Puck slumped down on the bleachers, feeling restless. The heavy pads on his shoulders weighed a thousand pounds more than they usually did. Like Coach Beiste made them with thick metal plates instead of plastic or whatever the pads were made of. For everyday for the past few months, he felt miserable. Miserable to the core. Yes, it was still true that he still harbored feelings for Quinn and the fact that she was with Sam made him want to punch somebody and sitting there and listening to some heartbroken song on the radio. He didn't like the fact that after all they had been through, he would always come second. First was Finn and then with Sam. For a few days he thought that she was just a distraction in his life, an infatuation just because she carried his baby but no, it made him a better man. And now he just thought that Quinn would never truly care for him, no matter how hard he tried to show how much he cared for her.
Puck stared at the grass for a few seconds when Artie wheeled over to him. Artie and Puck had formed a sort of friendship. They both seemed cool with it even to the public eye. Artie had a small grin on his face though he was sweating and had few bits of grass stuck in his hair. He still was a bit nerdy but Puck grew to like him. "Yo."
Puck managed a small wave.
"You okay dude? You look pretty messed up." Artie admitted, staring at Brittany across the field who was doing some sort of somersault. "I'm fine." Puck said. It had been his usual line when people asked him why he looked…not like his usual self. Puck felt horrible inside and out. "You sure?" Artie asked again. Puck nodded, trying not to follow Artie's gaze who were fixed at the Cheerios. But Puck looked anyway and without even scanning the whole crowd of Cheerios who were done with their routine his eyes landed on Quinn Fabray. The only girl who made him feel invincible and like crap at the same time. Her face was tired and weary. She was looking down and her eyes went across the field and landed on Puck and for a second her face lit up but immediately turned down. Puck felt his heart bounce and his stomach do "Hammer Time" at the same time.
Then two arms hugged her from behind. At first, Quinn seemed mad but then her face split into a grin when she knew who it was. Sam.
Quinn wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Puck's chest felt like bursting. "Yo, dude. You look really…sick." The truth was, Puck did feel sick. Even though he didn't like what he saw - in fact he hated what he saw he couldn't take his eyes off Quinn. Seeing her happy, it was priceless. Artie followed his gaze. For a moment, Artie looked confused but now he realized why Puck was so messed up. "Man…hurt doesn't it? I know the feeling dude." Artie said.
Puck kind of liked Sam in a bro kind of way. He taught him how to speak a few sentences in Na'vi, do a pretty good impression of Peter Griffin, lend him money for lunch and helping him with glee club assignments. He had to admit he was pretty cool but he was a douche. Just because he was the new glee stud doesn't mean he was good enough for Quinn. He was dorky too. He talked about Avatar more than he talked about girls, sex or food. And he had the most beautiful girl in campus under his arm and all he does is walk around with her, sit by her and being all cuddly, exchange a few words and that was it and Quinn seemed pretty content with it. But Puck knew it wasn't right to judge. He didn't know the true nature of their relationship. Inside school was just fair talking but outside it was hot make-out sessions and Breadstix after.
He wasn't mad anymore at Quinn, now he was just plain missing her. He missed everything about her, her smile, the way she smelled, the look in her eyes when she listened to her favorite songs on her iPod, her hazel eyes. He was mad at her for feeling like she just used him for her own personal gain and the days that followed since the duets competition felt like an endless train of silence. He didn't want to admit he was sorry to Quinn. He couldn't exactly express the words right but singing did helped it and there was only one song that he could really feel that fully expressed that.
In the choir room, Rachel and Finn, Mike and Tina and practically every couple in glee club were showing off their love by sitting next to each other and cuddling and stuff. Puck could practically smell the love if love ever had a scent. He stared wearily at Sam and Quinn. They were holding hands and he was craving the feeling of Quinn's hand intertwined with his. Mr. Schue came in late as usual. "Sorry I'm late but I had this…" Mr. Schue shook his head and scribbled on the whiteboard. It said distance.
"Distance. What comes into your mind when you hear this word?" Brittany's hand shot up. Mr. Schue looked at Brittany but quickly shook his head.
"It's what Coach Beiste says when I look at her boobs. And she catches me looking at them."
Mr. Schue breathed in. "Anyone else?" Mr. Schue looked around. Nobody was in the mood. "Now, distance is…how someone feels when they're far away from each other and what drives great artists to write songs that are usually about missing someone or something because they feel detached. They feel incomplete and they write songs that they just want to be there and not where they are. There are plenty of songs to choose from and your assignment this week is to sing a song about missing some or something because of distance."
"I've got a song Mr. Schue." Puck said. Mr. Schue smiled a little, "Well…great. Let's see what you got." Mr. Schue sat next to Mercedes and Puck grabbed a guitar and went to the center of the room. "This song is for someone I really miss. And…I hope she gets that message." Puck started plucking the strings expertly and sang. When he sang, Quinn could feel the pain in his voice. She knew who the song was about. It was about her. When they made eye contact, for a moment, she forgot that she was with Sam. Part of her wanted to reach out to Puck and hug him.
This time, this place, misused, mistakes
too long, too late
who was I to make you wait
just one chance, just one breath
just in case there's just one left
'cause you know, you know, you know
I love you
That I loved you all along
and I miss you
been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming, you'll be with and you never know
stop breathing if I don't see you anymore
On my knees, I'll ask
last chance for one last dance
'cause with you, I'd withstand
all of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all, I'd give for us
give everything but I won't give up
'cause you know, you know, you know
I love you
That I loved you all along
and I miss you
been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming, you'll be with and you never know
stop breathing if I don't see you anymore
but you know, you know, you know
That I wanted, I wanted you to stay
'cause I need it
I need to hear you say
I love you
I loved you all along
and I forgive you
been away for far too long
so keep breathing 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore
believe it, hold on to me and never let me go
keep breathing 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore
believe it, hold on to me and never let me go
hold on to me and never let me go 2x
Everyone gave him a round of applause. Sam gave her an incredulous look. Puck smiled a little but when Sam shot him a dirty look, he immediately looked away. Sam looked at her and whispered, "What was that all about?" Quinn shook her head slightly as if she was dismissing something. "Nothing. He was just singing a song, wasn't he?" She said, innocently enough. Sam still didn't look convinced. Puck saw he was whispering indignantly to Quinn. Mr. Schue then nodded approvingly to Puck and said to the group, "Now that's what I'm talking about. Now, who else wants to volunteer?"
And at that exact moment, Santana raised her hand and Mr. Schue nodded in her direction. Santana got up walked to the center of the room. "I guess this song is about someone in a long distance relationship or some shit like that. But since there's a word with distance in it I thought I should sing this one." She sang Bruno Mars' song "Long Distance". The glee club applauded her but Rachel's mouth was the first to run. "I applaud your trying approach to this song Santana but it lacks serious emotional depth." Rachel had this annoying habit of criticizing someone after their performance. Mr. Schue frowned and Santana said, "I'm so close to sticking my fist in your mouth Berry. But not even that will stop you from running your damn mouth at everybody. If you can do so much better - " Santana was cut off by Finn. "Hey, that's enough."
"Oh look dwarf…your giant woodland slave driver just stood up for you." Santana glared at Finn.
"Okay…that's enough. Rachel, we talked about this." Mr. Schue warned the both of them.
"Mr. Schue, I was just pointing out the flaws in her performance so she can improve." Rachel said.
"Rachel." Mr. Schue warned. Then the bell rang.
"What was that all about?" Sam said, leaning against Quinn's car. He was sort of pissed and Quinn exactly knew the reason why and admitting it was probably a big mistake. It would cause more drama in glee club which she's had enough about. Puck sang that song about her. Sam wasn't crazy jealous, just a little possessive which she found sort of annoying but also a little cute. She just shrugged. "What?"
"That thing in glee club."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know, Puckerman and that song and that look you gave him. Is there something going between you two?"
"No. Why would you think that?" Quinn said, feeling a wave of nausea strike her. She didn't want to go through this whole "possessive" talk with Sam again. Last week, he got a bit possessive because Karofsky was flirting with her. The week before that it was because she was having a friendly chat with her neighbor Jesse who was going away to college. "The song was pretty suggestive, don't you think?"
"It was just a song Sam. And I don't think the song he sang was about me. Seriously."
"It looks like something to me."
"To you it does. To me it was just a friend giving him encouragement. "
"So what? You're cool with him now?"
"I guess so. Look, if you're being cavalier about this then sing about it in glee club. You don't have to take it on our relationship."
"Huh. That's probably a good idea and I know just the song to make him explode." Sam said, his expression was hard to read. Quinn didn't like the thought of Sam doing anything deliberately to hurt someone. She especially didn't like the thought that Puck was the target. Even though her relationship with Puck has ended that didn't mean she didn't like Puck getting hurt in any which way. But she couldn't bring herself to tell Sam that, 'cause that would only lead to more glee club drama. Her insides quaked with fear for Puck and guilt but she just smiled.
That night, Puck was listening to a Kings Of Leon song. He had been staring at his phone for the past hour and he had the urge to call Quinn. It was literally driving him nuts. Frustrated, he picked his phone up and dialed her number. On the second ring, she picked up.
"Puck. Hey."
"Hey. Um, what did you think about my song in glee club?" He wanted to slap himself.
"It was…it was beautiful."
"You knew it was about you right?"
"Yes. I do know." A silence passed between them.
"I just want you to know that I forgive you. And I'm sorry for all the shit I put you through."
"Yeah."
"You're still dating Sam." Puck said tonelessly.
"Huh. Yeah, I am. I'm sorry too, that I made you feel used. I shouldn't've blown you off at the last minute. It was wrong."
"I know. Um, listen, do you have any plans on Saturday?"
"No. Why?"
Puck sighed, gathering all the courage he could. "I…you wanna hang out?"
"Puck, I'm dating Sam."
"No. Like, we could just…just walk around and talk about stuff. Maybe go to the Lima Bean after. You know, as friends. I'm not going to kiss you or anything except if you ask but other than that…we could just…talk."
"What's wrong with talking now?"
"It'd be really nice to see you in person. Not in school. Just…us. Just for a little while. Don't worry, it's not cheating. It's only cheating if you flirt with me."
Quinn bit her bottom lip again. She didn't want to turn down Puck. Besides, it's not cheating right? Hanging out with someone else isn't cheating, she thought.
Without a second thought she said, "Yeah. Sure. I'd like that."
In the choir room, Sam and Quinn were sitting together as always. During the days that led up to Friday, Sam had his hand draped over Quinn's shoulder and practically getting really overprotective and possessive. But Quinn was sort of in a good mood, maybe it was because Puck had asked her to hang out with him. Sam and her were holding hands still in glee club and it was sort of PDA - ish but this was her boyfriend. Mr. Schue came in late - again. "So…let's cut to the chase. Who wants to go first?" Sam raised his hand and Mr. Schue told him to take the spotlight.
"This is for my girlfriend Quinn. And…I want to say…you mean the world to me." Puck felt his hands close into fists and his jaw tighten. All his muscles locked into place.
I always knew you were the best, the coolest girl I know
So prettier than all the rest, the star of my show
So many times I wish, you'd be the one for me
but never knew it'd get like this girl
what you do to me
You're who I'm thinking of
Girl, you ain't my runner up
and no matter what you're always number one
my prize possession, one and only
adore you girl, I want you
the one I can't live without
that's you, that's you
your my special little lady
the one that makes me crazy
of all the girls I've ever know
It's you, it's you
My favorite 3x
my favorite girl2x
(The song is Favorite Girl by Justin Bieber so just look up the lyrics)
Sam glanced at Puck, who was seething mad. After the song Sam kissed Quinn on the cheek. Puck wanted to pounce on him and punch him in the gut. He turned to Puck and said, "You just got served."
It happened all in a blur. Puck jumped up and tried to punch Sam but Finn, Mike and Mr. Schuester held him back. "Puck! Puck!" Everyone kept shouting. But Puck fought until he ran out of energy. "Hey! Calm down!" Mr. Schue screamed once he was putting Puck back on his chair. Puck was still fuming. His face was red and he was slightly sweating. Puck couldn't hear what everybody was saying. He was trying to make sense of everything else. He wasn't the crazy jealous type but he was jealous. He was sure as hell hoping Quinn wouldn't blow him off either.
Puck sent a text to her when the bell rang.
R we still on?
It seemed like hours until she texted back. We definitely are.