As the following week of school rolled around, Jake still found himself reeling at his conversation with Mr. Schuester. While just one week prior Jake had hoped to be part of the Glee club, he wasn't so sure after the events following his audition. Jake knew he was good, but did Mr. Schue actually agree, or did he only change his tune after finding out who his brother was?
At this point Jake started getting well acclimated to McKinley, but also began to notice just how alienated he was from his peers. For the most part, Jake kept to himself, and that, along with his smoking habits and the leather jacket he sported, set him apart as an outcast. The jocks took notice of these things and pegged him as an easy target for bullying, especially when they realized he wouldn't stand up for himself. Most of the time when they approached him in the hallway with racial jokes, Jake would just roll his eyes, shake his head, and move along.
But man, it felt like torture that all he could do was ignore their maliciously intended, albeit corny as hell comments. Back in the day Jake would have fought back, hard, and he knew he could take these assholes to town in a heartbeat. But if an encounter were to get too heated and things escalated, he would risk getting in trouble with probation. The easiest thing for him to do in his current predicament was turn the other cheek, and it left him feeling completely defenseless.
It would be nice to have a place in this school where I belong, Jake thought to himself, weighing this point as a potential pro of joining Glee. Where Glee fit into the social hierarchy at school was confusing to Jake. On one hand, there were jocks and cheerleaders in the club, including Jake's brother who by word of mouth seemed to have had a reputation as a badass. At the same time, Jake witnessed some of its members get slushy facials last week just for being in the club. Kitty explained that there was a brush between the Glee kids and the so-called popular crowd over who was allowed to sit with who at the lunch table, which created tension. It still didn't make sense to Jake after the witnessed all those fifty-plus students lined up at the chance to sing and dance for Mr. Schue.
Jake wasn't interested in doing what was cool just for the sake of it, but he would do anything to get the jocks off his back. Glee club would probably be a detriment to his bullying problem, but it would also grant him a support system. He knew Kitty was still in the hot seat with her crew after becoming ostracized from her friends last year, despite the way she managed to command respect for herself. He considered asking Ryder to put in a good word for him with the football team, but figured he probably didn't have much pull since he seemed more concerned with studying than socializing with those guys. He wondered if he could use his last name to his advantage, but didn't know how to do that in a discreet way. It's not like he could just shout, "Hey, Noah Puckerman is my older bro!" out loud next time they came at him – that would be totally lame.
While he made up his mind whether to join Glee, Jake felt it was time to do something to broaden his outreach past just Kitty and some kid from gym class that he barely talked to after that first day of school. This was when he learned that the female population at McKinley was a lot friendlier than the guys. And by friendlier, that meant open to his suggestive advances, and flirting back. Jake realized he hadn't gotten laid in months and decided to change that in an attempt to distract himself from how out of control the rest of his life felt. In his old town, most of the girls he slept with were already friends with him first, and they would develop a casual friends-with-benefits situation. But since he didn't have any friends at McKinley he figured he would shoot his shot with any and every attractive girl in sight. In just a few days this lent him a reputation as a womanizer, but Jake was never one to care about what others thought of him anyway.
He found himself face to face with a cute brunette named Marley in the gym one day. He could tell she was captivated by his somewhat mysterious demeanor and played that to his advantage.
"Do you wanna hang out sometime?" Jake asked Marley, his tone dripping with sultry.
"Y-yeah," she stuttered with wide eyes, nodding her head profusely.
"Cool." Jake handed over his cell phone, asking for her digits. "I'll text you."
Marley seemed different than the girls Jake was used to getting with – she appeared more innocent, and considerably less confident. While he was eager to find someone to quickly hop into bed with, he also wanted it to be with someone he could see himself being friends with. Most of the other girls Jake had put the moves on either reeked of desperation or were friends with the jocks that were giving him trouble. He knew Marley was in Glee, because when he was stalking the updated roster on the bulletin board last week, her face lit up after checking the list. Not only did Jake find that intriguing, as he suspected she was the only one who auditioned to get picked, but it also gave him an idea – to seduce her through song.
xxx
Jake met up with his new prospect at the bleachers by the football field on the following Wednesday after school. Jocks and cheerleaders were due to show up soon for practice, at which point he could ask Marley if she wanted more privacy and if so, they could head over to his house. Although he could tell this girl was shy, he hoped the guitar, a subtle dose of cologne, and his natural charm would help move things in his favor. He approached Marley with a light smirk and a twinkle in his eyes.
Marley shuffled in her seat, diverting her eyes to the ground after giving a quick smile and half a second of eye contact toward Jake, while his gaze lingered. "I almost didn't come. The other girls told me I was crazy for even bothering."
"You really think they're right?" Jake kept his tone light, taking another step up on the bleachers, closer to where Marley sat.
"I think you're a guy who got hurt – and the cigarettes and the guitar and the jacket are all walls for that."
"…You think too much."
"At all my other schools, I got picked on."
Jake moved from standing up taller than her to taking a seat beside her. He was glad she changed the subject to talk about herself. Jake wasn't fond of opening up to people before they got close, and wanted to keep Marley on her toes anyway. Even if she was wrong about who she thought Jake was. Somehow, Jake's situation was more complicated and simple than what Marley described it as. Still though, he closed the space between them and gave her a meaningful glance, showing he was curious about what she had to say.
"I tried so hard to be what other kids wanted me to be. For the first time, at this school, I feel like I can just be."
Jake couldn't relate to that at all. He never used to conform to peer pressure at his old school, and McKinley wasn't treating him well. Despite those things, he wanted to shut down any idea in Marley's mind that he was interested in joining the school's de facto diversity club. "Glee club is so lame," he started, to which he could tell she was unamused. "What does Scheister have you guys singing?"
She sighed lightly with a roll of the eyes. "It's Britney Spears week."
"Yeah, see, I prefer music that uses actual instruments," he replied, placing a hand on the guitar that hung over his shoulder.
"Well, you haven't heard my version yet," she teased back.
"What song is it?"
"You Drive Me Crazy."
"- I know I do."
Marley's song selection gave Jake an idea, and he swung the guitar around to rest on his lap. He started strumming the chords he knew to 'Crazy' by Aerosmith and nudged for Marley to sing along.
She started them off with the classic by Britney, locking eyes with Jake as the sultry lyrics rolled off her tongue. Her confidence grew as she immersed herself into the role of a woman who knew what she wanted – who she wanted, and wasn't afraid to take the reins and tell him.
Jake jumped in when Marley finished her verse, first with some Britney, followed by Aerosmith's chorus. He was both impressed and taken aback by Marley's sudden change in demeanor. He was growing infatuated, and mirrored every move his duet partner made. When she got up from her seat and trailed higher up each stair of the bleachers, Jake followed, doing his best to keep up as to not break eye contact. He went into this situation with a calculated plan to get a girl to like him, but ended up getting completely lost in the song as well as Marley's eyes. Marley also seemed to be enjoying this impromptu duet, from Jake's perspective, but he could tell she was a more polished performer. While Marley seemed to be concentrated on things like breath control, and how and when she moved her body, Jake was more wrapped up in how pretty Marley's smile was, keeping just enough focus on the song to play the proper chords.
When their song drew to a close, Marley almost bit her lip and moved in closer to Jake, but pulled away just as quickly.
"You okay?" he asked, wondering why she would be second guessing herself after they just killed that duet together.
"Yeah," she started, breaking their eye contact at once. "It just got cold out here." She wrapped her arms around her torso as the wind blew in their direction.
"Here." Jake took off his jacket and put it around Marley.
She tucked her chin into her shoulder, her face flush.
Jake smiled big, walking away. He felt like he got a good gauge on Marley in their short interaction, and had a feeling he would have to take things slow with her. He wanted to leave her wanting more. Trying to get in the pants of someone who's just not there yet would make Jake look like the desperate one, and he couldn't have that. He usually preferred a more organic approach to getting with a girl, but he also couldn't deny they shared some serious musical chemistry, and decided using some strategy to get her to open up more couldn't be so bad.
It was funny – Jake's plan to sing with Marley was to seduce her, but left him with his own case of butterflies. He held onto how they almost maybe kissed at the end there, but Marley was the one to pull away. And now she had his jacket – the ball was completely in her court, and Jake wasn't used to that.
He was used to being on equal footing with girls he was interested in, if not taking on the dominant role. There was no shyness, no beating around the bush; just two people shamelessly sharing their affection for each other. With Marley, he felt like he was a kid again experiencing his first crush. This was a foreign feeling for Jake, and he started to think maybe he would continue to pursue her beyond his original, selfish motive to distract himself from the shit-storm that was his life.
xxx
The next couple days were…eventful, to say the least. First was Jake's encounter with Mr. Schue in the hallway.
You see, While Jake was putting in a solid effort to stay out of detention, he couldn't help the fact that sometimes school made him so goddamn bored. So what if he decided to skip science class one time for an extended smoke break?
It was ten minutes into class when Jake roamed carefree down the deserted hall. He thought about grabbing a coffee in the cafeteria before heading outside for his cigarette. That was until he ran into the Glee club director.
"Hey!" Will started, catching up with the student he had been hoping to find. "Where do you think you're going?"
Jake turned around with a groan. "To the cafeteria. I'm getting some coffee."
"Well Mr. McCarthy's biology class is in the other direction."
"I'm protesting that class – on religious grounds." Jake was jonesing for a smoke and so not in the mood for this crap. "They make you dissect a pig, and I'm kosher."
"Nice cop out, kid, but that doesn't give you the right to lurk around the hallways as you please."
Jake audibly groaned. "Why are you on my back? I'm not one of your students and I'm not in Glee club."
"And that was my mistake."
"No thanks," Jake scoffed. "I'm not looking to change."
Mr. Schue took another step towards Jake, trying to get through to him. "Your brother was a train wreck, worse than you."
Jake glared at Mr. Schue with raised eyebrows.
"But even at his worst, he had a community. He had sports, friends…"
"I don't need friends," Jake lied, desperate to remove himself for the conversation. He hurried away, hoping Mr. Schuester wouldn't attempt to follow.
And so, he did as he initially intended to do – skip class with a coffee and a smoke. Except now he couldn't get this encounter with Mr. Schue out of his head.
First of all, where the hell did he get off saying Jake's brother was worse than him? Sure, he never actually met Puck, but he assumed he wasn't arrested at fourteen for drugs. Also, he heard through the grapevine that Puck was the one doing the bullying instead of the newfound victimhood Jake found himself in. He knew that Puck at least got the chance to know his dad before that asshole walked out. And he wondered how the Spanish teacher assumed Puck was more of a mess than him if he at least had sports and friends. It didn't make sense, and it only proved to Jake that Mr. Schuester was full of shit. Just because he knew his last name and read some words on a student file didn't mean anything.
Will may have had a point about not skipping class, but man, if this was his way of getting Jake to join Glee club, all he had managed to do was send him in the opposite direction.
xxx
Nothing could have prepared Jake for what was to come the following day. It started with some jerkoff jocks flinging insults at Marley's mom, the lunch lady, without a cause. It was killing Jake not to intervene as he stood from a distance and listened to Marley attempt to defend her mom. These guys weren't letting up, and Jake decided he was through playing nice.
He approached the group, practically fuming, and stood by Marley's side. "Enough," he demanded with fervor in his eyes. "Say you're sorry. To both of them."
The bullies stood their ground without a word, and Jake assumed they were confused more than anything that he was refusing to put up with their crap for the first time in weeks of their antagonizing.
"You know what?" Jake's blood was boiling and he couldn't contain himself any more. Marley and her mom were way too nice to deserve this crap, and he couldn't let these guys go unchallenged. He saw these assholes get excited at his response, like they were looking forward to riling Jake up and had no idea he knew how to fight. "Screw it." Jake flipped one of their lunch trays over and swiftly threw a punch. The second jock shoved Jake into the wall to which Jake attempted to swing another punch, this time missing. The first guy came back at him, grabbing him by the shirt, and Jake had to dodge a punch. These two rammed at each other in a fit of throwing and dodging punches, until finally Jake got another one in.
He felt someone pull him away by the back of his shirt, and assumed it was the second jock, until he realized what was happening. It turned out to be Mr. Schue, who now had a palm on his back, pushing him in the opposite direction.
"Come on, tough guy!"
They walked in the opposite direction of the cafeteria and Jake couldn't believe those jocks were off the hook when they were the ones in the wrong. Will walked closely behind Jake, keeping a hand on his backside to ensure he didn't try to make a run for it.
This was so unfair. What was Mr. Schue's endgame in this? Was he trying to straighten him out? Last he checked, his mom already had a lead in that case, and at least that was her job. Mr. Schue was practically a stranger, and it seemed like every time they talked, all he did was make baseless accusations toward Jake's character.
"This is garbage," Jake pleaded, trying to regain control of his breath and racing thoughts. "Those guys suck, and I'm the one who has to go to Figgins?"
"I'm not taking you to see Figgins."
Will swung the choir room door open and pointed for the teen to enter in where, to Jake's utter disbelief, his older brother stood, leaning against the grand piano.
Jake was completely beside himself – he couldn't believe this was happening. Sure, he entertained the idea of reaching out to Puck recently, but he wanted that to happen on his own terms. Not because Mr. Schue, of all people, was sticking his nose where it didn't belong. But it didn't matter what he wanted, as he was face to face with his brother now. He was stunned, and had no choice but to put on a brave a face and pretend to be unbothered by the fact nothing in his life was in his own control.
"Jake Puckerman," Will started. "I'd like you to meet your brother, Noah."
Noah was eyeing him up like he was a piece of fresh meat, all the while trying to remain empathetic. Jake was stunned and didn't have the energy to put on any type of poker face – he was completely raw, and at least ready to hear out whatever his brother had to say.
"I'll leave you two alone." The teacher exited the room, giving Jake a pat on the back on his way out.
"You look more like Dad than I do…" Jake started, not sure what else to open with. It was true though – Noah was taller, whiter, and rocked a mohawk that Jake would never be able to pull off even if he wanted to. He carried himself well and dressed well too. Jake didn't know why he felt the need to make comparisons in that moment, but besides some blurry pictures on Facebook, this was the first time he ever got to really see his brother.
Puck nodded. "Y'know, he never told me about you when I was growing up. But I do remember my mom and dad arguing about a baby and some slut waitress –"
"That would be my mom," Jake contended, to which Puck smirked back like it was some sort of joke. What an asshole, Jake thought. "If Schuester called you to come and straighten me out, you're wasting your time," he continued. "I'm fine, and you are not my brother," he snarled as he could tell after about thirty seconds alone with this guy that they were nothing alike.
Puck snickered in his reply, "You think that you're a badass? Nailing a bunch of chicks and getting into fights in the cafeteria? I'm the original badass, okay? I had my first threesome at seven and once I beat up a police horse."
"So what? You gonna kick my ass if I don't straighten myself out?"
Puck softened his tone, trying to reason with his brother and realizing snarky comments and jokes in poor taste weren't going to get him to open up. Jake wasn't as well-adjusted to his troubled past as Noah was – he was more sensitive, and rough around the edges, and this became clear to the older Puckerman as he tried his best to navigate his way through the rest of their conversation.
And he was successful, for the most part, as he managed to get Jake to explain why he was on probation. They talked for a few minutes about similarities they had in their respective upbringings, differences, and what it was like for both of them when their dad screwed them over. Puck explained how more than anything in his high school experience, being in Glee club was what shaped him into the man he was today.
"Think about it for a few days," Puck suggested. "But whether you join Glee club or not, you're still my brother."
Jake crossed his arms, diverting his eyes to the ground. They quickly exchanged phone numbers and both went on their way.
xxx
Jake had study hall with Kitty later that day, where he recounted the events of the week, leaving out the part about his duet on the bleachers with Marley. He had a feeling Kitty didn't exactly like Marley, but proceeded to ask her help in the matter anyway.
"You think you can get those guys to lay off?"
"That's a big ask, Puckerman. You expect me to stick my neck out for someone I don't even fuck with?"
"Look, I don't know what beef you have with Marley, but you have to admit, her mom doesn't deserve the shit those guys keep talking about her."
"…Fair point," she gulped, knowing she herself was guilty.
"And ideally I would have you stick up for all of us. But I can handle myself just fine –"
"Apparently not," she spat back, despite the grin on her face.
"Hey, you know I would've creamed those guys if Schuester didn't step in. And that was two against one." He waited for a response from his friend, but when all she gave was an agreeing shrug, he continued. "The point is, if I got to have my way with those guys and the cops got involved, it wouldn't have been good. I really don't want my probation extended. But Marley's my friend, and it would be cool to know that someone in the ranks here had her back."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Oh, she's your friend, huh?"
"What are you talking about?" He was getting annoyed. Why wasn't Kitty giving him a straight answer here?
"Look Jake, I know you have a thing for Marley for some strange reason." She sounded like she had more to say, but decided to pause, giving Jake a pair of raised eyebrows and a chance to open up to her.
Jake got flustered for a moment before answering, "She's cute, okay? We sang this song together yesterday and sparks kind of just flew out of nowhere. And I can tell she really likes me."
"So you like her because she can sing and 'cause she's cute? You know how many other girls in this school fall under your ridiculously low criteria."
"Okay, but none of them are like Marley," he explained.
Kitty rolled her eyes but made sure to keep her tone light. "Well, maybe you're just not looking hard enough." She put her hand on Jake's thigh with a suggestive smirk.
"What are you doing?" Jake wanted to move her hand away, but didn't.
She let out a sigh. "When you started flirting with all these other girls, it made me see you in a different light," she started, slightly rubbing his leg. "I know I'm hot, so it made me wonder why you were passing me up."
Jake couldn't believe what he was hearing. Now that he thought about it, sure, she was hot, but he figured he was so grateful to have a solid friend at McKinley that flirting with her never crossed his mind. "Honestly Kitty, you're the only friend I have at this school and I don't wanna mess that up. Before me and Marley sang together, I was just trying to get laid. And you don't really strike me as the friends-with-benefits type." He moved her hand away from his leg but, for some reason, held onto it still. "No offense, but you're a little uptight."
"Point taken. You do agree that I'm hot, though."
"I mean…yeah, of course," he nodded, hoping for this unexpected twist in their discussion to go smooth so he didn't end up saying anything to compromise their friendship.
"So it sounds like I check all your boxes then, babe. I'm hot, I'm your friend, I'm very much interested, and let's just say, I can offer you a little bit more than Little Miss Prissy Pants." She brought her hand up to Jake's arm and caressed his bicep.
"Oh really?" Jake inhaled sharply and felt a wave of pure warmth wash over him. "What exactly do you mean by that?" Kitty was tempting him, but he had to be sure if he was going to abandon his feelings for Marley that it would be worth it.
"It means that just having this conversation has got me going in all the right ways. Let me take care of you, Jake." She pursed her lips seductively.
Her hand, still resting on Jake's arm, began trailing back down toward his thigh, to which Jake felt his skin burning up. It had been awhile since anyone touched him like this, and it was exhilarating. Blood started rushing down his body – he wanted to kiss Kitty right then and there, but they were in the middle of the library with tons of people around.
"Wanna come over to my place later?" He put his hand over Kitty's on his leg, rubbing hers soft and slow before finally removing it.
They smiled at each other while their hands danced together under the table.
"Perfect. You can tell me about how meeting your brother went, and I can give you everything you've been looking for in all those other girls and more."
A/N: another chapter down! I hope you guys liked this one. I'm super excited for the next one bc it's where I start to divert from canon a little bit more. I mean, it's still gonna be canon-divergent for awhile, but I start filling in the blanks of canon with more original scenes. and then in 2 chapters from now Jake and Ryder will finally have some more interaction and it's gonna be so much fun. I'm sorry it's taking awhile to get to the Jyder of it all, but building this world around them and fleshing out Jake's character will hopefully make it more satisfying when we get there. anyway, take care y'all 😊 (also, reviews make the world go round… :P)