Chapter 2
A/N: I don't own anything Glee related.
RPOV:
I slept in for the first time in years and it felt great. I woke at 11:00 am feeling rested and refreshed. I spent the rest of the morning lounging around the house and going over exactly what I would say to Noah if I saw him today. I planned on going to his mother's house after my visit with Mr. Shue. I wanted to see her before it got around town that I was here. I became quite close with Mrs. Puckerman during the two years Noah and I dated. It was the least I could do seeing as I hurt her just as much as Noah with my disappearing act.
I shower and then painstakingly pickout my outfit. I opt for a dressy casual look. Kurt would be so proud. I pull on a pair of dark wash wide leg jeans and pair it with a black tux shirt with cap sleeves. I cinch a red belt around my waist to accentuate my hour glass shape and slip on my favorite black peep toe Christian loubiton heels.
I curl my dark hair and sweep it into a low side pony tail letting the curls spill over my shoulder. A bit of mascara and a swipe of carmex on my lips finish off my look. I appraise myself in the mirror and I'm pleased with what I see. I head out the door grabbing my black trench and red Prada clutch along with my rental keys. I lock up the house and hop into my car.
The drive to the school has my stomach in knots. I haven't seen this place since the night of graduation. The night I left town. The night I left Noah. I pull into the visitor parking and just sit for a bit trying to gather my strength. My mind can't help but wander back to how it all began.
Oct.2009…13 years earlier….
I'm standing at my locker and exchanging my books for class when the bane of my existence Noah Puckerman approaches me with a slushie in hand. He stands in front of me and I brace for the impact but nothing happens. I slowly open my eyes and he's still there holding the slushie and offering it to me with a straw. I just stare at him stunned and slightly confused.
"It's your favorite grape. I know that because the last time I threw one at you, you licked your lips before cleaning yourself off." He says almost shyly. Huh?? "What?" I say dumbly still not sure what's going on. "Umm…yeah do you wanna work on some mash up ideas after school?" He asks still kinda shy. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Noah Puckerman is anything but shy and nice.
"Ahh…ok." I say still a little stunned. He flashes me a sexy grin then leaves me standing there staring after him. What the hell just happened? I shake my head and push thoughts of Noah Puckerman out of my mind for the rest of the day. Glee flew by and before I know it Puck is walking up to me smirking that same sexy smirk he gives girls that he wants to sleep with. There is no way he wants to sleep with me. At least I don't think so.
"So Berry my place or yours." He says nonchalantly. "Huh?" I say. What is it about this boy that has me talking in one syllable sentences? It's like his eyes just short circuit my verbal skills. "My…place…or…yours." He says slowly talking to me like I've lost all brain function. "Oh right. Yeah my place." I say trying to focus on our glee number and not Puck in my bedroom. A type of room he is most definitely comfortable in.
"Cool, I'll just follow you in my truck." He says waiting for me to move. I rush out the room and towards my car. I drive a little dazed back to my house with Puck following me. I can get through this. I tell myself. For some reason when Puck looks at me all thoughts of Finn fly out my mind. It shouldn't be that way but there's just something about those eyes of his that draw me in like a moth to a flame.
Of course my dads are still at work leaving me all alone with notorious womanizer Puck. For some reason that thought has my insides tingling. I lead him up to my room more nervous than I've ever been. I've never had a boy in my room before, especially one that exudes sex and sin. He's the type of boy fathers lock their daughters away from. The type of boy that has grown women weak in the knees.
I open my room door and Puck swaggers in like he owns the place and flops down on my bed and places his guitar on the floor. He gazes at me so intensely it makes me feel so naked and exposed. It's like his eyes can see into parts of me no one else can. I bite my lip nervously and his eyes darken just a little. "I…uhh..i…like to warm up before we get into practicing. You don't mind do you?" I say feeling the heat rise in my body under his piercing gaze.
"Yeah sure whatever." He says glancing around my room then making himself comfortable on my bed. I turn around feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. I grab my hairbrush and clear my throat. I try to ignore the fact that Puck, sinfully gorgeous Puck is in my bed. I try to picture Finn but somehow that seems so wrong.
I close my eyes and just let the words come out.
Love can be a many splendid thing
Has another joy you bring
A dozen roses
Diamond rings
Dreams for sale
And fairy tales
It'll make you hear a symphony
And you'll just want the world to see
But like a drunk that makes you blind
It'll fool you every time….
I'm so wrapped up in the words I don't even notice how close Puck is standing next me. I didn't even realize he got off the bed. He leans down and whispers in my ear. "Don't stop…I like hearing you sing." His low husky voice sent a chill down my spine. I let out the breath I didn't even know I was holding and continue. I couldn't stop if I wanted to. Something in his voice just made me want to do what he asked.
The trouble with love is
It can tear you up inside
Make your heart believe a lie
Gets stronger then your pride
The trouble with love is
It doesn't care how fast you fall
And you can't refuse the call
See you've got no say at all
Now I was just a once a fool it's true
I played the game by all the rules
But now my world's a deeper blue
I'm sadder but I'm wiser too
I swore I'd never love again
I swore my heart would never mend
Said love wasn't worth the pain
But then I hear it call my name….
He's still so close that I can feel the warmth rolling off of him and warming my back. Before I can continue singing he spins me around. The look in his eyes reminds me of a hungry wolf and my lower belly tightens, feeling like a coil being wound tightly. He leans in and runs his nose along my neck and collar bone. "You smell like sugar cookies." Puck says huskily. Dear lord I think I'm going to pass out. I swallow hard as his lips graze my earlobe. "You have no idea how much I want you right now." He whispers.
I pull away from him and race to the other side of my room. "I…umm...Oh…we...I...Can't…you…can't." I stammer not able to form a coherent thought. He just smirks at me. "It's ok Berry. Don't worry I won't bite." He says, his eyes drawing me back in. I turn around not able to speak when he looks at me like that. "Puck I think you should go. No I know you should go." I say as forcefully as I can.
I turn back around and look at him. Big mistake. He steps closer to me and leans down looking me in the eyes. I feel that pull to him and I want to look away but I can't. "I know you feel it too." He says softly as he traces my bottom lip with his thumb. I don't say anything I just stare in his eyes. He being so close causes my mind to just shut down. He smells like campfire and licorice and it's so intoxicating that I can't even form a coherent thought.
He leans down and kisses me softly on the lips. His hot tongue runs along my lip begging for entrance. I comply letting my body be in control while my mind takes a backseat with this moment. He slowly pushes his tongue in my mouth tasting me and making me groan in pleasure. He tastes so good like dark cherries. He pulls away leaving me breathless.
"See you later Berry." He says flashing me another smirk and leaving me staring after him as he walks out my room. I flop down on my bed touching my lips. They still feel tingly from Puck's kiss. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just get him out of my head? Finn is the one that's supposed to be making feel like this not Puck.
Present day….
I shake my head to clear those thoughts of Noah and my first kiss. Even after all these years I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks just thinking about it. I get out the car and square my shoulders. I walk into the school letting the entire memories of my time here flood back to me. I take the familiar route towards the choir room.
The door is slightly cracked open and I get ready to knock when I hear voices. I stop for a moment letting my curiosity take over. "Uncle Will you can't tell my daddy. Pleaseee. He's so going to be pissed at me." A young girl's voice says pleadingly. "Soraya I can't lie to your father. He put me down as an emergency contact for a reason. He trusts me." I hear Mr. Shue say to the young girl. Hmm…Soraya…oh my god that's Noah's daughter.
"But Uncle Will he's gonna ground me and the Halloween dance is this weekend. I promise to be good. Really I will." She pleads some more. "Look Soraya you know that throwing slushies at some one is wrong. I'll be talking with your father after he's done with football practice." Mr. Shue says the finality ringing in his voice. "I'm sorry it's just I was having like a really bad day and Susie so deserved it. She wouldn't leave me alone." Soraya pouts not wanting to give in just yet.
"What was bothering you sweetheart?" Mr. Shue says the concern for this girl clear in his voice. "Quinn called yesterday. She wants me to go and visit her in LA but I told daddy I wasn't. I don't ever want to see her." Soraya says the hurt in her voice tugging at my heart.
"You know eavesdropping is very rude." A raspy husky voice says from behind me. I freeze. That voice is the same voice that haunts my dreams. I can't move I just stand there with my back to him. "Miss are you ok?" The voice asks me. My heart is pounding out of my chest as I slowly turn to face him. My Noah.
"Rachel?" Noah says his large green eyes wide with shock. "Noah." I breathe his name almost like a prayer. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He demands his face hardening after the initial shock of seeing me. "Daddy is that you?" Soraya asks as the door to the choir room opens. The tension in the air is thick. Mr. Shue just stands there his face full of surprise. Soraya is just standing there not sure what is going on and Noah looks livid. His green eyes burning.
I take a good look at Soraya. She's beautiful. The last time I saw her she was two and Noah had her for his weekend and he was tucking her in her first big girl bed. It was purple and the sheets were covered with Tinkerbelle. I had gotten them for her birthday that year. She must be at least twelve now and she's stunning. Her long black hair curls down her back and she has Noah's eyes and Quinn's smile. She's the perfect mix of both her parents.
I look at everyone and it's just too much for me. I do the only thing I can. I run away. I'm in the parking lot and almost at my car when I hear him. "You're just going to run away like last time. Is that the only thing you know how to do?" Noah says the anger clear in his voice. "I'm sorry." I say pathetically. I had a whole eloquent speech planned out but seeing him right now put me at a loss for words.
He just snorts in disgust. "You're a day late and a dime short for that one Berry." He says my heart aching at the use of my last name. "What do you want me to do? I'll do anything you ask." I say not realizing just how much I missed him and needed him until now. "There's nothing you can do." He says flatly and turns to walk away.
I let out the tears I was so desperately trying to hold back. He stops at the sound of my sobbing and walks closer to me. It's been so long yet he still smells the same. Like campfire and licorice. He runs his hand over his head just like he use too when he had his mohowak. I take a good look at him and he still takes my breath away.
He's aged but in a good way. The lines of his jaw and face are more defined. He's filled out more. His shoulders a little broader and his arms are bigger. The arms I loved holding me close. He's a little bit taller too and over all manlier. Gone is the boy I knew and in his place is a mature devastatingly handsome man. All that remains of my Noah are his eyes. Those painfully beautiful green eyes.
"You broke me, you know. I couldn't breathe without you. I couldn't live without you. Fuck Rachel, I thought I would never get over you and when I finally woke up and the pain in my chest was gone you show up." He seethes. I can see how hard he's trying to keep control. His hands are balled into fist at his side and nostrils are flaring. He takes a few deep breaths. But his eyes betray him like they always do.
The pain and hurt are so clear my stomach burns with guilt knowing that I did that to him. "It wasn't easy for me either." I say wiping the tears from my face. "The fuck it wasn't!!" He snaps at me. I deserve it. I deserve all his anger. "Please just let me explain. Come over for dinner tonight and let me tell you everything. Just give me tonight." I beg him because I'll do anything for just one more chance with him.
"I don't think that's a good idea Rachel." He says coldly. His face a blank mask but his eyes still burning hot. "Noah, please just give me this one chance to explain. I promise if after tonight you don't want anything to do with me, I'll leave and I won't ever bother you again. I promise." I plead my voice shaky with fear that he'll reject me.
He looks at me for a moment. Taking me all in. He runs his hand over his face then walks closer to me. He leans closer till our eyes meet. He's so close are lips are barely touching. All I have to do is lean in and I would be kissing him. But I don't. I'm a coward. "Alright. Just tonight." He says softly, his lips barely grazing mine. "Thank you." I say barely a whisper but I know he heard me.
He backs away slowly then turns to leave. I watch him walk away taking my heart with him. Tonight is my only chance and I'm going to do everything the old Rachel would do to get what she wanted. I get in my car and take a tissue from my clutch and clean up my face.
I pull out my cell and call the one person I know can help me with tonight. "Kurt, meet me at my house. I need your talents for this evening. We're pulling out all the stops." I say confidently and race home. Noah Puckerman won't know what hit him…
A/N: Please Review. I hope you enjoyed this. Next up Rachel goes after her man.