He's standing before her offering her a cherry slushie and she can only look at him.
"Here."
"Why?"she questions confused.
"Because I'm sorry and. . ." he hesitates not entirely sure why himself, she was just supposed to smile and get it, he didn't think he'd have to explain.
She narrows her eyes and her gaze hardens. "I don't like cherry," she states and flounces away with more spunk than she's shown for awhile. I hear the you don't know me at all that she didn't say.
"Dude, are you thinking about slushing Rachel? I know she dumped you after Santana part 2, but dude¸ you deserved that."
"What? No. I was going to give it to her, as like a peace offering or whatever."
"Bro, Berry doesn't like cherry."
"That's what she . . .wait, how do you know?"
"Because," his friend states as though it's an answer as he stalks off, leaving me to look after him questioningly.
"I'm sorry I got the wrong kind, but I'm trying, doesn't that count?"
"No, it's been done and it's been done better," she doesn't even turn to look at me, and I doing that smile that always got to her before. The smile that made her forget I always chose Quinn.
"What by who?" I question as she walks off.
Later he'll watches as his friend approaches her with his own slushie.
"Berry."
"Noah," she narrows his eyes appraising him.
"It's grape, " he offers, as he hands it to her.
"Why?"
"Because we're friends and to remind you that I listen, sort of. And because maybe I don't want to be your friend forever, but I figure you'll need time or whatever. And finally, because it worked the last time". (He can't help but remember her words about the slushie and how it'd been done better before, now he's thinking this boy's why is better too).
She smiles brighter than he's seen her do since the first time he'd had an excuse for Santana after he'd had an excuse for Quinn. But he figured he'd kissed her when he was with Quinn, why wouldn't it be okay when he was with her? Only now does he think maybe he broke her a little, and that he was never really the better guy, just the easier more approachable guy.
Her smile so unencumbered tells him he should walk away, let the other guy, the if not better at least better for her guy, win. Because the other guy never broke her heart, not when it mattered and he knew her name and she was Rachel Berry and not just some girl. That boy slushied nameless and faceless, but he demeaned and walked all over and humiliated Rachel.
So he walks over and tries not to be hurt, when she almost cowers into the other boy and lets him take her hand.
"I'm sorry," I tell her and she only looks at me unsurely as the other boy looks at me in caution. But I already know this time, I lost the girl all on my own.
"Don't waste time, just love him. He'll do a much better job than I did," I say. And already she's looking shyly up at the boy at her side as he glares at me in warning trying to figure out my angle. But her hand reaches to his cheek, and his eyes soften at her touch, even before she's pulling his lips to hers.
This time he'll fix what I broke (and maybe that's all he was trying to do last time too).
AN:So I hope this wasn't too confusing. But really I think Finn is kind of a jerk with passive-aggressiveness. I totally choose blatant Puck over hidden verbal abuse. Also anyone want to be a beta? I pretty exclusively write Puck and Rachel one shots.