Disclaimer: I do not own the characters
Author's Note: Sorry about the wait. It was my birthday this week. Anyways, this chapter feels short to me but I will make up for it soon, I promise. Also, I need a new beta for this story and an upcoming Puckurt story, so if you think you fit the bill let me know. Now, this is a little tricky, but the italicized lyrics s Blaine, bold is Artie, underlined is Blaine and Artie, and bold and underlined is all of the guys.
Wednesday after football practice Puck went straight to Hummel Tire & Lube. When he got there Burt had just finished with a car, grease still on his hands and some of coming out from under his cap.
"Mr. Hummel, can I talk to you?" Puck asked as he walked into the garage.
"Puckerman, haven't seen you around here in a while." Burt greeted. "Sure, come on." Burt led them to his office. Instead of taking the seat offered, Puck stayed standing while Burt sat behind his desk. "So, what brings you here?"
"Well, Mr. Hummel-"
"Burt," he corrected.
"Burt," Puck smiled, "this summer you said if I need a job I could have one here, and I'm going to be paying rent soon, so I need a job."
"Your mom is making you pay rent?" Burt asked surprised, then thought to himself that maybe having Kurt and Finn pay rent might not me a bad idea.
"No, no. Um, me, Blaine, and Quinn are looking for apartments," Puck explained.
"I see," Burt said slowly. "Well, I did say you could have a job here, didn't I? So, I'll have Kurt make you a nametag. When can you start?"
"As soon as possible, except I have football and glee, but I can work late." Puck offered.
"Why don't you come by Saturday and we'll work something out." Burt smiled before standing up and holding out his hand.
"Thank you." Puck grinned before shaking the man's hand.
After that he went straight from the garage to the Fabray's. When he got there Quinn answered the door. Even though he knew it was Quinn's house it felt weird to see her there, especially without Blaine. She led him up to her room.
"I've been looking for jobs online. I'm not qualified for half of them, and I would need to get a car to get to the other half." Quinn said as she flopped down on her bed with a sigh. Puck looked around her room, having never seen it before. He noticed something was missing.
"Where's Blaine?" He asked as he took his backpack off.
"He didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"He got an interview at Breadstix. He should be done soon, though." Quinn explained while Puck took a seat at her desk.
"Really? That's awesome. Kurt's dad said I've got the job and to come back on Saturday."
"Great, now I'm the only who needs to find a job" She sighed. She rolled onto her back and pulled her laptop onto her stomach. They sat in silence for a while, the only sound in the room being their breathing and the sound of Quinn typing.
"Quinn, can I ask you something?" Puck asked quietly. She stopped typing and looked over at him.
"Maybe." She answered.
"Last week you said to think about Beth," he started, his voice still quiet and soft. She swallowed nervously. "Do you think about her?"
"Of course I do. What kind of question is that?" Quinn snapped.
"It's just…since we left the hospital we never talked about it."
"There's nothing to talk about." She said coldly as she shut her laptop. "Besides, I didn't know you were one to talk about your feelings."
"I don't want to my feelings, I want to talk about my daughter." Puck snapped, finally raising his voice as he got to his feet. Quinn brought Kenya onto her lap and started stroking his ear.
"What do you want me to say?" Quinn asked quietly, choosing to stare at the stuffed animal instead of Puck. "Of course I think about her. I think about what she might look like. Is she walking yet? Is she talking yet? What was she for Halloween last year? What is she going to be for Halloween this year? " She sniffled. "I think about her every day. Some days are worse than others. Sometimes I just want to hold her and sing to her, but I can't. We can't." She hugged the stuffed animal to her chest. "D-do you think about her?"
"Every day," Puck admitted. "Have you talked to Shelby?"
"No. Have you?"
"I did, at the beginning of this summer. She sent me a picture of her," Puck told her. She finally looked up at him.
"You have a picture?" She asked quietly. He nodded. "Can I see it?"
"It's at my house, but I can bring it over tomorrow."
"Please."
Puck nodded at her request and sat down on the bed next to her. She laid her head on his shoulder and he scooted closer. Suddenly the door opened and an excited Blaine walked in.
"Q, I think-" Blaine started in. He stopped when he saw Quinn and Puck cuddled on the bed. Quinn quickly jumped off the bed. "Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting? I could go back-"
"No, no," Quinn quickly protested while wiping her eyes. She motioned for him to come hug her and he did so quickly. She hugged him tightly. "Keep it. Please keep it," Quinn whispered quietly to him.
"I am," Blaine assured her softly. "I am."
"Maybe I should leave," Puck joked, trying to lighten the mood. Quinn smiled as she broke the hug.
"What were you saying when you came in?" Quinn asked Blaine.
"Just, I think the interview went really well."
"Awesome." Puck congratulated. Quinn patted Blaine's arm. "Burt said I've got the job."
"Great," Blaine smiled. "How are you doing?" Blaine asked Quinn. She just sighed and went to go sit on her bed. "Not that good I'm guessing."
"I don't know what I'm going to do," she whined as Blaine went to sit next to her, Puck going back to sit on her desk.
"You'll find something." Blaine assured her.
The three of them were supposed to spend the rest of the night looking for a place, but instead Quinn spent her time looking for a job and texting Artie while Puck gave Blaine his first guitar lesson.
When Burt got home he was greeted by his wife who was just leaving to work the graveyard shift at the hospital. She told him there were leftovers in the fridge before giving him a kiss and taking off. He walked into the living room to find Finn sitting on the couch watching TV, looking half dead and almost asleep. Burt greeted him before going to check on the food in the kitchen. He put the leftovers in the oven and set the timer for a half hour before going up to check on Kurt.
When he got upstairs he heard music coming from Kurt's room. He smiled to himself as he knocked on his door.
"Go away, Finn," Kurt yelled through the door.
"It's me," Burt corrected.
"Come in."
Burt opened the door to find Kurt lying on flat on his back on his bed with his laptop next to him, his lights turned down low. Kurt didn't bother to look at his father as he entered his room.
"You alright buddy?" Burt asked. Kurt made a weak affirming sound. "Well, do you think you could make the Puckerman kid a nametag?"
"What? Why?"
"He's going to be working down at the garage."
"Oh." Kurt commented, uninterested.
"Yeah, he said something about moving in with Blaine." Burt informed him. Kurt turned to his dad then.
"What?"
"Yeah, them and the Fabray girl are looking for places apparently. That's why he wants a job. Do you know anything about this?"
"I…no, I-" Kurt sputtered as he sat up.
"Cause I'm worried about Blaine. I don't think he's doing that good. Has he said anything to you?"
"No. We don't really talk anymore," Kurt told his father, his voice quiet. He almost felt ashamed of himself.
"What happened to you two? I remembered when you cried because he liked some kid at Gap, and then you break up with him out of nowhere, and now you don't even talk?" Burt asked concerned as he stepped closer to Kurt's bed. At that moment Finn was walking upstairs. When he heard the two talking, he stopped just before Kurt's door. "Kurt, are you dating someone? 'Cause I've thought about it, and that's has got to be the only reason why Blaine would be crying outside of our house."
"He was crying outside of our house?"
"Don't change the subject. Are you dating someone?" Burt asked sternly. Finn bit his lip, nervous about Kurt's answer. They had talked about telling their parents about their relationship, but decided to wait till after graduation.
"I…I'm dating someone, yes." Kurt confessed, looking in his lap. Finn put his hand to his face, trying to suppress his rage. Kurt really didn't want to lie to his dad, but he also wanted to protect his relationship with Finn.
"Who is it?"
"He…I-I can't tell you, he's not out yet." Kurt stuttered out.
"How long have you been seeing him?"
"F-for a while. Dad I don't want to talk about this."
"Does he treat you right?" Burt continued to question.
"He does. He keeps me safe." Kurt said, nodding.
"Alright," Burt sighed, "I'll let you rest. I love you."
"I love you too dad."
Burt smiled at his son before exiting the room, closing his door on the way out. Finn, being Finn, didn't think quick enough to leave the hallway when he heard the conversation coming to the end, so when Burt turned to go downstairs he came face to face with him.
"Hey Burt." Finn greeted awkwardly.
"Were you listening us?" Burt asked.
"What?" Finn tried to stall to think of a lie.
"Do you know who his boyfriend is?" Burt asked Finn. Scared, Finn swallowed his words, instead just nodding. "You watch out for your brother, okay?"
"Of course." Finn answered seriously. Burt smiled at him and clasped his shoulder before going downstairs to check on his food.
The week passed quickly for Blaine. Every night Puck could be found at Quinn's house, either helping looking for jobs for Quinn and apartments, or teaching Blaine how to play guitar and just jamming with him. Blaine couldn't remember the last time he had been so happy. Before he was kicked out his parents would get mad if he played his keyboard too loud, now Ms. Fabray and Quinn either let them be or come in and watch them. At first Ms. Fabray was cold to Puck, but once he turned on his charm she warmed up to him.
Friday after school the glee boys decided to get together to work on their mash-up. On the way from his locker to the choir room Blaine saw Kurt get slushied. He bit his lip to fight his smile and went on his way. When he entered the room Finn was sitting at the drums while Puck was sitting in the first row with his guitar. Eventually Artie and Mike showed up. A half hour passed and Kurt had still not shown up.
"Where is he?" Puck asked Finn.
"I don't know. He won't answer his phone." Finn answered.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Artie asked.
"We could play a song." Blaine suggested.
"We can't practice without Kurt." Mike protested.
"Not our performance, just like, a random song. Me and Puck have been working on something."
"Is it something I can dance to?" Mike asked.
"Maybe. You want to help me out on the vocals, Artie?"
"You know it." Artie agreed.
Blaine smiled and walked towards the piano as the music started.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na,
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Somewhere inside me, Something is hiding, Something I never knew
If I'm open and honest, Keeping my promise, Someday I'll see this through
I can't hear anything, Listening, I'm listening
I need the space to move, Breaking through to something new
I need the chance to feel something real, something real
Everything I know is spinning out of control
So, so, so tell me where do we go
There is a burning that's inside of my soul, and it shows
We all want something more than just a simple life
Hey, hey, so give me something to say
I had the words but then I through 'em away, and you know
We all want something more than just a simple life
If I walk in a straight line, Wait for the right time, How can I know for sure?
They'll tell you how to get by, Just put your life on standby
And in the end you hope that you were right
I can't hear anything, Listening, I'm listening
I need the space to move, Breaking through to something new
I need the chance to feel something real, something real
Everything I know is spinning out of control
So, so, so tell me where do we go
There is a burning that's inside of my soul, and it shows
We all want something more than just a simple life
Hey, hey, so give me something to say
I had the words but then I through 'em away, and you know
We all want something more than just a simple life
So believe what you want, No, you're not who you thought
The more you fake the harder you fall
So, so, so tell me where do we go
There is a burning inside of my soul, and it shows
We all want something more than just a simple life
Hey, hey, so give me something to say
I wanted nothing and I gave it all, gave it all away
We all want something more than just a simple life
So, so, so tell me where do we go
There is a burning inside of my soul, and it shows
We all want something more than just a simple life
Hey, hey, so give me something to say
I wanted nothing and I gave it all, gave it all away
We all want something more than just a simple life
We all want something more than just a simple life
We all want something more than just a simple life
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na,
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na,
Na, na,
Yeah, yeah, Yeah, yeah
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na,
Na, na, na,
When they finished they were all smiles. Suddenly Finn's phone went off silencing everyone. Puck set his guitar down and went to sit with Blaine on the piano bench.
"That was awesome."
"I know. We rocked." Blaine smiled wide at him.
"Maybe next time you could play guitar."
"Oh, no. I'm not there yet."
"You will be soon. You're already pretty awesome at it."
"Thank you." Blaine said with a small smile, looking bashfully down at his lap. He felt his face heat up a slightly. Puck just bit his lip and kept his eyes on Blaine.
"Hey guys," Finn said loudly to the room, breaking them out of their bubble, "That was Kurt. I guess he got slushied and went home. Do you guys coming over tomorrow night to work on the performance?" Finn asked. Everyone kind of looked at Blaine. "I know it might be inconvenient, but the performance is Monday and we don't have any choreography."
"It's fine with me." Blaine chipped in. The rest of the guys begrudgingly agreed.
"Hey, me and Artie are going to get something to eat. You wanna come?" Puck asked Blaine after everyone packed up.
"No, it's okay. I think I'm going to go spy on the girls and wait for Quinn."
"If you change your mind let us know." Puck nodded at him before leaving the room with Artie. Blaine made his way to the auditorium, only making it down the hall before hearing his name.
"Blaine," someone called out. He turned around to see Finn jogging towards him. "Hey," Finn smiled at him when he caught up to him. "I know you probably hate me or whatever, b-but I need your help." Finn said, scratching the back of his neck. Blaine just blinked up at him. "It's about Kurt. Since Monday he won't talk to me or look at him. He's locked himself in his room every night this week. I don't know what to do. Was he ever like that with you? I mean, with Rachael I couldn't get her to not talk, so I know how to deal with that, but I don't know how to deal with complete silence. Especially when I didn't do anything." Blaine couldn't believe what he was hearing. He didn't want to believe that when Finn finally chose to talk to him that it would be about how to help him with Kurt. Blaine sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. "I know you hate me, I know, but I need your help. I can't screw this up." Finn pleaded. Blaine bit his lip and nodded.
"Alright. You need to get him some white roses and sing him a song. You play guitar too, right?" Blaine checked. Finn nodded eagerly. "Play him a song. Remind him…remind him you love him."
"Thank you." Finn smiled as he scooped Blaine into a hug. He quickly realized what he was doing and set Blaine down. "Sorry, but thank you." He smiled before turning and running back down the hall.
Blaine closed his eyes and fell against the locker.
"It'll get easier. It'll get better. Baby will come and everything will be alright," Blaine whispered repeatedly to himself as he stroked his stomach, willing any building tears to stop.
That night he lay in his bed, Quinn cuddled up behind him with her hand on his stomach.
"I have to go to Kurt's tomorrow to work on the performance." Blaine told her quietly. "I don't want to but I have to."
"Puck and Artie will be there so it won't be too bad." Quinn assured him. "You know, when we move with Puck he's going to find out that you're pregnant. Especially since you're keeping it."
"Can't we just not tell him?" Blaine whined.
"How are you going to explain the baby?"
"I could say I found it. Like, behind Breadstix or something, and that it was so cute I decided to adopt it and raise it as my own."
"B, I know Puck isn't the smartest guy, but I think he'll see through that."
"I'll just…I'll tell him. Just…not anytime soon."
"B," Quinn warned sternly.
"Fine, sometime soon. It's just, what if he freaks out and tells everyone? What if he won't want to move in with us anymore?" Blaine worried aloud. "What if he won't want to hang out with me anymore?" He asked, that question quieter than the rest.
"He's not like that. He'll understand. I promise."
"Pink promise, Q?" He asked with a small mile and held his pinky out.
"Pinky promise, B."
The next morning Blaine woke up to Quinn shaking him.
"Wha-what?" Blaine mumbled as he opened his eyes to see a blurry Quinn.
"I'm going to the drug store, do you need anything?" She asked softly.
"Why are you going to the drugstore?" He asked, wiping some sleep from his eyes.
"It's…that time of the month." She tried to explain.
"The middle?" Blaine tried.
"No. It's my girl time." She tried again.
"The girls are coming over?" He asked, confused.
"No. My aunt Flo is visiting." She said, getting annoyed.
"Does she need my room? I can sleep on the couch."
"I started my period." She snapped.
"Oh."
"Yeah, so do you need anything?"
"No. I'm good. Thank you, though." Blaine smiled softly at her. She patted his head and left him to sleep. Just as he was about to fall asleep his phone went off. He groaned and rolled over to check who was calling him. The name 'Puck' flashed across the screen. He smiled sleepily and answered. "Hello?"
"Hey. I'm going down to the garage soon and I was wondering if you wanted to get some breakfast." Puck offered.
"What time is it?" Blaine asked as he sat up.
"Like, almost nine. Did I wake you up? I'm surprised you're not up already up, prep school."
"Yeah, yeah." Blaine shook the joke off. He really hoped that Puck wouldn't start calling him that all the time. "What kind of breakfast are you thinking of?"
"I was thinking waffles." Puck suggested. Blaine made a strangled moan.
"That sounds so good. Yeah, I'm in." Blaine agreed.
They decided Blaine would pick Puck up, drop him off at the garage and then later pick him up to go practice at Kurt and Finn's. Blaine went against his usual clothing choices and decided to wear a pair of old Dalton sweat pants from a PE class he'd like to forget and a black V-neck. He sent a quick text to Quinn telling her where he'd be, grabbed his keys, and was off.
They found a diner not too far from the garage. The waitress took their orders before they even opened their menus, both ordering waffles and a side of hash browns. Blaine ordered orange juice while Puck ordered a Coke. Their conversation remained light while they ate, Puck talking about football and how he's thinking of quitting and Blaine talking about how he's worried about Quinn's job search and how she's scared to commit to Artie. Puck cringed as Blaine ordering a side of sour cream to put on his waffle, but Blaine just ignored him and happily kept eating.
"Are you going to be okay tonight?" Puck asked in a more serious tone near the end of their meal. "I'm sure the guys would understand if you didn't want to go."
"No. It's okay. I'm sure it'll be fine. I mean, I have to face them sometime, and sooner is better than later, right?" Blaine reasoned. Puck nodded and finished his waffle.
"Thank you for coming to breakfast with me. I asked Sam but apparently he's got plans with Santana and Brittany, and I know not to disturb plans like that." Puck smirked. Blaine just shook his head at his and went to grab his wallet. Puck quickly stopped him. "Don't worry about it."
"Really?"
"Of course. I mean, I did drag you out of bed and am making you drive me around." Puck said as he pulled some bills out of his wallet. Blaine smiled at him.
"Thank you."
Burt was working near the front of the garage when he saw Blaine's car pull up. He grabbed a towel to wipe his hands on before walking out to see what was going on. When he got close enough to the car he saw Puck in Blaine's passenger seat. He walked up to the parked car as Puck got out.
"You can go wait in my office," he told Puck. "I'll be there in a second." Blaine rolled down his window as Burt leaned down.
"Hello Mr. Hummel," Blaine greeted. Burt made a face at him. "Burt," Blaine corrected.
"What's this I hear about you and Puckerman looking for apartments?" Burt asked.
"Yep." Blaine confirmed.
"Aren't you a little young for that?" Burt asked, his voice only giving away a sliver of his concern.
"I kind of don't have a choice anymore." Blaine said kind of quietly. Burt kept staring at him, waiting for an explanation. "My…my dad kicked me, and I've been living with Quinn, but I know I can't do that forever."
"You know if you need a place to stay my door is always open." Burt offered. Blaine smiled genuinely at him.
"I know, but I don't think that would be such a good idea." Blaine said. Burt looked at him skeptically but finally smiled at him.
"Just promise me that if you need anything, and I mean anything, that'll you'll call me, okay kid?"
"Of course." Blaine smiled up at him.
"I'll see you later." Burt said as he patted the top of the car. Blaine said his goodbye before heading back to Quinn's and taking a nap.
When Blaine went to pick up Puck he was nervous. He really didn't want to go to Kurt and Finn's and see if Finn had followed through with the roses, but he couldn't let the boys down. He got to the garage a half hour early and sat in his car, throwing around ideas of how he could tell Burt when the time came. He knew he couldn't sing it to Burt, but he also knew he wasn't the best with words. He thought maybe a letter would be good, but then immediately disagreed with himself. Before he knew it Puck was getting into his car, oil smudged on his face and head.
"Good news," Puck said as he shut the door, "we don't have to go to practice tonight."
"What? Why?" Blaine asked surprised.
"I might have let it slip that Finn and Kurt are together." Puck confessed, wincing at his own stupidity.
"What?"
"Yeah, that reminds me, can I stay at your house tonight?" Puck asked. "You know, incase Finn or Kurt tries to kill me."
"Um, I'll have to ask Quinn," Blaine said as he started his car, "but I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Awesome." Puck smiled. "Are you hungry? 'Cause I'm starving."
They got some Jack in the Box on the way home, Blaine getting some extra tacos incase Quinn wanted some. When they got to the house they went to eat in Quinn's room so they could also watch TV. A half hour after they got back Quinn walked into her room to see the boys lying in her bed, Puck sleeping with Kenya clutched to his chest.
"It must be my lucky day." Quinn joked as she pushed Blaine over to lie on the bed herself.
"And where were you all day, Q?" Blaine teased, trying not to focus on how warm Puck felt.
"Well, when I saw that the motel down the street from the drugstore was hiring front desk people I went to apply. Then I saw there were apartments across the street from the motel, so I went to check them out. They seemed nice, and in our price range." Quinn explained. "Then Artie called so I hung out with him all day."
"Sounds nice. We should check them out tomorrow." Blaine suggested. "By the way, can Puck sleep over?"
"As long as he makes breakfast." Quinn joked.
Author's Note: I'm not too happy with this chapter, but I'm excited for the stuff coming up for the kids in this story. Along with a beta I need someone who knows about high school football, so if that's you please contact me. Also, for anyone worried about Kurt being out of character in the last chapter, just remember him getting the boy of his dreams and having his bullying be minimized down to just getting slushied might boost his ego quiet a bit. Anyways, what did you think of this chapter? Tell me what you like or didn't like about this chapter so I can make better ones in the future! And in case you were wondering, the stuffed animals Kenya and Canada are real stuffed animals that I own and love, except Keyna's real name is Dylon.
Song List:
Simple Life - My Favorite Highway