Disclaimer: As much as I would like to, I don't own this show, the characters, ideas, plots, blah, blah, blah. I don't own the song Creep by Radiohead that is mentioned in this chapter, but will be performed in a following chapter if all goes right.
This is my first attempt at a fanfic in years. Please read and review, be honest, but don't rake me over the coals unnecessarily. I probably should have started with a one shot, but I don't know how to do anything without jumping head first into the deep end. I hope you enjoy.
Creep
"Rachel." Mr. Shue said. She looked up expectantly, a big smile on her face. "I want you to try a duet with Puck."
Instantly her face fell and Mr. Shue continued quickly before she had a chance to respond, "I spoke to Finn about this already. It'll be fine. He has some outside obligations that he needs to take care of over the next couple of weeks and I know that the two of you can handle the leads."
She glanced over at Puck and he smirked at her, leaning back comfortably with his legs outstretched and his arms crossed over his chest, making his biceps look huge. Oh my God, where had that last thought come from? She swallowed past the lump that had formed in her throat and looked back at Mr. Shue. Forcing a tight smile, she said, "I'm confident that Puck and I will be able to work superbly together and master whatever song that you have selected for us."
"That's the spirit." Mr Shue said as he handed her the sheet music.
"Now, as for the rest of you…" Mr. Shue's words faded out as did the rest of the room, as Rachel stared down at the words in bold at the top of her page: Radiohead, Creep..
He laughed a little when he saw the title of the song.. Creep? Really? It wasn't exactly his type of music, but he knew the song. He looked over at Berry and saw that she had a glazed look in her eye. Odd, but she was probably worried about how she was going to have to restrain herself around his hot bod. I mean, come on, who could resist these guns, he thought twitching his biceps a little at his last thought.
"That's it for the day. I'll see you guys next week. He jumped up reaching for his backpack when Mr. Shue called their names. He turned and saw Berry standing still, her books clutched to her chest. "You guys," Mr. Shue started, "I know you two have some issues, but I think that if you try to put them aside for the sake of the assignment, that you could be great together." He said and smiled encouragingly.
"I'm sure you are right Mr. Shue." Rachel said and spun around and walked quickly towards the door. He just shrugged hiss shoulders and sort of jogged out of the room hoping to catch up with Berry. If there was a time to mess with her, this would definitely be it.
He looked both ways and saw her opening the exit doors that lead to the parking lot. Damn, she's quick; he thought to himself and jogged a little faster to catch up to her. He wasn't going to run after her. Seriously, who would be caught dead running after that freak?
As soon as Rachel stepped outside she remembered that she hadn't driven that day. Her car had finally given up the ghost and her Dads were begrudgingly in negotiations with each other over what type of car she needed and what the cost should be. While Daddy spoiled her rotten, her Dad would step in with a little bit of reality and sometimes that slowed things down.
Rachel sighed and walked around the corner of the school towards the football field. The bleachers would do for a place to hang out for a couple of hours until her Dad could retrieve her. Pulling her sheet music from her bag Rachel started looking over the lyrics to the song wondering how she would arrange it into a duet.
Puck watched Rachel silently from a distance making marks on her page. He wasn't positive, but he was pretty sure she was already working on their duet. Rolling his eyes he jogged towards the bleachers and slowed down as he got closer to her.
Chucking his bag onto the bleachers he said "What 'cha doin' Berry?"
He laughed as she gasped and jumped at his interruption. "Puck!" she said annoyed, "Do you really have to be such a jerk?"
"Don't you mean a Creep?" he said pointing at her sheet music. Rachel rolled her eyes as she took in a deep breath to steady her nerves.
"I couldn't have thought of a more appropriate titled song to be paired with you to sing." she said.
"Yeah. Whatever." Puck said as he dropped onto the bleachers in front of her. "So, what are you doing over here anyway? You aren't exactly the football type."
"Why do you care?" Rachel asked erasing the stray mark caused by Puck's earlier interruption.
"Just being friendly Berry." He said looking up at her and giving her his most charming smile.
"My car expired. I have to wait for my dad." Rachel said on a sigh.
"Your car died?" Puck asked raising one eye brow.
"I just said that." Rachel said and glared at him then started to mark on her page again. "I realized that this would be as good a time as any to begin preparations on our duet."
Puck just nodded and leaned against the bleacher behind him and stared at the field.
Shit! Puck thought to himself. This is just great! What the hell am I thinking? Looking back up at Berry he could see her concentrating on her task. I could just go and let her sit here and do her thing. He shifted to get up. I can't let her sit here by herself. He settled back down more comfortably.
"Can't you be still?" Rachel asked and looked at him exasperated. "I mean I appreciate the silence, but every time you move my pencil jumps. I can't stand all these lines and smears."
Puck stared at her momentarily shocked that she had taken that tone with him, but he laughed when he saw her furiously erasing away the marks, again, made by his actions.
Jumping up he grabbed his backpack and her books and hopped off the bleachers. "Come on Berry, Let's go." He said as he started to walk quickly back towards the parking lot.
"Wait! What are you doing?" She called after him. "Where do you think you are going with my stuff?" she yelled at his retreating form. "Puck!" She stomped her foot and finally took off after him.
She caught up to him as he tossed her backpack into the bed of his truck. Still ignoring her he reached for the passenger side door and opened it making a sweeping gesture with his hand indicating that she should get in.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." She said standing her ground.
"Just get in the truck Rachel!" he said a little more harshly than he had intended.
Rachel looked at him, eyes large and unblinking, mouth slightly open, then slowly she turned and climbed into the cab of his truck.
Puck looked over at her after he settled into his seat and cranked the engine. She still had the slightly dumbfounded look on her face as she sat there with her legs crossed at the ankle and her hands folded in her lap.
"Berry! What the hell? You look like you saw a ghost or something." He asked laughing a little.
Slowly she looked at him and said, "You called me Rachel."