First Puckleberry Fic.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or it's characters (sadly).
Noah parks himself in the familiar leather chair across from Principal Figgins, Puck's pretty sure his ass print is permanently worn into the seat. It's nothing he can't handle. He'll probably end up having to go to Saturday detention a couple times at the most. Well, that's what he thought until his mother comes bursting through the door. Shit just got real.
"Ms. Puckerman, please have a seat," Figgins motions to the empty chair beside her son. She does not say a word to Puck as she takes her seat, and he lowers his head to avoid eye contact, she has a look that can incinerate him.
He tunes out when they start talking about what he did and how he should be disciplined. And to be honest, Puck thinks this is total bullshit. Other jocks throw slushies at people every day, and no one is punished, and he should know because he's the one who started it. But if you defend some girl's honor you find yourself at the other end of Figgins' desk. So what if Karovsky's needs fifteen stitches in his face, the bastard got what was coming to him. When Puck decides to tune back in to the conversation between his mother and Figgins he almost shits a brick.
"I think JROTC would be perfect for him," his mother chimes in.
"Hell no!" Puck earns a whack across the back of his head for swearing.
"First of all Noah, you should not use that type language, and secondly, there is no negotiating. This is what Principal Figgins decided, and I couldn't agree more his choice."
Puck began to see his social standing diminish before his eyes. Even though he's in Glee Club, people still fear him because he's got enough clout to still be popular. But add JROTC to the equation and he is screwed. He's seen those little fucktards prancing around in their military uniforms every Thursday thinking they're the shit, when they aren't. He tries to argue again but his mother holds up her hand.
"That's enough Noah, Principal Figgins is being very generous. You're lucky that you weren't expelled. And who knows, maybe you'll learn some respect."
As they are leaving his mother takes this time to lecture him, "It's barely the first week of classes and you are already finding yourself in trouble. You promised me things would be different this year," she gives him and disapproving look.
Rachel Berry immediately corners them when they exit the office.
"Mrs. Puckerman, I would like to take full responsibility for what transpired today between Noah and David Karovsky. Noah was only trying to defend me, and although I don't condone violence I appreciate his intent. And I'm going to demand that Principal Figgins withdraw all punishments he bestowed upon Noah."
Puck didn't miss the small smile his mother had when she saw Rachel approach, "That's very thoughtful of you, but what Noah did was wrong and he has accepted his punishment," he rolls his eyes, his mother's definition of "accepted" is completely different than his.
Rachel begins to protest, but Mr. Figgins steps in this time, "Rachel, there is no use trying to change my mind. His punishment is final."
She folds her arms across her chest and pouts in defeat.
Figgins turns to Puck, "I'll let Maj. Gonzales know that he should be expecting you at morning PT tomorrow," Puck nods, and with that the Principal turns back to his office.
Rachel stands there utterly confused. It takes her a moment to snap out of her stupor, by then Puck is half way down the hall.
"Noah," she calls after him, when he doesn't slow down she picks up her pace. Her shoes click against the tile floor as she runs after him. Rachel stops him as they reach the double doors of the entrance.
"What is it Berry?" he turns to her.
"What just happened back there? I thought you'd get detention for the rest of the year."
"I would rather have that. But instead I'm being force to join fucking JROTC." Puck is visibly angry, his eyes are dark and his jaw is clenched, and all he needs to do is punch something, a wall, a locker, anything.
"I don't get it, how is JROTC punishment?" Rachel is not a regular to the principal's office by any stretch of the imagination, but she thought she knew the basic disciplinary actions that schools took: detention, suspension, sometimes community service, and then the ultimate sentencing, expulsion. But this is different.
He sucks in a deep breath trying to calm his nerves, "I don't know, it's apparently going to make me learn respect for authority or some shit like that. In the mean time, my popularity takes a nose dive."
Rachel fixates on the ground, noticing the different shades of gray flecks in the tile. She is all too familiar with the consequences that went along with being at the bottom of the food chain, "I feel terrible that I caused this."
"Shit Berry, it's not your fault," her sad brown eyes peer up at him from under her lashes, "Because trust me, if it was your fault, you'd be right there with me at 5 am running laps and doing push-ups, or whatever the hell they do," he grins.
She can't help but smile, "At least it will look good on your college applications."
Puck laughs, "Right." Leave it to Rachel Berry to make a bad situation seem like a good one, "I'll be sure and add that to my Lima Community College application."
She could go into a long-winded discussion about the fact that he should set his sight a little higher than community college, but Rachel figures he's been lectured enough today already.
"Thanks for standing up for me today, I really do appreciate it. And I'm sorry I got you in trouble."
"Don't sweat it Berry, that's what friends are for, right?" he replies running his hand over his Mohawk.
Rachel's eyes brighten, "So we're friends now?"
"Yeah, I guess we are," and with that Puck walks out to the parking lot, leaving Rachel to mull over the fact that she, Rachel Berry, and Noah Puckerman are now officially friends.