Chapter 4 - Where you least expect it

Puck wasn't sure when he passed out the night before, but his body felt rested so he was sure he was out for awhile. Rubbing his eyes he opened them to take a look around. Since he hadn't payed much attention to where he was driving after his mom kicked him out he wanted to know where he was.

Now Lima wasn't really a big town. But like all towns threes always more to it then just one cozy area. There's the rich part where business owners and summer house's are. There's the middle income families; nice suburbs where people still work day to day. Then there's the part were low income families live check to check. Puck it seems had round up in the later part of town. That didn't bother him too much. He had been here a few times before. In fact this is where he got his fake ID from and nipple ring done. He'd also hooked up with a couple of women in some of these cheap motels.

As his mind began to process everything that had happened to him he began to wonder what the hell he was going to do. Yeah he had his truck still and whatever was packed in the bags his mom gave him, But he didnt have alot of money. He had some with him, left over from his pool cleaning. It wasnt much but if he slept in his truck then might be eough for food till he found some kind of job.

As if thinking food jump started the rest of his body his stomach growled at him. Taking a look around he spotted a run down gas station. Getting out of his truck, making sure he had his wallet and some cash on hand, he headed over to get something. At the front door he saw a job posting sign. Figuring he might be able to kill two birds with one stone he walked in, grabbed a soda and a premade sandwich and headed up to the register.

"This all for you?" the addentant asked sounding bored.

"Yeah but i saw you have a job opening from that sign by the door. You guys still hiring?" asked Puck trying not to sound to eager.

"What? Oh nah man we just hired someone a few weeks ago. Should have taken the sign down then."

"Oh." said Puck feeling his spirits drop a bit. "Looks like its not going to come together all at once."

The attendant rang him up and Puck handed him the money, then followed him to the door where he ripped the sign down. Puck then headed back to his truck and eat his food quickly. Taking the last drink of his soda he tossed the empty bottle on to the floor of his car.

Figuring his truck was in the best place he was going to find for now he got back out and started wondering around figuring out where different stores were. He didn't have much gas in his truck and to get out of Lima to somewhere he might be able to start over he was going to need a job and some cash. By the time he started wondering most stores had opened for the day so in each one he popped inside to inquire if they were hiring even for part time work. Each one told him no and that it didn't look like they would be hiring anytime soon.

At last he came across a car garage and went in to see if they might be hiring. At this one it turned out they were. but they had a long list of people who had applied so unless he knew how to fix up cars already he didn't have much of a shot. Puck smiled at this and told the supervisor he did know how to. So we turned in the application using the info on his fake ID so they wouldn't ask why he wasn't in school. The supervisor told him that they were going to do interviews next week. And they would call if he got an interview by that Friday. Hoping that his money would hold out long enough Puck thanked the man and left back to the gas station by his truck. The sun had almost set by the time he got there and grabbed another sandwhich and pop for dinner.

Mercedes was really starting worry overtime now. After talking with Quinn last night it turns out Puck hasn't show up to school all week and when she called his cell phone it went straight to his voice mail everyday. Now she wasn't at all close to the jock or anything but first her best friend has been gone for over month and now a friend of the person she is living with is no where to be found.

Quinn had even told her that Finn and put aside his feelings to ask her if she knew what was going on with puck. If nothing else good comes from that at least it got Quinn and Finn to bond again over concern for the jock. The fact that he was in a relationship with Rachel probably helped him work though some of the hurt too.

Santana even came up to Quinn one day and asked where Puck was before turning around and asking Mercedes if she still hasn't heard from Kurt. The fact that it had taken this long before someone other then Britt asked pissed her off where she said "No." then stormed off before she'd hit the Latina.

Rachel was not helping things by going on and on about how they need 12 people to compete and still hadn't found anyone to replace their missing members. Every time she would start on her bullshit rants about it Mercedes had snapped at her to shut up. In fact most people had, mainly because she was never quiet, but when Mr. shue had told her to shut up angrily everyone was surprised. She was still angry and their teacher. This past month he had seemed to worried but it seemed he cared more that Puck was missing then Kurt. Not by much but still more. Or he could be like Rachel and worried over 2 members being gone then who they really were. If it wasn't for the fact that Kurt wouldn't want her to Mercedes would have quit Glee by now. But she stayed. Keeping the light on for when Kurt comes back. Feeling the hope within that grew dimmer with each passing day she hadn't heard from him.

Britt came up to her after Glee club that day. "Mercedes i wanted to know if your free weekend after next?"

"Sure Britt. What did you have in mind?"

"Well with Kurt still missing neither of us has really gone out shopping and i thought maybe we could go together."

"Britt you got yourself a date!"

"A date? How did you know that I'm going over to Sanny's tonight?"

Mercedes just stared at her a little then glanced over to the Latina who looked fearful over what Britt had just let slip. She smirked a bit at Santana then looked back at Britt with a warm smile on her face.

"I meant Britt that yes we'll go shopping weekend after next."

"OH! Thanks Cedes its going to be fun. Bye."

"Bye Britt! Bye Sanny!" Mercedes couldn't help laugh and the evil look Santana threw at her.

Puck wasn't sure what was worse. The hunger pains or the smell. He used up the last of his cash for breakfast yesterday. It was Thursday and he still had one more day before he would even find out if he got the interview. He had spent the past week doing the same thing everyday. Hitting any place he could find that he hadn't already asked if they were hiring. This garage job seemed like it might be his only chance. He hadn't had a chance to shower since he got kicked out and was running low on clean clothes. "Thank god i can at least use the bathroom at that gas station." he thought as we walked back to his truck after another useless day of job hunting.

Just when he turned a corner near the gas station he got hit with another stomach cramp and doubled over in pain waiting for it to fade away. A few seconds after it hit he heard a very familiar high pitched voice call his name. "Puck? Is that you?" A soft hand grabbed his and helped him stand up right.

Looking up into a pair of blue eyes he couldnt keep the surpise and happiness out of his voice when he whishpered "Kurt?"

A/N - To everyone who has been reading this, I promised Kurt would be back by this chapter! Everyone enjoys cliff hangers so here you go! :)