A/N: Apart from the obvious being that I don't own Glee or the characters, I'm trying my hand at a multi-chapter Glee fanfic. Therefore, I would appreciate any feedback you could give! R&R! Thank you! :)

Long Time Coming

Rachel blamed it on the slushies. Or should she say the lack thereof? It was a fact that he hadn't thrown a slushie at her in weeks. Of course, her days weren't devoid of them entirely; other football players made sure of that. But, he hadn't thrown one in weeks. And she wasn't sure what to make of it.

She woke up from her vivid dream somewhere around 5:30 a.m. She had been standing in the middle of the football field, staring at all the people in the stands who were staring at her. Just then, the stadium lights turned on, and she felt someone's warm hands around her waist, turning her to them. She turned slowly expecting to see Finn (after all, she did tend to dream about him more than anything, even more than winning a Tony). But what she saw surprised her like no other. She was staring into the loving eyes of Noah Puckerman. He stroked her cheek gently and he smiled, and she smiled back. As he leaned down to touch his lips to hers, she let out a sharp gasp, and then she was awake and alone in her room, wondering why in the world she was dreaming about Noah Puckerman. Yes, it most definitely had to be because he had yet to throw a slushie on her this week. But why exactly hadn't he?

Pushing Noah from her thoughts, Rachel figured she'd go ahead and get ready for her day. She popped her iPod into its dock, and the melodies of Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride" filled her room. She got on her elliptical, and as she exercised with the goal of Sectionals in mind, her thoughts drifted to the last few weeks.

She thought maybe it was because Noah had joined Glee club, or that maybe he was actually maturing. He hadn't been as overtly rude to her, nor had he called her a freak for awhile. She was beginning to soften around the hard-hearted football player who made her first two years of high school a nightmare. Sometimes she would look around the rehearsal room and find him regarding her in the most quizzical of ways…like he was trying to figure her out. But he never spoke to her or touched her, even in passing, unless a choreographed move called for it. But that dream felt so real. He was going to kiss me…Stop it, she thought, as she shook her head once more. Why are you overanalyzing the actions of Noah Puckerman? What does it even matter? What's more, why does it matter?

She refocused on her sign for Sectionals, finished her three-mile trek on the elliptical, relished in a hot shower, and was on her way to school in record time. And she didn't think about her confusing dream the rest of the day.

Puck blamed in on that sunshine yellow dress. She was wearing it for the girls' mash-up song that, for some reason, Puck was actually looking forward to seeing. As he rounded the corner, grape slushie in hand, he stopped in his tracks. There stood Rachel at her locker, wearing that yellow dress. His eyes travelled from the ruffles at her chest down to the hemline where the dress teased him right above her knees to her feet which were clad in golden-hued ballet flats. He knew then he couldn't do it. He couldn't throw a slushie on her. Not today. And apparently, not for the next few weeks after that either. He still couldn't stand her, but the slushie facials weren't worth his time. He figured he'd think of another way to torture her; at least that's what he kept telling himself.

He woke up from his dream around 5:30 a.m. He had had another dream about Rachel Berry. Only this time, they weren't having hot and heavy make out sessions in random places (seriously, the bird exhibit at the zoo?) like they usually were in his dreams. Ever since he witnessed the "debauchery" that was "Push It" in that school assembly, every so often his dreams were assaulted with visions of Rachel. He never knew what to make of it, but he figured, hey, I'm making out with a hot chick, so it really doesn't matter that it's Rachel, right?

But no, this dream was different. They were together in what appeared to be his house, and they were cuddling on the couch watching a movie. Then, suddenly, they were transported to a fair, where they were walking toward the Ferris wheel, eating cotton candy, laughing, and holding hands. Then, they were singing at Sectionals; they had a duet, and they sounded really good together. All of these instances in his dreams, and he didn't kiss her once. It was so…so….normal. And that's what made him nervous. He jolted awake, ran his hand through his mohawk, and wondered why he would have that kind of dream about Rachel. Yeah, it had to be that stupid yellow dress. Whatever, he thought, it's just a dream.

Yet, as he showered and ate breakfast, he thought about what had transpired over the last few weeks. Since the day of the girls' mash-up, he had tried to act nicer to Rachel. Okay, maybe not nicer; he still pretty much ignored her. But, at least he wasn't being a complete jerk. Maybe this whole Glee club thing really was getting to him. Rachel was a pretty girl; one would have to be blind not to see it. However, she talked too much, and she was a diva, and she could throw a mean temper tantrum. She pretty much deserved every slushie she got. But, then he had to go and see her in that yellow dress. He didn't know why, but there was something about that yellow dress that made him want to act a little more civil to Rachel Berry. Ugh, he thought, man up, Puckerman. You are not a wuss. Don't let this Glee thing get to your head. Now is not the time to get soft.

Puck refocused on his strawberry pop tarts. He brushed his teeth, grabbed his books, and headed off to school. But, unlike Rachel, he thought about his confusing dream for the rest of the day.

A/N 2: So, I hope you guys enjoyed it! I know where the story is headed in the end, but the course it's going to take to get it there might be topsy turvy! I am excited to be writing it, and I hope you stick around for the ride! :)