Since the encounter in the girl's bathroom with Kurt, I felt myself start to change. It was slow change, hardly even worth measuring everyday. But after a few weeks, I was a new person. I became relatively close with Kurt, Mercedes, Artie and Tina. Sure, they were far from popular, but they didn't judge me. I found comfort in their confidence. I started to eat lunch with them, rather than by myself. My self-worth reinforced itself everyday I spent with them. I heard my own genuine laughter for the first time in a long time, mingling with the other sounds of the hallways. I found myself feeling happy.

Throughout this whole change, I felt in debt to Kurt. His kindness proved to me that there is still some good in the world. Quite frankly, he was the one who caused my own self-betterment.

"Oh my God! The mall is having a HUGE sale on all designer products this weekend!" Kurt squealed in delight one Friday after glee rehearsal. Along with makeovers, shopping sprees were his "crack". "Please, please, please come with me!" Mercedes frowned, looking torn.

"Aw, dang, Kurt, I can't," she said sadly. "My brother is flying in from Brooklyn today. He's visiting for the weekend, and I wanna spend some time with him. I'm so sorry, honey." Kurt gave her a dramatic, mournful sigh. But, realizing he wasn't going to sway her from spending time from a brother she hadn't seen in 6 months, he patted her on the shoulder.

"It's ok, 'Cedes," he smiled, understanding washing over his boyish features. "There will be plenty more fantabulous shopping sprees to be conquered together in the near future." He turned to me. "Quinn, will you please attend this miraculous event with me?" I was slightly stunned by his plea. I hadn't been out with friends for the weekend in the longest time. Most of my weekends, even through my improvements, had been spent alone at Puck's house, doing homework and in sleep recovery from the previous week. Feeling pathetic just thinking about the lack of a social life I had obtained over the past few months, I nodded.

"I would be delighted, Kurt," I said to him, smiling at this newfound improvement to the utterly boring weekend stretched before me.

"Wonderful! I will pick you up tonight at 7:00 sharp!" His excitement was replenished and he was grinning from ear to ear again, his eyes dancing with pleasure.

"Oh man, I gotta get home. He's probably getting there right now," Mercedes checked the time on her phone. "You guys have fun tonight!" She gave Kurt a quick hug goodbye and a beautiful smile to me, then headed to her car. Kurt watched her disappear in the forest of automobiles.

"Alright, well I need to prepare for the epic night ahead of us, Quinn." He said, rubbing his hands together. "I will see you at seven o' clock, girl. It is going to be freaking amazing!"

"Bye, Kurt, see you tonight!" I called to him as he turned his back to find his own car. I smiled to myself. I actually had friends again.

I sat on the couch in Noah Puckerman's basement, flipping through channels on the small T.V. I sighed and looked at the clock. 6:30. I didn't expect to be so excited about spending the night with Kurt, but the realization that someone cared enough to invite me somewhere made me giddy. Living in the deprivation of friends for a short period caused me to value my current friends. I went to check my hair in the mirror, for the millionth time. 6:35 I came back to the T.V. Flipped through useless channels of nonsense and brain melting crap. 6:43. I paced back and forth behind the grimy couch. 6:48. Then I decided to go upstairs to get a drink of water. I took each step separately, trying to waste away unwanted time. I gulped my glass of water slowly. 6:55. Five minutes. I could make it.

I heard the front door burst open. Heavy, unsteady steps sounded down the hallway. Puck stumbled into the kitchen. His eyes were half-open and his whole boy slumped as if he had just been socked in the gut. He was muttering obscenities to himself, then he saw me. I cringed away from him as he sauntered over to where I was standing.

"Puck, have you been drinking?" I stated the obvious. His breath was unbearably permeated with the stench of alcohol. It sure was early on a Friday night to get drunk, even for him. He shoved me harshly against the wall. His lips came to mine, and his hands went under my shirt. In sheer panic, I pushed him away and slapped him.

"Don't you dare touch me!" I shouted at him. The last thing I wanted tonight was a make out session with Puck, judging from the fact that he was completely wasted, and I already had better plans.

"B****!" He bellowed back. His eyes were wild and his fists were clenched tightly, ready to hit something. He violently pushed me out into the hallway. I fell on my hands and knees, one hand instinctively going to my stomach, trying to protect the life inside. He swung his leg back and kicked my ribs. Pain exploded throughout my whole left side. I gasped, struggling to breath. He then wound his foot back again and kicked my thigh. Tears streamed down my face.

"Stop! Puck! Please!" I choked out through each heave of air. He ignored my desperate cries, and took a hand full of my hair in his palm. He lifted me partially from the ground then slammed me violently, into the wall. My shoulder hit first. I heard a sickening crack and excruciating shots of pain overwhelmed my mind. A picture above me fell from the impact of my body hitting the wall. It crashed against my head, glass shattering everywhere. I could feel a warm liquid running down my face. Blood. My head reeled, nausea flowing through my body.

Puck growled menacingly, but then stopped. He bent down and picked up the picture that had just fallen. Uncontrollable anger altered into deep, drunken sadness. He let the picture slip from his loose grip, dropped his head into his hands and began to cry. His shoulders shook convulsively. He turned his heel and stumbled out of the house.

My consciousness was drifting away with every wheeze of my broken body. Then, I heard a voice.

"Quinn! Quinn! Stay with me please! Everything is going to be okay!" A familiar face loomed above my clouded, fading vision. His usual smooth, high voice was husky with fear. "I just called an ambulance! They're on their way!" I reached feebly for his face.

"Kurt… help… stay…" I pleaded. Relief swelled in my heart.

"I won't leave you." He said firmly. He grabbed my hand and face, looking directly into my dim eyes. "I won't leave you." He repeated.

"Thank you." I breathed. Then, everything went dark.