Thank you for the reviews last chapter. They were inspiring.
"The tender word forgotten, the letter you did not write, thefloweryou might have sent, dear, are you haunting ghosts tonight?" - Margareth Elizabeth Sangster.
A post game celebration is happening but, like all the previous times, Puck decides it's best for him to skip it. Deep down he seems happy with his teammates and with his performance, but he's overwhelmed by remorse and bitterness. For him, celebrating games was a high-school ritual and something he did during the short period he played for Texas A&M. In Florida, he doesn't celebrate, he doesn't live, he just exists.
The party's in his neighborhood and he can hear the music playing. That makes him curse himself for choosing not to live on campus.
The past three years have taken its tool on him and turned him into a light sleeper. All noises prevent him from sleeping properly and some of them even give him nightmares, but he doesn't talk about it. He prefers to ignore them, especially when his roommates question him about the subject. They freak out whenever they have to wake him up to stop a nightmare.
After twisting and turning in bed for approximately an hour, he seems to come to the realization that he won't be getting any sleep tonight. He pushes himself out of bed and slowly wanders into the kitchen to get something cold to drink. While in there, he hears some mumbling of voices and guitar melodies. He follows the sounds and finds his roommate and also his injured teammate's girlfriend Mercedes. She's sitting on their porch stairs, hanging up her cell phone and putting it in her pocket while strumming on her guitar with one hand. As soon as she notices him out of the corner of her eye, she says, still looking down at her guitar, "Want to sing your troubles away?"
He smiles, but gently declines the offer.
"Singing brings back to many memories of-" he stars saying but Mercedes abruptly stops him.
"When are you going to let go of the past? To let go of that girl? She's not worth all the endless sorrow, honey. And you're the one who said you were on the Glee club back in high-school. You said you loved singing and playing." She points out.
"You're never going to forget that, are you?" He says, laughing and regretting his big mouth.
From a distance, Rachel watches the interaction between Puck and the friend she doesn't know. In the past, she knew all his friends and acquaintances. Now she doesn't. Her choice, not his.
She tries her best to hear what they are saying, but is unable to do so and seems to consider herself happy with being able to see him. To admire him from afar. It's been too long and she misses those beautiful eyes that mesmerize her.
Rachel observes as Mercedes retrieves her cell phone from her pocket and hands it to Puck, who takes it from her with a confused expression.
"You should call your mom, Puck," Mercedes tells him with a stern look. "She called you three times after the game, but it seems like you decided not to pick up the phone," she continues, shaking her head at him. His mom doesn't deserve to be treated like that. She's his biggest fan and supporter and should be treated with nothing but the utmost respect.
He looks ashamed, mumbles an apology and makes the call. His mom is thrilled to hear his voice and he feels like the biggest jerk on the planet, but his mom will forgive him. She always does, unlike some people.
"Congratulations honey," she says. "Are you celebrating?" She asks him.
"Not really, mom. But we can do it together next time you guys come to one of my games," he says tenderly.
"We will baby, but you should go out with your friends and enjoy yourself. You were perfect tonight and I'm so proud of you."
"I love you, mom. I really do miss you," he says, not feeling uncomfortable at all. Mercedes knows he's a momma's boy and she finds it so cute.
Puck hangs up the phone and gently grabs Mercedes' guitar leaving Rachel wide-eyed. She was told by her friends that he's refused to touch musical instruments in the longest time and she doesn't even have to ask them why. The answer is obvious to her.
He plays with the strings for a while, but his fingers are rusty from lack of work.
"Someone needs lessons," Mercedes jokes, causing him to laugh. "You still got it, Puck. You're just not used to playing with my guitar. You should go get yours and play something with me."
"You know Mrs. Pillsbury-Schuester, the head coach's wife, has asked me to join her after-school program. I wonder how she knows I can play," he tells her, showing his friend he knows she's the one who's told Mrs. Pillsbury-Schuester about his ability. "She wants me to help teach the little ones, but like you said I'm the one in need of lessons."
"You know I'm out here waiting for Emma, or Mrs. Pillsbury-Schuester as you call her. She called me not too long ago and I left the party to come meet her. I'm letting her borrow this old thing," she says, pointing to her guitar. "I've been looking for excuses not to buy a new one, but she told me about this kid who couldn't afford his own and I told her to come get this old thing."
"You can have mine if you want," he offers.
"Nah... I know how you feel about yourold thing. It's better not to mess with it," Mercedes says, appreciating the offer, but refusing it. She knows only too well how he feels about his guitar.
"That's nonsense," he says as he leaves Mercedes' side and goes inside.
Still unable to hear anything, Rachel watches as the scene unfolds. Once she sees Puck going back inside the house, some stupid impulse take over her. She gets the feeling Mercedes is a good friend of Noah's and maybe she'll provide her some information that will ease Rachel's mind and let her heart finally be soothed.
She approaches Mercedes and waits for the girl to notice her. It takes a moment, but Mercedes soon raises her head and meets Rachel's eyes for the first time. She goes pale upon seeing Rachel. So far, she's just the girl she knows from pictures. The girl she dislike so much without even knowing.
"You shouldn't be here," Mercedes says, not caring about how rude she sounds. "I advise you to stop whatever the hell you think you're doing," she continues bluntly.
"It seems like you already have your mind made up about me," Rachel replies, just as brutally, but quickly regrets her tone of voice. She's here to make friends and is already getting herself an enemy.
"I do, and you should go." Mercedes warns Rachel once again, but she doesn't move.
"Noah seems to really open up to you," Rachel points out, trying unsuccessfully to gain Mercedes' trust.
"And why do you care? Are you like jealous or something?"
"No, it's just-"
"'Cause I don't see a ring," Mercedes interrupts with harsh and cruel words and Rachel seems to know it's a low blow towards her.
"Don't push me," Rachel says, glaring at Mercedes.
"You got spunk... and I don't like it one bit. Now leave before I make sure your next period comes out of your nose," Mercedes starts threatening Rachel, dropping her guitar and standing up. She knows how badly Rachel's already hurt Puck and she's protective of him.
The girls stare at one another, neither making a movement.
"M.J, I'm letting you borrow my guitar. I have kept it these past years because it was really special, but I think it's time to let go of it," Puck says loudly, speaking from inside the house, calling Mercedes by her nickname. As he speaks, he half smiles, remembering how special the moment he was given the guitar was for him. "Just put it to some good use...The one who shall not be named would have wanted that way…well, I guess so…whatever," he continues, not knowing the person he's just spoken about is standing outside his lawn.
He finally returns, holding the guitar Rachel gave him years ago in his left hand. Mercedes panics, but Rachel just holds her head high with the dignity she has left.
As he sees the girl who destroyed his heart, he comes to a dead stop and almost drops the instrument he's holding. A heavy excruciating silence crashes down upon them, knocking the breath out of their lungs. Both Mercedes' and Rachel's eyes stare at Puck's, but he remains motionless, his face void of expression.
Their eyes meet. It's the first time in a long time.
He looks confounded, but a million other emotions dance in his hazel eyes.
She looks like her stomach is churning and she gnaws her lip before she looks at him with big doe eyes, pondering what to say.
Finally, he speaks, slowly and clearly.
"M.J, can you believe I was five when my mom told me ghosts wouldn't scare me forever?" he blurts out something that seems random, but that isn't random at all, "I didn't believe her then, but it turns out she was right," he finishes, giving Rachel her second low blow in a row before smashing the guitar on the floor. He will regret it later. M.J or some random kid would have made good use of it. It really was an awesome guitar.
