How did I become so obnoxious? What is it with you that makes me act this way? I've never been this nasty.
Puck had become best friends with Finn two days into the first grade when they were all of six years old and some ten-year-old fifth grader thought it would be cool to use Finn as a shield during a rousing game of dodgeball on the playground. Puck had punched the much-taller kid once in the stomach and sent him crying on his knees. Finn had pledged his undying allegiance then and there, and a decade later, nothing had ever managed to come between them. Finn had been there when Puck's dad had left and Puck had been there when Finn's mom had the cancer scare in seventh grade.
It's not until a certain blonde had come prancing into their lives that anything had really caused them to truly fight. There had been the occasional argument-turned-wrestling-match over the years, but ten minutes into it, they'd usually ended up laughing and forgetting about whatever had started it all in the first place. However, Quinn reminded Puck of the jealous part of him that he fought so hard to hide. He had always secretly hated Finn a little for how perfect his life seemed.
Sure, neither of them had a father, but Finn's had died a war hero (or so they had thought at the time). He was an only child, which meant his mother doted on her son endlessly. She had a good job, one that allowed her to have good hours and spend generously on his wants and needs. Finn didn't want for anything and had very little to worry about. The teachers liked him even if he didn't good grades, all the mothers wanted their kids to be his friend and he rarely got into trouble that wasn't initiated by Puck in the first pace.
In fact, Finn was probably the most loyal person Puck had ever met until the beginning of sophomore year when he first noticed the stupid moon eyes Rachel Berry was making at him. His best friend put up the good fight and tried to focus all his attention on the very hot blonde on his arm. However, he slipped up and told Puck about it right away, tears nearly in his eyes as he worried about how would Quinn would react. The news about the baby would come out soon after and Finn would have bigger things to worry about than some pining brunette. Quinn and the baby would quickly become his whole world, showing everyone at McKinley exactly what kind of guy his best friend was.
However, other than his mom, Finn was probably the most loyal to Puck. When Puck had cried a few days after his dad left, Finn had pledged that he hated Puck's dad too. He was the first person who would ever despise his father for what he had done to Puck, the way it destroyed the secretly caring Noah and replaced him with the angry little boy with walls so high that no one could break through the facade.
None of that meant anything when the truth about Beth's paternity came out thanks to Rachel breaking Baby Gate. Puck had been the first one to see Finn's split personality come out then. He had never seen his best friend truly angry until the day they fought. None of that stung as much as the silence that followed. Even after he had forgiven Quinn and turned to Rachel, Finn wouldn't even spit in Puck's direction. Puck knew that he deserved it but he had stupidly believed that Finn would never leave him. He should have known that eventually everyone leaves, and Puck always makes sure that it's on his terms before anyone figures out what he's doing.
"You let me believe that baby was mine," Finn had screamed angrily in the parking lot after he had stormed out of the school. "You let me fall in love with that little girl. You made me want her, made me want to be her father. And for what, Puck? To just tear it out from under me?"
"You get everything, Finn!" he yelled back. "Even after all this, Quinn still wants you. Rachel wants you. Everyone wants you! Hell, my baby would probably even rather have you as a father. So before you decide you're going to hate me forever, remember that I wasn't the only one who let you do any of this. I wanted to tell you."
Finn narrowed his eyes at Quinn before returning his heated gaze to Puck. "And you suddenly lost your ability to speak? So what if Quinn wanted to lie to me? You were supposed to be my best friend, man. You should have told me. You know you should have. You can make all the excuses in the world but that doesn't change anything."
"You're right, it doesn't," Puck conceded easily. "I should have told you. It should have come from me and not some nosy, lovestruck girl that barely knows the real you." Puck heard Rachel squeak somewhere behind him. "I have known you longer and better than anyone. I knew what you were capable of, and honestly, a little selfish part didn't want you to hate me. I didn't want you to hate Quinn. I already fucked up her life enough..."
Quinn stepped forward, her hand resting protectively on her slightly swelled stomach. "Finn, please just listen to us."
"Quinn!" Finn yelled, causing her to stumble back. Puck saw the light switch in his eyes as the real Finn shifted back into place. He reached out to steady the pregnant blonde and searched her gaze to make sure she was okay. "I'm sorry, I'm really angry right now and I can't talk to you without yelling. You need to give me space - both of you."
Finn had left them all in the parking lot that day. Quinn had been the next to leave, tucked under Santana's protective arm as she and Brittany helped get their hysterical friend into the front seat of San's silver convertible. The rest of the crowd had eventually dispersed, leaving Rachel and Puck alone. He had looked at her as if he hated her that day and part of him did. It was easier to blame her for all of this right now than think about what came after. He couldn't imagine his world without Finn.
It took a long time for the two of them to become friends again, but Puck knew it would ever be the same as it was before. They'd all lost something that day and no amount of time or forgiveness would be able to change that.