Hey guys so this is my second Glee fic to be posted though I started working on this one sooner so if you are reading All Too Well please be patient with me because I will try and update both stories around the same time and periodically, certainly more so than I have with my other stories, but this week may be kinda hard for me to do that because I have finals as well as many other story ideas fighting for attention in my head. Though summer is coming up soon meaning I will have more free time not only during the day but also longer free time at night so hopefully more will be posted more frequently then and I won't suddenly have writer's block. Anyways sorry I'm ranting, so I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review any and all commentary at the bottom :)
Puck was the first one in the choir room Friday afternoon and he was glad for that. He wanted the silence to think about somethings that had been on his mind all week. He strummed his guitar to whatever tune came to mind and sang whatever thoughts poured out of his mouth. "Beautiful, can't get you outta my mind. But you got someone else. So I'll just watch from the sidelines. Trouble, that's what momma always said I was. Turns out she was right. Don't know when it started, but it's here to stay now 'cause I don't know how to fix it….." He didn't even notice the class period had gone by until he heard a door being flung open.
Looking up as Kurt raced into the room towards the back corner, Puck could have sworn there was a shine to his cheeks like tear tracks. He started to get up and ask what the normally happy teen was so upset about when other glee members started coming in. He expected Mercedes or Blaine to go speak with him so he sat back down in his chair and continued tuning his guitar.
"Okay guys, today we're going to…." Mr. Schue started to say when Blaine cut him off by standing.
"Mr. Schue I have something I'd like to sing if that's alright with you." Everyone looked at Blaine confused except Puck. He turned his head from the front where Blaine had been sitting to the back corner where Kurt still sat alone, his legs crossed, steel-faced, and starring at the wall. Confused, Puck looked back at the front right as Blaine prepared to sing.
(Blaine)
Since you been gone
I feel my life slipping away
I look to the sky
And everything is turnin' grey
All I made was one mistake
How much more will I have to pay
Why can't you think it over
Why can't you forget about the past
When love makes this sound baby
A heart needs a second chance
Don't put me down babe
Can't you see I love you
Since you've been gone I've been in a trance
This heart needs a second chance
Don't say it's over I just can't say goodbye
So this is love
Standing in the pouring rain
I fooled on you
But she never meant a thing
And I know I ain't got no right
To ask you to sympathize
But why can't you think it over
Why can't you forget about the past
When love makes this sound baby
A heart needs a second chance
Don't put me down baby
Can't you see I love you
Since you been gone I've been in a trance
This heart needs a second chance
Don't say it's over I just can't say goodbye
I never loved her
I never needed her
She was willing and that's all there is to say
Don't forsake me
Please don't leave me now
A heart needs a second chance
Yeahhhhhh you've been gone and I've been in a trance
This heart needs a second chance
Don't say it's over I just can't say goodbye
Please forgive me and forget it
I was wrong and I admit it
Why can't we talk it over
Why can't we forget about, forget about the past
(A heart needs a second chance)
When love makes this sound baby
(A heart needs a second chance)
Don't put me down babe
You've been gone I've been in a trance
This heart needs a second chance
Don't say it's over I just can't say goodbye
(A heart needs a second chance)
When love makes this sound babe
(A heart needs a second chance)
(A heart needs a second chance)
When love makes this sound baby
(A heart needs a second chance)
When the song ended Blaine looked to the back corner at Kurt sadly before sitting back in his seat. Everyone whispered to each other slightly confused but mostly Puck noticed everyone was hyped up from the energy and passion in Blaine's song. Mr. Schuester stood and congratulated Blaine on his performance then continued his lesson. Puck only heard part of it though, as he spent most of the rest of class looking between Kurt and Blaine, trying to piece together a very confusing puzzle.
Puck sat watching as everyone grabbed their bags to leave for the day still chattering about Blaine's "amazing voice" that "sang the song so beautifully". As Mike and Artie pulled Blaine from the room congratulating him on his song and asking his advice on how to find a song like that to sing to their girlfriends, he chanced one last glance over his shoulder at Kurt. Puck looked over to the other side of the room to see said fashion-lover still sitting, stone-still, steely-faced, and near tears in his little back corner of the seats away from everyone, not looking anywhere but forward.
Puck stood, hands in his pockets, and walked through the stairs, walking over to Kurt, straddling the seat right in front of him with his arms crossed along the top of the seat's back. A couple of minutes passed as one sat patiently waiting, while the other sat oblivious as he tried so hard to keep the emotions bubbling and boiling inside of him from breaking loose. When Puck set a comforting hand on Kurt's knee, he jumped and looked to Noah in surprise.
"S'alright, I'm not gonna hurt you or anything like that. I'm also not gonna ask if you're okay, or what's wrong because it's stupidly obvious you're not alright, and what's wrong is Blaine." Puck paused a moment to watch his teammate's face twist in pain and confusion. "Instead I'm going to ask what that fucker did, and how I can help you make it better."
Kurt sat a moment with his eyes squeezed shut to get himself under control before opening them in a confused look to Puck. As he opened his mouth to ask why, Puck held up a hand to continue. "Look I know everyone's opinion of me. They all think I'm some Lima-loser, dumbass, screw-up, man-whore who doesn't care about or pay attention to anyone but himself, but it's not really me. Well maybe the man-whore part, but that's not the point." Puck did a little dance in his head as Kurt gave him a small smile at his words.
"I'm not good at school. I don't know what the square root of a 100 is but…"
"10," Kurt said quietly showing just a hint of a smirk. Puck smiled more and responded with an exasperated, "Of course you know that off the top of your head," giving a small smirk to show his exasperation was just teasing. "Anyways, I'm smart enough and observe enough to know when Hobbit has done something really stupid. I pay attention every day when you two walk in together holding hands and acting all 'lovey-dovey' with each other. I notice every time he sings, which is a lot and mostly to you, you gush about it for the rest of Glee. And I notice that you two always leave together the same way you came in."
"You know what else I've noticed. Since being with Blaine you've been happier and slightly more confident. You're always right up front, and though you still don't sing by yourself as much you definitely sing and dance more. But you know what I saw today? You reverting back to the Kurt that didn't think he was worth anyone's time, and hid in the back hoping not to be noticed. You were the first one in the room looking like you wanted to be anywhere but in Glee as you practically ran to this back corner. Blaine sang to you, sounding like he was apologizing for something might I add, and you just starred at the wall looking like you weren't hearing a word of what he was singing to you. To be perfectly frank, the entire Glee it seemed like you weren't listening to anything anyone was saying. I also observed that the lesson for next week Mr. Schue gave us ahead of time," Noah pointed to the board which had 'forgiveness' written on it in big black letters, "seems like something you and your whole non-violent attitude would be all over and jumping to get to work on. Yet, you sat here the same way you'd been the whole class until everyone was gone and then still didn't notice everyone was gone or that I was still here. So what happened, Porcelain?" Kurt cringed slightly and Noah smiled apologetically and in reassurance.
"Please don't call me that," Kurt whispered giving Puck a sad look. "The only reason I don't mind Coach Sylvester calling me that is because she has to have a nickname for everyone and it was better than 'Lady'. If you must have a nickname for me, please nothing feminine. I might be more flamboyant, but I still define myself as a man, and I….I hate when people don't see that; when they make me more of a freak than I already am in this town." Kurt looked ready to cry again and Noah jumped out of his seat, moving to the one next to Kurt. He wrapped his right arm around Kurt's slightly shaking shoulders and took his hands in his other.
"Kurt you're not a freak. So some ignorant idiots in Loserville Lima can't comprehend the amazingness that is you. That doesn't make you a freak. Even if you did decide you wanted to be a female, you still would be so much more amazing than anyone I've ever met. I'm sorry everyone, including me, has done this to you. I didn't know it bothered you so much, but why don't you tell coach if you don't like it. If it's bothering you and making you feel this way it's bullying. You know how much coach hates that kind of bullying."
Kurt shook his head. "No, it's not that with coach. With everyone else it hurts, but with coach having been on the cheerios, even for as short a time as I was, I'm still close to her and I know it's just her way of showing she cares. Especially after the whole thing last year when she was principle and I told her that I didn't like her calling me 'Lady'. She still gave me a choice of pretty feminine nicknames, but she gave me a choice and actually seemed truly sorry for having bullied me that way." Without even thinking about it, Noah put his left hand under the pale boy's chin gently lifting his head to look at the football player.
"What did Blaine do, Prince?" Kurt gave a small attempt at a smile at the nickname.
"Apparently one day while we were in school and Blaine was in the hospital, Sebastian went by and told Blaine 'the slushie was just a stupid prank gone wrong' and that, 'it wasn't supposed to hit anyone. The rock salt was supposed to weigh it down so no one would get hit'. He told him they, 'just wanted to scare us' and he was 'so sorry' Blaine got hurt." Noah subconsciously rubbed Kurt's back between his shoulder blades as he got angrier and angrier with every word. "Blaine believed his story, started talking to him again, and around a month ago….it would seem Sebastian kissed Blaine….and Blaine kissed him back."
As Kurt finally broke down crying Noah hugged him to his chest both arms wrapping around the lithe waist. Noah softly rocked the thin form in his arms as he shook with sobs. When Noah felt Kurt's hands cling to his shirt he got an idea and acted on it before thinking.
Making sure his right arm was securely wrapped around Kurt's waist Puck moved his left arm under Kurt's knees and lifted the slim teen up into his lap. At the feeling of being lifted Kurt gave a quiet squeak, and looked to Noah who simply gave a tiny smile.
"Sorry if I startled you, I just thought you'd be more comfortable." Kurt nodded small and slowly leaned into Puck's chest, one hand wrapping around his waist and the other resting on his shoulder. Puck held Kurt in his lap, one arm wrapped tightly around the tiny waist and the other going back and forth between rubbing circles between his shoulder blades and running through his blonde-brown hair until he heard the quiet mumbles into his shirt.
"Why did Blaine do it? Am I not desirable enough? What is so wrong with me that not even anyone in a gay bar wants me?" Puck frowned and gently lifted Kurt's head to look at him.
"First, Blaine's an idiot that's why he did it. Second, you are perfectly desirable. Anyone who can't see that is blind. Third, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. It's these close-minded, idiot people that have something wrong with them. I know this hurts, but you'll get through it. You've been through hell and come out with the same amazingly strong, kind, caring, smart, forgiving Ice King you've always been. You may not feel like it now, but find something to smile about and you will." Puck paused a moment and took a deep breath before continuing. "I've never been cheated on, but I've been through pain similar. My old man left my family when I was 13. Not long after my mom became a bit of a drunk. I know it's not the same as being cheated on, but….being abandoned by your own father when you're only a kid with no understanding of why…and then having your mom either ignore you or criticize everything you do after….it hurt a lot, and it fucked me up pretty bad." Puck didn't know why he was telling Kurt these things; he just couldn't seem to stop himself. It was almost as if he needed to say them. "Everyone hurts at some point, Kurt. I know you'll make it through this pain and come out better than ever cause you're like….what's that bird that could burst into flames burned to ash then grew back stronger from the ashes?"
Kurt looked at Noah for a moment thinking then smiled as he replied, "a phoenix?"
Noah grinned wide and nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, a phoenix that's it. I know you'll make it through this pain and come out better than ever cause you're like a phoenix! When you're performing you're at your happiest and it's like you're on fire. Now you're sad and it's like the phoenix has burned in a pile of ash, but when you get past it and are happy again it'll be like the phoenix has been reborn from his ashes….hey that's my new nickname for you. Prince Phoenix!"
Kurt laughed at this, genuinely laughed which made Noah smile, and smiled up at him. "Thank you for what you said. I….it's really nice of you to say. Though I think we can just stick with one at a time for the nicknames," Noah laughed softly and nodded.
"Yeah probably and you're welcome by the way, but it's not really anything to thank me for. It's just the truth." As they were talking Puck's hand was subconsciously running through Kurt's hair playing with the shorter ones on the top of his neck and sending a shiver down Kurt's spine.
Kurt starred into the eyes of Puck searching for any kind of answer to why he was saying and doing these things. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate them, because he really did. It was just that he had never been on the receiving end of such kindness and caring from the muscular football star. To be completely honest he wasn't sure the Noah had shown anyone except Beth this level of kindness and caring.
"Hey you know what we're going to do?" Kurt shook his head still starring in wonder. "We are going to go to my truck, I'm gonna drive us to the convenience store where you are gonna pick out whatever it is that you're craving or you want for comfort whether it be the most chocolatey ice cream you've ever tasted or a new issue of Vogue," Kurt looked in shock that he knew what Vogue was, "I'll buy it, we'll drive to your house, pack a bag, then you and I are gonna spend the weekend together doing whatever you want whenever you want. I mean, if you want to spend the weekend with me. I just started saying stuff, but….." Noah added at Kurt's surprised look; however, he stopped when Kurt took his hand in his small, pale one.
"I would like that…..a lot actually." Kurt nodded giving a miniscule, albeit purely happy, smile. "Most of my surprise is the mention of Vogue from you," Kurt added making Noah scoff.
"I told you I pay attention. I may not know a lot about Vogue, but I know it's some fashion magazine you like." Kurt laughed slightly and smiled in amusement. Noah grinned more and carefully removed Kurt from his lap before standing then held out his arm for them to link.
Kurt glanced at the outstretched arm hesitantly. "Would you….well….when I'm sad I...it is kinda stupid but…." Noah sighed and turned to face Kurt putting one hand on his slightly shaking shoulder and the other under his chin making his head lift to look him in the eyes.
"Whatever it is, you can tell or ask me. None of this beating-around-the-bush crap, alright?" Kurt nodded and Noah smiled continuing, "So what is it you want me to do?"
"When I get upset in any way I get a little childish. Specifically when I'm sad I like when someone will….carry me….Would you maybe carry me on your back out to your truck?" Kurt blushed and looked down at the ground, and Noah thought it was cute the way just a simple question could make a bright pink bloom across Kurt's porcelain pale cheeks to his neck and the way he shyly looked at the ground as if he expected the worst response from Noah all the time.
Noah smiled and nodded as he questioned, "What like a piggy-back ride?" Kurt nodded just enough for Noah to make out that his head had moved but no more. "Course, Prince." Kurt looked up surprise etched across his features and Noah smiled more. "Before you ask, yes I really will. So come on," Noah turned and stepped down a level bending just slightly and waited for Kurt to jump on his back.
Kurt took a deep breath before lightly grabbing Noah's shoulders and gingerly jumping on his back. As soon as his thighs gripped the tan waist, calloused hands gripped the back of his knees making him squeak softly before he settled comfortably against the strong back. Noah laughed faintly at the sound as he stepped down from the stands and walked out of the choir room toward the parking lot.
As they moved through the hall Kurt smiled lightly and nuzzled his nose into the crook of Noah's neck. When they got to the truck Kurt was peacefully dozing on Noah's back, and he smiled at Kurt's steady breathing and amicable smile. He opened the passenger door and smoothly eased the sleeping teen into the seat without waking him. Noah quickly ran to the driver's side and started the truck backing out of the parking lot driving the short distance to the nearest convenience store.
Kurt dozed the whole ride, and Noah couldn't stop the smile from spreading on his face as he watched him from the corner of his eye. A couple times he was almost afraid he'd woken his friend as they hit a tiny bump in the road and Kurt mewled rubbing the side of his face like a cat. But he kept sleeping and Noah smiled watching him from the corner of his eye loving the adorable cat-like movements he kept making.
Noah's POV! (yes it suddenly switched POV, I will explain at the bottom)
In the silence of the drive I thought about some of the things I'd said and done to Kurt back in the choir room. I hadn't even thought about what I was doing when I put my arm around him, or when I put him in my lap, but god did it feel just so right to have him there. He's so petite and he just curled into my lap so perfectly. I especially hadn't meant to tell him all those things I'd said, most of them anyways. Some of the compliments I'd wanted him to hear to make him feel better since Blaine made him feel like crap, but some of the other compliments I hadn't even realized I'd said out loud.
You'd think the shock and confusion on his face whenever I did compliment him would have made me shut up though, but no. I couldn't help it. Even shocked and confused expression were better than the sad looks he was giving most of the time. Seeing him so broken just killed me. I wanted to do everything I could to see him smile again, even if that meant going to jail for killing the rat bastard Hobbit.
"'Mm, Noah," I heard Kurt's sleep filled voice from my right and looked over at his half-lidded eyes.
"Hey, Prince, you sleep well?" I smiled as he smiled sleepily and nodded.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. I always get really exhausted when I cry like..." I looked over to see why he'd cut himself off and noticed a light pink on his cheeks. Again without even thinking about it, I reached over and put my hand on his knee smiling.
"'S'alright, you look like you needed the sleep. We've still got a bit to drive if you want to go back to sleep for a little while. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes almost like a small child would do when tired.
"No, I'm okay now, but thank you though." There was a pause in his voice and face like he wanted to ask me something but didn't know how, so I sat quietly and waited. "Noah?"
"Hmm?"
"Why...Why did you say all those things you did back in the choir room? All those compliments you kept giving me." I shrugged looking out at the road.
"Honestly, I don't know. I mean…I guess I just wanted to make you feel better. I hated the...broken, defeated look you had and wanted to do or say anything I possibly could to make it go away. Not to say that the things I said aren't true, because they are it's just...I've thought those things about you for a while but never had an urge or felt I needed to tell you. Today you barely seemed to believe you could be worth anything and I felt that urge and need to make you see how truly special and beautiful you are." As I pulled into a parking space and turned off my truck I turned to face Kurt seeing his eyes wide in confusion, surprise, and a meager bit of happiness lurking in the back of his glasz eyes.
We just sat there watching each other for several moments until the beeping of his phone finally pulled us out of the trance. After he answered whoever had texted him he turned and got out of the truck waiting on the sidewalk for me to go into the store. Only after he got up did I realize I'd still had my hand on his knee, and he let me.
Okay guys so that was the first chapter. Definitely long and for once I'm actually kinda proud of it so I hope you enjoyed it as well. First, the song Blaine sang was Second Chance by 38 Special. Second, where it suddenly switches POV near the end. I tried at first to write what I wanted to say there in third person like the rest of the chapter was but I just could not figure out how to word it for the life of me, so I typed it in first and then was going to go back and edit it to be in third after I had finished. However, once I'd finished and read through it all I decided I liked it better that way so I'm going to try and end every chapter with a character's first person side of the story on their thoughts of the rest of the chapter. For example, the next chapter will be a lot about the weekend at Puck's house so I'll end it with probably Kurt's thoughts and feelings on everything that happens during that time period.
Now that that's all explained and done with I hope you enjoyed the first chapter and will try and get the second chapter up for you all within the next week or two and definitely will have the next of All Too Well up in that time. Thank you for reading and Please review. Your comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated and enjoyed.
~LadyAnnabethHermioneToriRide