(Put Me Back Together) Gossip Mongers (9/?)
Title: Put Me Back Together
Part: Chapter 9: Gossip Mongers
Author: Squeeka Cuomo
Rating: PG
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Kurt/Puck, Burt Hummel, Mercedes Jones, Finn Hudson, Quinn Fabray, Emma Pillsbury, Will Schuester, Tina Cohen-Chang, Artie Abrams, Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, Brittany, Mike Chang, Matt Rutherford
Author’s Note: The title and opening quote for this fic come from the beautiful Weezer song, “Put Me Back Together.” You can find it here.
- I know there are tons of spoilers out for the upcoming episodes. Please don’t post them in the comments.
Warning: This takes place directly after “Sectionals.” Everything up to that point is considered fair game. There are spoilers if you haven’t seen the first 13 episodes.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: All it takes is one moment to break Kurt apart. How many will it take to put not only himself but Puck back together?
Put Me Back TogetherChapter 9: Gossip Mongers
As it turned out, news traveled fast at good ole McKinley High.
Oh, it wasn’t like Kurt didn’t already know that. In fact, he knew it quite well. He’d seen it first hand when Coach Sylvester had leaked Quinn’s pregnancy. Because even though the coach had out-ed the Cheerio in the middle of the hallway and at the end of school one day, everyone had seemed to know about it by the next morning.
And now, it was happening again.
Only this time, it was worse.
Because, unlike before, everyone in the glee club was involved. And that meant that they were all targets for the rumor mill.
The moment Kurt walked into school on Monday morning, Jacob Ben Israel rushed up to him with a small recorder in hand. And before Kurt could properly blow him off, Jacob pressed the record button and began talking. “So, tell me, Kurt, what really happened -”
“Look, Jacob, it’s none of your business.” Kurt stopped in the middle of the hallway and was all but sneering at the resident gossip blogger. “And it’s no one else’s. So just keep your mouth shut.” He knew he should have given Jacob a chance, been nicer to him. But Kurt wanted to put a stop to whatever the other boy was planning. And if that meant being a little rude, so be it.
“I… I…” Jacob was stammering, the recorder still poised stupidly under his nose. His eyes were wide, shocked.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have class.” Kurt pushed past Jacob, his head held high. He hated to be rude or outright mean, but Kurt wasn’t afraid of standing up for what was right either.
He could still remember Jacob blackmailing Rachel about keeping Quinn’s pregnancy a secret. Though, according to Rachel, he’d never really planned to release it. Jacob’s little scheme had more to do with getting up close and personal with her than anything else. But in the end, the story had gotten out anyway. Not because Jacob had wanted to post it, but rather because he’d been forced.
So Kurt was more than a little shocked that Jacob seemed to be so intent upon digging up even more painful information.
Deep down, Kurt wanted to believe that it had all been a misunderstanding, that Jacob just wanted some juicy tidbits from the party. But as he walked through the crowded hallway, Kurt knew that wasn’t the case. Because it seemed like everyone was looking at him and whispering. And from the not so quiet murmuring, Kurt knew they were talking Quinn and the party.
And as self-conscious and sick as that made him feel, it was nothing compared to how Kurt felt when he saw Puck…
Puck’s head was bowed low, and his backpack was slung over his shoulder. He was pushing his way through the crowd, ignoring everyone as they turned and stared at him. Their whispers, louder than was really necessary, seemed to make him hunch over more.
And before Kurt could stop himself, he was moving against the flow of students rushing down the hall. A few of them elbowed Kurt while others yelled at him, but he didn’t care. He wanted to get to Puck, needed to…
Talk to him? See how he was? Touch him? Honestly, Kurt didn’t know what he wanted to do. All he really knew was that he wanted to get to Puck.
But before Kurt could make his way through the sea of students, Miss Pillsbury came walking out of her office. She looked as if she had a purpose, only going so far away from her door. And despite the constant flow of people, Kurt stopped in the middle of the hallway and just watched. Because somehow, he just knew what was going to happen.
And as Kurt stared, the guidance counselor easily maneuvered her way past the students (making sure not to touch anyone or anything) and walked up next to Puck. When she stopped next to him, Puck turned towards her, a look of resignation on his face. Miss Pillsbury smiled sweetly before saying something to Puck.
From where he stood, Kurt couldn’t hear what Miss Pillsbury was saying. But Kurt could see her reaching out, trying to place her hand on Puck’s shoulder. However, her issues with germs seemed to outweigh her desire to comfort a student, because she pulled her hand back before making contact.
When Puck nodded at her, Kurt hoped that Miss Pillsbury would walk away, would leave Puck where he was. But instead, she turned back towards her office door, beckoning Puck to follow.
And though Kurt willed him not to, wished that he would start walking in the opposite direction, Puck didn’t. Instead, he turned and followed the guidance counselor back towards her office door. His head was bowed low again, and he was clutching the strap of his book bag for dear life.
But before he walked through, Puck looked over his shoulder, directly at Kurt. It was only for a second, but Kurt was positive that he’d seen… recognition in Puck’s eyes.
Recognition of what, Kurt couldn’t be sure. But it was recognition nonetheless.
Caught up in Puck's look, Kurt didn't realize he was going to late for class until the bell for first period rang harshly through the halls. He hadn’t even stopped at his locker yet, and Spanish was in the next hall over. And if he wanted to turn in the homework he’d completed during study hall on Friday, he had to stop by his locker.
So, after deciding that a tardy was worse than a zero for the assignment, Kurt set off in the direction of his locker.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Kurt spent the few passing minutes between second and third period looking for Puck. But unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen. Kurt thought about asking anyone if they’d seen him, but he changed his mind, knowing that his looking for Puck (of all people) would only feed the already overactive gossip mill.
When lunch time came, Kurt walked towards the cafeteria, hoping that maybe he’d overhear something at his usual table. After all, they were all in glee together, and they’d all been at his house over the weekend. So it stood to reason that his friends would probably be talking about what had happened and about Puck.
But just as Kurt was about to walk into the cafeteria, he ran smack into a very solid body. Instantly, he remembered running into Finn much the same way. But this… this was different. There was no hand on his shoulder to steady him or a kind chuckle at the collision.
Instead, Kurt had to regain his balance on his own. And in an effort to do just that, he took a step backward, preparing to tell off whoever had just gotten in his way. But when he looked up, Kurt was shocked to find himself face-to-face with Puck.
Blinking several times, Kurt opened his mouth to speak, but all he could manage was a stutter. “I… I…”
All of the resolve Kurt had felt when he’d seen Puck earlier was gone. And now that he had the other boy infront of him, Kurt wanted to do nothing more than run and hide.
But Puck was looking down at him, his eyes intent, as if there was something he wanted to say. So Kurt forced himself to stay still even though his legs were willing him to flee.
When Puck finally managed to speak, Kurt held his breath. “Uh… I, umh…”
With Puck’s voice trailing off, Kurt felt himself exhale slowly. Part of him was dissapointed with what Puck had said. But (a much larger) part of him was also relieved. Because honestly, Kurt didn’t know how to react to the stuttering let alone anything else.
As it was, his stomach was in knots, and his mind was reeling. Quick flashes of a stolen kiss and gentle touches peppered with snippets from his dream were speeding through his mind. And it was next to impossible for Kurt to breathe let alone think of anything to say. His heart was pounding painfully against his ribs, and his mouth had gone dry.
And when Puck opened his mouth, as if to say something else, Kurt finally gave into impulses and ran. Well… not ran. But he hurried away as quickly as he possibly could, hoping not to draw anymore attention to himself than he already had.
Kurt spent the rest of the day doing everything he possibly could to avoid Puck. And for the most part, that wasn’t difficult. After all, they only shared two classes, and that was dealt with easily enough. All Kurt had to do was make sure the seats around his were filled before Puck arrived. Other than that, they crossed paths in a few of the passing periods, but all Kurt had to do was keep his head down and keep walking.
But even though he’d managed to avoid Puck during the day, Kurt knew that that would be impossible during glee club.
And as he walked into the choir room after school, Kurt felt himself fill with a sickening dread that took over his entire body. It started out with a faint sense of nausea and turned into a full on case of jittery hands and sweaty palms.
But thankfully, when he walked in, Puck was already there. He was seated by himself towards the back. He had his cellphone out and looked as if he were reading an upsetting text. His brows were furrowed, and he looked upset.
With Puck there before him, he felt his nerves subside a bit. Kurt could sit wherever he wanted without the fear of Puck walking past him or recreating the scene from lunch. In fact, Kurt was pretty sure that Puck hadn’t noticed his arrival at all.
So, feeling himself calm down even more, Kurt took an open seat in the front row next to Mercedes. She had a notebook open on her lap and looked as if she were trying to finish up some homework. He was just about to ask her if she’d been assaulted by Jacob Ben Israel as well when Mr. Schuester came walking into the room.
He was carrying a stack of sheet music in his arms, and he looked grim, the lines around his eyes more prominent than normal. And rather than give everyone a few minutes to settle down, Schu quickly called the group to order. Unsuprisingly, it didn’t take long for the room to fall silent. They were all pretty subdued after what had happened over the weekend.
“As you all know, Quinn miscarried over the weekend.” Mr. Schuested paused as if it were difficult for him to continue. The piano player, whom Kurt could only think of as Tinkles since April’s time in glee, was staring at Schu, his mouth pressed into a sad line. “She’s going to take a week off of school, and I hope that you will all respect her wishes during this time.”
Kurt, who’d been watching Schuester intently, noticed the man’s eyes move towards Puck and linger on him for a few seconds.
And it angered Kurt.
It was almost as if Schu had taken Finn’s side, almost as if he thought Puck was soley to blame for the entire baby scandal. Because Schu’s eyes were narrowed, as if trying to burn the message into Puck. And sure, Puck had played his part, but it wasn’t all Puck’s fault.
Schu looked away from Puck, his eyes moving over the rest of the glee club as he continued to talk. However, he didn’t stop to pointedly look at anyone else as he had with Puck.
But whatever else Schuester had to say on the subject, Kurt didn’t care. He effectively tuned the man out until Mr. Schuester picked up the sheet music and started passing it around.
The rest of rehearsal passed by like normal except for the fact that Kurt couldn’t shake his anger at Schuester. He tried to forget about what the man had said and to focus on the paper in his hands. And for the most part, it worked. But whenever he caught sight of Puck out of the corner of his eyes, it all came rushing back.
When it came time for them to leave, Kurt was prepared to grab his bag and run. He wanted to get away from Schuester and the anger the teacher had caused in him. But more than anything, Kurt wanted to get away from Puck.
He’d taken to watching Kurt for the last fifteen minutes of rehearsal, and it was making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Why that was, Kurt didn’t know, but he wanted more than to be away from Puck’s searching gaze.
But before he could make a break for it, Mr. Schuester called them all back. “Oh! I forgot. I’ve got an assignment for you guys.” Everyone in the room groaned, and Kurt was positive that it was due to memories of the mash-up assignment.
But Schu, ever the optimist, didn’t seem to get that.
Instead, he just smiled enthusiastically. “Now, guys, I think you’ll like this.” He looked around the room, obviously trying to build up something resembling excitement. But everyone just stared back at him with stony faces. Rachel included. “Since we need a new set list for Regionals, I thought we could have a Free For All.” He looked around the group again as if expecting them to burst into cheers. But when they didn’t, Schu’s face fell. “I’d like each of you to prepare a song that you think would be good for Regionals. It can be anything you want.”
When everyone seemed to perk up (if only ever so slightly) at the prospect of singing their own songs, Mr. Schuester smiled. He’d gotten what he’d wanted from them. So finally, after telling the group that they would be due next week, Schu dismissed them. And despite himself, Kurt felt just a tiny bit excited. He would finally get a chance to redeem himself for the blown high F.
And lost in thoughts of which song to choose, Kurt didn’t notice Puck walking towards him until it was to late.
“Hey, umh, Hummel…” Puck’s voice was hesitant, borderline nervous. He’d said Kurt’s last name as if it were something special. It nowhere neared the reverence of how he’d said it at the party, but it was still amazing. And Kurt found himself reacting to it instantly.
His head whipped around to find Puck standing before him, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. And before Kurt could stop himself, he responded with his own breathy, “Puck.” The nerves from earlier had come back in full force. But there was just something in Puck’s tone that seemed to soothe Kurt.
“I just…” Puck trailed off as if he didn’t quite know how to voice what he wanted to say. And for some reason, that hesitancy calmed Kurt. He was no longer terrified, wanting to escape at all costs. Instead, Kurt wanted to stay with Puck, to be near him. Just like he had that morning before Miss Pillsbury had whisked him away.
Kurt waited for Puck to finish his thought, praying that the moment wouldn’t be lost. Because whatever it was, whatever Puck was trying to say, Kurt found that he really wanted to hear it.
So when someone tapped him on the shoulder, just as Puck was about say something, Kurt felt a wave of irritation overtake him. And even though the person who had tapped on his shoulder obviously wanted him to turn around, Kurt didn’t. Instead, he stayed facing Puck, silently willing him to continue.
But from the expression on Puck’s face, Kurt knew he wouldn’t.
Puck’s dark eyes had narrowed to slits, and his jaw was clenched together. And before Kurt knew what he was doing, he reached out to Puck. But he never made contact, because Puck stepped back, dropping his eyes to the floor as he did. Feeling rejected, Kurt let his arm drop to his side.
When Puck looked back up, he finally managed to speak. However, what he said wasn’t what Kurt was expecting, or hoping, to hear. “You better see what he wants.” Puck’s voice was low, a mixture of hurt and anger.
“I… What?” Kurt was confused and reeling from Puck’s… everything. His step backward, his tone, his whole demeanor. But he turned around anyway, desperate to find some sense in a confusing situation.
When he came face to face with Finn, the confusion he’d just been feeling gave way to shock. And even though Kurt was still desperate to know what Puck had been trying to say, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of the other boy standing before him.
“Hey, Kurt.” The sound of Finn saying his name caused Kurt to smile just a bit, which only seemed to encourage Finn. It didn’t possess the intensity of Puck’s “Hummel,” but it was sweet and kind. And for just a moment, Kurt was more than happy to forget the brief glimpse of ugliness he’d seen from Finn the night before. “I was wondering if you’d help me with my song. You were so great with the ballad coaching.”
Kurt was just about to answer when Rachel came rushing over. Her brown eyes wider than dinner plates, she looked from Finn to Kurt and then to Finn again. “But Finn, I thought you and I rehearsed together?” Rachel placed her hand over her heart as if it symbolized some bond they’d formed. “After all, we’ve establised an excellent rapport, and we make a -”
“No, Rachel.” Finn cut Rachel off mid-sentence, not even bothering to look at her as he did. Rachel quickly recoiled as if she’d been slapped, mouth turning down in a frown. She looked so hurt, so crushed. And Kurt knew that she must have been, because she didn’t argue, didn’t try to persuade Finn that she was the better choice. And the sight broke Kurt’s heart just a tiny bit.
“I, I want to work with Kurt for a change.” Kurt looked from Rachel to Finn. She looked as if she were holding back tears, and he looked as if he didn’t care. And Kurt couldn’t help but wonder if this wasn’t more fallout from the baby drama. Rachel, after all, had been the one to tell Finn about Puck and Quinn. And Kurt couldn’t imagine Finn being too pleased with her after that. If Quinn didn’t want to see Puck, there was no telling how Finn had treated Rachel since Sectionals.
But before Rachel (or Finn) could say another word, Kurt spoke up, hoping to break the tension. “Of course. I’d be honored. How about early next week? After you’ve had some time to prepare.” For the most part, Kurt was excited about the prospect of spending some alone time with Finn. But there was something, some little niggling doubt that Kurt just couldn’t put his finger on. And so, he tried to push it down, to just enjoy the attention.
When Finn began to agree and make further plans, Rachel backed away looking like a puppy with its tail between its legs. The sight was pathetic and caused Kurt to feel just a little guilty. But not guilty enough to turn down Finn. Instead, he smiled up at the other boy and promised to call him later that week.
The second Finn walked away, Kurt turned around, expecting Puck to be there waiting.
But he wasn’t.
And the excitement he’d been feeling only a moment ago disappeared, making way for a huge knot of disappointment to settle in the pit of Kurt’s stomach.
Squeeka Cuomo’s Notes
- The title and opening quote for this fic come from the beautiful Weezer song, “Put Me Back Together.” You can find it here.
- To everyone who has been so amazingly kind to me… THANK YOU. I truly, truly appreciate all of the support.
- Quack: I couldn’t do this without you. There isn’t anyone else out there that could decode my Franco, Italian as well as you! :duck:
- Reviews are love.
Put Me Back Together
Chapter 1: Kiss Me Goodbye
Chapter 2: Of Soirees and Sarongs
Chapter 3: Not So Subtle
Chapter 4: Late Arrivals
Chapter 5: Breaking Point
Chapter 6: Empty Hallway
Chapter 7: Cleaning up the Mess
Chapter 8: Dirty Laundry
Part: Chapter 9: Gossip Mongers
Author: Squeeka Cuomo
Rating: PG
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Kurt/Puck, Burt Hummel, Mercedes Jones, Finn Hudson, Quinn Fabray, Emma Pillsbury, Will Schuester, Tina Cohen-Chang, Artie Abrams, Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, Brittany, Mike Chang, Matt Rutherford
Author’s Note: The title and opening quote for this fic come from the beautiful Weezer song, “Put Me Back Together.” You can find it here.
- I know there are tons of spoilers out for the upcoming episodes. Please don’t post them in the comments.
Warning: This takes place directly after “Sectionals.” Everything up to that point is considered fair game. There are spoilers if you haven’t seen the first 13 episodes.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: All it takes is one moment to break Kurt apart. How many will it take to put not only himself but Puck back together?
Put Me Back TogetherChapter 9: Gossip Mongers
As it turned out, news traveled fast at good ole McKinley High.
Oh, it wasn’t like Kurt didn’t already know that. In fact, he knew it quite well. He’d seen it first hand when Coach Sylvester had leaked Quinn’s pregnancy. Because even though the coach had out-ed the Cheerio in the middle of the hallway and at the end of school one day, everyone had seemed to know about it by the next morning.
And now, it was happening again.
Only this time, it was worse.
Because, unlike before, everyone in the glee club was involved. And that meant that they were all targets for the rumor mill.
The moment Kurt walked into school on Monday morning, Jacob Ben Israel rushed up to him with a small recorder in hand. And before Kurt could properly blow him off, Jacob pressed the record button and began talking. “So, tell me, Kurt, what really happened -”
“Look, Jacob, it’s none of your business.” Kurt stopped in the middle of the hallway and was all but sneering at the resident gossip blogger. “And it’s no one else’s. So just keep your mouth shut.” He knew he should have given Jacob a chance, been nicer to him. But Kurt wanted to put a stop to whatever the other boy was planning. And if that meant being a little rude, so be it.
“I… I…” Jacob was stammering, the recorder still poised stupidly under his nose. His eyes were wide, shocked.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have class.” Kurt pushed past Jacob, his head held high. He hated to be rude or outright mean, but Kurt wasn’t afraid of standing up for what was right either.
He could still remember Jacob blackmailing Rachel about keeping Quinn’s pregnancy a secret. Though, according to Rachel, he’d never really planned to release it. Jacob’s little scheme had more to do with getting up close and personal with her than anything else. But in the end, the story had gotten out anyway. Not because Jacob had wanted to post it, but rather because he’d been forced.
So Kurt was more than a little shocked that Jacob seemed to be so intent upon digging up even more painful information.
Deep down, Kurt wanted to believe that it had all been a misunderstanding, that Jacob just wanted some juicy tidbits from the party. But as he walked through the crowded hallway, Kurt knew that wasn’t the case. Because it seemed like everyone was looking at him and whispering. And from the not so quiet murmuring, Kurt knew they were talking Quinn and the party.
And as self-conscious and sick as that made him feel, it was nothing compared to how Kurt felt when he saw Puck…
Puck’s head was bowed low, and his backpack was slung over his shoulder. He was pushing his way through the crowd, ignoring everyone as they turned and stared at him. Their whispers, louder than was really necessary, seemed to make him hunch over more.
And before Kurt could stop himself, he was moving against the flow of students rushing down the hall. A few of them elbowed Kurt while others yelled at him, but he didn’t care. He wanted to get to Puck, needed to…
Talk to him? See how he was? Touch him? Honestly, Kurt didn’t know what he wanted to do. All he really knew was that he wanted to get to Puck.
But before Kurt could make his way through the sea of students, Miss Pillsbury came walking out of her office. She looked as if she had a purpose, only going so far away from her door. And despite the constant flow of people, Kurt stopped in the middle of the hallway and just watched. Because somehow, he just knew what was going to happen.
And as Kurt stared, the guidance counselor easily maneuvered her way past the students (making sure not to touch anyone or anything) and walked up next to Puck. When she stopped next to him, Puck turned towards her, a look of resignation on his face. Miss Pillsbury smiled sweetly before saying something to Puck.
From where he stood, Kurt couldn’t hear what Miss Pillsbury was saying. But Kurt could see her reaching out, trying to place her hand on Puck’s shoulder. However, her issues with germs seemed to outweigh her desire to comfort a student, because she pulled her hand back before making contact.
When Puck nodded at her, Kurt hoped that Miss Pillsbury would walk away, would leave Puck where he was. But instead, she turned back towards her office door, beckoning Puck to follow.
And though Kurt willed him not to, wished that he would start walking in the opposite direction, Puck didn’t. Instead, he turned and followed the guidance counselor back towards her office door. His head was bowed low again, and he was clutching the strap of his book bag for dear life.
But before he walked through, Puck looked over his shoulder, directly at Kurt. It was only for a second, but Kurt was positive that he’d seen… recognition in Puck’s eyes.
Recognition of what, Kurt couldn’t be sure. But it was recognition nonetheless.
Caught up in Puck's look, Kurt didn't realize he was going to late for class until the bell for first period rang harshly through the halls. He hadn’t even stopped at his locker yet, and Spanish was in the next hall over. And if he wanted to turn in the homework he’d completed during study hall on Friday, he had to stop by his locker.
So, after deciding that a tardy was worse than a zero for the assignment, Kurt set off in the direction of his locker.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Kurt spent the few passing minutes between second and third period looking for Puck. But unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen. Kurt thought about asking anyone if they’d seen him, but he changed his mind, knowing that his looking for Puck (of all people) would only feed the already overactive gossip mill.
When lunch time came, Kurt walked towards the cafeteria, hoping that maybe he’d overhear something at his usual table. After all, they were all in glee together, and they’d all been at his house over the weekend. So it stood to reason that his friends would probably be talking about what had happened and about Puck.
But just as Kurt was about to walk into the cafeteria, he ran smack into a very solid body. Instantly, he remembered running into Finn much the same way. But this… this was different. There was no hand on his shoulder to steady him or a kind chuckle at the collision.
Instead, Kurt had to regain his balance on his own. And in an effort to do just that, he took a step backward, preparing to tell off whoever had just gotten in his way. But when he looked up, Kurt was shocked to find himself face-to-face with Puck.
Blinking several times, Kurt opened his mouth to speak, but all he could manage was a stutter. “I… I…”
All of the resolve Kurt had felt when he’d seen Puck earlier was gone. And now that he had the other boy infront of him, Kurt wanted to do nothing more than run and hide.
But Puck was looking down at him, his eyes intent, as if there was something he wanted to say. So Kurt forced himself to stay still even though his legs were willing him to flee.
When Puck finally managed to speak, Kurt held his breath. “Uh… I, umh…”
With Puck’s voice trailing off, Kurt felt himself exhale slowly. Part of him was dissapointed with what Puck had said. But (a much larger) part of him was also relieved. Because honestly, Kurt didn’t know how to react to the stuttering let alone anything else.
As it was, his stomach was in knots, and his mind was reeling. Quick flashes of a stolen kiss and gentle touches peppered with snippets from his dream were speeding through his mind. And it was next to impossible for Kurt to breathe let alone think of anything to say. His heart was pounding painfully against his ribs, and his mouth had gone dry.
And when Puck opened his mouth, as if to say something else, Kurt finally gave into impulses and ran. Well… not ran. But he hurried away as quickly as he possibly could, hoping not to draw anymore attention to himself than he already had.
Kurt spent the rest of the day doing everything he possibly could to avoid Puck. And for the most part, that wasn’t difficult. After all, they only shared two classes, and that was dealt with easily enough. All Kurt had to do was make sure the seats around his were filled before Puck arrived. Other than that, they crossed paths in a few of the passing periods, but all Kurt had to do was keep his head down and keep walking.
But even though he’d managed to avoid Puck during the day, Kurt knew that that would be impossible during glee club.
And as he walked into the choir room after school, Kurt felt himself fill with a sickening dread that took over his entire body. It started out with a faint sense of nausea and turned into a full on case of jittery hands and sweaty palms.
But thankfully, when he walked in, Puck was already there. He was seated by himself towards the back. He had his cellphone out and looked as if he were reading an upsetting text. His brows were furrowed, and he looked upset.
With Puck there before him, he felt his nerves subside a bit. Kurt could sit wherever he wanted without the fear of Puck walking past him or recreating the scene from lunch. In fact, Kurt was pretty sure that Puck hadn’t noticed his arrival at all.
So, feeling himself calm down even more, Kurt took an open seat in the front row next to Mercedes. She had a notebook open on her lap and looked as if she were trying to finish up some homework. He was just about to ask her if she’d been assaulted by Jacob Ben Israel as well when Mr. Schuester came walking into the room.
He was carrying a stack of sheet music in his arms, and he looked grim, the lines around his eyes more prominent than normal. And rather than give everyone a few minutes to settle down, Schu quickly called the group to order. Unsuprisingly, it didn’t take long for the room to fall silent. They were all pretty subdued after what had happened over the weekend.
“As you all know, Quinn miscarried over the weekend.” Mr. Schuested paused as if it were difficult for him to continue. The piano player, whom Kurt could only think of as Tinkles since April’s time in glee, was staring at Schu, his mouth pressed into a sad line. “She’s going to take a week off of school, and I hope that you will all respect her wishes during this time.”
Kurt, who’d been watching Schuester intently, noticed the man’s eyes move towards Puck and linger on him for a few seconds.
And it angered Kurt.
It was almost as if Schu had taken Finn’s side, almost as if he thought Puck was soley to blame for the entire baby scandal. Because Schu’s eyes were narrowed, as if trying to burn the message into Puck. And sure, Puck had played his part, but it wasn’t all Puck’s fault.
Schu looked away from Puck, his eyes moving over the rest of the glee club as he continued to talk. However, he didn’t stop to pointedly look at anyone else as he had with Puck.
But whatever else Schuester had to say on the subject, Kurt didn’t care. He effectively tuned the man out until Mr. Schuester picked up the sheet music and started passing it around.
The rest of rehearsal passed by like normal except for the fact that Kurt couldn’t shake his anger at Schuester. He tried to forget about what the man had said and to focus on the paper in his hands. And for the most part, it worked. But whenever he caught sight of Puck out of the corner of his eyes, it all came rushing back.
When it came time for them to leave, Kurt was prepared to grab his bag and run. He wanted to get away from Schuester and the anger the teacher had caused in him. But more than anything, Kurt wanted to get away from Puck.
He’d taken to watching Kurt for the last fifteen minutes of rehearsal, and it was making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Why that was, Kurt didn’t know, but he wanted more than to be away from Puck’s searching gaze.
But before he could make a break for it, Mr. Schuester called them all back. “Oh! I forgot. I’ve got an assignment for you guys.” Everyone in the room groaned, and Kurt was positive that it was due to memories of the mash-up assignment.
But Schu, ever the optimist, didn’t seem to get that.
Instead, he just smiled enthusiastically. “Now, guys, I think you’ll like this.” He looked around the room, obviously trying to build up something resembling excitement. But everyone just stared back at him with stony faces. Rachel included. “Since we need a new set list for Regionals, I thought we could have a Free For All.” He looked around the group again as if expecting them to burst into cheers. But when they didn’t, Schu’s face fell. “I’d like each of you to prepare a song that you think would be good for Regionals. It can be anything you want.”
When everyone seemed to perk up (if only ever so slightly) at the prospect of singing their own songs, Mr. Schuester smiled. He’d gotten what he’d wanted from them. So finally, after telling the group that they would be due next week, Schu dismissed them. And despite himself, Kurt felt just a tiny bit excited. He would finally get a chance to redeem himself for the blown high F.
And lost in thoughts of which song to choose, Kurt didn’t notice Puck walking towards him until it was to late.
“Hey, umh, Hummel…” Puck’s voice was hesitant, borderline nervous. He’d said Kurt’s last name as if it were something special. It nowhere neared the reverence of how he’d said it at the party, but it was still amazing. And Kurt found himself reacting to it instantly.
His head whipped around to find Puck standing before him, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. And before Kurt could stop himself, he responded with his own breathy, “Puck.” The nerves from earlier had come back in full force. But there was just something in Puck’s tone that seemed to soothe Kurt.
“I just…” Puck trailed off as if he didn’t quite know how to voice what he wanted to say. And for some reason, that hesitancy calmed Kurt. He was no longer terrified, wanting to escape at all costs. Instead, Kurt wanted to stay with Puck, to be near him. Just like he had that morning before Miss Pillsbury had whisked him away.
Kurt waited for Puck to finish his thought, praying that the moment wouldn’t be lost. Because whatever it was, whatever Puck was trying to say, Kurt found that he really wanted to hear it.
So when someone tapped him on the shoulder, just as Puck was about say something, Kurt felt a wave of irritation overtake him. And even though the person who had tapped on his shoulder obviously wanted him to turn around, Kurt didn’t. Instead, he stayed facing Puck, silently willing him to continue.
But from the expression on Puck’s face, Kurt knew he wouldn’t.
Puck’s dark eyes had narrowed to slits, and his jaw was clenched together. And before Kurt knew what he was doing, he reached out to Puck. But he never made contact, because Puck stepped back, dropping his eyes to the floor as he did. Feeling rejected, Kurt let his arm drop to his side.
When Puck looked back up, he finally managed to speak. However, what he said wasn’t what Kurt was expecting, or hoping, to hear. “You better see what he wants.” Puck’s voice was low, a mixture of hurt and anger.
“I… What?” Kurt was confused and reeling from Puck’s… everything. His step backward, his tone, his whole demeanor. But he turned around anyway, desperate to find some sense in a confusing situation.
When he came face to face with Finn, the confusion he’d just been feeling gave way to shock. And even though Kurt was still desperate to know what Puck had been trying to say, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of the other boy standing before him.
“Hey, Kurt.” The sound of Finn saying his name caused Kurt to smile just a bit, which only seemed to encourage Finn. It didn’t possess the intensity of Puck’s “Hummel,” but it was sweet and kind. And for just a moment, Kurt was more than happy to forget the brief glimpse of ugliness he’d seen from Finn the night before. “I was wondering if you’d help me with my song. You were so great with the ballad coaching.”
Kurt was just about to answer when Rachel came rushing over. Her brown eyes wider than dinner plates, she looked from Finn to Kurt and then to Finn again. “But Finn, I thought you and I rehearsed together?” Rachel placed her hand over her heart as if it symbolized some bond they’d formed. “After all, we’ve establised an excellent rapport, and we make a -”
“No, Rachel.” Finn cut Rachel off mid-sentence, not even bothering to look at her as he did. Rachel quickly recoiled as if she’d been slapped, mouth turning down in a frown. She looked so hurt, so crushed. And Kurt knew that she must have been, because she didn’t argue, didn’t try to persuade Finn that she was the better choice. And the sight broke Kurt’s heart just a tiny bit.
“I, I want to work with Kurt for a change.” Kurt looked from Rachel to Finn. She looked as if she were holding back tears, and he looked as if he didn’t care. And Kurt couldn’t help but wonder if this wasn’t more fallout from the baby drama. Rachel, after all, had been the one to tell Finn about Puck and Quinn. And Kurt couldn’t imagine Finn being too pleased with her after that. If Quinn didn’t want to see Puck, there was no telling how Finn had treated Rachel since Sectionals.
But before Rachel (or Finn) could say another word, Kurt spoke up, hoping to break the tension. “Of course. I’d be honored. How about early next week? After you’ve had some time to prepare.” For the most part, Kurt was excited about the prospect of spending some alone time with Finn. But there was something, some little niggling doubt that Kurt just couldn’t put his finger on. And so, he tried to push it down, to just enjoy the attention.
When Finn began to agree and make further plans, Rachel backed away looking like a puppy with its tail between its legs. The sight was pathetic and caused Kurt to feel just a little guilty. But not guilty enough to turn down Finn. Instead, he smiled up at the other boy and promised to call him later that week.
The second Finn walked away, Kurt turned around, expecting Puck to be there waiting.
But he wasn’t.
And the excitement he’d been feeling only a moment ago disappeared, making way for a huge knot of disappointment to settle in the pit of Kurt’s stomach.
Squeeka Cuomo’s Notes
- The title and opening quote for this fic come from the beautiful Weezer song, “Put Me Back Together.” You can find it here.
- To everyone who has been so amazingly kind to me… THANK YOU. I truly, truly appreciate all of the support.
- Quack: I couldn’t do this without you. There isn’t anyone else out there that could decode my Franco, Italian as well as you! :duck:
- Reviews are love.
Put Me Back Together
Chapter 1: Kiss Me Goodbye
Chapter 2: Of Soirees and Sarongs
Chapter 3: Not So Subtle
Chapter 4: Late Arrivals
Chapter 5: Breaking Point
Chapter 6: Empty Hallway
Chapter 7: Cleaning up the Mess
Chapter 8: Dirty Laundry