Letters 11
"Sup dude" Collins said ducking under the tent opening "Christ it's a sauna out there"
"Well that's August in Afghan for you" Puck laughed not turning to face his friend trying to get his report finished
"Present for you" Collins added with a grin as Puck didn't turn around "one you have been waiting for I might add"
Puck grinned and turned around finally to see Collins carrying a box and a white letter balancing on top of it.
"Got to admit man, your girl rocks" Collins joked as Puck jumped to his feet and took the box of him to sit down on his bed, putting the letter down to enjoy later he ripped open the box again stopping in surprise when there two separate boxes inside, one marked Noah the other Jack.
"This is for you" he said pulling it out and handing it over to Jack who laughed a little awkwardly and took it sitting down on his own bed to pull it open.
"To make sure 'he' shares" Collins read out from the small note card on the top of the box before looking below and seeing boxes of Twinkies, both him and Puck burst into laughter as Puck opened his own box to double stuffed Oreos and Cheetos.
"Dude marry her" Jack laughed tearing into one of his Twinkies "my mom won't send me junk food, moans about the cost"
"Yeah don't think I am going to marry her because she sends us junk food" Puck rolled his eyes
"Well no, you're going to marry her because you are head over heels in love with her" Collins shrugged lounging back.
"No I not, I mean I don't think I am" Puck shrugged "I don't know how...never mind"
"Dude you love her" Collins insisted
"How do you know that and I don't?" Puck asked wryly
"Because your own family doesn't give two shits about so you don't know what the fuck love is, I do and what I have seen on your face when you read her letters, and when she was here dude you should have seen your face"
"Bad face?"
"I've never seen you smile so much and I have known you for 2 years now"
"I...I...I"
"Love is nothing more than giving a damn about someone more than yourself; yeah we are soldiers we would die for our country because that's what we sign up for, but if we were given a choice? That person who you would unequivocally even gladly give up your life for, even if it would be the most horrific death ever, that's the person you love. You care about them, you worry about them, you think about them almost constantly, yep you could spend an eternity making love to them, but on the same hand you would also just hold them if that's what they wanted. The person who is your life, yeah you can have friends and maybe even family but that person who rounds everything off, makes you just feel this underlying sense of completeness . And don't even bother to try and deny to me right now that that person is Rachel to you"
"Fuck" Puck drawled flopping backwards, Rachel's letter now balanced on his chest "what if I fuck up?"
"Fuck what up?" Collins asked losing the thread of the conversation a little
"Fuck up a relationship with Rachel, I mean I know I'm in one now and I love that I am finally with her but now I'm freaking, knowing I'm in love with her...that makes it scary"
"No it doesn't, it makes it real, and something you need. Because no offence dude but you need something other than this job to hold on to and Rachel is all you have and when she was only a friend it was easy to pretend that that was ok, now that you love her you worry about being dependent. But you have to stop thinking and just accept it not just your feelings but that you are a decent enough guy not to mess with Rachel"
"I'm in love with her and I'm not going to mess her about" Puck repeated firmly, convincing himself "it's just hard when your own family think that you are a first class dick you start thinking of yourself like that as well"
"Well don't, read your letter, reply to your girl and just be you, rather than this guy in front of me freaking out about feelings"
"Right" Puck agreed shrugging off his very out of character moment and picking up his letter pulling it out of its envelope and breathing in the scent of vanilla and jasmine hearing Collins slip out to give him some privacy.
Noah
I found it so difficult to leave you there, I found myself watching the spot where I last saw you out of the window as the helicopter flew away, I can understand why you were worried about me being there is just that I wanted to see you so badly. I had to know if the person I was falling for in your letters actually existed and that insufferable man gave me the best idea by mentioning the USO and I just had to see if the Noah on the page existed in real life. And you do, you do, you flirt and you make the same innuendos, maybe only slightly less crass then when you were in high school, but your eyes. Your eyes were just filled with this warmth I hadn't seen before and every time you looked at me it increased, hopefully because of your feelings for me I write hopefully, but also because you were content you had achieved what you always wanted to be a success.
I know you can't tell me about your job and that it is all hush hush really because that's the nature of your job, but I can't hate your job because it has made you happy, and that is why I will wait for you forever if need be. Because I want you to be happy, nothing but happy, because you make me happy. And yes I too am surprised at my unselfishness right now considering some of my behaviour when I was dating Finn in high school, but it's probably just because it's you.
My audition was yesterday for the film and if I may say so myself I blew them away, it's for an action film and rather than playing the requisite damsel in distress I kick ass in my own right, better than James Bond though, more gritty. Of course there will be a romantic interest because quite honestly I cannot think of a film that does not have a romantic angle anymore, but this time it is the computer nerd! Who is of course under it all good looking, very Hollywood! I am glad that you want to come to my premiere I am sure that we will own that carpet me in a fantastic dress you looking amazing in a suit.
I dug out that skirt for you before I wrote this just to make sure I had it before I sent this letter, so I can promise to meet you at JFK wearing one very short black skirt, I have also had an idea about how to enjoy the ride back rather than in a taxi. I am going to rent us a proper car with a driver and a partition, and space to stretch out I'm sure you get my meaning. Now I will get back to your admission of a 'raging hard on' really Noah I thought you were the school stud, you got an erection just because I sat on your lap? That's a little pathetic really I hope you will be better when you get back, you know able to keep up with me...
Miss you, love Rachel xxxxxx
PS Need a date of arrival in your next letter because it's only five weeks now!
Putting the letter back on his chest Puck smiled up at the tent canvas above him, happy with a grin on his face, Collins had been right as soon as he stopped himself over thinking too much he had enjoyed Rachel's letter more. Yeah the beginning had been serious but for a good reason he had been worrying about his five years even though Rachel had told him the she didn't care when she had been here her reiteration had made him feel better.
The last bit though, the gentle teasing and flirting had made him relax even more, she wanted him as much as he wanted her, and he really wanted her, not just because he had been celibate for eight months but because now he could admit it. He was in love with her.