Note: See parts one & two for all pertinent information.
Younger Now Than We Were Before
Noah Puckerman remembers the first and only time he's ever kissed another guy. Really kissed another guy. It was the weekend that Rachel graduated from Julliard and The Core Four, as they were referred to during their final years of high school, was out celebrating. Puck's mom was watching Rosanna for the weekend and had told them to have as much fun as they wanted without doing anything too stupid or reckless and gave him a pointed look.
Puck, Finn, and Quinn had driven out to New York the day before Rachel's graduation. She had offered them "lodging"—her wording—in her small loft apartment, the first six months of the lease having been paid for by her fathers as a graduation present. The next night after the ceremony, the four of them went out to dinner before hitting a few clubs to dance and get drunk. At last call, they all piled into a taxi and went back to Rachel's.
Rachel and Quinn had both pouted and asked if Puck and Finn would be "ever so chivalrous" and get them some water and maybe make them some BLTs before the young women stumbled, giggling, to Rachel's bedroom on the upper level. Puck had to grab Finn's sleeve and pull him—he'd been content to watch the girls as they attempted to ascend the stairs—towards the kitchenette.
Nearly thirty minutes later, after Puck and Finn have finally figured out how to work the high tech stove, they carried a tray with a pitcher of water and glasses on it and a platter of sandwiches. As they climbed the stairs, they didn't hear either Rachel or Quinn and assumed that they've both fallen asleep. Finn, who was in front of him, stopped dead in his tracks.
Puck nudged him with his elbow, "Dude, move."
Finn looked over his shoulder at him, shock evident on his face, as well as a slight smirk. Finn turned his head and went up a few more steps, enough for Puck to step up and see the mother of his child and his on-again off-again, currently off-again, girlfriend making out. Without saying a word, dumbfounded, Puck turned and went down the stairs, placed the platter in the coffee table, and sat on the sofa. Finn joined him a moment later, putting the tray on the table.
Puck was sure that they had all heard the whispers and rumors in high school about the orgies that they were supposedly having. And if anyone had asked him if he ever wanted to see two chicks making out, he's sure that he would have said, "Hell yes." But these weren't two chicks—it was Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray. And then he wondered if it was the first time that it's happened. As he thought about it, he realized that he'd be more surprised if it was than it if wasn't.
Finn pulled him from his thought, "That was pretty hot."
Puck just looked at him. "Are you crazy? I'd much rather they be making out with us than with each other."
Finn shrugged and grinned goofily, "Yeah, but it's still pretty hot. Do you supposed Rachel still has her camera?"
"Dude, how drunk are you?"
"Very." He pauses. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like to kiss another guy?"
Puck quickly moved away from Finn, "What the hell, man?!"
Finn's eyes widened, "No, I just meant—you know, haven't you ever wondered?"
"No, I haven't."
"I have. In high school. Kurt had a crush on me."
"Anyone would have had to be deaf, dumb, and blind to have not known that Hummel was hot for you."
"I think we should do it. You know, just to see what it feels like."
"You have lost your mind. I am not kissing you or any other guys."
"We're drunk. Besides, if you can't kiss your best friend, who can you kiss?"
"Shit, you are not going to let this go, are you?"
Finn gave him another of his goofy grins.
Puck sighed, "Fine. But no tongue."
The words had barely left Puck's mouth when Finn's lips were on his. Finn's lips were dry and soft, surprisingly soft. Puck would never be able to explain why he'd reached up and placed a hand behind Finn's head, ready to deepen their kiss, before the alcohol induced fog in his brain cleared a little and he pulled back.
That stupid, goofy grin was still on Finn's face, "See? That wasn't so bad. We're totally not gay."
Suddenly, harmonized laughter rang out and they both looked up to see Quinn and Rachel leaning over the banister, laughing at them.
It was at that exact moment that Puck decided to never get drunk with Finn Hudson ever again.
