Gemma and The Hallway Hands (Part 5 of ?)
Title: Gemma and The Hallway Hands (Part 5 of ?)
Author:emo_chick_87
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Puck, Finn/Mercedes, Gemma (OC)
Rating: PG (this part)
Word Count: 2486 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
No Gemma in this chapter but she will be back in full force soon.
Quick AN: Timeline wise- After Jesse, after Finn is deflowered. After the parents move in together. Before Rachel and Finn get back together. Before the day that shall not be named because I'm trying to love Finn. Okay That's about it. On to the story...
Kurt and Noah were trapped in a heated stare until Rachel loudly cleared her throat and started to rant about everything Mercedes had done wrong. Kurt felt the dark flush rush into his cheeks and hightailed it out of there as fast as he could. He didn't even look back. If he had, he would have seen the defeated slump of Noah's shoulders and Santana laying a comforting hand on his shoulder as he watched him go.
When Friday rolled around Kurt knew he had fucked up. The night before at dinner Finn couldn't even look at him and had elected to walk the three miles to school instead of catching a ride in the Navigator. Santana had met him at the front door with a sharp slap to the back of his finely coiffed head. Mercedes saw him walking down the hall and promptly turned on her heel and went in the direction she had just come from. When Noah wasn't at their lunch table, Kurt knew that he couldn't face any more of the day.
He spent the afternoon sitting alone in his room and sending text after unreturned text to Mercedes. By four o'clock he had fallen into a fitful, Judy Garland induced sleep when the chirp of a new message woke him up. It was Finn telling him that he was spending the weekend at Noah's, to rebuild the friendship and stuff. For the first time in three weeks he fell asleep to the silence of his basement instead of Finn's quiet rasping snores.
When he woke up the next day he could tell that the entire house was empty. Staring at the dark gray of his ceiling, he felt lonely for the first time in almost a year. His Saturday was filled much like they always were before glee had entered his life. Wandering around the house in his pajamas, watching all the bad television he'd taped through out the week, singing alone in his bedroom and crying in the shower. He'd called Mercedes at least seven times. But he, much like Lloyd Dobler, drew the line at eight unreturned phone calls.
Sunday afternoon saw him dressed in his best Ralph Lauren, with Dior sunglasses to hide his puffy eyes, pounding on the Jones' front door. Last time he checked, him and his girl were family and family never stopped loving you. No matter how stupid you were.
**
Mercedes Jones was no shrinking violet. Her mama had taught her that you hold on to what you love and you never let it go. Because whether you like it or not someone is gonna try and take it from you. That's why when Kurt had told her he had feelings for Finn, she had buried whatever was still there from junior high and left it there. Kurt was her family.
For Kurt she forgot all about the tall, skinny white boy with gangly arms that helped her grab the books from the top shelf of her locker. She forgot about the sideways, lopsided grin that made Finn Hudson the first boy to give her butterflies. She forgot about the jolt that shot through her the first time she'd heard him sing. Forgot about the way her skin burned when she'd looped it through his arm and led him into the choir room for lean on me. Forgot his cute voice asking her if there was cake. Forgot the pain that tore through her every time he kissed a girl that was the exact opposite of her. But most of all she forgot that when she sang And I'm telling you she was singing for him.
Watching him struggle to pull off Mos Def almost made missing out on the solo worth it. His awkward movements, cracking voice and him trying so hard made her fall in love with him all over again. Never mind the fact that when he'd covered Rachel's mouth to stop her squawking, his hand had practically engulfed her face. She wasn't sure if what they said about big hands was true or not but she knew for sure that he had those fingers.
Singing in front of him, she couldn't help herself. Her eyed seared into him and everything she had buried for so long came flooding back. They had locked eyes at the first Love rain down and her eyes didn't stray until she heard Kurt slamming out the door like Katie Holmes was trying to give him a makeover. She looked at the ground then. It turned out that no one even had to try and take Kurt away. She just did a pretty fantastic job of pushing him away all by herself.
The next day when she saw Kurt at the other end of the hallway, her shame had forced her to turn the other way. When she didn't see him in math class she knew she'd probably lost him forever.
She spent her Saturday painting her little sister's nails and gossiping about the fifth grade boys she liked. Maya made her watch The Wizard of Oz and by the end she was a sobbing mess. Her sister tells her mom that she'd possessed. Her mom just takes one look at her and tells Maya to leave her alone with her boy troubles. Oh, if mama only knew.
On Sunday, she sits in the back pew and prays for a miracle. When her dad turns into the driveway she sees a figure in the distance.
Only one boy in the whole world would wear a white trench with burgundy trousers and still manage to pull it off. The firm set of his lips doesn't stop her from thinking she had gotten her miracle.
**
Mercedes has never experienced a Mexican Standoff but she has a feeling it's exactly like this. She can feel the glare hiding behind the sunglasses and almost flinches as she waits for Kurt to unload. When she see's him take a breath she can't help but hold hers.
Kurt whips his glasses off and throws them on her bed. His eyes are red and puffy. Now she really feels like shit.
“Mercedes, how can you ever forgive me?”
“Huh?”
“I ran out on your big debut just because some boy got me flustered. How can you ever forgive me? I'm so sorry. We missed out on the victory milkshakes we promised each other.”
“Kurt, baby, I'm the one who should be apologizing to you. Mackin' on your crush like that. I'm the worst kind of friend. It shouldn't matter that I liked him first. You liked him best and I fucked it all up.”
“Wait, you were flirting with Noah?”
“No. Finn. I was flirting with Finn. I betrayed you.”
“Baby girl, I don't want him. If that's what all this is about it's nothing. Do you like Finn?”
“Yeah. Since grade seven.”
“Chica, you gotta tell me stuff like that. I could have saved you from all your self-flagellation and me from the two pints of Ben and Jerry's. I want Noah.”
“Since when?”
“Since forever.”
“So you really don't hate me?”
“I could never hate you. You're my partner in crime. You're family.”
Kurt was unprepared for the strength of Mercedes hug. He held onto her like he was never going to see her again. He felt wetness falling onto the shoulders of his coat. He pulled away slightly and wiped her tears away with his pinkie.
“C'mon, lets go get those victory milkshakes. You've got to tell me everything.”
She just smiled into his shoulder.
**
When Noah saw Kurt slam out of the room he knew he had pushed a little too far, a little too fast. With someone like Kurt you couldn't go from zero to I'm gonna eye-fuck you in front of the entire glee club. Still, it didn't make it hurt any less. Santana put her hand on his shoulder and pulled his gaze to Finn and Mercedes.
Mercedes looked like she'd just been caught doing something she's always wanted to do but never had the courage. Finn was beet red and from the looks of it was reciting mailman, mailman, mailman. Looks like The Noah and Kurt Show wasn't the only one on offer. He really hoped Santana had caught it with her cellphone. The smirking grin and the tilted head towards Brittany holding a cellphone too, told him she had gotten both.
He really doesn't think he could handle seeing Kurt just yet. So he takes a mental health day and rocks some playstation. That afternoon Finn shows up on his door step for the first time in three months and by Saturday they have fallen back into the easy rhythm that always was their friendship.
Saturday morning they are sitting in the back row. Both of them are still rubbing their ears. Like every Saturday since the first grade, they were hauled out of bed by their ears and dragged to Temple. Norah Puckerman was devout and that made everyone in the house devout as well. Noah kept looking at Finn, waiting for the moment he would break and spill whatever he was hiding.
That came after they had shed their dress clothes and were back in the safety of Noah's room.
**
Finn had always thought Mercedes Jones was the coolest girl in school. On the first day of junior high she came to school wearing these bright green tights that he could see from a mile away. She was so pretty and different than all the other girls. They all looked the same to him. They all wore too much make up and they all wore the same perfume. He remembers Quinn telling him it was something like Bi-curious by Britney Spears. But Mercedes smelled like peaches.
He took one look at her and told Dave that he was gonna marry her one day. Dave just scoffed and said she would never marry someone like him. She'd only marry someone like Matt. It didn't really make sense to him because he was like Matt in a lot of ways. But he trusted Dave. So if Mercedes could only like a guy like Matt that was okay. At least he could still be her friend.
He kept being nice to her and getting her books down from the high shelf for her too. Even after four years she still smelled like peaches. She would always give him a small smile and a quiet thank you. But then all of a sudden he was dating Quinn. He wasn't entirely sure how that happened but he knew that the only look he ever got from Mercedes now was a sad one.
When he watched her sing that song about love before sectionals his chest tightened the same way it did when he first saw those bright green tights. Sitting next to Rachel felt wrong then. He kept throwing her glances, to make sure she wasn't noticing the blush of his cheeks or the red tips of his ears. He looks at her and knows, that if it wasn't for Quinn and babygate or Rachel and her craziness, him and Mercedes could be happy together. He looks at Matt and feels jealous. Then he feels angry because Matt hasn't even made a move yet. He's had four years but all he does is stare at Mike all day.
When he hears her sing the song that Rachel ruined again and again, he falls in love with her all over. She looks into his eyes for the first time in six months and he doesn't care about what Dave says or if she only wants a guy like Matt. Quinn felt wrong, Rachel always felt wrong and Santana definitely felt wrong. He thinks Mercedes is right. That she might have been the only thing he was right about in his whole life and everyone else were the stupid ones for a change.
When Kurt storms out of the room he sees Mercedes face fall. He knows it's because she thinks Kurt still likes him. She doesn't know that they already had the we're really better off as brothers, don't ya think? talk. Finn isn't sure how he should tell Kurt he likes his best friend and knows he needs to talk to Noah first. Noah always knows what to do.
He uses his walk to school as a chance to daydream about peaches.
The Temple smells the same as it always does. It smells like mothballs and old books. It's the only constant he's had in his life. Sitting next to Noah, rubbing his sore ear and reciting the words he has never understood but always knew by heart, he feels like he's home.
When they get back to Noah's house he tells his best friend the only thing he's ever kept secret from him. The thing is Noah decides he's going to do the same thing. So they both talk over each other.
“I think I like Kurt.”
“I think I like Mercedes.”
They talk over each other again.
“Well, I knew that.”
“How did you know about Kurt?”
“I saw the way you looked at him at your twelfth birthday. You always look at him like that. You're my best friend, man. How could I not know? How did you know about Mercedes?”
“You're always helpin' her and shit. Not even you carry a girl's books for her just because. Plus I know you. Rachel's cute and all but come on. She's not exactly your type.” Finn could tell Noah was trying to be polite and say it without saying it.
“Yeah. You mean she's cute if you're not into boobs?”
“Well, yeah.”
“And I'm into boobs.”
“You forget bro, I've seen your spank bank. That never lies. You're jerkin' it to girls that look nothing like Rachel or Quinn.”
“Do you think I'm stupid for liking her?”
“Shit bro. She's like the coolest chick at McKinley. She dresses fly. She's wicked awesome smart. Could massacre Beyonce in a diva off and for some strange reason, she actually likes your gigantic ass. She's a catch, man.”
“You really think she likes me?”
“Why wouldn't she?”
“Cause, I'm not like Matt.”
“What, gay? I'm pretty sure she'll be happy about that.” Finn's confused face made Noah giggle to himself. “Oh you mean, black? I don't think she cares about that shit, man. She's not that kinda chick.”
All of a sudden, it clicks. Finn realizes what Dave was talking about all those years ago. He put his whole life on hold because of that?!?
On Monday, one thing's for sure. Finn is gonna sock Karofsky in the nose.
Author:emo_chick_87
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Puck, Finn/Mercedes, Gemma (OC)
Rating: PG (this part)
Word Count: 2486 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
No Gemma in this chapter but she will be back in full force soon.
Quick AN: Timeline wise- After Jesse, after Finn is deflowered. After the parents move in together. Before Rachel and Finn get back together. Before the day that shall not be named because I'm trying to love Finn. Okay That's about it. On to the story...
Kurt and Noah were trapped in a heated stare until Rachel loudly cleared her throat and started to rant about everything Mercedes had done wrong. Kurt felt the dark flush rush into his cheeks and hightailed it out of there as fast as he could. He didn't even look back. If he had, he would have seen the defeated slump of Noah's shoulders and Santana laying a comforting hand on his shoulder as he watched him go.
When Friday rolled around Kurt knew he had fucked up. The night before at dinner Finn couldn't even look at him and had elected to walk the three miles to school instead of catching a ride in the Navigator. Santana had met him at the front door with a sharp slap to the back of his finely coiffed head. Mercedes saw him walking down the hall and promptly turned on her heel and went in the direction she had just come from. When Noah wasn't at their lunch table, Kurt knew that he couldn't face any more of the day.
He spent the afternoon sitting alone in his room and sending text after unreturned text to Mercedes. By four o'clock he had fallen into a fitful, Judy Garland induced sleep when the chirp of a new message woke him up. It was Finn telling him that he was spending the weekend at Noah's, to rebuild the friendship and stuff. For the first time in three weeks he fell asleep to the silence of his basement instead of Finn's quiet rasping snores.
When he woke up the next day he could tell that the entire house was empty. Staring at the dark gray of his ceiling, he felt lonely for the first time in almost a year. His Saturday was filled much like they always were before glee had entered his life. Wandering around the house in his pajamas, watching all the bad television he'd taped through out the week, singing alone in his bedroom and crying in the shower. He'd called Mercedes at least seven times. But he, much like Lloyd Dobler, drew the line at eight unreturned phone calls.
Sunday afternoon saw him dressed in his best Ralph Lauren, with Dior sunglasses to hide his puffy eyes, pounding on the Jones' front door. Last time he checked, him and his girl were family and family never stopped loving you. No matter how stupid you were.
**
Mercedes Jones was no shrinking violet. Her mama had taught her that you hold on to what you love and you never let it go. Because whether you like it or not someone is gonna try and take it from you. That's why when Kurt had told her he had feelings for Finn, she had buried whatever was still there from junior high and left it there. Kurt was her family.
For Kurt she forgot all about the tall, skinny white boy with gangly arms that helped her grab the books from the top shelf of her locker. She forgot about the sideways, lopsided grin that made Finn Hudson the first boy to give her butterflies. She forgot about the jolt that shot through her the first time she'd heard him sing. Forgot about the way her skin burned when she'd looped it through his arm and led him into the choir room for lean on me. Forgot his cute voice asking her if there was cake. Forgot the pain that tore through her every time he kissed a girl that was the exact opposite of her. But most of all she forgot that when she sang And I'm telling you she was singing for him.
Watching him struggle to pull off Mos Def almost made missing out on the solo worth it. His awkward movements, cracking voice and him trying so hard made her fall in love with him all over again. Never mind the fact that when he'd covered Rachel's mouth to stop her squawking, his hand had practically engulfed her face. She wasn't sure if what they said about big hands was true or not but she knew for sure that he had those fingers.
Singing in front of him, she couldn't help herself. Her eyed seared into him and everything she had buried for so long came flooding back. They had locked eyes at the first Love rain down and her eyes didn't stray until she heard Kurt slamming out the door like Katie Holmes was trying to give him a makeover. She looked at the ground then. It turned out that no one even had to try and take Kurt away. She just did a pretty fantastic job of pushing him away all by herself.
The next day when she saw Kurt at the other end of the hallway, her shame had forced her to turn the other way. When she didn't see him in math class she knew she'd probably lost him forever.
She spent her Saturday painting her little sister's nails and gossiping about the fifth grade boys she liked. Maya made her watch The Wizard of Oz and by the end she was a sobbing mess. Her sister tells her mom that she'd possessed. Her mom just takes one look at her and tells Maya to leave her alone with her boy troubles. Oh, if mama only knew.
On Sunday, she sits in the back pew and prays for a miracle. When her dad turns into the driveway she sees a figure in the distance.
Only one boy in the whole world would wear a white trench with burgundy trousers and still manage to pull it off. The firm set of his lips doesn't stop her from thinking she had gotten her miracle.
**
Mercedes has never experienced a Mexican Standoff but she has a feeling it's exactly like this. She can feel the glare hiding behind the sunglasses and almost flinches as she waits for Kurt to unload. When she see's him take a breath she can't help but hold hers.
Kurt whips his glasses off and throws them on her bed. His eyes are red and puffy. Now she really feels like shit.
“Mercedes, how can you ever forgive me?”
“Huh?”
“I ran out on your big debut just because some boy got me flustered. How can you ever forgive me? I'm so sorry. We missed out on the victory milkshakes we promised each other.”
“Kurt, baby, I'm the one who should be apologizing to you. Mackin' on your crush like that. I'm the worst kind of friend. It shouldn't matter that I liked him first. You liked him best and I fucked it all up.”
“Wait, you were flirting with Noah?”
“No. Finn. I was flirting with Finn. I betrayed you.”
“Baby girl, I don't want him. If that's what all this is about it's nothing. Do you like Finn?”
“Yeah. Since grade seven.”
“Chica, you gotta tell me stuff like that. I could have saved you from all your self-flagellation and me from the two pints of Ben and Jerry's. I want Noah.”
“Since when?”
“Since forever.”
“So you really don't hate me?”
“I could never hate you. You're my partner in crime. You're family.”
Kurt was unprepared for the strength of Mercedes hug. He held onto her like he was never going to see her again. He felt wetness falling onto the shoulders of his coat. He pulled away slightly and wiped her tears away with his pinkie.
“C'mon, lets go get those victory milkshakes. You've got to tell me everything.”
She just smiled into his shoulder.
**
When Noah saw Kurt slam out of the room he knew he had pushed a little too far, a little too fast. With someone like Kurt you couldn't go from zero to I'm gonna eye-fuck you in front of the entire glee club. Still, it didn't make it hurt any less. Santana put her hand on his shoulder and pulled his gaze to Finn and Mercedes.
Mercedes looked like she'd just been caught doing something she's always wanted to do but never had the courage. Finn was beet red and from the looks of it was reciting mailman, mailman, mailman. Looks like The Noah and Kurt Show wasn't the only one on offer. He really hoped Santana had caught it with her cellphone. The smirking grin and the tilted head towards Brittany holding a cellphone too, told him she had gotten both.
He really doesn't think he could handle seeing Kurt just yet. So he takes a mental health day and rocks some playstation. That afternoon Finn shows up on his door step for the first time in three months and by Saturday they have fallen back into the easy rhythm that always was their friendship.
Saturday morning they are sitting in the back row. Both of them are still rubbing their ears. Like every Saturday since the first grade, they were hauled out of bed by their ears and dragged to Temple. Norah Puckerman was devout and that made everyone in the house devout as well. Noah kept looking at Finn, waiting for the moment he would break and spill whatever he was hiding.
That came after they had shed their dress clothes and were back in the safety of Noah's room.
**
Finn had always thought Mercedes Jones was the coolest girl in school. On the first day of junior high she came to school wearing these bright green tights that he could see from a mile away. She was so pretty and different than all the other girls. They all looked the same to him. They all wore too much make up and they all wore the same perfume. He remembers Quinn telling him it was something like Bi-curious by Britney Spears. But Mercedes smelled like peaches.
He took one look at her and told Dave that he was gonna marry her one day. Dave just scoffed and said she would never marry someone like him. She'd only marry someone like Matt. It didn't really make sense to him because he was like Matt in a lot of ways. But he trusted Dave. So if Mercedes could only like a guy like Matt that was okay. At least he could still be her friend.
He kept being nice to her and getting her books down from the high shelf for her too. Even after four years she still smelled like peaches. She would always give him a small smile and a quiet thank you. But then all of a sudden he was dating Quinn. He wasn't entirely sure how that happened but he knew that the only look he ever got from Mercedes now was a sad one.
When he watched her sing that song about love before sectionals his chest tightened the same way it did when he first saw those bright green tights. Sitting next to Rachel felt wrong then. He kept throwing her glances, to make sure she wasn't noticing the blush of his cheeks or the red tips of his ears. He looks at her and knows, that if it wasn't for Quinn and babygate or Rachel and her craziness, him and Mercedes could be happy together. He looks at Matt and feels jealous. Then he feels angry because Matt hasn't even made a move yet. He's had four years but all he does is stare at Mike all day.
When he hears her sing the song that Rachel ruined again and again, he falls in love with her all over. She looks into his eyes for the first time in six months and he doesn't care about what Dave says or if she only wants a guy like Matt. Quinn felt wrong, Rachel always felt wrong and Santana definitely felt wrong. He thinks Mercedes is right. That she might have been the only thing he was right about in his whole life and everyone else were the stupid ones for a change.
When Kurt storms out of the room he sees Mercedes face fall. He knows it's because she thinks Kurt still likes him. She doesn't know that they already had the we're really better off as brothers, don't ya think? talk. Finn isn't sure how he should tell Kurt he likes his best friend and knows he needs to talk to Noah first. Noah always knows what to do.
He uses his walk to school as a chance to daydream about peaches.
The Temple smells the same as it always does. It smells like mothballs and old books. It's the only constant he's had in his life. Sitting next to Noah, rubbing his sore ear and reciting the words he has never understood but always knew by heart, he feels like he's home.
When they get back to Noah's house he tells his best friend the only thing he's ever kept secret from him. The thing is Noah decides he's going to do the same thing. So they both talk over each other.
“I think I like Kurt.”
“I think I like Mercedes.”
They talk over each other again.
“Well, I knew that.”
“How did you know about Kurt?”
“I saw the way you looked at him at your twelfth birthday. You always look at him like that. You're my best friend, man. How could I not know? How did you know about Mercedes?”
“You're always helpin' her and shit. Not even you carry a girl's books for her just because. Plus I know you. Rachel's cute and all but come on. She's not exactly your type.” Finn could tell Noah was trying to be polite and say it without saying it.
“Yeah. You mean she's cute if you're not into boobs?”
“Well, yeah.”
“And I'm into boobs.”
“You forget bro, I've seen your spank bank. That never lies. You're jerkin' it to girls that look nothing like Rachel or Quinn.”
“Do you think I'm stupid for liking her?”
“Shit bro. She's like the coolest chick at McKinley. She dresses fly. She's wicked awesome smart. Could massacre Beyonce in a diva off and for some strange reason, she actually likes your gigantic ass. She's a catch, man.”
“You really think she likes me?”
“Why wouldn't she?”
“Cause, I'm not like Matt.”
“What, gay? I'm pretty sure she'll be happy about that.” Finn's confused face made Noah giggle to himself. “Oh you mean, black? I don't think she cares about that shit, man. She's not that kinda chick.”
All of a sudden, it clicks. Finn realizes what Dave was talking about all those years ago. He put his whole life on hold because of that?!?
On Monday, one thing's for sure. Finn is gonna sock Karofsky in the nose.