I'm back. :D I struggled a little with this chapter. I didn't like the way I had planned things originally anymore, which brought me into a writer's block. But I overthought the plot a little, and then was able to continue.

I really miss Jyder on Glee. Both seperately, and their "friendship". I still enjoyed all NY, but I seriously missed them. I hope Lima and the newbies return for Season Six.

Enjoy33

Ryder examined the girl walking through the hallway. Cheerios uniform, neck brace... That was definitely her.

"Hey Celeste." Ryder called.

The cheerleader didn't react. Ryder called her name again, still to no avail. The brunette then ran after her.

"Hey Celeste." The boy called again once he was in her close proximity. She noticed that Ryder was calling her this time.

"Are you talking to me?" The cheerleader wondered. The tall boy nodded. She was looking slightly irritated.

"My name isn't Celeste. It's Jordan." She informed him.

"Is it? I'm sorry." The tall boy apologized. He felt embarrassed. He had spend the entire week in despair once more. He was feeling lonelier than ever. He really ached for somebody to love him, since he had lost the only person whom he had trusted previously once the catfishing incident had been uncovered. Sick and tired of still being hung up on Katie, a.k.a. Jake, he had come to the conclusion that it was time to leave that behind him. That cheerleader was the best chance he had. His friends had been telling him for months that she had laid an eye on him, and Ryder would have lied if he had said that he hadn't been conspicuous of it. Now he had to fear, though, that she might become mad at him for getting her name wrong, and that he had blown his chance.

Luckily, she didn't seem to be sour because of it. "It's alright." She smiled, and Ryder felt relieved.

Now he had to try and get a conversation going with her. He smiled back at her, and asked: "So, how are you? How's your week been?"

"I'm fine, thanks for asking. My week has been good so far. It's just Coach Washington." Jordan had been sporting a huge smile while talking (Ryder figured she was overjoyed that he had come to chat her up), but made a face while telling him about her cheerleading coach. "Let's just say, she's a lot more fierce than Coach Sue has ever been. She even wants us to get a rip removed each, for more flexibility."

"I've heard about that." Ryder laughed. "Some of my friends from glee-club are also on the cheerios. And from what they tell me, Coach Roz is pretty crazy.

Jordan laughed back at him. It had been ten to nine when they had met on the hallway. They spend the next nine minutes talking. Jordan continued talking about cheerleading practice, and Ryder assured him that Coach Beiste was often equally rough with him on the football team.

Then, when their class was about to start, Ryder could make out the person he resented most at the moment turning around the corner. When Jake was close to them, a nasty impulse overcame Ryder.

He raised his voice, and asked Jordan: "Listen, what are you doing this evening?"

When Jake heard that, he stopped for a brief moment.

Jordan didn't take any notice of him. She turned slightly pink, and replied. "I don't have plans yet."

"What do you say if we go out this evening? Maybe to Breadstixx, or somewhere else if you don't like it there?"

Celeste giggled. "No, I love Breadstixx. I'd also love if we went there." She seemed flattered.

Jake couldn't bear this any longer. He walked off into the classroom.

"Agreed then." Ryder said self-satisfied. "I think we should go, now. Class is about to start."

They walked into the classroom together.

Meanwhile, Jake was left feeling incredibly hurt. Not only had Ryder just asked out a girl. No, the fact that Ryder had intentionally done it right in front of him ached additionally.

He still felt hurt hours later during Glee-cub practice. The fact that Ryder attended the same meeting, without even looking at him, sure didn't help.

And not just that: After practice was over, Jordan waited in front of the choir room for Ryder. The tall boy held her hand, and together they walked off.

Jake was really glad he had Marley. She always offered him a shoulder to cry on. Also so after practice. She tried to cheer him up, by saying that Ryder wasn't worth it, and that doing things he knew would hurt Jake right in front of him made him a real prick. And although he knew she had a point: The fact that the guy he loved hated him that badly upset him rather more. He had no idea, that, unbeknown to him, Ryder was feeling guilty for loosing control of himself and intentionally upsetting his former best friend.

Jake was absolutely frustrated when he returned home that evening. He opened the door, walked inside, and headed right for his room, where he wanted to retract himself for the rest of the day.

"Jake, sweetie?" He unexpectedly heard a woman's voice calling him.

"Mum?" He acted surprised. His mother didn't usually return from her waitress job at the country club until near midnight.

"I'm here." She responded. While coming out of the kitchen, she explained: "The country-club is undergoing an inspection by the health office. For that reason the kitchen got closed for the day, so I could leave early." Tanisha Puckerman then noticed that her son's head was hanging low, and that his lips were trembling. "Jake, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, mum." The teenager said nervous. He attempted to flee into his room, but his mother cut off the way.

"Hold your horses, please. I need to talk to you."

"About what?" Jake inquired nerved. He wasn't in the mood for getting consulted right now. He really only wanted to have his peace and quite, after getting hurt to the extreme at school.

"About why you've been so down lately." Tanisha replied.

"Mum, I'm not down. Please just let me go to my room."

"Jake, don't think I'm stupid." The woman snapped. "You've been acting differently for weeks. You've been locking yourself in your room for days in a row. Some days you don't even eat anything. You don't go out with your friends like you used to either. And now you're returning from school making faces. Don't you think I realize that something is wrong with you?"

The teen hesitated for a moment. His mother looked as if she would tear up any moment, and Jake felt bad for her.

"I'm worried about you." His mother whimpered.

Now Jake felt really bad. It was obvious that she was really worried about him. Jake felt as if it was the right time to come clean to her about a couple of things.

"Can we maybe sit down?" He calmly asked. "I'll try and tell you what is wrong."

Tanisha Puckerman smiled, and nodded. Together they walked into the living-room, where they sat down.

Jake hesitated for a moment, considering what might be the best way of telling his mother something that she might not be particularly fond of.

"Well, mum." He started. "The reason I've been down lately... There's somebody I'm in love with. Madly in love to be honest. But they dont feel the same way, and probably even hate me."

Tanisha believed for a second that she fully understood. "Is it a girl you go to school with? Or is she in glee-club with you?"

"Not a girl, mum."

Tanisha Puckerman was confused. "Not a girl? But what else?"

What Jake had said then had required him to gather all the courage he had. "Mum, I'm not in love with a girl. I'm in love with a guy."

His mother was perplex. After a couple of seconds, she asked: "Are you saying..."

"Yes, I'm gay, mum." Jake forestalled the answer.

Tanisha Puckerman was dismayed. She looked at her son, and questioned. "Are you sure..."

"Yes mum, I'm sure. It's not just a phase. I've never felt attracted to girls. Only guys. I've also kissed several guys, and even had sex with one, and I really liked it. I'm sure about this." His mother had cringed when he had mentioned kissing and sleeping with boys. Jake knew that what he was confessing was pretty open-hearted, but he felt it was necessary. His mother had to understand how certain he was of his sexuality.

A long moment of silence prevailed between them. His mother didn't look content at all.

Jake concluded. "So... you have a problem with me being gay?"

"Sweetie, I don't. believe me." His mum disputed.

"Then why do you look as if you're disappointed in me, or something?"

"Sweetie, I'm not disappointed. Let me try and explain. It just changes a couple of things." The way Jake looked made it clear to her that he didn't understand. "Look, every mother hopes their kids will grant them grandchildren some day."

"But mum, me being gay doesn't mean I'll never have kids. I can use a surrogate. Or adopt a child." Jake indoctrinated her.

"I guess that's right." She sighed.

"Then what's your problem, mum?"

"Jake, I don't have a problem, sweetie. Just... " She had to think well about what she was going to say next. "Can you please just give me some time to process it? It's something completely new for me. I'm sure I'll get used to it if you just let me."

Jake sighed. "I guess that's only fair."

"At the end of the day I only want you to be happy, honey." Tanisha assured him. "You're my only son, and all I have. I just really hate seeing you unhappy the way you've been lately."

That notion made Jake smile. "Thanks mum, I really appreciate that." They stood up, and shared a hug.

Afterwards, Tanisha asked about something that still hadn't become clear to her. "So, if I may know: What happened between you and that guy you like who made you so upset?"

Jake's expression got serious at that question. "Well, that's something I'm trying to forget about. Can I maybe tell you another day?"

Tanisha smiled at him. "Of course, dear. I bet it must have cost you a lot of strain to come out to me like that. I understand that you don't want to deal with the next big thing right now."

"Thanks mum." They shared another hug, an even longer one this time. Jake felt a lot happier than he had right after coming home. His mum accepting his sexuality left him with less pressure on his shoulders.

"So, how about we mark th occassion, and I cook something good for us?" Tanisha proposed. "And maybe we can watch TV together afterwards, or a movie?"

"I'd love that." Jake beamed.

They ended up spending the evening together. They enjoyed themselves, and didn't mention Jake's coming-out again. Things were still the same between them. at the end of the day, when she went to bed, Tanisha Puckerman had almost forgotten her son had come out in the first place.