A/N: Hey guys! First Glee story, hope you enjoy it. It's just a very quick little one-shot, but hopefully it's okay anyway :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. If I did, it would state somewhere in his contract that Mark Salling is not allowed to wear a shirt. Like, ever.
She could feel his eyes burning into the back of her head as she stared determinedly at Mr Schue. It was very disconcerting to have to try and focus on her pitch and technique (both of which were perfect) when his gaze on her made her body buzz and her heart thump in her ears. She kept her hands fisted in her lap, resisting the urge to turn around and look at him. That was what he was imploring her to do. Either that or jump on him and rip his soft grey t-shirt off with her teeth (she knew it was soft because of the way she'd ran her hands over his chest in his truck this morning).
Quinn nudged her side and looked at her quizzically. Are you okay? She mouthed, perfect brow furrowed. Rachel gave her the most reassuring smile she had, and checked her watch after she looked away. Only two minutes to go. Two minutes and she'd have to make a run for her car, dragging her pink trolley bag and a heavily pregnant blonde with her. It wasn't going to be easy.
'Okay! Any questions?' Mr Schue looked at the group hopefully. Rachel shook her head eagerly. 'Alright, then you guys can go.'
She was the first one who jumped out of her seat. 'C'mon Quinn, I have so much homework to do!' Ignoring Quinn's protests she grabbed her by the arm and her pink trolley bag with her other hand. The two girls were out the door before anyone else had even stood up. Well, except for Noah. Rachel saw him stumble over the seats as he tried to follow, and to shake Finn off.
'Rachel! Slow down! I'm not in the mood to give birth right now.'
Rachel slowed down automatically, but couldn't stop the frantic beating of her heart, the intense need to get the hell out of there. The hallways were empty, as they always were after Glee practice.
'Sorry, I just wanted to beat the traffic. You know how conditions can be at this time of day.'
Quinn looked at her as though she was crazy. 'Alright, but I have to talk to Puck first. I have that doctor's appointment tomorrow and wanted to ask him to come with me.'
'I thought I was going to come with you?'
Quinn shrugged. 'Of course. But Puck did say that he wanted to be a part of this and I'm trying to respect his wishes.' She gave a small, sort of sad smile. 'It's the least I can do after everything I've done to him. And to Finn.'
Rachel tried to give her a sympathetic look, but the thought of going back to find Noah after avoiding him almost all day was torturous. She had ruined everything, and all she wanted to do was crawl under her covers and never come out. But damn, sometimes life just sucked when pregnancy issues arose. Especially when Quinn got all hormonal and threw things at her. Yeah, that really sucked.
'Okay.' Rachel conceded, spotting Noah marching towards them determinedly. Quinn gave him a smile.
'I'll just be a sec.'
Noah looked surprised when Quinn met him in the hallway and began to talk. At first his eyes stayed on Rachel, but then they flickered to the blonde in front of him. Rachel watched as several emotions ran across his face. Confusion, relief, hope, and finally, genuine happiness. He gave Quinn a breath taking smile and Rachel felt her heart lurch. Quinn turned her back on Noah, and beamed at her.
'Let's go.'
Rachel half-expected Noah to follow them. When he didn't, Rachel felt almost... disappointed?
***
That night, Rachel and Quinn were lying side by side in Rachel's bed, on top of the covers, watching The Little Mermaid. They sang along to the songs and she felt content for the first time all day. All week in fact.
Her whole life had turned around since inviting Quinn Fabray into her home after she moved out of Finn's house. At first she had rejected Rachel's offer, but she had nowhere to go. Things had been awkward, but then they began to make each other laugh, and bond over Disney movies . Now Rachel had someone she could call her friend, her best friend, actually. Quinn was different when she was alone. Sweeter, much more friendly.
Finn and Noah weren't really speaking. Rachel took it upon herself to try and connect the two. She'd given them both a stern talking to, and forced Noah to try and patch things up with Finn. Things were finally back on track.
And now, even Quinn and Noah were right where they should be. Supporting one another, caring for their child together.
It was inevitable, she supposed, having the relationship between her and Noah grow and the one between her and Quinn did.
Sure, they had come a long way since Baby gate and the 'I'm Sorry' cookies she'd baked him afterward. He didn't roll his eyes when she talked about musicals or winning her first Tony, nor did he call her crazy or ridicule her for her... abrasiveness. In fact, they had managed to become... friends.
Developing feelings for Noah Puckerman had been stupid at best. Kissing Noah Puckerman? Biggest mistake of her life.
She wasn't sure when it had started. When she noticed her skin tingled whenever he touched her? When even being around him could make her thump harder and louder than it ever had before? When she realised she hadn't thought about Finn in weeks? Was it when Kurt began to give her little knowing looks whenever she and Noah sung together or she gave him mix CD's of songs she thought he might like?
Maybe. Either way, there was no doubt in her mind that she had fallen for Noah Puckerman. Her feelings were much bigger than they had been that one week they had dated. She didn't tell Quinn, she didn't tell anyone. She pretended everything was the same. Until that morning. He had invited her into his truck as she walked across the school parking lot, to make her listen to some awful music that she abhorred, but, sitting there, watching him play drums on the steering wheel and grin at her, she had leaned over and pressed her lips firmly against his.
They were just as soft as she'd remembered, and they fit against hers perfectly. She had been so overjoyed to finally be kissing him, to be feeling his heart thud against his rib cage in time with hers, she hadn't realised he wasn't kissing back. When she did, she pulled back, frowning. They stared at each other, his eyes were cloudy, and she couldn't read them like she usually could. Mortified, she jumped out of the truck and made a run for the doors of the school.
She had eaten lunch in the auditorium and told Quinn she was doing homework in the library. She hid out for the rest of the day, bolting into the nearest room whenever she saw the top of his Mohawk above the crowd.
Noah didn't feel the same way about her. She was doomed to be forever in love with boys that didn't like her. She was forever going o be the friend. Although, she doubted she was even that anymore.
'I'm really glad I did that today Rachel. I mean, Puck's been fetching me sandwiches and ice cream for too long, it's time he plays a real part in this. Don't you think? Rachel?'
Quinn shook her out of her thoughts. 'Sorry?'
Quinn rolled her green eyes, and for a moment she looked like the old Quinn Fabray. 'Stop being stupid, I know you're hiding something from me.' Sounded like her, too.
Rachel shook her head and smiled. 'What are you talking about? No I'm not.'
'I'll tell you what Rach, you may be a good actress, but your lying is terrible.'
'I don't really want to talk about it.' Rachel crossed her arms over her tank top and stared doggedly at the TV. She jerked her head towards her bedroom door when the doorbell rang.
Quinn smirked. 'What's that saying? Saved by the bell?'
Rachel ignored her and made her way downstairs, past the empty lounge room and kitchen. Her Dad's were out, and wouldn't be back until late. She was used to being home alone, but now with Quinn, the house was never empty.
When she opened the door, her jaw dropped. It wasn't something she hadn't seen before Noah Puckerman standing on her front porch, but it was certainly unexpected.
'Oh, um, hi.' Great. She had turned bright red for no apparent reason.
'Rachel.' His voice was low and gravelly and she repressed her shivers, giving him a bright smile.
'Quinn's upstairs, I'll just get her-' She made to turn away but Noah grabbed her by the arm firmly.
'I'm not here to see Quinn. I'm here to see you.' Her shivers were not to be denied, it seemed.
She mentally prepped herself. It's okay Rachel, you've gone through rejection before. You can do this. Be strong. It's just Noah Puckerman? Who cares how incredibly attractive he is? Or how sweet his is with his little sister? Or how he lends you his jacket when you're called? Or how good he tastes? Or that even the scent of him is making you want to jump on him right now...
'Me? What do you want with me?' She said nonchalantly.
He smirked at her. 'Don't play dumb. Not after you pretty much jumped e in my truck this morning.'
'Oh so you noticed that, huh?'
Noah seemed surprised at her confidence. Even as she repeated the same mantra in her head over and over. He's just a boy, he doesn't matter... He's just a boy, he doesn't matter...
But he did matter. She's never wanted to reach out and touch someone so badly. And he was right there, hands in pockets, hazel eyes burning through her.
'Rachel, I know you've been avoiding me all day. I'm sorry about this morning.'
'What's there to be sorry about?' Her voice was weirdly high-pitched.
He looked down, and then up her through unfairly-long eyelashes. 'I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I'm sorry I didn't kiss you back. I was just totally unprepared for that, and it was so unexpected...'
'Oh it's okay, don't worry about it, good night Noah!' She tried to shut the door before tears threatened to spill out. Go on, say it. I'm sorry, but you're not the one I want.
'Rachel!' Noah pushed the door back open and rolled his eyes. 'I'm trying to make a point here!'
'Get on with it then!' She said. She couldn't help, honestly she couldn't. A single tear made its way down her cheek and she looked the floor, ashamed.
She was startled to feel Noah's hand brushing away the wetness. 'Why are you crying?' His voice was gentle.
'Just say it Noah. Stop trying to be nice about it. You don't feel the same way about me that I feel about you.' She still couldn't look at him. Couldn't look into his eyes and know he would never be hers.
'You're definitely crazy, Berry.'
Rachel looked up, surprised. He hadn't called her crazy in a very long time...
That's when all logical and rational thought left her mind. She was surrounded by heat, and felt Noah's warm lips on her own, his hands on either side of head. He felt so good, so real and solid, and she pulled him to her by his shoulders. He gave a grunt of approval into her mouth and kissed her harder. All the blood in her body rushed to her head and her knees almost gave out under her. Noah pulled her into his warm embrace, his arms encircling her. She felt warm, safe, home.
And it ended way too soon. She looked up at him, startled. There was a smirked on his swollen lips and she touched a finger to her own, wondering if they were too.
She heard a derisive snort from somewhere behind her and whirled around. She had forgotten other people existed, but at the site of Quinn standing at the bottom of the stairs, she felt herself blush deeply. Quinn stalked past them into the kitchen, not looking at them.
'Seriously, it was about time, but get a room...'
Rachel gaped after her, and turned to Noah, wide eyed.
He shrugged. 'You heard the woman.' And captured her lips in another world shattering kiss.
Neither of them noticed as Quinn made her way back upstairs, a tub of ice cream in one hand, rolling her eyes.
A/N: Reviews are always welcome!