A/N: Here is installment 9! Woo! Can't believe I've written it this far. (: Once again, I do not own Glee. Or Blake Shelton. (:
I'm lucky I know but I wanna go home
I've got to go home, let me go home
I'm just too far from where you are
I wanna come home
-Home by Blake Shelton
They rolled around Lima about 5 the next evening, making Kurt extremely nervous. Puck pulled into the Hummel-Hudson driveway and parked his truck next to Kurt's Escalade. "We're here," he announced. He laughed quietly to himself. Leave it to him to say the obvious.
"I'm nervous to go in," admitted Kurt, eyes downcast.
"Well, I'm by your side," offered Puck. "I won't leave you to the sharks." I'll never leave your side either, he allowed himself to think.
Kurt let out a nervous laugh. "I know you wouldn't. Come on, let's go brave this." He opened his door and his feet met the familiar concrete of his driveway.
They walked through the front door of the Hummel-Hudson house and Kurt was immediately assaulted by Carole. She wrapped him into a tight hug and dove in with the questions. "Kurt, where have you been? We've missed you, so much! Even Finn has been wandering around aimlessly."
Kurt laughed. "He does that anyways, Carole. I've been… away. I need some space right now."
"Good to see you to, Mrs. H," joked Puck. He wanted to take Kurt out of the spotlight, knowing he would only want to explain himself once. The said boy shot Puck a grateful look behind Carole's back.
Carole smiled and hugged Puck as well. "It's good to see you too, Puck. I hope you've been taking care of my boy," she murmured.
"Don't think anything of it," promised Puck. "He needed help, and I was there." He shrugged. "Anything I can do to help him, I will. You know that."
Carole simply nodded with a slight smile. "I'm so glad you guys came for dinner! It's almost done! Burt will be home in a few from the shop, Finn following shortly, and then, we can eat!"
"Awesome, I'm just going to take our stuff downstairs, okay? Call us when dinner is ready?" asked Kurt.
"Will do. Behave, Kurt." With the last warning, she turned and left for the kitchen.
Kurt let out a nervous laugh again, a faint blush accompanying it with Carole's words. "Well, come on then. It's not like you haven't been there before, Noah."
Puck laughed. "True is that." It made him nervous though. He had many good memories that took place in that room. He was afraid that he would be overwhelmed by it. He moved to follow Kurt to his room, and was stopped by Carole.
"Puck, can I talk to you for a moment?" she called from the kitchen.
"I'll meet you down there, I'm going to meet Mrs. H, 'kay?"
"Okay, you know where to find me," agreed Kurt.
Puck wandered toward the kitchen, almost afraid of what he was going to be met with. He knew last time, she was accepting of their relationship. Granted, this is different. He walked through the door way and was met with a glass of orange juice and toast. "Um, thank you?" he said as he sat down.
"I have a few questions for you," said Carole firmly. "I want you to answer them honestly."
Puck nodded. "Shoot." He took a bite of his toast in case he needed serious thinking time.
"What happened to make him run away so quickly?" Concern was heavy in her tone, and the stare she was giving him was making Puck uncomfortable.
"I can't tell you that," he replied swiftly. "I don't think I know the entire story. He told me a little bit. I don't think it was the entire story. It's his to tell, not mine."
"I can deal with that. I wouldn't want Burt to do that to me," agreed Carole.
"Mr. Hummel and yourself have a very different relationship than me and Kurt," interrupted Puck.
Carole's eyes sparkled. "Okay," she agreed, but her tone suggested otherwise. "Why did he come to you, rather than Burt or me?"
Puck shrugged. "I can't answer that either; I don't know. We had talked earlier that day for the first time in months. I don't know why he showed up on my door, specifically." He finished the last of his toast and downed his juice. "I think he'll unravel this tale tonight after dinner."
Carole nodded. "Well, go freshen up. We'll be leaving for Breadsticks as soon as Finn gets home from Glee."
"Thank you Mrs. H. I'll pass along the message." Puck got up and went down the stairs to Kurt's room. He paused at the door, afraid of what he'll find on the other side of the door. Would it be the same as it was six months ago? Or did he totally overhaul it, sad with the memories it held. He opened the door and stepped in, closing the door behind him. He looked up to find Kurt sprawled out on his bed, facedown.
"Kurt?" he whispered. "Are you okay?"
Kurt didn't stir on the bed.
"Kurt," he said a little louder. He moved toward the bed and sat on it gently. He frowned when the smaller man didn't stir at that either. He placed a hand on Kurt's shoulder and shook him gently. "Kurt, come on. Time to get ready to go. Finn will be home in a few minutes."
Kurt rolled over and looked at Puck. "Go where?" he asked with a sleepy voice.
Puck knew he hadn't been gone all that long. He wasn't quite sure how he passed out so quickly, but he envied the learned skill. "Breadsticks. Mrs. H is taking us out."
Kurt frowned. "Damn," he swore. "I was looking forward to some home cooking." He sighed and sat up.
"I'm sorry. If we wanted to stay the weekend, I'm sure she would cook then?" suggested Puck. "If you don't want to though, we don't have too."
Kurt shrugged. "I don't know. I'll have to see how Dad takes the news. I am afraid what it will do to his heart." He worried his lower lip. "If it doesn't do him good, I'll have to stay."
"You'll do what you have to do," assured Puck.
"I wouldn't want you to leave me though, Noah," panicked Kurt. "You could stay with us. Dad and Carole won't care." His hand immediately went to Puck's and grasped it tightly. He looked at his companion with sad eyes. "I haven't told you all of it."
Puck nodded. "I suspected that."
"I didn't lie to you though. All of what I've told you is true," assured Kurt. "I would like you to be there tonight too. When I tell Dad. Keep me grounded, so to speak."
Puck squeezed Kurt's hand. "I can do that for you. You should know that by now."
Kurt let out a short laugh. "I'm just waiting for you to get tired of me. It's bound to happen at some point, right?"
Puck grasped Kurt's shoulders. "I couldn't do that to you, Kurt. Honestly."
"Boys! We are leaving in five!" called Carole.
Kurt shook Puck's hands from his shoulders. "We'll be right up!" he called up. He turned to Puck. "Let's go. We'll talk later?" At Puck's nod, he stood up and walked up the stairs.
"You boys get settled?" asked Carole.
Puck and Kurt nodded in unison. "I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed," said Kurt.
Carole smiled. "Let's cut Finn off before he hits the house. We're meeting Burt there." She smiled and opened the door to a very surprised Finn.
"Whose truck is in the driveway? It looks just like Puck's?" asked Finn dazedly. He then saw the faces behind Carole. "What? Who? Why? Huh?" he stammered.
"Oh shut up, Finn. We're going to dinner. Come on. You'll get why later," chided Kurt. He marched out the door first, Carole trailing.
A/N: SO. Next chapter is Kurt's entire story. We'll actually find out what happened. If you have any thoughts or ideas, shoot them at me! I'm still figuring out what all happens. I have bits and pieces, but not all of it. (: Also, reviews are great. (:
