It was bound to happen. Mr. Shue decided it was once again duet time and the magic slips of paper had decreed that Noah perform with Rachel. While she wasn't worried about his ability, time and again, Noah had proven he had a lovely voice, but he defiantly had opinions about the sort of music he'd sing. Finn had been far easier to direct.

Realizing he wasn't listening to her attempt to convince him that they should sing Avril Lavigne's IWhen You're Gone/I, she stopped and put her hands on her hips. Getting through to Noah was sometimes a challenge, but she knew it was possible. "Noah," she said, tapping her foot and raising her eyebrow questioningly. "Are you listening to me?"

He gave her one of his heart melting grins and said, "I'll listen more if you tell me something interesting, Berry."

Interesting. That was the key. Once something caught Noah's attention, he was like a Pit-bull, focused and intense. She needed him to be that way about their performance and a sly smile crept across her face when she realized exactly what she could say to get his full and undivided attention.

"You might find it interesting to know," she began, sitting primly on the chair next to him and demurely crossing her legs. Whenever she did that, his eyes flicked involuntarily to her thighs. That was totally part of her plan. "I'm naked underneath my clothes."


Of all the things that could have come out of Rachel's mouth, that sentence was probably the last thing he expected to hear her say. It was only through an extreme display of self control (he was totally working on that) that he managed not to let his mouth fall open as he gaped at her like a fool.

She smiled as questions tumbled through his brain. Did she mean naked in the way that yeah, under everything, everyone was naked…or was she not wearing panties? Not wearing panties and wearing one of those wonderfully blue ball inducing little skirts?

Fuck.

An image of her, pinned between the wall and his chest, sprung to mind. Memories of her kisses, nips and the little sounds he made during a make out session echoed in his ears and he could imagine sliding a hand up the smooth, firm skin of her thigh, higher and higher, not meeting any obstacles on their quest to….

Damn, he was filing that thought away for later.

She was still staring at him, one little foot bouncing as she smiled. "Was that interesting enough for you, Noah?"

"Yeah, Rachel, you've got my attention."

Truth was, she'd always had it, but occasionally he liked to be reminded why.