Disclaimer: I'm not Ryan Murphy, unfortunately. Nor am I any of the other amazing writers, producers, and/or directors of the awesome show we call Glee. So I must resort to writing fan fiction. Hope you like this. I know some of you are disappointed my other story, The Taming of a Puckasarous isn't a 'Puckelberry' story, but because you were all so enthusiastic about my writing, I've decided to write a Puckelberry story just for all of you. Please continue to follow my other story too though. It would mean the world to me. Thanks!
Rachel's P.O.V.
The summer before my senior year was filled with one thing only, college applications. Okay so maybe there were some voice lessons, acting lessons, and dance classes but other than that college applications only. Or at least that's how it was supposed to be, unfortunately, summers never turn out how their supposed to be.
This was the first day of summer vacation, my Julliard application was being sent out today. I woke up and did my usual morning routine, flax seed and banana shake then my elliptical workout. After my workout, and a nice relaxing shower, I made my way downstairs Julliard application in hand. It was neatly addressed in a pristine white sealed envelope. I put a gold star sticker in the lower right hand corner for good measure, subliminal messaging is not cheating.
As I made my way downstairs toward the front door I heard my Daddies talking.
"She's going to be fine Hiram. It's one summer job. It won't interfere with any of her arts classes, I've checked with Margret about that. This way she'll have some of her own money to spend on all those extra things she wants. Do you realize it just cost us $100 for her to apply to Julliard? Not to mention the other three backup schools she's applying to," I heard Papa sigh. "Hiram, how are we going to let our baby girl live alone in that big city if she doesn't know how to manage money or work for it?"
"Leroy, I just- she's not – our baby is growing up to fast." I heard Daddy say.
"I know Hiram, but this is what's best for her," Papa said.
I walked into the kitchen to see what exactly they were talking about. "Good morning Papa, Daddy" I said kissing their cheeks respectively.
"Buttercup, can you sit down for a second?" Daddy asked pulling out a seat next to him at the island in the kitchen. I looked at them expectantly. "Sweetheart, you know we want the best for you right?" I nodded. "Which means we want you to be fully prepared for college life, when you go off to New York City."
"Daddy, I haven't even sent in my application to Julliard yet. I mean obviously I'm going to get in but we should at least wait and see before we start making plans and buying things," I reminded him holding up my application.
"Well yes, but regardless of where you go you're going to need to know how to make money." Papa said. "Which is why you need a job this summer Rachel."
"Oh, okay. I'll look later today. Maybe the dance studio has a camp I can help out at," I said trying to get up and walk out to the mailbox with my application. Papa stopped me by placing both of his hands on my shoulders.
"Rachel, sweetheart, we're not asking you to look for a job," Daddy said. "We're telling you that we've found you one; for the summer at least."
"Oh," I said not quite sure how to respond to that. They found me a job? They didn't even let me find my own job? "Well, how does you finding a job for me help me? I mean I'm grateful you did, but you won't be there in New York to get me one so wouldn't it be more beneficial for me to find one myself?" I reasoned. That logic sounded pretty reasonable.
"Rachel, you know Mrs. Ushkowitz from Temple right? Well I was talking to her the other day and she was saying how the coffee shop she owns in Lafayette and she's going to need some help this summer seeing as she only has one other worker." Papa explained completely ignoring my comment. "I told her that you were available this summer, and she was more than thrilled to give you the job. She's seen how diligently you work and was very excited when I offered her your services. She's willing to pay you $8 an hour and you'll be working 4 days a week since your dance, acting, and singing classes are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday."
"Oh, well that sounds lovely" I began as I looked for a loop hole. "Not to put a damper on this idea, but Lafayette is 9 miles away. How am I supposed to get to work every day?"
"Another learning experience Buttercup," Daddy said. "You'll have to take public transportation, something you'll be doing quite a bit of in New York City." He finished with a kiss on my forehead. Then the two of them went back to getting around for today.
"Oh, you start today Sweetheart. The taxi will be here to pick you up in about 30 minutes. They know where to go and they've already been paid. Have a good day!" Papa said as he kissed my cheek and walked out the door. Daddy squeezed my shoulder and followed Papa out the door. I stared after them. They just expected me to go work at this place and that was all the information they were going to give me? Didn't I have any say in this? I thought this was supposed to be my summer.
~RWT~
Puck's P.O.V.
I swear I was going to find the person who created coffee and bang them. Not only did the liquid gold wake me up every morning but it kept me employed, and just ask my ma, neither of those things are easy. I woke up unnaturally early because I was supposed to train some new employee or something so I had to get to work early to get my shit together. Damn, Mrs. Ushkowitz and her amazing coffee. I'd probably bang her too, he's got a nice cougar thing going on, but her husband is like 8 feet tall and hell his guns are like three times the size of mine. He's a big dude.
"Noah, what are you doing?" asked a small voice from behind me. I turned around to see my sister, Ariella.
"I have work today Ari. Why are you up so early?" I asked as I grabbed a bowl from the cupboard for her breakfast. Yeah, I know Puck's good with his little sister who'd have guessed? Yeah well shit like impregnating the Celibacy Queen then being forced to give your baby girl away makes you grow up.
"I never unset my alarm for school so it went off this morning," she shrugged putting the bowl on the table and taking a box of Frosted Cheerios out of the pantry.
"You get up this early for school? Ya crazy" I said ruffling her hair. She slapped my hand and continued pouring her cereal into her bowl. We sat in silence eating our breakfast; her, cereal and a glass of OJ and me, blueberry pop tarts and my coffee.
"Why are you up so early?" Ari asked taking a sip of her juice.
"I have work in like, an hour. I need to leave soon" I said, putting my dishes in the dishwasher. "You cool with going to Jamie's house today?" I asked her. Ari smiled and nodded running upstairs to get dressed. Jamie was Ariella's best friend or some shit and Jamie's parents were pretty cool with Ari staying there when my mom and I both worked.
Ariella came down 4 minutes later with her backpack slung over her shoulder. I rolled my eyes and we both walked out to my truck. I helped her up into the passenger seat and walked around to the driver's side.
"Noah," Ari said quietly as we drove. "Jamie said that only hoodlums get sent to Juvie. Does that mean you're a hoodlum?" I looked at her like she had lost her damn mind because, well she had. Juvie was the beginning of last year she waits until summer to ask me about it?
"What are you talking about Ari? Do you even know what a hoodlum is? I just made dumb mistake and got in trouble. Like when Ma catches me drinking milk out of the carton," I explained.
"They don't send people to Juvie for drinking out of the milk carton dumbass" Ari said scrunching up her face.
I stifled a laugh, "Ma's gonna be pissed that you're talking like me." She shrugged and turned to look out the window. I figured the previous conversation about Juvie was over.
The rest of the ride was relatively quiet. I made a comment asking how many Barbies she could fit into her tiny backpack and she punched me in the leg, fricking' hurt too. I'm gonna make a badass out of her yet. Then she made a comment about how I'm a loser because I'm working two jobs over the summer, The Coffee Shop and my pool cleaning business. I told her to f off and that I wasn't gonna bring her to the movies anymore and she punched me again, badass little 9-year-old.
After I dropped Ariella off at Jaime's house I drove towards work. I would totally deny this and crack anyone's skull who dared bring this up, but I was actually looking forward to work today. I mean, Mrs. Ushkowitz was actually letting me train the new employee. Which meant she trusted me or some shit, which is like really frickin' cool because the only people that actually trust me are like Ma (sometimes) and my Nana Connie. But the fact that Mrs. Ushkowitz, or Maggie as I usually call her, trusts me enough to let me train someone, shit that was a big deal. I was also excited because the new employee that I was training, according to Maggie was a 'very pretty Jewish young lady around my age'. I figures that was great, I could kill two birds with one stone; get Ma off my back on the whole dating a Jewish girl thing, and get me off period.
I pulled into my parking spot in the back of the café. No really, it was my parking spot. My truck was too big to fit anywhere else. I had asked Maggie if I could put my name on it at one point. But she just gave me that look that Ma gives me when I ask something stupid and asked me who else was going to park back there. I guess she was right; no one really likes parking next to the dumpster.
I walked into the small café through the back door to find Mrs. Ushkowitz setting up for opening.
"Oh, good morning Noah" she said when she saw me. I smiled and nodded in response as I put on my gay-ass kaki apron and the nametag that had originally read 'Noah' in this pansy writing until I covered it up with a strip of duct tape and wrote PUCK. "Would you mind unlocking the front door for when the trainee gets here?" She pulled the keys from her own apron and tossing them to me.
"Sure thing Maggie," I smirked catching the keys in my left hand; badass reflexes right here!
I walked over to the door and unlocked it. As I looked through the glass of the door I saw a taxi pull up and a leggy brunette climb out of the back. I silently cheered; hot and Jewish? Best new employee ever! But when she turned around that thought quickly disappeared because there in front of me stood none other than Rachel Berry.
Author's Note: Okay so I really hope you all appreciated that. I'll try and get some more up when I can. Please, please, please review because they make me update faster. Love you all!
~ReaderWriterThinker