It was a new week for glee and and Nellie was thriving in the Troubletones. Her dancing and her voice was used much more often unlike the glee club where Rachel was the star of the show. Matteo and Jay were still getting used to not having their girlfriends in the glee club, but they were happy that they were finding their voice and having a good time.

Today the troubletones were called into the auditorium where they were met with the glee club.

"Hi love." Nellie greeted before walking over and pressing a kiss to Matteo's lips. Matteo smiled and kissed back before she had to walk off to stand by Santana.

"Hey Mercedes. Looking beautiful as always." Jay commented as he winked at Mercedes who just smiled at him.

"What are you doing here?" Rachel demanded causing the two couples to glare at her.

"Shelby said she had something to show us. What are you doing here?" Mercedes replied. Nellie crossed her arms over her chest and stared down the glee club, minus Jay and Matteo of course.

"Mr.Shue said the same thing." Finn mentioned.

"Let me guess. He wants to combine choirs for sectionals. Well it's not gonna happen. The troubletones are here to stay. So why don't you shuffle your buster choir off our stage." Santana demanded and Nellie nodded in agreement at that.

"Look, you guys, we can compete without being enemies. All right? We don't have to get vicious."

"It's not vicious, Hudson. It's the truth. I'm sick and tired of singing backup to your stupid voice that cracks when you hit a high note. And Rachel, do I even need to explain?" Nellie scoffed as she glared daggers at the girl.

"Nel's right, soft serve. See, the Troubletones are 3F. Fierce, femme, phenomenal. Oh, and guys, hurry up. Go get some moist towels. We have to keep Finn wet before we can roll him back into the sea." Santana commented causing Nellie to snicker.

"Nice body shaming Santana." Jay snarked as he leaned against the piano. He didn't like Finn, but he also didn't deserve to be body shamed.

"Okay, you know what Santana, Finn's in great shape, and your meanness only highlights your own personal insecurities." Rachel added.

"Rachel, your mustache is thicker than a Middle Eastern Dictators. And Jay if you squint anymore you'll get wrinkles and turn into a frail old lady."

"I have poor vision, Alright? My glasses are supposed to come in next week."

"Dude, stop. No one cares." Finn spoke as he waved Jay off.

"I care you tall pendejo." Matteo snapped as he rolled his eyes. Before the argument could be taken any further the sound of a guitar playing caused everyone to turn around and face Mr.Shue.

[You And I/You And I-Mr.Shue and Shelby]

"Mr.Shue, Shelby, I think we can all admit that was weirdly amazing. But what exactly was the point?" Rachel asked once the song was over. Nellie stood leaned into Matteo while Jay had his arm thrown around Mercedes shoulders casually. Neither of them cared what anyone said. The rivalry between the two clubs wasn't going to split them apart.

"That sometimes bringing together two conflicting things can create something totally unexpected." Mr.Shue replied.

"We're not combing glee clubs, Mr.Shue." Mercedes stated.

"Not what I'm talking about. Shelby and I agree that with the sectionals coming up for the both of us, it's time we all got really serious with some friendly competition."

"Each groups going to put together their own mashup to perform head to head." Shelby added.

"For the first annual McKinley High."

"Mash off."

Mash off?

Nellie swore something like this happened before, and it was a complete disaster. After glee club Nellie and Matteo walked down the hall together hand in hand.

"God, I just know they're gonna pick some stupid white people song and I'm gonna be swaying in the background." Matteo groaned causing Nellie to giggle.

"If you were a girl we would've taken you with open arms."

"Oh, right." Matteo suddenly cleared his throat and started talking in an extremely high pitched voice causing Nellie to laugh even harder.

"Well......Marissa, welcome to the troubletones!" She joked causing Matteo to laugh as well.

"Thanks Nel. God, this club is so stupid. They surround two voices who aren't even that good. It's annoying."

"Aw, you poor baby. Do you want me to cradle you while you tell me about your problems?"

"Shut up!" Matteo playfully pushed Nellie away before leaning against the lockers. Nellie just kissed his cheek and rubbed his arm.

"You'll survive, love. And trust me, I'm just a few doors down if you ever need me." The bell rang causing Matteo to groan and kiss Nellies lips.

"I'll see you later mi amor."

"Yeah, see you!"

The two went their separate ways with Nellie sending one final smile to Matteo.

                          *******
The next day at school Nellie was taking her meds in the nurses office when Jay and Matteo stormed in.

"Dodgeball. Gym. Now." Jay panted as he was clearly out of breath.

Nellie hopped down from the bed and furrowed her brows. "Dodgeball?"

"Dodgeball." Matteo confirmed. Nellie had played dodgeball before, and she knew it could turn into a violent sport within seconds. Jay and Matteo were already in their gym uniform, and so the trio sprinted over to the locker rooms and Nellie changed into her gym uniform. After that she went to meet up with the troubletones, who explained everything. Mercedes helped Nellie tie her hair in a ponytail and Nellie tied her shoes as the game was starting.

[Hit Me With Your Best Shot-The Troubletones and New Directions]

Throughout the entire game Jay and Matteo were letting the others get hit as they blocked the troubletones attacks. Matteo and Nellie stood across from each other and Nellie raised the ball, throwing it directly at Matteo. However he blocked and Jay managed to swoop in and hit Nellie causing her to trip and fall.

"Nice one Parker." Nellie told him before moving to sit on the bench. After the game was over Santana and some of the other girls thought it would be a good idea to throw their balls at Rory.

"Santana stop!" Nellie yelled pulling her back harshly.

"For god sakes he's bleeding. Maybe that's how the others treat us around here, but we don't do this to each other. We're better then this." Kurt stated.

"He's right. Low blow Lopez." Jay added as he helped Rory up and helped him to the nurse.

"God, calm down grandma." Santana scoffed. Everyone had left the gym except for Nellie, who tried to process what just happened. This rivalry needed to end. Before someone got hurt.

                            *******

The next day Nellie was practicing her vocal warmups with the rest of the troubletones when Mercedes walked in.

"Ladies, vocal warm ups can wait. Now, I was up half the night thinking about our mashup for the mash off, and it came to me. Adele." Mercedes explained and Nellie grinned.

"God, I love Adele. I would totally kill her voice."

"I sound just like her." Sugar mentioned causing Nellie to shoot the girl a confused look.

"Dude, I love her. She sounds like what banana cream pie sounds like when it sings." Brittany commented.

"I think that's a great idea. I think we could really kill with that stuff." Shelby stated and Nellie silently cheered.

"Agreed. And now with that decision out of the way, I can stay focused on my one sided battle of wits with the knuckle dragger."

"Santana, the dodgeball thing was fun, until the end, but enough." Mercedes argued.

"No, honey. I'm just getting started."

"I'm the leader of this group and I'm telling you, lay off those guys."

"Leader?" Nellie asked before letting out a scoff.

"Who died and made you queen, Aretha?" Santana added stepping up to Mercedes.

"I brought you guys in, and I came up with the idea for our mash up, while you were wasting time trying to figure out how to make Finn Hudson cry. So I nominate myself as president of the troubletones. All in favor?" Nellie sighed before raising her hand, as did everyone except Santana and Brittney.

"Four in favor means Mercedes gets elected. And she's right. We should all be focusing on winning because we are better, not meaner. Mr.Shue and I both agreed on the ground rules. We play fair." Shelby said.

"I just don't have time for this kind of thinking."

"Well make time, because you are a star member of this group, and you need to represent." Nellie stated crossing her arms over her chest. In the end Santana agreed to play fair which made everything better.

Meanwhile with Matteo, he stood leaned against a locker as he waited for Santana to exit the classroom.

"Yo! Lopez!" He called, running to catch up with her.

"What do you want Gomez? I gotta go apologize to tubs." Matteo immediately knew who Santana was talking about, and he smiled before stopping in front of her.

"Look, the glee club is telling me I gotta play fair with you. For Nellies sake. You feel like squashing this beef or what?" Matteo explained with raised brows.

Santana just laughed and slowly nodded. "I was actually just about to say the same thing. Alright Gomez, you won me over. Consider the beef squashed."

The two shook hands and walked side by side down the hallway. Matteo didn't know why he was tagging along with Santana, only that he really had nowhere else to be at the moment.

"Hey, tubs. Can I talk to you for a second?" Santana asked walking up to Finn.

"Hey, listen here. You can't make fun of Finn anymore." Rory jumped in causing Matteo to furrow his brows.

"Shut your potato hole. I'm here to apologize. Rachel's right. I haven't been fair to you. You're not fat. I should know. I slept with you. I mean, at some point, I must have liked that you looked like a taco addict who's had one too many back alley liposuctions." Santana started.

"Whoa." Rory and Matteo said at the same time.

"Please stick a sock in it or ship yourself back to Scotland. I'm trying to apologize to lumps the clown. I am sorry, Finn. I mean really, I'm—I'm sorry that the New Directions are going to get crushed by the Troubletones. I'm also sorry that you have no talent. Sorry that you sing like you're getting your prostrate checked, and you dance like you've been asleep for years and someone just woke you up. Have fun riding on Rachel's coattails for the rest of your life. Although, you know what? I would just watch out for her come holiday time if I were him, because if I were here, I'd stick a stent in one of those boobs, and let the Finn blubber light the Hanukkah lamp for eight magical nights." Matteo's jaw was pretty much on the ground by the time it was all over, and he followed Santana as she walked away from Finn and Rory.

"Hey Santana. Why don't you just come out of the closet? You know, I think I know why you're so good at tearing everybody else down, it's because you're constantly tearing yourself down because you can't admit to everybody that you're in love with Brittany, and she might not love you back. That must hurt, to not be able to admit to everyone how you really feel. And Matteo, you're quite the guy to unpack. You've been treating me like crap for the past few weeks and I'm sick of it? Deadbeat dad strike again? You know, I've been trying to understand you for the past few weeks and I think I've finally got it. You take drugs to numb the pain that no adult figure will ever love you. It's why you're so desperate for Mr.Shues attention. Because he's all you got. And then you almost die because you're so lonely so you get shipped off to rehab. Then you come here and fall in love with the most popular girl in our school. Deep down, Nellie sees you as a burden. She sees you as someone who needs help every five seconds and can't do anything on their own. I guess that's what happens to abuse victims. They beg for attention knowing they won't get any at home. You both have a good day." Finn walked off leaving Matteo and Santana all alone. Matteo was the first one to react, immediately running off to the bleachers to be alone.

                          *******
The next day Nellie was stretching her limbs as the mash off was about to take place. However when she noticed Matteo sitting in the stands and not saying anything, she immediately grew confused.

"Matteo, you're not competing?" Mr.Shue questioned as he stared at the boy with an odd look.

"I'm not feeling good. I don't wanna mess anything up." Matteo replied as he sniffled and wiped his eyes which were blood shot red. Nellie attempted to go after Matteo but Santana grabbed her arms dragging her close. Mr.Shue read off the rules as Santana and Finn did Rock Paper Scissors. Nellie grew concerned at the fact it looked as if Matteo was silently crying as the New Directions performed.

[You Make My Dreams Come True/Can't Go For That-The New Directions]

After the performance Nellie and Jay had finally gotten the time to pull Matteo outside and talk to him about what was going on.

"Alright, fun and games is over. Wanna tell us what's going on?"

"No." Matteo replied, his knees pulled up to his chest.

"Come on Gomez, you can tell us what's wrong. Did someone say something? I'll go and kick their ass right now." Jay stated as he stood up. Nellie cupped Matteo's cheeks, forcing him to look her in the eye.

"Talk to me."

"Alright! Finn just exposed me in front of the entire school! My abuse, my drug addiction, the fact that I'm so desperate for attention and I'm just a burden to everyone! To you guys. And he's right. The world is better without me." Matteo sobbed and Jays jaw dropped.

"That's it. I've had enough of him!" Jay yelled as he stormed inside the building. Matteo didn't even make an effort to stop him, just stared straight ahead.

"Matteo, love, none of that is true. Finns just an insecure asshole who has nothing better to do with his life. You're loved. You're never a burden. You hear me? Never in my life will I wake up and say "Matteo Gomez is a burden.""

Matteo was crying his eyes out by the end of her speech, and Nellie pulled him into a bone crushing hug.

"You think the cops were called on Jay?" Matteo joked trying to make the situation better.

"Nah, he's chilling in the locker rooms. We should go check on him before things become bad." Nellie pulled up Matteo and the two walked back inside the building hand in hand.

*******
The next day was the troubletones turn to perform. Nellie was getting ready when Santana whispered something into Matteo's ear. His jaw dropped and he immediately pulled his hood over his head and sat down in his seat next to Jay. Matteo whispered something to Jay and his jaw dropped as well as the performance started.

[Rumor Has It/Someone Like You-The Troubletones]

"What did you just say to her?" Santana demanded once the performance was over. Matteo stood up as well, noticing how Finn whispered something in Rachel's ear.

"I said I thought you were great." Finn replied.

"No, you didn't. I know you didn't!" Matteo yelled as tears steamed down his face.

"No, he literally just said that." Rachel argued and Matteo just let out a dry laugh and wiped his tears.

"You tell her too?" Santana asked.

"Santana, Matteo." Mr.Shue warned.

"Everyone's gonna know about my trauma, and it's all your fault. I thought I could trust you! I told you all my secrets and this is how you treat me?" Matteo screamed and Nellie jumped down from the stage and placed a hand on his shoulder to soothe him.

"The whole school already knows. And you know what, they don't care."

"Not the school you idiot, everyone." Santana yelled in Finns face. Finn tried to defend himself but it was already too late. Santana had slapped Finn across the face while Matteo moved her out of the way and punched Finn across the face. Nellies jaw dropped and she stared at Finn with wide eyes.

Another mash off, another disaster.

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