Chapter Seven:
"Hey, how's it going?" Puck sidled up beside Abby in the hallway the next day, leaning against the locker next to her.
Abby spun around to face Puck and smacked him on the chest with an open palm.
"Hey! What was that for?!" he asked indignantly, a frown marring his face.
"You kissed me last night!" Abby hissed at him and Puck as so caught off guard that he burst out laughing, causing several of the people standing nearby to look over in surprise.
"It's not funny" Abby pouted, then squeaked when he pulled her into a hug.
"You're cute when you're flustered" he murmured in her ear before releasing her. "And I was under the impression you had quite enjoyed that kiss"
"Well that's beside the point" Abby said stubbornly.
"Oh? Well then what's the point? What's with all the dramatics" Puck challenged.
Abby flushed and looked down, muttering "Never mind"
Puck shook his head, poking Abby gently in the ribs "Nope, gotta spill now, you brought it up"
"You'll laugh at me"
"I promise not to laugh" he held up a hand to swear his promise.
"Well, it's just...that was my first kiss and it caught me off guard"
Abby smacked Puck again, a stern look on her face when he smirked lewdly at her.
"Stop that" she told him, fighting a smile herself. "Anyway, moving on with the conversation before I say anymore embarrassing things, I have to get going to class. I need to apologize to Mr. Scheuster for causing a scene during rehearsal and storming out like that"
"Alright, come one, I'll walk you" Puck pushed himself off of the locker he was leaning against and fell into step beside Abby. "Do you want me to come in and talk to Mr. Scheu with you?"
Abby smiled but shook her head. "You're sweet for offering, but I'm Ok"
"Suit yourself" Puck shrugged as they arrived outside of the classroom, Abby looking in to see if Mr. Scheuster was already inside, which he was. "I'll see you at lunch?"
"Well I'm probably going to end up eating at my locker again today. I don't really want to sit with the Glee kids, seeing as how we're not really talking right now, and no offence, but I'm not going to sit with the football guys, even if you and Finn are there. So you enjoy your lunch with your friends, I'll be fine" Abby said with a soft smile.
"Nope, I'm not buying it" Puck reached up to cradle Abby's cheek in his palm. "You're sad about the Glee kids. You should talk to them, tell them what they did wasn't cool"
"I think they got that message loud and clear after my little explosion last night"
"True, but try again, since you're a little calmer now. At least give it a chance to clear the air, and if you still want to freeze them out afterwards, go for it"
"And where is all of this sage advice coming from Mr. Puckerman?" Abby asked with a coy smile.
"I was on the outs with Finn and Quinn on and off for most of last semester with all of the baby drama. Sometimes I had to apologize, sometimes it was one of them. Ok, well Quinn never really apologized, but she didn't really need to. Anyway, fighting with friends sucks, and the longer it lasts the worse it gets and the more awkward it is to fix. I know your pissed now, but if you at least get the communication flowing now, it'll be easier when you're really ready to forgive them. Plus it's only like what, three weeks until Regional's and we need all hands on deck for Glee"
Abby sighed, scrubbing a hand over her face and back into her hair, exhaling deeply.
"Ok, you're right, I'll try and talk to them a little bit at lunch"
"Good, come find me after and we'll eat together, away from the Gleeks and the football guys"
Abby nodded, and started to walk into her classroom before turning to face Puck "You know you should really stop calling them Gleeks considering you are one of them" she flashed an impish grin and then turned back around and entered Mr. Scheuster's classroom, knocking lightly on the doorframe.
"Mr. Scheuster? Could I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure Abby, come on in" Mr. Scheuster smiled, setting aside the paper he was grading. "What's up?"
Abby hopped on the desk that was in front of Mr. Scheuster's desk, her bag on the floor by her feet.
"Um, well I just really wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday at rehearsal. I should not have stormed out like that and missed practice, especially so close to Regional's. It was unprofessional, and I only made myself look bad, but I was so wrapped up in being embarrassed and angry that I couldn't even be in a room with them without bursting into tears or flying into a screaming rage so I thought it best to just leave. It won't happen again"
Mr. Scheuster got up and moved so that he was sitting on his desk in front of Abby, their knees only a few inches apart, his hands resting on his desk on either side of his thighs.
"It's alright Abby, the kids explained to me what went down, and I understand why you reacted the way you did. Have you talked to anyone about all of this yet?"
"Yeah, actually, I – um, I talked to Puck" Abby said with a blush, looking down at her shoes for a moment so she didn't see the shocked look in Mr. Scheuster's face.
"Oh, well, that's...interesting" Mr. Scheuster got out and Abby looked up at him for a moment before started to giggle.
"Interesting, Mr. Scheu?" she asked and he started laughing along with her.
"You're right, maybe that's not the best word" he said once they had both calmed themselves a little. "I just didn't know you and Puck were friends"
"Well it came on kind of suddenly. That day I stayed late in the auditorium, after you should me Proud Mary? Well he forgot his guitar and came back for it and heard me singing. We talked a bit then, and have gotten closer over the last few weeks. He's actually given me some really good advice a few times now, if you can believe it"
Mr. Scheuster chuckled. "I always knew that Puck was a good person deep down, it would just take a special kind of person to bring it out of him. I'm glad you still have a friend through all of this, but it would still be good if-"
"Don't worry Mr. Scheuster, I was planning on talking to them today at lunch" Abby cut him off softly, hopping down off the desk as the first students began filtering in for the beginning of class. "I don't know if I'll be able to forgive them or trust them on a friend level for a while, but for the sake of Glee, I'll try and get things to a civil level"
"Alright, let me know how things go, and if you need help with anything, you know where to find me"
"That I do, Mr. Scheuster, that I do" Abby grinned at him as she took her seat and started getting reading for Spanish class, keeping her head down when she saw Kurt walk into the class. She felt his heavy gaze on her back throughout the whole class, and she was out of her seat before he could get to her once the bell rang.
Abby escaped out into the hallway and to her next class in record time, having to dodge Santana and Quinn, as well as Artie and Tina on her way. Once she was safely in her Glee-Free classroom, Abby settled in and tried to think of what she was going to say next period when she talked to her betrayers. The period flew by while Abby was lost in thought and it seemed like no time at all had passed until she was entering the cafeteria, smiling weakly at the encouraging look Puck gave her from the football table, and standing at the head of the table where the Gleeks all sat.
As soon as she was seen, the conversation at the table doubled as Rachel, Mercedes, Kurt, Tina, Artie, Mike and Mark all tried to get her attention to apologize. The sound came out like a dull roar that had half the cafeteria looking in their direction, wondering what the commotion was about. Abby quickly held up her hand, and the table fell silent quickly.
"Hi" Abby said lamely, and then mentally shook herself before starting again "Look, I can't say that I'm not still mad at you guys, particularly you Mercedes, for what you did. It was embarrassing, and mean, and despite the fact that you say you did it with good intentions, I still feel betrayed. I'm coming back to Glee, and I'm not going to freeze you all out during rehearsals or anything, but the way I feel right now, I can't trust you guys, or really be your friend right now. I've gone through a lot of emotional crap in my lifetime, more than you even know, though you know more than I would have liked you to, and I'm going to need some time to get over the hurt and betrayal I'm feeling right now, and to be able to trust you again. You don't need to apologize; I can tell by all of your faces that you're sorry, I'm just going to need some time before things can get back to the way there were before. I hope you guys can understand that. I'll see you all at Glee tomorrow"
Abby finished her speech and turned around and headed for the door, not looking back, the tears in her eyes threatening to overflow any second. She was out of the cafeteria doors and part way down the hallway before Puck caught up with her. He ran up behind Abby and reached out to take hold of her arm. She gave a startled yelp and whipped around, jerking her arm out of his reach before realizing who it was.
"Sorry" she muttered before turning around again and striding for the door.
"Would you slow down?" Puck demanded, taking a few large steps forwards to overtake Abby and moving in front of her so that she had nowhere to go. "And just where do you think you're trying to go?"
"I just need to get out of here Ok? I just...that was- I need to get out of here" Abby said shakily, a few tears escaping.
"Ok, just hold on, I'll get you out of here, let's go" Puck took Abby's hand and lead her out of one of the school's side doors that lead to the student parking lot. Once they reached his truck Puck let go of Abby's hand and opened the passenger door for her.
"What about school?" Abby asked quietly, rocking back and forth as if deciding whether to get into the car or walk back to the school.
"We're cutting class, it's not going to kill you, now get it" Puck said, his tone not unkind, but leaving no room for questioning.
Abby nodded to herself, as if securing her decision, and then scrambled up into the seat of the cab. Puck shut the door and ran around to the driver's side, quickly starting the vehicle and driving off before Abby could change her mind.