Disclaimer – so yeah, still not owning this or anything

Hey everybody, thanks for reading/reviewing, here we are at chapter 15. You know, initially I only planned for this story to be 15 chapters long but well, it's obviously going to be quite a bit more than that.

Chapter 15 – I've Tasted Blood and I Want More

Arriving at school, Kurt wondered what he should say to Mercedes and Tina and how he would be able to face Puck. As he walked towards the school building, he even toyed with the idea of just skipping school for the day and not having to deal with anyone. Before he could come to a decision, he felt a heavy hand grip his shoulder.

"You're in my way, Lady," Karofsky told him before shoving him roughly.

Kurt staggered but remained standing. Not wanting to deal with a confrontation, he considered making a run for it but he was already surrounded by five of Karofsky's friends. He stood tall and defiant as they circled him, refusing to cower like a frightened animal. The usual name calling had started but he didn't even flinch as they spat the insults at him.

He'd never been the type to approve of violence and he'd never truly understood before why Artie and Tina had both used their powers against bullies. But as six jocks moved in closer to him and began shoving him between them like a rag doll it all made perfect sense. He doubled over when somebody punched him in the stomach then fell to the floor as he was kicked in the back of the leg. Yes, he knew why Artie wasn't sorry for giving Bradford a bit of an electric shock. He knew why Tina had saw fit to teach one of her bullies a lesson. If he had the powers they had he'd certainly be using them against his tormentors now.

"What are you gonna do, faggot?" Karofsky asked grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and forcing him to his feet. "Huh? What are you gonna do?"

Kurt spat in his face.

"You little bitch!" Karofsky snarled angrily throwing Kurt towards Azimio before wiping his face.

"I think gay boy needs a reminder of where he belongs," Azimio called out and there were sounds of agreement from the others.

Azimio locked his hands around Kurt's waist while another jock grabbed his ankles. Kurt had been in such a position many times before. He knew what was happening. He was about to be thrown in the dumpster.

"Hey, put my friend down and walk away," Tina commanded stalking towards them, the heels of her silver studded black boots clicking on the concrete.

"Get outta here," Karofsky sneered at her. "Oh what, you wanna go in the dumpster too?" he asked her with a laugh as she glared up at him. "Fine, you can go in first," he told her picking her up and slinging her over his shoulder. "Say goodnight bitch," he laughed landing a spank to her ass.

"Oh boy," Kurt said. "You're about to get your ass kicked."

Before any of the jocks could retort, Tina had quickly manoeuvred herself so that she had her legs wrapped around Karofsky's neck. She then flipped backwards to the ground, bringing the boy with her and slamming his body onto the hard floor. Getting up, she grabbed the next nearest jock by the throat and threw him into the dumpster. Two others ran towards her and she jumped and did the splits in midair, kicking them both in the face. She threw them into the dumpster with the other boy before punching the boy gripping Kurt's ankles in the nose and tossing him into the dumpster too.

By this point, Azimio had let go of Kurt and was trying to make a run for it but Tina caught up with him. She grabbed his ankle and dragged him across the concrete before throwing him on top of the others. She then turned her attention back to Karofsky and cracked a few of his ribs with a kick before choke-slamming him into the dumpster.

"Goodnight bitch," Tina smirked before closing the lid on them. Turning around, she discovered she had an audience. "Anybody else want to try and mess with my friend Kurt?" she asked. There was silence. "Didn't think so," she murmured linking her arm with Kurt's and leading him into the school, the train of her long black dress billowing in the wind.

"Thanks," Kurt told her gratefully.

"Nobody messes with any of my boys and girls," Tina declared as she hugged him around the waist, her head resting on his shoulder. "Now tell me, how was your date with Puck?"

"Well, actually… we need to find Mercedes. I really have to talk to you both," Kurt said.

Coming to a standstill, Tina inhaled deeply and listened carefully, trying to pick up a trace of Mercedes Jones.

"She's this way," Tina stated already heading in that direction, Kurt hurrying after her.

Mercedes was with Santana and Brittany in an empty classroom, working on her weather control. Before their eyes, she created a pretty looking dance of raindrops on the desk. Flexing her fingers, she transformed the raindrops to delicate icicles suspended in the air.

"That's so pretty," Brittany gushed.

"You've really got good control of this power, I'm impressed," Santana admitted and Mercedes beamed before melting the icicles away and drying up the puddles of water left behind.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Mercedes asked Kurt and Tina.

"Kurt had his date with Puck last night," Tina explained. "The gossip must be shared."

"Awesome, I love gossip," Brittany said. "What happened, Kurt?"

"Oh, well, I really only planned to tell Mercedes and Tina," Kurt told her.

"That's mean," Brittany replied.

"Just start talking, Hummel," Santana said.

"Fine," Kurt sighed as he sank into a desk chair. "Puck showed up to make dinner for me."

"I didn't know Puck could cook," Brittany commented.

"Oh, he can't," Kurt informed her. "The meal he prepared was a disaster. I ended up cooking for us. But then he helped me wash up and he invited me for a walk but my dad came home. So I snuck out of the house and went for a walk with him anyway."

"Good boy Hummel going bad, I approve," Santana remarked.

"Was it a romantic walk?" Mercedes asked.

"It was… nice," Kurt answered. "I had a good time."

"But?" Tina prompted sensing there was more Kurt had to say.

Keeping his eyes down, Kurt explained to the four girls about all that happened when he and Puck returned to his basement bedroom.

"Wanky," Santana smirked in appreciation at the details and Kurt turned invisible.

"That all sounds so hot, why did you make him stop?" Tina asked.

"Obviously it was too much too fast," Mercedes stated on Kurt's behalf. "My boy Kurt is not the type to put out on a first date."

"I put out on all of my dates," Brittany said. "Sometimes I've even put out for other people's dates."

"I just wasn't ready for anything like that, Brittany," Kurt explained.

"Oh come on, didn't it feel good?" Santana asked him.

"It felt amazing," Kurt acknowledged. "But I honestly didn't know what else Puck was expecting to happen that night. I only know that I wasn't really ready for it and if I'd let things continue or progress I'd have regretted it afterwards no matter how good it might have felt at the time."

"You did the right thing, Kurt," Mercedes told him supportively.

"Did you guys talk in the morning?" Tina asked.

"No, when I woke up Puck had already left," Kurt answered. "I think I might have ruined my chance with him. A guy like Puck just wants sex. He won't waste his time on me after last night. And he was only chasing after me because you girls forced him into it anyway. It was nice to have a guy be interested in me I guess but I think it's better for everyone if we just forget about it. And that means no more trying to set me up with Noah Puckerman," he told the girls sternly.

"So can we set you up with Mr. Schue?" Brittany asked prompting them all to shout 'no' at the same time.

"Ok, wait," Santana spoke up. "So you freaked out when things got too sexy and that's embarrassing."

"So embarrassing," Brittany nodded.

"But that doesn't mean you should just give up on Puck," Santana continued. "At least try and talk things through with him. If it turns out sex really is all he wants and you're not down for it then go ahead and tell him to go fuck himself. But if he actually wants a real relationship with you then give it a chance and let it happen because let's face it Lady Hummel, no other guy in this school is lining up to date you. Sorry, truth hurts, but honest bitch is kind of my thing."

"You should definitely talk to Puck," Tina agreed. "I want to see you happy."

"And Puck could make you happy," Mercedes added.

"He'd make any dolphin happy," Brittany said.

"I wouldn't even know what to say to him," Kurt replied.

"Just say, 'hey, Puck, I'm sorry I'm a big flaming queer virgin, please hold my hand in the halls and sing duets with me until I'm ready to let you pound my ass'," Santana suggested.

"The terrible thing is that I know you're serious," Kurt commented.

"At least make a second date with him," Tina urged. "You could go to Breadsticks."

"Or see a movie," Mercedes said.

"Or use your invisibility to sneak into his house at night and give him a blow-job while he sleeps," Santana said. "I know some great oral techniques I could teach you."

"Don't forget about his butt," Brittany added. "Lots of guys get really turned on when I play with their butt. Especially the guys on the Football team. Oh, and this one time, Karofsky got me to give him a blow-job while wearing this little brown wig and we played this game where I pretended to be a boy and he called me Kurt."

"Holy crap," Santana remarked.

"Oh hell to the no," Mercedes exclaimed.

"What the hell?" Tina asked.

"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that and head to class," Kurt's visibility returned as he stood up and headed to the door.

"Kurt, baby, please try and work things out with Puck," Mercedes asked. "I'm not saying you have to date or be boyfriends and you definitely don't have to have sex. But just don't let it end like this."

"I'll see what happens whenever I see him next," Kurt said before walking out.

XXX

Things were getting loud again. Leaning against the wall, Rachel closed her eyes to take a few calming breaths.

"Ouch," she complained as somebody jostled into her. Urgh, I hate her, the person thought in response. Rachel rolled her eyes. Since the Choir Room incident, she had quickly grown accustomed to people she didn't even know hating her for no real reason. It still wounded her pride and self-esteem a little if she were to be completely honest, but she was more aware of her peers now and knew they all had self-esteem issues of their own.

Readjusting the necklace around her throat, Rachel walked on through the corridor, keeping her eyes to the ground as though that would somehow protect her from the onslaught of thoughts coming from the swarm of students passing through the hallway.

My hair is horrible, I never should have cut it so short, a girl from Rachel's English Literature class thought. Her name was Natasha. She wasn't a Cheerio but she was still generally considered to be pretty and popular. While they weren't friends, Natasha had never actively bullied Rachel or called her mean names. Natasha had always seemed nice enough and it was obvious not just from her thoughts but from her body language that she was feeling terribly self-conscious about her short-styled hair.

"Hi Natasha," Rachel smiled at the girl. "I love your new hair-cut. It really suits you."

"Oh," Natasha seemed slightly surprised as she lifted one hand up to her head, running her fingers through the short tresses. Does she really like it? "Are you sure its not too short?"

"Trust me, it looks great," Rachel told her. "Right Artie?" she asked pointedly as the boy walked up towards them.

"You look beautiful," Artie said to Natasha with an easy smile.

Oh my god! Natasha mentally squealed. Artie Abrams thinks I look beautiful. Maybe my new haircut really is ok, she patted her hair with a smile forming on her lips, already looking more confident.

"Well I really wanted a new look, something daring," Natasha said.

"Good choice, it really works," Artie replied and Rachel nodded her agreement.

"Yeah," Natasha nodded. Yeah, my hair does look good, she decided. "Thanks," she walked on with a notable bounce in her step.

"So, what was that about?" Artie asked casually placing his arm around Rachel's shoulders.

"I could hear how self-conscious she was feeling about her new haircut," Rachel explained. "I wanted to give her a confidence boost. Make her feel better. And your compliments really helped her self-esteem too."

"Good," Artie said. "I didn't realise girls like Natasha got self-conscious and insecure."

"All girls get self-conscious and insecure," Rachel told him. "Boys too."

"Well I think it's super sweet that you're using your gifts to make other people feel better," Artie responded. "It just goes to show that you don't need super strength and impressive fighting skills to be a hero. Sometimes kind words are enough."

"It did feel pretty good to help someone," Rachel admitted. "I've heard girls tearing other girls down a lot. Let's be honest, other girls have made fun of me for my looks a lot. I'm glad I got to be the girl telling another girl she looks good rather than being a girl who attacks another's girls looks and damages her self-esteem in an attempt to improve their own."

"Well, what do you know?" Artie asked rhetorically with a smile. "Rachel Berry has officially grown as a person. Not in height of course," he teased. "But you aren't that same annoying selfish drama-queen who demanded the spotlight and stormed out of Glee Club any time things didn't go her way."

"I wasn't that bad," Rachel replied defensively. "Was I?" she asked.

"Maybe we should talk about something else," Artie suggested and Rachel groaned in embarrassment.

"For what its worth I'm sorry for any obnoxious thing I ever said to you or anyone else in Glee Club," Rachel offered.

"Don't worry about it, girl, we're cool," Artie assured her. God I wanna kiss her, he thought and Rachel paused to look up at him, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips. She wants it, Artie thought. She's into me too, he reassured himself. I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna kiss her. He moved in and Rachel moved to meet him, their lips drawing closer.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, man?" Finn demanded to know as he yanked Artie away from Rachel. "I thought I told you to stay away from her."

"You know what, Finn," Artie replied irritably as his fingers started to cackle slightly with electricity. "I used to really look up to you. But now I'm starting to think that you need to have every inch of your ass kicked."

"Not again," Rachel said stepping between them. "No fighting."

"I'm serious, dude," Finn warned. "You need to stay away from her."

"You so need to be punched," Artie retorted.

"I'll do it," Tina offered with a smirk as she sauntered towards them.

"Come on, Rachel," Finn said. "Let's go."

"You don't even remotely understand what's wrong with your behaviour do you?" Rachel asked shaking her head sadly. She could hear his thoughts as clearly as she could see him standing before her, and the boy genuinely believed himself to be acting appropriately.

"Wait, where are you going?" Finn called after her as she headed in the other direction.

"You may be blind to your girlfriend's pain and troubles but I'm currently being deafened by it," Rachel told him. "She's in the bathroom on the second floor. She doesn't want to be alone but she's too proud to say so. She really needs a friend right now, especially since her boyfriend is a moron."

"We'll come with you," Tina said on behalf of herself and Artie. She grabbed the boy's still sparking hand, a slight flicker of pain showing on her features as a spark shot through her, but nothing serious enough to force her to let go or slow in her steps.

XXX

"Quinn?" Rachel called tentatively as she led the way into the girls' bathroom.

"Go away," Quinn's voice replied from the furthest toilet stall. Please don't leave me alone, she thought contradictorily. Morning sickness is such a bitch. I'm going to kill Matt Rutherford for doing this to me.

"Um, should I really be in here?" Artie asked awkwardly looking around the girls' bathroom warily.

"Don't worry about it," Rachel answered. "Kurt and Puck use the girls' bathrooms all the time. Quinn," she called to the girl in the end toilet. "Can you open the door?"

Of course I can open the door, I just don't want to, Quinn thought.

"Just take your time," Rachel said in what she hoped to be a soothing tone. "As long as you need. We're here for you Quinn."

I could totally just pull the door off its hinges, Tina thought.

They heard the sound of retching and Artie and Rachel both winced in sympathy.

"Maybe we should get the nurse?" Artie suggested.

"No," Quinn spluttered out as she heaved and spat into the toilet bowl, sick and saliva trickling unattractively down her chin. "Just… just…" I hate this. I hate my life.

"Quinn, I'm opening the door," Rachel warned her making an effort to barge it open but failing. "Um, Tina, could you?" Rachel asked sheepishly.

Stepping up, Tina ripped the door clean off its hinges and let it drop onto the tiled floor. They were then able to see Quinn on her knees clutching the toilet bowl. The normally stunning blonde was sweaty with puke around her mouth and mascara staining her cheeks.

"Tell us what to do?" Rachel asked inching closer to Quinn. "Tell us what you need."

Just make it go away, Quinn thought desperately. God, I wish I'd never even met Matt Rutherford. Or Finn Hudson or any guy on the planet. I just wish this wasn't happening to me. Oh… oh god… "not again," she whimpered before throwing up into the toilet bowl some more.

"Ssh, ssh, it's ok," Rachel soothed kneeling by Quinn's side and rubbing her back. "Could one of you get her a glass of water?"

"There's no cup," Artie pointed out.

"Give me five seconds," Tina said and she sped out of the restroom before returning seconds later with a plastic cup in hand filled with water. "Here," she passed it to Rachel who waited for Quinn's bout of vomiting to let up before offering the drink to her.

Man-Hands is being nice to me, god I must look so pathetic to win her sympathy, Quinn thought despairingly.

"Have you talked to your parents yet?" Rachel asked grabbing some tissue so Quinn could wipe her mouth.

"No," Quinn answered hoarsely.

"Had a Doctor's appointment?" Rachel asked.

"No," Quinn responded.

"Have you talked to… um…" Rachel trailed off, unsure whether she should end the question with the name Matt or Finn.

"Just stop talking," Quinn groaned as she flushed the toilet and shoved Rachel's helping hand away as she stood to her feet.

"You look awful," Tina stated bluntly and Quinn couldn't even be bothered to glare as she moved to the sinks to clean herself up better.

"Do you know what you're going to do yet?" Artie asked.

"We're all here for you, whatever you decide we'll support you," Rachel said.

I'm keeping it, the Cheerio thought.

"I'm keeping it," she repeated out loud.

XXX

As usual, Tina and Artie sat side by side in Math class.

"So, you and Rachel?" Tina asked.

"Is that a question or an accusation?" Artie asked defensively.

"I'm just interested to know what's been going on," Tina replied. "You've been my best friend for years and I have never seen you show any kind of interest in Rachel. Now the two of you seem inseparable. Is it really so surprising that I'd be curious?"

"I guess not," Artie responded.

"So?" Tina prompted. "What's the story?"

"I like her," Artie answered. "That's it."

"Finn doesn't seem to approve," Tina commented.

"Well I don't care what Finn thinks," Artie said. "The guy's just a jerk as far as I'm concerned."

"Not so long ago you really idolised Finn," Tina reminded him. "He was the jock who was brave enough to sing and dance with a group of McKinley's biggest losers. You admired him for that. We all did," she acknowledged. "The guy you're calling a jerk is also the same guy who rescued you from that port-a-potty and took you safely home."

"What's your point?" Artie sighed.

"I don't know," Tina shrugged. "But since Finn joined Glee Club, you've really looked up to him. He's been like a hero to you. Now that could all be ruined over a girl."

"Again, what's your point?" Artie asked feeling a little frustrated.

"No point," Tina replied. "I was just making an observation."

The pair fell silent as they concentrated on their Math work. Part way through the lesson, Tina started feeling thirsty. She pierced her own lip with her sharp teeth and darted her tongue out to lick up the blood. It wasn't enough to satisfy her yearning. She needed more. Looking to her side, she gazed at Artie's neck with a kind of morbid fascination, visualising the blood pumping around.

"Does it bother you?" Artie asked Tina suddenly.

"Care to elaborate?" Tina's eyes were still fixated on the pulse point of Artie's throat.

"Me liking Rachel," Artie clarified.

"No," Tina answered. "And yes."

"That doesn't make sense," Artie frowned at her.

"Does it bother you that I've had make-out sessions with Mike Chang?" Tina asked him.

"No," Artie replied and Tina quirked an eyebrow at him. "And yes," Artie acknowledged.

"Does my answer make sense now?" Tina queried.

"I guess," Artie shrugged. "But I do really like Rachel."

"You do," Tina nodded. "I can see that. She makes you happy. Far happier then I could ever make you."

"What are you talking about? You're my best friend, of course you make me happy," Artie insisted.

"It's different though," Tina said. "Everything's different now. It was going to be me and you," an amused smirk formed on her lips. "I'm so sure that it was going to be me and you."

"Me and you?" Artie repeated in a questioning tone with a quizzical expression on his handsome face.

"We were going to be more than friends," Tina told him. "You were supposed to be my first kiss and I was going to be yours. I even had various scenarios in my head for how our first kiss would play out. Before what went down in the Choir Room, our friendship was heading somewhere else, towards romance. You liked me, as more than just your friend."

"I did," Artie confirmed.

"And I liked you too," Tina said. "But things have changed and we're seeing ourselves and other people in ways we never had before. I'd never have even dared to speak to Mike before let alone kiss him and sneak into his bed at night."

"You snuck into his bed?" Artie asked.

"I was thirsty," Tina answered.

"You bit him again?" Artie was not impressed.

"Spare me the looks of disgust," Tina rolled her eyes. "It just so happens that drinking Mike's blood is an incredible experience for both of us. It's intimate and erotic."

"It's dangerous, it's wrong," Artie argued.

"You just fear it because you don't understand it," Tina retorted.

"Look, Tina, you can't just…" Artie tried to say.

"Feel free to keep talking but be aware that I am no longer listening," Tina stated.

Annoyed, Artie placed his hand on Tina's leg and sent a shock of sparks through her. She released a hiss and glared at him.

"Do I have your attention now?" Artie asked her, hitting her with his electricity powers again when she rolled her eyes at him.

"Ok, that hurt," Tina growled.

"Listen to me carefully," Artie implored. "You cannot go around biting people and drinking their blood. It's unethical, it's dangerous and down right gross. What if Mike had some kind of blood disease? That could be transferred to you and you could get sick or…" he trailed off not wanting to even think what else could happen.

"You don't have to worry about me," Tina told him. "I'm strong now."

"Who are you?" Artie asked her. "Are you still my best friend? Or are you some dark evil thing wearing her face?"

"I'm Tina, I'm right here, this is all me," Tina answered. "And I'm not evil. End of conversation," she said with a tone of finality.

XXX

After Math class, the desire for blood was too much for Tina to ignore. She swept through McKinley High in search of Mike. Finding him, she strode briskly into his Geography class, took his hand and led him out of the room, silencing the teacher with a look when he tried to stop them. She led them to the auditorium, to the stage.

"Shirt off," Tina commanded and Mike eagerly followed her command. "Mmm," Tina moaned at the sight of the dancer's abs. "I've tasted blood and I want more," she sang to him in a seductive fashion before closing her mouth around one of his nipples. She sucked playfully before paying similar treatment to his second nipple. She then moved her mouth lower and kissed his torso before sinking her teeth into his stomach.

XXX

Walking through the hallway with Finn, Matt nodded in agreement as the taller boy made suggestions for Football tactics they could use in their upcoming game.

"Oh, hey Quinn," Finn smiled as they met the blonde girl. "I had this great idea for the upcoming Football game," he told her before launching into his explanation.

Standing silently off to the side, Matt could tell that Quinn had been crying but Finn hadn't seemed to notice that his girlfriend was in a bad place. She looked up at Finn, nodding and forcing smiles in appropriate places, refusing to even glance at Matt. Without a word, Matt stuffed his hand into his pocket and pulled out a balled up piece of paper. He then slipped it into Quinn's hand as he walked away. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw Quinn tuck the note into her bag with Finn being none the wiser.

"Coach!" Finn called out excitedly hurrying after the Football coach to share his ideas with him, not even saying goodbye to Quinn.

Finding herself an empty classroom, Quinn pulled out the note Matt had passed to her. Opening it up, she read a date and time for a Doctor's appointment he had obviously booked for her. She sighed and after memorising the date and time she threw the note away. She knew she couldn't avoid the situation forever but she still wasn't entirely ready to face everything about her dilemma.

She didn't want to go to the Doctor's alone and she certainly wasn't ready to tell her parents or Finn about her pregnancy. She knew that Matt had a right to be there with her as he was the father, but she didn't want him there either. She supposed most girls in her situation would opt to take their best friend with them but Quinn wasn't entirely sure she had anyone she could call her best friend.

Rachel? She asked through thought. I need your help. In no less than three minutes a breathless Rachel bumbled into the classroom.

"Just tell me what you need," Rachel said once she'd got her breath back.

Matt made me a Doctor's appointment, Quinn explained. Can you come with me?

"Of course," Rachel nodded.

Thank you Quinn left the room.

XXX

For some reason, Kurt just could not find Puck. It was almost as though Puck were the one with powers of invisibility. He kept his eyes peeled for any sign of him and even dared to ask a few jocks if they knew where the bad boy was. He nearly received a black-eye for speaking to one of the Football players but luckily Mr. Schue happened to be passing by.

"Is everything ok, Kurt?" Mr. Schue asked with a hand resting on his shoulder.

"I'm fine, have you seen Puck?" Kurt asked.

"Not since my Spanish class this morning," Mr. Schue told him.

"If you do see him can you tell him I'm looking for him?" Kurt asked.

"Sure," Mr. Schue nodded. He looked slightly confused by the request but he didn't quiz Kurt on it as he carried on down the corridor.

Finally, just when Kurt had given up on finding the boy, he caught sight of Puck.

"Ok, I can do this," Kurt told himself holding his head high and moving towards his fellow Glee Clubber. "Ok, I can't do this," Kurt said to himself seeing Puck laughing with a red-haired Cheerio, one hand at her waist while the other tucked a stray curl behind her ear. He turned on his heel and hurried in the other direction, his hasty departure not going unnoticed by Puck who ditched the Cheerio and marched after Kurt.

To Be Continued…

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