*I started a new story (obviously)! I'm a little nervous about it, but my goal is to try and have it wrapped up before the second half of the season starts. Please, please let me know what you think! Your reviews and comments and critiques are BEYOND great.
Chapter One: Finn
Noah Puckerman doesn't remember the first time he saw Rachel Berry. He doesn't even remember the second time he saw her. She's just always kind of been there (kind of like the mildew in his shower). Some days more noticeable than others, but always there.
Puck also doesn't remember the first time he threw a slushee on her. If he had to guess, he would say it was probably sometime in 8th grade -- but really, who the hell knows. It isn't like drenching her was some big, personal vendetta (kick ass word, by the way -- one Finn has yet to use correctly in a sentence) against her. The slushee-ing of freaks and nerds has been the official ritual of McKinley Junior and Senior Highs for years.
And Rachel? Was always a freak.
He's glad, though, that she doesn't seem to hold the weekly 7-11 baths against him. That would seriously suck balls. Rachel is a crazy face, there's no question, but Puck's starting to notice that she's also a really nice person. Like, weirdly nice. (Well, as long as you don't threaten her career....then she'll cut a bitch.) She seems to have this obsessive need to be liked....and really, he doesn't get why someone as smart as her doesn't see how retarded that is.
And this is why Noah Puckerman has a plan. He may not have any recollection of Rachel before sophomore year (beyond her being the brunette with the loud voice and the hot legs that was usually covered in an icy yet delicious beverage), but for some unknown reason she seems to have invaded every corner of his life this year. And he'd kick himself in the nuts before telling anyone, but the crazy little bitch has sort of grown on him. Sure, she dumped him last fall (man, was he sad to see those little make out sessions on his lap go....), but ever since babygate fucking blew up in his face, she's actually been pretty awesome.
And now? Now they're kind of friends. (Weird as hell -- but also kind of cool).
Which brings us back to his plan. His fucking brilliant plan. Noah Puckerman has decided that Rachel Berry has got to learn to not give a flying fuck what other people think (or at the very least learn to PRETEND like she doesn't give a flying fuck what other people think). And who better to teach her that than him?
Seriously, people. Puck could (and should) charge for this shit.
******
"Noah, I really don't understand the point of this exercise."
Rachel is scowling at him in a way that he just knows she thinks is scary, but is really more cute than anything.
"Berry. You have got to focus. What did I tell you when we started this?"
She lets out a huff of air before crossing her arms. Her voice drops as deep as it will go, "Trust me, Rach. If you wanna rule this school sometime before you're 40, you gotta toughen up."
Puck grins at her. She may have been rolling her eyes the whole time, but she just quoted him word for word (well, she left out a fuck or two, but baby steps, people....baby steps). Clearly she was listening. He raises both eyebrows at her, "So??? Are you gonna listen to the wisdom of the Puckerone or not?"
Rachel grimaces. "I don't know what is worse -- that you willingly gave yourself that ridiculous nickname or that you insist on referring to yourself in the third person."
Grabbing her rollerbag from her, Puck turns Rachel until her back is to him and she's gazing down the hall. "Berry, the only third person you need to worry about is the one standing at his locker." He gives her a nudge. "Go. Find your fucking backbone, Rach."
The insecure little look she tosses at him over her shoulder makes him frown, but Rachel is soon walking with determined steps down the hall.
Puck tries not to grin. This shit should be good.
(Then he looks down and realizes he's in the main hall of the school holding Rachel Berry's rollerbag like some kind of fucking man servant. Fuck)
**********
Finn's had a crappy day. First he totally overslept. Then there was a pop quiz in English this morning that he totally blew. (Who has time to read Heart of Darkness when your cable company accidentally gives your house access to the Playboy Channel over the weekend?) To make matters worse, he almost ran into Quinn after third period. He had to dive into the girl's bathroom so she wouldn't see him, but then he got screamed at by a bunch of hysterical freshman who seemed to think he was trying to eavesdrop on their discussion about cycles. (He's still trying to figure out why the hell they think he gives a crap about their bikes. Girls are just totally beyond him sometimes.)
Standing at his locker, Finn's staring at his books trying to figure out what he needs to take home with him. He's just about to decide to say screw it and leave all his books there for the night when he feels a tug on his elbow. Jumping slightly, he looks down (then down some more) and sees Rachel looking up at him with a determined expression that he quickly recognizes. And that's when Finn's day gets a whole lot worse.
He was supposed to give Rachel a ride this morning.
To school.
In his car.
And he forgot.
Shit.
*********
Rachel takes a deep breath as she approaches Finn at his locker. She knows that Noah is right. She needs to apply some of her stage confidence to her personal life.
(Though he was also quick to add-- But not in that crazy ass psycho way that you've been trying to pull off all year. She's still trying to figure out what that means, exactly.)
She was so excited this morning. Finn promised her last Friday that he could give her a ride to school today. Her car is having routine maintenance done (Monday being the optimum day to take a car into the dealership for service), and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give Finn a chance to be chivalrous and spend time together.
The problem is that things between them still haven't changed much since he broke up with Quinn. He's extremely flirty, but let's face it, he was just as flirty when he was with Quinn. He still tells Rachel how much he likes her and how cool he thinks she is-but beyond that, not much is really happening. They aren't really progressing. And she knows he has a million and one things on his plate right now, and Rachel really doesn't want to pressure him.
Except that, well, she kind of does want to pressure him.
So she asked him last week for a ride this morning. She even asked 3 days early so he could write it in his calendar and be prepared. And then she got up early, ironed all her clothes for a second time, and spent an hour and a half making sure she looked pretty without looking like she'd tried to look pretty. (And she absolutely kept the makeup to a minimum.)
But then Rachel spent another hour waiting by the front door for him to show. She even called his cell. But there was just.... nothing. By the time she realized she needed to call someone else, there was no one to call. Everyone was at school or at work (and let's face it -- there weren't that many people on her list in the first place). Finally, she accepted that he wasn't coming and took the matter in hand by calling a cab. (She wasn't sure Lima actually had cabs until she googled it.)
And now, watching Finn as he gives her a panicked look, Rachel sees that he is just now realizing (8 hours later) what he forgot this morning (or more correctly, who he forgot this morning). She feels a flash of indignation and hurt -- the same one she always feels when Finn does something to make her feel totally forgettable. The same one that always goes away as soon as he melts her with that smile. But now ... now that won't happen. She's almost sure.
Cause this time? Rachel Berry is learning to be a badass. And telling off Finn and actually sticking to her guns? That's her first lesson.
*******
Puck watches as Rachel's hands go to her hips as she starts to lay into Hudson. Some people might think it is kind of shitty of him to sick Rachel on his former best friend (the one that still won't return his calls)-- but Puck thinks those people are fucking stupid.
Finn Hudson has been stomping all over Berry's heart for months. Puck has watched it happen (and honestly found it mildly entertaining) for most of the year. But now? Now he's getting kind of fucking sick of it. (Actually, he's a little confused about just how much it seems to be pissing him off lately. But whatever.)
He was on his morning this class is fucking stupid break in the parking lot when he saw her getting out of cab during second period. Not dumb enough to interrupt her frantic run through the front doors (she had to be in a panic because she didn't even stop to yell at him for "loitering"), Puck just laughed and decided he'd have to make a special effort at lunch to get the story out of her. Whatever got Berry in that much of a tizzy first thing in the morning was something he needed to hear about.
Only when he heard about it, he kind of didn't laugh. He's not sure why. Trust Finn to forget something like that. And Puck is sure he just forgot. Finn would never purposely leave a girl just hanging. If Rachel had asked Puck to pick her up (and not that he cares, but she totally fucking didn't), he probably would have shown up late (if at all) just to see her take the very same panicked run through the parking lot.
But Finn wasn't messing with her. He just forgot she existed.
Puck's not stupid in the ways of women. He knows which one is worse. Way fucking worse.
*******
"I am so, so sorry, Rach. I had the worst morning and I just....."
Finn's voice trails off as Rachel continues to just look up at him, arms crossed and face frowning. (He hates it when Rachel frowns at him.) This isn't working. He sighs.
"I'm a jerk. I swear it won't ever happen again."
Rachel raises both eyebrows and her voice is very even when it comes out (she's in professional mode, he can tell).
"Of course it won't, Finn. I will not be giving you the future opportunity that would allow for this to happen again."
"Rach! I swear..."
She quickly puts a finger up to stop him.
"I'm not through, Finn! Do you understand the consequences of your actions this morning? I missed a quiz in history! Do you know what that might do to my GPA? And thus my college plans? And thus my career?"
Finn's brow scrunches as he tries to follow her logic. No one can make his brain hurt like Rachel.
"No.... no I don't think you understand, Finn!" (He can't help but notice that her voice is starting to get a little less professional and a lot more teenage girl.) "I trusted you! And you look all trustworthy with your big brown eyes and your broad shoulders and your sweet smile." (Finn tries not to grin. She thinks he has broad shoulders?) "But no. I think we all know looks can be misleading. I had to run...... RUN across in the parking lot this morning. I didn't even have time to tell Noah to stop loitering on the hood of his truck and get to class! All because you couldn't be bothered to write yourself a note and pick me up this morning!" She stomps a foot. "Every time I trust you, I end up looking like an absolute idiot! Don't you see that?"
Finn knows he can be slow sometimes, but he's suddenly suspecting this isn't completely about the forgotten ride this morning.
*******
Rachel tells herself to breathe. She's not supposed to be getting this upset at him.
Cool, calm, and collected. Stand up for yourself but don't let him know you give a shit. You are a badass. Act like one.
Noah's dictates are a touch hard to follow. (Seriously -- how do you simultaneously stand up for yourself and look like you don't care? Particularly when you have a tendency to care too much about everything?)
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she closes her eyes for just a second before opening them again and looking up at Finn's apologetic face.
"You are a good guy, Finn."
His shoulders slump in unmistakeable relief. But she's not done.
"And honestly -- you are one of the only friends that I have -- so I've tried to be the friend that you need. But right now? You aren't being the friend that I need."
Finn reaches for her shoulder, "Rach. I am so sorry. You can count on me. You can. No one in this school means as much to me. No one has been there for me like you have."
Cool, calm, and collected......cool, calm, and collected.....cool, calm, and coll.....
"Don't say things like that! It only makes it worse!" (She's shrieking. She knows she's shrieking.) "You can't flirt with me and tell me how much I mean to you and then completely forget I exist!"
Finn looks at the floor like it is the most interesting thing he's ever seen. She hears him mutter a curse word under his breath before sending a vicious kick to the locker next to him. He finally just looks up at her with the most earnest expression he possesses (the one she's seen many, many times -- the one she loves most).
"I'm sorry, Rachel. I really, really am."
She knows he's apologizing for more than this morning.
"I accept your apology, Finn." Rachel takes a deep breath, "But things have to change. I have to move on. I have to adjust my expectations of the relationship that we are going to have. And so do you."
He doesn't respond, just stares at her with a sad expression in his big, brown (still entirely trustworthy looking) eyes.
"Good bye, Finn."
******
Rachel looks so sad as she turns and walks back down the hall to him. Puck is half afraid that Finn is going to follow her and see him holding Berry's rollerbag like some kind of waiting in the wings douche. (That is so not what this is. It isn't.) Thankfully, Finn slams his locker shut and walks out the side door by his locker. He never looks up.
When she gets to him, Puck quickly shoves her bag towards her. "So? How do you feel?"
Rachel takes a deep breath and grips the handle of her bag tightly, "Sad. But....but also...." She looks up at him with a growing grin, "....good. I feel, well, I guess I feel like I accomplished something productive today. Something that will help me in my...."
"Berry. Shut it." Puck puts a gentle hand over her mouth while rolling his eyes. "Do you or do you not feel like a badass motherfucker right now?"
Shoving his hand away from her, Rachel gives him one of her rare real grins. "You know what? I kind of do!"
Puck winks at her. "That's what I thought. Kind of the shit, isn't it?"
Rachel giggles and Puck is forced to ignore a stupid ass warm sensation in the middle of his chest somewhere. (Is seventeen too young for heartburn?) He puts a hand on her shoulder and bends down until his face is level with hers.
"So then -- Who's next?"
