Chapter 14:

Puck hung up the phone with a sigh, his mind buzzing from both his thoughts and the booze he had drank. After his little… encounter with Finn at practice that day, he had needed something to distract himself, and his secret stash of booze served that perfect nicely. It tasted like horse piss, but it got the job done in only two cans.

Combine being tipsy with a troubled mind, and it was only natural that you'd get slightly drunken phone calls.

That conversation with Kate had dulled his buzz and the pleasant fog that had previously clouded his mind and tempered his emotions was lifting. Now that his senses were returning to him, he was beginning to regret some of the things he had said.

He had almost admitted that he… that he felt things for her besides lust. Puck had never been in… whatever he was in. He just didn't do the emotional attachment thing. The only people he would miss even remotely if they suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth were his mom, his sister, and Finn.

Needless to say, Kate had managed to sign her name onto that small list of people.

Kate made him feel like he was out of his mind! She sometimes reminded him of Quinn—and he admitted that was probably one of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place. If he couldn't have Quinn, maybe he could have the girl who made him think of her.

Pathetic? …Yes.

But… that was no longer the case. Kate had managed to break herself away from that mold of 'attractive bitchy girl' and eventually, he came to see the other qualities of her. Kate was indeed bitchy, but in a more amusing way than spiteful. Kate was emotional, intelligent, sophisticated, hot, and a million other little things that just made her Kate.

He wanted to know every single thing about her, and that scared him. He had never felt this way about another girl in his life. He wanted to run away from it as much as he wanted to embrace it and never let it go. That was probably why he had agreed to her rather severe condition for their date.

Puck snorted lightly. It was just like Kate to make things so melodramatic. But, despite thinking that, it did nothing to curve his anxiety.

While he still feared the outcome, no matter what happened, Puck would accept it.

If she was swept of her feet and finally realized how much she wanted his hot body… Perfect! However, in the worst case scenario—if she determined that she felt nothing for him, he would back down gracefully (or as gracefully as he could manage) and let her go to Finn.

…Finn.

It all seemed to come back to the tall teen who was (unfortunately) his best friend. Finn wanted to share Kate, and Puck still couldn't wrap his mind around that. Yes, he understood it, but he just couldn't accept it!

Sharing? Yeah right.

Finn just didn't get it. He was far too naïve and gullible, and it seemed as if once more Puck would have to swoop in and save his sorry ass.

That thought made him chuckle.

…Trying to save Finn was actually the opposite of what he was doing. If it turned out Kate wanted to be with him, there would be no 'sharing'. Still, if she rejected him, that just went to show that he and Kate wouldn't work anyway, threesome or no.

Ever since Finn had told him about his plan, Puck's thoughts just couldn't seem to leave it. Unfortunately, thinking of that also brought along the unwanted reminder of his father.

Puck's father… He was a despicable man who Puck wanted to be nothing like. But it seemed no matter how he tried, he was doomed to be just like him.

Growling, Puck punched the wall angrily. He would end this ridiculous situation they found themselves in; if not for everyone else's sake, then for his sanity.

The date was set for Saturday night, and Kurt bit his lip as he paced his room. While indeed Puck had agreed to his ultimatum, he still worried. Since the word of the month seemed to be honesty, he had to admit that he did have a miniscule amount of feelings developing for the mohawked boy. On that night that seemed like so long ago when Puck had sung to him, a seed had been sown. Over the course of the weeks they spent conversing, that seed had managed to take root inside his heart in the form of a tentative bond.

It had happened suddenly and without warning, but… Puck was his friend.

If Finn didn't exist, Kurt could almost imagine himself growing closer to Puck and maybe (this was a big maybe) even developing something… more. As it stood now, the two boys did have a piece of his heart—there was no use denying that—but Finn's share was easily the largest. Most of his heart already belonged to Finn, and as such, Kurt couldn't knowingly continue doing whatever it was he was doing with Puck.

Underneath that tough exterior he tried to display, Kurt was slowly beginning to see the sensitive little boy buried inside. Kurt didn't know anything about Puck's childhood, and he couldn't even begin to guess, but he could say with certainty that there were scars there that still hurt him to this day.

That was why Kurt wanted to just… end this. It was getting out of his control, and he was setting up more than just himself for heartbreak, and that was wrong of him. If Finn and Puck became too attached to Kate, it would only hurt them more in the end if they ever found out the truth.

Kurt stopped in his tracks and sighed in frustration. If he knew the situation would spiral out of control so, he never would have gone to the mall that fateful day in the first place!

But… if that were the case, he also would have never become closer to the pair of unlikely best friends.

Then again, his life before those two was filled with much less drama and headaches.

It was also overflowing with more loneliness and sadness.

Groaning, Kurt sank to the floor and sat with his knees tucked under his chin. Days like these were the times he wished his mother were still alive and healthy. She always knew what to say, no matter if the situation was completely mundane or something his young mind stressed over.

He could go to his father on the issue, but the man probably wouldn't know the first thing to say. In the end, they'd both just stumble awkwardly and Kurt's sexuality would be the giant elephant in room.

With his mother, he felt that wouldn't be the case. She would lovingly hold him in her arms and listen to his troubles patiently. As he talked, she would run her fingers through his hair, calming him so thoroughly he was only a step away from sleep. After he finished talking, she would have a piece of advice that was usually exactly what he needed to hear. Then they would pop a movie into the VCR and giggle away together into the night.

Kurt didn't know when, but tears were beginning to leak out of his eyes.

Hugging himself, he asked feebly, "Mom… What should I do?"

It was Tuesday afternoon, and Finn found himself once more at the Fabray residence, watching a movie with Quinn while her parents were in another room talking quietly about something.

Quinn had called him up rather suddenly after giving him the silent treatment for nearly a week and asked him to come over. At first he had been a little hesitant to take her up on her offer, but then he remembered that technically they were still seeing each other, and that was something he needed to resolve as soon as possible.

That was how he found himself watching "Bring It On" of all things in the Fabray's living room, sitting on their leather loveseat with Quinn curled against his arm. While usually he would revel in such a small pleasure (her boobs were pressing up against his arm!) he found that he just couldn't relax, too nervous with the knowledge of what he was planning to do.

"Popcorn?"

"W-what?!" Finn started violently, staring blankly down at Quinn who gave him a narrow eyed stare in return. In her hands was a bowl of popcorn, and she gestured to it obviously, a look on her face that said he was an idiot.

"O-Oh, popcorn! Yeah, sure. I looove popcorn. Um, yeah." Shutting up, he grabbed a large handful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth, humming as if it were the best thing he ever tasted.

"Okay, what's wrong with you?" Quinn asked, taking the remote from the small table in front of the couch to pause the movie.

"I was watching that," he complained lamely.

Quinn scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Finn, really. You've been spacing out since you got here—well, spacing out more than you usually do anyway." Eyes narrowing, she asked again, "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing," Finn denied, looking away. Quinn always made him nervous, and it probably didn't help that she was doing that stare. That one that seemed to say he was an insignificant insect that would be crushed beneath her heel if he managed to upset her.

"Don't lie to me, Finn; you're a terrible liar."

"I'm not lying," Finn lied.

"Then why aren't you looking at me?"

As if to refute her, Finn turned toward her and she now had her arms crossed, leaning away from him.

"Nothing's wrong," he stressed. "Can we just watch the movie now?"

"…Alright," Quinn agreed after several moments of tense silence. Finn gave her a strained smile and moved to grab the remote.

"So, who is she?"

Finn's hands stopped inches from the plastic object. As if he knew a ravenous monster was right behind him, he turned his head slowly to face her, his throat suddenly dry.

Her expression seemed to become colder at his reaction. "Is it that Kate girl?"

Finn gulped, his brain scrambling furiously. No matter what lie he thought up, he just couldn't open his mouth to tell it. Usually, his mouth fired off things without his brain's input, but when he did consult his brain, his mouth wanted to remain silent!

At his prolonged silence she shook her head. "It is her, isn't it?"

Seeing no other alternative, Finn could only nod his head weakly.

"Did you have sex with her?" Quinn asked, looking down her nose at him coldly.

Once more, Finn gulped but managed to shake his head no.

Quinn seemed to relax slightly, but her glare didn't lighten in the least. "So, what did you do?"

"We…" Finn inhaled deeply, his eyes squeezing shut. "We kissed…"

She watched him for several long moments, the air in the room almost suffocating. Finn's arm was still outstretched toward the remote, but he made no move to retract it. All he could think about was what Quinn was going to do to him.

Would she call him a pig and attack him with her bare hands? Would she give him a verbal lashing so severe he broke down into pitiful sobs? Or worse… Would she tell her harsh looking farther, who would proceed to personally show him Christian hell?

When he didn't feel or hear any of those things happening, he peeked open an eye curiously. She was still watching him, but her face had returned to its normal haughty look.

"Okay," she said finally, shrugging lightly.

Finn was finally able to regain control of his body and sat up in shock. "Wait—what?"

She once more resumed the movie and only regarded him long enough to glare. "You didn't have sex with her, so I don't mind… much. Just be sure it doesn't happen again."

"That's… that's it?" Finn couldn't help but ask, still blinking in confusion.

Sighing flippantly, Quinn settled comfortably into the coach and popped a single piece of popcorn into her mouth. "As long as you keep it in your pants, I don't care what you do… as long as it's not with that Kate girl."

Finn's mouth literally dropped open in shock. Right now, he didn't know what he should be feeling. Should he be relieved? Disappointed? Happy? The only thing he felt was bewilderment. He could do what he wanted as long as it wasn't with Kate?

Tentatively, he questioned, "You aren't… mad?"

"No… Why?" She turned to him with a frown. "Should I be?"

"No!" he denied quickly. "Wait—yes!"

Quinn turned her attention completely on him. "You're off the hook," she began slowly, "so why aren't you happy?"

Inhaling through his nose, he decided it was now or never. "Quinn…"

He opened his mouth, but her narrowed eyed stare had even the words on his tongue fleeing in fright. Mind blank and heart hammering wildly, Finn blathered, "Y-You see… Quinn… I, us, we just… I just don't know what to do about—"

She held up her hand and he stilled immediately. "I can't believe these… you're breaking up with me!"

Quinn looked as if she had just heard a funny joke, but Finn had been around her long enough to know better. When dealing with Quinn Fabray, you don't read her face, you read her eyes. She was able to manipulate her expression into whatever she wanted—like now. Her face was an incredulous smile, but hey eyes spoke of the anger and shock she was truly feeling.

Gulping, Finn leaned away warily.

"Finn," Quinn bit out, her smile becoming more forced, "You're dating the hottest and most popular girl in McKinley High. Think about what that does for your reputation. Now, think about what would happen to that rep if you broke up with me!"

Finn didn't know if that was a threat or not, but his reputation at school was the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. Even though it was a little under two weeks away, school felt insignificant compared to other things he wanted to focus on, least of all his rep.

"I don't care," he said, frowning at her.

A scandalized look arose to her face, and he realized that it was probably the first time he had stood up to her in the two months they had been "dating".

"You will care," she glared, her phony nonchalant act disappearing to show the true frustration she felt. "We're no longer freshman, Finn. We can run the entire school if we wanted to—me as the cheerleading captain and you as the athletic star! Don't you want that?"

"Wait," Finn frowned, standing. "That's the reason we started going out? So you could… 'run the school'?"

Quinn rolled her eyes and glared up at him. "Yes."

For some reason, that dug into him a little more than he would have liked. Face twisting, he asked, "You were just using me?"

Once more, she snapped impatiently, "Yes. It's not like I was hiding it or anything! I don't see the big deal."

"The big deal," Finn cried, resisting the urge to gesture wildly, "is that I liked you! And I thought you liked me!" He looked at Quinn closely, hoping to see that his words were having some effect on her. She stared back at him with indifference.

Growling, he shook his head. "Jeez, I can't believe I was so stupid!"

Quinn snorted, but Finn was in no mood to put up with her belittling comments. Not even bothering to spare her a glance, he began walking toward the exit. Quinn leapt off the couch and followed quickly, calling after him.

"Finn! Where are you going?" she demanded.

"Home," Finn said savagely, "We're through."

Just as he was passing through the living room, a masculine voice called from another room, "Quinn? Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine, daddy!" Her voice dropping into a harsh whisper, she ordered, "Finn, stop!"

He did, but only to s stare at her over his shoulder sadly from the threshold of the Fabray house. Behind him, the sun hung high in the sky but was beginning its downward descent as night drew near.

She sighed in relief and smoothed down her hair, eyeing him critically. "If this is about sex, then—"

"It's not," Finn interrupted, turning around to face her fully. "This isn't even about you. It's about me and my heart."

A look of disgust rose to Quinn's face. "You cannot be serious."

Finn frowned. "I am. Look, Quinn… even if you never told me any of that junk, I was going to break up with you anyway. I just… I just don't like you anymore." He shrugged apologetically, but that did nothing to dampen her returning anger.

"You'll regret this, Finn," she declared seriously.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't think I will."

Without another word, he turned and left, Quinn staring gob smacked at his back. When he was halfway down the block, she finally broke free of her stupor. She gave a severe growl before slamming the door with all her might.

Finn continued to walk on, his shoulders feeling lighter than they had in weeks.

A/N: ...aaaand there you go.

This chapter has undergone so many revisions its not even funny. If you saw any grammar errors... I'm sorry. I have bad luck with beta's and am reluctant to get another one.

Anyway, I finally feel like I've done enough to actually justify that 'Drama' tag! Yay! Unfortunately, there is still a ways to go before we get some threesome loving.

I would love to hear what everyone's thinking so far! So, leave a little review pl0x!