Tina
I was sitting in the dark hall waiting for Rachel and Puck to finish talking. I'd grown used to the dark.
After a few minutes he came out and sat next to me. His body was seething with heat.
As usual, we didn't talk for a few minutes.
He inhaled audibly, then blew the air out.
"It's good to be up here," he said.
I nodded.
"Away from all the drama. Serena's jealous. We argued. Rachel cuts. I-"
"Puck," I said, interrupting him: "I know.
Again, he breathed.
"Right I keep on forgetting that. You're wicked perceptive Tina."
I smiled.
"I'm just so caught up in, idinno."
In the darkness I looked his direction: "anxiety?"
"Yeah. that."
"I get that."
The heat diminished a little as our energies merged.
"I really don't want to go back downstairs, but Brittany's sick."
"Why couldn't Chris do it?"
"Tole me he was keeping them company."
"Oh."
Maybe Chris had done that because he was still upset about the breakup.
"Interesting point," Puck said.
"Hm?"
"That Chris had done that because he was still upset. And, that's his way of getting back of me."
"Oh."
-XXXX-
In the darkness I heard Puck move.
"Tina?" he asked.
I looked at him: "yeah?"
"Can I tell you something?"
" 'course you know you can tell me anything."
"No I mean not can I. Um. I mean. I."
I cut him off: "Puck."
"Ok."
I waited.
Years ago we'd had this silent understanding between us that if he got too anxious or caught up in what he was saying, I'd cut him off. And that still held.
"I like Mr. Schue," he said.
Unlike Brittany or Cory, who wouldn't understand what he meant, or Amber, who'd explode with a reaction, I said nothing.
"He's, really attractive. But he's our teacher and 20 years older than me and...you know."
I nodded: "mmm."
It would be weird, even against school rules.
