It's senior year. Puck is dating Lauren, and Rachel is dating Finn. This is my first story, so any feedback you have would be appreciated.
Her daddy was being melodramatic, Rachel thought as she walked into temple alone. He just had a bad cold, and there was no need for him to keep his husband home from temple to take care of him. Just then, the thought occurred to her that maybe there was another reason they wanted the house to themselves. Ew! Let's not go there!, She mentally chastised herself, while looking around for somewhere to sit. She didn't remember ever having to go to temple by herself before, and it was going to be weird to sit alone. The service hadn't started yet and everyone was making idle chatter as Rachel walked toward an empty space towards the front. Even in temple, she wasn't one to hide in the back.
"Rachel honey!" She heard from behind her. She turned around and came face to face with Mrs. Puckerman, an already bored looking Puck standing behind her. Rachel knew he only came because he loved his mother, and felt like a bad Jew and son when he didn't. They had discussed it during their one-week failed experiment of a relationship. His mother, on the other hand, considered temple the social hub of her week, and would often try to chew Rachel and her fathers' ears off about Mrs. Goldstein's nasty divorce or Lucy Weinerman's nosejob. She was sweet enough, and obviously fond of Rachel, so Rachel had no problem entertaining her conversations. "Where are your charming fathers, sweetie?" She asked, kissing Rachel on the cheek as a greeting.
"One's sick, and so the other is taking care of him." She responded, returning the gesture. "They told me I could be the Berry representative this week!" She laughed.
"Oh, that's too bad!" Mrs. Puckerman sighed. "Well, we can't have you sitting alone! You can sit with us, right Noah?" Puck merely grunted and shrugged his shoulder noncommittally. Things had been awkward between the two of them since he had helped ruin her relationship, and then promised Finn he would stay away. Rachel smiled graciously, knowing there was no way she could politely get out of it, and followed Mrs. Puckerman to the row she had originally been planning on sitting in anyway.
This is fucking awkward, Puck thought, as the rabbi droned on about something cool that Moses guy did. Somehow, Rachel had ended up sandwiched between him and his mother, and he was doing everything he could to keep at least an inch of distance between them. Finn was his boy, and he had meant it when he said he would stay away. He really did like Rachel as a person. He loved that she was more determined to get out and do something big with her life than anyone he had met in this town, but being friends with her at the moment wasn't worth risking his friendship with Finn, a friendship that had lasted a good fifteen years at this point. He also knew his girlfriend wouldn't be too happy with him and Rachel hanging out, even at temple. Lauren knew about his history with the diva whose legs he was currently trying not to stare at.
Two hours later, Puck thanked the god he was there to worship that the service was finally over. Now came his favorite part, the post-Saturday-morning-service bagels. He made a beeline for the hallway where the snack table was located, not even bothering to wait for Rachel and his mother, who were discussing the Rabbi's sermon.
"What did you think of the service, Noah?" Rachel came up behind him and asked as he tried to fit an entire bagel down his throat whole. His mother had moved on to talking to some older woman, so he didn't bother swallowing his food before answering.
"It was ok." He tried to make sure no food particles flew out, and then couldn't stop his brain to mouth filter before blurting out, "I kept wondering if the rabbi is allowed to get laid." He watched the expression on Rachel's face turn from shock to amusement until she finally just burst out laughing. He smirked a bit at that. He kind of liked that he could still make her laugh.
When she could finally breathe again, she answered, "Yes Noah, the Rabbi is actually married, so it's up to his wife, not god, if he gets laid."
"Poor Guy." Puck smirked again. Rachel just shook her head at that and opened her mouth to retort when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Shabbat Shalom Rachel, Noah" The rabbi they had just been discussing greeted them.
"Shabbat Shalom Rabbi." Rachel replied for both of them, as Puck was trying not to crack up at the Rabbi's timing.
"Do you two have a moment? I've been meaning to discuss something with the both of you." He motioned for them to follow him to a less crowded part of the hall, and they obediently followed. It's gotta be a sin to say no to a Rabbi right? Puck thought. "Now, I've noticed that aside from the two of you, and occasionally that Jacob boy, there doesn't seem to be many teenage regulars lately." He continued once the noise from the crowd had faded a bit. "I'd like to change that, and I was hoping you two could help me." I don't like where this is going…Puck inwardly groaned, but kept his face blank. "Now, up until a few years ago, when the head of the committee moved away, we had a teen board that would come up with fun, educational trips and parties to try to keep teens interested in coming to temple. Now, I was hoping-"
"Oh! I'd love to!" Rachel cut in, her face had lit-up at the thought of getting to be the head of anything. "I've got all these ideas…Oh! Maybe a karaoke night! Religious songs and then-"
"I love your enthusiasm, Rachel." The Rabbi chuckled. "Noah, I was hoping you would help her co-chair the committee, since you could bring a different view to the table." Puck watched Rachel's face fall a tiny bit at the realization she wouldn't have complete control.
"It sounds great, Rabbi," Puck's brain was quickly trying to find a way out of this, "but with school, and sports, and Glee, and my girlfriend, and ya know, fight club, I just, I don't-" He sputtered, but was cut off by a much higher voice.
"He'd love to help!" Mrs. Puckerman had somehow snuck up behind him without him realizing it, and had just decided for her son that he would co-chair the board. Shit. Puck thought. He already knew the lecture he'd get when he got home. His mom would prattle about how it's the right thing to do and sports and Lauren weren't as important as his religious obligations and yadda yadda. Jewish moms knew their way around a guilt trip.
He knew he was stuck. Rachel was ecstatic and already planning, so at least he wouldn't have to do much work, but he knew that neither of their significant others were going to be happy about this new arrangement.