A/N: So this chapter is coming out sooner than I had planned because my laptop stopped recognizing my external hard drive (that place where I store not only my entire iTunes library but also my fics) and told me that I needed to format it. At the time I didn't think anything of it, even though my computer would no longer recognize the EHD whenever I plugged it in. But it wasn't until about 4:30 this morning that I realized that if I couldn't get into my EHD then I couldn't get to the rest of this story and I started freaking out. So I emailed a friend and freaked out on her (you know who you are and hey look! - I solved my problem) and then thought to just plug the EHD into my husband's computer and see if I could access it that way. Luckily I could, so I rescued my fics and emailed them to myself.
So long story short, I saved the day and y'all get the reward. Also, I don't own Glee or any of the real life places in Seattle that are mentioned in this story.
Puck checks the clock on the wall again and sighs when he realizes what time it is. It's almost 10 am on a Thursday and he hasn't seen his hot coffee girl yet which is odd since she always shows up before her shift at EMP and he's grown so used to seeing her that he's actually already got her usual order ready and waiting for her on the counter complete with foam art (which may or may not be his phone number). When the clock says 10:05 he just shakes his head and pours her drink into a to go cup before scribbling down the type of drink on one side of the cardboard sleeve and his name and number on the other side (since the foam got messed up when he poured the cappuccino into the cup). He sets it on the ready counter and turns towards the customer who just entered the shop. It's the same flirty redheaded woman from a few weeks ago and when she orders a soy cappuccino, he can't help but look over at the drink that's sitting in the white coffee cup.
She glances over at it and when she reads on the cardboard sleeve that it's essentially the same thing that she ordered, only slightly healthier because of the non fat, she tells him, "I'll just take that one."
When she goes to reach for it, his hand shoots out and says, "No. Actually that's for someone else. She's usually here by now." The bell above the door jingles and his face changes when he sees the petite brunette woman in question. "That's actually her right now."
"I'm so sorry I'm late," Rachel tells him breathlessly. She practically ran the entire way because she woke up late and she knows that she really doesn't have the time to be stopping for her drink but she just wanted to see the sexy barista, especially ever since his roommate told her what his name is.
He smirks and holds out the cup to her. "It might be a little cold since I thought you'd be here on time." She blushes and thanks him as she hands over a few dollar bills to pay for it before heading back outside. Puck just turns back to the other woman who now has a mildly annoyed look on her face and says, "Soy cappuccino right?"
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Rachel enters the employee room at EMP and is about to throw away her coffee cup when she spots a note written on the cardboard sleeve. She smiles when she reads the message he left for her
Call me next time you're running late. 206-385-4378 ~ Puck
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Puck feels his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulls it out to see that he has a new text message.
Thank you for your number.
His hand closes around his cell phone briefly before he smirks and stores the number under Hot Coffee Girl before slipping the device back into his pocket.
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Later that day his phone rings and vibrates across the coffee table and before he can pick it up, Sam snatches it and laughs out, "Hot Coffee Girl?"
"Shut up," Puck mutters as he pauses the game with his controller before tossing it aside and grabbing the phone out of his roommate's hand and pushing the accept button and says, "Hello?"
"Hi." There's a slight pause before she starts talking again. "I don't know if you remember me but I'm the girl from the coffee shop."
How could I forget, he thinks to himself but he doesn't want to seem too excited because she's only had his number for a few hours and is already calling him. "Yeah you're gonna have to give me more to go on than that. I see a lot of females at the shop."
Puck can see Sam rolling his eyes at this admittedly lame flirting and just picks up a pillow and chucks it at his friend's head just in time to hear her voice say, "The one you gave your number to this morning." She pauses slightly, not really giving him enough time to respond before she starts back up again, "Unless of course you give your number out to a lot of women; which if that is the case then I really shouldn't have bothered you. I can just hang up and pretend this never happened. Possibly even find another coffee shop on my way to work."
His eyes bug out slightly at the rush of words that just came out of her mouth and the only thing he can really register is the last sentence and that she just said she might find another place to get her coffee and the thought of not seeing this sexy brunette at least once a week just isn't kosher. "Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down, Baby. I'm just messing with you. Of course I remember you. You're my 10 am Thursday non fat soy cappuccino." He throws another pillow at Sam's head when he hears him making kissing noises before getting up off the couch and walking into his bedroom for a little privacy.
"Oh," she says quietly. "So you do remember me then. Well that makes this easier I suppose. Anyway, the reason I was calling is that I'm still new in town and don't really know my way around or what there is to do for fun here and I figured maybe, if you're free, you'd like to show me some of the sights and what kind of entertainment that this city has to offer?"
He lies down on his bed and bunches the pillows under his head until he finds a comfortable spot and says with a smirk in his voice, "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"I-I well," she stutters and then clears her throat before speaking again, "Well actually I was thinking more along the lines of a friendly outing where you could be a good neighbor, so to speak, and show me around while we hopefully strike up a friendship that could have the chance to blossom outside of your coffee shop. But if you're not interested then I'm sure I can figure out this city on my own with the help of mapquest and Google."
Puck chuckles and tells her, "You've really gotta learn to let other people speak every now and then. But yeah, I'd be down for showing you around Seattle some time. When did you have in mind? I have Saturday free."
"Really? You'll show me around? You're wonderful and Saturday sounds good. I've got something to do in the morning but I could meet you at your shop at noon if you'd like," she says happily.
He can't help but grin at hearing how happy she is that he's willing to spend time with her. Truth is he would have used pretty much any excuse out there to see more of her but for whatever stupid reason he just went about his sweet ass time giving her his number because he had kinda been hoping she would give him hers first. But whatever, he's now got a "friendly outing" with the brunette that has intrigued him from the moment she set foot in the coffee shop.
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Rachel smiles at the other people around her and offers a friendly, "Have a good day," to a few of them as she packs away the guitar that she was borrowing for the class because she left hers at home. She waves at her fellow co-worker, Artie, who was also the instructor for today's guitar lesson. She tells him she'll see him next week as she heads downstairs to exit the building so that she can head over to Cosmic Coffee and meet Puck for their day of exploring Seattle.
She can't keep the smile off her face as she gets closer to the coffee shop. Glancing up at the sky she sees that it is a wonderfully clear and sunny day which is apparently unheard of for the month of October according to everyone she's talked to today that has lived here a lot longer than her. Although there is a slight chill to the air, so while she's grateful for the long sleeved cream colored sweater dress that she's wearing, she really wishes she had thought to put on a pair of leggings as well. Instead she readjusts the purse on her shoulder and starts walking a little faster so that she can get to the coffee shop quicker.
The petite brunette tries to hide her large smile when she spots Puck leaning against the window of his shop and taking a sip from the cup in his hand. He looks so good with his aviators while wearing a grey hoodie, jeans and sneakers that it's unreal and completely unfair. She waves when he looks up and then her smile completely breaks free when he waves back and starts walking towards her with a second cup.
He hands it to her and says, "Your usual. My treat this time."
Rachel tucks a lock of hair behind her ear before taking a sip and letting the warmth flow through her body. "Thank you. So what did you have in mind today? I hope I'm appropriately dressed because I'm still trying to get used to this Seattle weather."
Puck's eyes slowly travel down her body and he takes in the small amount of cleavage she's showing from the v-neck of her dress and he swears that he can spot some lace, but he's not sure if it's a bra or just a camisole. His gaze lingers on her bare legs for awhile before noticing her brown suede boots. Sweeping his eyes back up her body, he notices the faint hint of a blush on her cheeks and that she's fidgeting a little. "You look great so I'm sure you'll be fine. But I figured today we'd go check out Pike Place Market and then if we've got time the waterfall gardens have always been a favorite quiet place of mine within the city. You ok to walk around town in those boots? Everything is just within a few miles of each other so I figured we'd just walk if that's ok with you."
Rachel points her toe and holds her leg out as she looks down at her foot. Twisting it one way and then the other she says, "They are quite comfortable and as long as you don't have me hiking all over town I should be fine." She notices him staring at her leg and grins because she's glad to know that she's at least somewhat attractive to him since she's incredibly attracted to him.
"Just a few miles, I promise." He smirks and then sweeps his arm out in the direction they need to go. "Shall we?" She smiles and falls in step with him as they walk down the sidewalk. "So am I ever going to get your name or should I just keep thinking of you as Hot Coffee Girl?"
She laughs loudly next to him and asks, "Hot Coffee Girl? Is that what you've been calling me? Is that what sevin means in Na'vi? Sam told me I should ask you."
Puck chuckles along with her. "Well I didn't know your name so what else was I supposed to call you?"
"True I suppose."
"And if I'm not mistaken," he says as he pulls out his phone to check the app that Sam apparently put on there the other day, "sevin means pretty."
Rachel gives him a shy smile and tells him, "I'd been calling you something similar to Hot Coffee Girl until Sam told me that your name is Puck."
His eyebrow arches at this piece of information. "So what was I? Hot Coffee Man?" He waggles his eyebrows as he says this and she just laughs some more.
"Something like that. But I've since changed it to Puck. Although I can't seem to think that Puck can possibly be your real name." She takes a sip of her cappuccino as they keep walking down 5th Avenue towards their first destination.
"That's because it's not," he stops walking and holds out his hand, "Noah Puckerman."
She grabs his hand and shakes it with her own, reveling in the warmth and tingles that radiate up her arm. "It's nice to meet you, Noah." Rachel lets go of his hand and tries to start walking again but she feels his callused fingers wrap around her wrist as he tugs her back and she looks up at him. "Yes?"
"Are you not going to give me your name?"
"Are we playing the name game version of I'll show you mine if you show me yours?" Her eyelashes flutter flirtatiously.
Puck smirks and rubs his thumb over the pulse in her wrist. "Well we can play the real version if you prefer." He pauses to stare at her pink lips and has to bite back a growl when she unconsciously licks them. "But seriously, what's your name?"
"Rachel. Rachel Berry."
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"Welcome to Pike Place Market," he says and makes a sweeping hand gesture. "Your one stop shop for antiques, comic books, restaurants, flowers and fresh produce. It's also the home of the first coffee shop that must not be named," she giggles at his silliness and then stops walking when he does in front of a particularly fragrant shop, "and the world famous fish market. This fish market has been on quite a few tv shows."
Rachel arches her eyebrow and just gives him a look. "I'll have to remember about the comic books. My dad is a huge Batman fan and it," she pauses and gently tugs on her earlobe while trying to think of a polite way to phrase her comment, "really smells over here."
Puck laughs heartily at her astute observation. "Haha yeah, but you get used to it after awhile. I've actually got a buddy that works here. Let me see if I can find him." His eyes scour the men behind the counters and when he spots his friend he shouts out, "Hey Finn!"
A ridiculously tall guy with brown hair and a goofy grin looks over when he hears his name and waves, "Hey Puck! What brings you here today?"
Rachel watches as the two men do some sort of complex series of hand gestures that ends in an exploding fist bump and she can't help but smile at the obvious easy going friendship between the two.
"Nothing much. Just showing Rachel here," he holds his hand out to the petite brunette to gesture her closer and is surprised when she actually puts her hand in his, "some of the highlights of Seattle since she's new to town."
Finn smiles and looks at Rachel. "That's cool. It's nice to meet you, Rachel. I'd shake your hand but it's kinda fishy."
"Much appreciated," she says her nose scrunching slightly at the unfamiliar scent.
"Actually," Puck starts, "I was kinda wondering if you guys had any fish that needed to be tossed around? Figured I'd give her a show and maybe even have her catch and toss a few."
Rachel's eyes widen in shock at the thought of them tossing fish around (how unsanitary!) let alone her actually touching them. "Noah, I'm a vegetarian."
He looks at her. "Well it's not like I'm asking you to eat it and besides, don't vegetarians not eat red meat only? So fish totally doesn't count."
She sighs and looks at him. "Well technically a vegetarian is by definition a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains."
He stares at her in silence and just blinks before responding, "Ok Merriam Webster. So you do eat fish or not?"
Launching into her vegetarian spiel she informs him, "Well there's the pesco-vegetarians who eat fish, dairy products and eggs along with plant foods. Lacto-vegetarians include dairy products in their diet. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians also eat dairy products and eggs. And then there's the semi-vegetarians, who cheat a little and eat a little poultry along with fish, as well as dairy products and eggs." She notices that his eyes have kinda glazed over during her little speech and so she pokes him in the chest.
"Well that's all," he pauses as if he's trying to find the right words while rubbing at the spot on his chest because even though he doesn't want to admit it, her pointy finger hurt, "very fascinating but you still didn't answer my question. Do you eat fish or not?"
Rachel chuckles, "No I don't eat meat of any kind-"
Puck interrupts her, "Wait by meat of any kind, does that include," he gestures down to the crotch of his jeans.
She rolls her eyes at his comment but can't hide her blush as she tries to continue as if he didn't say anything, "including fish."
"Oh it's definitely not fishy." He winks as she huffs at him. "But yeah, seriously, I'm not asking you to eat the damn fish, just to toss it around a little. I'll do it with you."
Finn just stands there staring at his friend with the pretty brunette and can't help but chuckle. "Yeah come on, Rachel. It's not like they're going to feel anything."
Rachel looks back and forth from Noah to his friend before sighing and throwing up her hands. "Oh fine. I give up. But I absolutely insist on some sort of protection from my clothing because I refuse to wind up smelling like fish at the end of the day."
"Sure thing," Finn tells her with a grin as he moves around behind the counter before reappearing with a pair of bright orange coveralls and hands them to her. "Here you go. They'll probably be too big but they're the best I can get in order to cover up most of your dress."
She smiles and thanks him. Holding on to Puck for balance she manages to step into them and put the straps over her shoulders. The petite brunette looks down at herself and can't help but laugh at how ridiculous she looks. She's literally swimming in a pile of orange fabric and feels silly.
Puck smirks. "Looking good but here," he strips off his hoodie leaving him in only a tight t-shirt that clings to his muscles in a manner that is very distracting for Rachel, "you'll need this to cover your sleeves."
Rachel holds the hoodie in her hands and looks at him. "Are you sure, Noah? I don't want it to smell like fish either."
He shrugs and says, "I don't mind. I can just wash it out later. But just put it on and get your sexy ass back behind the counter."
She feels her cheeks turn pink at the compliment before tossing the warm garment over her head. She inhales deeply at the neck and smiles at the scent of coffee and something musky that just mixes into something purely Noah. Rachel follows him behind the counter and listens to the instructions that Finn gives her in regards to how to catch a fish properly. The brunette female screams when the first one comes flying at her and the guys in the shop laugh good naturedly. She just shoves up the sleeves of the hoodie she's wearing and says, "Again."
The men in the shop cheer at her good attitude about it all and begin chanting again as they toss another fish at her. They shout excitedly when she catches one and holds it above her head as she jumps up and down in joy. "I did it! I did it!"
The smile that she gives Puck is so blindingly bright that he can't help but smile in return and kiss her cheek, surprising both of them. Her arms lower and she hands the fish off to Finn as she continues to look at Puck and just blink at him owlishly. He rubs the back of his neck nervously and tells her, "Good job."
"Thank you," she responds quietly. Rachel moves to wash her hands to remove the feeling of dead fish from her hands and then removes his hoodie and hands it back to Noah before stripping out of the orange overalls and returning those to Finn. "So," she says slowly, "what should we do now?"
"Umm, let's just walk around and I can show you my favorite spots at the market." The pair says goodbye to Finn and the rest of the guys at the fish market before making their way further into Pike Place Market. Puck shows her where the comic book shops are in case she wants to come back to buy something for her dad someday. He takes her past his favorite restaurants, the produce section, the flower vendors and even points out the Starbucks. He won't go in it though and she doesn't ask to which kinda makes him happy.
They end their trip through the market with a visit to Thomas the Balloon Man. The dude's been here for longer than he can remember but he's cool. He pays him to make them some balloons and they wind up leaving with a sword for him along with a crown and flower for her. The smile on her face and the sparkle in her brown eyes makes him feel kind of proud of himself for putting them there and grateful that their moment of awkwardness at the fish market seems to have disappeared.
Before Puck takes Rachel home, he makes sure they visit the waterfall garden park so that she can see one of his favorite places to go when he just wants to go somewhere quiet and be around nature. She tells him that it's beautiful there and thanks him for showing it to her. When they leave, they head back to Cosmic Coffee and she briefly says hello to Sam before giving Noah a kiss on the cheek and letting him know that she had a wonderful time and that they should do it again sometime soon.
He stands outside and watches her walk away before going back inside only to punch his roommate on the arm at the smug look on his face.
