Gemma and The Hallway Hands (Part 10 of ?)
Title: Gemma and The Hallway Hands (Part 10 of ?)
Author:emo_chick_87
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Puck, Finn/Mercedes, Will/Gemma (OC)
Rating: PG-13 (this part)
Word Count: 2450 words
Spoilers: Season One.
Genre: Romance/Slight Angst/Dashes of Fluff
Warnings: het romance (see parings)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. Don't rub it in okay. I'm still in the depression stage.
Summary: McKinley High gets a new school nurse and she takes special notice of one Noah Puckerman... Get your mind out of the gutter... not that kind of notice.
Previously on GATHH: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9
Thanks to an impromptu football practice Kurt finally got Mercedes alone. Of course, that wasn't until lunch. They were both in need of some serious dish time. Although Kurt suspected that Mercedes had quite a bit more to dish than he did. Judging by the fact on Sunday night his entire room smelled like sex. The cafeteria wasn't the best place to discuss such delicate things but it did make a perfect opportunity to hint at things to come.
Sitting across from his favorite girl he could see the difference in her. She was glowing, smiling, happy. All of which Kurt decided should be her default look and Finn better not do anything to change that.
“Baby boy, whew, you have no idea. That boy is fine. I think I must have spent half the weekend just staring at him. I'm tellin' you some shit went down but I can't spill it all here.”
Mercedes saw Kurt's pleading look and decided she could throw him something.
“I can't say that it's always the case but with Finn, the whole big hands, big feet thing, is totally true.”
“You are so telling me everything tonight. Do you think your parents will let you stay for dinner?”
“I'm sure I could talk them into it. Why?”
“My dad is forcing Noah to come to dinner. He says that he won't have me dating without at least knowing the guy isn't a juvenile delinquent.”
Mercedes' surprised gasp echoed through the cafeteria and drew even more attention to them.
“Are you serious? You guys are like official?”
“Serious and official.”
“Well, it looks like I'm not the only one that needs to spill. Shit baby, our lives just got a hell of a lot more interesting.”
**
Mercedes had just waved goodbye to Kurt and was going to spend the last half hour of lunch cramming for her chem exam. She found her favorite study spot. The library, far back in the corner, hidden from practically the entire room. One of her earbuds was playing some Beyonce when she heard it. Coming from a couple of nameless Cheerio bitches.
“I dunno. I guess she's that big girl that was on the team for a minute. Porsche or something. But yeah anyway he's like totally slumming with her.”
“No way.”
“Totally. Some of the football guys said they think it's a setup.”
“Yeah I can see that. He can do so much better. I mean to go from Quinn to that. Fuck, even that loud annoying chick was better.”
“I know right. Even with that stupid glee shit he could have any girl he wanted.”
“For real.”
Tears filled Mercedes' eyes as she heard their voices drift away into the hallway. They had just confirmed every single thing she was worried about from the start. How could Finn really want her? It didn't make sense and even some airhead cheerleader could see it.
Throwing her books in her bag, she knew she was done for the day. She had to get out of there. She knew that if she cut through the gym she could make it to her car without running into Kurt and having to explain. Plus she knew that Finn and Noah were at that football practice so she didn't think she'd run into them either. She waited until the coast was clear and made a break for it.
She was halfway through the gym when she heard Azimio's voice behind her.
“Is it true? Are you really banging with that white boy?”
Angry tears leap to join the ones already in her eyes as she spun around to face him.
“So what if I am? Finn's a good guy.”
“Bitches like you are the problem. There's plenty of good brothers out there. But no you gotta spread for the enemy.”
Mercedes was about to respond like any good diva would when she felt the hard cold slap of a slushie hitting her face. She should have seen it coming. She ran gasping towards the girls locker room. She felt the cold green door beneath her hands and took a deep breath in relief as the door closed behind her.
Suddenly everything felt wrong. The room was filled with the stench of sweat and Axe body spray. The loud din of voices and running showers bounced of the walls. Fuck, she had gone into the boys instead. It was official. Life sucked. She was about to turn around when she heard Finn's voice raised in a higher pitch than normal.
“I'm serious guys. Knock it off.” The little boy quality of his voice made her stop in her tracks.
“What, bro? I can totally see why you'd want to hit that. More cushion for the pushin', right? Plus those fat chicks are so desperate they'll even put up with your little problem. I bet that bitch is freaky.”
Karofsky's laughter tore at her heart. She couldn't see much with the cherry corn syrup and tears in her eyes but she had heard enough. Without even meaning it, she was hurting Finn. She couldn't let that happen. She just needed to get her eyes clear. Then she would leave.
When she could finally see her haggard reflection in the mirror over the nearest sink she heard the scuffle. She peaked around the corner to see Finn with his forearm pressed into Karofsky's windpipe. He was naked except for a towel and the angry flush that spread down his wide back. His strong voice sent a jolt through her.
“I told you to shut the fuck up. That's my girl, you got that. She's beautiful and sexy and smart and funny. She's way to good for me but she wants me anyway. If I ever hear you fuckers saying shit like that again, I will end you and Puck will help. Got it?” Finn pressed his forearm a fraction harder into the flesh beneath it before letting Karofsky crumble to the ground.
He was turning back to grab his t-shirt when he saw her. Completely covered in cherry slushie, standing and staring at him. He knew he had done the right thing, standing up to that doucheknocker like that, but he still felt like he was caught doing something bad.
That however was the least of his problems. From distance he could see that she was seconds away from a complete breakdown. He'd seen that look on his mom's face more times than he could count before Burt had happened. Like she was struggling under the weight of the world and no matter what she did just couldn't get ahead. He awkwardly jumps into his wet jeans and leads her out of the locker room. Leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
Finn takes her back to his place and is amazed that she doesn't break down until he's completely cleaned her off and they're curled together on his bed. She whispers all the horrible things that made her cry into his chest and all he can do is hold her tighter. He tells her that they're all wrong and that she's the only thing he's ever been sure about. Soon he runs out of words and just starts tracing I love you's on her back.
They stay like that until Kurt stomps down the stairs and tells Finn to be a bro and let him have his girl back for a second. Finn watches as Kurt folds his hands into hers. Looking from the stairs Finn knows for sure that Kurt is wrong. Mercedes was always his girl and he was going to make damn sure that didn't change anytime soon.
**
“Seriously, baby, I'm fine. Finn took care of me. It's all good. I knew this was gonna happen. It's fine. Now let me tell you all the sordid details I know you're dying for.”
“Oh my god. Please tell me everything.”
“He calls me Mercy, ya know. No one has ever done that before. I don't even really know why I like it. I just know that I really really do.” Seeing Mercedes shy was one of Kurt's new favorite things.
“I think it's sweet.”
“It really is. I mean everything about him is sweet. And I mean, everything.”
Kurt gave a happy little squeak.
“On to the good stuff. Okay so you know that rumor going around about him being a minute man? It's true but I can totally work around it. Thanks to you.”
“What are you talking about, thanks to me?”
“You made me listen to the Dan Savage podcast and it really helped.”
“What do you mean?”
“Okay, well we were making out pretty heavily and all of a sudden I feel him lose it.”
“You mean...”
“Yeah, I mean. His face does the most adorable little twist thing and then he gets all embarrassed and pulls away. He starts to apologize and say that he's working on it and all that stuff right. Then he says that he's sorry he ruined the fun.”
“Ahh. Straight boys are so silly.”
“I know right. So I took Dan Savage's advise and had a completely nonthreatening conversation about it.”
Mercedes couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind.
”Fuck. I'm sorry, Mercy. This happens all the time and I'm working on it but I just can't help it. Do you wanna just watch a movie or something?” Finn had curled into himself and was almost in a ball across the bed from her. She placed her hand softly on the plane of his back.
“You know those things can happen every half an hour sometimes. We can still fool around until your ready again.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. We can make it like a game. For every one you get, you have to try and give me two before you're ready again.”
Finn gave her a predatory smile before he crawled back over to her.
Kurt's voice broke her out of her haze.
“And that worked?”
“Let's just say, by Sunday it was Finn- 8. Me- 19.”
“Damn, girl.”
His father's voice calling down the stairs pulled them away from their little summit.
“Kurt, that Puckerman kid is here.”
“His name's Noah, dad. And we'll be right there.”
**
If Kurt thought Mercedes was going to be suitable reinforcement, he was sorely mistaken. She spent almost the entire dinner staring at Finn across the table.
When Noah walked through the door he was carrying a small bouquet of wild flowers. As he handed them to Carole he blushed at the formality of it all. Burt was standing behind her, arms crossed defensively, glaring at him.
“Hello, Mr Hummel.”
Carole chimed in happily. “Oh honey, don't be silly. Call him Burt.”
“No actually it's Mr Hummel.”
A tense silence fell of over the entire room and it held until Kurt came bounding up the stair with Mercedes' laugh following close behind them. He sensed the tension almost immediately. He saw Noah's head dipped towards the floor. Carole's angry eyes directed at his father, Finn's uncomfortable shifting from foot to foot. But most importantly he saw his father's glare. He was looking at Noah like he'd just kicked his dog.
“Peshaw dad. Quit with the dramatics. Leave them to the professionals.” Kurt breezed past Burt and grabbed Noah by the forearm, pulling him into the dining room.
From the corner of his eye, Burt saw the Puckerman kid hand Kurt a small daisy. It was obviously taken from the larger bouquet and was definitely a little worse for the wear but Burt didn't miss the shy tilt of his son's head or the light blush that painted his cheek. Burt definitely heard the softly whispered thank you, Noah.
Burt Hummel had thought he'd heard his kid in every way. The loud almost shrill shout of excitement. The joyful lilting of happiness. The shaking raspy rattle of insecurity. The thick, slow sound of grief. Burt had never heard Kurt's voice like that. It softened him a bit. Kurt was serious about the boy and if that was the case, Burt had to try to like him.
With Mercedes sharing heated glances with Finn, Noah and Kurt sharing shy tentative smiles and Burt and Carole sharing amused smirks, the dinner was almost completely silent.
“So, Puckerman, what are your plans for after high school?”
Kurt felt Noah tense beside him.
“Actually, Mr Hummel, I'm hoping to get into NYU Wagner. They have a really good program there for basically becoming a community organizer. I got the idea from Obama. When I first heard about what it was I knew that was what I wanted to do. Gemma says if I can pull my marks up a bit and keep up with my extracurricular activities I should be able to get a full ride scholarship. At least that's what the admissions lady told her over the phone.” Noah shrugged. Oblivious to the stunned silence of the entire table.
“I'm sure they have those programs in Ohio. So why New York?”
“Kurt's going to Tisch.”
“Yes that's the plan.” Burt wasn't quite following him.
“Yeah, so I had to find a school in New York.” Noah said plainly, like it was most obvious thing in the entire world.
Burt was stunned into silence by his son's beaming smile until well after dinner. When he was walking Noah to the door, he extended his hand to him, grinning at the hesitant grip.
“Noah, it's nice to meet you, son.”
“It was nice to meet you too, Mr Hummel.”
“The name's Burt, kid.”
“Well then, thanks for dinner Burt.”
“Anytime. I have a feeling we'll be seeing you around here more often, then?”
Noah shot a quick look at Kurt and Mercedes giggling on the couch. A feeling flowing through him that he couldn't quite put into words yet.
“I think you will, sir.”
Burt gave him a teasing hard look at the smirk that swam across Noah's face and watched from the door as Noah jumped into his pickup.
Yeah, Burt knew he'd better get used to having Noah around. He'd seen that other look before. Unadulterated, unconditional love. That's how he used to look at his Caroline.
He wondered if Kurt realized just how deep in it he was. Burt hoped like hell he did.
Author:emo_chick_87
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Puck, Finn/Mercedes, Will/Gemma (OC)
Rating: PG-13 (this part)
Word Count: 2450 words
Spoilers: Season One.
Genre: Romance/Slight Angst/Dashes of Fluff
Warnings: het romance (see parings)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. Don't rub it in okay. I'm still in the depression stage.
Summary: McKinley High gets a new school nurse and she takes special notice of one Noah Puckerman... Get your mind out of the gutter... not that kind of notice.
Previously on GATHH: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9
Thanks to an impromptu football practice Kurt finally got Mercedes alone. Of course, that wasn't until lunch. They were both in need of some serious dish time. Although Kurt suspected that Mercedes had quite a bit more to dish than he did. Judging by the fact on Sunday night his entire room smelled like sex. The cafeteria wasn't the best place to discuss such delicate things but it did make a perfect opportunity to hint at things to come.
Sitting across from his favorite girl he could see the difference in her. She was glowing, smiling, happy. All of which Kurt decided should be her default look and Finn better not do anything to change that.
“Baby boy, whew, you have no idea. That boy is fine. I think I must have spent half the weekend just staring at him. I'm tellin' you some shit went down but I can't spill it all here.”
Mercedes saw Kurt's pleading look and decided she could throw him something.
“I can't say that it's always the case but with Finn, the whole big hands, big feet thing, is totally true.”
“You are so telling me everything tonight. Do you think your parents will let you stay for dinner?”
“I'm sure I could talk them into it. Why?”
“My dad is forcing Noah to come to dinner. He says that he won't have me dating without at least knowing the guy isn't a juvenile delinquent.”
Mercedes' surprised gasp echoed through the cafeteria and drew even more attention to them.
“Are you serious? You guys are like official?”
“Serious and official.”
“Well, it looks like I'm not the only one that needs to spill. Shit baby, our lives just got a hell of a lot more interesting.”
**
Mercedes had just waved goodbye to Kurt and was going to spend the last half hour of lunch cramming for her chem exam. She found her favorite study spot. The library, far back in the corner, hidden from practically the entire room. One of her earbuds was playing some Beyonce when she heard it. Coming from a couple of nameless Cheerio bitches.
“I dunno. I guess she's that big girl that was on the team for a minute. Porsche or something. But yeah anyway he's like totally slumming with her.”
“No way.”
“Totally. Some of the football guys said they think it's a setup.”
“Yeah I can see that. He can do so much better. I mean to go from Quinn to that. Fuck, even that loud annoying chick was better.”
“I know right. Even with that stupid glee shit he could have any girl he wanted.”
“For real.”
Tears filled Mercedes' eyes as she heard their voices drift away into the hallway. They had just confirmed every single thing she was worried about from the start. How could Finn really want her? It didn't make sense and even some airhead cheerleader could see it.
Throwing her books in her bag, she knew she was done for the day. She had to get out of there. She knew that if she cut through the gym she could make it to her car without running into Kurt and having to explain. Plus she knew that Finn and Noah were at that football practice so she didn't think she'd run into them either. She waited until the coast was clear and made a break for it.
She was halfway through the gym when she heard Azimio's voice behind her.
“Is it true? Are you really banging with that white boy?”
Angry tears leap to join the ones already in her eyes as she spun around to face him.
“So what if I am? Finn's a good guy.”
“Bitches like you are the problem. There's plenty of good brothers out there. But no you gotta spread for the enemy.”
Mercedes was about to respond like any good diva would when she felt the hard cold slap of a slushie hitting her face. She should have seen it coming. She ran gasping towards the girls locker room. She felt the cold green door beneath her hands and took a deep breath in relief as the door closed behind her.
Suddenly everything felt wrong. The room was filled with the stench of sweat and Axe body spray. The loud din of voices and running showers bounced of the walls. Fuck, she had gone into the boys instead. It was official. Life sucked. She was about to turn around when she heard Finn's voice raised in a higher pitch than normal.
“I'm serious guys. Knock it off.” The little boy quality of his voice made her stop in her tracks.
“What, bro? I can totally see why you'd want to hit that. More cushion for the pushin', right? Plus those fat chicks are so desperate they'll even put up with your little problem. I bet that bitch is freaky.”
Karofsky's laughter tore at her heart. She couldn't see much with the cherry corn syrup and tears in her eyes but she had heard enough. Without even meaning it, she was hurting Finn. She couldn't let that happen. She just needed to get her eyes clear. Then she would leave.
When she could finally see her haggard reflection in the mirror over the nearest sink she heard the scuffle. She peaked around the corner to see Finn with his forearm pressed into Karofsky's windpipe. He was naked except for a towel and the angry flush that spread down his wide back. His strong voice sent a jolt through her.
“I told you to shut the fuck up. That's my girl, you got that. She's beautiful and sexy and smart and funny. She's way to good for me but she wants me anyway. If I ever hear you fuckers saying shit like that again, I will end you and Puck will help. Got it?” Finn pressed his forearm a fraction harder into the flesh beneath it before letting Karofsky crumble to the ground.
He was turning back to grab his t-shirt when he saw her. Completely covered in cherry slushie, standing and staring at him. He knew he had done the right thing, standing up to that doucheknocker like that, but he still felt like he was caught doing something bad.
That however was the least of his problems. From distance he could see that she was seconds away from a complete breakdown. He'd seen that look on his mom's face more times than he could count before Burt had happened. Like she was struggling under the weight of the world and no matter what she did just couldn't get ahead. He awkwardly jumps into his wet jeans and leads her out of the locker room. Leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
Finn takes her back to his place and is amazed that she doesn't break down until he's completely cleaned her off and they're curled together on his bed. She whispers all the horrible things that made her cry into his chest and all he can do is hold her tighter. He tells her that they're all wrong and that she's the only thing he's ever been sure about. Soon he runs out of words and just starts tracing I love you's on her back.
They stay like that until Kurt stomps down the stairs and tells Finn to be a bro and let him have his girl back for a second. Finn watches as Kurt folds his hands into hers. Looking from the stairs Finn knows for sure that Kurt is wrong. Mercedes was always his girl and he was going to make damn sure that didn't change anytime soon.
**
“Seriously, baby, I'm fine. Finn took care of me. It's all good. I knew this was gonna happen. It's fine. Now let me tell you all the sordid details I know you're dying for.”
“Oh my god. Please tell me everything.”
“He calls me Mercy, ya know. No one has ever done that before. I don't even really know why I like it. I just know that I really really do.” Seeing Mercedes shy was one of Kurt's new favorite things.
“I think it's sweet.”
“It really is. I mean everything about him is sweet. And I mean, everything.”
Kurt gave a happy little squeak.
“On to the good stuff. Okay so you know that rumor going around about him being a minute man? It's true but I can totally work around it. Thanks to you.”
“What are you talking about, thanks to me?”
“You made me listen to the Dan Savage podcast and it really helped.”
“What do you mean?”
“Okay, well we were making out pretty heavily and all of a sudden I feel him lose it.”
“You mean...”
“Yeah, I mean. His face does the most adorable little twist thing and then he gets all embarrassed and pulls away. He starts to apologize and say that he's working on it and all that stuff right. Then he says that he's sorry he ruined the fun.”
“Ahh. Straight boys are so silly.”
“I know right. So I took Dan Savage's advise and had a completely nonthreatening conversation about it.”
Mercedes couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind.
”Fuck. I'm sorry, Mercy. This happens all the time and I'm working on it but I just can't help it. Do you wanna just watch a movie or something?” Finn had curled into himself and was almost in a ball across the bed from her. She placed her hand softly on the plane of his back.
“You know those things can happen every half an hour sometimes. We can still fool around until your ready again.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. We can make it like a game. For every one you get, you have to try and give me two before you're ready again.”
Finn gave her a predatory smile before he crawled back over to her.
Kurt's voice broke her out of her haze.
“And that worked?”
“Let's just say, by Sunday it was Finn- 8. Me- 19.”
“Damn, girl.”
His father's voice calling down the stairs pulled them away from their little summit.
“Kurt, that Puckerman kid is here.”
“His name's Noah, dad. And we'll be right there.”
**
If Kurt thought Mercedes was going to be suitable reinforcement, he was sorely mistaken. She spent almost the entire dinner staring at Finn across the table.
When Noah walked through the door he was carrying a small bouquet of wild flowers. As he handed them to Carole he blushed at the formality of it all. Burt was standing behind her, arms crossed defensively, glaring at him.
“Hello, Mr Hummel.”
Carole chimed in happily. “Oh honey, don't be silly. Call him Burt.”
“No actually it's Mr Hummel.”
A tense silence fell of over the entire room and it held until Kurt came bounding up the stair with Mercedes' laugh following close behind them. He sensed the tension almost immediately. He saw Noah's head dipped towards the floor. Carole's angry eyes directed at his father, Finn's uncomfortable shifting from foot to foot. But most importantly he saw his father's glare. He was looking at Noah like he'd just kicked his dog.
“Peshaw dad. Quit with the dramatics. Leave them to the professionals.” Kurt breezed past Burt and grabbed Noah by the forearm, pulling him into the dining room.
From the corner of his eye, Burt saw the Puckerman kid hand Kurt a small daisy. It was obviously taken from the larger bouquet and was definitely a little worse for the wear but Burt didn't miss the shy tilt of his son's head or the light blush that painted his cheek. Burt definitely heard the softly whispered thank you, Noah.
Burt Hummel had thought he'd heard his kid in every way. The loud almost shrill shout of excitement. The joyful lilting of happiness. The shaking raspy rattle of insecurity. The thick, slow sound of grief. Burt had never heard Kurt's voice like that. It softened him a bit. Kurt was serious about the boy and if that was the case, Burt had to try to like him.
With Mercedes sharing heated glances with Finn, Noah and Kurt sharing shy tentative smiles and Burt and Carole sharing amused smirks, the dinner was almost completely silent.
“So, Puckerman, what are your plans for after high school?”
Kurt felt Noah tense beside him.
“Actually, Mr Hummel, I'm hoping to get into NYU Wagner. They have a really good program there for basically becoming a community organizer. I got the idea from Obama. When I first heard about what it was I knew that was what I wanted to do. Gemma says if I can pull my marks up a bit and keep up with my extracurricular activities I should be able to get a full ride scholarship. At least that's what the admissions lady told her over the phone.” Noah shrugged. Oblivious to the stunned silence of the entire table.
“I'm sure they have those programs in Ohio. So why New York?”
“Kurt's going to Tisch.”
“Yes that's the plan.” Burt wasn't quite following him.
“Yeah, so I had to find a school in New York.” Noah said plainly, like it was most obvious thing in the entire world.
Burt was stunned into silence by his son's beaming smile until well after dinner. When he was walking Noah to the door, he extended his hand to him, grinning at the hesitant grip.
“Noah, it's nice to meet you, son.”
“It was nice to meet you too, Mr Hummel.”
“The name's Burt, kid.”
“Well then, thanks for dinner Burt.”
“Anytime. I have a feeling we'll be seeing you around here more often, then?”
Noah shot a quick look at Kurt and Mercedes giggling on the couch. A feeling flowing through him that he couldn't quite put into words yet.
“I think you will, sir.”
Burt gave him a teasing hard look at the smirk that swam across Noah's face and watched from the door as Noah jumped into his pickup.
Yeah, Burt knew he'd better get used to having Noah around. He'd seen that other look before. Unadulterated, unconditional love. That's how he used to look at his Caroline.
He wondered if Kurt realized just how deep in it he was. Burt hoped like hell he did.