Author's Note: Part two! Please read & review, thanks!

First Meeting

Day 13

It was unimaginable to her that people considered the break from school to also be a break from glee club. She had tried to get them to understand how important it was that they continue to meet at least once a week, to not only improve upon skill sets necessary for placing in next year's regional's but also to develop the sense of togetherness as a team, which had been slowly growing and only needed to be cultivated more. However, not one of her fellow glee teammates had seen it that way and had refused to acknowledge the schedule she had made for the "Summer of Glee," as she had referred to it.

"Quit being so Rachel Berry-ish and just let us enjoy the summer," Artie had told her, making her wonder when her name had become an adjective of it's own. When everyone else had nodded in agreement at his words, her heart had sunk within her chest.

Seeing her disappointment, Finn had reluctantly agreed to attend but she knew that he had only because he felt it was his obligation as her boyfriend.

Boyfriend. He was her boyfriend.

Grinning, Rachel clutched her purple folder to her chest as she sat alone in McKinley High's music room, thinking of her very tall and very wonderful boyfriend. She had waited so long for them to be together and her dream had finally come true. Not that the reality was in anyway like the dream but that was beside the point. Sighing, she lowered the folder pulling out a music sheet, glancing over the song selections for that day. One was by Journey, Finn's favorite group. Her eyes skimmed over the words, her lips silently mouthing the words.

After several minutes, she glanced at the clock, surprised to see that it was half past three. Finn was over fifteen minutes later. She was frustrated but she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. And, anyway, it was the first meeting of the summer. Still, perhaps she should call him. She was pulling out her phone, prepared to hit his speed dial number, when the door was pushed open and in came -

- Noah Puckerman.

Frowning, Rachel stood to her feet, observing him for several minutes before addressing him. He had one hand in his pocket, was slouching and had one eyebrow ever so slightly raised. Thoughthe had to have known she'd be there, he appeared puzzled. "What are you doing here?" she asked at long last.

"Uh," he replied, his voice quiet. "Isn't this where the summer glee meetings are taking place?"

It took her a moment to fully comprehend his meaning but when she did, a huge grin broke out on her face. "Why, yes, Noah, yes it is! I…I didn't expect anyone but Finn to show up."

Immediately on his guard, as Noah and Finn were not yet on the best of terms, Noah's eyes darted around the room. "Finn? Don't see him."

Shifting, Rachel cast her eyes downward. "He has not shown up yet. He's running late." Lifting her head, she met Noah's eyes,. "He'll be here soon."

"Right," Noah responded, taking a couple steps forward to a chair and sitting.

Still taken off guard by his presence, and the strange emotions that being in his presence produced, emotions typical when around him, Rachel slowly lowered herself back onto the piano bench, taking a few slow, steadying breaths. "How has your summer been so far? Have you been…been spending much time with Quinn?" She felt ill even asking about his relationship with Quinn, though she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why and never would, as she chose not to closely examine the question.

He furrowed his brow, then asked, "What? Quinn? Nah, haven't seen her since the last day of school."

"Oh, that's…" Swallowing, Rachel tried to figure out what it was, ignoring the hopeful bubbling in her stomach. "I thought you two were dating."

"Quinn and I…we tried that. Didn't work. Don't make much sense."

Rachel was inclined to agree but didn't say that. "It doesn't make much sense," she corrected his grammar.

"What I said."

Deciding not to explain what she had meant, Rachel shut her mouth and the two lapsed into a strange silence that was almost suffocating. As if there existed between them unspoken somethings which neither dared to utter. Just when she was at the point of breaking, Finn came in, grinning goofily once he spotted Rachel. "Finn!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and bounding to his side. Grasping the front of his shirt, she pulled him down for a quick kiss, not hearing Noah's grunt of disgust from behind her.

"Rachel!" Leaning down, he kissed her once more but Rachel broke it quickly.

"And Noah."

Finn's eyes shifted to the other person in the room, who he had not yet noticed. "Puck."

Rachel turned around to face him, feeling Finn's large hands slide down her back and come to rest on her waist. "Since there are three of us, perhaps the best song to -"

Noah's loud ring tone interrupted her in the middle of her suggestion and he answered, which Rachel thought to be rude. "Sup Santana." Bristling, Rachel strained to hear the other side of the conversation. "Not a lot…right now?…I guess…yeah, whatever, be there in five." Hanging up, his eyes met Rachel's, his even gaze unnerving her. It was as if he was probing her with his eyes, waiting for her to speak up, to ask him not to leave and maybe, just maybe, ask him something more. "Gotta meet Santana," he said at last, spinning on his heel and exiting before Rachel could protest his words.

Biting down on her lip, Rachel watched him, blinking rapidly, trying to process. Her thoughts were still tumbled in her mind when Noah popped his head back in the room.

"Be here next week."

"That's wonderful, Noah," she called out before he could leave again, presumably to go hook up with Santana. "Developing upon certain friendships will be good for -"

"Right," Noah cut her off. "Bye."

And then he was gone, really gone this time.

"Huh," uttered Finn, raising one hand from her waist to scratch the back of his head. "Kinda weird."

"Mmhmm," Rachel murmured, unable to move or really speak. Putting her hand to her chest, she willed her heart to slow, closing her eyes and telling herself it was good that Noah was willing to be her friend.

Just her friend.