A/N: Thanks to all my readers and a special thanks to my first reviewer HanaDear! :D So here's the next chapter... Enjoy!

Chapter Two – Later that night….


"Let f and g be the functions given by f of x equals…that thing…and the g of x equals that mess for all values x where x is less than or equal to 1 but greater than or equal to 0. The graphs of f and g are shown in the figure above," Tina mumbled to herself.

She blinked. "What the hell did I just read?"

"Okay," she inhaled slowly. "One more time. Let f and g be the…

Her phone chirped happily.

"Oh thank you god," she said dropping the pencil. "Hello?"

"Hey."

"Um, who is this?" she said as she glanced at the number. Unknown…hmm…

"Noah," and then as though he sensed she still had no idea who he was, he paused and added, "um..Puck."

"Oh, hi Puck …what's up?"

"Are you free right now?"

"Um," she hesitated. To lie or not to lie… "Why?" she stalled.

"We could figure out this tutoring thing."

"Right, um…" A car door slammed and she frowned when she heard the heavy footsteps of her step-father come thumping into the house. Shit. What is he doing home? "Yeah, now would be fine. Do you want to meet somewhere?"

"Your house okay?"

"You know where I live?"

"I hope so 'cause I just pulled up."

Her eyes widened as her hands unconsciously ran through her hair. She peeked through the filmy curtains of her bedroom window. Yup, there he was. His black pick-up truck cruised to a stop in front of her driveway and he stepped out of the car, nodding up at her before she had a chance to disappear out of sight. Damn.

She waved awkwardly in response before ducking away.

"TINA!" her stepfather, Roger, bellowed.

"You wanna meet me at the library? I think my parents are having company or something," she said, the lie slipping out easily.

"I can just drive us since I'm here."

"Oh. Yeah, just give me a minute?"

"Sure."

She tossed her phone into the messenger bag. The numerous files and papers were still in there and she was suddenly glad she'd been too lazy to empty it out. …What am I missing? A chance glance in the mirror and she realized she'd already taken her heavy makeup off.

A couple of swipes of eye shadow (black, because it had just been that kind of day), a quick pat of her jean pockets to make sure she had some cash and her keys, one last deep breath and she felt ready to leave and face whatever was coming.

She hurried down the stairs as noiselessly as she could, hoping against hope that her stepfather was already ensconced in his office.

"Tina," he said, stepping out of some dark recess like a malevolent, archetypical nemesis. Yeah, definitely been watching too many of those film composition lectures. God, I'm such a nerd.

"You screeched?" she said, feigning a calmness she didn't feel.

"Watch your mouth," he said as his eyes flicked over her. She resisted the urge to shudder. "Where are you going?" his upper lip curled, probably at seeing her heavy 'streetwalker' make up.

"Out."

"So I deduced. Where?"

"To tutor a friend."

"It's quite late," he said pointedly.

"It's like nine-thirty."

"It's a school night and what did I say about the word 'like'?" he said, taking a step toward her.

"Not to use it," she said backing up and damning the wall for stopping her.

"Perhaps you can learn," he said. "You're lucky your mother's due back shortly or I wouldn't allow you to leave at such a late hour."

She scuttled past him as he stepped away, flinching when he caught her by the arm.

"Be back by twelve."

**

Puck lounged in that careless, easy way all guys seem genetically gifted with.

Tina nearly laughed aloud as she hurried down her driveway. The world clearly had a sense of humor. How many times had she wished, however stupidly cliché it may be, for some gorgeous jock/prince to come sweeping in like some modern day romance novel and whisk her away to days and nights of perfect dates and lovey-dovey-stuff?

Instead, she got Puck – who, while quite fantastically good-looking, was not exactly the princely type and definitely not here to save her. If anything, she was coming to save his ass and though that might satisfy the feminist-crusader in her, it hardly fulfilled the part of her that wanted the fluffy, white fairy-tale.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey."

"About" "Look" they both began uncomfortably. They shared a glance (that for some dumb reason made her flutter a little) and a half-smile and just like that the afternoon was forgotten.

"So the library?" he said, getting into the truck.

Tina opened the door and hopped in, "Yeah…actually, it's probably closed by now."

"Good, I didn't know how to get there anyway."

"What!" she said, staring incredulously at him.

"What?"

"How could you-"she shook her head. "Okay, whatever. Know of anywhere else we could study?"

"There's this diner off Thunder Road that's got great pie and is normally pretty quiet. Sound okay?"

"Fine by me. I like pie," she said, brightening a little at the thought of pie.

He glanced at her oddly before he started the car.

She ignored it, though a thought occurred to her suddenly. "How'd you know where I live?"

"I stalk you."

There was a pause and she blinked several times in quick succession. "Okay. Well, then that makes what I'm about to tell you very awkward…I stalk you too."

"What?"

"Have you noticed we say that a lot?"

"You're joking right?"

"No, about half of our conversation consists of 'what' in varying intonations."

"About the stalking thing."

"I don't know. If you stalk me then you should know if I stalk you…unless you're very bad at stalking."

"I was kidding."

"Then I was too," she smiled placidly.

"Seriously, you don't right?" he said as he slid into a parking spot.

She rolled her eyes and slid out of the truck. "Calm your mow-hawked little head down. I don't stalk you. Honestly, you jocks can't ever take a joke. Even the ones you start."

"You're weird."

She scoffed, "I could say the same about you. Who says 'I stalk you' after creepily showing up in front of a person's house?" She paused in the doorway of the diner, a wide grin sliding into place at how "diner-y" it looked.

"It was not creepy. You know most girls would be flattered," he stepped around and took a seat at the long, silver-rimmed counter that stretched across the establishment

"Sure, but those are the same genius girls that would go waltzing up to crazy ax-murderers in a horror film."

"You're insane."

"And you still haven't answered my question."

"I cleaned the pool across from your house. Happened to see you as I was walking out and I guess I remembered," he shrugged.

"Is this the part where the ditzy blonde coos over being remembered?" she grinned, plopping down beside him.

"Don't flatter yourself. I saw the bright green streaks and wondered if your head was being attacked by a fungus. That kind of thing sticks in a guy's head."

"Aw and here I thought only boobs and butts did. Well, me and my fungus-covered head thank you for correcting that misperception. You're very good at the smooth-talking, by the way."

"Thanks. I thought the fungus line would get you."

Tina laughed, the sound bright and completely at odds with her dark-Goth-inspired getup. He grinned, feeling oddly pleased at being responsible for that sound.

"You know, I think this is the most I've ever heard you say," he remarked.

Later that night she would ponder that comment, wonder at the curious ease between them – something she'd never felt with anyone, not even Mercedes and Kurt who had spent the better part of the last semester prying and dragging her out of her cocoon. In the end, she'd dismiss her ruminating and just attribute it all to simple indifference. She had said what she wanted because she knew it wouldn't change the way he felt about her. He disparaged all of them and nothing would change that. But at this moment she simply said, "This is probably the most I've ever said to anyone, outside of Mercedes and Kurt at least. And, you know, I could say the same about you."

The arrival of the waitress saved him from answering.

"Hiya hons, what can I get you?" she said, cherry- painted lips pulling into a broad smile.

"Can I have a slice of French silk and a cup of coffee please?" she said softly.

"Absolutely darling. And you?" she said after a short scribble.

"A piece of apple pie and coffee, please."

"Sure, I'll have it out to you in a few moments," she said with another cherry smile.

"Thanks," Tina smiled, handing back their menus. She looked at Puck, "Okay, you ready to get started?"

He groaned, his head meeting the counter with a dramatic thump.

"Stop being a baby," she said, reaching into her bag to pull out the folders.

"Can't we just wait till after the pie?" he said, peeking up from the counter, his warm brown eyes pleading. "I don't wanna taint it with the thought of school."

"Fine," she relented, "but don't think it's because that goofy little face you just made worked."

"Goofy?" he said with an affronted frown.

"I can still change my mind. Would you-"

"No, ma'm," he saluted. "Goofy, it is."

Tina chuckled, "Shut up and eat your pie."

"Wh-," he blinked confusedly at the pie sitting in front of them. He looked over at their waitress who winked as she skated to serve another customer.

Had Tina been paying attention, she would've been quite amused by the whole display, but she wasn't. Instead, she was utterly occupied by her own pie, which was divine – to steal from Kurt's vernacular.

"They have to put drugs in this," she remarked, her fork dangling thoughtfully from between her lips. He glanced up.

"It's good but it's not that good."

"Not like your 'special' cupcakes?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled through a mouthful of pie.

"Sure. Although, for the record, I think we should avoid the use of any "magical" ingredients in our next bake sale."

"We're doing another bake sale?" he groaned.

"Your fault. You and your cupcakes made so much cash that Mr. Schuester is convinced it's the best way to fundraise for regionals," she said, pointing her fork at him. "You've only got yourself to blame."

"Damn. What do we have to fundraise for anyway? We've still got some cash left from the last one."

"The bus, Rachel wants new uniforms, hotel rooms," she started, ticking them off her fingers.

"Wait, did you say hotel rooms?"

"Yes," she said slowly. "Why?"

He grinned.

"Okay, stop whatever dirty thought you have right now," she said.

"I don't know what you mean," he said innocently.

"Liar."

"Wait," he said abruptly, "what do you mean Rachel wants new uniforms?"

"Do you pay any attention in Glee?" she said incredulously.

"Only when we're singing," he said with a negligent shrug.

"Bum."

Something flickered across his face, but in a flash he had a sly grin on as he said, "Yes, I kno-

"Anyway, Rachel wants all the boys to wear these ruffled blue satin dress shirts," Tina said, interrupting whatever 'bum/ass/butt' innuendo-laced comment he was about to make.

"What?!"

"See, this is why you should pay attention. The nays were just one vote short of vetoing her," she said, taking another bite. Her eyes closed as she savored the smooth chocolate taste. "Yum."

"Did you vote against it?"

"Hell no. I wanna see you and Finn and 'em prancing around the stage in whatever ridiculous getup Rachel comes up with," she smirked.

"But, if we don't raise enough money, we can't get the outfits. Right?" There was a definite edge of panic creeping into his voice.

"No, I'm pretty sure Rachel had the outfits prioritized as the first thing the money gets spent on. Something about fittings and motivation and glitter. I stopped paying attention when she mentioned the glitter."

"Just let me flunk out," he groaned, head hitting the counter again. "At least then it'd all end with some dignity." He expected some wry comment about his intelligence, but hearing nothing, he glanced over the crook of his elbow to see her trying vainly to restrain from giggling – a bizarre, yet strangely fitting, sight. She looked more natural laughing than that frowny-emo-glare thing she kept up at school.

His eyes widened, "THIS WAS ALL A JOKE?"

Whatever fleeting control she had over herself disappeared and she collapsed into a fit of laughter. "You – should've…." she gasped for air, "your face."

He waited till she had calmed enough to hear him before he said – only a little petulantly – "I can't believe you."

"Aw, don't pout," she teased. "I'm sure if you really want we could ask Rachel to get you pretty little ruffled shirts."

"Not funny," he said with a shudder. "Not funny at all."

"Relax," she grinned. "Rachel did want new outfits for god knows which number, but Mr. Schuester said it wasn't gonna happen until we raised the transportation and hotel costs firsts. And even then, we all need to agree."

"Good," he exhaled. "You know, you have a very large evil streak."

"It's a gift," she said. "Along with the ability to focus, unfortunately. I've got to be back home in a little over half an hour so we should probably get some work done." As much fun as she was having, Tina had a strong feeling that tonight was not a good night to play teenage rebel and test Roger and his curfew's limits.

"Oh, right, so…what do we do?" he tilted his head and she was suddenly struck by how adorable he was.

Calm yourself girl.

She busied herself taking out the stack of folders Mr. Schuester had given her and pretended to search for his class schedule. "Okay," she said, "finding" it and placing it on the counter. "Let's see when we can meet." Her black nailpolish adorned fingers ran along the sheet.

"What time do you get to school?" she asked.

"Twelve."

"Excuse me?"

"Twelve, around 5th period," he repeated.

"You skip your first four periods? Every day?"

"Yeah," he said. "I don't like waking up early."

She rolled her eyes. "That explains a lot. Okay, first of all, you're going to need to start going to class."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Nothing interesting happens till lunch anyway."

"Learning," she emphasized, "happens. Just go to class."

"Fine, but only until regionals."

"Fine," she sighed. "But if we place you're going until nationals."

"Deal," he said, sticking out his hand.

"Great," she shook his hand with another roll of her eyes. "Okay, you've got math, biology, then gym-"

"Third's a free period."

She glanced at him quizzically.

"Football waiver."

"Ah. Well, I have an independent study then so we can use that as an emergency cram session if necessary," she said, making a quick notation on the sheet. "Hmm, lunch is the same time and," her finger trailed down the paper, "study hall. Perfect. If you transfer to my study ha-"

"But you're in a sophomore study hall."

"So?"

"I'm a junior."

"Fine, I'll transfer into your study hall," she said, reorienting an arrow. "Happy?"

"Very," he said smugly.

"Okay, and then we should meet afterschool at least four times a week. What days do you have football practice and when do you have to be home to meet your sister?" she asked, glancing up from her notations.

"Let's see. Glee is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Football is Monday, Tuesday, and extended practice Thursday. And my sister gets home early Wednesday and Friday. If you don't mind, we could work at my house on the days I need to watch my sister."

"Works for me. That means we can meet Monday after football, Tuesday after Glee, Wednesday after Glee, and Thursday after football. And we can adjust the frequency once we figure out how much ground we need to cover. Sound okay?"

"Fine, I guess," he said, not looking terribly enthused at the prospect.

"Yeah, not super fun. I'll try and figure out what we should focus on and create a schedule for the makeup work. Why don't you come up with a list of topics you're having trouble with?"

"Sure."

"Excellent," Tina glanced at her watch. "I've got-"

"Curfew," he finished, sliding a ten onto the counter. "Come on."

"Oh, I –" she said, reaching for her wallet.

"Easy Gothicka. Least I can do is buy you a slice of pie," he said, voice a little gruff. He ushered her out before she could protest and before she knew it they were parked in front of her house.

"So, uh, thanks for the ride and the pie," she said, feeling a little out of her element. What the hell did one say anyway?

"No prob."

"I'll see you in study hall then?" she said as she opened the door and jumped out.

"Yeah. I'll see you."

She gave a quick wave – which she mentally lambasted herself for as she strode up the driveway – and tried to ignore the way her heart skipped a little at seeing him still sitting there, waiting to see that she got into her house okay. Another wave as she opened her house door (Good god, what is with me and this damn waving thing?), and she smiled contentedly as she slipped into the house and up the stairs.

Maybe today wasn't such a bad day after all.


A/N: Read and Review? Please? :D :D