Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, just this little plunny here, there's a little bit of what you see during the episode in this chapter so I don't own that, just the stuff around it.

Warning: Eventual Slash so no likey no ready (take me out reference)

Summary: When Puck and Mercedes are paired together for ballads week Puck finds himself pouring his heart out to the unsuspecting girl and while everyone else is focussed on supporting Finn and Quinn over the whole baby thing, Mercedes offers her hand in friendship to the boy in need through song. Taking note of Mercedes' advice he Puck uses his own ballad to tell the world just who he is and what, or rather who he wants. Meanwhile, Kurt tries to help Finn with the whole baby fiasco as he also battles with the crush he has for the quarterback, all of which is only complicated further when he overhears Mercedes and Puck talking. Puck/Kurt slash eventually.

A/N: Sorry it's been a while, I've just had several weeks of exams and a bit of a hectic start to my second year courses (we use the last few weeks of the school term after exams in our first year, where most others have an early beginning to the summer, to start our second year). However now I am on my summer holidays so I will be able to update a lot more frequently and hopefully get a massive chunk of this fic written and posted.


Time To Face The Music

Just Another Manic Monday

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Puck POV:

I was running late this morning, I knew. Mom was working an early shift at the hospital this morning and without her there to literally yank me out of my bed I couldn't find the motivation to get up and face the hell that was waiting for me.

I didn't really notice anything different when I pulled up outside of school and walked across the parking lot, but then I spent most of the time lost in the what-ifs and the many different ways that today could pan out, so I had no idea what was waiting for me as I entered the building.

My locker was right next to the entrance so I didn't have far to walk, luckily, but as I approached it I was shocked to see Kurt, Mercedes and some of the other Gleeks waiting there for me. I quirked an eyebrow in question as I caught Kurt's gaze and was shocked when I saw the pity within those beautiful blue eyes but had little time to register it was even there before my sight was obstructed by a wave of slushie as it covered my face.

"Fag," I heard one of Karofsky's hockey guys say, followed by laughter as I wiped the slushie from my eyes. I stared after them as they walked past, their laughter still echoing back to me and for a moment I was frozen in my place...they knew?

I felt a hand latch onto my arm and soon I was being dragged towards the toilet by a determined Kurt, Mercedes striding along next to us, like you see those bodyguards do with the President, and I realised that's exactly what she was, she was there to fend off any and all attackers that might have presented themselves as we walked and she was ready to take the slushie facial herself if only to stop it hitting me. In that moment I felt like crying.

Kurt led me over to the sink once we were in the toilet, Mercedes thankfully still outside...guarding the door most likely.

"Take you shirt off," Kurt said gently as he turned the fawcett on and poured some soap into the sink.

I did as he asked, watching in a mixture of guilt and fascination as he went about cleaning my red-stained t-shirt with skilled hands...reminding me that I was one of the people that forced him into learning this skill, that gave him no choice but to adapt to having to clean slushie drenched clothes on a daily basis.

I felt the tears begin to fall then, away from the staring of the other students and faced with the hell I had put someone I really cared about through I could no longer hold them off, could no longer pretend as if I wasn't hurting. I felt safe around Kurt, I realised, as I leant against the wall, felt able to show my true emotions around him and know that he wouldn't mock me for it.

"Noah, are you okay?" I heard Kurt ask from closer than I'd expected and opening my eyes I saw that he was crouched down in front of me, his eyes full of concern as he placed his hand on my shoulder, whether to comfort me or to keep him steady I wasn't sure, but either way it felt nice.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked as I gazed into those beautiful blue eyes I'd fallen in love with two years ago, "You should hate me after all I've done to you."

"I did. Well, maybe hate is too strong a word, but I definitely disliked you for a long time. I never understood why you always picked on me so much more than the other unpopular kids, but then the other day I realised that why you were doing it. At first I hadn't believed it but then when I went home I remembered all the times that you'd looked at me with some emotion that I just couldn't place, but then you'd throw me in the dumpster or cover me in slushie and I'd forget all about that unknown emotion, but now I know what it was...pain. It hurt you more than it hurt me every time you threw me in the dumpster or ruined my clothes. Every time you did something to hurt me, it hurt you ten times more. So no I don't hate you, Noah. I hate that you felt you had to do those things to I don't know prove that you weren't gay, or maybe to get my attention...I'm not sure why you did it and I certainly don't like that you did, but I don't hate you for it." Kurt replied, his eyes shining with conviction...and was that care?

"Thank you," I whispered as I brought my hands up to wipe away my tears. Kurt just smiled as he stood up, holding a hand out to help me up before turning back to the sink.

"Now, you need to come and watch how I do this. Now that you're out I'm sure you're going to have a few more slushie facials than you're used to." Kurt said with a little laugh, and I thought it was perhaps the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard, well next to his singing of course, and I couldn't help feeling as if things would work themselves out; that everything was going to turn out okay.

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The rest of my day passed much the same as it had started...badly. Luckily I didn't have to deal with another slushie facial, but the staring continued and I was slammed into the lockers as I walked between classes more times than I could count. It was a promise of the continued hell that was sure to follow in the next weeks I was sure, after all, I used to be one of those giving the hell to some poor, unsuspecting student and the realisation of what it was like to be on the receiving end brought a whole new level of respect to those students like Kurt who dealt with the bullying with their heads held high, for those students who didn't let it get to them too much, and a sadness for those who it had a far more detrimental effect on with a side of guilt for having ever made anyone feel how I did right then.

Nothing, not the slushie facial, the body slams or the guilt could compare to how I feel right now, however, as I walked into Glee and came face to face with Quinn and Santana. I felt glad, then, that I had chosen to walk with Mercedes and Kurt as I felt one hand on my arm and another grip hold of my hand, offering silent support for which I was incredibly grateful.

"How could you do this to me?" I whispered as I stared at Quinn, tears once again beginning to spill down my cheeks as the rest of the Glee club watched on. I was shocked of course to see that she too had tears in her eyes.

"How could I do this? How could you tell Finn about the baby? You promised me that you wouldn't tell him, that you would let me be happy." Quinn replied.

"I would have kept lying to Finn, even though it was tearing me up inside to go behind his back like that, because you were my best friend, because I trusted you, because I thought you cared about me as much as I cared about you, but then I find out that you were just trying to 'cure me' of being gay. You were manipulating me into becoming straight...why would you do that?"

"I wanted to save you. My dad always told me that anyone who was gay would go to hell and I didn't want you to go to hell, you're my best friend and I love you...but I realise now that my Dad isn't always right about things, I mean look what he did when he found out about my baby. I'm so sorry that I hurt you and about what I did today...I just wanted to make you feel how I did and I told Santana that I wished I could out you or something else that would hurt you as much as this did, I didn't think she would take me seriously. I had no idea she'd actually done it until I walked in this morning."

I couldn't speak then, couldn't believe what I was hearing, couldn't bring myself to believe her. Luckily I didn't have to as I felt a hand on my shoulder and looking up I saw Finn standing next to me.

"It's too late Quinn, you've already hurt people too much...sorry just doesn't cut it," Finn said giving my shoulder a squeeze before he looked back and Mr. Schue, "I think we should get on with practise now Mr. Schue, after all, we need as much rehearsal for sectionals as possible."

"Good idea Finn. Perhaps today we could just sing whatever comes to us, sing your feelings." Mr. Schue replied.

"Is it alright if I go first?" I asked, looking up at Mr. Schue, "I have something I'd like to sing. Finn, maybe you could sing it with me?" I finished, looking over at Finn.

I needed to get what I was feeling off my chest, and I had a feeling Finn did as well, but that wasn't the only reason I asked him to sing with me. I wanted to try and fix things between us, I wanted my best friend back and I knew this was what we would need to try and get back to that place we were before.

"Sure, no problem, you guys just set up." Mr. Schue replied with a little nod and an understanding gleam in his eyes.

I looked over at Finn and saw that he was confused but he also seemed to understand what my asking him meant and he nodded a little, moving towards where I was stood near the piano. I bent over a little to talk to Brad before straightening up and turning to face the rest of the Glee club, now sitting down, and preparing to sing.

I saw recognition in my friends' eyes as the intro began to play but I didn't focus on them. Instead I let my gaze land on Quinn and Santana, who were sat separate from the rest of the Glee club members, as I began to sing.

I'm holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground
And I'm hearing what you say
But I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down
But wait...
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around and say...

When I came to the chorus I heard Finn join in beside me but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the crying girl who I'd once considered my best friend, hell I still did, still cared for her like a sister, after all, no matter what type it is, familial or romantic, you can't just turn love off like a light switch, and as I sang I felt my heart clench at the pain in her eyes, but at the same time I couldn't bring myself to forgive her.

That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

As I watched Finn singing to Quinn I could see the hurt he felt in his eyes and it only renewed my lack of interest in forgiving her, of forgiving myself for doing something that caused that sort of pain to someone I cared about. I felt the stab of guilt deep in my chest, the very same feeling I got as I watched Kurt clean my shirt earlier in the day and in that moment I realised just how lucky I was. How amazing it was that, despite all that I'd done to hurt them, both Finn and Kurt were prepared to forgive me, to look past all the wrong I'd done to them and help me, stand up for me and by me through all of this.

I'd take another chance,

take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
(But that's nothing new)Yeah yeah
I loved you with a fire red, now it's turning blue
And you say
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...

I felt like such a girl when I felt the sting of tears in my eyes, but luckily they didn't fall, although I knew that the people that really matter wouldn't think any less of me for it, but hey I have a reputation to try and hold onto.

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Woahooo woah

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah yeah
I said it's too late to apologize, a yeah

I'm holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground...

The song was met with silence as it finished, fitting to the meaning, the intensity of it. Finn and I hurried to sit down and let Mr. Schue carry on with the rest of the practise.

"Thank you guys, that was very heartfelt. I think though that perhaps we should carry on with something a little more upbeat. This is a song I've been thinking about doing for a few weeks now, I think it's quite a fun little number and I'm sure you all know it." Mr. Schue said as he started handing out music.

"The Black-Eyed-Peas? Now that's what I'm talking about," Mercedes stated and I couldn't help but to smile at her infectious enthusiasm, whatever happens with Quinn or the rest of the school I know now that I'll have Mercedes and Kurt and maybe now even Finn to back me up.


Finally a chapter, it's a little shorter than I was hoping but oh well. I'm so sorry that it's taken so long to get back into writing, but hopefully the updates should be a bit more regular now that I'm not in school for the next six weeks. As always I hope you enjoyed it and your comments and constructive criticisms are greatly appreciated.

Multi x