A/N: I think all my Burt chapters are going to be shorter than my Kurt chapters. That really isn't relevant to anything but I thought I should say that. BTW Jake is kind of introduced more in this chapter. Most of what he says was probably not said in 1998 but again I was super little. Also, I just realized all my OC's names start with J. Unless you count Elizabeth.

Chapter 4: Burt

I didn't know how to feel about seeing Elizabeth again today. She was so nice and beautiful and it wasn't exactly her fault that she wasn't single and available. I needed to suck it up and push my stupid feelings (that I shouldn't even be having because, seriously, I've known her for less then twenty-four) aside.

I was in the garage, working underneath a car. I was thinking about all the things I would do if I ever got my own shop and getting new lifts for the cars was definitely one of them. I felt my life was in danger every time I came to work, but my boss was to stingy to think of the safety of his workers.

I heard a light patter of feet and thought it was Mrs. Baker again. She was this nice old lady who had some memory problems and still thinks that her son works in this shop even though he moved to a different shop several years ago. She still shows up at noon everyday with a paper bag full of food, asking everyone where her son was and telling them how he forgot his lunch again. She was sweet and always ended up giving the workers the lunch originally intended for her son after we explain to her that her son is living in Dayton and she calls him to confirm our story.

But when I rolled out from under the car and looked at the shop which seemed to be upside down. I saw a women's shoes and my gaze traveled further up I saw the smiling face of Elizabeth looking down on me.

"Hello again!" she said cheerfully.

I sat up quickly- bad idea. My head hit hard against the front bumper of the car I was working on.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" she asked frightfully.

She crouched down next to me and poked my head gently where I'd hit it. I was sure I was bushing a little.

"I-I'm fine," I stammered.

I wasn't fine. I'd just made a complete fool of myself. It didn't matter, I tried to tell myself. She's clearly in a committed relationship. And yet, when I looked down at her left hand, there was no ring there.

"Right, let's just pretend that very embarrassing event never happened," I said.

"Agreed," Elizabeth said, a look on her face that was half sympathetic smile and half really trying hard not to laugh.

I got up and cleared my throat. I walked over to the lock box where he kept all of the keys and handed her the keys to her car.

"What are you doing back here anyway?," I asked. "There's a sign that says employees only."

"The guy at the front desk told me that I could come back here to get my car. I was just following orders."

I nodded and leaned on the car I'd been in the middle of repairing. "So how are you today?"

"Good," she replied, "but I can't stay and chat. I have to go give Kurt's old doctor information to his new pediatrician."

I tried not to be annoyed, but failed miserably, so I said the first thing that popped into my head.

"Why doesn't his dad ever pick him up?"

I could tell right away that this was the wrong thing to say. Elizabeth's usually smiling face fell into a stoney expression and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

"I don't remember that being any of your business, Burt," she said and turned to exit the shop.

"No, please don't go. Crap, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," I said, quickly following her.

She turned around angrily. "You didn't mean what?" she demanded, "For your information. Kurt doesn't have a father. It isn't any of your business why but he doesn't. I suggest you leave me alone."

And with that she marched out of the shop, leaving me feeling incredibly guilty behind. I groaned and turned to pound my head against the wall. I ended up hitting the quickly forming bruise from where I hit my head on the car. I reached up to rub the spot and muttered a few choice swear words.

"Woah, somethings got your panties in a twist," Jake said, leaning up on the wall next to me.

I huffed and turned to go back to my job. Unfortunately, Jake followed behind me and continued talking. "Hey, come on, dude. Seriously what happened. Saw that girl here. Was she your ex or something because she seemed pissed. If you two are over, I call dibs."

I was getting progressively more and more angry the more Jake kept talking but after his last statement, I was more than a little angry.

"Shut up," I said, rounding on him. He cowered slightly but his usual cocky grin never left his face.

"Dude, chill. I was kidding. No way you could score with a piece of ass that fine."

I rolled my eyes and went back to my car. I picked up and slammed down my tools with more force than necessary but Jake still didn't get his cue to leave me alone.

Jake leaned on the hood of the car and propped his head up with his hands and got a far off look in his eyes. He sighed in a sort of wishful way and I already knew whatever he was about to say was going to piss me off.

"I've dreamed about getting with a girl that beautiful." He straightened up and held out his fist for a fist bump. "Score, dude."

Wouldn't you know it, my prediction came true. I ignored the fist in front of me, but what I didn't expect to happen was Jake to actually do something he'd never done before. Get serious about something.

"Okay, dude, what happened? I'm not that big of an idiot. I know whatever happened has something to do with that girl, but most of the time I piss people off so much they explode and tell me what's wrong by now. I must admit, sir, you are one tough nut to crack."

I set down my tools and sighed.

"Fine Jake, you win," I said. "That girl you just saw? I think I really like her but there's only one problem."

"Oh no," Jake gasped, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "She's a lesbian isn't she?"

I laughed. No, she isn't a lesbian. Wait, I don't know her. What if is? That would be even more disappointing.

"No, I mean... not that I know of," I said.

"Well then what's the problem? She's hot and she seems... I mean she's hot!" Jake said.

"She has a son," I said.

Jake flinched. "Dude that blows. So she's married?"

I shook my head. "I kind of accidentally asked her in a really rude way if Kurt, that's her kid, had a father and she said he doesn't."

Jake looked excited. "Dude, this is your chance. You can still go out with her!"

"Dude!" I said, mocking his excited tone. "No I can't. She got pretty mad and I don't blame her."

Jake sighed. "I give up. You are a lost cause. I try to give you my best and you just throw it all away."

He walked away, shaking his head and sighing. I had no idea how he thought he was 'giving me his best' because I thought he was giving me a load of bullcrap.

I could try though. Maybe if she would ever talk to me again. Lima was a small town after all, I would probably run into Elizabeth Davis again and this time I wouldn't do anything stupid or screw up.

Peace, Love, Glee

Julez