August 2012

"Still pretty crazy that your parents were cool with this."

Mercedes shook her head with a weak smile, "My dad isn't really. If it weren't for my mom, this probably wouldn't have even happened, but also, I'm an adult now so…" Her words faded out as she realized how non-adult saying that was. Shaking her head to try and erase it like an Etch-a-Sketch, she finished explaining with, "I think he's trying to prove a point by letting me do this. Like I can't do it so I'd end up coming back home and going to school there like he wants."

After reclining the passenger seat of Mercedes' Chevy Equinox, Puck took a sip of his Coke and then told her, "Well, kudos to you, Jones, for getting' outta Lima with me. Sure it'll probably suck at times but—you and me are tough as nails. We're gonna take over LA."

Smirking a little more confidently, she replied, "You know it!"

Behind them, Mr. and Mrs. Jones were following with a miniature U-Haul for Puck and Mercedes' larger furniture items. They had crossed into the California border and were only a few short miles away from the apartment complex—Puck and Mercedes' new home.

"Damn it feels good to be in California!" sighed Puck.

Mercedes' brows pulled together, "We haven't even been here that long."

"Who cares? The point is that we are here! And I dunno about you but there's no way I'm looking back."

"What about your mom and sister?"

Puck shrugged, "You know what I mean. I'll call and visit them when I can, but it'll be a rainy day in hell before I move back to Lima." As he started taking another sip of his Coke, his phone buzzed in his lap. He checked the message sent and rolled his eyes.

Mercedes grew curious by his silence, "What?"

"Your boyfriend. He's so pussy-whipped, it almost breaks my heart."

"You're trippin'," Mercedes replied with a swat of his arm. "What did he say?"

"Wanted to make sure I got you there OK. Still think he's not pussy-whipped?"

Mercedes quickly replied, "No. Just 'cause you care for a girl doesn't mean you're pussy-whipped, Puck."

He waved her off and sent brief text back before slipping his sunglasses on and reclining in his seat.

"Uh…what are you getting comfy for? Get your shoes off my dash—we're here!"

Mercedes turned her Torrent, as instructed by her GPS—into the wide entry of the LA apartment complex where she and Puck would now be living.

After getting the final papers signed and giving the owner a deposit, Puck and Mercedes were each handed a key. Mercedes pulled out her phone to text Sam the good news. After hitting 'send', she beamed up at Puck and he smirked triumphantly back at her. Unfortunately her smile did fade when she turned to see her father wearing the same hard grimace on his face that he had after first allowing it. Her mom rushed to her side and said, "Let's go unload your furniture so your father and I can return this U-Haul and get to the airport."

Mercedes nodded and she and Puck followed the elder Jones out of the office. The apartment was in the back, past the various rows of carports and numbered homes. Finally they parked, got out and let themselves inside apartment #8A. It was a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with a small kitchen, and an even smaller patio, but a fairly spacious living room.

"Great, a downstairs one," Mr. Jones muttered, "Least the furniture will be easy to move."

Together, the four unpacked Mercedes' bed frame and mattresses, Puck's bed frame and mattresses, two small dressers, one old couch and a coffee table that would suffice as an entertainment center. The rest of Puck and Mercedes' things were crammed in the back of her Equinox; or at least in Mercedes' case, some things were still left in Lima.

She hugged her parents farewell, acknowledged all of their reminders about taking care and paying the rent on time, and then closed the door behind them. As she turned to face Puck, her lips spread widely, "Oh my God…pinch me Puck 'cause this sure as hell doesn't feel real!"

"Believe it, Mercedes!" he said back, matching her sudden excitement.

They both felt it—as soon as they closed the door on their new apartment in Los Angeles. As soon as they forgot any and all foreseen obstacles or problems they were already aware of abandoned them in that moment. No matter what the future held for them, they knew they were going to everything to stay in LA.

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