I felt eyes on me, I turned around and there stood Alex watching me with that creepy glint present in his bone chilling blue eyes. He leaned against my bedroom door-frame, a lazy smirk pulling at his lips. I grabbed my Titans basketball sweatshirt and put it on over my yellow tightish scoop neck tee. I hated the way he looks at me.

"You look better without the sweatshirt," his voice was rough and husky.

"Okay," I stated, not caring at all about his opinion.

I pushed past him and his hand grazed my butt. I scowled at him.

"I didn't mean to," he chuckled, obviously lying.

I just scoffed and continued to walk away. I'm still trying to understand what my mom sees in him. He's a twenty-seven year old loser.

And my mother could be an amazing woman if she were to put her constant need for a man aside.

"Where you going Rach?" He laughed.

"School," I stated, ignoring the fact that he called me the name reserved for close friends.

"You have over an hour before school starts," he narrowed his eyes.

"So?" I slammed the front door behind me, grunting in anger.

Fifteen minutes later, I was browsing through the books in the school library. I'd like to say I was looking for classics by the likes of Jane Austen and John Steinbeck, but I wasn't.

I got bored, unable to find more than one book worth any of my time. The book I did find, Chasing Tail Lights by Patrick Jones, seems amazing and unappreciated. Something I would always regret not reading if I had chosen to walk away. Just two sentences of the book description and I was hooked.

'Like most teens in Flint, she's dying to leave this dying city. But she's got a secret that she's never told anyone, and it's keeping her chained like a dog to her dead-end life.'

I don't really have any secrets myself, but I do feel like I'm chained here and that there is something holding me back. I feel a connection with this fictional girl and I haven't even started the book yet. It's almost frightening.

I slipped the book into my bag and slung it on my shoulder and started walking down the hall. I could hear music.

'I remember when
You were my only friend
Now I'm not sure you can
Feel like that again.
I keep givin' you up.

And my
You know my mind's made up this time.
There's no goin' back to find what we had.
And I know
There's no light that's left to shine,
There's no wrong and there's no right.
So enough.
I'm givin' you up.'

The glee club was having morning practices, according to my neighbor Puck, for some unscheduled new competition. I didn't know the song, but the girl singing seemed to be killing it. Mister Shuester stepped into the hall, almost bumping into me.

"I thought that was you; good. Brad, our piano player is out today. Could you possibly play for us?"

I sighed. I could play piano, and I hated that Will knew it. It was my secret that no one knew, but he was a friend of my mom's. One of the few she had left.

"Rachel please."

"None of the glee club members can play?"

"No, none. Please; I'll give you extra credit in spanish."

I sighed again, "fine. But only because of the extra credit."

"I'm okay with that," Mister Shuester smiled and I followed him into the choir room.

I quietly took a seat at the piano bench, listening to the obnoxious Latina sing beautifully. She had tears in her eyes.

Puck's questioning gaze met my eyes, looking for answers. I looked away.

"That was really great Santana; take your seat please. Rachel has agreed to replace Brad this morning. Make her feel welcomed." Only a blonde girl responded.

I recognized her from pictures, not that she's not known without photographs. Beth's mom, Quinn. The bitchy religious cheerleader who broke Puck's heart; the girl he's in love with.

"Here ya go," Quinn Fabray pointed out her sheet music with a smile. "I didn't know you could play; I didn't know you could do much of anything." Santana snickered, even Kurt Hummel scoffed.

There it was, that hidden insult.

I looked at the song, not normally played on a piano. I started to play, I hated to admit it even to myself. Piano playing took me away and calmed me down. I breathed easily, piano was second nature, and I quickly got the feel of the song.

'Woke up late today, and I still feel the sting of pain,
but I brushed my teeth anyway. I got dressed through the mess,
and put a smile on my face. I got a little bit stronger.

Ridin' in the car to work, and I'm tryin' to ignore the hurt.
So I turned on the radio, stupid song made me think of you.
I listened to it for minute, but then I changed it.

I'm gettin' a little bit stronger, just a little bit stronger.
And I'm done hopin' that we could work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinnin' my wheels,
lettin' you drag my heart around.
And ohhh, and I'm done thinkin' that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same, but I'm tellin' myself
I'll be okay. Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.'

…

The song finished. Puck was watching Quinn, eyes full of hurt. I sighed; she could hurt him over and over and he'd wouldn't care.

"Quinn that was great. Rachel, your playing was as fantastic as ever. Thanks again," Mister Shuester nodded at me. I nodded back, cheeks reddening.

Noah Puckerman looked at me with a smile tugging at his lips and the hurt fading from his eyes. 'You have some explaining to do Rach,' he mouthed.

I shook my head. 'No I don't,' I mouthed back at him.

Agonizingly, I sat through the rest of the glee practice. When Will- Mister Shuester excused them, I slipped out quickly getting lost in the crowd of kids.

My phone started blaring The Big Bang by Rock Mafia, school hasn't started, my phone wasn't on silent yet. I smiled thinking it was Puck, but when I looked at the ID and my smile turned into a scowl.

Alex. I answered, why? No idea.

"Bored yet, honey?" The sound of his icy voice sent shivers down my back.

"Not at all and don't call me honey!" He's so creepy. I wish my mother would dump him.

"You know you like it, hun," he teased.

"Did you need something or are you trying to annoy me?"

"Yeah, I needed to annoy you. You're so damn cute when you are angry."

"Hanging up now, jerk."

"That's no way to treat your step-daddy," I could hear the amusement in his wicked voice.

"Ughh! That is never happening. Goodbye."

"I'm just messing with you; you need to loosen up a little. You need to get lai-"

I snapped my crappy flip phone shut and switched it on vibrate.

0000

I sat down at an empty table in the cafeteria with my slice of breakfast pizza and moments later, Puck sat beside me.

"So, we've known each other practically our whole lives and I never knew you played piano. What the hell is up with that Berry?" He mumbled through a mouthful of food.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I hate piano."

"Sure fooled me. You were in the zone. Blew everyone away; amazing. You have to play more," he picked up my piece of pizza.

"Hey I want that!" I squeaked.

"You don't need it," he smiled. "You could stand to lose a few pounds." He poked at me.

"Well than!" I pretended to be offended. "I guess I'll just start right now; by walking away from you."

"No ya don't. Nobody walks away from the Puckster," he grabbed my arm. "And besides, if you did that, I'm not sure I'd be so keen on letting you sleep over so often." His eyes sparkled. "I know that neither of us want that."

"You make it sound so dirty, you perv." Noah is my best friend, okay, one of my only friends. I've been sneaking over to his bed as long as I can remember.

The sounds of my mom and her male company has always kept me awake and uncomfortable. It's not like I'm spending every night in Noah Puckerman's bed, just two to three times a months. It's no secret either, both his mom and little sister know about it. I'll admit that the number of nights have increased in the last few months, but Alex is weird and doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon. It's more like a weekly thing now.

We're just friends, I won't lie, we have some obvious chemistry and I do have a little crush. But how could I not? It's nothing serious and I don't like love him like that or anything.

"Dirty would be fun. I could pop that cherry and you'd understand why all women go crazy for me."

"In your dreams Puck," I laughed.

"Oh most definitely."

"Gross!"

His cheeks tinged pink. "Seventeen year old guy, can't really help it Rachie

"Ew, you didn't have to be truthful though."

"I don't lie to you," he looked me in the eyes, taking another bite of my slice ofpizza.

"I don't lie to you," I repeated back.

"See, perfect. Two peas in a pod. Here," Puck put my half eaten slice of breakfast pizza in my hand. "Finish this dollface; I have a baby-mama to see." He looked at her, eyes lit up and that half smirk that drives all girls crazy. "Seeya later."

What just happened?

"I'm Joe," my attention caught by the guy now across from me.

"Hi?"

He smiled, beautiful eyes and something enchanting about his dreadlocks and nose ring.

"Joe Hart, I'm new and in Glee Club. I just wanted to tell you that you are amazing."

"Thanks, I'm Rachel," I smiled.

There's the first chapter! What do you guys think? The first song is Giving You Up by Miley Cyrus. The second is A Little Bit Stronger by Sara Evans, but I think Leighton Meester sings it better.

Slow and short start, I know, but I don't want to give everything away right away.

Should I continue?