Rachel sat at the piano, biting her lip as she scrutinized the notes scribbled onto a piece of staff paper. Her discussion with Sam yesterday had been illuminating and had spurred her on to prove to New Directions that writing original songs for Regionals was simply not open to debate.

'It just frustrates me how he's always done this!' Rachel griped, gripping the glass of soy milk tighter. 'When we were alone he was always full of praise. But the minute another person wanders into his line of sight, Finn simply reverts back to that pack mentality I have always had a problem with.'

Sam murmured a response. Rachel studied her friend, took in the way he never took his eyes off her kitchen countertop.

'Sam?' She pushed gently. Something in her voice made him look up and it broke Rachel's heart to see the devastation buried behind his blue eyes. Not knowing what to say, already aware of the depth of his feelings for Quinn, Rachel reached across and squeezed his hand.

The broken smile she got in response was a start.

'What's up my hot little Jewish American Princess?' Puck's voice sounded from behind her. Rachel rolled her eyes at his nickname, shifting slightly in surprise when he collapsed onto the bench beside her.

'Hello Noah,' Rachel greeted him cautiously. 'Is there something I can help you with?'

'Dude, what the hell is this?' Puck said instead, reaching out for the staff paper she had arranged neatly on the shelf.

'Nothing,' Rachel hissed, wondering when Sam was going to be here. He had said this morning that he would be more than happy to give his opinion on her first draft. Puck ticked up an eyebrow when she swatted his hand away.

'Hey Rach. Puck,' Sam said in confusion, spotting his friend beside Rachel.

'Am I interrupting something?' Puck asked, and Rachel wondered why he sounded so irritated.

'Actually-'

'Hey since Puck's here maybe he can listen to what you wrote too?' Sam suggested innocently enough. Rachel felt her nerves spike.

'Dude did you write a song?' Puck's tone of shock had Rachel bristling a bit.

'Yes. Since Mr Schuester refuses to acknowledge the validity of my suggestion, I've decided to let my actions speak louder than words in this case,' Rachel told Puck, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. She took in the strong curve of his jaw, the faint stubble on the side of his scalp. It had never escaped her notice that Noah Puckerman was indecently attractive. That brief week they had dated was evidence enough.

He's with Lauren now Rachel. And you don't need to be distracted by a boy.

'Well let's hear it then,' Puck leaned back in his seat as Sam dragged a stool over.

'You're staying?' Rachel felt her voice start to squeak.

'Yeah. I stuck up for you too you know. I want to see those bitches when you blow them away with your lyrical awesomeness,' Puck commented casually, earning a laugh from Sam.

Rachel cleared her throat, shooting Sam a nervous look. She wasn't prepared for Puck to be here, especially considering that she wasn't at all sure how her first stab at songwriting was.

'Ray?' Sam questioned gently and Rachel felt herself relax at his voice, sucked in a deep breath. She was sure Sam would soften whatever harsh criticism Puck would send her way. Tentatively she stretched her fingers out on the keys, closed her eyes as she started to play the opening bar. The words she had sketched out last night flowed out and Rachel felt her spirits lift when no one interrupted her first verse.

My headband

You're my headband

Wrapped right around my melon

You're a product like Magellan

Something warm pulled her fingers away from the ivory keys. Puck felt something course through his arm at the touch, saw Rachel's eyes fly open at the same time.

'Excuse me-' Rachel glared at him, sounding indignant.

'Please tell me you did not write a song about your fucking headband,' Puck interrupted her, voice flat.

'The first lesson in songwriting is to write about the stuff you know Noah,' Rachel informed him primly. 'And you can let go of my hand now. I won't offend you by playing something I spent a considerable amount of time and effort on.'

Puck smoothed his thumb over her knuckles briefly, instinctively, before letting go. He hadn't even noticed that he had been holding her hand still.

'I think what Puck's trying to say is that you've got all this untapped frustration inside of you, right?' Sam chipped in, drawing Rachel's gaze away from Puck. Puck, for his part, stretched out his arms, which brought him closer to Rachel. He smiled internally when she didn't shift away from his touch.

'You want me to write about Finn?' Rachel asked, and even talking about the giant teenager made her voice sound uncertain. Sam seemed to sense this too, getting off his stool and resting a hand on Rachel's shoulder.

'I'm not asking you to pour your heart out right away, but maybe you can write about some other life experiences? Like your first party or something?'

'My first party?' Rachel said, somewhat bitterly. 'In case you haven't noticed Samuel, I've been designated as a social pariah since my introduction to McKinley High. I haven't even had a drink!' The last part ended in a wail but it was the first part that had Puck's gut clenching in guilt.

'Then have a party,' Puck suggested. 'Just like invite the glee kids and get some experience or whatever. Hell invite Kurt and that Gap ad he's gaga over too.'

'None of them would come, except Kurt and Blaine,' Rachel answered him, looking disheartened. 'They all hate me Noah, don't you remember?'

'Fuck that noise. They don't hate you. I don't,' Puck told her firmly, glad to see a soft smile pull at Rachel's features. 'Look me and Sam will set everything up. You just let us use your house alright? I promise to not let shit hit the fan in that stupid Emmy basement you have.'

'It's an Oscar…nevermind. It doesn't matter,' Rachel shook her head. She swung a hopeful gaze between Sam and Puck. 'You would really do that for me?'

'What are friends for, right?' Sam replied. Rachel brightened noticeably, sweeping Sam into a hug before doing the same with Puck, who wrapped his arms around her small frame.

She fits dude.

'I'll call Kurt right away and let him know!' Rachel told them, clasping her hands together in excitement before rushing out the room.

'Dude, you're gonna have to handle getting the booze. Bein' on probation means I can't drink or be seen with that shit unless I want my ass handed to me,' Puck told him, glancing towards the door.

'You can be like in the general vicinity of alcohol though right?' Sam wondered. Puck clapped him on the shoulder, told him he'd just have to tell his mother and probation officer where he would be and not mention the underage drinking. Abigail already thought the sun shone out of Rachel's ass, so he didn't see a problem getting permission.

'Hey you mind inviting Quinn and Finn?'

Puck blinked in surprise. 'You sure you want those two there?'

Sam heaved out a tired sigh. 'Not really. But I figure Rachel and I need to get used to those two being together. May as well do it sooner rather than later.'

'You sure Rachel's gonna be down with that?' Puck wanted to make sure. Sam gave him an odd look before smirking.

'It's on her path to recovery list she showed me,' Sam explained, scratching his temple.

'Of course it is,' Puck muttered, pulling out his phone to text Mike, knowing that the dancer would inform the rest of the gleeks.

'Just make sure you and Lauren don't, like, do anything NC-17 in Rachel's house,' Sam laughed on his way out. Puck scoffed.

'Me and Zizes are over dude. Been that way since V-Day,' Puck retorted, not missing the astonishment on Sam's face.

'Really?'

'Yeah really Guppy Lips,' Puck shot back, frowning at the grin on Sam's features. 'What the fuck are you so happy about? You got wood for Lauren or something?'

'No,' Sam protested, rather vehemently. 'She looks like she could snap me in half. Always wondered when she would do that to you.'

'Fuck off,' Puck grumbled. 'We're keeping this shit on the DL though. Got it?'

Sam spread his palms wide in surrender, taking out his phone the minute Puck had disappeared out the door.

Oh it was on.