A/N: Well, I decided to expand my one-shot. At least one more chapter is coming up. Probably more, if I find inspiration in Props/Nationals. Hope you enjoy.

Choke

European Geography.

He's not graduating because of European fucking Geography.

Why does he even has to study something stupid like European Geography. He's never going to Europe.

Hell, now he's probably not getting out of Lima because of the stupid test. Even California might not happen. His dad has the worst timing. For the first time in his life Puck has some money put aside and instantly his father appears from who knows where.

And Puck is stupid enough to give him the majority of his savings. He should have told him to fuck off and never show his face again near him or Sarah for that matter.

A knock on the window of his truck startles him. There is Kurt on the passenger side, waving at him with that happy smile he's been carrying around since his audition for that fancy school of his.

Sighing he leans over to open the door.

"Hey Puck! What are you still doing here?"

"Just thinking," he answers with a shrug.

He doesn't add that he rather spends time alone on the school parking lot than at home where he has to avoid his mom and his sister. It's too dangerous being around them. He might let slip the encounter with his father. And he knows what that revelation is going to cause. First his mother locks herself in her room crying. After a while her sadness turns into anger and she first curses his father and then him for being just like him. Meanwhile Sarah does the same thing she still does at her birthday and dresses in her best clothes. Waiting for their father to suddenly turn up at their front door so they can be a family again.

"Well, I'm waiting for Rachel. Her dads don't think she should drive, because she hasn't slept properly since the audition. And she does burst into tears all the time." Kurt responds to the non-existent question while climbing into Puck's car. "She's still in the auditorium. Something about needing a place to express her feelings."

Puck doesn't know if he should laugh or scream. Rachel gets everything handed her way. He really likes her. She's his little Jewish princess, but did she ever fight for anything? Solos are given to her by Shue. She got the lead in West Side Story because Mercedes quit.

Now she screw up one audition for a school she didn't know before this year and she drowns in self-pity. Her life isn't over. She can still be the star she always claims she is, without getting into this particularly school. Her dads are probably paying all her expenses so that she can go to New York and be successful. And why did she only apply to one college.

"I heard the other guys helped you study for your geography exam. Sadly nobody told me anything about the study group." Kurt's still smiling but Puck sees right through it.

He was wondering why Kurt was the only guy not willing to help him, but apparently the others didn't bother asking him. Fucking assholes.

"I could probably helped a little, but Blaine told me that the test went good." And this is a smile that Puck recognizes as Kurt's genuine one. "I'm so happy for you!"

Kurt probably got into a college at New York and he's going to be a big Broadway star. He's getting out of this shit-hole to live his dream and he still has time to be happy for a Lima Loser like him. After all he put him through during the beginning of high school, Kurt is genuinely happy for Puck.

"That's nice of you, but I didn't pass," he confesses quietly. "Apparently I'm staying here ending up as a Lima Loser."

He's not even sure why he tells Kurt about it, but as soon as he sees his reaction Puck regrets it. All the happiness disappears from Kurt's face and it seems that he's about to cry. That's not what he wanted. His week was shitty enough, he doesn't want to spend his time comforting a friend who is sad about Puck's life being a complete failure.

Thankfully Kurt seems to feel Puck's discomfort. He quickly composes himself and sits up straight.

"That's not the end of the world." His words are spoken with such passion that Pucks almost believes him. "You can still go to California and start your pool cleaning business and you can make your degree there and probably even go to community college when your not working."

Fortunately Rachel chooses that moment to come out of the school. It's obvious that she's been crying and Kurt seems to be considering which one of them needs him more right now. Puck makes the decision for him and gently pushes him out the car. Only after ten affirmations that he's fine and doesn't need Kurt's help, Kurt starts to move, but not without glancing back to Puck with a frown on his face.

Kurt just mended his relationship with Blaine and he can't even celebrate his successful audition because Rachel is moping. He doesn't want to bother him with even more things to worry about. He's just letting Kurt believe a little longer that he's still moving to California. No need to drop his daddy issues, money problems and non-existent future on Kurt.