They get into a heated argument where there are careless words exchanged on a wave of fiery indignation. It always begins in the usual way, he picks a fight because he's still unsure of all the reasons they're together; his insecurity has the ability to cripple the relationship. Hers add no particular benefit, she's always in the between wondering what he sees in her. She has never been involved in a relationship prior to this; it is natural for her to question things.
Typically, they never fight because it is Rachel's belief that words tossed in the heat of the moment do little but hurt the opposition. There are merely careful debates where each party irons out a list of grievances, a list, and she often makes Puck sit with her until each grievance on the list is resolved. Puck only puts up with that shit because the make up sex is always worth the hours of discussion.
She storms out in the middle of Glee rehearsal, slamming the door behind her because she can't look at him at the moment. He's said something careless again, the words causing the tightly wounded coils inside to snap. She hides in the girls bathroom, waiting for her tears to pass and for the ache in her chest to subside. She will cry herself to tears until a calming presence takes the place of her tears. When she pulls herself off the bathroom floor, she smooths out her hair and the stains off her skirt, and she breathes; soft bursts of air escaping from the bottom of her throat.
Breathe through your stomach, Rachel. Breathe. Everything will be fine, she reassures herself, whispering words of solace to her ears. Everything will be fine and they will be happy again tomorrow because despite the assumptions of everyone else, they are happy together and they enjoy the time they spend together.
When she is positive that everyone has departed from the vicinity, she carefully gathers her belongings from the rehearsal space and walks to her car, her thoughts less on the argument and more on the resolution that will occur tomorrow. The tension between them will clear, and she will reassure him that despite his many doubts, they are a well matched couple. She has strong feelings for him and despite his initial reservations to the relationship, she knows that he has feelings for her too. Given his background on feelings and relationships, she knows it is often difficult for him to express his emotions but they will tackle that problem because they will get through these feelings and conflicts together. They will apologize, they will have sex (perhaps even on public property?) and everything will be fine.
She comes home and she watches Rent with a bowl of ice cream, highlighters in her hand for the index cards she will need the following day. She will not read off them in front of him, of course, but she likes to be prepared in advance. She wants to make sure that she says the correct words and conveys enough emotion without being overzealous. She goes to sleep early that night and a smile tugging at her face; everything will be fine.
By the time Rachel walks into school the next morning, slightly later than usual because she forgot her cue cards, everyone seems to know what she does not know. There are people who whisper behind her back, and even Quinn looks embarrassed; she avoids her questioning gaze. Of all people, it is Finn who wears a puppy dog expression and tells her what nobody else will. He throws her a paper airplane in the middle of Spanish class and she feels her blood run cold.
Puck left with a blond Cheerio yesterday.
She blinks at the note, the blocks of black letters pressed against a contrasting white page. It dawns on her slowly; the rumors were in reference to this. She sits still in her chair and she is nothing if not an actress; she will wear a mask and she will pretend that this does not bother her. The bell rings and she does not turn to look at Finn. She walks out of her classroom with her head held high and her emotions in check. There is no need to let others know that Puck's actions have gotten to her.
The whispers press against her back, and while the words are soft, they reverberate harshly in her ears. It is lunch time now and from prior experiences she knows that Puck usually spends his time fraternizing by the door while he waits for her. She has not seen him prior to lunch time and she has no wish to. She ducks into a janitor's closet.
She leans against the door and her knees buckle; she sinks down to the floor, her knees pressed into her chest, her chin tucked against one. She closes her eyes but the tears do not come; perhaps she cried herself out the previous afternoon.
She wills herself to cry, to show some emotion but the tears do not come. However, there is a feeling bubbling inside of her, a feeling that multiples quickly by blood cells leading to an ache in her heart, falling to an ache in her chest, resting at the bottom of her stomach.
She is not surprised this happened, she cannot feign shock or bewilderment. She was forewarned that Puck is a man whore. She was informed to leave the relationship while every organ was intact, and while the loss would not cut so deep. She was told that he was fantastic between the sheets and he was better at breaking hearts. Love 'em and leave 'em, that was the motto.
However, she had made an error in judgment. She believed in false assumptions and a false sense of security that things between them were well. Better than well. Fantastic. She believed that things were fine. He and Finn had made up, an olive branch; a truce on the road paved to forgiveness. He had met her fathers who had given their approval and deemed him worthy despite their original impressions that their daughter was involved with a juvenile delinquent and participating in sexual activities with a hooligan. However, he evoked feelings of happiness inside her and she thought she was able to do the same for him.
She frowns. She remembers the note that Finn flew her way. There is one thing that was written that did not surprise her.
Puck left the school with a blond. Rachel has always been privy to the fact that his preference is blond.