You Can Always Come Home

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"One bedroom, one bath, price includes furnishings and utilities."

Quinn and Puck had been reading through the paper, looking through different sections for any rentals. It was Thursday, so Ava was at her ballet class, leaving the two of them alone at Rachel and Finn's.

"That doesn't sound bad," Quinn said looking at the add in his hands, "How much a month?"

"Nine fifty," he read while whistling.

"Uh, next," Quinn said while tossing the paper to the side.

"Ok here we go," Puck said optimistically, "It doesn't include utilities but its furnished, one bathroom, eh its two bedrooms though."

"That's ok," Quinn said reading along, "I mean it'd be nice to have the space for an extra room if Ava ever wanted to come stay-" she hadn't meant to say that part out loud, quickly back tracking her words.

"I mean if she ever, you know, one day, in the future after we work things through," she stuttered, "I don't expect that now or anything." She quickly turned away from Puck, missing the small smile that had crept on his lips.

Quinn had spent everyday since their Friday night dinner with him and Ava, riding along to pick her up from school and then heading to play at the park or have dinner. She had gotten to know a lot about her little girl, from her favorite foods to eat and movies to watch, to the songs she sang and games she played. Ava was a hilarious and rambunctious child, always getting into something or finding a new way to stop Quinn's heart. While she could stir up trouble, Ava was also very sweet and loving, always hugging and kissing which Quinn didn't mind a bit. They would spend hours together, just the three of them, and while she couldn't tell for sure, Quinn felt as if each time they were together she had gained a little more of Puck's trust. She felt closer to him now then she ever had before, and she hoped the feeling was mutual.

"So how much is that one?" she asked.

"Er, nine," he read, causing Quinn to groan. She hadn't expected to be handed a free fully furnished apartment that didn't include bugs or creepy neighbors, but she had been hoping for something a little cheaper. She still had a good bit of the money she had saved over time in her wallet, but she knew it wouldn't last forever. She had been out the day before job hunting, only to find a job as a hostess or gas attendant, neither paying near enough for rent.

"Moving on," she sighed, chunking the paper in the pile of no's.

"Hey, we'll find ya something, don't sweat it," Puck reassured her. She nodded and leaned back in her chair tired, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. She hadn't realized in the process that her shirt had pulled up, revealing the lower half of her stomach.

"The hell Quinn?!" Puck asked, leaning forward and stretching his hand out to touch the small scars on her side. Quinn shot up instantly, pulling her shirt down and getting up.

"Oh, its nothing," she said quickly, making her way to the sink, "hurt myself a few months ago, its fine."

"Did you do that on the grill too?" he asked sharply, causing Quinn to freeze in her spot.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said forcing a laugh, "I did-"

"Quinn stop it," he said lowly, "Stop lying to me." She could feel tears welling in her eyes but she fought them back. She couldn't break down in front of Puck or tell him the truth. He would think she was pathetic and stupid, and she didn't need to give him any reason to keep Ava away.

"Really Puck, don't worry." She turned to head to her room but Puck caught her, his hands resting on her shoulders.

"Quinn," he said softly, "what's going on with you?" She just shook her head, trying to avoid his eyes and make her way around.