Authors Note: Hello everyone! My name is Hannah and I'm sort of a newbie when it comes to writing fanfiction. Anyways, I recently read a book called Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. It's become one of my favorite books so I decided to rewrite it with a Puckleberry twist. I really hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I realize that neither Glee nor Leaving Paradise belongs to me. I'm simply borrowing the characters and the plot to create a brand new story.

Puck

"Puckerman!" A deep voiced man barked from outside my cell. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," I replied gruffly, turning to face the guard, Jerry, I think his name was. I sighed.

Three hundred and ten days. That's was the total number of days I'd been locked up in this cell. Hell yeah I was ready, ready for my freedom.

I took a deep breath and followed Jerry towards the room where the review committee would evaluate me. I'd have to be on my best behavior today, no funny business. If I messed up today I'd be stuck hellhole for three more months. Fuck that noise.

The DOC was complete and utter hell in my eyes. DOC, short for Ohio's Department of Corrections-Juvenile complex, was the last place I ever wanted to be. I'd been there for nearly a year now. Why you might ask? I was convicted for hit-and-run. I'd been driving drunk one night and ended up hitting a girl. That and the fact the judge just didn't like teenagers.

Jerry pushed opened the door and motioned for me to go in. I walked in carefully to meet the eyes of several stern looking members of the committee.

"Noah," a small woman wearing a suit addressed me. "Have a seat."

I look back at Jerry who nudges me forward towards the chair in the middle of the room. I take a seat and look down at myself. I'm still wearing my DOC jumpsuit along with the handcuffs they'd shackled onto my wrists.

"Pull yourself together." I thought to myself.

The same woman peered at me over her thick glasses. "As you know, we're her to evaluate you in hopes you'll be able to live as a law abiding citizen."

I nod. I'm being cautious today, one wrong move and I'm back in my cell.

A larger man sitting next to her stands up. "We're going to have to ask you some questions, son." He says. "Tell us about the night of the accident."

I winced as I thought back to that night. "I was driving home from a party. I guess I was drunk, I don't really remember, and then I lost control of the car. By the time I realized I'd hit someone I freaked out. I didn't know what to do. So I drove back to the party."

"Did you know this person?" The man asked. "The person you hit."

I sighed. "Yeah, her name was Rachel, Rachel Berry."

The man continued to stare. His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared dangerously. I could tell he didn't like me too much. I bit my tongue to avoid saying something I'd regret. This guy was really getting on my last nerve.

The rest of the evaluation consisted of the committee members asking me every possibly question they could think of. Why was I drinking underage? Why would I drive home if I was drunk? Why did I leave the scene of the accident? I thought my brain was going to explode.

Finally when the questions are over the woman spoke again. "Well, Noah, do you have anything to say before we make our decision?"

This is it, I realized. It's now or never. "Frankly, ma'am, I never want to come back here again. I've paid my debt to society. Please, just let me go home."

The committee told me to wait outside while they made their decision and frankly I've never been more terrified in my entire life.

I never thought I'd ever find myself locked up in a juvenile detention center. Of course I knew I wasn't the best kid but I never thought I'd get myself behind bars. Everything in my life for the past year had been decided for me. I got told when to eat and when I'm aloud to have free time. I spent most of the time in a crappy rundown cell. Every night I tossed and turned wondering if I'd ever be able to sleep through the night again.

I needed to go home.

The woman came out again and told me the committee has made a decision.

When I walked back in, the tall man was staring at me. "The committee has come to the conclusion that based on your progress here; you are no longer a threat to society."

I keep my mouth shut, no matter how much I want to say something to this guy, I knew it wouldn't do me any good.

The guy continued. "We've decided to release you with the expectation that you will complete one hundred and fifty hours of community service."

I'm stood there in shock. Did he really say what I think he said? I'm being released. I'm really going back home.

"Really?" I asked in disbelief.

"You'll be meeting with your transition coach tomorrow. He'll keep track of your progress and report back to us." He says. "Don't mess this up, kid."

When I got back to my cell, Jesse was leaning against the wall.

Jesse St. James has been my cellmate ever since I've been here. He got busted for a while back for possession with intent to sell and probably could have been out of here sooner if it wasn't for his piss poor attitude.

"Word on the street is you're getting out of here." He smirked. "Lucky, bastard."

I smirked right back and give him a look. "Don't miss me too much."

"Yeah, yeah." He says. "You headed back home? The town with the stupid name, what's it called again?"

"Lima." I told him. "Lima, Ohio."

He pushed himself off the wall. Let me give you my cousin's number. If you're ever in a pinch, just give him a call. He'll hook you up."

"Thanks, dude."

"Later, man." He nods. "See you on the outside someday?"

"Yeah, man, someday." I said.

This is it I tell myself. After three hundred and ten days of this crap, I'm finally getting out of here. I'm finally going home.

Lima, here I come.

Author's Note: There you have it! First chapter is done. Just a heads up, each chapter will alternate between Puck and Rachel's perspective. Also for those of you who've read the novel, I'm going to change the story slightly, especially the ending. Don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you think!