Sorry for the bigger hiatus. Real life has been a burden, and I'm losing my interest in canon-Glee due to Jake and Ryder being cut from the show. But I'm still planning to finish this story. So I hope you enjoy.
Jake was starting to get impatient. They had arranged to meet at two o'clock, but it was 2:13PM, now, and his date was nowhere to be seen. It was very in character for the person to be late, but since Jake was really nervous about this appointment, he was slowly starting to freak out.
About ten days had passed since Regionals. For the first few days and nights the teen had locked himself up in his room, where he had spend a lot of time crying and lamenting. Only after his mother had started to fuss about him never leaving his room anymore had Jake stopped withdrawing himself. The problem now was that once Tanisha Puckerman had gotten to see her son again, she had noticed that something was wrong with him. She had tried to get it out of him, but Jake had always dodged the question. If he told her the whole story, he would also have to tell her that he was gay, and he wasn't ready for that yet. He wasn't entirely comfortable with keeping that secret, since their family had agreed to be honest with each other. He thus decided that it was time to come out, but he felt like it was safer to start with someone who was less likely to convict him for it.
While Jake was recalling all that in his head, he could make out engine noise from outside. It became louder and louder, until he was sure that it was right outside the Lima Bean. The next thing he heard was a scream, before the engine noise died down. A minute later, Jake's brother Puck came walking into the café.
"Puck, was that you?"
"Definately." His brother replied with a smug simper. "I almost ran over an old woman with my motor bike out there. You see, I was in a hurry, because I realized that I was late for our appointment, so I kinda hightailed here."
"You are kinda late." Jake confirmed. "We had arranged two o'clock, and not quarter past two."
"I know, sorry about that, bro. I met two chicks in "The Basement" last night, and we spend the night up until six celebrating in my bed. So I overslept, and by the time I had thrown them out and gotten here, it was too late." Puck was still smirking.
"Well, it's fine, I'm glad you here." Jake assured. They then proceeded to sit down at the tabel, and a waitress approached them, wanting to know if they had a coffee order. "An iced-latte for me, and a black coffée for my brother." Puck ordered.
"One iced-latte, and a black-coffée. I'll be right back." The waitress walked off.
"So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Puck asked.
Jake hesitated. He loved and trusted his brother, but Puck was also pretty macho. He feared that Puck might disown a gay younger brother.
When Jake wouldn't talk, Puck asked. "Did you lose your voice, little bro?"
Jake broke out in sweat. This was harder than he had thought.
"Look, I still have these two chicks at home. If you don't mind, I'll go home and see if they left my place in whole..."
"Big brother, I'm gay." Jake ultimately decided to come straight forward with it.
Puck looked astonished. "Did you just say you're gay? As in you like penises and stuff?"
Jake nodded. He had expected Puck to get up and walk out at him, or to insult him, or to react anyhow in disgust. But what he hadn't expected was his brother to smile, just like he had smiled entering the Lima Bean.
"I thought you'd never tell me, bro."
Jake was surprised. "You knew? Did Ryder or Marley tell you?" They were the only people Jake had told about his sexuality.
"Chillax. No, I figured it out all by myself. "When Jake kept looking at him in a disbelieving manner, Puck explained. "I noticed you never seemed really interested in chicks, bro. I could tell you about which flavour of girl I like, and prefer hooking up with, but you never really seemed to care." Jake blushed a little. "And seriously, I've never seen a straight guy dance ballet before, either." Puck taunted plafully
That provoked Jake a little. "That's not true." He exclaimed and got up. "Straight guys can do that just as much." A few people from the neighbouring tables looked up at them, and the waitress, who was bringing them their drinks, looked aghast, too.
"Just leave them here." Puck said to the waitress. She did as he told her, and left them their drinks. "And you sit down, I'm just teasing you."
"I'm sorry." Jake sat down. He regreted getting mad like that. It was a bit of a sensitive spot for him, he really was happy that Puck was taking this that well. "So you really have no problem with your brother liking the same gender?"
"No. Why would I?" Puck asked blank-faced.
"I don't know? Maybe you'd be ashamed about having a gay brother, or something?"
Puck looked offended. "Are you bloody kidding me?"
"Well, it was my biggest fear. I'm sorry, man."
"Tell me why would I have a problem with that? My own father ran out on me, man, he was a straight douchebag. And then there's Kurt, and Blaine, with whom I spend three of the best years of my life. They had a lot more balls than my genitor ever had. You seriously think I'd disown my brother just because he's gay? You're offending me, man."
"Cool down, bro, the others can hear us." Jake said. Puck said nothing more, but still looked a little angry.
"Well, I'm sorry for doubting your honour, or anything, bro..." Puck simply snuffled. "I guess I was just overly afraid of losing you after losing my best friend..."
"Your best friend cut you off because you're gay? What an asshole, man."
Jake shook his head. "No it's not like that." He then proceeded to tell his big brother the whole story. How he had initially become friends with Ryder, how he had fallen in love with his straight best friend, how he had then made the sockpuppet account to be close to him, and how it had ended up in Ryder hating him. Puck had listened to him the whole time attentively, and as he had finished, he said: "Well, it's not cool that you played your best friend for a sucker, bro..." Jake drooped. "But seriously, I've done a lot worse."
"You have?" Jake asked.
"Yeah. You know how Finn and I have been best friends ever since our freshman year? It was an on-off friendship, basically. I once got his girlfriend pregnant, and I also slept with his second one. And yet, look at us. We're still boob buddies."
"And he's still talking to you, despite all that crap you've done to him?" Jake was astonished.
"Yeah. Friends eternally, bro." Puck was beaming. "So don't worry, little brother from another coloured mother. Your friend might seem like he'll never talk to you again. But nobody stays mad forever. So chillax."
"If you say so." Jake sighed, and looked downwards.
Puck noticed his younger half-brother's mournful tone. "Then why are you still making a face? You're making a face as long as a fiddle." Puck teased his brother.
"Even if he forgives me, all I'll ever be to Ryder is his friend. And to me, he'll always be..." Jake didn't finish. He couldn't bear saying that Ryder was the man of his dreams.
"Well, then get over him, bro. If he doesn't see what an awesome guy my little brother is, then he's not worth it."
"It's not like that." Jake objected. "It's just that he's not into guys."
"Still bro. If you make it your life's mission to never stop thinking about him, you might just as well write Emo on your forehead. What you need is an even hotter guy to hook up with."
Jake was taken aback."Me? But I have no idea how to find other gay guys."
"Well, what do you have your big brother for?" Puck asked self-assured. "All I'll need is your phone."
Jake was confused. "My phone? But why?"
"Do you trust me, or not? Just give me your damn cell."
"Fine." Jake handed his smart phone to Puck, not without being suspecious of his motives, though.
Puck logged into Jake's facebook account. He proceeded to add another user. Said user accepted the request in only a matter of seconds.
"I can't believe you're doing this for me." Jake said.
"To be honest, it feels awesome." Puck assured him. "I feel like I'm Barney Stinson, and that you're my black half-brother."
"Half-black." Jake objected.
Just then, the guy Puck had added messaged Jake's account. Hey! He said. According to facebook, the guy's name was S. Smythe.
Hey sexy. U fine? Puck replied.
I'm fab. And thanks. You're not any less sexy yourself.
I know ;)
Confident. I like that. It only makes you seem hotter. ;)
"Wow, you're good at this." Jake admit to his brother.
"I have experience, bro." When Jake looked at him askance, Puck added: "I couldn't go out and pick up chicks when my mum grounded me, so I used to try online dating instead."
Puck then proceeded to exchange flirty messages with in Jake's name. It looked as if it didn't make a big difference to Puck whether a girl was at the other end, or a boy. He ended up arranging a meeting for Jake later that day at the guy's house.
"You're welcome." Puck blinked at his brother.
"I don't know." Jake wasn't too convinced of Puck's plan. "Do you think hooking up with that guy will solve my 'problem' with Ryder?"
"Well, it totally worked for me. When Quinn dumped me, I went and banged every chick that looked at me. Same with Santana. And Rachel. And Mercedes. And Lauren. And Shelby. And many more. I got over every girl, and you'll get over your guy." Puck then put his hand on Jake's shoulder, and looked at him. "For real, half bro with the afro. I get that right now it may seem as if you could never love someone as much as him, but you're wrong. You just need to start and meet new people again. Just meet up with that dude, and see what happens."
Jake smiled. He was overly happy to have a brother who did as much to help him out of his misery. "Thanks Puck. I love you." He leaned in to give his older brother a hug.
Puck cringed slidly. "Your gay is showing." He joked. But he did give in to his brother's hug.
"Well, now that we're done, and that our coffees are gone... Mind if I go back home to see if those chicks have stolen anything out of my apartment?"
"Not at all." The two brothers payed for their drinks (upon Jake insisting. Puck had suggested just leaving without paying), and left the Lima Bean.
Outside on the parking lot, they shared some last words.
"By the way, are you going to come out to your mum?" Puck wanted to know.
"I will have to eventually, but for now..." Jake shook his head. "I decided to tell you first, because I thought you were the least likely to disown me. But I want to sound out if she'd be okay with it first."
"Alright. Do what you think is right, bro with the fro."
"I will. And Puck... Thanks again. I really would not know what I'd do without you."
"No problem, bro. You know we're a family. a pretty messed up one, but family is family."
"Yeah." Jake agreed.
"Well, I'll get going for now. Have fun with your guy this evening." They shared one last hug, before Puck got onto his motor bike, and drove off.
That was the third chapter. I hope you liked it. If you did, I'd love to see a few comments maybe. But you can also leave me criticism if you didnt 3