Author's Note: Wow. Such an awesome response for such a little fic. Hang in there. One more part after this one, and I promise you'll want to stick it out!
Puck jogged up the stairs, twirling his keys in his hand and trying to suppress his smile from widening beyond the point that was socially acceptable when you weren't in the middle of a conversation or watching something funny. He'd had maybe three hours of sleep in the past 50 or so hours, and all of that had been on an albeit comfortable as hell couch in his boss's office, but he was more awake than ever. There was so much adrenaline coursing through him and he could barely contain his excitement as he swung open the apartment door and called for his girlfriend.
"Babe?" He called again after no answer, almost sprinting through their place in search of the petite brunette. She'd been sound asleep this morning when he'd stopped by just to shower and grab a bite before rushing back to the studio. It had been like torture leaving her, too, when he'd seen her asleep in nothing but one of his shirts - well, he'd won it at a Knicks game and it was too big for him (which meant it was way too big for her, but it was kind of hot).
Opening the door to their office/music room, he smiled at the sight of her head bobbing slightly to whatever music was playing through his oversized headphones. She looked so tiny squeezed between the large earpieces, and he couldn't help but laugh as he thought about reminding her how much shit she'd given him about how bad they were for his hearing when he'd bought them. Apparently the noise-cancelling feature was conducive to getting lost in your own little world, though, which was exactly what Rachel did whenever she was working on her craft.
"Noah," Rachel gasped, moving away from him when he'd pushed the hair off her shoulder.
She was wearing some loose sweater thing over one of those thin tank tops and there was something ridiculously sexy about her shoulder being bare - any exposed skin of hers was generally a good thing. So good, in fact, that he honestly considered bailing on the previous plans to spend the rest of the evening in bed with her instead. And even though he would be exhausted once he crashed from his current high, Puck knew they wouldn't do much sleeping if they went down that path.
"Keep the top, but change into some jeans or something." He kissed the top of her shoulder, unable to help himself. "We're going out."
Rachel frowned. "I'm actually quite busy."
"Really?" His eyes scanned the apartment from his spot now by the doorway, noting the basket of folded laundry that he could see sitting on their bed and the low hum of the dishwasher. "S'your day off."
Rachel just shrugged, her eyes falling while her hands busied themselves tidying up the papers she'd been working on when he'd walked in. Puck instantly got the feeling he was in trouble - it was a feeling he was very familiar with, so he'd quickly learned to distinguish it. He wracked his brain trying to think of their last conversation, which was basically two days ago and he hadn't exactly been in the best of moods. That seemed like a good jumping-off point.
"We've both been busy as shit and it sucks. But, I had like … the best night ever and now I wanna celebrate with you. C'mon."
"I-I just don't think I should."
Swing and a miss.
"Look, I didn't mean to yell at ya or whatever the other day. I was pissed about work and you actually helped because …"
"It's fine," she interrupted, her head still down. "I understand. Your job is important to you."
Strike two.
"You are, too, though. If it weren't for you, I'd never … I had the best night at work and I want you to see why." Puck smirked, trying to hide his excitement - and the secret. "The guy we were working with is testin' out one song at a coffee place nearby and I wanna buy one of those shitty chai things for my girl."
"I'm happy for you, Noah." Rachel sighed, her tight smile fading. "But, I just don't think it would be wise … not, not if I'm going to finish everything before my flight."
Hit by the pitch. Take your base!
"What?" Puck stepped back into the office, confusion written all over his face. "Where ya going?"
Rachel moved her chair so she wasn't facing him any longer, her attention on the stack of papers again even as she spoke to him. "I've decided to take the weekend to visit with my fathers." She inhaled a deep, shaky breath. "We … I haven't seen them since Hanukkah last year because I've been so busy and Daddy has been begging me to help him with the surprise party for Father's birthday and …" She trailed off, lifting one shoulder emptily as she doodled on the top right corner of the top piece of paper. "I thought this might give us both some time … to think."
"Think?" He asked, his voice cracking a little. "What the fuck are you thinkin' about?"
"Don't take that tone with me," Rachel reprimanded.
"I'm sorry." He wasn't, but whatever. "I'm just tryin' to catch up." Puck took a few breaths, trying out that breathing bullshit Rachel always said helped calm her down. It wasn't working. "Legit, you're kinda killin' my buzz."
Rachel narrowed her gaze. "I apologize, Noah." She stood, all but stomping past him. "I'm sorry I'm such a terrible burden on your life."
"Oh, Jesus." Puck rolled his eyes, following after her even though he knew she was just moving to avoid him. "S'not what I fuckin' meant." He sighed heavily, watching her start to empty the dishwasher. "Did somethin' happen at the play? Or at the restaurant? Is Dana being a bitch again?"
"No," she replied shortly, which just made him more pissed.
So much for his good mood.