How did I fall in Love with You?
Title: Meteors
Category: Glee
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humor
Ship: Rachel/Puck
Disclaimer : I do not own Glee
Chapter One
Rachel Berry lives an almost fairytale-musical themed life. The one where the little girl has all her dreams come true because she was born a natural unmatched genius with a hard working self and an itching, desperate need to have everything she desires. But it does not come easy. She never expected it to. Between her dance classes, vocal lessons and community service volunteering, she finds little time to complain.
She did however expect to be the school-star. And she still believes that she is, though the general crowd may not agree. Her classmates have never understood her strive for perfection but with a voice like gold she makes sure she tries her very best to make them.
Except none of them really care and she really doesn't get how a girl like her (future Broadway star and all) is treated the way she is. Being anonymous is a vice she can't afford but that doesn't mean she does not wish for invisibility sometimes.
Like now.
She's squinting her eyes against the cold liquid draining down her face when calloused fingers grab her by the arm and direct her to the girls' lavatory. She walks numbly holding back her tears until the door closes behind them.
"Do you have to give them a chance to do this to you?" Quinn is whisper-yelling at her as if she's afraid someone might hear her talking to the school loser.
Maybe she is. After all, she has never really proved to Rachel that she values family over popularity.
Yeah, that's right. Cheerleading Captain, President of the Celibacy club, pretty-faced and one of the most popular girls in Mckinley- Quinn Fabray- is Rachel's sister.
Well, not biologically. Because Rachel is adopted and Quinn is Dad's sister's daughter who tragically died of cancer while Quinn was only two years old and has been with them since because Dad was the only guardian she had. Their fathers (Quinn calls them Dad and Daddy too) have raised them with a perfect balance of love and responsibility, but their social lives bifurcated widely somewhere during middle school.
"You don't have to be here. I am perfectly capable of cleaning this mess." Rachel says when she can finally swallow enough tears to find her voice, jerking back from Quinn who was cleaning her hair. She knows that it's unfair to direct her bitterness towards Quinn who's after all only trying to help her. But she of all people should not be held accountable for unfairness.
"If you could take care of yourself, you wouldn't be in this mess in the first place." She replies angrily.
"How is this my fault? On second thoughts though, this just might be your fault. Those football cavemen are your friends after all. "
"And you think I paid them to slushie my li'l sister? You know what? Screw you little miss Broadway diva. I'm outta here."
"Quinn, wait! I didn't mean it like that."
Rachel sighs aloud because how is Quinn the one storming out when it's her who's drenched in blue corn syrup. She gently scrubs her face and is about to take off her sweater when she realizes she didn't bring a change of clothes from her locker. And that's all it takes for her anger to dissipate and a flood of tears to flow down her slightly bruised cheeks.
She doesn't even know what she's crying for, because this isn't the first time that she's been a victim to the horrendous act of slushie facials of Mckinley high. It's not even the first time she's had a tiff with Quinn either. But it is the first time she's realized that although Quinn may not pay for her to be the target, she isn't really doing anything to stop it.
Rachel understands professionalism better than any other occupant of the school and she has also learnt to accept that she will never be at the same level in the social chain as her sister. She loves her sister and she knows Quinn reciprocates the love too but she just cannot digest how Quinn stands back, day after day, watching her being humiliated in front of everyone. Because if she considers the positions reversed (and she has been for the past few days), she just cannot picture herself being oblivious to her sister's misery.
She's practically bawling like a baby when the door opens. A squeak escapes a mouth in a hasty attempt to stop her sobbing.
"Here's your change of clothes and just so-Oh God. Rach? Why are you crying?" Quinn practically runs to Rachel, pulling her into an awkward embrace because she's trying to avoid drenching herself.
Rachel tries to form some words but all her mouth is capable of are heavy sobs. Quinn runs her hand through her hair to soothe her and that's all it takes for Rachel to take back all the thoughts she thought less than a minute ago.
Later when she is changed into clean dry clothes and exchanged Sorrys with Quinn, they walk out of the bathroom to their separate classes.
Rachel realizes that although Quinn may not yet be popular enough to make all her sister's problems go away, she will still be there to help her clean up whatever next prank of humiliation the school monsters may bestow upon her.
She's smiling as she's entering her Math class, because, really, what would she do without a sister like Q?
On Friday, as she's marching down the crowded halls, she hears her name called out. She is so accustomed to all of this, that she just continues to walk on.
"Hey Berry, nice sweater. Didn't I tell you, Britts, that Man Hands inherited her grandma's wardrobe?" One of the cheerios exclaims. She recognizes the voice as Santana's, Quinn's 'friend' whose favorite hobby is, apparently, making Rachel's life tougher than it already is.
She glares at the Latina who is leaning against the locker with a few other Cheerios and two footballers a few lockers ahead. She recognizes the mohawked delinquent, Noah Puckerman, the original slushinator whose favorite target is surprise surprise, Rachel. Out of habit, she glances at his hands and sure enough he has his weapon of torture ready to attack. She braces herself, without halting, for the sting of cold coloured syrup. It scares her how used to this she's become. She's almost at arm's length from him and about to shut her eyes, but the facial never comes.
Instead she hears a soft, unsure voice saying, "Dude, don't. It's not cool."
"Man, don't tell me you've got a hard-on for Granny Berry."
Rachel stomps her foot, because she's right there. Although she's now a safe distance away from the slushie bath she so despises, she's not deaf.
She has half the urge to demonstrate her karate skills to the high school bully. But she has an even stronger urge pulling at her heart that's wanting a glimpse of her savior. Yes, she's already decided to call him her knight in shining armor before she reaches her locker and subtly turns around to scan the halls for his face.
He takes her breath away. No really, she literally forgets to inhale for 10 seconds when she first lays her eyes on him. She's half in love with him when he walks towards her and head over heels in love when their eyes meet, for exactly 1.5 seconds, before he walks past her. By the end of second period, she's decided the name of their first-born. Maria. And she'll be perfect, just like her mother.
She's anxiously waiting for Quinn in the parking lot later, when she sees him again. Within the span of a day, she's so aware of his physicality, she thinks she can specifically pick him up from a population nearing thousand.
Rachel has seen him almost every day for the past year or so, but never anything more than a mild presence. It changed a few hours ago and she has a feeling it's going to stay this way for a long time too.
She realizes for the hundredth time that he is perfect for the role of her male lead. God knows she's been desperate to cast someone ever since she understood the term. His head stands taller than any other. His body is well-built for a quarterback he so skillfully plays. Well, she hasn't ever really been to a football match, except once with her daddies and even then she was only cheering her cheerleading sister, but assuming he's perfect, she just knows he must be good.
He trots among McKinley's most popular, the bunch at the top of the school social ladder. But it was not his popularity or his face (okay, it did take 14% of her pie chart) that attracted her towards him. A staggering 32% of the graph was unquestionably captured by the smile she saw this morning. (The rest of her Berry-pie rightfully belonged to his heroic endeavors).
Rachel had always thought that the sneezing baby panda was the cutest thing she'd ever seen (after her childhood album ofcourse), but that had changed today and had been rightly replaced by that adorable, lop-sided, heart-warming smile that brightens the features of Finn Hudson's face.
And yes, she completely realizes that her life's taking the clichéd twist of every teen movie she had once painfully hated to sit through. He's the star quarterback. She's the star in making. She has a tender spot for stars and she's not overanalyzing when she thinks they are meant to be.
He's not alone. He's walking with his band of football punkheads on either side and a pack of cheerio skirts fluttering behind him.
She quickly recognizes Quinn with her silky blond hair held firmly in a high ponytail among them, but avoids waving until she is away and safe from the rest of the group. She's not expecting any pranks now because she assumes they have the decency to not bully her around her sister, although you can never be sure with these twisted minds. She also, however, knows how the popularity clock ticks in Mckinley and she does not want Quinn to be a social plague because of her.
She loves her sister too much to want that for her.
"Finn Hudson ? Football captain Finn?" Quinn gapes at Rachel, while she is lying on her bed with Rachel sitting Indian-style at the edge. It's not often they spend time together like this between their busy schedules and significantly different interests. But today seemed like a good enough day to call for an all-girl meeting. Mainly because Rachel's restraint against spilling her guts out is as efficient as her gag reflex. None.
"Yes. Him. Why do you have that face? " she's starting to think that spilling her secret to Q was a bad idea already. Not many girls her age seek approval of their families before pursuing a partner, but Rachel has never been like most girls her age.
"Are you sure, Rach? I mean I've always thought he was a bit dim. You can do better." Quinn stares intently, her face expressionless for someone who doesn't know her well enough. Rachel can practically hear her mind processing the situation.
"That's mean, Q. I thought he was supposed to be your friend." She pouts.
"I don't keep aptitude try-outs for the post of my friends, duh." Quinn replies. After a while, she continues, "He's sweet though. Really sweet, actually. I don't think he even knows what social ladder is, but you know the peer pressure in high school. I just don't think he's fit for you."
"Well, why not? I mean I know I'm nothing if not high-maintenance, but I think I can tone it a bit down." And for the zillionth time in her life she's wondering what she can possibly do to make her more fitting, more likeable. It's hard to find a solution when you don't know what the problem is.
"Maybe then. Still, Rach. I don't want you hurt."
Rachel understands Quinn is asking her to stop singing her silly love showtunes. She's not sure she can. At the same time, she knows Quinn won't really understand the longing of her Broadway-driven heart. She needs to have Finn. And her stubborn heart and fierce mind won't stop until she does.
Still, for her sister's sake, she says, "I understand. Don't worry. My heart is safe. Besides it's just a high-school crush. I'll probably get over it in a fortnight."
"Yeah, right. Because that's how long it took you to get over your last crush."
"Drama was inevitable in that case, Quinn. Adam was my musical twin."
"He was also gay. I did warn you."
"I had my own doubts when he squealed over Zac Efron's moves in HSM more than I did."
And then they burst out laughing and don't stop till Rachel has tears falling down her face and Quinn is clenching her stomach.
"Goodnight, Quinn." Rachel finally says, pulling her blankets to her chin.
"Night, Rach. And promise me you won't fall in love too soon." She whispers.
"I won't." she whispers back.
Because falling in love isn't likely when you're already in love, right?
Rachel is furious. No, she's raged, scorned. She's trembling by the time she's halfway to her destination. The day has finally arrived to forsake her vow of non-violence and it's all thanks to the filthy swine mouth that belongs to one Noah Puckerman. She's blinded by wrath and she's only praying Quinn will help her bury that..that..imbecile ape when she's finally done with him. Yes, she's contemplating murder. Cold, brutal, merciless massacre.
To call her names and pour her with liquid is one thing. Raising questions about her womanhood is entirely another. And she needs to have a word with Quinn too, to know how people (Puck) came to know about Adam (who moved to California two years ago by the way) and decided to use his flight with his boyfriend as an evidence against her feminism. It doesn't even make any sense. But if she meets Quinn in this state and her suspicions are proved true, she's sure it will be her sister's body that will require burying later in the day. So she's saving that task for later.
When she finally arrives at the gym, its empty save for a tall figure sitting at one of the benches with his head in his hands. Her heart does a somersault when she realizes it's Finn.
It's been a fortnight since she fell in love and she's still conspiring ways to make him fall for her, despite what she promised her sister.
She's never really spoken to him except last Wednesday in chemistry, when he asked her what her titration readings were and her mind was filled with so many 'oh-my-gosh-he's-talking-to-me's that her mouth failed to form coherent words. And before she had come to her senses, he had walked away, with that undeniably adorable smile she loved so much.
Now she's staring at him and she doesn't like the way his brow is creased and wrinkled with worry. Her fingers twitch to erase the lines there.
Her feet are glued to the floor though, because ofcourse the one day when she finally has the chance to initiate a conversation with the love of her life, is the day that his friend thought would be awesome to start rumors about her sexuality.
She's torn between turning around from and walking towards him, when Finn lifts his eyes to hers and says a "Hey", and her decision is made.
"Hi." She calls back, steadily walking into the room because tripping over her own feet will just not make for a good first impression.
"I know you. You're Rachel Berry. Quinn's sister, right?" Finn asks and Rachel nods. Then he continues, "Although how you guys have different last names always confuses me."
Rachel smiles at him. "That's due to the fact that we are not biological sisters. It's a long story." She doesn't know if discussing family is an acceptable form of first-conversations.
"Yeah, I get it. One of my cousins had a biological sister too." He grins.
Rachel just smiles because she really doesn't want to confuse him anymore. And also because she's not entirely certain if 'biological' in Finn's dictionary and hers mean the same.
"You seemed a little upset a while ago." Rachel quips in, to avert the topic of discussion.
"Yeah. It's Coach Bieste. She said I can't play football anymore if my grades don't improve." He said sadly.
"Well, do you need assistance in any particular subjects?" she hoped she didn't sound as eager as she felt.
"Math and English. Numbers confuse me and so do Shakespeare."He mumbled.
"Does. So does Shakespeare." Rachel corrects politely.
"I said that already."
"No, you said 'do'. It's not…never mind. What I really want to say is that I can be an excellent teacher, and luckily, Math and English happen to just be my areas of profound expertise. And I would gladly grant you my services, only if you are keen to accept them, that is." She adds. She knows she's rushing things and a part of her is fearful he's going to burst out laughing at her face.
Instead, he just smiles that lovely smile and says, "Wow. You're awesome Rachel. Thanks. You saved my life."
And with a pat on her back he's gone off while Rachel stands there stupidly, grinning so wide her cheeks hurt.
By the end of the day, as she's awaiting her ride home from daddy, she's all but forgotten about the rumor mill in working in the McKinley halls concerning her feminism until she sees the face of the delinquent and it's back to square one. It's fuming rage and murder plans sketched out and vicious words burning on the tip of her tongue as she strides towards Puck.
"Oh hey there, Berry. How's your boytoy? Oh wait. I heard you turned him so gay he ran off with a man twice his age." He smirks. The nerve of this boy.
Lord knows she's been wanting to wipe that smirk off his face for quite some time now. A year and a half,precisely. Since it started residing on his face.
So that is what she does.
She uses all the force in her perfectly toned feminine hand and lays it smack across his face. The sound of the contact feels like music to her ears.
"You are a vile animal,Noah Puckerman. I don't know what I have ever done for you to feel so threatened by my existence that you strive day and night to make sure it miserable, but let me tell you something, you pig. The slushie stains, the horrendous names, the spiteful rumors, they will all fade away with time. But your useless asses will all rot here in this loser-town for all of your lives. We'll see who's smirking then." She's yelling in the middle of the parking lot, her cheeks hot and flushed, and her chest heaving beneath her sweater and she realizes she's this close to tears.
She's about to turn around when two strong hands grip her by the arms firmly so that she's rendered immobile. And before she knows it, his lips smash urgently against hers.
She's so shocked by this abrupt change of events, she isn't completely able to comprehend what is going on. His lips feel like fire, burning her skin in the process. Only this flame is so amazingly refreshing, she can't help but want more of it. She fills a tug at her lips and she willingly opens her mouth to let his tongue slide in. It doesn't seem quite enough so she pulls at his hair, tilting her mouth allowing him better access. A spurge of excitement numbs her as they keep battling for dominance. She feels something cool hit her back and it's a striking contrast to the heat that's generating from his body. Noah Puckerman's body.
Oh.Oh.Oh no!
It takes her a moment to comprehend what she's doing-she is pressed against his truck with his body laid thickly over her, kissing in the middle of the school parking lot with his one hand tangled in her hair and the other around her waist, her hands gripping the collar of his shirt and one of her legs embarrassingly wrapped around his behind- and another to find the strength to push him away. It's difficult when your body is refusing to let go of the other.
When his body is no longer touching hers, she finds rationality coming back to her.
"What do you think you're doing?" she shoves at him again, before quickly walking away, lest he sees her scarlet cheeks blushing furiously.
It's only when she's seated in her daddy's car and turned on the radio that she allows herself to think about WHAT JUST HAPPENED!
Noah Puckerman, her sworn enemy for eternity, just kissed her. And she kissed him back.
Hope you like it. Please, please, please review and let me know. Suggestions, criticisms all welcome..