Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update! My summer's been crazy, but not as crazy as what's going on in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to leave a review at the end!
Pellets of rain shot against the window pane of Jake Puckerman's loft. He had eaten with their melody over supper and continued to enjoy the music into the evening. In other words, he couldn't sleep.
How had it been one month since he last saw her? It didn't seem possibly to love someone so much yet keep himself apart from her at the same time. She was better without him. Hopefully. Maybe. Jake wasn't sure. He'd have to ask Puck about this sort of thing. He had experience pining after a single woman for an extended period of time.
The cement floor was cold against his bare feet. Jake strode from the common area to his bedroom. The door creaked open, revealing music sheets, CDs, too many movies and not enough pairs of underwear. He appraised the idea of shopping and shuddered. Not in this weather.
His acoustic guitar, similar to Puck's, lay atop his sheets like a waiting lover. Jake shook the image of Marley out of his head and grabbed the instrument in his trembling hand. He could use a drink.
Jake settled against the plaid, ratty couch. Sugar couldn't stand the piece of furniture. Whenever she was in the loft, which was limited enough as it was, her nose always scrunched up and she threatened to toss the thing at least once.
The young man thought of his brother's old truck and how he stole it once, to go on a joy ride with a nameless girl. He half-heartedly wished he could remember that girl's name. Perhaps she was married by now. She seemed like the type. If Noah kept the truck, Sugar could have used that.
He began strumming his guitar, watching the rain paint pictures against the glass. Noah had taken Rachel out that night. He heard their bickering the night before and smelt roses through the ventilation system later on. Must be date night, he had thought. Jake cringed. Would Marley like such things? Would roses solve their problems?
The Julliard boy remembered Kurt. He would have to pick the designer and his Brit up at the airport next week. Rachel had a late-night rehearsal and with cookies managed to get Jake to do it instead.
"Knock on my window, knock on my door I-I wanna make you feel beautiful," Jake sang quietly. He wondered how many songs he had written that sounded like this one. He wondered how many were about Marley.
There was a knock at the door. Jake glanced at the iron rectangle and waited. Perhaps it was only the thunder he heard. As far as he knew, there was no one in the complex that would be bothering him at this late hour.
"She will be loved. Yes she will be loved," he half-sung, half-whispered.
This time he was sure it was a knock. Jake looked at his attire. The sweats would do, but he grabbed a violet button-up from earlier and slipped it on, leaving the buttons undone. He went to the door and unhinged the 3 locks.
"Marley," he whispered as soon as his hazel eyes took in her shivering, soaking frame. She looked similar to a month prior, minus the soaked sweater and jeans.
The young woman bit her lip. "Can I come in?"
He glanced outside the door, looking both ways then opened it wider.
"You came alone?" he asked.
She nodded as she began wringing out her wet, auburn hair. He leaned back against the locked door and watched her wander around bulky chairs, a tiny kitchen table, empty pizza boxes, and his large television set. Jake tried to ask what she was doing here at 3 a.m. but he couldn't seem to make his mouth work. The only thing that drew him out of his trance was her shivering.
"Let me get you a change of clothes. I'm sure Sugar's got something in one of her drawers," said Jake.
Marley raised an eyebrow. "She wouldn't mind?"
"She's rarely here," he explained. "Spends too much time at Artie's." Without waiting for an answer, he went to Sugar's tiny room, one she typically kept only as a closet. Jake dug out a pair of pyjamas. He wasn't sure why the flamboyant girl kept a pair of flannel pyjamas around, but they would do.
Marley smiled and Jake swallowed the lump in his throat. "Thanks Jake," she said.
He nodded. "Bathroom is down the hall. First on your right," he muttered.
Once she was gone, Jake exhaled. He ran a hand through his short spikes of hair and looked around the loft. Now what?
'What the hell is she doing here?'
He heard the door creak open. Her bare feet padded across the concrete and he watched her settle beside his guitar. The room settled in a kind of silence Jake only remembered hearing when his father ran out on him. His heart began to ache.
"What are you doing here Marlye?"
"I wanted to visit. Rachel extended an invitation over Facebook and-"
"I don't think she meant now during date night," Jake cut in as he stared at his crossed arms.
Marley blushed. "I didn't want to waste any time. I couldn't get much time off."
Jake watched her shoulders tense as she prattled off excuses. She tried all the other doors but no one was around. She hadn't meant to interrupt him. She was going to book a hotel but she couldn't find any rooms available nearby. She was going to look as soon as she could.
"Where's your suitcase?"
She blinked. "Pardon?"
Jake came around the couch and sat on the coffee table across from his high school sweetheart. "If this was planned, you would have at least brought a backpack with you."
The EMT didn't meet Jake's stare. She wrapped her arms around her waist and got to her feet.
"I should go. I'm sorry I bothered you."
He watched her walk to the door. As her hand landed on the handle, he cleared his throat.
"You realize you're in pyjamas and it's raining, right?"
Her cheeks lit up. He got off the table and turned on the coffee maker. "Pick a movie. Are you hungry?"
Marley shook her head as she scampered back to the couch. Jake grabbed two mugs, the only clean ones left, and waited.
By the time they settled on the couch with their beverages, the opening credits to The Sound of Music were rolling. Jake mentally cringed. He forgot about returning that to Rachel after their last movie night a few days ago. He extended his arm over the back of the couch, almost touching Marley's shoulder.
A flash of lightning highlighted the walls beside them. Marley and Jake jumped in their seats. He settled back and this time his hand brushed against her shoulder. It didn't take long before he found himself in a similar position to when they were dating. His arm made itself comfortable around her waist while her head rested against the expanse of his chest. His heart started fluttering against but he managed to contain his grin.
About halfway through the film, Jake was almost positive Marley was asleep. He tightened his grip around her and wondered if he should let her sleep in his bed or Sugar's.
"Baldwin and I broke up," she muttered.
Jake drew his gaze away from the screen and stared at his ex. Well, that explained why she ended up on his doorstep.
"So you ran away?"
She shrugged. "It's not running away if people know where you are."
Jake withdrew his arm and moved a little further from her.
"Jake," she whispered as she tried to take his hand in hers. He covered it with his mug. "Jake, please don't."
"Don't what?"
"Do this. I didn't come here to get into an argument."
He sighed. "We aren't. You're upset because I know your games."
Her brow furrowed. "What games?"
Jake exhaled quietly. "Don't play stupid, Marley. We know each other too well."
"That's my point Jake, you know me. We loved each other, once. I knew I could come here and I would be safe," she explained.
Jake got off the couch, taking his mug with him. "What changed your mind?"
"What?"
He glared at her. "A month ago you kicked me out of your bed and told me you never wanted to see me again. Now you're here, acting like—like you-"
"Love you?"
"Yes! So what changed?"
Marley relaxed her grip around her waist. Jake waited as the music outside played on.
"I did. I—I went to work the next day and something wasn't right. I tried to figure it out but I didn't realize it until two days ago." She stared up at him. "I didn't know how unprepared I was to live without you until you were really gone for good."
Jake turned away from Marley. He stared out the kitchen window, watching the rain blur the sky lights. How many times had he imagined something like this happening? Now it was here and he didn't know what he was supposed to say.
A scene played out before him. Marley running into his arms. Jake carrying her to bed. Marriage. Children. Old age. Death.
Marley turned away. Jake locking the door behind her. Moving on. Life without her. Old age. Death.
It ended the same way every time. Life would keep going with or without Marley Rose in his life. Jake sighed. Would it be easier this time?
"Do you love me?" he asked.
Marley's eyes welled up with tears. "Yes."
Jake put down his mug and walked back to the couch. He kept half a cushion space between them. "If this doesn't work-"
"I know," she cut in. "I don't want to keep hurting you."
"I don't either."
She nodded. "Promise me something."
Jake hesitantly raised his eyes to meet hers. She flexed her fingers. "You don't get to run away when things get hard. Promise me that."
He nodded. "You need to promise you'll trust me."
"Even when you're being a flirt?"
"Marley, I'm not-" he stopped, sighed, and gave a shake of his head. "That's what I'm talking about." Jake got off the couch and went to his room. Marley followed.
"This counts as running away," she said quietly while leaning against his doorway. Jake propped his legs up on the bed frame and crossed his arms above his head.
"I could list the promises you've broken," he replied. He kept his eyes shut.
Jake heard Marley sigh. "I could too."
"Then why are we doing this?"
She shrugged. "Because it's hard to choose who we love."
"Did you love Baldwin?"
Marley laughed. It was brittle, like dry twigs. She could light this place on fire, if he let her.
"I did."
Jake smirked. "Then ask him to take you back."
"You don't love-"
"No, I do, that's the problem," he said.
Marley came further into the room. He heard her bump into his dresser. The mattress dipped underneath her small frame. "I may have loved Baldwin, but I still love you. It's complicated."
He snorted. "It's really not, Marley."
"How is this so easy for you?" she asked in exasperation, her voice strained. She sounded tired.
Jake opened both his eyes. "Because I already lived through this. Three hundred sixty-five days of it. You can survive mild discomfort." He shut his eyes again. "You've had a hard life. So have I. Us being together isn't going to make it any easier. I want to try again, if you're all in."
Marley didn't reply. She pulled back the wrinkled sheet and crawled in beside him. Thunder crackled, shaking the loft. Jake saw the lightning flicker against his lids. He had yet to breathe.
"Okay," she whispered.
Jake took a deep breath. "Okay." He rolled over, away from Marley and tucked his feet underneath the covers. In minutes, both were asleep.
You have 5 messages.
Jake groaned. His arm flexed around a familiar waist and he buried his nose against the warmth of a smooth neck. With one arm he reached out and smacked the answering machine.
First message: Jake, I know it's your day off, but can you bring my purse to work? Artie and I stayed out later that I thought and I forgot my key. Make sure my concealer is in there!
Next message: Dude, don't forget about lunch today. Britt wants to work on coordinating the reception dance after. See you at Joey's.
The next two were from co-workers asking him to take their shifts. He had already decided to decline all offers of work when Santana's voice invaded the room.
Why aren't you answering the door? Quinn thinks she left her sweater in that nasty place you call home and we need it. Get out of bed! And before I forget, have you seen Puckerman and Berry? Apparently date night is still going on. Text me!
"You certainly are popular on a Wednesday," Marley muttered as her fingers intertwined with his.
Jake sighed. "Unfortunately."
"Besides lunch and helping Sugar, what are you doing today?"
Jake cracked open his eyes. "Whatever we want to. Think you'll come to lunch with me?"
Marley agreed. She sat up and little, causing Jake's arm to fall from her waist. "Would Sugar mind if I stole more clothes?"
Jake chuckled. "Doubt it." He watched her stumble from the room and turn towards Sugar's room. He smiled at her and felt something inside him tremble. This hopefully would not turn into a disaster.
It was soon discovered, after dragging himself from bed, dressing, and shaving, that there was no food in the fridge. Jake's stomach gurgled.
Marley exited the bathroom with her hair wrapped in a towel. She managed to find something of Sugar's that suited her taste, namely a pair of jeans and a bedazzled tank top. She stared at Jake. "What?"
He slammed the fridge shut. "No food. Apparently I forgot all about shopping this week."
She shrugged. "That's okay. Rachel could have something, right?"
He smirked. "If you don't mind a vegan breakfast, sure."
Marley chuckled. "It's better than nothing."
Together with hands joined they descended the flight of stairs. "So when are you heading back to Lima?"
Marley shrugged. "Whenever. I need to get some stuff, but after that I think I'll come back. It's easier to write songs when you have inspiration."
Jake's smile grew. He made no comment though and once they reached the door, he pulled out his key. It took a few minutes to find something remotely tasty, but room enough eggs were on the stove and Jake's belly was being filled with leftover vegan pizza. Despite the lack of flavour, it wasn't completely awful.
Marley had the radio on and she sang along to whatever top 40 single was playing. He watched her sway as she cooked the eggs. In that moment, he realized he hadn't told her he loved her yet. As he opened his mouth, the front door opened.
Jake heard Rachel's giggle first. Next came the couple. Puck's arms pressed his girlfriend's petite body against his while Rachel smothered her laughter against his chest. The remnants of a suit remained on Puck's body. Jake noticed Rachel donned an older dress of cream. The ruffled sleeves and knee-length hem were something Jake recalled her wearing to a performance a while back.
"—still can't believe we did that," Rachel giggled.
"I know babe, it's . . . wow," Puck laughed. Jake watched his brother rest his chin against the crown of Rachel's head. "I'm so happy," he whispered.
Jake cleared his throat. "Hey guys. How was date night?"
Rachel whipped her head around, her loose curls spilling over her back, and gasped. Puck's eyes widened and Jake thought the elder was going to faint.
"It was—wonderful," Rachel stammered. She folded her arms behind her back. Puck kept an arm around her waist.
"Yeah, great," he offered.
Marley and Jake exchanged a curious look. "Are you two okay?" Marley asked.
Rachel bit her rouge lip and stared up at her boyfriend. He looked back at her as Jake waited for one of them to say something.
"We got married," Puck blurted.
"It was amazing!" Rachel added as she flashed the gold band.
"We'll have another ceremony later," said Puck.
"But we didn't want to wait any longer."
"So we just did it," he concluded.
Rachel grinned. "What do you guys think? We haven't told anyone else yet."
The three watched as Jake's eyes rolled back in his head and he proceeded to collapse onto the carpeted floor.
Without missing a beat, Marley smiled at the newlyweds. "Congratulations. When will there be a reception?"
