I know I shouldn't be starting a new story but its one I had hiding in a notebook for quite a while. I have more chapters ready to be typed and expanded so I hope that I can keep up! Love all reviews good and bad so feel free to share! Hope you enjoy the Puckleberry love! Oh, and I don't own glee or its characters or Puck would have jumped that damn train with Rachel! Much love!
'10…11…12' She heard the little girl counting as she ran through the house looking for a hiding place. She had never been to the home before so she took the first door she found on the second floor, not noticing the countless skate board and snowboarding stickers covering it. She stumbled in and began to notice her surroundings. There was a deep brown comforter covering the bed, multiple posters on the wall ranging from Sublime to Pantera, a clean desk with neat stacks of music sheets and guitar books.
Oh great, I'm in Noah's room! She thought to herself. I really didn't expect it to be so snazzy and clean. Oh! She won't expect me to fit under the bed.
She got down on her stomach and army crawled to her hiding place.
'Ready or not, here I come!' Lily, Noah Puckerman's little sister yelled from the kitchen. She heard the girl run up the stairs and right passed the room. Rachel let out the breath she was holding and began to look around at the small space. She saw a random sneaker, long forgotten, a small stack of magazines she was afraid to look at too closely, a few odds and ends like pens and candy wrappers, and finally a shoe box covered in gold stars.
Wait, gold stars? That's not really Noah's style. Hmmm…
She reached for the box and pulled it close. There were block letters across the top; the initials R.B.B.
R.B.B? Gold Stars? This is me!
Her fingers moved of their own accord and suddenly the lid was off and her eyes fell on the contents. There was a photograph on the very top of the snack, worn around the edges and torn as if it had been held hundreds of times. It was from the brief time they dated, Rachel wore Puck's extra jersey and she was snuggled under his right arm beaming up at him. He was in his full uniform and was returning the smile, handing her the football he had caught in the end zone.
I didn't know this picture existed, Noah looked so happy.
She set the picture aside and pulled out a small notebook. She opened it and her eyes went wide. It was a very Puck-like journal, brown worn leather with faded edges and random little pieces of paper sticking out of the pages. She opened it carefully and began scanning the pages as she fought her inner monologue that insisted she put it back and quit invading his privacy. It was too intriguing to find out what was going on in the closed off Puckerman's head. She flipped through the pages and found an entry that caught her attention.
I tried to tell Rachel how I felt today and now I look like an even bigger asshole. Why can't I fucking tell her how beautiful I think she is? Why do I freeze up than make a rude ass comment to try and hide my insecurities? I know that she's probably not into me; why would she be? I've fucked up so much how could she ever find me worthy of her? It doesn't matter though, I can't take this shit anymore… I can't stand watching her with Finn or for Christ sake Jesse St. Deushbag without at least trying. What if she says yes? And I'm wasting all of this time being a pussy? I asked her if she would babysit Lilybug tonight so now I have to find somewhere to go. I wanted to invite her to dinner but… like I said, I'm an idiot! Oh my god he wrote this today! I'm thinking about singing her the song but I'll probably fuck that up too…
Rachel quickly scanned the pages until she found the song he was referring to. Use Somebody lyrics were written beneath it with a note in the margin – Grow some balls and sing it to her already! She closed the notebook and reached for the next item. She pulled out a blue velvet box and made an audible gasp when she opened it. Inside was a silver Star of David necklace. It was the prettiest necklace she had ever seen; feminine, dainty, sparkly, and… perfect.
The sound of tiny feet outside the door brought Rachel back to reality. She quickly stuck the items back into the box, shoved the lid on it and slid it back to its original position before crawling out from under the bed. She ran to a spot behind the door. Suddenly a familiar voice could be heard traveling down the hallway.
'Lilybug, where's Rachel?' she heard Noah ask.
'I don't know Pucky (Rachel giggled silently at the little girls nickname for her big brother), we are playing hide and seek and I can't find her, help me please?'
'Alright squirt, I'll help. Where have you looked so far?'
'My room, the bathroom and mommy's room.'
'So… that only leaves my room?' He asked nervously.
'Yep!' she smiled, oblivious to the way her brother's breath quickened and his hands began to sweat slightly. He shook it off and opened the door for her and followed her in. Rachel noticed his eyes went directly to her previous hiding place and relief washed over him when it looked untouched. Lily walked towards the closet but saw Rachel before she reached it.
'Found you!' she giggled happily.
'Yes you did Lily! Good job!' she said to the small girl, 'and hello Noah, sorry about hiding in your room. I didn't realize it was yours until she was already on the prowl.'
'Uhm, it's fine.' He replied quietly, it was very out of character for the normally verbose boy.
'Well, alright then; Lily I will you soon again, okay?'
'Okay! You were so much fun Rachie! Will you please watch me again? You were the bestest!'
'Maybe Lily, that would be really nice.' She reached down and swept the little girl into a huge hug before heading downstairs to gather her things. Puck followed right behind her and even handed her her purse.
'Thanks for watching Lily, Berry.' He said graciously as he opened the door for her.
'Oh, it was no problem at all Noah. She's a very well behaved little girl.'
'I may need to get that statement in writing cause my Ma's never going to believe that.' He chuckled and Rachel joined him.
'If you ever need a babysitter you know where to find me, I would love to do it again.' She said happily and headed towards her car leaving Puck on his porch with a proud grin on his face.
By the time Rachel arrived home she had her plan mapped out. Operation Puckleberry a go.