The Story Of Rachel Berry; Star

Part Two

I stood there tears running down my face as I watched a smiling Finn walk away with his arm around Quinn's shoulders. Fireworks was what Finn said, he didn't feel fireworks when he was with me. I couldn't stand to see them any longer and I turned around and ran down the hall, out the doors and went behind the bleachers where I could cry in peace.

Rachel didn't know how long she sat there, all she could think about was that Finn; dear sweet Finn, had cheated on her, even though he knows what it feels like to be betrayed himself.

'I never knew it could hurt like this.' Rachel whispered to herself, it literally felt like her heart was ripping apart.

' Welcome to the world of relationships.'

Rachel gasped and looked over and saw Puck lounging against the wall, looking at her sympathetically. ' What?'

Puck came over and sat beside her and said, 'Relationships suck Berry, especially with those two.'

' What do you mean?' Rachel asked.

' When they're together they are always looking for something better, the grass is always greener and all that,' Puck waved his hand dismissively, 'and then when they have their something better, they want eachother again.' He gave her a pointed look, 'not caring about who they hurt.'

Rachel let out a sob and Puck wrapped his arms around her, ' He's not worth your tears Rachel, you deserve better.'

She clung on tighter to him and cried her heart out, scarcely believing that she had any more left to shed. Her sobs slowly tapered off so she wiped her eyes and said softly, 'thank you Puck.'

'Noah.'

Rachel wrinked her brow confused, ' Excuse me.'

' You always call me Noah.'

'I thought you didn't like it when people called you Noah.'

Puck scratched his neck awkwardly, 'Your not people Rach.' He smiled down at her, 'I like you. We're a couple of hot Jews.'

Rachel laughed at that and looked at Puck through her lashes, ' okay. Thanks Noah.' She smiled up at him.

Puck smiled at Rachel and then he stood up and held out his hand, 'let's blow this joint.'

Rachel just looked at his hand, ' What about school?'

Puck stared at her, ' Rach, you've been out here for ages. You've already missed most of it. So no one is gonna miss us.'

Rachel chewed her lip, debating with herself whether she should go with him. After a few moments she decided she wasn't gonna sit here and mope any longer, she put her hand in Puck's and he helped her up. ' Where are we going?'

Puck slung his arm around her and started leading Rachel away from school towards his truck as he answered, 'We're going to Breadsticks, I'm starving.'

' Okay, Noah. I am hungry too.' Rachel smiled up at Puck as he helped her into his truck.

On the drive there Puck and Rachel were both lost in thought. Rachel was trying not to think about Finn and Quinn, just feeling gratefulness in her heart for how Noah was there for her.

Puck was thinking on how he could best be there for her, he still remembered what she did for him after Beth was born, she stood next to him in the hospital as he looked at Beth through the window and just held his hand and was a strength for him as he tried to find the courage to let Beth go. ' Hey, did I ever say thanks for what you did for me at the hospital after Beth was born?'

Rachel blushed and looked down at her hands, ' You don't have to thank me, I just wanted to be there for you as I couldn't imagine what you went through that day.'

Puck grabbed her hand and squeezed it tenderly, ' Thank you anyway.'

Rachel flushed and smiled at Puck, ' Your welcome Noah.'

Puck coughed and put the radio on as he wasn't one for big emotional speeches, but Rachel knew he was grateful and she rode the rest of the way there with a small smile on her face.

When they arrived Puck parked the truck and walked around and helped Rachel out, and walked her in and asked the host for a table for two, and as they took their seats they perused the menu. When they decided they called over the waitress.

' What are you ordering?' the waitress asked and had her pen ready.

'I will have the lasagne and a Pepsi, thank you.' Rachel smiled at the waitress as she wrote down her order.

'['ll have the spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread and I'll have a Coke, thanks.' Pock told the waitress as she wrote it down and told them she would be back with their drinks and their food would be done in fifteen minutes.

'How you doing?' Puck asked.

Rachel looked at Puck earnestly, 'It hurts, too soon to be anything else. But thank you for taking me away from school. I would of just depressed myself looking at those two.'

Puck reached across the table and grabbed Rachels hand and squeezed it, ' your welcome. I will be there for you tomorrow.' He smiled at her and asked, ' gotta ride?'

Rachel looked at her hand, looking so small in Pucks and felt a pain rip through her heart and whispered, ' Not anymore.'

' I'll be there at 7.' Puck said and as he watched Rachel open her mouth to speak he pinned her with a look, ' no argument.'

Rachel felt her stomach flutter with butterflies and smiled widely at him, ' okay.'

Their food came and they had a friendly enjoyable meal, Puck telling Rachel about the stuff he got up to as a kid, making her laugh. Rachel in turn told him about her as a child, even then she was a little diva, which caused Puck to smirk and state, 'I remember.'

' Ho do you remember?' she asked.

' We go to the same Temple Rach.' Puck grinned at her causing her to laugh and continue with her story with Puck adding what he remembered about their shared childhood. Before they knew it, they had finished their meal and were getting ready to pay, Rachel offering to pay for her half.

' No Rachel, I invited you I'm paying.' Before Rachel could say anything Puck said, ' You can pay next time.'

Rachel smiled at Puck her heart filled with warmth, ' Okay.'

Puck smiled at her and payed the bill, slung his arm around Rachel and walked her out and to his truck and drove to Rachel's the car filled with talk and laughter until they arrived.

' Thank you so much for today Noah.' Rachel kissed his cheek and smiled at him.

Puck grinned at her and gave her hand a quick squeeze, ' No problem Rachel.' He got out of the truck and helped Rachel out and walked her to her door. ' See you in the morning Rach.'

Rachel smiled at him and unlocked her door, ' See you in the morning.' she watched as Puck left and walked inside to her bedroom and thought over everything that happened today. She was still devastated over Finn but she was amazed at how good Puck was today.

Rachel was happy at how well they got to know eachother over dinner and thought about a line from her favourite movie and laughed, ' This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.'

To be continued