Bumps Along the Way | J. Puckerman (2)

Back to School

It was the first day back to school for everyone after winter break, and Jake and I's first day since Kam was born. Emma had helped us get all of our school work online and Marley took my job running glee while we were out. I offered to either let her keep the job as captain
or co-captain with me, but she said two months in charge was enough. It was nice being the captain, the goal for the future is to be a therapist at the school and hopefully coach glee at some point. Bug was going to school for music teaching, so one day he will be here teaching.

"Wake up sleepyhead," Jake laughed kissing the top of my head. "First day back! It's crazy, last time we were in school it was 2013 and you had this little cutie in your belly." 

"I'm awake, now give me my baby. I'm sure she's hungry, I'm surprised she hasn't tried to kill you."

He smiled handing me Kamryn, "Oh, believe me, she tried. Then when she realized that sucking on my fingers wasn't going to do anything she got screamy."

I looked down, making sure that Kam was eating. She is normally a very quiet baby, Andrea always says that we are super lucky because Jake screamed his head off when he was little. Kam cries when she is hungry, tired, needs to be changed, or doesn't feel good, but it's normally more of a whimper and what we call her real sad eyeballs instead of getting 'screamy' as my lovely fiancée would put it. 

"Well she's eating now, also we need to get my brother's wedding finalized so we can start talking about ours," I said, leaning up to kiss him. "I still vote courthouse and a tiny party. I know I love you, you know I love you, so why do we need to be all crazy about it and spend a ton of money? You want to go to med school anyway. That's wedding debt, student loan debt for both of us, medical debt from me and Kammie, I- it's just,"

"You need to breathe," he cut me off. "We will figure it out. We will have a perfect wedding and it will all be okay. We both have money from being managers at mom's dinner, you have money from your family kicking you out before you were eighteen, and to be honest, we have both been through so much that we are going to get scholarships. Not to mention you literally had a baby and still have a 4.025 GPA. I think that we are going to be okay," he said gently, laying his head on mine. 

He was right, we do have the money. We have the money from my parents paying us to not ruin Cooper's fame. We have money from me being a stupid party princess. We have the money, but it is still so much to deal with.

When we got dressed for the day, I put on a T-shirt dress that was easy to nurse in and started to look for Kamryn's outfit. I put her in a onesie with little blueberries on it and a pair of black leggings that had a little skirt attached. I put a matching blue headband with a bow on her perfect little head. I grabbed her diaper bag with her meds and a change of clothes and we were ready to go. Physically ready to go.

"You know, we just did the whole online school thing for a few months and that was fine. I think we should just stay home and not leave. The outside world is far too loud, Kammie told me she doesn't wanna do it," I panicked.

Jake laughed, "the three-month-old told you that?"

After some talking, Jake and I got the car loaded and drove to school. Most of the morning went smooth, the last class of the day was glee, and I had people coming up to me all day asking if they could try out. 

"You're Emily Anderson?" I heard a voice from behind me say.

I turned around, "yes?"

I looked in front of me, a boy with brown hair and light blue eyes was standing in front of me. He looked almost familiar but I couldn't put my finger on how I knew him. He looked like someone I knew, someone I had a connection with. God, what was it? I knew I was going to go crazy until I figured it out. 

"Ah you have a baby?" He yelled.

I laughed, "I do have a baby. What can I help you with?"

"I'm sorry," he blushed.

Me. He reminded me of myself, he reminded me of Marley. He reminded me of her in the way he walked and carried himself. I looked at him, trying to see how they were similar. 

"You're staring?"

I shook my head, "sorry you just remind me of someone."

"I was just going to um, yeah ask you about joining glee club? It's my first day, I just moved here and don't know anyone, it's just weird."

"Hey, stranger! Give me my baby," Marley laughed, sneaking up behind me and kissing my cheek.

The boy looked between us confused, "Are you Emily?" he asked Marley. "Are you two twins?"

"No," I laughed, "not even sisters."

He looked even more confused, "oh? You two look exactly the same, you talk the same, this is just so confusing."

I smiled and handed Kamryn over to Marley. "Just best friends, we are super similar and closer to sisters than some sisters are. I do have a brother, Blaine, but Mars is the closest thing to a sister ever. Her mom is also more of a mom than I have ever had. In the words of my future husband, 'we are family, a messed up one, but still family.' You will find your place soon, just give it time." I said in a voice that I used when speaking to Kamryn or someone having a panic attack.

I tried to never baby voice, just have a nice and calm voice that would make her feel safe. I wanted her to know that voice to be safe, so if I ever used it when she was older she would find comfort and familiarity in it. 

"I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head. "I didn't get your name."

He smiled, "Josh. Uh, Joshua Puckerman."

"Hmm?" Marley and I said in unison.

He raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Josh Pukerman? Are you sure you two aren't related?" He laughed. 

I forced a fake smile, "Nope, not related. Hey Mars can you give me my baby? I, um, I need to go find Jake. I love you! See you in glee! And um... wish me luck."

"I love you!" Marley yelled as I ran to find Jake. "Good luck!"