Chapter 2: New Directions – Part II

Disclaimer: Glee does not belong to me. I'm gonna go cry now.

A/N: I'm new to this, so even if my posting is slow, please bear with me. I do this so I can be happy with the story as much as I want you to be happy reading it. I've planned out where this story will go and the chapters. Yayyy for organization! Please note: No Clownfish were harmed in the making of this story. Enjoy, my dear Gleeks!

For K00K, Jheyna Aj Jax and brezy bri, whose encouraging words put a smile on my face.

WMHS, Monday, 12:20pm

Puck was counting down the seconds until lunch break as he painstakingly sat through another History lesson with Mr. Brickman, a new transfer who was worse at being a teacher than the guy before him.

Mr. Fuller had been prone to nervous breakdowns and Puck threatening him with the slow and painful death of his pet clownfish had not gone down well. If Fuller had only let up on the late assignments and missed tests, and if Puck had only known Fuller had loved Clown so much, he would've just threatened the guy with bodily harm instead.

Actually, no, he wouldn't have, but at least he would've gone a little easier on the guy and left off from graphically describing what he could do with a pair of tweezers and a flopping Nemo. At the very least, Puck wouldn't have had to deal with Robert Brickman.

Yes, Robert, not Rob, because the man liked his full Christian name and ironically, the guy was also a total Brick. With a capital B. Puck was proud to have come up with that expression and even that Israel kid had used it on one of his blogs as payment for his nerdy existence.

The point was, Puck's genius with words would forever go down in McKinley High history, and that was all he cared about. Not this bull crap that Brick was reciting.

Kurt glanced at Puck from his seat, two down to the left of the older boy. He had no idea why they were in the same history class this semester, but he enjoyed it because he had the chance to observe the other boy without being interrupted. History lessons seemed to finally have a purpose.

He had never paid much attention to the jock before, except to make sure their paths didn't cross, and if it did, to make sure to duck, but he thought if their new buddy thing was going to work, he should probably get to know his former bully a little better.

Right now, Puck seemed to be doodling something on his notebook.

Hmm, I wonder what he's drawing.

Kurt didn't have to wonder long because Puck happened to glance in his direction at the same moment and catch the curious look. The jock smirked at the other boy before casually tilting his notebook to show off what he'd been working on since class began.

Kurt's sudden fit of the giggles turned into a mutilated cough, as he desperately tried to stave off all attention from the real reason behind his outburst.

Puck had drawn a caricature of Brickman, complete with a bloated beer gut, a comb over to rival even Donald Trump and a literal brick for a face. The caption above his head read, "Let me Brick your Brains for an hour." It also showed him teaching a class full of students, whose heads were slowly turning into cement blocks.

Puck's grin was smug as he started to doodle once more, leaving Kurt to wonder how drastically things had changed between the two of them in just over a week.

*Flashback*

Saturday, 1:30pm, Hummel Residence: One week earlier.

The food was delivered within 30 minutes of ordering and Puck was still in awe of that fact.

"How do you guys get them to deliver so fast?"

"Oh, the owner is a friend of my dad's so we get a pretty good deal when it comes to Chinese take-out. Spring rolls?"

"Nah, I'm good."

Puck stretched out on the couch, while Kurt curled up on a recliner with his noodles and a diet coke. The brunette had taken the full half hour to change into a more appropriate outfit; a set of designer jeans paired with a graphic tee to complete the ensemble, but he had left his feet bare because he still wasn't up to caring about his look all that much today.

"I gotta say Hummel, I'm kinda jealous. I can't imagine getting my mom to agree to set all this up for me. You're a regular princess aren't you? Daddy's little girl."

Puck's lips twitched when Kurt's furious expression changed into a visibly calmer one, with great difficulty.

Hell yeah, the Puckasaurus still had it!

"Shut up Puckerman! If you really want to know, I work at my dad's garage for pocket money and I get everything I want by saving up for it and by shopping at outlet stores. Don't hate on me just because I have amazing taste and a fabulous fashion sense."

Kurt sniffed with disdain before taking a bite out of one of the vegetarian spring rolls.

Puck just laughed and eyed the smaller boy, "So, you're gonna be okay?"

Kurt glanced up, momentarily surprised by the question before he remembered to hide it. "Yes. It'll take some time because it seems like I've been in love with Finn forever. I can't remember a time when I didn't have a crush on him." Kurt's ensuing laughter was bitter, but Puck understood that feeling all too well.

A comfortable silence fell as they both continued to eat before Kurt's soft voice echoed across the room, "Hey Puck, can I ask you something?"

Puck looked up from his pork, an eyebrow raised in silent question before he nodded to indicate yes.

Kurt's nervousness was obvious; this was a conversation he never thought to have with a former bully, let alone Puck, so he really needed to know the answer. He needed to be sure that all of this wasn't some huge prank that Puck and the rest of the jocks had cooked up to get him to break.

"Earlier, you said that you knew how it felt to want something really bad and not be able to get it. What did you mean by that?"

Kurt anxiously licked his lips, as Puck became momentarily distracted by the pink tongue which darted out to wet glossy lips before the puffy, bottom one started to get abused in an obvious show of nerves.

Is that lip gloss he's wearing?

Puck shook off the random thought before he considered the question and decided it wouldn't hurt to answer, as long as they laid down some ground rules.

"If anyone finds out what I'm about to tell you, our deal is off. I mean it Hummel. The dumpster will become your new home, you'll be in it so much!"

Kurt just glared at Puck's guttural demand before huffing out an agreement; this looked like it was gonna be good and he didn't want to miss it.

Puck started eating his sweet and sour pork once again, talking while he chewed, which disgusted Kurt to no end, but Puck was okay with that.

"So, I don't know if you know this, but my mom, she isn't all there most of the time. She's been that way since my dad walked out on us when I was six and my sister was just a baby. Things weren't that great at home when my old man was around 'cause my parents seemed to be always fighting or making up back then."

Puck glanced up to see an attentive expression on Kurt's face, but it didn't hold any pity or apology, just quiet interest. Puck was cool with that too, because he hated being pitied and he wasn't telling this story to get any brownie points from Hummel.

"They weren't knock out, drag out fights or anything. He wasn't physical, but he would say the meanest things to her and she'd give it right back to him. I knew it wasn't normal for married people to do that to each other, but it was normal for my parents and they always made up."

Puck paused for full effect before continuing, "Like, you could hear them a mile away when they made up."

Kurt made a choking sound, his face scrunched into a pained moue just thinking about hetero-sex; older people having hetero-sex.

Ewww!

"I just grew up with that, but I didn't want it for myself. When I found out about Quinn having my baby, it was like something finally went right in my life."

"You didn't think it was a mistake?"

Kurt's voice was full of doubt, as he leaned forward in curiosity.

"No way! I mean, yeah sure, I felt bad for knocking up Quinn and probably ruining her life, but I never thought the baby was anything but perfect. I still think she's perfect."

Kurt silently observed the taller boy as he lapsed into silence once more.

"Beth. She's the one you want and can't have?"

Puck stared into his take-out carton, "Yeah, she is. Even though my dad wasn't the perfect dad, I still loved him because he used to take me out to play and he talked to me like I was a grown up. He was a pretty good dad, when he wasn't off gambling somewhere. He didn't drink, didn't smoke, never did drugs, but gambling was his one true love. I guess he loved it more than us, 'cause one day he told my mom he was going to work and he never bothered to come back. If Beth was mine to have, I'll never give her up!"

Puck's voice had steadily gone from soft and pondering to hard as steel, his resolve palpable in the set of his shoulders.

"Huh, I never thought you'd be the kind to settle down and start a family. I thought you were a sex shark?"

Kurt's voice was light and his smile genuine as he teased the jock, while Puck grinned in relief at Kurt's subtle way of giving him an out; he really appreciated that. Finn, though he was a great guy to have at your back, had no clue about letting shit go when they needed to be. He always spoke before he thought, because he was just naive that way.

"Hey man, it's like that chips commercial. It's true that you can't eat just one."

"Eww, Puck! Stop being gross!"

Puck laughed, enjoying the way the smaller boy turned squeamish and desperately tried to shield his ears (with his take out still in one hand).

"And once you pop, you just can't stop. At least Puckzilla doesn't."

"Puck!"

Kurt's outraged squeal made Puck laugh even harder as he continued, "Seriously, dude? You're sixteen and you haven't had sex yet? I thought Brittany gave you an open invitation to tap that ass? I figured you would've taken advantage of that already, you being an ass man and all."

Puck wiggled his eyebrows before Kurt's demeanor quickly turned icy, "Well, we can't all be unprincipled man-whores who refuse to actually work for a living. Some of us have standards, Puck."

Puck's laughter stopped, his body unconsciously leaning forward, "Hummel, quit being an Ice-Bitch. I was just joking. If you'd rather wait to get fucked, then it's your business, but that doesn't give you the right to judge the rest of us. That's the kind of attitude that gets you thrown in the dumpster every morning."

Kurt's eyes flashed with righteous anger, "Oh, look at that, Noah Puckerman actually lasted a good five minutes before flinging a threat at me! That has got to be a record. I guess a promise doesn't mean much to you, huh, Puckerman?"

"Quit it Hummel."

"Or you'll do what? Beat me up in my own home? My dad is in the living room; you'd never make it out of the house."

Puck paused in the act of getting off the couch to stare evenly at the younger boy, to really look at him and realize something truly bizarre.

Kurt Hummel was scared, not scared for his life, but really and truly scared.

"What are you scared of?"

"I'm not scared of anything!"

"No, you're definitely scared about something or you wouldn't be trying to get me mad. You're distracting me and I want to know why."

Puck's eyes bored into the other boy as the brunette tried to avoid them, looking anywhere but at the jock as the older boy got off the couch to approach the counter-tenor, much like a predator might stalk its prey.

Kurt was on edge; the bats in his stomach were beating their wings in tandem with his heart, before he decided to give up and stared up at the jock.

Puck leaned into Kurt's personal space, prying away the take out from fingers that were too weak to hold them in place.

"What are you scared of?"

"I told you, I'm not scared of anything! If you're trying to intimidate me, it's not gonna work!"

"You're moving your mouth, but all I'm hearing is: I'm a scared little boy who needs my daddy to take care of me."

Kurt's anger was palpable as he clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay in place and not let his tormentor get the better of him. He was not a brainless jock to resort to physical violence. He would not lower himself to their level again.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You asked me why I haven't had sex, and I informed you I wasn't a libertine. You were the one who threatened me with a dumpster toss. I was just stating the facts when I told you that my dad wouldn't take it kindly if something were to happen to me in my own home. Or, have you forgotten about Finn?"

Puck's eyes flashed with anger, before he controlled himself. This wasn't about him.

"I have no idea what the fuck a liberthing is, but if it means a whore, then you didn't just say you weren't a whore. You said you weren't a whore like me, at least you implied it. That's right, I know fancy words too, like imply. Second, I didn't threaten you with shit. I told you exactly why you get tossed in the dumpster 'cause I wanted you to quit acting like you're better than everyone else."

Kurt's sneer was haughty and his eyes glowed with his temper, "That's because I am better than you mongrels! And look who's talking. It's not like you jocks never act like you're better than the rest of us geeks, nerds and the resident gay. No, of course not, you're all pure as the driven snow!"

"Quit trying to distract me Hummel."

"What's the matter Puck? Can't take the heat when it's fired right back at you? Oh, pardon the pun."

Kurt's smirk was once again superior as he took in the jock's momentary confusion before he caught onto the meaning.

Puck's reply was guttural as he moved further into the smaller boy's personal space.

"You can act like I'm stupid all you want, but I know you're just a scared little fairy on the inside. Yeah, sure, I'll be the first to admit we torment you because it makes us feel better. That's only 'cause your attitude doesn't help you one bit and the way you flaunt your fancy car and your pricey clothes just makes us want to bring you down another peg. This isn't some fancy place like New York or L.A., this is fucking Lima man! Most of us have barely enough money to buy lunch and pay for gas with our second hand cars. How do you think it makes us feel seeing you throw that in our faces every day?"

Kurt's reply was ruthless, "Oh, boo-hoo! My heart bleeds for you people. How about you be a man about it and get an actual job to pay for the things you want? It beats being a juvenile delinquent who pees in the fast food Frialator!"

"Oh? You paid for your car, did you?"

"That's different, my dad got a discount!"

"Well some of us don't have a daddy to take care of us. We have to take care of our family ourselves!"

"Sounds like I'm not the one with daddy issues here. Maybe all that aggression you've got is because you're secretly longing for a daddy to discipline you. Is that it baby?"

Kurt's voice was sweet, mocking, and held the slightest bit of triumph because he knew exactly where to strike when cornered. Also, he enjoyed winning.

"You, Bitch."

Kurt froze; the adrenaline pumping through his veins suddenly coming crashing down with the two, coldly uttered words. He watched in dawning horror as Puck's entire body went still, his expression turning blank, as he casually moved away from Kurt. The only clue to what the jock was thinking was in his eyes, and it was burning with cold fury.

"Noah, I didn't mean it!"

Kurt's voice was filled with guilt, his remorse instantaneous and written in every line of his body as he tried to physically reach out for the taller boy.

Fuck, Puckerman! You knew opening your mouth wasn't a good idea and you did it anyway. You deserve this for trusting a freakin' fairy!

Puck quickly stepped away from the brunette, turning to grab Finn's stuff before he could accidentally lash out at the smaller boy. He had no idea where he found the restraint, but he valued his life above everything else and this little shit wasn't worth it.

"Please Noah, I admit I was scared and I do and say stupid things when I'm cornered. Please, you have to listen to me!"

"Fuck you Hummel, I don't owe you shit."

Kurt's voice turned watery as his tears started to flow, "I'm sorry Noah! I didn't mean what I said. I was scared 'cause I thought it was too good to be true, and when you started making fun of me about being a virgin, it just felt like all those times you picked on me before. I was scared to let my guard down, okay? The things you said to me, I didn't mean to throw it in your face. Please, you have to believe me!"

Puck threw Finn's stuff to the floor, before he turned back to face the smaller boy, his cold anger quickly turning hot as he watched the brunette's tears flow unchecked.

"You little shit! You'd do anything to get your way, won't you? Even pull out the water works. I can't believe I fell for that!"

Puck's movement was a blur as he reached out to grab Kurt's tee, fully intending to re-arrange the boy's face, before the brunette clenched his eyes shut and offered up his body for the punishment. The jock's right hand stilled, hovering just above the porcelain face, as he took in the rosy cheeks that were now marred by tear tracks. Kurt might have looked like one of his sister's china dolls, but Puck knew the boy's face hid as many things as it displayed them.

"Forget it Hummel, you're not even worth it."

Kurt's body tensed at the terse words, but Puck couldn't be bothered to give a damn as he quickly turned around and marched up the stairs.

The brunette collapsed onto the floor, feeling drained as he stared after the other boy and thought back on his shitty day—actually, more like his shitty week. He could never manage to get things right, with anybody.

He was such a screw up.

*End Flashback*

The bell rang, signalling the end to another dreadful history lesson and Kurt's musings. Puck glanced over at him, an eyebrow raised in question as if to say "Are you coming or what?" before the brunette quickly grabbed his books to catch up with the older boy. He still had Operation Get Together Hudson-Hummel Families to plan. Okay, the title was long, but he was still working on it. Hopefully, Puck wouldn't make fun of it too much.

Oh, who was he kidding? Clown would come back from his watery grave before that happened.

A/N: No, I did not lie about not harming Clownfish. Kurt just doesn't know Clown isn't dead, because Puck still has a reputation to maintain. Bwahaha.

Thank you to those who have added me to their communities, "Awesomely Awesome stories" and "the best storys." I'm pretty computer deficient in terms of figuring out who exactly added me, so, sorry if I didn't put your name up, I didn't do it on purpose! Also, a big thank you to those who have added me to their favourites and alerts list :-)

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