A/N: I know I said I would try and update on a weekly basis but the last month has been so hectic with school and such. Hopefully it will get better soon and I can update regularly. Thanks for all your patience. :)
Previously:
Karofsky turned the corner and saw his former best friend with an empty cup in hand and Ashley dripping in an all too familiar purple liquid heading off with Santana. Karofsky sees red. He marches up to Azimio demanding to know what happened. When the other jock has the audacity to smirk and say that that whore deserved it, Karofsky can't hold back any longer and punches Azimio square in the jaw.
I can't believe he just hit me, Azimio thought. That's it! The bitch is going down.
Santana pushed Ashley into the girl's bathroom and pulled out the chair they have stored in there for this very reason. "Sit", Santana demanded, so Ashley sat in the chair with her back to the sink.
"This may sting a bit so close your eyes." Ashley took her glasses off and put them on the edge of the sink then leant her head back and closed her eyes. Neither girl talked as Santana washed the slushie from Ashley's face and hair. The silence didn't last long and Ashley was the first to speak up, "How do you know what to do?"
"Believe it or not this isn't the first slushie facial I've had to clean up, nor will it probably be the last. The jocks like to throw them at everyone in Glee club; all of us have had a least one slushie thrown at us." "Even Noah...and Finn?" Ashley asks. "Yeah, even them." "But aren't they jocks too? Why would their own teammates throw a slushie in their face?" "Because they're in Glee," Santana replied, ending all conversation with her statement.
Santana finishes washing out the slushie, grabs a towel from her gym bag, and gives it to Ashley to dry herself off. "Thanks." "Don't mention it. No really, don't mention it; I have a rep to keep up." Santana says as she stands beside Ashley with her hip jutted out to the side and examining her nails.
Ashley just nods. "So I see you and Puck are together now," Santana states. Ashley looks up at her after drying off her face, "Uh yeah, we are." "So how do you two know each other?" "We grew up together. We used to be neighbours before I moved away." Ashley gives the towel back and puts her glasses back on. "Did you know Noah before you both joined Glee?" Ashley asks curiously.
She glances over to the girl to her left. Santana is really pretty, Ashley says to herself, I wonder if Noah ever dated her. "Yeah, Puck and I used to date; well by date I mean have sex." Well that answers that. Ashley's heart dropped after hearing Santana's blunt description of her relationship with Noah.
The Latina notices the other girl's crestfallen expression and sighs. "We may have had sex but it wasn't anything major, or emotional. I always knew he loved someone else while we had our, 'thing'," Santana clarified. "You mean Quinn?" At this Santana stops and stares at Ashley with her 'queen bitch' face on. "What do you know about Puck and Quinn?" Ashley seems taken aback by Santana's abrupt change in tone and can't help but feel that her suspicions were right. "I know they had a baby together, but they gave her up for adoption."
"That was it between them. I mean Puck was willing to help with Beth had Quinn not given her up and he cared about Quinn, but just as a friend. He may have thought he loved her but he didn't." Ashley looks confused, "Then who did you mean?"
Santana just stares at Ashley, "Are you really that dense?" At Ashley's continued confused expression Santana just sighs, "Ugh, apparently you are." She looks pointedly at Ashley and states, "I was talking about you, you moron. Puck has always loved you, which is probably why he never got emotionally involved with anyone and just slept around with people. Of course before you came here I didn't know it was you who he loved I just knew it was someone. But yesterday when you came back, I immediately saw a change in Puck. He is always the confident, egotistical jackass and yesterday it looked as if his family dog got run over or something; he looked so sad and pathetic."
Ashley's eyes widen at Santana's statement, "Oh." "Yeah, oh." Santana looks the girl up and down sizing her up.
"Now listen here white girl, Puck is my friend and I do not want to see him hurt. He is actually a really good guy underneath the act he puts on for people and if anyone deserves to be happy it's Puck. I know he hasn't always been the nicest guy around but he cares for his friends, which include the Glee club. He stands up for them when people make fun of or try and bully them and I know if you break his heart you will have twelve angry people coming after you, and I'll be leading them. So you best treat him right or I will go all Lima Heights on your ass. You got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Ashley replies, scared of the angry Latina in front of her. "Good," and with that Santana waltzes out of the washroom.
Ashley takes a minute to get her bearings before she heads out into the hall. Once she exits the washroom, she runs into Kurt and Mercedes.
"Hey Ashley! How's it going?" Mercedes asks enthusiastically. "Oh hey guys, it's going alright. I just received my first welcome to McKinley High slushie facial." Ashley snorts and continues, "I didn't know people actually did that. I saw someone coming towards me with one and never thought that it would soon be thrown in my face."
Mercedes and Kurt share knowing, sympathetic looks, "Yeah the jocks have found very, innovative, ways of torturing us less popular folk," Kurt states. "I can see that", Ashley retorts.
"Don't pay any attention to those Neanderthals. They are just jealous of our fabulousness", Kurt says haughtily. "Speaking of fabulousness", Mercedes chimes in, "Kurt and I were planning on going to the mall after Glee today, you should totally join us." "Yeah, you should! We can pick out outfits for the Winter Formal coming up." "Winter Formal?" Ashley asks. "Yeah we have one every year, it's a lot of fun." Mercedes nods alongside Kurt. "Yeah sure, that sounds great I'd love to go shopping with you too. I like to consider myself pretty fashionable, but after meeting you Kurt, I just don't know if I can compare. Perhaps you can give me some fashion advice," Ashley smiles. Kurt looks positively elated and drones on about how he loves makeovers and helping people look their best.
While discussing plans to go to the mall later, the bell rings signalling the start of next period and the three Glee members scurry off to their respective classes.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the three new friends who were discussing their after school plans, Puck gets cornered by Jacob Ben Israel and is questioned about his budding relationship with the 'new girl'. When he brings up Ashley's recent slushie attack Puck goes ballistic; he grabs Israel's shirt and asks him what he's talking about. Jacob tells him that Azimio was seen slushie-ing Ashley and how Karofsky punched him out because of it. Puck lets go of his shirt and gets angrier, if that's even possible.
I know something was up with Karofsky and Ashley. Ashley said they were just friends but it seems like Karofsky doesn't think that way. That douche bag will get what's coming to him, no one tries to steal Puckzilla's girl and gets away with it, no one. With those thoughts, Puck storms off down the hallway people parting down the middle for the enraged teen to get through.
Ashley heard from the gossip mill about Dave hitting the boy, who she learned was named Azimio, after he slushied her. Now normally she doesn't condone violence but Ashley couldn't help the smirk that passed on her face when she found out about it. She had to see Dave and thank him for sticking up for her.
Luckily Ashley's last period of the day was a spare and coincidentally so was David's. She met him at his locker, as she had yesterday, will continue to do until the semester is over, and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.
"It's good to see you too," Dave said with a smile after they broke apart. "Thank you," Ashley said as she smiled back. "For what?" "You know for what David," at his puzzled expression Ashley elaborated, "For standing up for me against your own friend and teammate when he slushied me." "Oh that." Dave responded sheepishly. He didn't want to hit Azimio, his only friend, well that's not true, Ashley's back and they can become friends again, like how they used to be, but Az just sent him over the edge. No one messes with his friends like that, ever. The fact that he called her a whore and she deserved it, was the straw that broke the camel's back as they say.
"I didn't mean to hit him it just sort of happened. I just wanted to talk to him and ask why he did it." Ashley looked confused, "They why did you hit him? What set you off?" Dave looked away not wanting to meet Ashley's eyes, "He said you a just a whore and deserved what you got. That no one gets in-between his and my friendship." At this, Dave raised his head and finally looked at Ashley. He saw the hurt in her eyes and regretted telling her the truth. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have repeated what he said. He's a jackass and he deserved what he got." "No, it's okay. I'd rather you tell me the truth than lie to me. Anyway, I could care less what that Neanderthal thinks of me." Dave laughs, "You've been spending time with Kurt I see." Ashley saw something flicker in David's eyes as he said Kurt's name, hm interesting, Ashley thinks.
"Why don't we head outside and talk." Ashley gives Dave a weird look but he decides not to comment on it and follows her lead out to the field.
Once they get outside and sit down on the top of the bleachers Ashley quickly descends on him, "So Kurt huh?" She gives him her signature smirk and awaits his response. Dave's eyes widen and he is at a loss for words, "I, uh, um." Ashley continues to look at him, eyebrows raised, waiting for him to gather his thoughts, this must be a shock to him, me knowing he feels something for the porcelain-skinned diva, she says to herself.
Dave can't believe Ashley just asked him that, and so causally, as if she was asking him about the weather and not about a boy, a boy he cares about, a boy he tormented because he knew he couldn't have him. He doesn't know when he realized his feelings for Kurt were more than just platonic, all he knew was that he was jealous of the younger boy; jealous of the fact that he was out and proud, jealous of his confidence in who he was and not hiding behind a false facade to try to fit in. Dave wished he could be like that, come out to everyone and screw the consequences, but he's too scared.
"Wh-what do you mean? What about Kurt?" Dave tried to act nonchalant but knew he failed miserably. Ashley could always see through him, he could never lie to her, which is why he stopped talking to her in the first place instead of trying to come up with some story that he knew she would instantly know was false. "Don't play dumb with me David Ryan Karofsky." Oh shit, she middle named me; I knew she wouldn't buy my lie.
Dave sighed and resigned to his fate, "I'm an idiot." "Well I could have told you that," Ashley quipped back. Dave stares at Ashley "This isn't a joke Ash." "And I'm not laughing. I know this is serious David. You haven't come out to anyone but me and now you like a boy who is the 'resident gay' at McKinley. I can imagine that this is really hard for you, and I want you to know that I'm here for you and you know you can talk to me about anything."
Dave looks into Ashley's eyes and relays everything, from tormenting Kurt to slowly and surely falling deeply for the former kicker. He knows he will never have a chance with him, not with their history together, and Dave knows he deserves it. He was horrible to Kurt, and the other Glee members. All he wanted was to feel normal again, he wanted to like girls and be a stud like Puck, but he knew that would never happen, so he turned his frustrations and newfound attraction for other guys into bullying. It feels good for Dave, to be able to be so open and honest with someone about all of this. He has been hiding his feelings for so long and bottling it all up inside. He knows that he would have eventually broken down and done something stupid, but now that he has Ashley back, he knows that everything will be okay now. He feels like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he can breathe again, yup everything will be okay.
Ashley just sat there listening to David tell him everything. She is sympathetic toward the other boy, he may have been a complete jerk to people but he was hurting on the inside. He was, still is, afraid to be himself and that upsets Ashley greatly. She wishes people in this world could be more accepting of homosexuality. People like Dave shouldn't have to hide who they are for fear of being ridiculed by others' narrow mindedness. Just then, she comes up with an idea to help Dave. Ashley suggests he join the Glee club, to try to smooth things over between him and them. It will give him a fresh start now that he has decided to stop the bullying and maybe help him make some new and better friends than Azimio and the other jocks who insist on harassing the 'losers' of the school.
Dave is unsure at first about joining, knowing that he probably wouldn't be accepted there, but he later concedes to Ashley's pleading. He could never say no to her, even after all this time.
They spend the rest of their last period spare going through songs that Dave can sing for his audition. They finally settle on one and head back into school as the last bell rings and head toward the choir room.
Everyone was in the choir room, including the always-late Mr. Schuester, when Ashley walked in with Dave. Everyone stopped talking immediately and stared at the pair in font of them.
"Mr. Schue? David would like to audition for Glee club." At this point, the shocked silence ended and erupted into loud yells from the rest of the Glee club not wanting their main bully to join their safe haven.
"Okay, guys that's enough!" Mr. Schuester yells over everyone's bickering. "This club has always been about acceptance and we have never turned away someone who wanted to join."
"But Mr. Schue," Finn speaks up, "Karofsky has made fun of every single one of us, especially Kurt, do you really think we want someone like that in our club." "I know that Finn, but I also heard what he did today after Ashley was slushied, not that I condone that sort of thing," Schue adds and looks toward Dave.
Most of the Glee club have heard the gossip about Karofsky and Azimio, however Finn being Finn, has his confused dopey expression on and looks toward Ashley. "You were slushied today? By who?" At this point Finn starts looking angry. "Azimio," Ashley replies. "That's it, c'mon Puck let's go find him and teach him a lesson. He's probably working out in the locker room."
The two boys stand up and start to head out of the room when Dave speaks up for the first time since entering the choir room. "No need to. I already took care of it." At Dave's words everyone looks toward the jock, "What do you mean you took care of it?" Finn asks. Dave sighs, "That's what Mr. Schue was talking about. I heard Azimio slushied Ashley and went to go talk to him and ask why. He uh, said some things and then I hit him."
Everyone looks to him, each with a look of surprise on their faces. Although most had heard about Dave hitting Azimio you could never be too sure of what is true or not at this school, the students like to make up falsehoods or exaggerate certain stories. So when Dave actually admitted to hitting Azimio, his supposed best friend, everyone was stunned into silence.
"Like I said, I don't condone that sort of behaviour, but it seems that David is coming around and wants to start being a better person," Mr. Schue states. "Or he has a crush on my girlfriend and is trying to steal her from me by being her hero," Puck mumbles under his breath.
"I don't have a crush on Ashley Puck; we're just friends, that's it. She's been helping me, uh, work through some of my problems. That's what we were doing yesterday at lunch and on our spare period." Ashley glares over at Puck with an 'I told you so' look and Puck just lowers his head feeling guilty for not trusting her.
"Mr. Schue is right," Dave continues, "I want to start over again and become a better person. I have been horrible to all of you and I just want to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken out my own frustrations on you." At this, he looks directly at Kurt. "I know sorry isn't enough but I want to prove to you that I can be a good person. Just give me a second chance, please."
Everyone still looks unsure about Karofsky's motivations for joining the club, they seemed to have missed the subtle eye contact he and Kurt made during his apology, but Kurt didn't. He saw the sincerity in the jocks eyes as he said those things and knew they were directed mostly to him. "I accept your apology Karof, uh, David." Kurt says, to the astonishment of the rest of the club. "You have a lot to make up for all you've put us through but I am willing to give you a second chance. Don't blow it." Everyone seems to slowly nod their approval and agree with Kurt's words.
I can't believe he's willing to give me a second chance, Dave thinks to himself; of all the people in here, I didn't think he would be the one to forgive me first. He's right, I can't blow this, and I won't. I will show everyone that I can change. Ashley looks over to Dave and sees a genuine smile on his face, and she is happy to see her friend start to return to the person she once knew.
"Okay well, Dave, if you want to join do you have a song you'd like to sing for us?" Mr. Schue asks. "Uh yeah, I do." Dave looks toward Ashley in apprehension but she just smiles and gives him a wink, then goes to sit down, dragging Noah with her. The rest of the club follow suit and takes their seats again as they wait to hear what David has to sing.
"Whenever you're ready," Schue tells him.
Dave takes a deep breath and nods to the band to start.
Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
He looks over to Kurt.
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
The music starts to pick up and Dave struts towards the trumpet players, taking the fedora off one of their heads and puts it on his own. He heads back to the center of the room and snaps along with the beat.
Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Slowly everyone starts to join in with the snapping.
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
For me, as Dave sings this he throws his arms out to the side, his head slightly raised and sings with everything he has.
During the instrumental interlude, Dave pulls up Brittany and the two starts dancing a ballroom, swing inspired number.
While the two are dancing Ashley looks on like a proud mother, happy that her friend is finally coming out of his shell and being who he truly is, not what everyone thinks he is. Puck looks beside him, sees the pride in Ashley's smile, and feels even worse for being a jealous boyfriend. He leans close to he ear and whispers, "I'm sorry. You told me you two were just friends and I should've believed you. I just thought Karofsky had some ulterior motive when he defended you from Azimio. And to be honest I was jealous that he was the one to hit him, not me." Ashley looks over to her boyfriend with a lop-sided smile, "I know. You were never one who liked to share Noah," her lop-sided smile turning into a full grin. Puck smirks back at her, "You're damn right I don't like to share, especially you!" Ashley giggles at his words and simply rests her head on his shoulders as he slips his arm around her and rests it on the back of her chair.
When the interlude ends, Dave releases Brittany and starts singing again.
Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
Dave looks back to Kurt again. Why does he keep looking at me? Kurt asks himself. Is it because he feels bad for tormenting me the most and this is his way of trying to say he's changed? I'm so confused.
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
I'm feeling good
I feel so good
I feel so good
The song ends and Ashley is the first one to clap for Dave, the rest slowly following suit. They don't want to admit it but he is actually a pretty good singer and they could use his voice to help them win Nationals this year.
"That was great David, well done!" "Thanks Mr. Schue," Dave responds timidly. "It is a perfect introduction for this week's assignment, as Michael Buble is actually Canadian. Let me guess, Ashley helped you pick out a song?" Dave looks over to Ashley, "Haha yeah she did." Ashley grins back.
"Mr. Schue?" Puck asks beside Ashley, "Speaking of the assignment could Artie and I do our song today. I know we are still have another day to practice but we're ready." "Yeah sure guys that would be fine."
Puck and Artie replace Dave at the center of the room. Puck grabs his guitar and on his lead, the rest of the band starts playing.
[Puck and Artie]
I don't smoke girl
But you're dope girl
I don't drink babe
But you're Tanqueray.
Both boys looked directly at their girlfriends while singing the chorus. Ashley and Tina looked on to their boyfriends, then at each other, then turned back to the two boys with wide smiles.
[Puck]
I'm the only one who be doing I'd be checking you out
But I see plenty fine girls that don't open my mouth
I know your momma don't like me or what I'm about
I'm always trying to do what's right, it just don't work out
We go to all the same parties and you don't know my name
It's probably cause I never won the damn football game
But I'm honest yeah, you gotta put me on this yeah.
I try to tell you what you want to hear, but I'm wrong
I probably won't amount to much, but this song
You're saying that you're outta my league
But what's a little white lie to me?
[Both]
I don't smoke girl
But you're dope girl
I don't drink babe
But you're Tanqueray.
[Artie]
Yep, yep, yep
Yeah I'm chronic
Straight gin no tonic
And you know that you got it
So just go ahead and flaunt it (huh)
And now I want it
Yep, I want it
One hand on your waist
So I got five on it
Okay, you're not what I'm used to, far from usual
Cause being dope's much better than being beautiful
I'm not even worried about other guys pursuing you
Girl you're a star, attention is nothing new to you
Oh, ain't I innocent, not even a little bit
A bottle at the booth it isn't mine girl, finish it
You know all the nice spots, I know all the blemishes
I'm just being honest, ain't that better than a gentleman?
I try to tell you what you want to hear, but I'm wrong
I probably won't amount to much, but this song
Your saying that you're outta my league
But what's a little white lie to me?
[Both]
I don't smoke girl
But you're dope girl
I don't drink babe
But you're tanqueray.
Yeaahh, yeaahh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
[Puck]
I'll break the rules, I know girl
I won't change for you but you're dope girl
[Artie]
I'll face the news, don't go girl
I won't change for you but you're dope!
[Both]
I don't smoke girl
But you're dope girl
I don't drink babe
But you're tanqueray.
When Puck and Artie finished there was a raucous round of applause by everyone. Ashley and Tina quickly jumped up and met their men to give them a giant hug, and in Puck and Ashley's case a heated kiss as well.
Blame Puck for being his gorgeous sexy self, Ashley could never resist his charms. There were a few catcalls and wolf whistles, as Mr. Schuester had to clear his throat a few times before the two teens pulled away from each other.
"That was a great job Puck and Artie; I can't wait to hear what the rest of you have planned out. Well I think we'll cut today's club meeting short so the rest of you can practice your numbers. See you all tomorrow." The Glee members were all too eager to leave early and all but raced out of the choir room. Kurt, Mercedes and Ashley weren't as quick to leave as the rest and took their time gathering their things and figuring out who was riding with whom to the mall.
Meanwhile Puck went over to David so he could apologize for being a jerk. Dave understood and accepted his apology and they shared your standard 'man hug'.
Ashley walked over to Puck to tell him she was heading to the mall with Kurt and 'Cedes, out of the blue Dave blurts out, "Can I join?" At Dave's question, Kurt and Mercedes whip their heads toward him and look over completely stunned. Just then, Puck spoke up, "Well if he's coming, I'm coming."
It was Ashley's turn to look stunned as she stared at her boyfriend as if he grew another head. "You hate shopping, at least the Noah I once knew did. When did you grow this sudden fondness for fashion?" "Please Ashley, look at him, does he look like he's remotely interested in fashion," Kurt pipes up behind her. The three fashionistas laugh at Kurt's comment. "Hey! I take offence to that. I have a badass sense of style thank-you very much." Ashley just rolls her eyes, "Well fine if you and Dave want to join it's alright with me." "Just be prepared to be dragged into every store," Kurt says, "and to hold our bags when we are trying on clothes", Mercedes added.
Dave and Puck look to one another and share a look of 'what did we get ourselves into'.
Songs used:
Feeling Good - Michael Buble
She's Dope - Down With Webster
Feedback: Please read and review. I love to recieve comments on how you are enjoying the story and if you have any ideas or constructive criticism
Much Love!
-PF