Love is Only a Feeling
Talk
"Who is that?" Kurt Hummel's girlish squeal was directed towards diva extraordinaire Mercedes.
"I don't know but sister's got attitude!" Mercedes and Kurt had overheard Riley taking away what little self esteem Karofsky had. The glamour pair could not deny the witty manner of the girl. Even the way she walked with her head held high and a smug look was admirable as Puck lead her outside. Wait a minute!
"Oh, hell no! Puck is not getting to her before we do! We saw her first and clearly she belongs with us bitches!" Mercedes wasn't about to let sass like that walk away with Noah Puckerman.
"Come on! We have to follow them and stop the seducing!" Of course Kurt had come to the conclusion that Puck was going to get in this girl's pants and leave her with no more of her whimsical demeanor. Kurt was fully prepared to throw a bitch fit if Puck took his new muse.
"You do realize that Jennifer Hudson and Elton John are following us, don't you?" Riley was referring to Kurt and Mercedes not so sneaky persecution. Sure enough, Puck turned around to see a sequined fedora peeking up from behind a garbage can.
Fuck. Why can't these two just mind their own business? Ok, I have to find a way to get rid of them. These were Puck's thoughts as he and Riley cut through the boy's locker room. He was well aware of the fact that the room was too dirty and smelly for Kurt and Mercedes to venture near. He snuck back behind the building and around to the top right corner of the bleachers, where they could talk and not be bothered. It was a windy day and no one was going to come up there and risk hypothermia. No one; with exception of Puck who would do anything to get some alone time with Riley. He knew she would be able to handle it because she was from New York.
"Ok, explanation. Please." Puck was so anxious, and cold, that he couldn't even manage full sentences. Riley snuggled close to him, resting her head on his chest. She could hear his heart racing and she tried to hide a little half smile.
"Well, like I said, my birthday is next week. We always had this plan, my parents and I. I would take a year off after I graduated high school instead of going straight into college. During that year we would go backpacking through Europe. You know, play hobo for a few months. Sleep on dirty benches, sneak onto trains, go days without showers, all that good stuff. We were supposed to set off on my 19th birthday. Well, my birthday's around the corner and here I am on a cold bleacher in Lima freaking Ohio with no parents and no plans." She clearly wasn't happy about the situation but she wasn't sad either. She was more pissed off than anything.
"I still don't understand. Why are you here? Why aren't you at school?" So many years had gone by that Puck had even spoken to Riley and now she showed up out of the blue because she wasn't having a fucking birthday party.
Riley laughed. "Noah, I dropped out of high school the day I turned 16. College just wasn't a priority after my parents died." Puck was astounded at how nonchalant she sounded. "When Clark's family took me in they basically told me they didn't give a shit about what I did. So, I dropped out and Clark has been helping me run my parents art studio ever since. It's all going really well. I live in the flat just above the studio and we get a lot of… interesting artists coming in to use the studio. It's all very "Factory Girl"; without all the drugs and disease and porn and whatnot."
This still doesn't make any sense at all, thought Puck. It's not that I'm not happy to see her. It's just been so long. I have changed so much and I don't know what she'll think of me. Holy shit! She's gonna hate me! I'm "that guy"! That douche-bag we used to always make fun of! Oh man! Why did she have to come here? Why did she want to see me? Things were so fucking awkward when I left New York!
"If things are so la-de-fuckin'-da in New York, why aren't you back there? Why isn't Clark comforting you?" Puck didn't even bother trying to hide the annoyance in his voice. Clark had been Riley's friend long before he had but he still hated the guy. Clark didn't deserve Riley. They fought all the time and yet Riley still considers him her best friend. She even moved in with him after her parents died in that car accident four years ago!
Riley suddenly became very serious; which was never a good sign because Riley was rarely serious. "Noah, four years ago you were just a 13 year old kid on vacation in New York. I was a traumatized 14 year old whose parents had just died. Clark was an asshole. He went skiing in Canada! He wasn't there for me four years ago when I really needed someone, you were. I barely knew you and we spent the whole summer together while you comforted me. It may not seem like it but I'm going through a hard time right now. I'm supposed to be over packing as we speak, but I'm not!" She was beginning to go into hysterics, "Now I need someone to console me so I don't break down and cry and I'll just fight with Clark and I know you can be there for me and so I just wanted to come and see you so I can feel a little better about being an orphan at 19 fucking years old!" She was just ranting now.
Puck knew he had to take care of her. After all, he couldn't deny that he still loved her. "Okay, you can stay with me as long as you like. I'll always be here for you." He pulled Riley in close and wrapped his arms around her. He could smell the coconut shampoo she had always used as he nestled is face in her bright red hair.
"Thanks!" was all Riley had to say. She was suddenly very cheery and there wasn't a single tear on her face. She leaned up, gave him a peck on the cheek, and smiled. Puck knew that smile. Oh my god, she just manipulated me. Damn, I fell for it again!
So that's chapter two. I didn't have a lot of time to write it but I wanted to get it all down before I forgot; so, it's a little rushed and crammed which you can probably tell. Anyway, hope you like it and please review!