Journey
calikocat
word count: 531
XXX
It was less than a week when Puck showed up at the house again; this time with a black eye. Xander wordlessly let him in and led him to the kitchen where he brought out the fixings for sandwiches and let the kid fix his own food. When Puck was nearly done with his food Xander finally had to say something.
"What happened?"
"Got fired."
"Because?"
"Threw out a paying customer for harassing a gay couple that were there having tea."
Xander blinked. "You got fired for that?"
Puck wouldn't look at him. "It kind of ended up in a brawl. I won. Jerk said he wouldn't press charges if the boss fired me."
"So they fired you."
"And the gay couple bought me lunch at Red Lobster. So it wasn't a total loss."
Xander watched him for a while. "What do you need Puck?"
Puck hesitated for a second. "Do you need any help? Around here or anything? Something you can pay me for until I get another job."
Xander nodded. "You can help me in the workshop. I'm working on a table to go with those dining chairs you saw. The sooner I get them finished the sooner I can get them to the high end furniture store that commissioned them."
"Cool...thanks."
"Welcome. You could have just called."
"Didn't feel right to just call."
"Okay. Let's put the food up and we'll get started."
xxx
Puck nearly jumped when his phone went off. It was late and he was almost asleep on his narrow bed. He picked up the cell and blinked. Why was Artie calling?
"Artie?"
"Hey Puck. How's LA?"
"Change of plan. I'm in Cleveland; saving up my cash for classes at community college."
"Oh wow. I waited to call this late because I thought you were on the west coast. Did I wake you?"
"Nah. I was still awake. What's up dude?"
"Not much...was just wondering if you'd heard from Finn?"
"No. Not since the day he put Rachel on that train to New York. Why?"
"No one's heard from him, not even Rachel. Kurt was talking about it at Breadstix earlier; Finn's mom is worried too."
"Well, despite the dopey look he usually has Finn knows how to take care of himself...so...how's your summer?"
"Okay...kind of boring without you to play halo with...and other things."
Puck grinned. "Oh yeah? Miss my lips that much Artie?"
"Yeah. Kind of disappointed we never went any farther. I'm still curious. How about you?"
"Yeah man. I'm still curious, but only about you...so when money's not so tight I thought I might ya know...visit? I've got a small RV now so I wouldn't have to crash; just hook her up at the campgrounds."
There was a pause and Artie's voice was a little breathless. "Then...I could crash with you when you visit?"
Puck grinned. "We'll make it a date."
"Officially?"
"Yeah Art. We're exclusive."
Puck could almost hear Artie's grin over the line. "That's sounds great Puck."
XXX