A/N: ok, so it's a new story… yay! This is 4 chapters… I think, it may end up at 5, but at the moment I'm writing the 4th chapter and I'm planning on it being the last. So, it should be up and completed in the next two or three days. Spoilers up to A Very Glee Christmas, picks up in the new year following that episode.
Disclaimer: Don't own Glee… that would be awesome though
Chapter 1: Assignment
'So you guys were awesome at Sectionals, and we all did a great job for Christmas, and I hope you all had a great break.' Mr Schue entered the room, a big smile on his face. 'We've go some time before Regionals, so this week I have an assignment for you.'
Rachel rolled her eyes, but kept quiet. She knew anything she said wouldn't be taken well. She couldn't believe that after only tying first place at Sectionals, Mr Schuester was going to give them more silly assignments to teach them pointless lessons instead of focusing on preparing for Regionals. They were never going to win like this.
She slumped slightly in her seat, not something she usually did, and as she looked around the room, she caught Puck's eye and he smirked at her, as if agreeing with her view on Mr Schue. She smiled slightly in return, then turned back to face the front of the room.
'So, this week I want all of you to choose a song that you feel connected to, that you can funnel real emotions through. Sing about something really important to you right now, or it can be about someone specific, or just your own general feelings, but they will be solo numbers and we'll be performing them throughout the week.'
Rachel couldn't help but glance over at Puck and roll her eyes again, earning a nod and another smirk. She smiled to herself as she reached for her bag to pull out her iPod. Ever since Christmas break, he was the only person in Glee really talking to her, and it was nice to have a friend. Well, a sort of friend. Actually, most of the time she wasn't really sure where she stood with Puck. She knew he liked her, enough to talk to her at school, give her lifts home and occasionally hang out. But since he didn't talk much, she had no idea if they were actually friends.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she focused on scrolling through her artists, looking for one that jumped out at her.
'Hey Berry.' Rachel jumped and turned to find Puck had moved to the chair next to and was looking over her shoulder at her iPod. 'Any ideas what you're gonna sing?'
'No, not yet. I was thinking about picking someone to sing about and finding a song that would fit into that. What about you?' He shrugged, still looking down at the screen.
'No idea. You listen to Taylor Swift?' She turned and half-glared at him.
'She's a fantastic singer, and I admire her ability to succeed in the pop charts despite being a country singer. And you know Taylor Swift?'
'Well besides the fact everyone was talking about her and that Kanye thing a couple years ago, I have a little sister Berry. I know about a lot of things I can't believe.'
'Right, Hannah, how could I forget about her?'
'Well, she'll be very upset you forgot about her. So, am I giving you a lift today?' She smiled and nodded.
'Yes, thank you.' She bobbed her head in quick agreement, then looked around to realise nearly everyone had left. Only Quinn and Mercedes were left, and they were deep in discussion on the other side of the room.
While Puck moved back to his original chair to collect his backpack and guitar, Rachel put away her folder of sheet music, and slipped her iPod into the pocket of her skirt, standing as he approached, backpack slung over on shoulder, and guitar case in hand.
'Ready Berry?' She rolled her eyes at the name but nodded; stepping forward, she fell into step with him, or more he fell into step with her and they headed out to the parking lot. While Puck put their bags in the back, Rachel hopped into his truck, and dug the iPod chord she'd bought out of his glove box and plugged her iPod into his radio, scrolling through the songs until she found the one she wanted.
She was waiting, iPod in hand when Puck hopped in and turned the car on. As he pulled out of the lot, he looked over to see Rachel still holding the iPod, staring at it.
You gonna play something, or just stare at it?' He asked after another minute of silence.
'Well… when I we were talking earlier about the assignment, I remembered a song and I thought… well, I thought it might be a song you could sing, but I don't want to overstep my bounds, because I'm not sure if this sort of friendship allows for this sort of suggestion and-'
'Berry, calm down and shut up for a second. First, we've been over this; less words gets the point across just as well. Second, shut up with the sort of friendship crap, we're friends. Shit, I'm fairly certain you're one of the few people at McKinley who actually like me, let alone willing spend time with me. And third – are you gonna suggest a Taylor Swift song?'
Rachel smiled up at him at his comment on their friendship, then ducked her head, embarrassed.
'I know Taylor Swift isn't exactly badass, but this song… will you just listen to it? I think you'll understand what I meant, and who I think you should dedicate it to.'
'Sure Berry,' he said, sighing softly. 'Go for your life.' He resisted the urge to roll his eyes; only Rachel Berry could get him to agree to shit like this. Seriously, girl had a freaky way of getting to him. As he listened to the song, to the lyrics, he swallowed hard. She also had an uncanny way of knowing exactly what he needed. This song, albeit sung by a girl, was exactly the kind of thing that had sprung to mind when Schue announced the assignment.
'What do you think?' Rachel asked quietly after the song ended, and she pressed pause.
'I swear sometimes, there must be some Jewish psychic gene for women, cause you and my mum, damn.'
'Noah!'
'Seriously though. It's kinda perfect. And I was kinda thinking about finding a song to dedicate to her anyway. You know me too well Berry.' There was a pause, a silence between them. Then 'you don't, like, have cameras hidden in my house do you Berry? Cause-'
'No Noah, I assure you I don't have cameras in your house. Where do you come up with these silly notions?' Another pause. 'Unless you have hidden cameras in my house. Because I'll have you know that is extremely illegal Noah, and my daddy…' He laughed at this; the tone in her voice so serious. Then she started laughing too, and he looked over and smiled when he saw her smiling. Not her weird creepy show smile, that still kinda scared him (not that he'd tell her that), but her natural smile.
They were still laughing when he pulled into the Berry driveway, and he put the car into park. Turning to her, he grabbed her hand, looked at her so seriously she sobered up in an instant.
'Berry… Rachel,'
'What Noah?' she asked, slightly anxious now.
'I promise there are no hidden cameras in your house.' She smiled and smacked his arm.
'You're an idiot Noah.'
'Yeah, but I'm your idiot, so you have to put up with me.'
'Oh really?' He shrugged.
'Yeah. Us hot Jews have to stick together.'
'If you say so Noah. Well, I have to go, I have a lot of studying to do, and I want to prepare my song for Glee.'
'What are you gonna do?'
'I have something in mind, also dedicated to someone specific, but you'll have to wait to find out.' With that she was out of the truck, reaching around the back to grab her bag, which took her a minute, with it having slid into the centre of the bed. He watched as she let herself into the house, and when she was inside, put his car into reverse and headed home. How the hell had she managed to pick the perfect song for him? He had no idea how she knew him so well; the only person who knew him better was his mum, and well, there wasn't much he could hide from her. He shook his head. Must be the Jewish thing – can't hide anything from Jewish women, they're sneaky geniuses.
