Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, it's characters or anything else you recognize. I also do not own the song How Long by Hinder. I do however own Annabel. This is a collab I am working on with my sister. I hope you like it.
Cowboy Casanova
Chapter 1: How Long
Puck was standing in the hall at his locker. He was waiting to go to choir practice when he saw her. She had strawberry blonde hair and light icy blue eyes. She was wearing dark wash skinny jeans with a couple rips, a pink graphic tee with a black vest over it, and some black suede looking books that stopped just above her ankles. She had a silver stud in her nose and her ears were pierced from top to bottom with silver rings.
"Hey you new here?" Puck asked as he walked up to her. She looked up at him from the paper in her hands.
"That obvious?" She asked bluntly.
"Yeah, you just look a little lost," Puck said.
"I am just looking for a the choir room," the girl said.
"The choir room?" Puck asked looking at her shocked.
"Yes, I've heard about the New Directions and I think it might be fun to join," she said shrugging.
"I was just heading there I can show you the way," Puck offered.
"You sure you don't look like the type to sing to me," she said looking him up and down.
"I have a killer voice," Puck said cockily. "So you wanna know the way or not?"
"All right chillax dude, lets go then," she said hands up.
Puck turned and led her down the hall to the choir room where most of the choir was already assembled and talking. Mr. Schuester was talking to Rachel about sectionals. Puck walked up to Mr. Schuester and got his attention.
"Mr. Schue this is…" he trailed off only just realizing he didn't know her name.
"Annabel," she said smiling at him.
"Are you here to audition," Mr. Schuester asked. Rachel looked at Annabel and couldn't help feeling like she might lose her spot if the girl was good.
"Hi Rachel Berry-" Rachel said.
"Self proclaimed queen of the show," another girl called from her spot in one of the chairs.
"Santana be nice," Mr. Schuester said sternly. "Do you have a song you wanna sing for us?"
"Yeah I do actually," Annabel said. "You got an electric?"
"Here," Puck said handing her one from the instrument pile.
"This is a favorite song of mine," Annabel said as she plugged the guitar in. "Do we have a drummer?" she asked looking around the room. Finn raised his hand and stood up.
"I can drum," Finn said. She nodded to him and he walked over to the drums.
"Do you know How Long by Hinder?" She asked quietly to him, he nodded and started out the beat and she joined him on the guitar and then began to sing.
Puck sat down in the back of the room and watched Annabel sing. He had to admit she had a great voice. She had a nice rocker edge to her voice. This song was perfect for her. Puck looked at her and caught her eyes. She blushed slightly and looked way from him as she continued to sing.
Annabel looked back at Puck who was still looking at her. She averted her gaze to the rest of the club. Puck couldn't help but smirk as her eyes wandered back to him. It was like she couldn't take her eyes off of him.
Puck watched Annabel sing. She looked like a natural. She was born to perform. Puck could tell that she loved performing. Her eyes just seemed to light up in joy. She was just so comfortable looking.
As Annabel neared the end of the song, Puck found himself wanted to hear more of her singing. Annabel sang and let the F word slip from her mouth.
Mr. Schuester jumped up and Annabel stopped playing. She realized her mistake Almost immediately.
"Thank you Annabel, that was great," Mr. Schuester said smiling. Annabel nodded and set the guitar aside.
"So am I in?" Annabel asked.
"Yes," Mr. Schuester said smiling at her. "Have a seat we have a few things we need talk about," he said. Annabel nodded and walked over to the only open chair in the room which just so happened to be next to Puck. Annabel sat down next him.
"Hey I didn't introduce myself earlier, but the name is Noah Puckerman, but everyone calls me Puck," Puck said smiling at her.
"Annabel," Annabel said smiling at him.
"Ok guys this weeks assignment, is going to be rock week," Mr. Schuester said getting Annabel and Puck'a attention.
"This is gonna be fun," Annabel said.
"About time," Puck said cheering. The bell rang for next hour. Puck was out of the room fast with most of the others.
"Annabel," Mr. Schuester said, "can you come here a second," he asked. Annabel nodded and walked over to him.
"I didn't do anything wrong did I?" Annabel asked worriedly, "I really didn't mean to swear like that. I got carried away," she said quickly.
"No, it's nothing like that," Mr. Schuester said, "I just wanted to welcome you to McKinley and just keep it in check next time," he said. Annabel nodded her head.
"Thanks," she said. She walked out of the room only to walk into a girl with short blonde hair. "Hi."
"You better watch yourself," the blonde said.
"Why should I watch myself?" Annabel looked confused.
"Well for one you're in Glee club, and two Puck isn't the best person to hang out with," she said.
"What's your name?"
"Quinn."
"Well Quinn, I'm capable of handling myself so I'll just take my chances," Annabel said as she began to walk away. She made her way to her next class.
On her way there people were staring and talking about her. She was the new girl after all. This was only her second day, and people were already whispering about her. She shook it off. They were idiots anyway if they had nothing better to do than gossip abut her. She had other things to deal with. The bell rang as she reached her class. She walked in and saw the class was seated.
"Ah, you must be the new student," the teacher said. Annabel nodded her head.
"I'm Annabel," she said.
"Well take a seat," the teacher said pointing to the back of the room to the only open seat. Annabel nodded her head and moved to walk to the back of the class. A kid stuck his foot out before her and she was too slow to react.
"Welcome to McKinley new girl," the guy sneered. Annabel just stood up and moved to the back of the room. She sat down in her seat next to a short boy with black hair that was slicked back with gel. He had kind hazel eyes.
"That looked rough," he said.
"It's no big deal," Annabel said, "I've had worse," she added waving her hand dismissivly.
"I'm Blaine," he said holding his hand out to her, "I know what it's like to be new around here," he said.
"I'm Annabel," Annabel said smiling and shaking his hand. The two sat in the back talking for most of the hour while the teacher drone on about something they didn't really care about. Soon enough the bell for lunch rang and they both packed their things up.
"Do you have lunch next?" Blaine asked.
"Yeah," Annabel said, "I take it you do too?" she said.
"Yeah, wanna join me for lunch?" Blaine asked.
"Sure, beats eating alone," Annabel said smiling at Blaine. She followed him out of the room. She had spent most of the hour just talking to the boy. There were two things she was sure about. He was a kind guy. The next thing she was sure about was he was gay. She didn't know why, but there was just something about him.
"So where are you from?" Blaine asked.
"I've lived in Lima for two years with my adopted family but I've been going to a private school for the last two years," Annabel said, "I transferred here because it's closer to home and cheaper," she said. Blaine nodded his head.
"Did you not like you're old school?" Blaine asked curiously.
"Not really," Annabel said, "it was an all girls school and the girls there were too snooty for my liking," she said.
"I can't sympathize with you there I like my old school," Blaine said as they walked into the cafeteria together.
"You went to another school?" Annabel asked looking at Blaine.
"Yeah, I used to go to Dalton Academy, but I transferred here at the beginning of the year," Blaine said, "I miss it everyday," he said.
"Not to be rude," Annabel said as they paid for their food, "but why are you here then?" she asked as they made their way to a table.
"McKinley is where my heart is," Blaine said with a smile.
"Blaine," a high soprano voice called. Blaine smiled and turned around.
"Speaking of my heart," he said lowly, "Kurt," he said smiling brightly. Annabel looked up and saw a tall boy with light brown hair and blue eyes. She recognized him from the choir room earlier.
"Hey Blaine where were you earlier?" Kurt asked as he sat down next to Blaine and looked at Annabel who was sitting across from Blaine.
"I had an appointment this morning," Blaine said.
"I see you met the newest New Direction member," Kurt said.
"Your in the New Directions?" Annabel asked Blaine.
"Yeah," Blaine said, "I wasn't there earlier though," he said.
"Well, I'm Kurt," Kurt said holding his hand out to Annabel. Annabel smiled and shook his hand. She then watched as Kurt linked his arm with Blaine's somewhat possessively.
"So you two are together?" Annabel asked looking at them.
"That's not a problem is it?" Blaine asked.
"Nope," Annabel said, "my brother's gay, and before you say anything he doesn't go to school here," she said. The two nodded.
"So what's Mr. Shue's assignment for the week?" Blaine asked turning to Kurt.
"Rock week," Kurt and Annabel said together. The two looked at one another before laughing. The three spent the rest of lunch talking and laughing.
"I saw you making eyes with the new girl," Finn said as he walked up to Puck who was at his locker.
"Yeah so," Puck said.
"Leave her alone," Finn said, "she's new and in glee club she doesn't need you making things worse," he said.
"I wasn't the only one looking," Puck said, "but why do you care if I like her," he asked looking at Finn.
"Look man, she's good and we're gonna need all the voices we can get," Finn said, "we don't' need her falling for you only to get hurt," he said.
"What can I say she's hot," Puck said, "but I'll dial it down a bit," he said.
"You better," Finn said, "we need her," he said again.
"I get it dude," Puck said as he closed his locker and leaned against it. Finn walked away. He knew what Finn was saying made perfect sense. They had come so close to nationals last year. They had to win this year. He knew he should probably listen to Finn and stay away from Annabel, but there was just something about the girl. Puck turned his head as he saw Annabel walk by. "Hey," he called as he ran up to her.
"Hey," Annabel said smiling at him as she continued to walk away.
"Hey, I was wondering if you needed help with this weeks assignment," Puck said, "I not only have a killer voice but I can shred on the guitar," he said.
"Sure," Annabel said, "I could take a break from playing to let you help, but you have to get that drummer to help us too," she said.
"His name is Finn and he's my friend he'll help," Puck said.
"Great," Annabel said, "I have a song in mind but we'll need to work it out just right," she said.
"Great, I'll talk to Finn and we can get together sometime and work it out," Puck said smiling.
"Great I can't wait," Annabel said as she turned down a hallway leaving Puck to go to her class. Puck watched her walk away. He knew Finn was going to kill him, but he was attracted to her.
Annabel was walking to her class when a strange girl walked up to her.
"I saw you talking to Puckerman," she said.
"Yeah, he wanted to help me with a glee club thing," Annabel said, "who are you?" she asked.
"Doesn't matter," the girl said, "just be careful with him, he's not what you think he is," she said before walking away. Annabel looked at her confused before she shook her head and walked into her next class. She introduced herself to the teacher and moved to the back of the class to sit. She didn't want to get noticed too much. She just wanted to get through this day. She had two more classes after this, and then she could go home.
Annabel didn't hate school. No, school was her escape when she was younger. She had grown up in the foster care system until she was fourteen and then a family here in Lima adopted her and gave her and her adopted brother the choice to go to a private school and a public school. Annabel had chosen a private school, but decided that she had had enough. She came to McKinley after her brother transferred. She didn't mind, they got to see one another at home.
Annabel was so glad to finally have a home for the last four years. She had seen a lot in the foster care system. She missed a few people she had met because of that, but she liked being a part of a family. She was happy she was cared for, for real and loved. She didn't miss any of her many foster parents, but a few of the kids she did miss. She had made a few friends in the homes she stayed in. She kept in touch with a few, but others she lost contact with.
The bell rang and Annabel gathered her things and started for her next class. She spotted Puck following her and did not see the guys walking up with a slushy before it was too late.
"Welcome to McKinley freak," one of the guys said as they walked away.
"Are you ok?" Puck asked as he walked up to her.
"It stings," Annabel said standing there shocked.
"Come on," Puck said as he guided her to the nearest bathroom, which was empty as the final bell for class rang. Puck pushed her over to a sink and grabbed a paper towel. "Here," he said.
"Thanks," Annabel said. She looked around and looked at Puck. "Should you even be in here," she asked.
"No," Puck said bluntly. Annabel wiped her face off and her hair for the most part.
"Thanks Puck," Annabel said.
"No problem," Puck said, "I know how it feels," he said.
"They do that a lot around here?" Annabel asked.
"Oh yeah," Puck said, "I'd be lying if I said I never did it to people," he said. Annabel laughed and shook her head, Puck was something.
"Have you received one?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's not something you get used to easily," Puck said. Annabel nodded her head and looked to the door.
"I have to get going," she said, "I don't want to be too late for class," she said. Puck nodded and they both walked out of the bathroom and parted ways once more. Annabel made her way to her next class thinking about Puck again. She didn't noticed someone watching her as she walked down the hall.