Chapter One: "Need You Now"
Author's Note: Understand that this chapter will be relatively short (I am just trying to set up the drama), but I hope to post a chapter every day or at least every other day. You'll get to see the note Puck wrote in the Introduction in the next chapter. If you have any song suggestions for a theme, let me know! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Note: When I write from the perspective/concentration of one character, I tried to write a little bit like they talk. Anyway, on to the chapter!
Rachel Berry sat on the edge of the black choir seat while William Schuester paced the floor in front of her. Well, not just her. The Glee club was in session and they had to decide what songs they wanted to start to rehearse for Regionals. Rachel already had an idea of what she wanted to be and she wanted to be able to sing them with Puck. Oh, the feelings that boy made her believe; the feeling of weightlessness when he would casually swing his arm around her or sweep a stray lock of hair back into place in the messy bun. She sighed as Puck walked through the choir door late, passed her chair and sat next to Mercedes on the other side of the room.
Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor
Reachin' for the phone cause I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
Puck knew that he drove her crazy when he would brush past her, his Ed Hardy cologne encompassing her. He liked to think he was doing her a favor by not letting himself get attached to her. He was crazy about her, her long, dark hair swinging around her as she waltzed down the hall, her face when she got a question right in class, the way she sang. There was something inside of him that said, "You know that you will hurt her, whether you meant to or not. Just… leave her alone. She's better off." Puck knew that he could only control himself for so long. It was just a question of when.
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
Will was having a hard time keeping himself focused. He tried to keep the kids entertained with a rendition of "Down" by Jay Sean, but even that almost blew. Finn tried to join in, but Will was so all over the place, pitch-wise, that Finn had to back off. Will ran his fingers through his curly hair and sat on the tall stool that stood in front of the rows of student chairs. He was ultimately torn; Emma or Terri. Or was that the question? Was Terri in the picture? Or was he just trying to distract himself from the pair of tanned legs that was directly in front of him? Could he bear to even think of the possibility that he, William Schuester, was attracted to a student? He dismissed the Glee kids without another word, the confused looks on their faces saying it for him, "What am I thinking?"
Another shot of whiskey can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
Puck caught up to Rachel in the hall; she had jumped up from her seat, for once glad to be out of Glee.
"Rachel!" Puck grabbed her arm, pulling her body into his. "Rachel, talk to me."
"Why? Why should I? It's not like you are really talking to me. You used to sit with me, talk to me, but now it's like your embarrassed to be seen with me. We've gone down this road before. It's not going to work." Rachel pulled her arm from Puck's grasp and her eyes started to water. Puck grabbed her arm again.
"Rachel. Please, just listen. I know that it might not work with us. Why can't we just try again? Everything isn't as messed up as before." Puck's eyes seemed to see right through her and Rachel was flustered. Noah Puckerman fighting to be with her. Rachel blushed in spite of herself.
"Why should I give you another chance?" Rachel tossed her hair behind her.
"What do you mean 'give me another chance'. We both messed up last time. You with Finn and me with Quinn. Hey, that rhymed." Puck smiled wide, trying to get Rachel to calm down.
"Hm. Well, maybe we should give our 'romance' another chance." Rachel went on her tiptoes, pressed herself against Puck and gave him the lightest of kisses. She fluttered her eyelashes, unlocked herself from Puck's grasp and glided down the hall leaving him only slightly confused.
It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
It was Monday afternoon. Emma got up from her chair, smoothed the front of her skirt and walked with purpose; she would finally talk to Will. Emma didn't have any idea of how exactly the conversation would go. Would he apologize? Would she cry? Her yellow pumps clicked down the near empty hallway as she neared the Language wing of the William-McKinley High. She found Will sitting at his desk, one hand in his hair, the other clutching a pen while he graded Spanish quizzes. Emma knocked on the open door and stepped in. Will hardly looked up and when he did, she saw the strain in his eyes.
"Oh, hi, Em," He used his pet name for her. This was a good sign Emma thought. He put the pen down and stood up. He crossed the room to greet her and awkwardly put his arms around her in a gently hug.
"Will. We need… to talk. Well, maybe you just need…need to explain something to…me." Emma nervously pulled out of his arms and crossed her arms in front of her. Will put his arms at his sides and found Emma's eyes.
"You're right. Um, Emma, I don't know… how to tell you. God, why does this have to be so damn confusing?" Will threw his hands in the air and sighed. "Emma. I made… a mistake. I really only kissed you to get you to stay. I did and still do have some feelings for you. Really. You just need to let me take some time to figure out what's going on with myself." Will looked up to see Emma's face streaked with tears. "Oh, Emma, please… don't cry." Will put one hand on her shoulder and the other he used to tilt up Emma's chin so she would look him in the eyes.
"Will. I guess I just… misinterpreted things. I'm sorry. Yes, take… all the time you need." Emma slid out from Will's hand and fled to the darkness of her clean office.
Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothin' at all
It's a quarter after one I'm all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
I just need you now
Oh, baby, I need you now