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Chapter 10-Written in Tears

Wednesday

Parking his car in the McKinley lot, Kurt only pretended to listen to whatever Finn was saying as he checked his hair in the rear-view mirror. As he stepped out of the car, Puck pulled up next to them in his truck. Clutching tight to the strap of his messenger bag, Kurt cautiously approached the mohawked boy.

"Good morning," Kurt greeted, his words polite but his tone of voice distant and cold. "If I may, I'd greatly appreciate the return of my stationery."

"Huh?" Puck responded as he pulled his sneaker off to shake a stone out before stepping back into it.

"The red pen I leant to you yesterday," Kurt clarified. "I want it back."

"Damn, I forgot that was yours." Puck replied with a shrug. "I leant it to Mike, sorry man."

Kurt just rolled his eyes before striding away, spotting Mike and Tina sharing sweet Asian kisses by the school entrance. Interrupting them, he asked Mike about his red pen only to discover that Mike had leant it to Sam. As soon as Kurt caught sight of Sam, he made his way towards the blonde asking for his pen. As it happened, Sam had leant the pen to Mercedes. Not realising the pen was in fact Kurt's Mercedes had seen no problem with lending the pen to Artie who had passed it on to Brittany who had given the pen to Mr. Schue.

It wasn't until morning break that Kurt managed to get a hold of Mr. Schue and enquire after his red pen, only to learn that he had leant it to Coach Beiste earlier that morning. After tracking down the Football Coach, Kurt politely asked after his pen and the woman apologised to him as she explained that Dave Karofsky had needed one so she'd let him borrow it.

"Don't worry," Kurt told her. "It's only a pen, it doesn't matter." He then left the locker room with no intention to locate Karofsky.

However, as he walked to his French class after Lunch, he was approached by Miss Pillsbury who handed him his reply from Mischief. He instantly recognised the red pen in her hand as his own and she handed it back with a smile, casually mentioning that she'd gotten the pen off of Jacob Ben Israel.

As he sat down in his French class, he placed his books on the desk before taking a quick peek at his letter. Seeing the red ink, his heart began to pound. He mentally went over the boys he knew to have had possession of his red pen, wondering if his pen-pal was one of them. Of course, it was possible that other boys had used the pen before Miss Pillsbury had taken it from Jacob. Knowing that Jacob was Mercedes' pen-pal, Kurt felt relieved to rule him out as a possible Mischief. He also reasoned that it didn't make sense for Mischief to be Sam, Mike or Artie as all of them had girlfriends and weren't miserable or lonely. Obviously, it wasn't Mr. Schue either. That left Puck and Karofsky as known male possibilities.

Thinking about it, Kurt realised that Karofsky had been acting differently. Glancing out the classroom window, Kurt sincerely hoped the identity of his pen-pal was somebody else, someone who had possibly had their hands on his pen without his knowledge. Perhaps his pen-pal had been in possession of his pen sometime after Karofsky and before Jacob. Or maybe they had used a different red pen; it wasn't as though Kurt was the only person to own a pen with red ink. He really didn't want Mischief to be Karofsky and the thought of Puck being his secret pen-pal was just absurd so Kurt instantly ruled him out.

"Monsieur Hummel." His teacher called to gain his attention.

Straightening in his seat, Kurt tucked the un-read letter away and focused on the lesson.

XXX

He'd had good intentions that afternoon. He fully planned to attend Math class and work hard so he could get good grades, just as his Winter Babe had encouraged him too. Instead, Puck found himself in the Auditorium listening to Santana complain about her mother and some guy the older Lopez woman was dating.

"I mean who does he think he is?" Santana demanded as she kicked at one of the chairs. "That's my house, not his. It's not like he's family or anything. He's just some stupid boy whose name my mum won't even remember as soon as she moves on to the next asshole. He has no right to ask me to hang out with friends after school so they can have the house to themselves for some big gay romantic thing."

"What was this guy's name again?" Puck asked from where he sat on the second row of seats, leaning across the seat in front of him on the front row.

"Jed." Santana told him spitting the name out like it was a great insult.

"Is he really an asshole?" Puck questioned watching the girl pace back and forth.

"He's fucking my mum." Santana said by way of an answer. "Any idiot who falls around with a married woman qualifies as an asshole, and yes, that includes you pool-boy."

"Has he hurt you?" Puck asked her choosing to ignore the little insult she'd thrown at him.

"No." Santana answered. "The dork wouldn't be able to take me in a fight anyway." She insisted.

"Has he tried to put the moves on you?" Puck asked.

"No, never." Santana replied. "Clearly the loser doesn't know a totally hot chick when he sees one."

"So he's never hit you or tried anything remotely sexual with you?" Puck asked just to be sure.

"No." Santana confirmed.

"As far as assholes go he sounds like an alright dude." Puck said. "Cut the guy some slack. He's not the one you should be mad at. Your mum's the one with a wedding ring on her finger."

"She never wears it." Santana interjected. "The old whore probably sold it."

"But she's still married," Puck said. "So she's the one who's cheating. And from everything you've told me, it sounds like this Jed guy cares about your mum. Is that really such a bad thing?"

"Yes," Santana insisted. "He's trying to act like he's my dad or something when he's not. I have a dad. I don't need some college boy trying to act like a father figure in his spare time when he's not drooling over my mother who hardly even acknowledges his existence. Trust me, it won't last."

"They've lasted this long though right?" Puck asked. "I mean usually your mum throws these guys away after a couple of days or two weeks tops. This Jed guy's been in the picture for a while. Maybe it's the real deal."

"No, it is not the real deal. It's not anything. I have my useless pathetic excuse for a mother and I have my dad. I don't need anybody else." Santana huffed.

"Lopez, if I ask you something do you promise not to punch me in the face?" Puck asked cautiously.

"Fine, but if you piss me off I'll totally boot you in the nuts instead." Santana warned before slumping down into the seat beside him and signalling for him to ask his question.

"When's the last time you actually saw your dad?" Puck asked and Santana froze up before crossing her arms over her chest.

"Being a doctor is a tough job." Santana said in a defensive manner. "His patients need him. He's good at what he does and he's dedicated. There's nothing wrong with that. He's one of the best doctors in Lima; they really need him at the hospital. It's not his fault he can't be home a lot."

"You didn't answer my question." Puck pointed out quietly.

"It's been a while ok," Santana retorted moodily. "Nearly four months now."

"Santana…" Puck began but the girl was storming away before he could say anymore. He let out a sigh as he watched her go before running a hand through his mohawk. He couldn't be too sure with what was going on with Santana's family, she rarely offered personal information after all, but doctor or not, four months was too long a time to not visit one's daughter. It seemed like Santana's old man had walked out on her but the girl was clearly in denial about it. "I know how it feels, babe." Puck said to the empty auditorium.

XXX

After leaving the auditorium, Santana had locked herself in a toilet stall and slammed the toilet seat down before collapsing upon it and bursting into tears. Dropping her head in her hands, she furiously tried to wipe the tears away but more kept flowing. She slowly rocked herself back and forth as she sobbed. She missed her dad. There had been a quick phone call with him around two months ago but it hadn't lasted long. He had told her he was needed to perform some form of surgery before hanging up without so much as a goodbye. She'd tried to call many times after that but she'd never been able to get through.

There had been a couple of days when she'd returned home from school and it certainly seemed like he had been there, but she'd never seen him. She understood that her dad's job was important, but being a dad was a much more important job than being a doctor. He should try to be home more often and make an effort to spend time with his only daughter. They used to have such fun times together. Santana missed that, she missed her daddy.

Drying her eyes and taking deep breaths, she fought to regain her composure. Stepping out of the toilet stall, she glanced over her reflection in the mirror. Satisfied that there was no evidence of her emotional breakdown, she headed out and made her way to class, uncaring of her lateness. Sitting by the window, she hastily copied down some notes from the board.

XXX

After his final class of the day, Kurt headed to the other side of the building. On Wednesday afternoons he tutored some younger students in French. Stepping into the classroom, he smiled at Sam who came along for homework help sometimes before making his way to a table in the far corner where a group of three girls and two boys were seated. Joining them, he took his books out before doing his best to help them read write and speak the foreign language.

It was while he was trying to correct one of the girl's pronunciations that he felt an odd tingling at the back of his neck. He rubbed the area where the odd sensation was before twisting round in his chair. His eyes widened in slight surprise as he saw Puck sidling into the room and slouching his way over to Miss Pillsbury stating that he'd missed Math class and could use some help catching up. The Guidance Counsellor smiled at him before directing him to join the table nearest Kurt where a small group were being tutored by a girl in the year above them.

As Puck moved to sit down, he felt Kurt's stare and the two caught eyes for a while before Kurt turned away, trying to fight off a blush that was beginning to bloom on his normally pale cheeks.

An hour later when the tutoring sessions had come to an end, Kurt gathered his things and made his way through the corridors. He was aware of a presence a little way behind him and he could tell from the shadow that it was Puck. He chose to ignore the other boy completely and continued down the hall silently until he heard his name being called out. Turning, he found that Sam was jogging to catch up to him.

"Well hello Sam Evans, how can I be of help?" Kurt asked pausing to wait for the blonde.

"Are you hanging out with 'Cedes tonight?" He questioned.

"We've agreed to go out for dinner as a matter of fact." Kurt answered him.

"Great," Sam grinned rummaging for something in his bag. "Think you could give her this from me?" He asked handing over a mixed C.D that he appeared to have made himself.

"Of course." Kurt replied taking the C.D case containing the disc.

"Thanks dude," Sam said casually patting Kurt's shoulder in gratitude. "I'd give it to her myself but I promised Quinn I'd hang out with her tonight. She's been a little upset lately. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong."

"I'm sure you're not doing anything wrong." Kurt told him feeling another talk with his step-brother would be necessary. The Finn-Quinn cheating needed to be resolved before Sam or Rachel got hurt. "Girls are just highly complicated beings with ever changing moods. Don't try to understand them, just accept them the way they are."

"Right, well thanks Kurt, um I'd better get going." Sam said. "Quinn hates when I'm late."

"I'll make sure Mercedes gets this." Kurt assured him waving the C.D before watching Sam jog off.

Slowing down a little, Kurt slipped the C.D into his messenger bag. He was reminded of Puck being so close behind him when he felt the other boy's muscular arm brush against his own. Hitching his bag higher on his shoulder, Kurt silently followed behind Puck out into the parking lot where their vehicles were parked side-by-side.

As the two of them took out the keys to their cars, Kurt felt as though he should say something to the other teen. Catching Puck's eye on him, he opened his mouth as if to say a goodbye of some kind but nothing came out. Closing his mouth, Kurt settled for sending the Jewish teen one of his icy bitch glares before slipping into his car.

Puck drove his truck out through the school gates ahead of Kurt, driving deliberately slow just to annoy the male diva. Scowling, Kurt honked his car horn impatiently hoping for the mohawked boy to hurry up. Puck flipped Kurt the finger in retaliation and waited a further minute and a half before finally driving on.

"Such a Neanderthal." Kurt muttered to himself as he drove to the Jones' to pick up Mercedes for their friendly dinner date.

"Hey White Boy." Mercedes greeted joyously heading out the front door to join Kurt in his car once he had pulled up outside.

"Mercedes," Kurt smiled pulling the C.D from his bag. "A gift to you from Mr. Samuel Evans." He started up the car and began the drive to Breadsticks. "Tell me 'Cedes, would you have any objection to me trying to set up two fabulous people?"

"Not really," Mercedes shrugged. "Although you're not exactly a great match-maker Kurt."

"I'll have you know I am an excellent match-maker," Kurt argued. "Might I remind you that I set up my dad and Carole who are now happily married?"

"True," Mercedes acknowledged with a nod of her head. "But you only set them up hoping to get closer to Finn, so messed up by the way." She added with a small snigger.

"Am I ever going to live down the fact I had such a pathetic crush on the douche that is now my step-brother?" Kurt asked with a sigh.

"I might stop teasing you about it by the time we're fifty." Mercedes answered. "So Cupid, who were you planning on setting up this time?"

"You and Sam." Kurt replied.

"No way." Mercedes responded instantly.

"'Cedes please, Sam's a total stud and you'd be so cute together." Kurt said. "There's already something between you two, I can see it."

"We're just friends." Mercedes commented. "Besides, Sam has Quinn."

"No he doesn't." Kurt replied with a shake of his head. "Not really. Quinn's sneaking around with Finn behind Sam's back. She doesn't deserve a good guy like Sam."

"Whatever, those two are still dating and I am not gonna try and come in between them." Mercedes said. "And that means you are not gonna try and set me up with Sam, we clear?"

"Very well," Kurt relented. "But if Quinn and Sam break up can I try and get you guys together then? You can't honestly tell me you don't feel at least something for him."

"Ok, I kinda like the guy." Mercedes admitted. "But we're just friends and that's the way it has to stay. For now at least. But maybe I can set you up with someone." She said thoughtfully as they parked up and made their way into Breadsticks. "How about Puck?" She asked jokingly.

"Oh of course, he and I are simply a match made in heaven." Kurt answered sarcastically through his laughter.

XXX

She finally found the courage to enter the hospital building. Santana hadn't gone home after school since she knew her mum and Jed were supposed to be having a romantic evening together. Of course, romantic evening probably meant vanilla sex without any arguing before or after. So Santana had decided to visit her dad at the hospital. Maybe if the man just saw her he'd realise how much he missed his little girl and he'd make more of an effort to see her.

Heading up to the Reception Desk she enquired after Doctor Lopez only to learn that he wasn't working that night. Confused, Santana kicked up a bit of a fuss, demanding to know where her dad was. In the end, an old nurse who recognised Santana took her arm and calmed her down a little before leading her out of the hospital. She then wrote an address down on a scrap of paper and handed it to Santana with a sympathetic look.

After staring at the unfamiliar dress for a long time, Santana began to make her way there. She found herself walking up a long garden path, plenty of brightly coloured flowers perfuming the air all over the garden. Reaching the door, she pressed the doorbell and waited for somebody to answer. The door was opened by a woman she didn't recognise.

"Can I help you?" The woman asked in a sugary voice that didn't match the harsh features of her face.

"I'm looking for my dad." Santana replied, her eyes drawn to the woman's nose; it was even bigger than Berry's.

"Honey, who is it?" A male voice called from inside the house and Santana instantly recognised the voice as that of her father's.

"Honey?" Santana repeated glaring at the woman. "What the fuck?" She demanded before pushing the woman aside and making her way into the house.

Entering the living-room, she found her dad seated on the couch with a baby boy on his lap and a girl who looked to be four or five dancing around the room in a ballet outfit.

"Dad?" Santana asked unsure what to make of all the things she was seeing. Her eyes flickered to the mantelpiece above the fireplace where a few photo frames were resting. The photo images featured her dad with one arm around the woman and one hand resting on the little girl's shoulder, the baby boy held in the woman's arms. A family photo, Santana realised as a lump formed in her throat.

"Daddy, who is she?" The little girl asked pointing to Santana.

"No-one Tanya," the woman answered as she took the baby-boy into her arms and looked back at Santana. "This young lady was just leaving." She said giving Santana a hard look.

"Fuck you." Santana swore at the woman.

Her dad stood up and took hold of Santana's arm before leading her out of the house.

"Who the fuck are they?" Santana demanded to know, hating the way her voice cracked.

"That's my family." Mr. Lopez replied. "Padro is my son, Tanya is my step-daughter and Nina is my new wife."

"What about me?" Santana asked.

"You're a big girl now, Santana." Mr. Lopez told her. "You don't need me, but these kids do. Anyway, you have your mother."

"But I want you." Santana choked out. "Who cares about some little girl, she isn't even yours and by the time she's my age she'll be the biggest loser in High School. And that woman looks like she's auditioning to play an uglier version of Pinocchio and babies suck. They just eat, poop, sleep and cry. Forget about them, just take me home. We can be a family again."

"It's not that simple." Mr. Lopez told her sounding irritated. "Your mother and I don't love each other anymore."

"Fine, screw mum. We can find somewhere new to live, just you and me." Santana said.

"That isn't going to happen," Mr. Lopez replied. "My responsibilities are to my new family. You're a good girl, Santana, you understand that."

"What? No, that's bullshit." Santana argued. "I'm your daughter. You can't just leave me. Daddy, please, let's just go home."

"This is my home now." Mr. Lopez said. "I have a new family and a new life. You can't be a part of that now, sweetheart. You should leave now."

"Daddy." Santana whispered desperately but the man turned his back on her and stepped inside the house before shutting the door. "Daddy, daddy, please. Daddy, don't leave! I still need you, daddy!" She shouted banging on the door so hard her fists hurt, but he didn't answer her calls. "Daddy." She sobbed brokenly before a neighbour came out and offered a few kind words as she led Santana away from the house.

Pulling away from the woman, Santana took off at a run and didn't stop until she was back home. She was still crying as she rushed up to her bedroom. Barely a minute later there was a tentative knock on her door before Jed stepped inside.

"Santana?" He asked gently.

"Just go away." She replied pitifully.

"Hey, ssh, come on, don't cry." Jed soothed as moved towards the bed and rested a hand on her shoulder. "What is it?" He asked but she didn't answer. "Your mum's gone out," Jed said. "But I could take you to one of your friend if you'd feel more comfortable talking to them. How about that Brittany girl?"

Santana just shook her head before throwing her arms around the college student and crying into his neck.

"Ssh, it's ok. It's going to be ok." Jed assured her stroking her hair.

She managed to calm down enough to explain to Jed what had happened with her father. She then asked for him to leave her alone and he told her he'd be downstairs if she needed him before leaving her. Santana then grabbed a pen and wrote a quick letter to Rachel, her tears falling down onto the page.

I hate cheaters. I always figured my mum was cheating on my dad. Now I think they were probably cheating on each other. And they aren't the only ones. I know for a fact that Finn and Quinn are fooling around with each other. I saw it with my own eyes. Finn Hudson is a freakishly tall idiot with man boobs and Quinn Fabray is a cheating little slut!

The pain of her father's rejected was eating away at her. Santana decided the easiest way to deal with her pain was to make someone else hurt. So she wrote down the truth about Finn and Quinn, knowing that Rachel was her pen-pal and that she'd be devastated to read such a thing. Then Rachel would confront Finn about it and he wouldn't be able to lie convincingly. Rachel would be heartbroken and Sam would be upset too.

XXX

After getting home from spending his night with Mercedes, Kurt was tired. Too tired to have another talk with Finn about how wrong it was to cheat and that he needed to sort his love life out. He was also too tired to read the letter from Mischief. He just collapsed fully clothed onto his bed, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. The letter would have to wait until the morning.

To Be Continued

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Love and Hugs, IceQueenRia xxx