Forgot to add the disclaimer to the first chapter. I do not own Glee. Only RIB does. And frankly…well, I'll just leave it at that.
When she woke, it was still slightly dark in the room and the other girls were still sleeping soundly. Rachel slipped from the bed and changed quickly into her workout clothes. Scribbling a quick note, she took one of the keys, her phone and her iPod. Pushing in the earbuds, she began to run. There were a few people on the road going to work as she ran down the sidewalk. Her iPod tracker said that she had been running for two miles before she stopped and turned around. Walking the last mile, Rachel fought with herself. She still wasn't sure if she should continue on this road trip. Everyone seemed to be happy and content without her there. Just like Finn. Her heart ached for a moment as the bundle of nerves bubbled up slightly larger. She heard a weird scratching sound as she got closer to the motel and jumped as Puck slid up next to her on a skateboard.
"Whatcha doin' up this early, Berry?" He muttered as she took out her earbuds but kept walking.
"Nothing, just exercising. I have a rigorous exercise routine that I do every morning and just because we're on a road trip doesn't mean I'm going to stop it." Puck made a face as he pushed on the road and kept the skateboard going. "What're you doing up this early?" She glanced at him as she slowed down in the parking lot. He stepped off the scuffed board and picked it up, following her into the building,
"Nothing, couldn't get back to sleep after Kurt woke up, so I did a few laps around the parking lot." Rachel went to the stairs and she heard Puck groan inwardly. They were on the top floor. Rachel smiled as she quickly busted her hump up the stairs and Puck followed her. As good of shape he was in, she'd think he wouldn't mind a little exercise. They reached the top floor and she quickly opened the door to the girl's room,
"Do you know when we're leaving, Noah?" She turned back as he slowly moved passed her. He sniffed and shrugged as he knocked heavily on his door and waited for Kurt to open it. Rachel slipped in and was almost immediately assaulted by the sight of Brittany and Santana topless. Not that they were that bad looking, but she wasn't expecting it.
"Do I need to come back?" She muttered, looking from one girl to the other. They shook their heads as Brittany pulled on a shirt. Rachel quickly showered and stared at her bag of clothes. What the hell was she going to wear? Everything was very revealing and although her skirts were short, not as short as the Cheerio skirts she might add, this looked more like that clothes that Kurt gave her to wear to try and seduce Finn. Or her Britney outfit. Rachel finally decided on a pair of dark blue athletic shorts that were like the pair she wore in their funk number as well as a soft yellow tanktop. She walked out of the bathroom to find Santana, Brittany and Mercedes waiting, their things packed. It was Santana and Brittany's turn to drive as Mercedes and Kurt slipped into the very back seat and Puck joined Rachel in the middle seats. Rachel laughed with Brittany from behind Santana as they continued down the road.
The windows were rolled down as the music was being blasted as they passed Tulsa. The sun was starting to go down again, Santana pulled up to a gas station and Puck hopped out. He was chosen to run in and grab some supplies before they went to the next motel. Kurt followed to fill up the gas as a car pulled up next to them full of boys.
"Holy shit, look at this fag with all these hot chicks." Kurt gave the boys a ludicrous look as the girls looked at the boys. One was giving them a leering look as the rest laughed and stared. "You are sexy as hell." The one leering smiled at Santana. She gave a mean laugh,
"Oh, you are so barking up the wrong tree." She snapped back, "And say that my friend is a fag again, I'll pop your nuts like a fuckin' water balloon." She glared at the boy who slid his eyes to Rachel. She gave him a disgusted look as he made an obscene gesture with his fingers and mouth.
"Hey!" Her head snapped up and saw Puck glaring at the kid, "Do that again and I'll bash your face in." He went to Rachel and handed her a bag full of water and candy before turning back to the boys. "And did I hear you call my man, Kurt, a fag?"
"Yeah, I called your boyfriend Kurt, a fag." Puck nodded and he pushed Kurt back into the car. He slammed the door shut and walked back to the car. Rachel watched him with knitted eyebrows as Santana and Brittany started to freak out, trying to unbuckle their seatbelts and get out of the car to stop him. The man who made the obscene gesture to Rachel got out of the car and confronted Puck. Rachel sat there with Mercedes and Kurt as they watched with their jaws gaping at the scene that unfolded. The kid was a whole head shorter than Puck but was just as built. The two exchanged quiet words before the shorter one swung at Puck. The three gasped as Puck ducked away but took the hit to his shoulder. He then wrapped his arm around the smaller boys hand and swung his other fist, connecting it with the boys jaw. The boy fell to the ground as Puck kept pummeling him. Santana and Brittany were leaning out the doors screaming at him to stop, and Rachel could see the station worker grabbing his phone. Rachel threw the door open as well and screamed out,
"Noah!" He stopped and glanced back at them. One of the kid's friends grabbed his bloodied buddy and hauled him back into his seat. The driver took off as Puck stormed back over to the car and sat next to Rachel. Santana pulled away and decided they'd go to the next city before stopping for the night. They slipped into the outskirts of Oklahoma City right up into a Comfort Inn. It was still quiet in the car as Santana and Brittany went in to pay for rooms. Kurt reached forward and tapped Puck on the shoulder. He turned and glanced at Rachel before looking at Kurt out of the corner of his eye,
"Thank you. For what you did back there." Kurt muttered. Puck gave Kurt a nod as Santana got back in the car and drove it around the back of the building where Brittany stood waiting. Everyone piled out of the car again and the boys took their keys. Rachel flopped face down on one of the beds as Mercedes cranked up the AC and peered out the window. It was miserably hot in Tulsa even with the sun sagging on the horizon.
"Anyone wanna go swimming? There's a pool." Rachel lifted her head and made a face but got up and grabbed her swimsuit from her bag.
"Give me two minutes to change." She ran into the bathroom and heard someone bang on their door. She changed quickly into the cut-out one piece and pulled her clothes back on as she tried to hear the argument going on in their room. She stepped from the bathroom to see Puck and Kurt throwing their bags next to respective beds and Santana and Brittany picking up their bags.
"What's going on?" She muttered looking from one person to the next.
"The other room is a single bed, we figured the boys would have no problem sharing a bed, but apparently they do." Santana shot at Kurt and Puck, "But that's fine, 'cause Brit-Brit and I want some alone time." Everyone made a face at the girls before Mercedes and Rachel left to go down to the pool. They were there for a few minutes alone, bobbing in the freezing water until a demonic looking bug landed in the water too close to Mercedes. She screeched and they clambered out. They lay on the beds next to the pool; Rachel was laughing as Mercedes shivered like she was grossed out. When she finally calmed down, she glanced briefly at Rachel,
"What do you think college will be like?" Mercedes asked quietly as they watched cars drive passed. Rachel shrugged and scratched absently at her elbow.
"I'm not sure. Like high school except more stressful. Of course, I'm going to be applying for Julliard which will be more performance than studies but it will probably be just as stressful." Mercedes rolled her eyes and adjusted her slip that held her hair up high.
"What if you don't get into Julliard?" Rachel gave Mercedes a look and shrugged,
"Then I'll be going to NYU."
"What if you don't get that either? Rachel, what if you don't become a great Broadway star?"
"Well, I plan on becoming a Broadway star and nothing will stop that."
"What about a boy?" Rachel rolled her eyes,
"I'm pretty sure the only boy who could get me to stay is..." Rachel trailed off and picked at her swimsuit. Mercedes rolled her eyes back at Rachel,
"Hun, there are other boys in Lima."
"None that like me as much as I like them or will be able to keep up with me." A cool wind kicked up and Mercedes picked up her clothes. She was done fighting with her friend. Rachel followed but stopped at the vending machines. Mercedes continued on as Rachel dropped several coins in and hit the button for a water. Nothing happened. Sighing, Rachel punched the button again but there was only silence. Glancing behind the machine to make sure it was plugged in, Rachel stood in front of the machine for a few more minutes, slamming the button and hitting the Plexiglas.
"Problem Berry?" Rachel turned to find Puck walking up from their room. She motioned to the machine and practically growled,
"Stupid machine ate my money and won't give me my water." Rachel sighed as she looked back at Puck. He sniffed and looked around,
"Keep watch, Berry." She furrowed her eyebrows and watched as he went to the side of the machine,
"What are you doing?"
"Keep watch." He muttered again, pulling out his pocket knife.
"Noah, you are not going to break into the vending machine. It was only two dollars!"
"Rachel, shut up and keep watch." He jimmied the knife into the key hole. Rachel looked up and down the hallway and she heard a scraping sound. He muttered a few curses and then the door popped open. He grabbed a water and handed it to her before grabbing himself a soda and shutting the door again. Rachel sputtered as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her back to their room.
"Noah, you can't just do that." She hissed as they were right outside their room,
"Calm down, Berry. It's a Mountain Dew, not like I stole beer…again." Rachel fixed him with a stare as he rolled his eyes. She knocked on the door for Mercedes to open it.
"Noah, I would really appreciate it if you'd go back and pay for that." Mercedes opened the door for them. Rachel stood out and waited for Noah to go back but instead he brushed by her into the room. Mercedes and Kurt were perched in one bed, freshly showered and the other was undisturbed. Rachel instantly shut herself in the bathroom and showered quickly. She couldn't believe Puck, he had gone to juvie once for stealing (admittedly it was a lot worse than the pop) but if he was caught doing this it would be strike two (Or was it three?). They needed him for Glee and she liked him as a friend. She redressed into her tank top and shorts and wandered back into the main room. Puck was lounging on their bed watching TV as Mercedes and Kurt were sitting side by side in their PJ's reading. Rachel smiled at them and Kurt made a face at her. They reminded her of an old married couple. They stopped when they heard a banging sound coming from the other room. Rachel felt her face flush red as she made her way over to her and Puck's bed and sat on the corner. They watched TV in silence and Mercedes and Kurt eventually fell asleep. Puck got up abruptly and wandered back out of the room. Rachel glanced at the others who had passed out and didn't even stir when Puck walked out. He came back moments later and flopped back on the bed.
"There, I went and paid the damn vending machine." He muttered darkly as he adjusted the pillows. Rachel glanced back and him and smiled slightly,
"Thank you." She muttered quietly, "I just wanted to make sure you didn't get in trouble again, Noah. I'm sure you're mom would appreciate it." Puck rolled his eyes and stretched his back. Rachel slipped under the covers and slid down. "Goodnight, Noah." She muttered. He grunted a goodnight and remained on top of the covers.
Rachel stirred from her sleep and snuggled deeper into the warmth of the bed. She heard a moan behind her and stiffened instantly. A thick arm was wrapped around her middle and an even thicker wall of muscle was pressed tightly against her back. She shifted slightly to look behind her and the arm tightened. Puck was sleeping soundly, his thick lips parted and face completely at ease. She noticed his eyes slide back and forth under his lids and shifted back. He had to be waking up soon. He made some soft sounds again and pulled her even closer to his body. His face buried into her hair. Rachel stared at the wall with wide eyes. She shifted again ever so slightly and froze again. Something was poking her in the thigh. He made a soft sound like a curse and she felt him stir awake. Puck moved quietly and quickly as he extracted his arm from around Rachel and practically leapt out of the bed. Rachel remained perfectly still as he made his way into the bathroom and shut the door softly. Rachel rolled onto her back and glanced over at the other bed. Kurt was peering at her from a single opened eye. They exchanged words without saying anything and Kurt smiled. Rachel sat up and stretched as the toilet flushed. Puck opened the door and looked up at her, his hair stuck up at odd angles that made him more endearing (Rachel, stop those thoughts right now!) and his eyes heavy lidded. He glanced up quickly at Rachel and his eyebrows shot up and he cleared his throat quietly,
"Hey, I didn't wake you up, did I?" he whispered as he walked back to their bed. He was only in a pair of soft worn flannel pajama bottoms that slung low on his hips. Rachel licked her lips and rubbed her eyes.
"No not at all." He flopped back on the bed and groaned. Rachel stood and dug her workout clothes out of her bag.
"Do you mind if I join you?" He muttered unexpectedly. Rachel glanced around and shook her head,
"No, that's fine." She changed quickly in the bathroom and when she came out, Puck was perched on their messy bed in a sleeveless shirt and baggy athletic shorts, tying a pair of worn dirty Nike's. He followed her out of the motel and they took off in step down the sidewalk. It was a crisp morning that was starting to feel the heavy heat from the sun, which wasn't quite showing over the horizon. They ran together in silence for almost a mile and a half before Puck stopped. He laughed at Rachel who jogged for a few steps before stopping and turning back.
"You tired already Noah?" she mused with a smile as she strode back to him. He stood back to full height and shrugged with a laugh. He jerked his head back towards the hotel and she fell into step next to him.
"So why'd you agree to go on this trip?" he asked wiping at his forehead with the back of his forearm. Rachel glanced at him and shrugged,
"Well, I wasn't really doing anything this summer and my dad's thought that I would have more fun on this trip. I figured it'd be a good way to get to know Santana and Brittany outside of glee as well."
"You had no idea I was going to go?" he asked, "Did it really bother you that much?"
"It didn't – It doesn't – bother me, I just thought it'd be the five of us, like a girl's summer."
"So the bad boy threw a wrench in your plans?" he laughed, "Good, my work here is done." Rachel pushed him slightly and smiled back,
"A minor wrench. We're almost to California; I think everything will level out when we get to the villa." They walking in silence for a bit longer before Rachel turned to him slightly, "Why did you decide to go on this trip?"
"Well, I planned on spending my summer making money, getting drunk and having meaningless sex every other day but I figured I could do that in another state just as easily." He smirked at Rachel, who rolled her eyes,
"You're incorrigible. How do you plan on making money?" His smirk grew wider,
"I brought my guitar with me."
"Oh, so, you're going to be like every other guy with a guitar in California and play on the street corner?" She shot at him. He winced slightly,
"No, I'm going to play at the beach surrounded by a bunch of lovely women, and Kurt, who can sing their little hearts out."
"Oh so you plan on splitting the money with all of us?" Rachel asked with a grin. He didn't look at her as he cleared his throat and abruptly took off running. Rachel stared for a moment before he spun and was running backwards,
"If you beat me to the hotel, I'll split the money." He yelled back before twisting back the right way. In a heartbeat, Rachel was sprinting towards him, damn his long legs. She caught up to him quickly and he glanced down at her before picking up his pace. They were both sprinting in the parking lot, Rachel a half step behind Puck. She gave a last burst of energy at the building but he still managed to touch it before her. Puck laughed breathlessly as Rachel stared at him with her bottom lips sticking out, her breathing coming in heavy puffs.
"That's not fair, you cheated!" She pushed his shoulder as she stormed into the hotel. Puck chased after her as she stormed to the elevators.
"What, not going to take the stairs today?" He stuck his tongue out at her as he danced around her chanting, "I won, I won, I won!" Rachel sighed and ignored him as best he could until he was "party boying" against her in the elevator.
"Noah, stop it!" She cried with a laugh as the door dinged open. He froze as Santana and Brittany stared at them from the other side. Santana raised a slender eyebrow and glanced at Brittany who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Okay then. Brit-Brit and I are going to pack up the car and chill by the pool for a while. You two head out when you're done." She muttered out as they switched places. Just as the doors dinged shut, they two huddled together giggling. Rachel turned sharply and punched Puck in the shoulder before storming down the hall. He stood there in shock before yelling at her but she ignored him even better than before. Thankfully, the girls left one key with Mercedes and Kurt in case they forgot anything. Rachel snagged it and stormed into the girl's room. She heard Kurt start to yell at Puck as she turned on the shower and slipped in. Why am I so mad? She wondered to herself as she washed the sweat from her body. Is it because I still like Puck? Rachel shook that thought from her head as she squeezed shampoo into her hand and began to massage her scalp. I still like Puck and can't deny that we have explosive chemistry but I don't like him like that, do I? No! You don't need boys right now. You need to worry about school. Boys are nothing but a distraction that will take away all rational thought when it comes to school. You do not need that. You need to focus on becoming a big Broadway star! A knock jarred her from her thoughts,
"Rachel, are you okay in there?" Mercedes voice filtered through.
"Yeah, just…distracted." She yelled back with a grimace.
"Well, we were gonna head out soon so we can get to the villa."
"I'll be out in a minute." She yelled hurriedly as she picked up the pace.
"Okay, I'm taking the key." Mercedes yelled back but Rachel didn't acknowledge her. Rachel finished her shower and pulled on a soft yellow cotton sundress. She slipped on a pair of white flip flops and ran out, her hair still wet but pulled back into a low pony tail. After a quick brushing and flossing, she made her way to the car and found Kurt in the driver's seat, Puck in the very back and the other three girls lounging in the middle.
"Get in girl, you're making us late!" Kurt yelled playfully from the driver's seat. Rachel ran up and threw her bag in the back and hopped in the front. Kurt pulled out of the parking lot and they started the last part of their trek. It was unbearably hot by ten as most of the girls and even Kurt started to pull off top layers of their clothes. Soon the most Santana and Brittany were in were their bikini's, Mercedes had stripped down to a camisole as well as her capri's and Puck was in only a pair of board shorts in the back. Kurt was a bit of a stickler with his air conditioning even if everyone was certain their skin was melting off. Kurt pulled over to gas up his car as Rachel ran into the freezing store. Thankfully, this was a store with baskets. Filling it with waters and ice teas as well as chips and snacks, she made her way up and down the aisles. When she finally got to the cashier she noticed he was very good looking (sandy blonde hair falling into sharp green eyes, slight freckles dusted across the bridge of his nose and cheeks) and smiling at her. She gave a smile back and slid the basket onto the counter.
"On a road trip?" he muttered as he began to scan the items,
"Yeah, headed to California to summer break," She blushed slightly as she pulled out her debit card.
"Just you and that guy?"
"No, there's six of us."
"Sweet. He you're boyfriend?" Rachel stared at the guy who took her card to swipe it.
"What? No, he's…he doesn't play for my team." She muttered. The guy nodded as he handed her card back.
"Well, maybe I'll catch up to you when you come back through town." He smiled at her. Rachel smiled back and muttered a maybe before taking the bag out to the car. Kurt raised an eyebrow at her as she slipped back into the car. Apparently, everyone was watching her and her conversation. Rachel turned in her seat and handed out waters and iced teas.
"What was that all about, Berry? Get his number?" Santana muttered as she grabbed a water from the shorter girl. Rachel blushed but shrugged it off,
"No, it was nothing." She glanced at Puck who was staring at her intensely. She met his gaze and blinked. Puck dropped his gaze and grabbed a few bags of chips before disappearing back behind the seat. Rachel spun back around as Kurt crawled back in the car,
"God, I love this car, I hate the gas mileage." He muttered, "So what was with the hottie in the gas station?" He stared at Rachel. The engine turned over and Rachel shrugged,
"It was nothing. He flirted with me but that was that." Kurt pulled back onto the freeway and shot her a look,
"It didn't look like nothing with the way he was staring at you." Rachel let out a breath and shrugged again,
"It was nothing, Kurt. Probably just hoping for a summer fling." She muttered quietly.
"Ya know, if we head north from here we could go to Vegas." Puck abruptly said from the back. Santana and Brittany grinned at the thought but Mercedes looked at him confused,
"None of us are 21, we couldn't do any gambling."
"You only have to be eighteen to gamble, Wheezy." Santana shot from the other side of the car. Mercedes glared back at the Latina,
"In Vegas, you have to be twenty one to gamble." Santana shifted her eyes to her phone and typed in a message really quick. It buzzed again and she rolled her eyes,
"Damn, Wheezy was right." She took a quick sip of her drink and looked at Puck.
"Well, we do-,"
"Shut it Puck!" Santana abruptly snapped, glancing her eyes towards Rachel's seat. She really didn't want a lecture from the tiny girl in the car or else someone would end up dead. Puck looked disappointed and slipped back behind the seat. The ride was silent again as they continued on their way.