Chapter 11 Puck's adventures
A/N Sligthly AU, you'll see why!
Four years ago, graduation
Principal Figgins stood with his regular uninterested glance and looked at the collection of students all in red capes.
"Friends and family of the McKinley high graduating class of 2012" he started. Puck sat in his row just behind Santana. She looked miserable. Brittany had been missing all day, and Santana had somehow convinced herself that she would be going to LA alone, seeing as Brittany was not expected to graduate. Principal Figgins finished his speech and Puck clapped vaguely, not listening. He looked away, not listening as Figgins began to call names. Suddenly his look fell on a red cape just behind the tree. The tall blonde girl chuckled slightly and applauded as Artie rolled up to take his diploma. Puck turned his attention to the stage and applauded Artie as well. Momentarily he thought about tapping the Latinas shoulder, but she caught the blonde's eye again and she put a finger over her lip smiling. "Berry, Rachel" Figgins said. The entire Glee club stood up, applauding her wildly, making her flush to a deep red; all except Santana. She applauded, and she was clearly happy with Berry, but she was too depressed to notice anything. "Hudson, Finn" Figgins said. Puck rose from his seat again whooping loudly. He grinned down at Puck and went to hug Rachel before returning to his seat. "Hummel, Kurt" Kurt waltzed up to Figgins, totally owning the stage. He blew a kiss at Blaine, throwing his hand in the air. Santana's row got up, her with her head bowed, almost crying. "Lopez, Santana" Figgins said as when he reached her name. She sighed slightly, stiffened her body and walked over to Figgins forcing a smile as she received her diploma. Just then, Brittany decided that she had hid long enough. She jumped out from her hiding place beside the tree hooting and applauding, tossing around trying to make Santana notice her. It worked. Santana looked over, gauged and started laughing and crying at the same time. She almost ran off stage to much amusement, and threw herself at her girlfriend. Puck and the other guys whistled as the girls kissed.
"Self-control, Lopez!" Puck yelled, making her blush and give him a very ugly hand-gesture before releasing the blonde. Puck walked to the row of waiting students. Brittany ran over to stand between two boys. She looked back at Puck grinning widely.
"Told you I was smart" she chuckled.
"Shure did, Pierce" Puck said. Santana had returned to her seat, beaming.
"Piecre, Brittany Susan" Figgins said. The entire crowd rose from their seat to applaud their class president. Santana jumped and howled. Brittany beamed and looked slightly overcome by the applaud. She skipped of the stage and went to sit on Santana's lap, oblivious to her having to sit elsewhere.
"Puckermann, Noah" Puck walked up on stage, made horns with his fingers and stuck his tongue out, as people applauded him. As he was handed his diploma and moved the knot to the other side, he felt a flutter in his stomach. He had achieved what his father hadn't. He had dropped out, but Puck stayed in school. He walked of the stage proudly, and was immediately engulfed in hugs from the entire Glee club, being the last, except for Chang to graduate. "And now, your 2012 honor candidate, Mike Chang Junior" The Glee club burst into applause as the first, as Mike, wearing the honor student cape, walked on stage and winked at Tina. She swooned and howled. He got up to hold his speech.
"Dear graduation class of 2012. Oh, who am I kidding, I'm not going to bore you with this regular story. Our class rocks! Our school rocks! We have an amazing football coach, whose lead us to two consecutive state championships in football. We have a glorious coach who's regained her honor in cheerleading, by securing our school yet another national championship; our hockey team who also won the state championship, and the glee club. And now I'm being biased, because I'm a Gleek, and it has changed my life" The glee club hooted. "But I also want to thank our own Will Schuester for being an amazing teacher. He got us to nationals two years in arrow and even helped us win second place at this year's nationals!" Again the glee club hooted. "Thanks to him I'm now on my way to Julliard, and not to med. school." he beamed. "So, as much as we love ourselves and each other" his glance felt momentarily at Tina, "I think we owe an atomic applause to our teachers! We may have hated each other at times, but hey, without us you wouldn't have a job, and without you, we wouldn't have a future. So from us to you!" he said with a smile. "Thank you, for being our teachers" The audience applauded wildly. "But! But!" he said getting the audience to shut it once more. "To all of you; the seniors! We made it! We made it through four years together, and we've come out stronger. So today, my friends, we celebrate!" He said taking off his hat. Everybody did the same. The couples took off each other's. "For we made it!" Mike said, and in unison, they threw up their hats and howled in applaud. Mike got a standing ovation as he walked off stage and threw himself into Tina's waiting arms.
Puck walked over to Rachel, Quinn and Finn who stood talking. "Hey, guess we really did make it" he said sheepishly.
"Yeah we did" Finn said his arm around Rachel.
"Congratulations Noah" she said. "I'm really proud that you pulled through. So, are you going to college?"
"No way dude. I'm still heading for California, dude. Pool business is booming. I already have 10 pools to clean. The puckasaurus is back in business!" he said showing his muscles.
"And here I thought that you were actually becoming a man. I guess even I can be mistaken." Quinn said superiorly. Puck scowled.
"Shut it, Fabray. I'm going to LA, and I'm never going back." He said with a smirk.
And so he went. Two weeks after graduation he said goodbye to his mother and sister and traveled to LA. Here he bought a tiny apartment for the remainder of his money, and started his business. It became very successful, and soon. "Puckermann Pool Cleaning" became the number one business in the area. Not six months had gone by before he had five employees and had stopped cleaning pools himself. He now had four cleaners and an assistant. The assistants name was Emily. She was only sixteen when he hired her. Two years later, he was still cleaning pools, and Emily had been his girlfriend for almost a year and a half. There was only one thing he'd never told her about; one girl; Beth. She knew nothing of the angel who was his daughter, and he preferred it that way; like she'd ever stay with him if she found out. When they had been together for three years, Puck decided to propose. But before he did that, he had to tell her about Beth. She deserved that much.
"Hey baby" Puck said one morning, standing in the kitchen as she walked up to him and hugged him from behind. She leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"Morning" she hummed.
"Look, Em… There's something we need to talk about." He said nervously, stepping away from the stove, pouring scrambled eggs onto their plates.
"Mhmm?" she asked with a sigh, and sat down at the table, looking interested.
"Well, there's actually someone we need to talk about" He looked sheepish.
"Oh my god Noah, did you cheat on me?" she asked immediately.
"No, no dear, not at all!" He said retorting.
"Then what is it?" she asked confused, taking a sip of milk.
"My daughter" he sadi bluntly. Emily choked in her milk and spluttered.
"Your … daughter?" she stammered sounding half enraged half curious.
"Yeah; Beth. She's my daughter." He took out his wallet and found a hidden picture of a three-year old beauty.
"She's five now, but she's only three in this picture" He said, smiling.
Emily's reaction was one of disgust and hatred towards her boyfriend. He had a daughter, and somehow he didn't seem like it was important to mention. It had led to a huge fight, and they'd broken up two weeks later. One day, she just didn't come back from college, and her best friend came and picked up her stuff, glancing furiously at Puck.
He decided then, that time had come for him to take a trip home.
Xx
Present day, Lima, Ohio.
With a certain hesitance Rachel pressed the call-button. It beeped for a few seconds.
"Noah Puckermann speaking" Puck's voice said.
"Puck, it's Rachel" she said. She was quite nervous so her voice trembled slightly.
"Rachel… Berry?" He seemed very confused.
"Yeah, and Quinn too. We need to see you, as fast as possible." She said.
"Why, what's happened"
"It's Shelby" Rachel said, and began explaining. She heard his gasps as she told him about everything that had happened.
"I'm going to freaking kill him!" Puck said enraged. "I'mma kill Finn, I swear!" He said.
"Noah, calm down!"
"No I freaking won't. He kept me from my child!"
"No he didn't! He didn't know why we needed to contact you, Noah."
"I'm still going to kill him… Oh whatever, look Rachel I'm coming back home in three weeks, let's meet up there." He said.
"Are you sure you want to wait that long?" Rachel asked.
"I have some things I need to sort out" He said hesitantly.
"Oh… I guess we'll see you soon then?" she asked.
"Yeah... See you Rachel. Tell Quinn I said hi. And give Beth a huge hug from me, and tell her that I'm coming home to see her" He hung up.
A/N I won't be writing much for the next five days, mainly because the girl I love took my heart and smashed it yesterday, and then did it again today. Thank you very much! Second, because I'm going to an anime-con and therefore I'm not home. I'll post chapter 12 friday, perhaps. Otherwise this sunday. forgive me, for my heart has left me..
