoke up. "And don't forget who the state champ in Greco-Roman wrestling is. I've got offers from three different professional wrestling organizations for after I graduate."

"Girls, have you actually seen a tackle football game? When they tackle you, it hurts." Mr. Schue said.

"Yeah, and not in the good Mellencamp way." Puck added.

"We know. We have considered all angels. I'll just say it. The truth is that you just need enough players out there to field a regulation team. We will be there when they snap the ball, except we will lie down on the ground." Haley explained.

"We're just gonna like there." Rachel said.

"I'm not. I'm gonna bring the pain." Lauren said, determined.

"I guess they won't get hurt if you stay down." Coach Beiste said.

"Okay, what do your parents have to say about this?" Asked Mr. Schue.

"We all have signed permission slips from them." Tina said as she passed him the sheets. "It took some convincing, but they understood what it means to all of us."

"What do you think, Coach." he asked.

"I think...Welcome to the football team." she said with a smile. The boys cheered as they ran to join the girls exchanging high-fives.

Haley was so in the moment, that she didn't realize she was still in Sam's arms after he had pulled her in for a hug. They slowly pulled away, as he sent her a smile and said something using an unrecognizable impression. She smiled back, blushing.

"Thank you." He said after they had pulled away.

"Well, that's what you do for your family, even if there are risks." Haley shrugged.

----

Looking away from taunting Finn, Karofsky looked shocked as he recognized five girls walking towards the field.

"What the hell are they doin'? He asked. Finn only smiled proudly.

"What you don't have the balls to do." Finn responded. He then took off jogging to meet the girls.

"Whoo!" cheered Rachel, as the rest of the boys joined Finn in the circle. "I'm excited."

"Yeah are you ready for this?" Puck asked her.

"Let's kick some ass!" She laughed in return.

"Yeah!"

"Punch and Judy on one. Ready, break." Finn directed.

"Break!" the boys repeated before they moved out of their huddle.

"Who the hell is Judy?" Haley overheard Rachel ask.

"Alright. Let's go!" Finn yelled again.

"Where do I go?" Haley asked Sam. He smiled, placing his hands on her waist as he placed her in front of him facing the other team.

"You go right here." He said as he gave her instructions. "Now crouch down, yeah like that." He chuckled as she put on her tough face, not realizing she had some wrong angles and positions. He didn't bother to point it out though. They continued to wait for the game to begin.

"Okay." Finn said. "Blue 42! Blue 42! Down! Set! Hut!" As the ball snapped, the girls went down on the ground, making sure to cover their heads.

"Is it over?" Mercedes asked, while the girls slowly got up.

"What happened?" a confused Rachel asked. The whole group reunited.

"Alright. How's everyone doing? Finn asked.

"Kill me now. I want to die." Mercedes pleaded.

"Are you kidding me? I wanna play!" Haley said enthusiastically. Though she was determined.

Tina agreed. "Is anyone else also tired of lying down all the time? I want to play too."

"Just don't get ahead of yourself, okay?" Finn sighed. "Ready, break.

"Set! Hut!"

Haley almost slipped, but she saw Finn get knocked down. She heard Coach Beiste yelling from the sidelines. "Pick it up! Get the ball! Get the ball! Get the ball! Come on! Get it! Get it!"

Haley took this as her chance to try to prove herself and because it was an open opportunity. She heard the crowd cheer as she grabbed the ball and made a run toward the goal.

"Run! Run! Run! Go! Run, Haley!" she heard the Coach encouraging her as she continued to run.

Haley was suddenly knocked down onto the ground as she was tackled by a bigger football player.

"Oof." was all she said as she lay on the ground.

"Haley!" she heard Sam's voice.

"Is she breathing?" she made out the voice to be Mike's.

Her eyes shot open. "Wait, did we win?" she asked.

They laughed softly.

"You okay?" Sam asked as he helped her up. He then went to make sure she wasn't injured.

"Yeah, I'm fine. However, we are going to need to kickbutt at the halftime show. Since I wasn't able to score a freakin goal" she replied, verbally beating herself up.

He wanted to be angry at her for running after the ball, and stop her from blaming herself that she hadn't scored a goal, but before he could do or say anything, he heard Finn calling his name.

"Sam. Come here." He called, as Sam jogged over to meet him.

"I need you to play quarterback for the rest of the half."

"Okay." Sam answered, confused.

"Puck, when the half ends, you gotta go convince Karofsky and the rest of the guys to do the halftime show with us." He directed.

:How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Puck asked.

"Figure it out. You're my wingman, right?"

"I got tone, Mav." He replied, giving Finn a fist bump.

"Where are you going?" asked Rachel.

"Can't have a halftime show without cheerleaders." He smirked.

----

After an entertaining halftime show and the Titans winning the game, the crowd was going wild.

Haley was celebrating with Mercedes, and she turned to wave at Blaine and Kurt in the audience. Kurt sent her a thumbs up.

"Why is Quinn getting really close to Finn, if she's still dating Sam?" Kurt observed. Remembering the conversation him and Haley had had the previous night about Sam and Quinn.

"Couldn't tell you, but look at Haley." Blaine added. Both of them watched as Sam ran up and lifted Haley off the ground. They saw her let out a laugh, smiling.

"I thought she was still single." Kurt muttered.

"Well, I guess not." Blaine suggested.

As Sam put her back down on the ground he smiled. "You were absolutely incredible." He explained she frowned in confusion.

"I didn't do much." she muttered.

"Well, what I'm trying to say is that there wouldn't be any game without you or the girls. I heard from someone that it was your idea to make a run with the ball to attempt to score a goal." He said.

"Thank you, Sam." She said giggling to hide the fact that she was blushing. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." She said, smiling at him as she began to leave.

"Yep, see you then." He replied, as he went off to find Quinn. However the only thing running through his mind nowadays was that he was falling for Haley Aldrin.

••••

Again, one of my favorites:)

••

Silly Love Songs and Comeback are coming your way later tonight:)