GLEE PREFERENCES

After Graduation // J. Puckerman

It was the night after graduation and your parents were out of town, so you had invited all your friends from the glee club over to celebrate. The music was loud, and everyone seemed to be having a great time drinking, but you couldn't help but feel a little sad. Your best friend, Jake, had been ignoring you all night and you had no idea why. Being that you were only three months away from all splitting up for college, you were hoping the two of you could make some happy memories.

You and Jake had a complicated friendship, as you had had feelings for him all of senior year, You had made the mistake of telling him one night while you were both drunk at a party a few months back, and he seemed to feel the same way that night – only to tell you he wasn't ready for a relationship the next morning. However, after some awkwardness, you had felt as though you had moved past it, but now you weren't so sure. Jake hadn't said a word to you all night and had spent most of it playing table tennis with Sam and Ryder.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Marley says, catching you glancing across the patio, watching the boys. "Maybe he's just having a rough time adjusting to the freedom of graduation. My mum said that's what happened to her."

"Yeah maybe," You sigh, taking a sip of your drink.

"(Y/N)," Tina Chimes in. "Guys are just like this sometimes, I promise. I'm sure he is just taken aback by how hot you look tonight. I even saw Sam checking you out on the way in."

"Thanks guys." You say, faking a smile and looking over at Jake. Your eyes meet for a moment before he looks away, sipping his drink and pretending to laugh at one of Sam's impressions.

It wasn't until midnight that people started heading home and people who were still there were clearly all getting tired. You were all sat around on picnic blankets in the backyard, wearing hoodies or cuddled up to someone. You had pulled one of the outdoor lounges over and were sat on that by yourself, with a blanket and a warm cup of tea, which you had opted for in favour of another alcoholic beverage although you were practically sober. Everyone was talking about their plans for the break, and you couldn't help but feel lonely. You could tell Jake was too, as he kept looking away from his conversation with Sam and Ryder.

Over the next hour, more people made their way inside and fell asleep on the mattresses in the loungeroom, as it was too expensive to order an Uber that late on a Saturday night. Eventually just you and Jake were left outside, sitting across from each other.

"Have you had a good night?" You ask, sipping your tea which was starting to cool.

"Yeah." Jake smiles, looking at the ground. "Thanks for organising it."

"No need to thank me." You chuckle. "It's been a crazy year. I think we needed to let our hair down."

"Yeah," Jake nods. "It's been rough."

It's quiet for a moment so you take another sip of your tea and turn your head up to look at the stars.

"You're so beautiful (Y/N)." Jake says suddenly.

Your cheeks flush a dark shade of red, and you don't know what else to say other than an awkward 'thank you'.

"I'm serious." Jake says. "Even now just in a hoodie and leggings, you are just stunning."

"Jake, stop." You whisper. "You're drunk."

"I'm not." Jake insists, his words crystal clear, so you want to believe him. "I've been drinking water all night, except for the two beers I had at the start of the night to be able to tolerate Ryder complaining about not having a girlfriend, and all of Tina's crying. That's it." He turns his cup so you can see inside at it just looks like water.

"Look, (Y/N)." He says, moving from where he was sitting down the end of the lounge you were sitting on. "I know I've been distant, but I just panicked when I got here and everyone else was already here. I had wanted to talk to you privately all night, but there were always people around, and it would have looked suss if I pulled you away."

"W-What did you want to talk about?" You ask, suddenly getting nervous.

"I wanted to say that I was sorry." Jake begins. "I'm sorry that I made you feel like you weren't worth the world after you told me how you felt about me then. I know I'm probably too late, but (Y/N), I can't keep lying."

Tears are welling in your eyes, and you turn your head to look away, but he uses his thumb to turn your face back towards him.

"(Y/N), I was scared then, but I'm not now." He takes a nervous breath. "I need you in my life. I-I love you."

"Jake-" You whisper.

"(Y/N), I promise you that I mean this with all of my heart. I even accepted an on offer to a college in Boston so I can be with you when you go to Berklee."

Jake pulls out his phone to show you his confirmation email to college, but you can't take your eyes off of him. You take your hand and pull Jake closer to you, and he leans in and kisses you softly.

"I love you," You whisper pulling away for a moment.

"I love you more." Jake smirks, his face still up against yours.

A moment later, you hear people clapping and cheering from behind you and you turn around to see Brittany, Sam, and Blaine watching you from the kitchen window with massive smiles on their faces.

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