A/N: This little fic has been tormenting me for the last 3 nights at work. It would drive me crazy for the 7 or so hours I was there and then it wouldn't come out when I got home and was able to sit down at the computer. But I finally got it out...when I sat down to work on Express Yourself. So, let the record show, I do plan on updating that tonight after work. As of now, this is a oneshot but I'm sure I can be persuaded to continue if there's interest. It was actually really fun to write. Enjoy! R&R please :)

Disclaimer: Don't own Glee, just like playing with Puck...I mean...

Rachel Berry is the sexiest girl in school. Noah has known this since they returned from winter break in the seventh grade. And he's made it his mission to make sure no one else notices.

It's really not his fault. When she left for winter break, she was just Rachel. The same Rachel he had seen practically everyday for as long as he could remember. And he saw her over break at synagogue, but she was still just Rachel. But then they came back from break and she wasn't the same girl. She had...matured.

Suddenly there was a need for that training bra. And her skirts were fractionally shorter-or were her legs actually longer? He's not sure but he doesn't want anyone else to notice. And the timing is perfect because she's on a crazy tirade about the winter play.

It's just so easy to call her 'Scary Berry.' And he hates how her eyes tear up. But the other guys in their grade catch on to it quickly. And none of them bring her up in the locker room before football practice.

He can see the angry (hurt) looks she shoots at him as she lowers her head on the corner waiting for the bus. He hears the sniffle she tries to hide when she leaves the bus stop and starts walking home.

He definitely didn't follow her. Finn decided to walk instead of ride the bus and that's why Puck finds himself half a block behind her, biting the inside of his cheek as he watches Rachel drag the back of her hand across a wet cheek and slip on an icy patch of sidewalk.

She ignores him for the rest of the school year; doesn't even sign his yearbook when he finds her in the hall on the last day.

They see each other in passing over the summer. She's taking some acting class or another at the community center where the guys get together for basketball. Puck never speaks to her, but he can't help but groan as the skirts that used to reach almost Rachel's knee are now dangerously mid-thigh length.

Eighth grade starts and they only have two classes together. With last names as far apart as Berry and Puckerman it's not like they're seated together. In fact they only see each other in the locker hall; his is seventeen lockers to the left of hers. Not that he counted.

It's December again before they actually speak. And even then it's only because they're lab partners. Puck doesn't call her names anymore. But he takes every opportunity to complain about her to the guys on the team.

"Berry did this today" and "Fuckin' Berry actually made me do that stupid lab report" or "Did you see that sweater she wore today? How ridiculous was that?"

He also makes a show of punching Karofsky in the nose when he comments on her 'slutty little skirts.' But he doesn't offer anymore explanation than, "She's Jewish, leave her alone or my mom will do worse to ya" because his mom does adore her, and may just be scarier than Noah anyway.

Eighth grade ends the same way seventh did. A blank space specifically saved for his lab partner's signature stares him in the face. He can't explain why he flips to it everyday. Maybe it's because he sees her jogging down the street every morning.

The summer passes rather uneventfully. It's just a haze of parties and Santana Lopez's bedroom. And bathroom. And pool...you get the idea.

Then it's a few days before the start of classes and Noah is at the mall with his mom because he couldn't get out of going with her when she's buying new shirts and whatnot for him since he's grown out of everything but his cutoffs that he used while cleaning pools. But, as his mother points out, this is Ohio, not California. They have weather here and he needs weather appropriate clothing. So he's stuck at the mall as his mother pulls a polo shirt off the rack and he visibly cringes and turns away only to see Rachel and her dad (the not so scary one) walk through the door.

And he can't help but stare at her. She's not just taller, she's curvier and thinner and a woman and it has Puck entranced. And his mouth is dry by the time he can make his eyes blink and he is miserable as he tries to figure out what torment he will have to inflict this year to keep guys' attention off of her.

Why the fuck does she do this to him? He sure as hell doesn't like hurting her. It kills him when she looks at him with those eyes, all full of pain that she's trying to disguise with anger. It's like a swift kick in the nuts every time he sees her for, like, weeks. But he doesn't know how else to...to...protect her from the douches at their school.

Yeah, Puck knows he's one of those douches. Possibly the douchiest. And that fact alone forces the slushee out of the cup on the first day of class. It flies through the air and she doesn't even have time to gasp before she's covered in corn syrup.

She turns to glare at him as he continues down the hall to his locker. He refuses to make eye contact, but watches her peripherally and when she turns back to open her locker once again, Puck chances a glance.

And nearly smacks himself in the face. How could he not think of what that huge icy drink would do to her chest? Her perky tits are soaked and he can see her nipples through her thin tee shirt from down the hall and his pants are suddenly painfully tight. Slamming his locker shut Noah shoves his hands in his pockets and turns the corner to find Finn.

"Go give Rachel your jacket." This is gonna be a long four years...