Nellie was drained.With school,and glee club and the Cheerios Nellie really never got any time to herself.She hardly got any time for sleep because of homework and it was exhausting.So here she was,barley taking the time to put in effort for the choreography.

"Come on guys,you're sleepwalking on me here.Give me some energy.We've got sectionals in two...-" "Please,sectionals is gonna be a breeze" Mercedes said.Nellie let out a loud yawn."Maybe so.But if we coast through we're gonna get killed at regionals.We have got to be on our game" All of a sudden Kurt started laughing.

"Sorry.Funny YouTube.Grape stomping one" Nellie let out a yawn and slowly walked out of the choir room."Woah there Nel,you almost crashed into the trash" Artie had wheeled over and caught her on his lap before she fell.

"Hm,oh,thanks Artie" She said about to get up before she collapsed again."Ok,do you want me to wheel you to your locker?" Artie asked."Yes,please thank you Artie" She gasped.Artie smiled at her and wheeled her over to her locker.

"I think I have enough energy to stand" She said slowly standing up.Artie grabbed her wrists to steady her."Thanks for this Artie" Artie shrugged."Meh,it was nothing" He smirked wheeling off.

Nellie yawned and leaned against her locker.She needed sleep.Falling asleep at 5 o clock in the morning was not healthy.She rubbed her eyes and took out her books walking down the hall.

"Nellie? Nellie wait!" Rachel was coming up behind her and she flashed a lazy smile."Hey,Rachel." She greeted."So I saw you were a little off in glee today.Are you ok?"

"Uh,yeah I'm doing fine." She responded taking a yawn.Her arms were killing her right now."Are you sure?"

"Yes Rachel,I'm sure" Nellie snapped irritated."I just need a nap and I'm good to go."Rachel nodded and ran off.Nellie smiled and walked away as well.

The next day in glee club,Mr.Shue had put up a bunch of pictures and Nellie had no clue what was going on."Hey,you caught any of that?" She whispered to Mike.He shook his head."Let's just ask Rachel afterwards,she always pays attention" Nellie smirked.

"I just don't understand how lighting is in competition with an above-ground swimming pool" Kurt commented.Mr.Shue waved his arms around."Just go with it.You guys have become complacent.You were great at the invitational,but you got to up your game if you want to get through sectionals.Ok,split up,guys on the left side and girls on the right"

Nellie waved goodbye to Matt before she stood next to Santana.Kurt tried coming over,but Mr.Shue shot him down.Nellie frowned.If he felt safer and better on the girls side,why can't Mr.Shue just let him stay?

"Here's the deal.Two teams,boys versus girls.One week from today you will each preform a mash-up if your choice."

"Whats a mash up?" Puck asked confused."A mash up is when you take two songs and mash them together to make an even richer explosion of musical expression.Boys will preform Tuesday,girls will preform the next day.I want you guys to go all out ok? Costumes,choreography,whoever wins the competition gets to choose the number we do for sectionals"

"Wait,who's gonna be judging? Your gender makes you bias" Nellie said."Ah,there's gonna be a celebrity judge" Nellie listened as Mr.Shue went on to say that he couldn't tell.

"Oh,we got this in the bag" Mercedes said."Totally.I'm going to start storyboarding our choreography tonight"

"Yeah,I got cheerio practice.See you guys later"

At Cheerios practice
"Mini Puckerman! Come over here!" Sue yelled as Nellie was doing her tumbles.Nellie nodded and walked over.

"Doing alright Nellie? You've been yawning ever since you got here" She shook her head."I haven't been getting much sleep because of glee club" She said.

"Hm,you sure it's nothing else?" Sue pressed.Nellie furrowed her brows before nodding and walking off."Nel? You look like you're about to collapse" Santana pointed out as she staggered over to her spot.

"Oh god,are you high?" Brittany asked."No! I-Jm just drained and just need some time.I'll be fine guys!" She said waving her hand around.Being a teen girl was tough.Especially being Nellie Puckerman.Everyone wanted or needed something from her.Whether it was to be at the top of the pyramid,or to get in a homework assignment,or to take over a solo because she has an amazing voice.Well,she doesn't really complain about the last part.

It is pretty nice to be acknowledged for how great her voice is.How do people do it? Like,presidents and stuff? They have to devote all of their time to making sure the country is safe and ok.Do they never get drained or anything?

Time Skip
"Ok girls we need to get started" Rachel said coming into the dance room.Nellie yawned and rested her head on her hand."We're getting warmed up" Santana scoffed."Where's Quinn?"

"Probably down at the mall looking for elastic-waist pants" Brittany answered.Nellie would've laughed if she had the energy to do so."Mr.Shue's right you guys we can't get complacent."

"Chill out.Me and Nel already picked the songs.We're gonna do a mashup of Halo and walking on sunshine" Mercedes said.Nellie gave to thumbs up to show she was all in for the idea."That was my idea" Rachel corrected."Whatever.Come on,we can do this in our sleep.You think those six dudes are gonna give us any competition?"

Nellies head rolled out of her hand and she was fast asleep."Wait,someone wake up Nel!" Rachel said."I got this.Nellie! Nick Carter's standing in front of you!" Santana called out.Nellie jolted up.

"N-Nick? Where?" She asked."Not here.I told you somethings been up.You should go see the nurse" Santana said."Whats she gonna do?" Nellie asked."I heard that puck went and she let him take a three hour nap.Go on" Nellie stood up and walked over to the nurses office.

"Oh,hello,what can I do for you?" She asked."Erm,Mrs.Shue is it?" She asked not wanting to get it wrong.She nodded."I'm in glee with your husband and-"

"Ah,so you must be Nellie" She said.Nellie slowly nodded."Anyways,I've been feeling really tired lately and I was wondering if I could lie down on here for while" Nellie said."Finn was already on here.Have a seat" Nellie nodded before sitting down.

"Let's talk about your sleep schedule.What time do you fall asleep?" Mrs.Shue asked."Well,I usually try to take a nap after school but then I realize I have glee club and need to be awake and alert.But then there's Cheerios practice so I haven't been getting much sleep" Nellie said explained."Well have you been thinking about much? Something that can make you stressed?"

"Yeah actually,there's this huge science test and I can't even find the time to study because everyone's depending on me for something and it sucks!" Nellie sobbed wiping her eyes.Nellie glanced over to the bed.

"So can I take my nap?" She asked.Mrs.Shue then went on to say how she kept a perfect high school life like Nellie is trying to do right now.She then pulled out some drug that made Nellies eyes widened

"Mrs.Shue,I made a vow to never do drugs.I think just a nap will do the trick" Nellie said waving her hands in a dismissing way."Oh no Nellie it's not like that,see it's kinda more like a vitamin.Pop two of these every morning and you're good to go."

Nellie sighed before popping two in her mouth.She felt amazing.All that drowsiness she had all week,gone.She grinned and stood up."Thank you!" She yelled running off.She ran into the dance room.

"Hello guys it's an amazing day outside isn't it! Let's all run through the number!" Nellie yelled basically bouncing out of her shoes."Well that was fast" Mercedes said.Nellie let out a giggle and wrapped Rachel in a bone crushing hug.

"Ow! Hello Nel!" She said pulling away."Hi Rachel! Are we gonna get started?!" She asked twirling Tina around.

Now the glee girls were in the choir room watching the boys preform their song.

[Its My Life/Confessions-New Direction Boys]

They were energetic.Like,Nellie energetic.After the performance Mike and Matt crushed Nellie in a hug."Hello best friends!" Nellie yelled crushing them harder.

Puck gave her a kiss on the cheek."Ok! Lets go Nel!" Santana yelled pulling her away."Bye boys!" She yelled.

The next day
Nellie had stopped taking the vitamins which means she was her drowsy self again.She didn't want this to become an addiction,depending on them everyday.So she sat in the choir room with the other girls as Rachel was ranting at them.

"I told you guys!" She said."We know.You've been berating us for the better part of an hour." Santana snapped."Were they really that good?" Quinn asked."They were,Quinn.Look,I was fine with arranging,choreographing and directing this number free of charge.But we underestimated them and their number will go to sectionals and once again,I will be humiliated"

Nellie rested her head on a empty chair with her feet in Mercedes lap."Nellie! Get up!" Rachel yelled."I'm awake hobbit!" She snapped."How are we supposed to know they'd rock the house? They've never been good" Mercedes defended.

"The real question is what were they on? Though I've been grouped with the boys,my allegiance still remains with you ladies.They declined my offer to do their hair in cornrows and all my artistic decisions have been derided as too costly because they involve several varieties of exotic bird feathers" The glee girls looked at Kurt confused before he simplified.

"We all took something.And I assume that Nellie took it as well the way she was energetic during the performance" Everyone glared down at Nellie who was now snoring.

"Damn it! Get up Nel!"

The glee girls were in the nurses office,with Tina having to hold up Nellie from collapsing."Nellie! I haven't been seeing you around lately" Mrs.Shue said.Nellie nodded."We'd like the vitamins you gave Nellie and the glee boys" Santana said."Of course.Let me get them right now" As she walked away Rachel looked at them with wide eyes.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Rachel asked."Oh,it's over the counter.It's safe.You can trust me.I'm a nurse"

Nellie sighed before taking the two tablets and drinking the water.Almost automatically she felt better."Let's do this!" Nellie cheered.They ran into the bathrooms to get into their costumes before running in the choir room where the boys were.

"Hello big brother!" She yelled with a wide grin on her face.Puck slowly waved, confused as to why his sister was acting like this.

"Thank you so much.It really is a pleasure.While the boys chose a selection of songs that cast an eye inward on the irresponsible life choices of sexual hunger of today's modern teens,we have chosen a selection of songs that speaks to the nation as a whole during these troubling times filled with economic uncertainty and bridled social woe.Because if there's two things America needs right now,that is sunshine and optimism" Rachel ranted."Also angels!" Nellie yelled.

[Halo/Walking On Sunshine-New Direction Girls]
Nellie ran off the stage to tackle puck in a hug."Hey Nel!" He said hugging her back.He spun her around."That was great right! Wasn't it!" She said panting.Puck nodded."Yeah Nel,you did amazing"

She giggled and ran out the room.

The next day
Something was wrong.Very wrong.Nellie felt more exhausted then ever.And it was annoying.The glee kids got in trouble for using the vitamins and cheating during the competition.

"We're really sorry Mr.Shue" Rachel said.Puck held his sister close as she was about to fall asleep."We didn't mean to get you in trouble"

"I'm really disappointed in you guys.Glee is what's supposed to be inside your heart,not what's coursing through your veins." Mr.Shue said."To be fair,I actually needed them.Seriously I was super drained" Nellie said.Mr.Shue glared at her and she looked down.

"We know.And I think I speak for everyone when I say that we'd be happy to move forward and put this episode behind us" Rachel said."Well,it's not that simple.Because of this debacle it's been decided that I'm no longer fit to run Glee Club myself.We've been assigned a co-director"

"Who?"

"Hey kids.I got to tell you I'm just thrilled to be coming on board to co-captain your little,showbiz cruise.Ah,I cant wait to start singing and dancing and maybe even putting on the ritz a little bit" Coach Sue walked in and Nellie perked up.She smiled and walked out of the classroom.

"Hey Nel,I was hoping if you could-oh god!" Mike yelled.Nellie started swaying before she collapsed on the floor.Mike quickly reacted before picking her up and carrying her back in the choir room.

"Oh my god what happened?!" Mr.Shue asked."I don't know she just passed out"

"She was exhausted! That's why she's been so off!" Puck said."I need water and blankets" Mr.Shue said.Puck and Mike ran off.

"Is she gonna be ok? Is she gonna be able to compete?" Rachel asked."Really Rachel? That's what your thinking about in a situation like this?!" Kurt snapped.

Nellie was starting to awake and let out a loud yawn."Yep.Definitely exhaustion.Lack of sleep,blurry vision,slurred speech,dizziness" Santana was reading off her phone."I'm sorry guys.I've been so stressed lately and I-I haven't really got any time to myself and-"

"Nellie,it's completely fine.It's not easy juggling that many things.Sue,maybe you should cut down on Nellie" Mr.Shue said.Sue sighed."Mini Puckerman,I usually don't do this for anyone but for the sake of your mental health it needs to be done.You can show up to practice on Wednesday and Friday.That way you can have the other three days to yourself"

Nellie grinned."Thanks,coach" Nellie said.

"Yeah yeah,see you all later"

"Ok,now that that little scare is over,let's all get back to work"

Word count:2,380