This story is sort of a surprise. I sat down to write the next chapter of Smooth Criminal and this came out instead. The angst is high in this Puckleberry fic. Rachel isn't very nice and is selfish the way that the Glee writers write her. I hope you like it. I might be persuaded to do a sequel in the future but for now this is it. I hope you enjoy it. The Blaine/Puck friendship is one of my favourites and it's heavily featured. The POV alternates between the two of them throughout. Mostly canon minus Joe, I love him but he wasn't a part of this world. The timing is also a little different. Finchel got engaged in the fall and the first wedding attempt happened in late November after Sectionals. This all takes place at the end of January. Rated M for light flashback smut and language. Enjoy!
I own nothing.
"Righhht therrrre! Noah!"
Puck continued to pound into her as he felt her fluttering around him and her loud sighs filled the room. His fingers found her clit and she wailed. He felt himself fall over the edge as she came around him a third time. He rolled over onto his back, pulling her on top of him as they fought to catch their breath.
"Don't do it." He panted out, holding her tightly against him as she tensed up.
"Noah." She warned even as he shook his head and held her tighter.
"Don't. It isn't too late to cancel." He felt the usual wave of self-loathing overtake him as he begged her to reconsider.
Rachel sighed in a way so different from just minutes before and pulled away from him. He watched as she sat on the edge of his bed with her back to him.
"It's too late." She whispered as her shoulders slumped forwards.
He did he best to fight the anger rising in his chest. He closed his eyes, bunching the fabric of his sheets tightly in his fists. He could feel her gaze on him as his emotions warred under the surface.
"Get out." He muttered harshly as the anger and hurt won out over his self-control.
"Noah!" Rachel breathed out in surprise.
His eyes popped open and he glared at her fiercely as he sat up.
"You had your fun, now leave," He replied furiously, ignoring the hurt in her brown eyes. "It's a fuck and chuck right? That's how it works Berry. You take what you want from me and leave. You got off five times tonight. So leave."
She stared at him in horror as his words settled over the ruins of their blissful evening. She shook her head fiercely as tears began to stream down her face.
"You know it's not like-" she whispered, pleaded for him to understand.
"It's not like what Berry?" He yelled and she recoiled as he continued. "You haven't been slipping into my bed every other night for months? I haven't been your dirty little secret? You don't fuck me and then proclaim your love for my ex-best friend the next day at school? You didn't show up at my house the night before your rushed little high school gong show of a wedding part 2 just begging me to touch you?"
"You've never asked me to stop." She whispered as if it justified their affair.
Puck snorted in disbelief as he left the bed and found his clothes. He dressed quickly and threw her clothes at her before facing her once more.
"Why would I complain? I've been in love with you since we were kids." His anger rose when she gasped because there wasn't a single person alive who didn't know how he felt, including her. "Why would I complain when I was getting even a tiny little piece of you. I knew you'd never love me like you love him. At least this way I had you in some way." He sighed tiredly and did his best to ignore the tears threatening to fall from his own eyes. "You're getting married tomorrow Rach and you expect me to stand beside Finn and support it." He scraped a hand over his face tiredly. "And I'll do it."
She had finished dressing as she listened to his words tearfully. The confusion was evident on her face as he told her he'd be there. Her confusion grew as he pushed her towards the door of his bedroom before continuing.
"I'll be there. I'll smile for the pictures and put up with watching you love someone who isn't me. I'll grit my teeth like a man and watch you sign your life away to a man who isn't worthy of you." He cupped her face as the tears betrayed him and started to fall. "But I never want to see you again afterwards."
"But-" Rachel stammered out in surprise only to be cut off by his lips.
He kissed her gently and he knew it was goodbye; pulling back as he felt their tears begin to flow together.
"I'm quitting Glee after the wedding and you will never hear from me again. I put in a request for early graduation when you told me about the engagement and I've worked my ass off to make it happen. I finish next week. I'll see you tomorrow." He whispered sadly before closing the door in her face.
He was on autopilot the next morning. He hadn't slept a wink and he honestly didn't know how he'd get through the day. So he shut down his emotions and pulled himself out of bed. He ignored the way his sheets still smelled of her vanilla perfume and a pair of her underwear in the corner of his room. He walked to his closet and pulled out the tux he'd only worn once before.
He couldn't believe that all of this had started the night after the first wedding attempt. He had barely been able to hold himself together as he stood beside Finn the first time. But that was before Rachel had become partially his.
"Rach, what are you doing here?" He asked when he saw her standing on his porch.
She threw herself into his arms in tears and allowed him to pull her up to his room. He was glad that no one was home because he wasn't sure how he'd explain this one. He lay them down on his bed and held her as she shook, wondering if maybe they'd called off the engagement. His hopes were dashed when he noticed that she was still wearing Finn's ring.
"What if Quinn doesn't make it?" She sobbed into his shoulder as he ran his fingers through her hair soothingly.
"She'll be okay babe. Q's a fighter. The doctor said she'd live." He answered her.
"Finn doesn't understand! He's so upset with me for postponing the wedding!"
Puck clenched his jaw and spent the next twenty minutes trying to calm her without mentioning Finn's name. He's still not sure who made the first move but the next thing he knew they were naked and he was sinking slowly inside of her. He couldn't help the sense of peace that fell over him as their bodies moved together perfectly. The kisses were sweet and the caresses tender as he drew out breathy sighs of satisfaction from Rachel. He spent the next few hours just worshipping her body and she repaid the favour.
"Oh Godddddd. Noaahhh!" She keened out against his shoulder and he knew he was a goner.
"Rach Baby," He panted out, brushing her sticky hair out of her face as he continued to move inside of her. "Say it again. Say my name."
"Noahhh!" She began to chant his name and they fell over the edge together.
The two of them never discussed what had happened. It was probably the only thing that Rachel Berry had never overanalyzed and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. They woke up the next morning in each other's arms. She'd kissed him gently before she collected her things and left. If he had hoped to hear of a Finchel breakup the next day he had been sorely disappointed.
She kept coming though, in every way really he thought with sarcasm. She showed up two nights later and dropped to her knees, blowing him when he initially hesitated. Sometime after her third orgasm he decided he would take whatever he was given by his own personal addiction. The two of them had been sleeping together for the last two months.
She hadn't even been the one to tell him that they had picked another wedding date. He'd been the last to know and it was Blaine of all people who broke the news to him. He really shouldn't have been surprised that his ex Warbler friend had known what was going on.
"Puck." Blaine's voice broke into his thoughts as he beat the hell out of the school punching bag.
The night before he'd given Rachel a record number of orgasms and she'd still been on Finn's fucking arm this morning.
"Puck." Blaine repeated and something in his voice caught his attention. It sounded an awful lot like pity.
"Sup?" He asked carefully as he took off his gloves and faced his friend.
Blaine looked around the room for a few moments, clearly trying to choose his words carefully. After a moment and a heavy sigh he turned back to Puck.
"They're getting married this weekend," He said sadly, watching his friend with concern.
Puck could hear Blaine explaining that the Justice of the Peace was available and had called Finn a week ago. She'd known about this for a week and hadn't said anything. He felt his world crashing down around him as he staggered suddenly towards the bench. He felt Blaine's hands steadying him and helping him to his seat. He didn't need to look up to know that Blaine knew exactly what he was feeling.
"How long have you known?" He asked blankly.
"About the wedding? Kurt called me and told me five days ago," He ran a hand through his hair before continuing. "About you and Rachel? I knew a few days after the first wedding attempt."
Puck's head whipped towards his friend in surprise, eyes full of questions.
"Your eyes followed her everywhere she went, more intensely than usual. Hers were constantly moving towards you before she'd look to Finn guiltily. Then after a week or so you'd both alternate between looking miserable and ridiculously content." He explained apologetically.
"Does Kurt?" He asked quietly.
"No. I haven't told anyone. And I won't. You're my friend Puck, probably the best one I've got." He bumped him with his shoulder. "And she's my Maria. If I got a vote she'd dump the idiot and this thing wouldn't be a secret."
Puck nodded in thanks before getting up and beating the hell out of the bag until his knuckles were bleeding. Blaine didn't say another word, only pulling him away from the gym towards the nurse's office to bandage his hands.
Rachel came over that night. He wasn't sure if the bruised knuckles or the frantic way that he pumped into her tipped her off. Her eyes had found his and she had whispered simply 'you know'. He hadn't bothered answering her, instead pushing them both to their limit all night knowing that it might just be the last time.
It hadn't been the last time. She had shown up every night since and they'd fucked the breath out of each other.
He stood in front of the little chapel and stared at the sign that announced the wedding of Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson. He felt sick. He had promised to be here but he wasn't sure that he'd be able to do it. His whole body was screaming for him to turn and run. He felt a hand land on his shoulder and didn't need to look to know who it was.
"You don't have to do this." Blaine said gently.
Puck shook his head and muttered something about promises.
Blaine let out an impatient sigh before stepping into his line of vision and glaring at him until his attention shifted from the sign.
"Fuck promises Puck." He growled and Puck stepped back in surprise. "You chose to do this with her so you aren't entirely blameless. But expecting you to be here for this is a really shitty thing for her to do. I love Rachel, but I hate her for doing this to you. You shouldn't be here."
Puck regarded his friend for a few moments as he thought over his words. He nodded and pulled his friend into a tight hug before turning around and walking back towards his truck.
Blaine watched his friend get into his truck and waited until the vehicle disappeared around the corner. He felt rage coursing through his veins and he was having a hard time reining it in. Puck looked fucking destroyed. After a moment he took a deep breath and headed inside. He walked towards the bridal room and entered without knocking. Rachel and Kurt exclaimed in surprise but he silenced them both with a glare.
"I need a moment with Rachel." He said to his boyfriend.
Kurt looked like he was going to argue. His eyes darted between his best friend and boyfriend suspiciously before nodding and leaving the room.
Blaine and Rachel stared at each other. Her eyes widened as his glare darkened.
"Blaine, I-"
"Shut up."
"Blaine!" She exclaimed in surprise.
"He's not coming."
"Who's not-"
"Puck. He was standing outside just staring at the sign. He looked like it might actually kill him to be here. So I told him to go home." She backed up when he crossed the room, stopping just in front of her. "What the hell were you thinking Rachel? I love you but this whole thing is incredibly selfish of you."
"I don't know what-"
"Liar. You've been fucking him because he's in love with you and he'd do anything for you. Then you asked him to be at your wedding. You expected him to stand as best man for your fiancé and watch wordlessly with a big, fake smile as he loses you. You're selfish and manipulative and no matter how much you mean to me I'll always hate you for the way you treated him."
She stepped back at his words and tears began to pool in her eyes.
"It was wrong to expect him to stand there and watch you marry his ex best friend. So he left."
He watched as an array of emotions crossed her face. She stepped towards him so that he could comfort her like he normally would but he halted her with his hands.
"No. I'm not going to stand here and tell you that everything's okay. I refuse to lie and say that what you're doing is okay and that everyone will be fine," She gasped and the tears began to fall more quickly. "You're about to destroy his life because you're too cowardly to choose."
"I-I just"
He shook his head and walked away from her as she stuttered behind him. He tossed a few parting words over his shoulder.
"I won't be there either. I can't support this. I'm gonna go and get my best friend drunk because that's all I can do for him. You're breaking his heart for a guy you clearly don't love enough to marry-"
"I DO love Finn, Blaine Anderson!" She shouted fiercely at his back.
"Then why did you spend the last two months fucking someone else?" He accused harshly before leaving the room and slamming the door behind him.
As he walked down the hallway he could hear her broken sobs following him. He ignored Kurt's questioning glare as the boy rushed by him towards her room.
He ignored the shouts of his friends that followed him out the door. He got into his car and dug out the fake ID that Puck had given him as a joke and headed to the nearest liquor store. Apparently the anger on his face aged him because the cashier didn't bother carding him as he paid for three bottles of Jack.
He drove out of town and after twenty minutes of open road, he pulled down a hidden dirt path. Parking his car next to Puck's truck he got out and brought a bottle with him. Puck was sitting on the hood of his truck and didn't seem surprised or upset to see him there. Blaine took a swig of the harsh alcohol and handed the bottle to Puck.
Puck regarded his friend curiously and with a sad smile accepted the bottle.
"Cheers." He muttered sarcastically before pouring a large amount down his throat. He closed his eyes and relished the burning in his chest as it went down.
He sat there with probably the best friend he'd ever had and drank himself stupid. There were no words exchanged as they gazed out at the lake in front of them and passed the bottle between them. They had both turned their phones off when the vibrating and ringing became too much. Actually, Blaine had turned his off and then talked Puck out of tossing his in the lake.
"I promised her." Puck whispered after an hour of steady drinking.
"I know. I told her you made it to the front door before I sent you home." Blaine answered him simply.
Puck turned his attention to his friend and studied him. He wasn't entirely sure when the two of them had become so close. Sometime between fight club and Glee club they had formed a bond. Their mutual dislike for Finn's ego had bonded them as well he was sure.
"Thanks man." He replied with gratitude.
Blaine simply nodded and handed him the half-empty second bottle. Bottoms up.
Blaine opened his eyes against the harsh sunshine and regretted it immediately. His back hurt as he stretched out in the bed of Puck's truck. His eyes found Puck who was snoring loudly beside him. He considered waking him but if Puck's hangover was half as miserable as Blaine's it would be best if he slept a little longer. His mood had improved a bit the more they drank. When he woke up the knowledge that Rachel was now Mrs. Hudson would be hard to take. So he was going to postpone the inevitable for his friend as long as he could.
He groaned quietly as he rolled towards his phone and waited for it to power up. He shouldn't have been surprised that he had 47 missed calls and 23 text messages. He cringed as he began scrolling through the texts.
Kurt: Where are you Blaine?
Kurt: She's been crying for twenty minutes. What the hell did you say to her?
Kurt: Goddamn it Blaine. Answer my calls.
Kurt: You better not have turned off your phone to ignore my calls Blaine Anderson!
Finn: Dude have you seen Puck?
Quinn: Rachel's really upset. She mumbled something about Puck. Is he okay? Are you okay Blaine?
Kurt: Blaine Anderson if you don't call me back I swear to God.
Santana: Everything's a lil' bit fucked up. Take care of Puck.
Blaine scrolled over the next few before finding some that he had received an hour or so later.
Rachel: Please answer your phone. Or at the very least get Noah to call me back.
Blaine growled in irritation before deleting that one.
Finn: What the fuck did you say to her? She's been crying for two hours Blaine. It's our fucking wedding day. And where the hell is Puck?
Kurt: Blaine if you don't answer your phone, we're over. Pick up the effing phone.
Blaine shook his head and groaned as the texts got angrier. He sat up quietly and hopped out of the truck, glancing back at a still sleeping Puck. He walked down towards the edge of the lake and scrolled through his contact list. He hovered over Kurt's number before choosing Santana instead. He absentmindedly began skipping flat rocks as the phone rang.
"Blaine." Her voice was quiet and he heard her shuffling around before closing a door behind her.
"Hey San." He replied tiredly.
"How's the hangover?" She asked without the usual amusement.
"Sucks. What happened San?" He asked impatiently.
"Have you talked to Kurt?" She asked in deflection.
"Nope. I didn't feel like listening to him screeching about betrayals and other bullshit. His texts told me anything I needed to know from him. What happened San?"
He heard her sigh and he sat down on the edge of the lake.
"I don't know what you said to her, although I suspect it was about her breaking Puckerman's fucking heart." She paused as if waiting for confirmation. When he gave her none, she continued. "You stormed out of there and you looked so angry. And everyone could hear her wailing in her room as you walked out. Kurt seemed to think that the two of you have been sexing behind his back."
Santana laughed at this and Blaine smirked despite not finding anything funny about it.
"Finn was sort of blissfully unaware as usual until Kurt realised she wasn't calming down anytime soon. So then Finn walked in and she started crying even harder and locked herself in the fucking bathroom. The whole damn thing was so typically Berry." Santana sighed at the memory.
"Then what?"
"Finn tried coaxing her out for a while. He lost his temper eventually and started screaming at her through the door. Her parents finally stepped in and insisted on taking her home. Finn was pretty pissed but the Berry daddies gave it to him and they dragged her home. The Justice of the Peace told them that he won't be marrying them, he said they're too immature."
Blaine breathed out a sigh of relief, although he wasn't really sure of what to do now.
"So they aren't married?" He questioned.
"No, they aren't," She said tiredly. "That doesn't mean that Finn won't be pushing for a reschedule."
"Tell me about Kurt." He said wearily and he closed his eyes when he heard Santana muttering curses under her breath.
"He was freaking the hell out when you left. He wasn't much help to Rachel because he accused her of sleeping with you. He honestly didn't notice that Puck wasn't here either. I think even Hudson was starting to link the two things together," She paused and he knew she was trying to figure out how to continue kindly. He really had to give her props for caring so much.
"Spit it out San."
"I think it's over. He was so angry and he said a lot of things Blaine. You have a few horrible voicemails waiting to be heard I think."
"I know. It's been over for a while San. He started texting Chandler again. I knew when I walked out that it was over. My best friend or my cheating boyfriend? Puck wins every time." He replied tonelessly.
"Where are you San?" He asked when he realised she'd been whispering the whole conversation. Santana Lopez does not whisper.
"In a closet." She answered before growling as he started laughing uncontrollably. "Ha fucking ha. I'm at a diner with the rest of the club minus Rachel and I doubt you want them to know you called."
He apologized and admitted that it was nice to laugh, even at her expense.
"Is he okay Blaine?" Santana asked worriedly.
"Yeah, he's still passed out in the truck. He should be fine if the hangover doesn't kill him." He laughed humourlessly.
"Just take care of him k? I know you're not gonna tell me that I'm right, which I am by the way. But I saw him the day before the wedding and I know he's not okay." Santana sighed and whispered a goodbye before hanging up.
Blaine sat in silence for a few moments as he thought over everything he'd been told.
The wedding hadn't happened. That didn't necessarily mean anything good though. Puck still wasn't her first choice.
Blaine scrubbed a hand over the stubble on his cheek and wearily called his voicemail. He might as well get the ugliness over with.
Puck had never been so hung-over in his life. His head was throbbing and his eyes hurt as the sunshine pelted down on him. He sat up a little too quickly and his head spun. He leaned over the side of his truck just in time to vomit painfully. He found himself heaving with renewed force as he remembered why he was hung-over and laying in his truck bed by the lake.
"Gross," Blaine said as he walked up towards him.
Leaning back, he watched Blaine through one eye as he rummaged through his car. His friend closed the door triumphantly as he held up a bottle of Aspirin and two water bottles.
"I came prepared." He explained as he hopped back on the truck bed and tossed Puck a bottle of water.
"Thanks." He grunted as he chugged the fluid to ease his sore throat.
Blaine nodded and handed him some aspirin after swallowing a few himself.
"How much did we drink?" Puck asked with closed eyes.
"There's only half a bottle left. I brought three." Blaine answered with a shrug.
The boys settled into silence as they waited for the Aspirin to take effect. Puck tried desperately to focus on feeling better and not on the reason he felt so bad. He opened his eyes and studied his friend. Blaine looked like shit, in a way that had nothing to do with the hangover. He raised an eyebrow in question and watched as his friend sighed.
"Kurt and I are over. He left a bunch of nasty texts and voicemails on my phone last night. San said he said a lot of shit when I didn't call him back." He explained with a shrug.
Puck stared at his friend and felt a wave of guilt crash over him.
"Blaine I'm sorry man." He said after a few moments.
Blaine shook his head fiercely, immediately groaning at the resulting dizziness.
"Not your fault. We've been heading that way for a while. He's been cheating again and I was just sort of waiting until after Nationals." He replied and Puck believed him.
"You never said anything." Puck accused.
"Yeah well you were dealing with your own shit, that you kept secret as well. Need I remind you?" Blaine replied harmlessly.
Puck conceded the point and reached into his back pocket, pulling out his cell phone. He stared at it for a few minutes before turning it on. Blaine was silent as he scrolled through his texts.
There were a few concerned texts from Quinn, San and Sam. He's not surprised that they knew why he wasn't there. He skipped over the ten or so texts from Rachel and Finn. He had a lot of missed calls and more than a few voicemails. He put his cell phone back in his pocket, uninterested in anything anyone had to say.
"The wedding didn't happen." Blaine told him after a few moments of quiet.
Puck's eyes were on him as his heart beat hopefully. Blaine was watching him as well and he knew that the hope had shown on his face when Blaine shook his head sadly.
"I fought with her before I came after you. I said a lot of things and she was crying by the time I left," He admitted, looking out at the lake and away from Puck. "I guess she didn't stop crying. Eventually someone got Finn and he couldn't calm her down either. She locked herself in the bathroom and Finn freaked out until her fathers stepped in and cancelled the wedding. They took her home."
Puck felt like an idiot for hoping that maybe she had decided that she didn't want Finn. He looked at his friend again questioningly.
"What did you say to her?"
"I called her on her shit. I told her she was being selfish and it was fucked up of her to expect you to be there. I told her I love her but I hate her for treating you so badly," He watched as Blaine's teeth grinded together. "I told her I wouldn't stand there and watch her break your heart by marrying that fucking idiot. It's really hard to like her when she's being such a bitch."
Puck nodded as he thought over his friend's words.
"Thanks."
Blaine shrugged his shoulders like it wasn't a big deal. But it was. He'd just given up a friendship with Rachel and his boyfriend to stick up for him.
"Seriously dude." He said earnestly, sticking his fist out to Blaine.
Blaine fist-bumped him and cleared his throat.
"What's the plan?" Blaine asked curiously.
"My last day of school is on Monday."
Blaine nodded.
"And then?"
Puck looked at his friend and realised just how much he'd miss him once he left.
"I hit the road on Tuesday."
Puck was wondering how he'd get through the next few days without dealing with Rachel. She'd show up eventually and he didn't think he was ready for it.
"Need a place to stay until then?" He sometimes wondered if Blaine was a mind-reader.
"Yeah man."
The two of them spent the rest of the day at the lake, hiding from the world. Puck pulled up against the curb of his house and headed inside to grab some clothes for school the next day. His mom and sister would be out of town until Tuesday. They'd get back just in time for him to say goodbye. They just didn't know it yet.
He knew she was there before he made it into his room. He could smell her perfume from the hallway even though he was sure she'd come in through the window. He breathed in deeply before opening the door and walking into his room. In his periphery he could see her sitting on his bed. She was wearing sweats and one of his t-shirts and she looked like shit. He knew without looking that she was crying. He grabbed his backpack and started throwing random clothes into it. He'd be lucky if he had grabbed a whole outfit in his haste to get the hell away from her.
"Noah." She breathed out.
His shoulders tensed but he continued to ignore her as he grabbed his toothbrush and razor. A sob filled the room when she realised that he wasn't going to give in this time. He pushed back the impulse to hold her, to make her feel better. She wasn't there for him, she was there for her. He grabbed his school books and threw them in his schoolbag and headed for the door. He heard her pleading behind him as he hurried down the stairs and out the front door. He was in his truck and speeding towards Blaine's house before he really began to breathe again.
Blaine was waiting for him on his porch. He took one look at him and led him down to the basement. Handing him a pair of boxing gloves, he left him to the punching bag as he walked back upstairs. The tears had begun to fall before he heard the door close behind Blaine. He lashed out against the bag violently as he tried to forget her sitting there on his bed in tears.
Puck woke up the next day and seriously considered staying in bed. His eyes moved around the Anderson's guest room as he thought over his options. It was his last day and he really needed to be there, if only to hand in all of his shit.
He got dressed quickly and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Blaine was sitting there with Cooper and they both nodded at him before pointing to the stove. The day was looking up as he filled his plate with eggs and bacon. He loves bacon and yeah that made him a bad Jew but he was having a hard week.
Cooper wished them both a good day, squeezing Puck's shoulder kindly before leaving the house.
"Are you ready for this?" Blaine asked without preamble.
Three years ago he would have been super pissed if a gay dude questioned his badassedness. Well he'd be pissed if anyone questioned it actually. It was something he respected about Blaine though. He'd always treated him more like Noah than Puck and he wasn't interested in bullshit and avoidance.
"No." He answered honestly "But it's just one day."
Blaine nodded silently before taking their plates and placing them in the sink.
"Let's get it over with then." Blaine replied as they headed out to their vehicles.
Puck avoided his locker that morning. He avoided the hallways altogether in fact. The halls were filled with gossip over the Finchel wedding fail # 2 and the end of the teen gay love affair. He wasn't particularly interested in either conversation topic. He also didn't feel like facing any of the glee-clubbers. He wasn't bothered when Santana found him under the bleachers just before lunch though.
"Blaine told me this is your last day." She said without greeting.
Puck nodded and waited for the yelling to come. Only it didn't.
"Then make it count. Don't spend your last day hiding under the bleachers Puckerman," She commanded with her hands on her hips. "You've ruled this school for four years. So man up and spend your last day with some dignity."
She put a hand up when he started to protest.
"I didn't say to buddy up or talk to anyone. But don't avoid the hallways. It's your last day Puck. Enjoy it." She finished quietly as she waited for his answer.
He nodded and threw and arm around her shoulder, steering her back towards the school. They walked through the hallways and he nodded at anyone who meant anything to him while he was here. They didn't need to know that he'd be gone tomorrow. He and San walked out to the courtyard and sat down at a table with Sam, Quinn, Brittany and Blaine. He realised after a few moments that lines had clearly been drawn in the sand.
Finn, Kurt and Mercedes were sitting at a table across the yard glaring over at Blaine. Puck was pleased when Mike, Artie and Tina joined his table and nodded towards Blaine. He shook his head in frustration at the division and vowed to himself to fix things for his friend before he left school today. Rachel he noticed reluctantly was nowhere to be found. He looked towards Santana and realised that she had been watching him.
"She's in the choir room." She whispered and he shrugged because really he wouldn't be doing anything with that information.
Puck's afternoon classes flew by. He stayed behind in each of the classes to thank his teachers for their patience with him over the years. His English teacher burst into tears and hugged him. He smiled when he realised that he had grown into someone that his teacher's would miss. He had always sort of thought that they would be praying for the day they'd see the last of him. His last conversation with Coach Beiste was heartfelt and they both had wet eyes as he walked out of the locker room for one last time.
After a particularly funny goodbye with Sue, Puck cleaned out his locker and nodded at some of his football buddies before making his way towards the Choir room. He had seriously considered not showing up at all. But the club had become family and he felt like they deserved a goodbye instead of showing up on Tuesday to rumours of his departure. He also needed to make things right for Blaine before he left. Pausing outside the classroom he closed his eyes and thought over all of the good times he'd had in this room. There had been a lot of bad times but he knew that going forward he'd remember more of the good than the bad. Puck had been free to be himself in this room and with these people and he was having a hard time giving it up.
He walked into the room and he realised just how late he was. Mr. Schuester had clearly been mid-speech when he interrupted him. He stood in front of the club, making no move to join them on the risers.
"Puck," Schue acknowledged him with a nod. "I was just talking over our set list for Nationals. If you'll take a seat I'd like to hear your ideas."
"No can do Mr. Schue. I was wondering if I could have the floor for a few minutes." His teacher looked hesitant. "It's important Schue."
Schuester nodded his head and sat down in the front row beside Artie. Puck looked around at his teammates and tried to figure out what to say. His eyes found Rachel but moved away quickly when pain filled his already heavy chest. He noticed understanding smiles from Santana and Blaine and took courage from their silent encouragement.
"I didn't join this club because I wanted to sing. I thought all of you were losers and I hated the idea of spending time with you." He noticed a few smiles. "But all of you changed my life in one way or another. I've grown up so much and you all get credit for the man I've become. So Thank you."
He paused as he felt himself getting choked up.
"Puck that's really nice to hear, I'm just wondering what brought this on." Schuester's eyebrows rose a little bit in understanding. "Graduation isn't for five months. You don't need to say goodbye yet Puck."
Puck shook his head and glanced over at Rachel who was staring stonily at the wall behind him. He cleared his throat and looked at all of his friends again.
"I uh actually applied for early grad; I took all of my exams last week." He paused when he heard gasps of surprise as his friends began to understand. "Today was my last day at McKinley; my last day in the Glee club. I won't be going with you guys to Nationals."
The classroom broke out into upset whispers and angry accusations. The only people who didn't seem surprised were Sam and Quinn. The two of them stood and hugged him tightly. He felt Blaine and Santana behind him as well.
"Puck. Congratulations." Schuester choked out with teary eyes.
His teacher stood and hugged him as well. He noticed the tears in his teacher's eyes and hugged him tighter.
"I'm so proud of you. We'll miss you though." Schuester said sadly as he pulled away to shush the rest of the club.
Puck's eyes fell on Kurt and he stared at the boy for a moment.
"Blaine didn't cheat on you." He announced and the classroom quieted again. "Not with me or Rachel or anyone. He is too good for you though. And if I hear about any of you treating him badly because of the breakup I'll come back to Lima and kick ass. Understand?"
Kurt glared at him but nodded his head.
"Wait. Come back to Lima?" Finn asked confusedly, speaking up for the first time. "Where are you going?"
Puck looked around at his friends and then back towards Rachel. Her eyes were on him and she looked so angry that it hurt him.
"I hit the road tomorrow." More gasps. "I don't belong here, I never have."
He hugged his best friends once more before turning towards the door. His hand on the doorknob he turned back to face his friends.
"Kill it at Nationals." The tears were threatening to spill over as he prepared to leave the choir room for the very last time. "I love you guys."
He heard a few broken sobs behind him as he turned and walked out of the room. He breezed through the hallways and did his best not to cry as he headed towards the front doors. He made his way out the doors and it took everything in him not to look back.
He was leaving tomorrow and he couldn't afford to look back. He got into his truck and headed towards Blaine's house, where he knew some of his friends would join him for the night. And if it broke his heart to know that Rachel wouldn't be with them, well he'd survive it.
He packed up his truck the next day and said goodbye to his distraught mother and sister. They both knew that he needed this and did not ask him to stay. He hugged Quinn and made Sam promise to take care of his baby mama. Santana openly sobbed as she hugged him goodbye, begging him not to forget about her. He promised earnestly that she was unforgettable and that he'd call her the following week. Blaine stepped up last and smiled through his tears. He didn't say a word because he knew that they'd see each other again. Puck hugged his best friend tightly before stepping back and waving at his family.
"I love you guys."
His entourage held each other as he got into his truck. He watched them in his rear-view mirror until he turned the corner. They were his people and he was going to miss them desperately. He drove by Rachel's house, allowing himself one last look. She had apparently been expecting him as she stood on the sidewalk looking absolutely beautiful in a yellow sundress with her hair hanging loosely in curls. He didn't slow his truck as their eyes connected. Neither of them smiled as he put up a hand in goodbye before turning his attention back to the road. He didn't watch her in the rear-view because she wasn't his to miss. She never had been.
I don't really know what else to add. Please review? Thanks!
