Okay, I guess I've got some explaining to do.
1. I'M REALLY SORRY TO ANYONE WHO WAS GENUINELY INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN THIS STORY. I had major exams, and I just got kinda crazy busy all of a sudden. I'm really grateful to everyone who continued to review, and I hope you'll consider carrying on reading.
2. I WAS A TINY BIT STUCK FOR IDEAS, SO I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO SUGGESTED NEW PLOT TURNS AND TWISTS FOR ME TO INCLUDE.
3. I PLAN ON CONTINUING THIS RIGHT THROUGH QUINN'S DAYS AT YALE, AND I HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT LATER CHAPTERS.
Once again, I'm very sorry for the EXTREMELY late update, and I hope this long chapter will make up for it!
After a thorough applause from everyone in the park, which was a very large crowd, Puck and Quinn decided it was time to show the world they were a real couple.
They walked hand in hand for hours, and every so often when Quinn had the urge to bring up his departure, she would push the excruciating thought from her mind and live in the moment. They got ice-cream, shared, of course. Puck even formally introduced Quinn to one of his friends when they ran into him along the street. It gave Quinn butterflies when she was referred as Puck's girlfriend.
Several hours later, Puck and Quinn wound up on his apartment's roof with his guitar, a bottle of wine and a blanket. He sat behind her, his strong arms wrapped round her, feeling like the most protective thing ever.
They wanted to watch the sunset together, which was surely arriving any minute.
"Want the last drop?" Quinn asked as she removed her lips from the wine bottle.
"No, I'll let you polish off the whole bottle." He smiled. "Although, you are still underage." He quickly swiped the bottle from her and finished the bottle.
"Puck," She began softly after a long silence. He recognised her tone and stopped her.
"Don't. Please, don't say it."
"Say what?"
"That you're gonna miss me. That you don't want me to leave. That you can't bear this time without me. I just… I can't hear it again."
She understood. It pained her inside when she mentioned it, and she didn't know why she did keep bringing it up. She assumed that the more familiar she became with the situation, the better she'd handle it. That wasn't the case though.
"But," She started.
"Dance with me." He stood up, pulling her with him. Every time he heard her throat catch like that, he had to stop her. He knew when she was close to tears, so he stopped her.
"What?"
"Dance with me while the sun sets."
"C'mon, how cheesy is that?" She whined as he positioned her hands on his shoulder and in his other hand. "And there's no music anyway,"
"Sing with me then."
I remember when you lost your head
Sometimes I wonder how you stay so sad when you're so beautiful
And I remember every word you said
How you were scared because you never been somewhere so beautiful, so beautiful
She blushed as he twirled her. As he did, the sunset captured her face perfectly, the orange light bouncing off her perfect skin.
So tell me why we're talking when we dance so good
So tell me why we're talking when we dance so good
"And I know you can't stay but I wish you would" She whispered into his ear.
Yeah I wish I could, I wish you could
So now you tell me that you're on the mend
Sometimes I wonder how you don't go mad when you're so beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful
So tell me why we're talking when we dance so good
So tell me why we're talking when we dance so good
And you know I can't stay but I wish I would
Yeah I wish I would, yeah I wish I could
Remember when you lost your head
Sometimes I wonder how you stay so sad when you're so beautiful
You're so beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful
So beautiful, So beautiful
So tell me why we're talking when we dance so good
Yeah tell me why we're talking when we dance so good
And I know you can't stay but I wish you would
Yeah I wish I would, yeah I wish I could
"It means a lot that you're here with me," He whispered as his tired eyes drifted to the beautiful sunset. Her eyes fluttered to a gentle close as she inhaled his scent. He, on the other hand, inhaled the apple-y scent of her hair as his eyes eventually closed too.
That was the moment he realised, he was never going to be more in love than he was right then.
"What if she doesn't like me?" Quinn asked nervously as she pushed a strand of hair out of her face while Puck drove them along a never-ending road.
"She's my mom, she's gonna love you," He reassured her.
The night before, they'd fallen asleep on the rooftop after laying to watch the stars, which apparently soothed them so much they spent their entire night under the gaze of the twinkling sky.
"Ah, here we are." Puck said finally as he pulled into the second house on the right. The house immediately stood out, as the vibrant colours in the front garden popped out from the conventionally plain houses that stood around it. Puck opened the car door for Quinn, who was still mesmerised by the variation of exotic plants that surrounded the home, and helped her out.
They waited only a couple of moments after knocking the door before Puck's mother hulled it open and embraced Puck in the biggest hug Quinn had ever seen.
The woman was slightly plump, with shoulder-length brown curls and rosy cheeks. She beamed at Quinn before pulling her into an embrace too when Puck had entered her home.
She was the completely opposite of Quinn's mother. The woman hugging her radiated an instant impression of warmth and kindness, unlike Quinn's mother who oozed sternness and spite.
"Very nice to meet you Quinn. Noah speaks very highly of you," His mother smiled as she welcomed Quinn in.
The house was large, not as large as Quinn's parents' house, but still quite big. Every inch of the room was covered. Pictures hung around the room, and more vibrant colours splashed out at her.
"You're right on time, dinner'll be around ten minutes," Mrs. Puckerman informed them both as she tottered off to the kitchen.
"Here, let me get that for you," Puck pulled Quinn's jacket from her shoulders and flung it over the coat hanger by the door. Quinn nervously wiped her sweaty palms down the sides of her dress, catching the attention of Puck.
"Hey, she loves you already." He told her, reaching for her hands.
"You think?"
"I know." She smiled weakly and forced any nerves from her mind.
"Oh, and I do know someone who is going to love you… a lot." He couldn't contain a broad smile. "Hey, Sarah? Come down. There's someone I want you to meet."
Seconds later, a young girl flew down the stairs, her longs curls, just like her mother's, flowing behind her.
"This is Quinn," He told her sweetly, gently pushing her shoulders forward. The girl's large blue eyes glistened. She pushed out a hand, to which Quinn shook with a smile.
"I'm Sarah," She said quietly.
"It's nice to meet you,"
"Go and get washed up for dinner then," Puck lifted Sarah up and spun her around, before planting back on the ground as she ran off. "She seems to likes you," He told Quinn, when Sarah was far enough away. "I mean she didn't completely ignore your presence, which is always hopeful," He joked.
"You didn't tell me you had a sister!"
"I know. I made kind-of a bad habit of introducing her to all my 'lady friends'," He air quoted the words. "And after they changed every week, I promised myself to not introduce her unless it was permanent."
"So you think this is permanent?" She asked with a hopeful smile as she bit her lip.
"I think it could be," He replied, holding the same side grin. "Now c'mon, you haven't lived 'til you've tasted my mom's mashed potato."
After dinner, a large, extremely filling dinner, the family gathered in the sitting room, gazing through family photo albums to Puck's dismay.
"Oh, look there you are at five years old with a Mohawk," His mother smiled, passing Quinn the album. "You pestered me non stop for that. All the other mothers thought I was on drugs, for sure!" She laughed.
"I totally rocked that look though," He argued. "I was definitely the coolest in my class,"
"Do you remember when…" His mother continued, but Quinn was distracted by Sarah tugging on her dress.
"Can I show you something?" Her small voice asked.
"Sure," Quinn replied as she rose to her feet, and followed the ten year old.
She cautiously entered the room, unsure of whether she was fully welcome in yet. She glanced in to see a room that reminded her oddly of her own room several years ago, but on a much lower budget. A doll house sat in the corner, the same size as Quinn's was but was made from a cardboard box. It was painted, with also homemade furniture. Further along was a wall full of posters, not the top-quality, high end Quinn's were, but collages made from scratch and posters cut out from teen magazines. The carpet on the floor was not made of animal fur, costing thousands like one that sat in Quinn's old bedroom, but was carefully knitted rug with a love heart stitched into the middle, which Quinn presumed her mother had made.
"You can sit down if you want," Sarah said, as casually as she could once she bounced onto her bed. Quinn walked over and slouched into a pink beanbag, waiting for Sarah to speak. But she never did.
"I like your room." Quinn eventually said.
"Thanks." She replied shortly, twirling her thumbs in her lap. It seemed evident that she was longing to say something, but couldn't find the words.
"Did he tell you he's leaving?" She eventually asked quietly, with the same lump in her throat Quinn had heard herself use.
"Yeah," She replied gently.
"I don't know you that well, but he seems to like you." It seemed hard for Sarah to admit that.
"Well, I like him." Quinn cringed at herself saying that; she wasn't one for cheesy statements.
"Aren't you sad? That he's leaving?"
"Sometimes." She admitted. "But he's doing something great, right? For everyone?"
Sarah nodded, but seemed to be holding back tears. Quinn cautiously joined her on her bed, and gently wrapped her arm round Sarah. Quinn wasn't one for comforting, but she seemed connected to this little girl.
"I'm just gonna miss him." Quinn felt a tear soak into her dress, so simply pulled Sarah tighter.
"Me too."
Then it hit Quinn. She was being so selfish. Puck had a sister. A ten year old sister who had spent so little time with him since she heard of his soon to be departure. Quinn was surprised this little girl didn't hate her guts. Sarah had known him for ten years; Quinn had known him for a little over ten days.
"Can I speak to you?" Quinn pulled Puck aside. "I think you should take your sister out." Puck looked puzzled. "Look, she's really going to miss you. And I feel bad for stealing so much of your time. So, go. Take her to the park or something." Puck hesitated.
"You sure?" He asked, finding it strange that the previous night she was clinging onto dear life, while today she was urging him to leave her with his Mom.
"Yeah, she deserves some quality time with you."
If it was possible, that made Puck love Quinn a tiny bit more.
The idea of meeting her boyfriend's parents made Quinn's stomach do somersaults But Theresa Puckerman was different. She felt like someone Quinn could confide in, even though she'd only known her for a couple of hours. Quinn insisted she would join in washing the dishes, and she genuinely had a good time. Puck's mother was funny and loving, and seemed to warm to Quinn instantly.
"How're you doing? About the second tour news?" She asked sensitively as she handed Quinn a dish to dry.
"I'm hanging in there, I guess." She replied honestly. "But it's gotta be harder for you,"
"It was the first time. But now I realise there's no talking sense into that boy." She said heartily with a laugh. "Once he sets his mind to something, there's no way to sway him!"
"Yeah, I've noticed." Quinn admitted.
"I see the way he looks at you." She spoke softly. "And the way you look at him. There's something special there, Quinn."
Quinn blushed slightly as she received another wet plate to dry. "So you don't think I'm too young?"
"Not when he looks at you like that."
"Thanks, Mom." Puck managed to breath out when his mother pulled him in for a hug. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"And you," He turned his attention to Sarah, who made it obvious she was holding back tears. "Be good, okay?" She nodded slowly and forced a smile. Puck leaned in and hugged her tightly.
"Thanks for having me, Mrs. Puckerman." Quinn said nervously, before being pulled into a hug with the reply "Anytime, dear."
Before they left, Quinn slipped a piece of paper with her phone number on into Sarah's hand, and whispered in her ear "Call me if you need to talk."
Sarah nodded and fisted her hand around the paper.
They left with several other goodbyes, and Quinn could tell from the look in Puck's eyes it wasn't easy for him. As he started the car, Quinn reached for him hand and held it for a moment, while he looked blankly out of the window. After a couple of seconds, he forced a smile at Quinn, and pulled out of the driveway.
They sat in silence for the whole ride; she didn't want to push him too far.
Eleven hours. That's all they had left together. Quinn felt like it was boxing day: All the happiness and joy of Christmas had passed, and she was left with only the dull ache of realisation that it would be another 12 months before the excitement returned. But it wasn't Christmas, and she wasn't an overjoyed seven year old sitting by her window on Christmas Eve watching the snow fall. She was in the midst of her first truly crushing heart break.
"Tell me about Yale." Puck smoothed a strand of hair from Quinn's face as the lay together on his sofa, listening to the unimportant background noise of some annoying Rom-Com Quinn had insisted on putting on. "When's the freshman honours programme starting?"
"Three weeks." She replied shortly. They'd had a few conversations about Quinn's future at Yale. As a result, Quinn agreed that the best thing to do would be to go and continue her education at one of the best schools in the country, rather than sit and cry over Puck ever other hour.
"Those three weeks'll fly by," He assured her. She wasn't so convinced.
They sat in silence for another further ten minutes.
"Can I drive you to the airport tomorrow?" She whispered, almost inaudibly.
"I'm not sure that's the best idea."
"Scratch that, - I'm coming with you tomorrow." She spoke confidently now, moving her head closer to his chest. Normally, Puck lived for lively debate with Quinn: seeing her eyebrows kink as she challenged him, her lip slightly curling when he made an excellent point. But he couldn't argue with her tonight. He knew there was nothing to change her mind.
He leant down and softly grazed his lips across her forehead. They heard a faint buzz in the background, and their eyes glanced at the cluttered coffee table.
"That Rachel again?" Puck asked, in reference to Quinn's phone buzzing. Quinn nodded in reply. They spoke no more of that subject.
"Look, this might be a little weird, but... Will you write to me?" Puck's voice seemed to mirror an anxious school boy's.
"What?" Quinn sat up and looked at him, strangely intrigued.
"I wanna know everything that happens with you, -Yale, New Haven, all of it." She continued to look at him like he was a three headed alien. "Why're you looking at me like that? I'm not completely illiterate, y'know."
She laughed; the first time in days. "No, I was just... shocked, I guess. Sounds great, but I'll only do it if you promise to write back."
"I will."
"Will you play me something?" Quinn's mouse-like voice asked, cutting the silence once more.
"Uhm, sure." Puck stretched as he sat up, glancing only briefly at his watch, he walked to the shabby corner of his apartment and picked up the guitar that Quinn so much adored. He sat on the floor in front of her, with the guitar resting on his knee.
He didn't ask her what she wanted him to play, nor did she tell him. He just had a song close to his heart that he needed her to hear.
There are some things I, need to say to you
You won't understand, but I hope you do
I must do this now, just to keep you safe.
I know our time was short,
never thought I'd be
Leaving whom I love,
flying overseas
It's just how it goes, nothing I must fear.
And I will miss you so,
miss you everyday
I would die for you,
this I'm not afraid
I will make you proud, its my solemn swear
And I'll always fight for you
When you think of me,
think the best of me
That's all I would want to know
That I will be with you, that's a promise too
Just don't ever let me go…
With all that I have done,
I would do again
From the good and bad,
'til the very end
And I tell you now, I have no regrets...
His playing slowed down, reaching a silent stop. Quinn's eyes met his and for the first time, she genuinely saw fear. It wasn't fear of dying though, it was fear of losing the one thing in his life that had ever been perfect, and that thought was unbearable.
He threw the guitar to the side and rubbed his hands on his face, attempting to force the tears away. Quinn jumped to the floor and kneeled in front of him.
"Hey, it's alright," She whispered, her hands caressing the side of his face while her thumb rubbed his tear-stained cheeks. She felt strange comforting him, it was normally the other way round.
"No it's not," He broke down once more, but locked eyes with Quinn. "Nothing about this is alright" This isn't fair, for either of us!" The anger in his voice turned to desperation. Quinn continued to rub her thumbs in circles by his ears and gently shush him.
She forced her lips to his, kissing him violently as though it was the last time she was able to. He kissed her back for several seconds, before she separated their faces.
"We're here now." She whispered, their noses touching. "Just be with me now."
I want to thank DreamingCali for suggesting the epic song 'When You Think Of Me' (in which I may have switched up the lyrics slightly.) It's a great song, so thanks for the request!
(Heads up to any other readers, I'm big on including songs in my fics, so please don't hesitate to request a song - I'll listen to all requested!).
The Earlier song played was 'Dance So Good' By Wakey!Wakey.
Thanks for reading, and I know I crammed a lot into this chapter, but I just felt it was necessary.
Please review and tell me what you thought!