Chapter Ten

Adam POV

I sat outside the principle's office, trying to keep calm and not flip out and punch a wall (which is honestly what like doing). I had never seen Jake that furious before and I'll admit it scared me, but seeing his hurt and teary eyes made my fear instantly disappear. Jake was my friend and I really cared about him, which meant that whatever had caused Jake to attack Blaine I knew it must have been provoked and I just needed to know he was okay. Blaine had been milking the victim card so much it was officially sour and I have been stuck here for the last thirty-five minutes giving my account of what happened, which should have lasted ten minutes but I've been ordered to sit here until Figgins says I can leave.

Fucking brilliant.

I pulled out my phone and dialled Jake's number, putting the phone to my ear and prying that he'll pick up. Come on, Jake… please just tell me you're okay. I'd run after him out of the school to try and call him back and calm him, but I'd lost him on the main road. He could be anywhere now. God, I hope he hasn't done anything stupid.

Pick up, pick up, pick up…

Nothing. It just went straight to voicemail.

"Hey,"

I turned and glared daggers at Blaine as he sat down next to me, sighing heavily as if he had the wait of the world on his shoulders and it was obvious he was proud of possibly getting Jake suspended.

"Don't talk to me like we're mates." I said shortly, not even wanting to look at him or listen to his bullshit excuses.

"Hey, I'm the victim here," Blaine protested innocently "your ghetto trash buddy attacked me for no reason-"

"Don't talk about him like that!"

I turned and glared so fiercely at him, that his words faltered and I was sincerely tempted to add a few more bruises on his face from yours truly. Jake was not trash, he was one of the most genuine people I knew and he was a much more real person than King Shallow over here.

Blaine shrugged and I seriously wanted to punch that smirk off his face, he was such a prick!

"You into him?" Blaine asked and I stared at him in confusion, making him roll his eyes "come on dude, I know you play for the same team and it's okay. Actually, I think we could make a pretty good couple and I like mixing with a bit of culture."

My stomach dropped to the floor and fear filled my insides at the thought of Blaine figuring out my secret, but that was instantly replaced by anger at his creepy comment about us being a thing. Did he actually think he was being charming by acting like a twat, treating everyone like they were beneath him and talking to people like they're a piece of crap? He's pathetic, how he has not been punched before today I'll never know.

I would rather drown myself in a river full of dog shit than go out with you,

I thought bitterly.

"Ooh, that's harsh." Blaine smirked and I suddenly realised I'd said that last comment aloud, but I simply glared at him. I'd had enough of this!

"What did you say to Jake?" I demanded and Blaine just raised an eyebrow "I know you said something to make me react like that, what did you do?"

"I gave him some home truths about his sad existence," Blaine shrugged nonchalantly and I swear I never hated someone so much as I did now "I guess the truth hurts, doesn't it?"

"You arrogant arsehole!" I said angrily, causing the receptionist to jump with fright "Jake Puckerman is more of a man than you'll ever be! If you want to see someone with a said existence, look in the fucking mirror!"

Blaine's face fell into shock, but I ignored him and just wanted to get out of this bloody school!

I grabbed my rucksack off the floor by my feet and stood up, slinging it over my shoulder as I stormed out of the room and into the pack corridor that was filled with students.

I had one thought in my mind: find Jake.

But that mastermind plan went to hell as I marched out of the school entrance and walked straight into Dad, who frowned at me as he caught my arm and stopped me from going anywhere.

"You. Home. Now." Dad said sternly. It's hard to believe he's an English teacher, the man can't even put a sentence together.

"Yeah I will," I said firmly, pulling out of my dad's grasp "I just have to find Jake first."

"No, I heard what happened with that Anderson boy and I'm telling you you're not going anywhere near that Jacob!" Dad said seriously, frowning and I stared at him in disbelief.

Seriously? Dad was making Jake sound like a violent thug who would beat up anyone without stopping to think about it, why was I the only one at this stupid school who was fighting Jake's corner? He wasn't the disruptive teenager who beats the shit out of his classmates that everyone thought he was, he was a good guy and a good friend. Why can't these idiots see that?!

"I'm not- oi, get off!"

Dad grabbed my arm and dragged me to the car, stopping at the passenger side and glaring at me.

"Either you get in now, or I throw you in," Dad ordered "because I'm not allowing you within sniffing distance of Jacob, do you understand?"

Look who's finally gone from good cop to bad cop, I actually wanted to just flip him the finger and storm off and at the same time I knew the repercussions wouldn't be worth it. I heaved a deep sigh, before reluctantly getting into the car and slamming the door behind me.

As Dad locked the door (Jesus, the man has such little faith in me), I quickly sent Jake a text before Dad got into the car:

Me: Jake, please just let me know you're safe mate. Call or text me, I don't give a shit… just let me know you're okay because I'm worried about you.

Jake POV

Tap, tap, tap.

Throwing stones was a bitch, especially when a part of you is shitting it knowing that you might be knocking on the wrong window. The fact that it was midnight and I was freezing my ass off wasn't helping the situation at all. I'd spent all day just wondering around town, not really caring where I was going or what I was going to do. After all, no one really gave a crap about me right?

Wrong. Big time.

Twelve missed calls and a text that was short but seriously tugged at my heartstrings (crap, did I just admit that?) and my mind was cleared blank of Blaine's verbal attack and Mr Shue's disapproving look, it was all focused on Adam. Guilt filled me as I listened to Adam's voicemail, tears stinging my eyes and I actually stopped in the middle of a shopping mall to listen (yep, I was wondering around the mall and I have no interest in shopping… I never had, that's a girl's thing) and each one was filled with similar messages. The boy was worried sick about me and wanted to know I was okay.

The fact that he seriously was showing concern for me and was genuine put me on cloud night, I would've been the same if this situation was visa versa.

I needed to see him, hold him, look into those beautiful green eyes and just…

Ugh! Shut up! He's your buddy, that's it!

I was seriously starting to sound like a pussy whipped dude, which is never going to happen (hello, I'm a Puckerman!) but I needed to see him and explain myself.

Slight problem - I had no money, my phone chose that moment to die and that left me with one alternative… walking.

So now I've sort of filled you in as to why I'm standing outside Adam's window recreating that scene from Romeo & Juliet in the dead of night and I prayed to Buda that Adam was awake, because if he wasn't and his dad caught me… the phrase dead man walking would fit that scenario nicely.

I threw another pebble and it hit the window with a much louder clunk and I winced, thank god I didn't smash it.

There was movement behind the curtains and the window was pulled open, to my relief it was the guy I'd been looking for and his eyes widening in shock when he saw me.

"Jake!" Adam whispered loudly, the alarm in his voice making me grin, his voice was so sexy when he talked like that "what are you doing here?"

"To see you." I answered simply shrugging, my hurt and angry feelings vanishing when I saw Adam. He always had that effect on me and I have to admit, I was starting to really like it "back up, I'm coming up."

I turned to the tree nearest the house and started climbing the branches, glad that my years of climbing tress as a kid had finally come in handle. Adam looked at me in exasperation mixed with fear as he moved back from the window when I reached the tallest branch and swung my legs in. Once my feet hit the wooden floor, I stumbled and nearly fell if it wasn't for Adam grabbing my waist and steadying me on my feet.

"You bloody idiot!" Adam hissed and I sniggered, secretly enjoying the way his hands felt on my waist and I pulled him into a hug, breathing in his natural scent and closing my eyes as I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for today, Adam" I whispered softly into his neck and I felt his body relax in my arms as he returned the embrace, I pulled back slightly and chuckled when I noticed he was wearing a plain white T-shirt and black pyjama bottoms "cute PJs, they suit you."

Even in the dim light from the lamp on the beside table, I could see Adam blushing clearly and my mood got much more cheerful.

"I usually just wear boxers," Adam said firmly, pulling away from my arms and sitting on the bed "this is a rare occasion."

"I'm glad to have seen it then," I grinned at Adam as I sat next to him, trying not to fantasise about Adam in bed only wearing boxer briefs (danger zone, DON'T GO THERE!) and keep my mind on the conversation at hand "I really am sorry though. I know I scared you… being like that…"

The shame of knowing I had scared Adam when I started beating up Anderson return in all it's glory and I avoided his bright green eyes, just looking at my bruised knuckles on my lap.

There was a small silence where I bit my lower lip nervously, knowing that Adam was probably disgusted with my behaviour (hell, so was I) and that's why I was shocked senseless when he took hold of my hand in his, his thumb gently stroking my bruised knuckles.

"I'm never gonna agree with beating someone up," Adam said firmly and I looked up to see a small smile curving his lips "but I know you and I know you wouldn't hurt anyone unless you were pushed to your limit, but the teachers don't and you need to explain that to them."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes in exasperation, shaking my head at Adam. Those teachers hated my guts and they've wanted me out for months, well they've finally got something they could use to throw me out.

"Adam, they've wanted to kick me out for months and now they've got the best excuse ever," I told Adam gently, entwining my fingers in his… I wasn't ready to let go yet "I'm done for. Simple as."

Adam shook his head defiantly and the determined look on his face made him look hot, which made me grin at his serious expression.

"If you explain what happened and why you were arguing-" Adam began, but I shook my head firmly and he looked at me in confusion.

How the fuck could I tell the principle that I was fighting with Anderson because he was talking smack about the guy I had feelings for? My reputation would be destroyed and I'll be labelled a faggot and for what? To finish my junior year at that dump? Hell no!

"I can't tell them." I said shortly and Adam frowned at me, his confusion intensifying.

"Why?" he asked warily "what happened?"

Okay, moment of truth (literally), I could lie to the teachers, my mom, my half-brother and even my friends… but I couldn't lie to Adam. Whatever these feelings were, they weren't disappearing they were becoming stronger and it was getting harder and harder to ignore. Adam had this effect on me, I found everything from his looks to his personality attractive and when I'm with him he makes me want to be a better person. No one ever looked at me the way he did and I had to accept, my feelings were more than friendship. I took a deep breath and looked Adam squarely in the eyes, time to man up and take whatever happens next full on.

"You." I said gently, but Adam still looked confused and another deep calming breath "he started on me because he knows I like you and he wanted to torment me with it, till I snapped and punched him…"

I could see that Adam was trying to justify the "like you" as I sign of friendship, but there was no way to see a second meaning in my statement and his eyes widened with understanding.

"Err…" he started, but I was on a roll and couldn't stop myself.

"I don't know what this is between us, but I really like you, Adam." I said softly, moving to sit closer to him and looking at him with nothing but sincerity in my eyes "I'm not trying to mess with your head and I'm not playing a joke, I'm being completely honest."

Adam seemed lost for words, his mouth open slightly in shock as he struggled to find words and nothing came out. In an attempt to calm him, I cupped the side of his face with my hand that wasn't holding his hand and gently stroked his cheek while staring at those beautifully kissable lips.

My touch seemed to bring Adam out of his daze and he finally stammered a response.

"Jake… please think about this?"

I shook my head, not having the right words to say what I felt and just gazing into his green eyes. In that moment, I stopped worrying about what the rest of the world might think and I just knew that Adam was what mattered. I moved my face closer to Adam's feeling his breath quicken as our lips were mere inches apart and I gave him plenty of time to pull back or tell me to fuck off.

He didn't though and I knew that was him giving me permission. I gently put my hand behind his neck and pulled him close, pressing my lips against his incredibly soft ones.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter (it's finally getting into the romantic storyline lol and I hope I did this chapter justice)

As always, a review is greatly appreciated because I love getting the feedback from you awesome readers and hearing what your thoughts are of this story. :)

Thanks again and unti next time ;)

P.S. A Timeless Love will be the next fanfic to be updated