No, it wasnât. Not for either of us. But things are good now, and thatâs what matters.
Iâll abide by your rules and regulations for fun, okay? Promise. What? This is the first Iâm hearing of it. Sheâs never told me about any of this. I donât know what I could have done if Iâd known, but still⊠Thatâs terrible. I hope her lawyers raise hell. That woman has worked too hard to lose anything or see her reputation tarnished because someoneâs being greedy. Great. Iâm looking forward to it. And youâre right. Sometimes thatâs all we can doâŠ
I like this whole looking on the positive side thing you've got going. It's nice. It suits you.
You've got yourself a deal. See, that's what I said. She doesn't need some lowlife trying to score themselves a payday off of her hard work. Yeah, me too. I think it'll be cool. It's something I wish we could do more often. Yeah, you said it.
As if yesterday wasnât frustrating enough, I got home late last night to find my front door wide open. Kicked in, the frame completely splintered. My place is in ruins. Someone broke in and tore it apart. I was up all night going through my belongings with the officer assigned to my case to figure out if anything was stolen. A few of my work files are missing⊠and a few personal items⊠but my valuables were all left behind â some smashed into pieces, but left behind, nonetheless. I wonât be completely sure exactly whatâs missing until I clean up the mess. I had the door replaced this afternoon and the locksmith just left, and even though there are new deadbolts and chains, it doesnât feel safe anymore. Every time I hear a noiseâŠ.
Holy shit. You alright? Yeah, you should probably crash somewhere else for a couple days at least until someone knows what the hell's going on. My place is empty at the moment if you want to stay there. Just don't finish putting together that one bookshelf in the living room. It's like that for a reason. It knows what it's done and it won't defeat me. I'm just really glad you weren't there when whoever it was showed up.Â
Things may happen for a reason, but weâre in good places because we worked to get there.
Are you the fun police now? Iâm sure Iâll have fun. Iâm in good company, after all. What do you mean, sheâs dealing stuff she shouldnât have to? I imagine she could use some free time, even if itâs just for an afternoon. Things would be weird â not unless we let them be weird. She and I have experienced our share of turbulence, but itâs behind us. My priorities right now lie in staying on good terms and being there for Beth. Things would have been different for me under the circumstances sheâs in, but thereâs no sense in dwelling on that. Not now, anyway. Iâll keep that in mind.
What do you mean now? More like I always have been. Just stressful job stuff. She's got this ex employee trying to get an easy hand out. It's taking lawyers and the whole thing to get it sorted out. Well in that case, we're all set. We've got no reason not to make it happen. Yeah, we gotta play the hand we're dealt, right?
That life sort of has this way of balancing stuff out? I mean we just had this really amazing and perfect time in Hawaii and now that Iâm home stuff could definitely be better?
Screwing up is how we learned. You and I made a pretty huge mistake, and there were bumps along the way, but look how that turned out.
I know youâre not. Youâre looking out for my best interests, and I appreciate that, but Iâm okay. Iâll be okay. At least I know thereâll be no opportunities to back out if someoneâs holding me to it. Everythingâs more or less returned to the equivalent of normal for me, so thereâs no need to apologize. What happened, happened. Speaking of burning oneâs self out, Shelby seems like sheâs perpetually headed there. Is it the usual stress or is something going on with her? You know, we could always take Beth off her hands for an afternoon when weâre in New York. Let her have some quiet time. Iâm sure she doesnât get much of that, being a full-time mom and running after kids all day. No matter how hard I tried, Beth was the only thing I could bring myself to break away from. It kind of scares me how much I see myself in that little girl. I hope she never has to feel what I felt growing up. Your momâs got an empty nest now, doesnât she? Iâm sure she misses the company, too.Â
Guess this is that whole it all happens for a reason thing, huh? I don't know if I really believe that, but at least we are both in good places.
Just making sure you knew that part. That'll be me, sticking around and making sure you're having at least a little fun. It's mandatory. Yeah, you know, I've been kinda worried about that too. She's one tough chick, but if I could force her to take a day for herself, I'd do it. She's kinda dealing with some stuff that she shouldn't have to, but I'll ask her about the Beth stuff. Could be cool to give her some more time to herself. It's not like I was looking forward to stuff being weird between you two when we all hung out or whatever. I think Beth's got a lot more people in her corner than you did. If she messes up, she's got Shelby there to catch her. Might have been better if you'd got to have that too. Eh, she'll be alright. She's got my sister around for a little while. Don't feed into her guilt. She feeds on weakness.Â
Ha! How did I know that would be the first thing out of your mouth? Some things never change, Mr. Puckerman, but no. Itâs appreciated. I may have thought of doing it myself, but you know my stance on violence. Iâve already contacted a lawyer, if all goes well weâll be meeting on Saturday and this will be sorted out quietly. He thinks I have a plausible countersuite and while I hadnât considered it⊠It would be nice in giving a lesson of what biting the hand that feeds you does, but I donât want to get greedy. Thank you, I hope youâre right. The claims are preposterous, but they also make me feel sick to my stomach. What if he does win? What if people actually think thatâs the type of person I am? Some middle aged single mother who is some sexual abusing spinster? God, it makes me sick.Â
She knows she isnât allowed to date until sheâs 40. I told her men are smarter then and more likely to know the value of an incredible woman - along with amazing handbags, but shhh. Oh stop, this isnât Shelby Peptalks 101 - but itâs appreciated. It doesnât does it?Â
I figured as much. Itâs actually her âWhat do you mean my room isnât clean enoughâ look. Sheâs been begging me to get her a puppy and Iâm running out of excuses not to. She better not. I did and she says thank you, and that she saw photos of you last night on stage. Sheâs sad she wasnât there. Speaking of, since when are you a part of the band? Tell me youâll be playing when you come here! Both Beth and I are crossing out fingers. Lunch seems very plausible, not to mention unless something goes drastically wrong, you know we can always make time for you. Of course itâs more than okay.Â
Hey! Keep your nose out of trouble, mister. You donât need a baby sitter. I bet you do. It kills me how grown up she looks these days. Nothing like rubbing in how much time has passed, huh?Â
Where is the pause button?Â
- Shelby.Â
They should build one next door to you or give you one of their machines for your kitchen, but then you'd have to do it for yourself and that's really half the point of going out. Here's to hoping we never find out and that caffeine diet of yours keeps on working.Â
Probably 'cause you know the guy deserves it for even making you worry about this crap. You should listen and sue him back. Even if he's got nothing, at least it'd stop him from being able to keep pulling this stuff on people. He picked the wrong chick to mess with this time. He's not going to win. Is your lawyer good? You should get the best one in the city and crush him.
Good rule. I wouldn't budge on that one if I were you. Psh, doesn't hurt to remind you every once in a while how awesome you are with her and everything else.Â
Denying her a puppy? That's cold. Just think of how fluffy they are. You guys saw that, huh? I'm just filling in until Blaine gets his new guitarist ready. Probably just another show or two and I'll be back to my normal job. Been pretty cool though. All that energy from the crowd is no joke. It wasn't even pointed at me and I still loved it. So I probably won't be unless something goes wrong, but you guys should come check out the show anyway. I was hoping you'd say that. Didn't want to seem like I was being pushy or anything. I was talking to Quinn the other day and mentioned how I was wanting to go to lunch with you guys when the tour hit NYC, and she'd been thinking the same thing. Could be cool if we all went together.
I'm a total angel. Rachel won't stop calling me soft even. It's freaking nuts how fast she's growing up. Pretty sure she's aging twice as fast as me these days.
You are going to have trouble keeping boys away until she's 40. Call me if you need me to kick some of their asses too.
How is everyone? Thatâs nice to hear though, that you all got in touch, I mean. Everything would have been different, but you canât dwell on that, you know? Itâll eat you alive, whole too if you let it. You just have to think of the opportunities at hand and what you have now. Just live in the moment and do whatever it is that makes you happy. Life is way too short to do anything else.
I can send it out no problem. That sounds like you two, always finding the middle ground even if you didnât agree. You know if he were here, it wouldnât have been thirty, you two would have both cracked when you turned twenty one and that would have been the end of it. 24, huh? He was never very good at math, god bless him. As much as Iâd love to see you, I know how busy things are for you - I can send it no problem.Â
Thatâs what Burt has been telling me, but it just doesnât feel right. No, I havenât. Is it nice?Â
Of course, keep safe, Puck!!!Â
xxoxoxooxooxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Carole
One day I'll get the hang of this whole checking my email regularly thing. He really would have. Or maybe we'd be on tour ourselves in our own band. He'd have been crushing it on the drums, and I've had had my guitar. Two of the biggest pieces right there. Coulda been called Shark Finn or something. I don't know. You and my ma would make great tag team partners. You could be The Guilt Patrol. It's got a nice ring to it. I'm kidding. I know you're right. I'll call her more. I do love her, even with her nagging.Â
Everyone's doing good. It's cool to see where we all ended up, you know? Santana's got a bar out in LA. Probably could have guessed that one, but she's really good at the business stuff. I talked to Kurt some. You probably know way more about what he's up to than I do, but it was good to see him. He makes really good mac & cheese. Rachel's out in New York. Can't imagine her anywhere else, right? But yeah, I'm trying. It's been a little weird figuring out where I want to go since the Air Force, but I'll figure it out.Â
We woulda opened it up as soon as we found it again. Kinda surprised we lasted longer than a week without opening it to get something back out again. Thanks Mrs. H. It'll be something good waiting for me when I finally get back home.Â
You should listen to him on this one and go check it out for yourselves. It's really badass. I think you'd like it.
âWho was that?â Blaine questioned curiously, his brow at itâs highest peak. He wasnât trying to be a nosy little prick or anything like that, simply curious. âThatâs not even the point, I like having everyone out there with me. It adds to it, you know? Everyone working together to produce something beautiful, thatâs music. Itâs not just me.â He knew Puck was teasing but still, music was one thing that ignited the passion. Blaine took another sip from his beer as he crossed his legs, âYup, a whole twenty minutes to start with, but Iâve got a feeling youâre going to take twenty seconds.â And he was so, so very right.
âUh huh, not what Iâm talking about man, and you know it.â Blaine mused, a skeptical look aimed right at Puck. âSam, Kurt and Sebastian? Why not throw in Santana and Rachel while youâre at it. All aboard the Blaine Anderson express.â Did Puck really think heâd spent his time in Hawaii surviving on a copious diet of cock? âNot quite, but like I said, you for twenty minutes. Weâve got all the time in the world to talk about me, but Iâm curious about you.â
"My sister," he lied with a shrug of his shoulder from having to explain why he was talking to Rachel. Blaine seemed to have enough of an idea what was going on as it was. "C'mon, it's you. That whole show? It's all you. Your name is the one selling out the place. You should own that, but it has been pretty cool. Reminded me of how much I miss playing for people. Nothing like it really."Â
"'Cause you're gay, dude," he answered like it was obvious why he hadn't thrown in Santana and Rachel's names into the mix. "So is Santana and the other is Rachel so..." Puck shrugged his shoulders and didn't finish his complete thought as he felt like it was obvious. "I'm not some reporter that you've got to pretend for." He still wasn't sure why Blaine agreed to do that in the first place, but that was probably one of many reasons why he wasn't the rock star of the two of them. Either way, he knew it wasn't the point of why Blaine wanted to talk, but it was a lot easier to discuss.
"Look," he said with a heavy sigh. Puck knew he couldn't keep his friend in the dark forever, and it wasn't like he wanted to either, but it wasn't a subject he felt like he could talk about. "Whatever you think you know...just don't." Puck looked over at Blaine as he hoped his friend could see that he wasn't trying to be a jerk and was instead admitting he couldn't open up about it yet. "I know that you care about me and you're probably even worried or whatever, but I just need you to be my bro right now and not ask me. I know I can talk to you when I'm ready. I've always know that, but I'm just, I'm not. Not about this. I'm not ready to deal with it."Â
What is the difference between living and being alive?
"Being alive is existing; it's the day-to-day, waking up every morning and going through the motions. Living is taking the hand you've been dealt and doing something with the cards. It's growth and creation. It's taking full advantage of our human experience in the time we are given to have it. Everyone is alive, but unfortunately not everyone truly lives. That's one of the saddest realities of life." - Shia LaBeouf.
