A/N: I totally got sucked into the Glee universe this week. I know my readers are probably going to shoot me for starting yet another story but I couldn't resist! (I promise promise promise I'll be updating the other ones as soon as I can!!) So, I loveeed the Tina character (there's just so much potential backstory and stuff to explore with her!) and, of course, I LOVE PUCK because...I'm sure he's got a sweet side and he's so darn cute. But since the show doesn't really focus on Tina (or even on Puck beyond the occasional sexual dalliance) the characterization may not be quite what you expect. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy it!! Tell me if it's worth continuing! :D
Chapter One
Tina Cohen-Chang was having one of those days. You know, the kind that start with your alarm not going off because you forgot to turn it on as you collapsed into bed at four in the morning after a night of cramming for a test that you end being late to because of, well, you know…and ends with…well, she wasn't sure what yet, but she was sure it wasn't going to be good. At least Mr. Schuester had let her take the exam, something she still wasn't sure she should be grateful for because ten minutes to finish an hour exam was more than a little beyond her limited Spanish skills. And then he'd gone and given her that sympathetic, oh-you-poor-dear-scrambled-angsty-teenager-don't-worry-I-understand look that made her want to scream and pretend she still stuttered so she could run and hide somewhere, anywhere.
But she had 'fessed up, and now she couldn't hide behind the dumb stutter, so she'd half-grimaced-half-smiled as she fled at the final bell. Naturally, the day had gone downhill from there what with stupid slushies and tripping down a flight of stairs and then the history pop quiz (who the hell cared about federalists and their stupid papers, anyway?) and then…Tina sighed. At least Glee rehearsal was going well.
"Was" being the operative word apparently.
"Tina," Mr. Schuester said as rehearsal ended. "Could you come here for a moment?" He smiled in what was probably meant to be a reassuring way, but she couldn't ignore this sinking feeling that she was about to be lectured for her morning tardiness (only that so wasn't fair because she'd only ever been late this one time…). She trudged toward him, messenger bag abandoned on a chair as her friends waved their farewells, and lifted an eyebrow at seeing resident bad-ass-wannabe Puck lingering on the piano bench by Mr. Schuester.
Oh god, please don't let him yell at me in front of Puck …
"Tina, I was hoping you could do me – and Glee – a favor."
She eyed him warily.
"As you know, there is a minimum GPA requirement for all students involved in extra-curricular activities," he began.
He can't mean…she glanced at Puck who had assumed an air of extreme boredom, complete with fingers twiddling along the piano keys.
"And Noah here seems to have let his grades fall a little-"
Oh god, he does…
"So I was hoping you could tutor him? Help him raise his grades a little?"
Fuck.
"Um," she hesitated. Mr. Schuester looked at her pleadingly and she sighed, "Just, one question?"
"Yes?"
"Why me? Isn't this the kind of thing Rachel lives for?"
Puck snorted, though he quieted at Mr. Schuester's disapproving look. "As…true as that is," he said delicately, "Rachel has quite enough on her plate and I was…afraid that she and Noah would…"
"She's crazy," Puck said. Mr. Schuester looked relieved – though he tried, and failed, to cover it.
"Noah," he frowned.
"What? You know it's true," he said with a careless roll of his eyes.
"We don't insult our fellow Glee members."
"Whatever."
"Anyway, Tina, what do you say?" Mr. Schuester said.
"Sure," she replied, not quite graciously.
"Great! Here is his class schedule as well as the syllabi and relevant material and make work that his teachers have provided me with," he said handing her a several weighty manila folders. "Do you have any questions?"
"Not really," she said, leafing through the pages.
"Well, then I'll leave you two to it," Mr. Schuester said cheerfully. "Thank you for helping us out."
"Don't thank me yet," she muttered as he slipped out the door.
"Yea, thanks," Puck said as he moved to follow.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" she snapped.
"Home," he said, striding out of the classroom.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," she growled under her breath as she hurried after him. She caught him by the arm of his bright-blue hoodie and yanked.
"What is your problem?"
"You!"
"Ooh, little Gothicka's grown a spine," he grinned.
"Fuck you." You little ass-mongering weasel…
"And a voice," he said, smirk growing.
"Look, I want to do this probably about as much as you do-"
"So why are you then?" he said, voice cool and hazel eyes oddly piercing.
"Because," she sighed. "For better or worse you're one of us and replacing you would probably be impossible…unfortunately." She shook her head, "So get serious because you've got 11 people counting on you, 12 if add Mr. Schuester."
"Fine, but I have to get home."
"What?" she grabbed hold of his sweatshirt.
"Will you let go?"
"No!"
"Why the hell not?"
"Because we only have four weeks until Regionals and you have to raise your grade in every class! We need to at least set up a meeting schedule."
"Fine, but I have to go."
"Why? Got some chick you need to bang?" She could sneer too, stupid annoying football players and their stupid…
"No. A little sister that gets scared coming home to an empty house," he pulled his sweater from her grasp and strode quickly down the empty hallway.
Oh.
Fuck.
Tina sighed. She knew she should've stayed home today.
A/N: Read and review? Please? Reviews = reader love