Chapter One: One Big Mistake
Rachel couldn't remember the last time she awoke feeling so content, so relaxed and happy. She didn't want the feeling to end; didn't want to open her eyes and start the day. That is until images of the previous night flashed through her mind. Her getting drunk at her boyfriend's party; calling Mr. Schue's cell, drunk and needing a ride home; Mr. Schue arriving, a bit drunk himself; the electricity that ran through them when the accidentally touched; their lips locked together her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as they made their way to his bedroom in his apartment; her losing her virginity to her teacher.
Oh dear God, no! She sat straight up, careful to keep the bed sheet covering her bare chest. This couldn't be happening to her, not now. Not when she had just celebrated her six month anniversary with Noah; not when prom was coming up and, little did her loving boyfriend know, she had been planning to give her virginity to him after the dance; and certainly not with her favorite teacher!
"I see you are awake," Mr. Shue said, fully clothed standing in the doorway. "How much do you remember from last night?"
"Not much, just flashes," she replied, pulling the sheet tighter around her. "What about you?"
"Nothing," he answered, keeping his distance. "I woke up a couple of hours ago to find you asleep beside me. Considering neither of us had any clothes on I put the puzzle together."
"It was a mistake; it never should have happened." Rachel felt panicked. What if Noah found out he'd never forgive her. "If anyone was to find out you'd lose your job; I'd lose Noah."
"No one's going to find out. We'll make ourselves forget."
"I can't not tell Noah something happened. He thinks I'm a virgin, that's not something I can fake."
"You have to, Rachel, for both of our sakes."
"I can't lie to him about something this big. What I can do is tell him I don't remember who I slept with, he'll be mad but I think we can get through it as long as he doesn't know who it was that I betrayed him with and it will keep you safe. That's the only way we can put this in the past; the only way you can keep your job and I could possibly keep Noah."
"Rachel…"
"No, Mr. Shue. The smaller the lie, the less likely we'll get caught. Now get out so I can get dressed and get out of here."
Mr. Shue smiled and turned before saying, "It's not like I haven't seen it before." To which Rachel replied, "It's not like you remember it."
Once he was out of sight, Rachel quickly got up and shut the door before getting dressed and rushing out of her teacher's apartment without saying goodbye. Rushing down the hall with her head down, she pulled out her cell phone and sent a quick text to Noah, praying that he would forgive her before she hit send; Meet me at my fav café; I need to tell you something. Love, Rach
Noah Puckerman only ever got up before eleven when Rachel wanted to go out for a morning date. Normally no girl would be able to get him up but she was different; she was special. So when he got a text from Rachel asking him to meet her at the only café that served soy lattes in Lima, he only groaned once before yanking off his covers and getting dressed to meet his girlfriend, even though it was only nine thirty.
When he got to the café, it wasn't very crowded so it was easy enough to find Rachel. She was sitting at their usual table and the waitress was just setting their usual drinks in front of her. He smiled and heading over towards her wondering how she could glow so much after the drinking she had done the night before.
"Hey, my hot little Jewish-American princess," he said as he came up behind her. She turned and smiled as Puck leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
"Hey yourself, sleepyhead" she replied. "Don't tell me you were still asleep when you got my text."
"All right I won't," he said in a teasing tone as he sat down opposite her.
"Noah, you'll waste your life away sleeping in like that."
"As you have told me time and time again, but babe please keep your voice down, hangover, ya know."
"Drink your coffee, it should help. But I need to tell you something."
"You're not breaking up with me, are you? Cause that would defiantly not help my badass rep."
"No, Noah, I'm not breaking up with you, but you might break up with me after I tell you what I have to tell you."
"Why would I do that? You know I love you."
"And I love you, Noah. And if there's one thing I have learned from the Quinn drama of sophomore year was that the longer you keep a secret the bigger the blow up will be. Which is why I have to tell you. Being inebriatedlast night clouded my better judgment and I did something I know I will regret for the rest of my life."
"Babe you couldn't have done something that horrible, you are the sweetest, most caring, albeit annoyingly stubborn and at times one minded, girl in the entire school."
"I slept with someone, Noah. I can't remember who; all I remember are flashes, none of which show his face, and when I awoke this morning he was gone. I am so sorry, Noah."
Noah saw only red. Someone had touched his Rachel; taken the one thing only she could she wanted to give him. He got up, not being able to look at her a second longer and walked off, barely hearing her call after him.
