AN: Hey! Thanks for the reads/reviews/follows, this is my first FanFic and I'm sorry if I don't update quickly. Let me know what you think! And sorry if any of the characterizations or cursing isn't to your liking. I try to be fairly real to the characters but everyone has their own interpretations. Thanks!

Rachel's head was spinning immediately after one of the greatest moments of her high-school life. Finn Hudson had kissed her. And not only had he kissed her but he kissed her in front of everyone at school. (Well, not everyone of course, Rachel would correct, because not everyone was standing outside the cafeteria at that moment, as that would be quite the physical impossibility.) But the fact remained that the entire school was now abuzz with the gossip surrounding Rachel, Finn, and Puck. Rachel didn't hear any of the gossip, however, as she was completely high on the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She felt more invincible than ever and more ready to conquer the world. She felt positively alive and everything would be great.

Finn's head was spinning too, but not all in a good way. He knew he definitely liked the kiss he shared with Rachel, and he knew that he was definitely pleased that he didn't, well, have to change his pants afterwards. But what he was worried about was the fact that he had just kissed Rachel Berry in front of most of the Cheerios and jocks in the school, which would do absolutely nothing for his rep. He knew when he joined Glee that it would definitely harm his social standing but it was a risk he was willing to take because Glee made him happy, truly happy for the first time in a long time. But Finn understood or at least mostly accepted the flak he got for being in Glee, but he wasn't sure what torture he would face from kissing Rachel. He knew very well no one really liked Rachel; she wasn't even popular in the group she where she was the most valuable player. Finn just knew there was going to be trouble.

Puck, on the other hand, had thought nothing about the consequences of his actions. He just knew that he was officially out of debt to anyone and that meant things in the universe were right again. But Puck was wrong about that feeling; everything was not as it should be.

Puck quickly realized that this was the case as he walked into Glee. Kurt, Mercedes, Tina and Artie were loudly talking to each other.

"Girl, you should have seen it! It was like an episode of the Real World or The OC or some white-ass teen soap opera like that." Mercedes told Tina as Kurt nodded along, "I mean, first, Puck and Rachel were like totally making out right outside of the cafeteria where everyone could see and then Finn came bolting out of the caf and totally punched Puck right in the face!"

"And then the boys were yelling about Rachel and who's girlfriend she was." Kurt chimed in, "It was insane. I think that Rachel must have cast some sort of demon spell over them because they were both batshit crazy. I mean, really, how does Rachel Berry go from no boyfriend to having two men fighting over her?" Especially Finn, thought Kurt, who should be seeking solace and comfort on his shoulder, not kissing Berry.

"And then they were fighting for reals, both throwing punches at each other but Puck totally knocked Finn's boney ass to the floor and was about to ruin his face, but Rachel stopped him." Mercedes continued but Kurt interrupted again.

"And then Rachel was all over Finn. He looked really confused and she totally took advantage of him and kissed him." Kurt told Tina and Artie who looked thoroughly engrossed in the story.

"Rachel really took advantage of Finn?" Tina questioned incredulously.

"Well, yeah, kinda. At least that's what I saw." Kurt said firmly, flipping his bang out of his face as he turned up his nose.

"What about Puck? I mean that's gotta suck for Rachel to totally dis him like that and pick Finn's side in front of everyone." Artie piped up.

Puck felt that this moment was the appropriate time to step up and let the gossiping four know of his presence. "Well if you want to know what I think, just ask. I'm sittin right here." He said as he slouched down in one of the chairs line up on the risers.

Artie, Tina, Kurt and Mercedes collectively froze and focused in on Puck who was now sitting only a few feet from their little powwow.

"Oh, hey Puck." Mercedes said cooley, "We didn't see you there."

"Obviously," he responded dryly.

"Uh, well….this is awkward." Arties said, running his hand through his hair.

Silence fell over the group for another moment before Puck felt like someone should say something and as it seemed none of the other four had any balls to ask him directly, he answered what was on everyone's minds.

"Guys, you know I'm not upset about what happened out there at lunch, right? I don't give a shit about Rachel Berry." Puck informed the group, but they just looked confused.

"But why…?" Tina began before suddenly seeming to lose her voice.

"Why did I kiss her?" Puck finished her thought. Puck paused for a second and thought about whether or not he should admit that he ever owed Rachel Berry a favor. He decided against the long story with the favor as it wasn't his style to tell long stories and it wasn't his style to owe anyone favors. Instead he said, "I just wanted to shut Berry up for a minute. She was annoying the crap outta me, seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Puck, it's not normal to kiss someone to get them to shut up." Mercedes pointed out in an insinuating tone.

Puck was about to defend his action further when he was interrupted by the arrival of several more members of Glee. Mike, Matt, Brittany and Santana all walked into the room followed by Mr. Schuester.

"Alright, guys we got a good number to work on today that we may be able to use for Regionals," announced Mr. Schue as he passed around new music to everyone in the room. Quinn walked in and quickly took a seat near Brittany and Santana, but gave Puck a strange look right before she did. Puck could have sworn it was a look of rage but he really couldn't decide.

"Where are Finn and Rachel?" Mr. Schue asked but no one responded.

Finn was avoiding Glee. He didn't want to face all his fellow Glee members, especially not Quinn, after what happened in the hall at lunch. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Finn thought to himself. "Stupid! Stupid, Stupid!" he reiterated out loud as he paced under the bleachers next to the football field.

"Finn?" A delicate voice called; he immediately recognized it.

"Hey." Finn responded, stopping dead in his tracks as he nearly ran into the small brunette who called his name.

"Finn, are you okay? I was about to walk into Glee when I saw you weren't there and it was already starting. I figured you were out here if you weren't there. Are you okay?" Rachel asked. He could really hear the concern in her voice, it made him feel horribly guilty.

Finn stared above Rachel's head for a moment before looking down at her. Man, she's beautiful, he thought. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied.

Rachel stared at him for a second. "Finn. This is me, Rachel, you're talking to here; there really is no point in lying to me."

Finn continued to avoid eye contact but admitted that he wasn't okay. "Rachel. I'm sorry but I just need some time to process what just happened. I don't know if I'm okay with it." Finn looked down to gage her reaction and wasn't surprised to see her face twist up a bit in pain. Her eyes look watery, too.

"I don't really know what there is to process," Rachel said defensively, "You kissed me, Finn. In front of the whole school. You. Kissed. Me."

Finn looked away from her. "Yeah, I know. But I was just, I don't know, caught in the moment. You were being really nice and my head was spinning from being punched and I didn't really think about what I was doing."

Rachel could feel her mood changing and her temper flaring up, "You didn't know what you were doing? Really? Is that the story you're going with? Let us not forget that you came up to Noah and shoved him first, and started a fight because you did not like the fact that he kissed me."

"Yeah, well…" Finn couldn't think of an excuse for that and Rachel continued her recounting of the facts getting increasingly angry.

"And when you were hurt, I was just trying to be your friend and help you to the nurse's office but you took it as more. I'm the one who said we were just friends, nothing more, because I know you need space and because I really do like being your friend. But then you told me we were more than friends, and then you kissed me, Finn. But now you're just being a coward because you're afraid of how people will react to you liking me." Rachel pointed out very accurately. Finn didn't respond immediately so Rachel continued, "But Finn, I'm tired of this game. I'm either your friend or more than your friend. You can't have it both ways and you cannot hit every other boy who kisses me. Either stop being a coward or let me kiss whomever I choose!"

Finn looked at her and saw her trembling with anger and what he suspected was hurt. He was a mix of emotions and couldn't decide which one was going to win. He knew Rachel was right. He was afraid of how the other kids would react, and he really didn't need to get any more flak from any of the jocks. And as much as he hated it, he worried about what Quinn would say and think. Rachel could see him struggling with what to do. And he tried to say something but he just stood there, mouth slightly gaped open and nothing came out.

"Okay. I see how it is." Rachel said, looking into Finn's eyes. She quickly spun about and walked away in her dramatic way.

"Wait!" Finn finally managed to spit out but Rachel kept walking.

AN: Sorry for any typos. And I'll update as soon as I can! Thx!