Worth the wait? That's for you to decide. On the darker side of my imagination. Hope you enjoy it. Review it. Let me know.

Chapter 1

When I wake up,
I'm willing to take my chances on
the hope I forget
that you hate him more than you notice
I wrote this for you

Rumors were buzzing like bees in the hallways of McKinley High. Supposedly, there was a new kid, and not just any new kid. This kid had, allegedly, been expelled from four different school districts, been to juvie eleven times, killed his own mother, and robbed banks all over the Midwest. Granted, maybe not all of the rumors were true, but what's to say some of them weren't? Puck, for one, wasn't impressed. The new kid was probably some punkass kid making up stories to seem cool. The rumors didn't stop in the halls, but carried into the choir room. Confirmed sources said he was a junior, which was why no one had shared any classes with him. Nothing else had been confirmed at the moment, but Santana and Brittney were digging for as much information as possible. Mr. Schuester called for them to settle down and warm up their voices. After warm ups, they started into Hello Goodbye. As they were really getting into it, the choir room door opened. They all stopped singing, except for Rachael.

"Oh, don't stop on my account." The boy smiled. He was tall, toned, and a little on the rough side. His jeans were torn and his shirt was old and ratty. His hair was a well-sculpted mess, and he had a smile that made all the girls in the room, including Kurt, blush bright red.

Mr. Schuester raised an eyebrow at him, "Can I help you?"

"Nobody can," He shook Mr. Schuester's hand, smirking. Everyone stared wide-eyed and started whispering. "Mr. Schuester, I presume. I'm Travis. I'm new here."

Mr. Schuester looked confused, "Okay, Travis, you're here to try out for glee?"

"Yea. My parole officer said I need to do extracurriculars, and that I had a good voice, so I should try glee club." Travis looked at the glee clubbers, "Plus, technically, I'm not allowed to play sports. Too violent, you know?"

"No…I don't. Well, show us what you got then." Mr. Schuester said, stepping back to allow him to take the center of the room. He stepped up to the middle of the room and made eye contact with every single person as he sang. He was good. Not Finn or Jesse good, but he was on par with Puck, or even Artie.

When he finished, they, the girls that is, applauded loudly. Mr. Schuester smiled, "Looks like we have another new member."

"Wait Mr. Schuester, first Jesse, then this kid," Puck looked him over, "We have too many guys. We outnumber the girls."

"I'll gladly be a girl. That evens it out. Sort of." Kurt smiled, "Besides, everyone who tries out for glee makes it, right Mr. Schue?"

"Very true Kurt." Mr. Schuester nodded at him. He turned to Travis, "Go ahead and take a seat. I'll find some music for you tomorrow, for now just jump in whenever you want."

The junior looked at the empty seats. He saw Kurt staring at him, then blushing bright red and turning away. He took the empty seat next to Kurt and smiled at him. Puck felt a chill roll down his spine. This guy was bad news, he could feel it. Even after glee ended, and Finn asked him what he thought of the new kid, all he could say was, "I've got a bad feeling about him."

"Why? He seems like a pretty good guy, besides the violence thing." Finn said, glancing back at Travis. He and Kurt were still in the choir room talking. Puck shuttered. Finn raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?" Puck looked at him, "He just…I don't know, something's wrong with him, I know it."

"Whatever man, I'll see you tomorrow." Finn said as he left. Puck nodded, turning back to the choir room. They were still talking, but the conversation seemed to be slowing. Suddenly, Travis reached for Kurt's face, pulling the smaller boy into a kiss. Puck involuntarily growled. There was definitely something this kid wanted, and Puck wasn't going to let him have it. Travis stopped kissing Kurt and walked coolly from the room. He nodded, smirking, at Puck as he walked by to the front of the school. Puck scowled at him, and then looked back at Kurt. His fingers lingered over his lips and a slow smile crept over his lips.

Shortly thereafter, the daze snapped and Kurt saw Puck staring at him, "C-can I help you with something, Noah?"

"No." Puck said turning to leave, "Actually, yes. Be careful with that kid. I know plenty of guys like that, and all they'll do is end up hurting you."

"First of all, 'that kid' has a name, it's Travis." Kurt snapped, "Second of all, what do you care if I get hurt? You don't care about me or my feelings."

Puck sighed, "Because…glee really needs you. Anyways, just be careful, alright?"

"I think I can take care of myself perfectly fine Noah." Kurt said walking passed Puck as he left. Puck sighed. Kurt was right, what did he care if Kurt got hurt? He was just some pansy. But he knew Kurt wasn't just some pansy. Kurt was something Travis wanted, probably because he was pure and innocent. Kurt was something Travis wanted and Puck couldn't let him have it.

The next morning, the hallways were buzzing even more then they were yesterday. Puck ignored it, getting his Spanish book from his locker. Suddenly, the whispers ceased, and the hallway was completely silent except for the footsteps of two people. Puck closed his locker to see Travis walking with his arm around Kurt. As they walked by Travis smirked and nodded, while Kurt smiled smugly. Puck frowned. It was so wrong. Travis worked fast, Puck had to work faster. Puck walked to science first period. Outside of the classroom, Travis was kissing Kurt. Puck 'accidently' bumped into him on his way in, "Oh, sorry man."

"Not a problem." Travis smiled. He turned to Kurt, "See you later babe."

"Bye," Kurt swooned as he walked away. When Travis was out of sight, Kurt turned and glared at Puck, "You did that on purpose, you homophobic prick."

"No I didn't," Puck hissed, "And I'm not homophobic, nor a prick."

"Whatever," Kurt rolled his eyes and took the seat behind Puck as always. Puck took his seat and tore a piece of paper out of a notebook. On the piece of paper he scribbled: Kurt, he's bad news. He's gonna hurt you, and you'll come crying back to us and I'll just say I told you so.

He pretended to stretch, dropping the note on the desk behind him. He heard writing and felt the note slipped into the collar of his shirt. He pulled it out and read what Kurt had written in purple glitter gel pen: He is nice, caring, sweet, funny, and hotter than Armani's summer line. And he's my boyfriend. He won't hurt me because he likes me and I like him.

Puck hissed and scribbled back angrily: You barely know him! You've known him like twelve hours, maybe a little more.

He passed it back to Kurt. He received it with the reply: So? Maybe it was love at first sight.

Puck hissed again. He wrote: You can't do this.

He got a simple response: Give me one good reason why.

Puck turned around and whispered harshly, "Because you will get hurt, and I don't want to see that happen to you."

"Noah Puckerman, turn around and stop talking." The teacher scolded. Puck sighed and shrunk down in his chair. When class was over, he bolted out, not wanting to hear Kurt's reaction. He avoided Kurt all day as much as he possibly could. And now as he walked to glee with Finn, he couldn't bear the thought of being trapped in the choir room with those two for even ten minutes.

As they walked in, Puck saw Kurt leaning on Travis. The images looked so wrong, some punkass kid with a little gay boy swooning for him in his lap. Travis locked eyes with Puck. He kissed Kurt and stood up, "Puck, could I have a word? We won't be long Mr. Schuester."

Puck reluctantly went into the hallway with Travis. The junior looked at him, "So I heard you were talking shit about me to my boyfriend."

"Don't call him that." Puck growled in a hushed tone.

"What? My boyfriend?" Travis smirked, "You've got the hots for him don't you, this Burt or Kris or-"

"His name is Kurt, you asshole." Puck pushed him.

Travis grinned, "What does it matter what his name is? He's pure, innocent, and desperate beyond belief. And you can tell him anything you want about me, but who's he going to believe, his loving, caring boyfriend, or the homophobic jock that's antagonized him since forever?"

Puck scowled, "You are a sick son of a bitch."

Travis pushed him into the wall. Puck swung and hit a hard right hook into his face. He jumped on Travis and pounded him as hard as he could. He heaved as he threw punches, "You…sick…bastard!"

By then, the glee clubbers could hear what was going on. Mr. Schuester and Finn pulled Puck off of Travis, who retreated to Kurt. Puck spat at him, "You're a horrible, horrible motherfucker."

"Puck! You need to leave!" Mr. Schuester yelled, pulling him outside. When they were outside, Mr. Schue looked at him, "Puck, what's wrong with you? This is the sixth or seventh fight this year. This isn't good."

"It's him. He's going to hurt Kurt, Mr. Schue, he is." Puck looked at the doors, "I have to stop him."

"You need to go home. Come back to glee when you're not going to hurt anyone." Mr. Schuester said. He walked back into the school, leaving Puck outside with his agonizing thoughts. He got into his car and laid his head on the steering wheel. He wasn't going to be able to stop this. He sat in the parking lot and thought about how he wasn't going to be able to protect Kurt from that monster. When glee was dismissed, he saw everyone come out of the school. His gut wrenched when he saw Kurt and Travis holding hands walking out together. Maybe Travis was right, maybe Puck had the hots for Kurt. He shook his head and drove off angrily.

Puck watched for a month as Travis and Kurt dominated the school. Each passing day the helplessness he felt grew with each sad glance he gave to Kurt and the longing grew inside of him. Rumors flew about the power couple and the things they had done with each other. Puck carelessly ignored them. Even Finn had given into their spell. One day as they were walking to Spanish, Finn said, "I know you don't like him, but you got to admit that it's pretty cool how he can be gay with the gayest kid in school and still have everyone eating out of the palm of his hand."

Puck just signed and blew it off like everything anyone had said to him in the last month. HE left glee club early every day, faking illness or appointments, but truthfully would sit in his car and wait. Wait for them to be dismissed, to see Travis and Kurt came out together, and then drive away in disgust, sadness, and anger. Today was the same. He'd left glee for his stomach flu, and was awaiting the dismissal of the group. Finally, members of the club started to come out and go home. Travis and Kurt, though, did not; at least not when they usually came out. When they did appear, they were yelling at each other. Puck watched as they yelled back and forth, before Travis grabbed Kurt's arm. He was gripping it tight, Puck could tell, because now Kurt was crying. Travis slapped him across the face. Kurt's emotions subdued and Travis kissed him awkwardly before marching to his car. The worst part of the whole ordeal was that Kurt followed with his head down like a scorned puppy. Puck's insides shriveled and withered away as he realized that this probably wasn't the first time they'd had this sort of exchange.

Puck drove home slowly, thinking about what he had seen. He walked into his house in a zombie state. He passed his mother without answering any of her questions about the day. He just went to his room and lied in his bed. He looked up at the ceiling loudly, so loudly that his mom came into his room to check on him. He sat up and looked around, "Sorry mom, I…I've just had a really bad day."

She nodded suspiciously, "Alright…just don't do that again. You scared your sister."

Puck nodded and waited for her to leave. He found a piece of paper and scribbled down a note for Kurt. He handed the paper to Kurt the next morning on his way into science. It had read: I saw what he did to you. If I don't hear from you by the end of the day, I'm calling the cops for you.

He heard Kurt sigh, but he did not receive a note back. In fact, he didn't talk to Kurt all day. He hoped Kurt would let him call the cops. He would've called them anyways, but he wanted to make sure Kurt was okay with it. It sounded stupid, but he actually cared, so so much. They only had glee club left and he could call the police, call anyone, and make it okay. Save Kurt from the monster, and take the beautiful boy in his own arms. But as he walked into glee, Kurt stood up.

"Puck, I need to talk to you." Travis tugged Kurt's hand. Kurt looked at him, "Three minutes, that's all."

Travis eyed Puck, and then let Kurt's hand go. Kurt smiled, a cover up smile, then went into the hallway. As soon as the door closed, Kurt pulled Puck around the corner. His eyes started to tear, "Puck, you can't call the cops. Travis has already been to juvie twice for domestic abuse. He said if he goes again, he'll blame me, even if I'm not the one who tells. And you know there is nowhere to hide in this dead end town. Plus…I need him. Please don't tell, Puck, please."

Puck opened his mouth as if to argue, but he couldn't. Not with Kurt. He barely whispered out, "Okay."

Kurt smiled as the tears accidently slipped from his eyes. Puck reached out and wiped the tears from Kurt's face. "Thank you, Puck."

Puck stroked Kurt's face, indulging in the feel of Kurt's pale smooth skin. Kurt didn't object, actually closed his eyes and rested his face in Puck's hand. Puck sighed and closed his eyes, "Kurt, I think I'm falling for you."

Puck heard the door open and he pulled his hands away from Kurt's face. Kurt's eyes flickered sadness as he cleared his throat, "We'll be right there."

Kurt smoothed his clothes and gave Puck a weak smile before returning to the choir room. Puck did like he always did and stuffed his sorrow and love away inside his chest and returned to give a half-ass effort throughout the whole practice. Kurt would glance over at him, and they would look sadly at each other until something broke their gaze. Mr. Schuester excused them early for the day and Puck went to his car to scream.

Another sorrowful month passed, and the hurt only grew for Puck. He was sitting in science thinking of ways he could kill Travis with his pen, when the teacher announced a new project. Everyone groaned, and the teacher rolled her eyes, "Yea yea yea, whatever. I'm letting you pick you own partners, so be thankful."

Santana looked at him, "Partners?"

"Back off Santana, he's mine." Kurt called from behind. Puck turned around to face him. Kurt smiled sadly, "If that's alright with you."

"Fine by me." Puck said, a small light of hope igniting inside of him. Santana looked to Brittney instead, and everyone was happy. Except Travis.

"I have to go to Puck's after school for our science project." Kurt told him as they finished up glee.

Travis scowled at Puck, "I don't think so."

"Travis, I have to, it's a major portion of my grade." Kurt argued. He looked at Puck who was waiting patiently for Kurt.

"How do I know that asshole won't pull any of the crap he did when I first came here?" Travis asked rather loudly. Puck's fists clenched and he had to restrain himself from hurting Travis.

"Baby, you've got nothing to worry about you. I only have eyes for you." Kurt pleaded. Travis sighed and nodded. Kurt smiled and kissed him, "Thank you, I love you."

Kurt saw Puck as his face got even sadder, if that was possible. They walked out to Puck's car. When they were both in, Kurt sighed. "I don't love him. In fact, I don't like him at all. I think I hate him."

"But you need him?" Puck asked rhetorically.

"I do." Kurt whimpered, "He makes me feel strong and powerful. He makes me feel popular. You don't know what it's like to be a loser, people like you. Ever since we started this relationship, people notice me and talk about me. I'm a diva, I need that. I need him."

Kurt had started crying. Puck sighed, "Don't cry, it already hurts too much."

They pulled into his driveway and Puck hugged Kurt until he stopped. When he had, they went to Puck's room and tried putting together an idea for a project. Most of the time they spent staring sadly at each other. It was like there was an invisible line between them that neither wanted to cross. Finally, Puck crawled next to Kurt and took him in his arms. Kurt laid leaning against Puck who was leaning on the foot of his bed. They didn't say anything; just let the world melt away for a few hours.

Nothing got better from there. The next month went completely downhill. Rumors swirled that Travis had taken up smoking, came to school both drunk and high, and was cheating on Kurt with most of the Cheerios. Kurt had also taken to showing as little skin as possible, albeit with long sleeves, turtlenecks, scarves, and gloves. Puck knew the rumors were probably true, and knew that the change of fashion was a horrible sign. Their project had been finished so Puck and Kurt rarely got to speak, let alone be together. The only time they had together were classes, and they couldn't do or discuss anything in these classes.

One day, during science, the announcements came on for winter formal. Kurt poked Puck with his pencil, slipping him a note. It read: Are you going?

He handed it back with a sad two letter answer. Kurt wrote back: Why?

Puck sighed. He wrote: Because I love you. And going with anyone else would just be a big lie.

Kurt scribbled back: I think you should go.

Puck sighed again, knowing that now his heart would force him to go. He had to go, because Kurt said to. He scribbled on the piece of paper: Do you want me to go?

Yes, the note read, I want you to be there so much.

He sighed, exhaling out loud, "Okay. I'll be there."