Strung Together

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and that's a good thing.

So lately I've come across a few fics about strings of fate and this idea popped into my head so I had to write it. Hope you guys like it!

Info for this fic: Italics is for thoughts unless otherwise stated. Takes places during season 2. Kinda AU. Karofsky threatened Kurt and got expelled then let back in. Kurt didn't go to Dalton. Rated as it is for language.

A teenager's sixteenth birthday was a momentous occasion, and not just because they're that much closer to adulthood. It's because from that day forward they're anticipating find out who their soul mate is. They await that special moment when the strings of fate on their pinkies meet with another. The past eight months have seemed to crawl by for one Kurt Hummel. Truthfully though, he's not sure why he's so anxious about this. He believes there's a snowball's chance in hell that his soul mate would be found in this backwoods cow town. He was too good for this town and its people. Kurt shook his head, trying to rid himself of these thoughts. Knowing his focus needed to be on his upcoming US History class, he went to take one last glance at his cell phone when his body slammed into something solid and sent him to the ground. Ouch! That hurt. First thing he did was to take stock of his body. Nothing really hurt; it was more the shock of it all. Second he looked for what he ran into. Not a wall. His eyes widened. Well, shit. I woulda preferred hitting a wall. Two large figures were on the ground across from him: badass Gleek Noah Puckerman and meathead neanderthal David Karofsky. Oh, god. They're gonna kill me. I'm so dead.

"The hell?!" Puckerman grunted.

"I'm so sorry!" Kurt exclaimed.

"Chill, princess. You okay? Karofsky?"

"Fine," the larger jock huffed.

The three students shuffled up the papers that scattered on their impact. They were reaching for the fallen text books when they noticed…

"Holy – "

"Fucking – "

"Shit."

Their strings – they were connected. All three of them. No! Kurt and Karofsky kept shooting panicked looks between them all while Puck closed his eyes in resignation on a deep exhale. Puck opened his eyes and took in the pale diva and jock before him. "You're both okay? Not hurt?" They shook their heads. "Come on then, we need to head to Miss Pillsbury." Miss P wasn't just the guidance counselor; she was the teacher that handled any and all questions or concerns in relation to strings of fate – all schools had at least one knowledgeable individual. They gathered the rest of their belongings and made the way to Miss Pillsbury's office. Puck tapped his knuckles on the office's door frame. The red headed woman looked up from the pamphlets she was organizing.

"Noah?"

"Hey, Miss P. You got a minute? Looks like we got a connection."

She straightened with a smile, "really? How wonderful. Come on in." She grabbed her box of pamphlets and turned to place them on the surface behind her. When she turned back around her eyes widened. "Oh, my." Kurt Hummel and David Karofsky were seated in the chairs before her desk, Puck leaning against the glass wall behind them. "So, who..?" she asked with a questioning glance at the standing jock.

Without words, the three teens put out their hands, strings instantly connecting. Puck didn't think it was possible for Miss Pillsbury's doe-like eyes to widen any further, but when she saw the connection they did. "The three of you?" she whispered in wonder. She shook her head. She needed to get herself together, these children needed her. Clearing her throat, she looked at the teens with a too bright smile. "What a special – "

"What's going on? This can't be happening. Something's wrong," Kurt interrupted. He usually didn't like interrupting adults, but he was freaking out so he figured it was allowed.

"Kurt, there isn't anything wrong."

"Yes, there is. How can all three of our strings connect?"

"It's rare, but a three-soul connection does happen. Let me ask you a question that's going to sound weird. Have you ever noticed anything different or odd about your string?"

Kurt wrinkled his nose in thought. Well there was that one thing… "Maybe? One day, I don't remember when, I did notice that my string seemed weird. Almost like it was fraying at the end?"

"Were you not curious?"

"I guess I was kinda scared that something wasn't right," he shrugged his shoulders.

She gave him a gentle smile, "there's nothing wrong. What about you, Noah? Dave?"

Puck shrugged, "I didn't think much of it. Figured it was normal or whatever. Never thought to ask anyone about it."

"Didn't pay any attention. Had other stuff to worry about," Karofsky mumbled.

Miss Pillsbury idly straightened the pens on her desk. "I understand. I don't want you boys to stress too much about this. Like I said, this happens, it's just rare. If it'll make you feel any better, I can research it for you so you'll have more information on it. Would you like that?" Kurt nodded his head vigorously. "I'd be happy to. Now I know you're all probably feeling pretty overwhelmed, and feeling like you're going to freak out so I don't want you going to class just yet. I want you all to take some time to calm your thoughts and gather yourself. Sit somewhere quiet: the choir room, the locker room, the auditorium, wherever. Just take that time for yourselves. I want you all to understand that it's all really going to be okay. You're not alone; I promise you. Do any of you have any questions?" She quickly grabbed her stack of hall passes, filling them out for the three young men. They shook their heads in the negative grabbing the hall pass she held out to them. "Come back and see me if you need to," she dismissed them with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She had some work to do.

The boys stood in the hallway in a triangle; eyes swinging from one boy to the next. Puck broke the silence, "this is fucking crazy. Where are y'all going now?'

Karofsky shrugged, "weight room I guess. Maybe I can forget all this for a bit or something."

"I'm gonna go to the auditorium I guess. I can't believe this," Kurt replied.

"Cool," Puck nodded, "you mind if I hang in the auditorium too? I won't bother you. I just need to go sit."

"I guess."

"'K. See ya later, Karofsky?" The larger teen gave a quick nod and wandered off. "Let's go." Puck shoved his hands in his front pockets and headed to the auditorium, Kurt following a step or two behind him. My god this day has not started out how I ever would've imagined. I can't believe I got my match. I connected with not just one dude but two. I'm surprised I'm not really freaking out that it's with a guy. Why does that not freak me the fuck out? Hell if I know. But, two people? I've never had a real relationship with a single person. How can I possibly do it with two? Okay, Puck, chill the fuck out. You're getting ahead of yourself. Just breathe. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he was surprised to find himself seated in a chair in the front row of the auditorium. He has no recollection of his walk there. He looked up to find Kurt pacing back and forth on the stage. He's about to flip out, isn't he?

Kurt kept running his hands through his hair, something he was sure he'd yell at himself for later. If there was ever a time to ruin his impeccable hair-do it was now. As he paced the stage, he forgot he wasn't alone and started mumbling to himself. "How is this happening? This doesn't make any sense. I'm not supposed to find my mate in this stupid ass town. Or should I say mates?" He scoffed frustrated. "Is this some sort of a joke, Universe? I'm connected to the two jocks that bullied me the most? Seriously, those two neanderthals?"

"Hey!" Puck interjected, making Kurt jump with a squeak.

"Sweet Gaga you scared me."

Puck stood up and slowly made his way onto the stage. "Forgot I was here and started talking trash about me, huh?"

Okay, Kurt was a little scared now. "I wouldn't say talking trash…" Now is he going to kill me?

"Look, I know I've been a complete ass," Puck started.

Kurt snorted, "That's one way to put it."

"Whatever. I didn't treat you great; I totally get that. But I thought things got better with Glee Club."

"Yes, you did quit bullying me after you joined Glee for the most part. Except for when you make remarks about me being gay or being a girl."

"I do that to everyone, dude."

"Don't call me dude."

"Fine, Kurt," he made sure to emphasize the boy's name. He was surprised when Kurt gave him a little smile in return. "Back to our, you know, situation. I'm guessing you never woulda expected this?"

"Ha! You're telling me. I had resigned myself to not finding my soul mate until I was as far away as I could get from this pathetic dump of a town. And now I quite literally crash my way into this? It's unbelievable. Wait, how are you so calm about this?"

"I ain't got a clue. I was freaking out a little on the way in here, but I don't know," Puck shrugged and rubbed his hand through his mohawk. "Maybe I'll go batshit later."

"Don't want to be around to see that."

"Dude… sorry, Kurt… I'm not gonna take it out on your or something. It's the universe."

"What are we going to do?"

"Do about what?"

"This whole thing!"

"I don't know. Just because fate decided all this it doesn't mean we have to follow through with it. We don't have to be together."

Kurt's jaw dropped. "You'd give up your soul mate?" he whispered.

"I wouldn't want to, but I'm not gonna force someone to be in a situation they don't want to be in. And we just found out. We don't have to make any life altering decisions right this second."

"Wow."

Puck's brow furrowed, "what?"

"You just managed to calm me down."

That startled a laugh out of Puck. "I should mark that on the calendar. Puck helps Kurt." The two boys share a chuckle. "I wonder how Karofsky's doing."

Kurt crinkled his nose, "I can only imagine." He eased himself to sit on the stage, patting the spot next to him for the Jewish teen to join him. He waited until he was settled beside him before continuing. "I'm about to tell you something that I have no place to tell anyone so you have to swear to not tell anybody. The only reason I'm telling you is because of this predicament. Okay?"

"I won't tell a soul. You have my word."

"Karofsky's gay."

Puck stared out at the seats, nibbling his lip in thought. "I don't know if I should be shocked or not. Guess it's not too surprising." He sees the shocked looked on the diva's face so he elaborates. "The dude's never been about chicks like everyone else, like he doesn't really talk about them. I know he's made out with Brittany but who hasn't. Wait a sec. How do you know?"

Kurt stares pointedly down at his shoes, "I can't tell you that."

"Princess, come on."

"Hey!"

"Oh you know I don't mean that in the derogatory sense."

"Ugh! Whatever."

"How?"

"He… well, he… damn. He kissed me."

Puck's eyes widened in shock, "holy shit! How the hell did that happen?"

"One day he locker checked me and I had had enough. So I chased after him and yelled at him. Somehow it turned into him kissing me."

"Was it any good?"

"That's your first question?" he chuckled.

"Sue me, I'm curious."

"I don't even know if it was good. I was too busy being shocked and terrified."

"Then what happened?"

"He tried to go for a second kiss when I pushed him away. Thankfully he took off at that point. That's why he threatened to kill me. He was terrified I'd tell. Which I just did. Shit!"

Puck placed a gentle hand on the smaller teen's shoulder, "hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna go blabbing about it."

"Thanks, Puck."

"No problem. I'm kinda worried about him."

"Why?"

"The dude was obviously freaking out after he kissed you thus leading to threatening you. Now to add all this on top? You gonna be okay here? I wanna go check on him. Hopefully he's still in the weight room." He hopped off the stage and retrieved his backpack.

"Should I come with you?"

"Probably not. I don't know how he'll be, and if he starts yelling and shit, I don't want you to have to witness that."

"Okay then. I'll probably sit here a bit longer then." Kurt made a face when Puck held his fist out for a fist bump. He awkwardly returned the gesture making the jock laugh.

"See you later, Kurt. Shoot me a text if you need to." He left the auditorium and quickly made his way to the weight room. The closer he got, the more he could hear the sound of someone going at the punching bag. Good thing I didn't bring Kurt, he thought when he opened the door to find Karofsky punching the bag with bloody knuckles. Dude didn't even think to tape up. "Shit, man." Karofsky jumped at the intrusion, spinning around. Puck held up his hands in a placating gesture, "it's just me, dude. Your hands are tore to shit." Puck grabbed a fresh towel from the stack near the door and approached the shaking teen slowly. He shared a wince when he touched the towel to the broken knuckles. "Why didn't you tape your knucks man?"

"Didn't even think of it. Just needed to hit something."

"Did it work? Were you able to punch it all out of your head?"

The teen grunted, taking his hands back, and plopped down on a nearby weight bench. "Fuck no."

Puck tossed the used towel into the laundry bin and took a seat on another bench. "Talk to me, dude."

"Why?"

"Can't hurt to talk it out. Who else you gonna talk to? Your folks? Az? Miss Pillsbury?"

"Fuck if I'm telling my dad!"

"Chill, Karofsky. It's not the end of the world."

"It's as good as."

Puck rolled his eyes, "and people call Kurt dramatic."

"Fuck you, dude."

"Is being with a dude really that bad?"

"I'm not fucking gay," he hissed the word like as if just saying it would make it true.

"Not the end of the world if you are. Nothing wrong with being gay."

"Well, I'm not! This entire thing is fucked up." The bigger boy got up and started pacing.

"Kurt and I were talking about that. He's sure the universe is playing some cruel joke on him. Can't say I blame him."

"You guys talked about it?"

"Yeah. Dude was buggin'. Thankfully I was able to help him chill out."

"How'd you do that?"

"Told him that just because we've all been matched it doesn't mean we have to do anything about it."

"Seriously?"

"Now you sound like him. Dude, was this a shock? Absolutely. But reality is we don't have to be together, and we definitely don't have to decide anything right now."

"Okay, point. But fuck, dude, this is a fucking mess. Two dudes? Seriously?"

"Not a big deal. We gonna start talking about feelings like a couple of chicks now?" The mohawked teen asked with a raised eyebrow. It got the chuckle out of the teen that he was hoping for. "I can't believe I'm about to say this, and I will deny it if anyone asks, but let's head to class. Get our minds on something else for awhile."

Karofsky released a large gust of air. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks dude."

The two teens grabbed the respective backpacks and headed out into the hall. "Not a prob." They bumped fists before going in separate ways. Fuck this day is crazy.