Again, sorry about the long wait. Things have been a little out of control for me lately. To all the people wondering why I don't have more reviews, to be honest I'm wondering the same thing. But, hey that's life, people like what they like. I'm just thankful for those of you who review that enjoy the story as is. Here's the next chapter, hope you all like it.
The afternoon following Alyson's party, Shelby brought Baby Beth over to Rachel's house to visit. They were sitting in the living room, talking with Shelby.
"She's getting so chubby", laugh Quinn, who was laying on the floor playing with Beth.
"Well, she should be, she eats enough", laughed Shelby.
Rachel yawned, and laid her head down on the back of the couch." Were you two out last night", asked Shelby."Mhm, we were at a friend's party. Didn't drink much, but it was at two different locations. Also, Rachel didn't wanna' leave because our friend Jade has...random drunken tendencies",said Quinn.
"I see. It's just funny, because you look like how I look when I'm constantly chasing after a busy bodied little baby. That's a whole different kind of tired within itself", laughed Shelby. "Actually, believe it or not, I feel like I have a busy bodied baby, only it's not a baby it's..."
Rachel was cut off, when the front door opened and in walked Puck and Alyson. Puck was carrying Jade in his arms like a baby."Oh my god...", said Rachel standing up.
"No, relax she's just passed out...", said Alyson."Yeah, finally...", said Puck." Where should I put her?"
"Guest room", said Rachel sitting back down. Puck wandered up the stairs, and Alyson took a seat on the floor next to Quinn.
"Oh my god...Alyson Anders...", said Shelby.
"Hey Ms. C...", said Alyson.
"Wait...how do you two know each other", asked Quinn." Alyson used to be our drummer for Vocal Adrenalin...you guys didn't know that", asked Shleby."Oh wow, no we did not", said Rachel, giving Alyson a sneaky look." Wait, Aly you go to Carmel High", asked Quinn." Used to. dropped out around the same time Jade was expelled", said Alyson." That's a shame, because you are missed. New drummer has no skill at all compared to you", said Shelby.
"Well, Jade was being all insecure about getting her G.E.D...so we did it together. Not surprised that you didn't know I went to that school. Bet you didn't know I was in the rafters of McKinley High at one point in time either", laughed Alyson.
"You were part of the "Big Slush", asked Rachel in shock." Indeed I was, and it was epic. Jade's a sweet girl, but that mind of hers is truly diabolical at times", laughed Alyson.
"Yeah...speaking of Jade...", said Rachel.
"Oh yeah, last night after you guys left, she wouldn't stop drinking. She's been up all night...had little bit of an episode".
Puck came walking down the stairs, and into the livingroom."Quinn, can I talk to you for a minute please", he asked quietly." Don't you wanna' play with Beth", she asked." Sure I do...yeah...I just...need to talk to you first...", he said, walking into the kitchen. A confused expression came across Quinn's face as she handed Beth to Alyson, and stood up."Um...just a warning Quinn...he's really upset...", said Alyson. Quinn walked into the kitchen. Puck was facing away from her just looking out the window." Puck...", she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. When he turned around, he had tears in his eyes.
"Oh my God...are you okay", she asked." No...I'm not. I'm hung over...and really fucking confused..", he said." What's the matter", she asked, wiping the tears from his cheeks.
"Why didn't you tell us...", he asked quietly.
"About what?"
"About Jade. Ya' know it's just really fucked up how all you girls got so close with her, and know everything that's going on with her. But, us guys are left out of the loop. So last night, you leave Joey's house, and me and Artie have to sit there and watch Alyson pull her out of this really weird anxiety attack...", said Puck.
"You knew she had issues Puck. It's not like you didn't know what was going on, it's been all over the news for weeks", said Quinn.
"Yeah, the part about her family being insane, not the part where her brother ra-...raped her", snapped Puck, not wanting to actually say it.
"Whoa, okay...what happened last night exactly", asked Quinn.
"She fell asleep on the couch...and when I went to wake her up...she totally freaked out. Tried to hit me...cried because she thought I was gonna' touch her. She...she..." Puck stuttered.
"She what", asked Quinn.
"She...told me I could have her...but...she wanted me to be gentle..." said Puck, more tears running down his face.
"Puck...". Quinn rubbed his arm.
"What did that ass hole do to her?"
"Don't take it personally...when she wakes up, she always thinks the worst is happening. She just thought you were him, she knows you would never hurt her like that...", said Quinn.
"Then why did she try to hit me, then beg me to kill her instead of hurting her...why did she look at me like I was...like I was him...", asked Puck, tears of anger rolling down his face.
"She just gets in that state of mind. She can't help it Puck, the poor thing is traumatized."
"It took Alyson like two hours to convince her that I wasn't gonna' touch her like that. I just wanted to hug her, that's all I wasn't gonna' hurt her, but she...didn't fucking believe me", said Puck.
"Trust me, she knows you won't hurt her. Puck, you don't even know the half of what those people put her through. We're trying really hard to get her back to normal, but it's not gonna' be easy. That girl you just carried in here, yeah...that's not Jade anymore. That's a broken, scared little girl who thinks a member of her family is hiding around ever corner to end her life. This is...years of damage that we are trying really hard to erase", said Quinn.
"Well, I mean what the fuck, you couldn't let the rest of us in on it? Only guy from our school who knows the truth is Kurt, and that's only because he's with Joey. What happened to the summer being for all of us", asked Puck.
"Okay, yes we've been a little distant with the details. I'm sorry about that. What can we do to make it up to you", asked Quinn.
"You can let us help too. I know it's not like me to wanna' help very many people but...Jade means something to me...and...if I ever see Mika Price...I'll kill him, Quinn. I'm not joking I will end his life. You don't touch a girl like that. Especially when it's your little sister", said Puck.
"I know. And fine, you guys can help too. Don't loose faith in her, I know things look bad, I know she's...sick. But, she's strong...and regardless of what anyone thinks, she can make it through all of this", said Quinn. Puck nodded.
"Okay then. Come on, let's go play with our little one", said Quinn. Puck smiled and followed her back into the living room.
Jade slept all day long, the girls randomly checking in on her from time to time. She woke up to somebody holding her. She didn't freak out, the hold was loving and familiar. The scent was familiar, and Jade knew it was Santana. She started to shift a little, and Santana's head shot up." You okay", she asked, half asleep."Yeah, I'm okay", said Jade, rolling over to face her. Santana smiled, and kissed on the forehead.
"It's almost dinner time. Rachel ordered food, and you really need to eat sleepy head."
"I'm not hungry", said Jade.
"I know honey, but you need to eat something, even if it's just a couple bites. If you don't, my Mom said I'll have to force feed you", laughed Santana. Jade smiled." Who's around", she asked.
"Puck, Kurt, Alyson, Joey, and Tina. There's still time before the food gets here, you wanna' shower", asked Santana. Jade nodded. Santana helped her up, and got her to the bathroom down the hall. She turned the water on, and sat down on the counter. She started playing with her cell phone as Jade got undressed. When she was completely naked Santana looked up. She couldn't take her eyes off Jade's chest, but knew it wasn't the right time to mess around.
Jade climbed into the shower very slowly, and was fine for a few minutes. In the passed weeks, she had fainted when she was alone in the shower. Once she had even passed out in the bathtub, and almost drown. So, it was decided that she was no longer allowed to bathe without somebody being in the bathroom."Hey...let me know if you get light headed...alright", asked Santana, but she got no answer." Jade...".
After getting no answer for a second time, Santana jumped off the counter and pulled back the shower curtain. Jade was leaning up against the wall, with her eyes closed." Hold on sweetie...", said Santana. She stripped down, and climbed into the shower. Jade didn't really seem to know she was there until she grabbed onto her. Santana held Jade up with one arm, and started washing her with the other.
"Do you know how sad this is", asked Jade softly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's pathetic that I'm so hung over that I can't even stand up by myself right now", said Jade. Santana didn't know what to say. She just kissed her softly on the cheek, and finished washing her.
"Where's Brit", asked Jade.
"Why do you ask me that every single time she's not around us? I mean it's like you want her to find out about us", said Santana.
"No, it's not that. I mean, she's my friend I care about her a lot. But, I guess for me this whole you dating both of us thing is getting a little weird. Please...don't get mad at me, I'm just being honest with you", said Jade." I'm not mad, I just wish you understood that it's easier this way. For our sake and for hers", said Santana. Jade turned around, and rested her head on Santana's chest." We can tell her if you want. But, not yet, okay?"
"Okay", said Jade. Santana rubbed her back. It wasn't the first time they had showered together. It also wasn't the first time Santana had certain thoughts about Jade in the shower. However, she was too afraid to start anything. With her sexual history, and her anxiety issues, she was afraid of the reaction she'd get if she tried anything with Jade. So, she just held her, and let the water run over the both of them. A little while later, everybody was sitting in Rachel's kitchen, eating at the table.
"Hey Rachel, where are your Dad's", asked Joey.
"On vacation. They take a lot of little weekend getaways over summer time", said Rachel.
"Don't you ever go with them", asked Puck.
"Sometimes, but that was when I didn't have any friends", laughed Rachel, and they all laughed a little. Jade wasn't really eating, just pushing her food around with her fork."Hey Jade, you need to eat", said Quinn. Jade just nodded her head slowly, but made no effort to put any food in her mouth." As fabulous as you look...Jade honey, I think eating would probably be the best thing right now", said Kurt.
"Alright, you wanna' do this the hard way", asked Santana. She pulled out her phone, and started to dial.
"Who are you calling", asked Tina." My mom", said Santana.
"No...don't. It's fine", said Jade, and she put some food on her fork and put it in her mouth." That's what I thought", said Santana, and she put her phone down." Jade, give me your napkin", said Tina. Jade rolled her eyes, and handed the napkin that was in her lap to Tina." Why do you need her napkin", asked Puck.
"Classic eating disorder trick. Chew the food, pretend to wipe your mouth, spit the food inside of your napkin", said Kurt." Wow", said Joey.
"I don't have an eating disorder, I'm just not hungry", said Jade.
"We know that honey, it's okay", said Rachel.
"Is it okay, Rachel? Is it okay, that you guys have wasted half your summer vacation babysitting me", asked Jade.
"Don't start with that, please Jade", said Alyson.
"Yeah, you say that way too often", said Tina.
"So, I speak the truth way too often? Wow, that is just awesome", said Jade standing up.
"Sit", snapped Santana.
"No fuck you Santana, I can't do this. I'm not doing this anymore, I quit", cried Jade.
"You quit", asked Alyson.
"Yeah, I fucking quit. I can't have you doing this shit for me anymore, I love you all way too much for that...I'm outta' here", said Jade, and she ran towards the stairs. Santana went to get up, but Puck stopped her.
"No. Just...let me talk to her", he said standing up. Santana just gave him a dirty look.
"Santana just let him...", said Quinn. Santana rolled her eyes and sat back down.
Puck ran up the stairs, and found Jade in the guest room. She was sitting on the bed, crying her eyes out. He walked in, shut the door, and sat down next to her." What Puckerman", she cried.
"Don't be like that Jade. I just...wanna' help you", he said.
"No you don't. You just feel like you have to. Just like everyone else downstairs, just like all of my friends. Wanting to help, and having to help is two totally different fucking things, and I know that. I wish everyone would stop pretending and just be real with me. I know I'm a problem, I know I'm in the way, I know I'm a pain in the fucking ass for everyone. I maybe drunk half the time, but I'm not stupid Puck...I'm...not stupid...", cried Jade, desperately.
"No offense, but if that's really what you think...you must be stupid", said Puck, and Jade just looked at him.
"Do you have any idea how much you mean to all of us? Yeah we know we have to help you, but we also want to", said Puck.
"Oh, you wanna' help me", asked Jade.
"Yes! I do. You're my friend! I love you! And believe me Jade if I would have known what your brother was doing to you, I would have fucking beaten the life outta' him a long time ago! Never in my life have I known much less been friends with a girl who was being hurt like that! By somebody she trusted! Do you have idea how mad that fucking makes me", yelled Puck.
"I do now tough guy, but guess what? You aren't him! You would never touch your little sister like that, I know you wouldn't! But you need to realize that helping me now, doesn't make up for what Mika has done to me! It doesn't make you a better person! That is the only reason you feel sorry for me! The only reason YOU wanna' help! Admit it!", yelled Jade through her tears. Puck just looked away, and shook his head.
"I know your intensions are good Noah, trust me I do. But, I can see right through you. I don't want you to kick my brothers ass, I don't want you do protect me", cried Jade.
"Fuck that. Yeah, you're right I feel like helping you helps me make up for a lot of different things. But, I don't give a shit if you want me to protect you or not, I'm going to. Jade you have become like a sister to me, and I'm not gonna' fucking let you go through this alone. Stop trying to push us away, cuz' it's not gonna' happen. Me, Santana, Berry, your band friends, all of us...we aren't letting you run away from us", said Puck. Jade just cried even harder, and berried her face into her hands.
"Look I get it. I get that you aren't used to having people care this much. It was the same when I joined Glee", said Puck. Jade looked up at Puck.
"I have my football friends...but everybody in this club means more. I realize how much of a pussy this makes me, but I know that no matter how much I fuck up in my life, no matter how much shit people talk about me, in and outside of Glee, these people are my real friends. And they actually care. I mean they even deal with my ego, and my badass reputation. I'm an ass hole, and I know that, but they all deal with it. Even you...you deal with it too...".
"Noah, that's because I know that you really are a good person. Your whole badass thing...I get it...I understand why you do that. It's just...part of you", said Jade.
"Exactly. Just like you, getting trashed all the time, trying to scare off your friends. Not wanting help, thinking you have to suffer...is part of you", said Puck, tears running down his face. He wanted to hug Jade, but didn't because he thought she might freak out. But, to his surprise, she wrapped her arms around him, and cried into him." I'm sorry", she cried." No, don't be sorry. Just stop trying to push us away. Let us be here. Let us help you...Jade just let us love you", cried Puck.