A/N: Hello there! Well, I really like the idea of the iPod challenge, except 3-4 minutes isn't enough for me to say everything I want to. So each chapter will either be inspired by a song or will have the characters singing it, maybe both! Just wanted to try something new. The timeline jumps around because they're basically just a collection of one-shots, so I hope I don't confuse anybody!
Disclaimer: I have no ownage over Glee or any of the songs used.
What was that about the ballroom dancing class I asked about?
It's all I thought about cause you were saying
We might get a chance to talk and talk might lead to dancing
maybe dance might lead to dates, dates to aging
Puck didn't know what was wrong with him. He was actually excited to get to Glee today. But that's not the weird part. Oh, no, the weird part is because he wanted a chance to talk to Berry.
They had broken up a week ago and only spoken a few times since then, usually in Glee. You'd think that he'd be relieved, but actually, he was the opposite. When they dated, she would assault him every day in the hallways, talking a hundred miles a minute, informing him about every single detail of her life. It kind of annoyed him at first, but then he got used to it. Now that she didn't do it anymore, he found himself missing it… missing her.
So that's why he was rushing out of his English class (yes he actually went) and down the hall, hoping to get there early. But just as he rounded the corner he was stopped by a group Cheerios who were jabbering on about some party this weekend and telling him he just HAD to come. He was pretty sure they were all flirting with him by the way they were twirling their hair and batting their eyes at him, but he didn't have time for this. So he brushed past them, murmuring that he had someplace to be, leaving them all looking confused and a few annoyed. What on earth was happening to him? He'd just blown off a bunch of the hottest chicks in school so that he could go talk to Rachel Berry. There was no denying it, she was under his skin.
He finally made it into the choir room, silently hoping that Rachel would be alone. She was. She seemed surprised to see him there, but not unhappy. Good sign.
"Hello, Noah." She greeted, flashing him a hesitant smile.
He felt like such a tool. Even after what he said to her on the bleachers and then avoiding her afterwards, she was still being nice to him.
"Hey Rachel," he smiled back.
Again, she looked taken off guard. 'Probably because she's said hi to you every day since the breakup and you haven't ever acknowledged her back until now' an annoying little voice in the back of his mind taunted.
"May I inquire as to why you are here so early?" she asked.
He shrugged, attempting to play it cool, "Just wanted to talk."
This time when her astonishment showed, he said with a lazy smirk, "Don't look so surprised."
She sputtered for a second before collecting herself and replying, "I'm sorry Noah but I guess I am a bit flabbergasted that you want to talk to me. I was under the impression that we weren't friends, as you previously stated."
Well, hello guilt trip.
"Yeah, uhm, so I wanted to you know… about that… and…" he trailed off, extremely uncomfortable.
Rachel just stood there by the piano, looking confused.
"I'm confused."
Puck let out a dramatic sigh, "I'm trying to apologize here, okay? I'm sorry. I was I jerk and- I'm sorry."
Silence.
"Berry, that's the fourth time you've made that face in five minutes. You keep that up and it's gonna be frozen in shock."
That shook her out of her daze and she gave him one of her impossibly cute, sweet smiles. The ones she usually saved for Finn or when she got handed the solo. "Apology accepted. Does this mean that you want to be my friend?" she asked excitedly.
He groaned, "Aw, c'mon, don't make this a chick flick moment."
She giggled and he laughed along with her.
The conversation flowed easily after that and they talked until the rest of the Glee members started trickling in. Instead of taking his usual seat in the back, he surprised everyone (himself included) by taking the seat right up front next to Rachel. "So what do you got planned for Saturday?" he asked casually.
"Dance class," was her reply.
Of course she would be taking a class on a Saturday.
"What kind of dance class?" he inquired.
"Ballroom. I already excel in ballet, jazz and tap, but my ballroom skills have yet to be perfected."
He was quiet a moment, processing this information before revealing, "Ya know, I dance a mean waltz, Berry."
And so it began.
He would pick her up every Saturday and they would go take ballroom dance lessons. Afterwards, they would usually end up at her house watching a movie and eating takeout.
After a few weeks he finally worked up the nerve to ask her on a date and she accepted happily. Needless to say, it went flawlessly. She made his jaw drop to the floor with her hot little outfit, they had an awesome time out together and it ended with possibly the hottest kiss known to man.
Things were different from the first time because this time, they started their relationship for the right reasons. Quinn was subsequently forgotten. Puck still wanted to be a part of his kid's life, but his feelings towards Quinn weren't the same anymore. Unfortunately, some things couldn't be so easily forgotten.
I hope you let your intuition
precede my reputation
cause I have one
Puck was known for being a womanizer and a total man-whore. He didn't deny it because it was true. Well, it was true of the old him. He was different now. Still, even though he had changed a lot, he was worried that all the stories Rachel heard about him would make her change her mind.
He soon found out how stupid he was for ever doubting her. She didn't care about who he used to be because she saw who he could be.
Well I am what you see
I am not what they say
but if I turned out to be
could you love me anyway?
He didn't make excuses for himself. Neither did she. What you see is what you get. That's one of the things that made them fit so well together. He was called a loser and she a freak, but only they knew how untrue both statements were.
He couldn't believe how he ever deserved her. He had proved his asshatery to her on a hundred occasions, and she still forgave him.
I'm standing anonymous
hoping your heart
will just wake up and ask for me by name
Maybe someday you will ask for me by name
just not today
It was an unlucky incident. They were on his couch, she was asleep against his chest when it slipped out.
"Finn," she murmured.
And it felt like someone had yanked his heart out and beat it against a brick wall. He never mentioned it to her.
Well if this is love then it's hard to say
but the notes in your books and you're reaching away
and I've confidence issues with your intentions
And I'm not hip to all of your tricks
but your algebra, your politics
and the band has planned a hotel intervention
Puck didn't know how to describe his relationship with Rachel. He thought that, this time, they were together for more than just comfort or as an alternative to someone that they couldn't have. He wanted her and no one else. He wasn't sure about Rachel though.
A few times at school he would catch her reading a note and she would quickly stuff it into the nearest book as soon as she saw him. And he didn't know if it was paranoia or what, but she seemed to act differently around him when Finn was nearby. He wanted to say something, he really did, but it wasn't worth the risk of losing her… again. Some of the original Gleeks offered to intervene, but he shot them all down, telling them he could handle his own problems.
So don't you leave me by my lonesome
to exceed my reputation
cause I have one
It would be so easy. This cougar was cheaply throwing herself at him while he cleaned her pool. He was feeling vulnerable about his situation with Rachel. He almost did it too, except her sweet face kept flashing in his mind and he left the Jones' house with a clean conscience.
Well I am what you see
I am not what they say
but if I turned out to be
could you love me anyway?
He threw a slushie on her today. Cherry flavored. She stood there in utter shock staring at him before the screeching began. "What on earth did you do that for!"
He produced from his pocket, all those notes she had been hiding. "Guess you should've taken these out before letting me borrow your biology book," he sneered, dropping the love letters from Finn on the ground before storming away.
Puck didn't see her for the rest of the day, until Glee. She was in her gym clothes. He ignored the pang of guilt he felt.
It wasn't until he was heading to the parking lot after school that she caught up to him, slapping him across the face. Hard.
Before he had a chance to speak, she was screaming at him, "How dare you throw a slushie on me after all we've been through!"
His cheek was burning and he was pissed, "How dare me!?! What about you, huh? How long you been screwing Finn behind my back?"
Another slap. Even harder this time.
"I have NEVER cheated on you Noah Puckerman! I can't believe you would even think me so low as to do such a thing! I no longer harbor feelings for Finn Hudson and I haven't for a long time. He's been giving me love letters and trying to win my affections back, behind Quinn's back I might add, and all I have done is discourage him! I didn't tell you about it because I didn't want to upset you and cause a rift between the two of you! But you can be assured that I was handling the situation. I just don't understand how you can think so little of me." There were tears in her eyes as she rushed away, leaving him speechless.
Now his cheek hurt and he felt like shit. Lovely.
Standing anonymous
hoping your heart
will just wake up to ask for me by name
Maybe someday you will ask for me by name
just not today
The next day he waited at her locker, ready with a full apology he had worked on all night. She paused when she saw him standing there, but continued to her locker.
"Rachel," was as far as he got before she cut him off with a death glare and an icy, "I would greatly appreciate it if you would go away. I have no inclination to talk to you, Puck."
That one stabbed him like a knife, and he walked away, feeling hopeless.
I'm always here
I've walked you home
and headed for my own
until again I'm needed
Her car hadn't started today. Her dad dropped her off at school and she went about asking everyone if they could possibly give her a ride home. Somehow, no one was able to. Except Puck. He offered, but she, of course, declined and decided to walk. He sure as hell wasn't going to walk all the way home by herself, so he followed her onto the sidewalk heading towards her house.
She ignored him until after the first block, when she turned around and yelled for him to go away. He didn't. Instead, he launched into his lengthy apology that he hadn't gotten to deliver before and then suddenly she was in his arms and he was stroking her hair, chanting 'I'm sorry' over and over into her ear.
She forgave him, because she's a wonderful person like that, and he walked her the rest of the way home, not letting go of her hand until the closing of her door broke them apart. He walked back to school and got his car, making his way home.
Well I am what you see
I am not what they say
but if I turned out to be
could you love me anyways?
When babygate finally broke, she screamed and cried and punched his chest with her tiny fists. He was crying too and trying desperately to talk to her. She wouldn't listen to any of it.
He apologized more and realized that he did that a lot in their relationship. It wasn't enough this time. So when she stopped hitting him, he said defeatedly, "Please Rach, I love you."
She still walked away.
A month later, things have died down. His nose is healed from where Finn punched him, but his heart is still broken. So he gets up in front of the entire Glee club, guitar in hand, and much like the first time, begins singing to her…
I am what you see
I am not what they say
but if I turned out to be
could you love me anyway?
Standing anonymous
hoping your heart
will just wake up and ask for me by name
Maybe someday you will ask for me by name
just not today
Not Today.
A/N: So whatchya think? I'm not a very good angst writer, but the song I choose kind of called for it. And if anyone's wondering why she said Finn's name in her sleep, it's because she was confused by the whole situation with him and it was stressing her out, not because she was dreaming about him in that way. I didn't know if that was clear or not.
Anyways, puhleaaase review!
Feel free to suggest any songs that you would like me to use.
Song: You'll Ask For Me by Tyler Hilton (beauuuutiful song. Listen to it.)