Author's note: I apologize for the HUGE delay in updating this story. My one-shot muse took over my life and wouldn't let me really write much else. I think I have all my muses (and there are a lot of them) back under control now so the next update shouldn't take quite as long!

September 21st

Rach,

Please remind me what's wrong with dropping out of college? I'm only six weeks into the semester and the bullshit is already killing me. I hate every one of my fucking classes but the music ones and I only have two of those. Maybe once I get through all of this elective shit, it will get better? (This is where you say, "Yes, Noah, I promise it will get better.")

Oh, I have a new roommate this year and he's really cool. He's also a music major (although he plays the fucking trumpet so I may murder him during the year if I have to hear that shrill shit too much) and he's not a scary motherfucker like the last guy was. He almost seems normal. We'll see if he ends up howling at the moon or some shit. The year is still young.

Guess I gotta get…these papers won't write themselves.

N

...

September 24th

Noah,

Yes, Noah, I promise it will get better.

Okay, now that I've said that, I will tell you that I definitely believe the statement you forced me to make. This is just one semester and you'll get through it. And like you said, it's all those electives. Believe me, I'm not exactly enjoying this sociology class but I know it's necessary and just one small speck in the greater scheme of things.

I'm glad you got a better roommate. I'm happy that ours didn't change at all this year. I love Allie too much and am glad we're planning on rooming together all four years. I hear enough roommate horror stories to know how lucky I am.

I have a voice lesson so I suppose I need to sign off.

I miss you,

Rachel

Puck was walking across campus, the early October sun beating down on his neck, when his phone rang. Seeing Rachel's name pop up shocked him a bit because she never called. Afraid of something bad, he quickly answered. "Rach? What's up?"

"Hi, Noah! I know we never do the whole telephone thing but my computer broke and I have to replace it so I might not be available for a few days. I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you if there was a long lapse between replies."

Puck was pretty sure that Rachel left the whole "like you did to me last year" thing out on purpose and for that, he was thankful.

Puck slowed down his pace, cinching his backpack tighter against his shoulder. "Okay…so how'd you break a laptop, Rach? Did it just blow up or did all that horrible shit you listen to finally short the thing out?"

Rachel "hmphed" into the phone and said, "No, Noah…it's an old computer. It just won't turn on anymore. Daddy bought me a new one already and it's being shipped to me. Then I need to take it to our campus computer guys and see if they can save all my fabulous music and transfer it over."

"Yes, because you'll die without your Barbra and your Celine and your Josh and your Olivia and all those other people that were forced down my throat in Glee club," Puck rolled his eyes even as he smiled because he actually liked hearing her voice. Talking was so much better than fucking typing.

"You're right, I may very well die without them. They are like oxygen to me!" Rachel sang dramatically into the phone.

Puck found himself laughing at her antics. "Fuck, Rach…I think you need to call me more. This is way better than email."

Rachel sighed and agreed, "Yes, it is. And call me anytime, Noah. If I can't answer, I promise I'll call you when I can."

"Sure thing, babe. Look, I gotta head into class. Be in touch soon."

"Okay. Have a good day!"

"You, too. Bye."

Puck ended the call, shoved the phone in his pocket and headed into class with a grin on his face. His day had suddenly improved.

"…and I know it's horrible to say but I swear, I have more talent in my pinkie than a lot of my classmates have put together!"

Puck dropped onto a bench, ignoring the November chill that raced through his body. "Don't even pretend to feel guilty about thinking that way, Rach. That's you. You've been positive of your talent since you were practically still a sperm."

"I don't like to sound conceited, Noah, and—"

Puck's snorting cut her off. "I'm calling you on your bullshit, Rach. Do we need to take a walk down memory lane? Have you forgotten the time you had that 500 pound chick from the A/V club bug the choir room so you could bust us for "not pulling our weight" in Glee? You're fucking cut-throat and you know it!"

Rachel huffed into the phone as she stood outside the lecture hall. He did have a point. She hated it when he was right. "Fine, Noah…you're correct. Maybe I can have tunnel vision but seriously, I feel like these people are no competition for me! And I'm just…I'm not getting anything out of school, you know? I mean, sure, I'm fine-tuning my talent and all that but I just don't really know what I'm going to truly get out of this."

"Uhh…a college degree, for one," Puck stated. "Are you thinking of dropping out or something? Because just two months ago, didn't you lecture me on the value of school and all that shit?"

Rachel shook her head vigorously. "No, no…I'm not saying that at all. I'm just thinking out loud Noah, really. I'm honestly just really frustrated with school and everything and you and Allie, and sometimes Flora and Olivia, usually bear the brunt of my complaining."

Puck kicked his leg out in front of him, ignoring the bicyclist who had to swerve around him and nearly went over the handlebars in the process. He liked being one of the people Rachel came to when she needed advice or just wanted to rant.

"Okay, Rach. Just checkin'. I don't wanna have to go all "Rachel Berry" on you but if you need me to, I will."

Rachel laughed and sounded more relaxed, which eased Puck's mind slightly. "I have no doubt, Noah. You know me well enough to give me a taste of my own medicine."

"I'd like to give you a taste of something," he said suggestively, a leering grin on his face that he wished she could see.

From New York, Puck her Rachel groan disapprovingly. "I have to go, Noah. Take your perverse thoughts and enjoy your day."

Laughing, Puck stood up. "You too, Rach. Call me back later if you wanna talk dirty. Oh, and everything would be better if you'd maybe just get drunk once in a while. Seriously, Rach, you need to drink. Anytime I'm having doubts about school and shit, I drink. S'funny how the doubts just slip away with a little JD coursin' through my veins…"

"Noah, I'm not getting drunk!"

"Well then I guess you're stuck with thinking too much, aren't you?"

Rachel moaned pathetically into the phone.

"Look, Rach. I know you're frustrated. But as you've lectured me a hundred times, it's just one semester. Next semester will be different. Maybe you aren't getting anything out of it now but next semester could be totally different. Just…don't give up, okay?"

Shaking her head, Rachel said, "You're right, Noah, you're right. And thank you."

Puck smirked. "I got your back, babe."

"I'd better get to class. I'll call you soon, okay?"

"K, Rach. See ya."

Rachel closed the phone and slid it back into her purse. Noah was right, she knew. She would make it through this semester and the next one would be different. Feeling more relieved than she had in days, Rachel headed into class.

In early December, Puck was sitting on his bed messing with his guitar when his phone rang, Rachel's name flashing across the scene. They'd been regularly talking a few times a week and so her calling was no big surprise. When he answered, she said, "Just another week or so and we can get away from the school madness and go home for the holidays!"

"So…at least we'll be able to see each other at break this year? Won't have to wait until August, huh?" Puck sounded optimistic and hopeful as his mind wandered to their past time together. He felt himself instantly grow hard at the idea of seeing her soon and was smiling into the phone until he heard the pause on the other end of the line. "Rach?"

Rachel blew out a dejected breath into the phone. "I'm sorry, Noah. I'm getting home on the 14th and we're leaving for my grandma's on the 15th. We won't be back until the 25th… But we can see each other after that!"

It was Puck's turn to complain. "No, no we can't. I'm not getting home until the 16th. And we leave for my uncle's house in Cleveland on the 25th. We're not coming back until January 3rd and I'm heading back to school on the 4th. When are you going back to school?"

Rachel's voice was small. "January 3rd."

"Dammit!" Puck swore. "This is absolute bullshit. So we're going to be in town at the same time for, like, what? A day? Maybe a few hours?" He threw himself back against his pillows and glared up at the ceiling. Holidays were fucking with his plans to see Rachel and get laid. That shit wasn't kosher.

"I'm sorry, Noah," Rachel said honestly. "You know I'd love to spend some time with you. Holidays are just such a busy time for our family."

"Mine, too. But it still sucks."

"Well, I'm calling you on the 25th and hopefully we'll be able to get together…if even for a few minutes?"

Puck inwardly groaned. A few minutes would be useless…but a few were better than none. "Yeah, okay."

"It'll work out, Noah. It always does."

Minutes later, a very frustrated Puck hung up the phone and closed his eyes. So much for not waiting until August.

The holidays, as expected, were full of the normal hustle and bustle. Rachel's family was a mix of faiths since one of her fathers was Jewish and the other was not so she experienced touches of both Hanukkah and Christmas each year. Gathering at her grandmother's home for the holidays was normally something Rachel looked forward to each year. But as she sat around listening to her Aunt Cindy regale the family with stories about the depressing Indiana housing market or her Uncle Bart talking incessantly about fishing down at Lake Monroe, Rachel's mind drifted to Noah back in Lima. She fought the disappointment that threatened to ruin her mood every time she thought about wanting to see him and being unable to. And then that made her analyze why she'd have such a reaction to him anyway.

As she lay in the small bed in the attic-turned-guestroom, Rachel's mind traveled to her past two Augusts with Puck. Why had it even really happened? They were nothing to one another…right? The physical attraction was undeniable and had been there for years but finally giving in to it had opened a floodgate full of uneasy waters. So many times, she wanted to say, "Noah? Are we more to one another than just sex and friendship? What is this? What are we?" But every time she tried, she chickened out. She knew how Puck was when it came to relationships. She could anticipate his reactions and was too afraid to lose what they had, even as convoluted and as confusing as it may be. So they came together each August and for a few days anyway, he was hers and she was his. And the rest of the time? They led their own lives, even if he did have a piece of her heart that she wasn't willing to reclaim yet. All she did know was that the entire relationship was confusing and frustrating...and she didn't want to live without it.

...

When Rachel got back to Lima on the 25th, her fathers noticed how antsy she was but couldn't figure out why. As soon as their car pulled into the driveway, Rachel typed out a message to Puck. [Back in Lima. PLEASE say you haven't left yet?]

Seconds later, her phone beeped. [Leaving in less than an hour but I will be at your house in five mins.]

Rachel stayed in her room, slowly unpacking her suitcase as she waited for Puck to get there. When her bedroom door opened, she met his hazel eyes and smiled.

"Hey," he said. He walked in and closed the door with his foot, his hands in his pockets as his eyes raked over her. She looked so fucking hot. He sometimes forgot the way her skin just seemed to glow.

Rachel tucked her skirt under her legs and sat down on her bed. "Hello," she answered shyly. Then she added, "How are you?"

"Fine…dreading this Cleveland trip but if I don't go, my grandma will kill me. And it's not worth listening to my mom bitch if I don't go so—"

Rachel cut him off. "—Noah, you don't have to explain why you won't be in town. I understand."

Puck dropped next to her on the bed. "I know…just sucks that this is pretty much it for us." He turned her face toward him. "And we can't even do anything…can we?" His question was hopeful.

Rachel laughed and brushed him off. "No, we can't. My fathers are unpacking next door. I don't think that would go over too well."

Falling back on the bed, Puck stared up at the ceiling. "Dammit, I know. Can't blame me for tryin', right?"

"I would expect nothing less from you, Noah Puckerman. You do have a reputation, even with me."

Rachel laid back next to him and they both stared at the ceiling.

"So how was grandma's?" Puck asked. He wanted to at least make out a little bit but honestly, leaving frustrated would only make things more miserable for him than they already were.

"It was fine. Same holiday as every other year. Annoying relatives, strange food, nothing to do. Usually it's fun but this year…"

"You wanted this, right?" He asked, a smirk on his face as he pointed at his crotch.

"Noah!" Rachel bellowed. "Could you be more tacky? Wait…don't answer that." She rolled toward him, her face contorted in laughter, and he watched her.

"Admit it…all ya gotta do is admit it and I'll drop it," he prodded, flipping over to face her.

Rachel tucked her hand under her cheek and nodded her head against the blankets. "Yes…I will admit to thinking about that more than I should have been, given my company."

Puck gave her a satisfied grin. "Don't be shocked, Rach. My shit's like the finest wine...have it a few times and then the cheap shit just doesn't cut it anymore."

"You're a pig, Noah," she told him as her eyes roamed over his face.

"Hey, Rach?" Their eyes locked.

"Yes?"

"You gonna fuckin' kiss me or not? I gotta leave in, like, five minutes or my mom is gonna be banging on your front door."

Rachel smiled at him but then closed the space between them, their lips coming together softly. His arm went around her and pushed her against him. It had been months since they'd seen each other, let alone kissed, and just a simple brush of the lips brought back so many emotions and memories for both of them.

Puck rolled Rachel beneath him and tilted her head up, slanting his lips over hers as hard and as fast as he could. He felt like he was racing the clock but just one more kiss was all he needed. Or maybe just one more after that.

When his phone rang, they broke apart. He glared at it and answered, barking into the phone, "On my way."

Standing up, he blatantly adjusted himself in front of her and watched as she blushed. The fact that she could still be so shy after all the things they'd done to each other still made him grin.

"I gotta go, babe." He bent and kissed her one more time and then said, "I'll text ya. And as soon as we're both back at school, call me, k?"

Rachel nodded. "Have a safe trip, Noah."

"See ya." Their smiles lingered for a second longer and then he slipped out of her room and out of her house.

Rachel fell back on her bed again, unbelievably frustrated. Why were things with Puck so complicated?

Seeing Puck briefly in December caused Rachel to miss him more than ever once she got back to school. And it made her think more and more about the "what ifs" of the two of them. One evening, she was lying in her bed, her arm curled around a pillow, as she watched Allie study.

"Al?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah?" Allie looked up from her book.

"Do you think I should just ask Noah if we can't try to be "more"? We've been doing this talking/sex in August thing for a few years now and…"

"And he's the only guy you really think about, considering you haven't dated at all this entire school year?"

Rachel sat up, leaning her head against the wall, and closed her eyes. "I told you girls when the school year started that I couldn't be bothered with random dating this year. I've been heavily focused on improving myself and preparing for my future. I don't have time for that to be complicated by men."

"Except for Noah," Allie added, a knowing smile on her face.

Rachel opened and eye and glared at Allie and then scrunched up her face. "Why is he so different?"

Allie stared at her incredulously. "Uhhh…because you love him. Duh."

Scoffing, Rachel threw her pillow at Allie. "I don't love him! I care about him…but love? No way…"

"You don't sound convincing," Allie told her honestly.

"It's just…" Rachel stood up and paced the floor. "It's just complicated with Noah. We have this history, you know? All through high school, even when I was with Finn and then Jesse and then Finn again, Noah was…there. I always noticed him…he seemed to always notice me. And we tried to date a few times but we never worked as a couple. So why would I think we would work now?"

"Because you're older and you two have spent plenty of time together outside the halls of our high school, having incredible sex and worthwhile conversation. And face it, Rach…he's pretty damn hot from what I've seen."

Rachel snorted. "Noah's definitely attractive, there's no denying. It's just… I don't know how I feel about him. It's like I want him in my life but I'm so afraid that it won't work again and…" Rachel swiveled and faced Allie. "Is it wrong that I would rather just be with him once a year and know things are going to be okay between us then try to make it work and it fall apart into a hideous disaster?"

Allie chewed on the cap of her pen, eyeing her friend thoughtfully. "Honestly, Rach…I think you're both fucked in the head." Rachel's mouth popped open and Allie put up her hand to stop her from speaking. "Hear me out… You two obviously care about each other. You aren't a couple yet you're in each other's lives. Once a year, for a few days or a few weeks, you two are together. But the rest of the year, you have no idea what he does right? Who he's sleeping with?"

Rachel nodded. "No, we don't talk about it. Ever."

"Right…and from what you've told me about him, he's pretty free with the dick, isn't he?"

"Yes…" The admission pained her.

"So you have no idea who else he's screwing. If you two dated, would you have the confidence that he was with just you? Shit, Rachel, this is the best of both worlds for you two right now. You connect every year but the rest of the time, you're free to do your own thing. He does that just fine. You're the one who has trouble with it. So either date other guys or tell Noah that you want to be with just him…okay?"

Rachel slumped back on her mattress in defeat. "You're right, Allie. I don't believe in the whole long-distance relationship thing anyway. Is it wrong to hope that after college, things with him can be serious?"

Allie laughed. "Not at all. And it just proves that you love him."

Glaring, Rachel groaned. "It's not love, Allie. It's incredible sexual chemistry with friendship and the hope of more thrown in."

Rolling her eyes, Allie glanced back down at her book. "Whatever, Rach. It's okay to have those feelings for him. Just don't let him break your heart, okay?"

Rachel shook her head and sighed. "Okay…yes, definitely. That won't happen."

"Noah? Have you had any girlfriends this year? We never talk about the whole "who we're dating" thing but…have you?"

On a Friday night, Puck was getting ready to go to a frat party when Rachel called. He grabbed the phone and flopped down on his bed on his stomach and answered and was now listening to her strange line of questioning. "Uhh…girlfriends? Hell, no, Rach. You know that's not me. Why?"

Back in New York, Rachel was quick to answer. "No reason. I was just curious. We just never talk about that aspects of our lives."

"Frankly, wouldn't that be kinda weird? I mean, we're friends so yeah, maybe we should talk about it bu—"

"—but we also get together once a year and—"

"—fuck each other's brains out?" Puck finished for her.

Rachel laughed into the phone. "I wouldn't have worded it like that but yes, that's an apt description, I suppose."

"Exactly. I'm not going to pretend that I'm celibate over here, Rach. I'm not. Am I like I was in high school? Fuck, no. But I'm definitely no angel."

Rachel winced. She knew that was the case but confirmation hurt. She heard Puck pause and realized he was waiting for her reply. Automatically, she said, "I won't pretend the same thing, Noah." Whether she was talking about herself or him, she didn't clarify and he seemed satisfied with her answer.

"Look, I better get. Party's starting soon and I'm meeting a few buddies before we go. Go out and get drunk, Rach. It's Friday."

Rachel sighed into the phone. "I'm going to go watch a movie with the girls, I think. Olivia has a date, of course, but Flora and Allie are here. We'll probably watch something on 'Lifetime'."

Puck snorted. "Enjoy your man-hating movies, Rach. Talk to ya later."

Rachel closed her phone and stared at her hands. One phone conversation with Puck had answered so many questions. He was definitely still enjoying himself and it wasn't like he wasn't allowed to. And he still had an aversion to girlfriends. Thinking back to her earlier conversation with Allie, Rachel let out a weighted breath. At least she hadn't said something stupid by asking him if he wanted to make the long-distance thing work.

Pushing herself up off her bed, Rachel straightened her hair in the mirror. They had August. That's all they needed. Maybe someday there could be more. But right then, it wasn't possible. And Rachel knew, deep down, that it was for the best.

Everything changed for Rachel on a chilly day in early February. She'd seen the flyer weeks before advertising open auditions for off-Broadway understudies hanging on a crowded bulletin board in one of the lecture halls. It was half-covered by an advertisement for a bicycle repair shop and if she hadn't been trained to spot the word "Broadway" from hundreds of feet away, she might have missed it. She'd stared at it longingly in between classes but knew it was a ridiculous long shot. And then the day of the actual auditions, she found herself with a block of free time and the flyer gripped tightly between her slim fingers as she walked into a small theater. There were hundreds of men and women of all ages and races there. As Rachel registered and took her seat at the back of the theater, she felt nervous for the first time in years. When it was her time to audition, she chose a selection of songs from Wicked and, although she got very little feedback, felt she'd done a stellar job. And when the auditions were over, she went back to school and didn't hold her breath. After all, she was 20 years old and had no real experience other than through high school and college. It was the longest of long shots.

Except for Rachel Berry, it wasn't. Two days after her audition, she got a call back. She auditioned again for another group of dignified looking theater execs and several directors and again, she wowed even herself. And three days later, when she received yet another call back, she actually began to think that maybe, just maybe, Broadway was closer than she first thought.

The phone call that came two days after her last audition telling her that she didn't get the part was nearly devastating. She was so upset that she'd barely heard the woman on the other end of the phone telling her that they'd like her to understudy for the role.

She almost called her fathers first but she knew that they'd lecture her on how she was supposed to finish school before even auditioning. Instead, she called Puck.

"Noah! I got it!"

"Huh?" Puck stretched, bleary-eyed. He'd come home from class and had fallen asleep while studying.

"I auditioned for a part on Broadway and I got it! Well…okay, I didn't get it. But I was cast as the understudy for the role! I'm going to be on Broadway!"

Puck swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up, arching his back to stretch slightly. "Rach? What the fuck're you talking about? What about school? And what show?"

Rachel grunted at his lack of enthusiasm. "Okay, technically it's actually off-Broadway and I'm just the understudy so I only get to be on stage if the actress is sick or, god forbid, she gets hit by a taxi...but still!"

Clearly frustrated, Puck snapped into the phone. "Rachel…slow the hell down and please explain what the fuck you're talking about?"

"Okay, Noah. I'm sorry. I'm just excited. A few weeks ago, I went to an open casting call on a whim. I didn't think anything would come of it. But I received several call-backs and as a result, I've been tapped to be the understudy for the role of Luisa in the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks."

"Never heard of it," Puck said. "But that's cool! What's this do to school, Rach?"

"Well, there are eight shows a week and I may have to re-arrange my class schedule but since I'm not actually performing unless the lead is out, I can actually do homework and things at the theater. And Noah! Why aren't you more excited for me? This is huge! This is my first step! Broadway is closer than ever!"

Puck sighed as he brushed his hand over his hair. "I know, Rach. It's great for you. I just don't want it to screw up your school thing. That's why you're in New York, after all." Even as he spoke, a weird feeling came over him. "And seriously, what the fuck am I doing lecturing you about college? School's more your thing than it is mine. I just...you're too fucking smart to throw it all away, okay?"

Rachel groaned and stuck her lip out in a pout. "You sound like my fathers, Noah. I expected a different reaction from you. And I won't be throwing anything away. This is what I'm destined for!"

"Fuck, Rach? What am I supposed to say? I think it's awesome…I just hope you know what you're getting yourself in to! That's all."

"Well thank you for your concern, Noah, but I assure you that I can handle this. This is my dream."

"Okay, babe…that's all I'm wondering about."

"Well I suppose I'd better call my fathers and break the news. They're probably going to be less than pleased."

"Lemme know how it goes…And Rach? Congratulations."

"Thank you, Noah."

Squealing as she hung up, she took deep breaths. It was time to call Lima and deliver the news to the two men who would have an even less-than-enthusiastic reaction than Noah had but at that moment, she didn't care. Fame was getting closer and closer and she could almost taste it.

"Hi Noah. I'm sorry I missed you. I just wanted to say hello. Things are going well, although juggling the show and school is more difficult than I anticipated. But anyway, I know I can handle it. Every bit of struggle is worth it. Call me soon."

...

"Hey Rach. Can't believe I can never catch you these days. Things are okay here. This semester's been pretty easy….had plenty of time to party, though. Ya know, priorities and all. I'll try to catch ya later."

...

"Hi Noah. I swear, I never imagined being an understudy would be so boring. I've been at it for two months now and have I got to go on for her once? Of course not. But I just keep hoping for…I dunno, maybe she'll get a rash or have serious cramps or something and I'll get to go on. Anyway, the show's about to start so I suppose I better be ready for something that isn't going to happen! I miss you."

...

"Hey, Rachel. I'm in Lima for Spring Break. You remember where Lima is, right? That shitty little town in Ohio? Anyway, I saw Quinn and Mercedes at Britt's. They said never talk to you anymore either. Apparently, I'm the lucky one in that I catch you every fourth time I call. They don't even have those odds. I know you're busy but take some time out and call 'em. In case you've forgotten, they can both be bitches. Miss ya. And fucking call me."

...

"Hello, Noah. I thought I'd catch you since I called on a Sunday morning but I suppose you're probably sleeping off a hangover…or something. I'll be around all day today if you'd like to call. I miss talking to you."

Puck listened to Rachel's voicemail, guilt zipping through his blood. He'd seen her name on his phone when she'd called but he'd been indisposed. He looked over at the girl sleeping in the bed beside him and then stared back up at the ceiling. He'd been so good this year about not sleeping around much. Sure, there'd been a girl (or two or there) here and there but compared to the previous year, he was much more subdued. Things with Rachel and where they stood kept him confused most of the time and he always felt guilty being with other women, even though he and Rachel were clearly not "together." But thanks to the show, he rarely ever talked to her anymore and without her voice constantly in his ear, it was easy to slip back into his old ways.

The girl beside him shifted and Puck stood up, sliding on his pants as quietly as possible. He sunk his feet into his shoes, tossed his hoodie over his head, and pocketed his phone. Before she woke up, Puck had slipped out of her room and was back in his own.

He flopped down onto his own bed and dialed Rachel's number. When it went to voicemail, he swore and hung up. He tucked his hands behind his head and watched the ceiling fan sway as it turned quickly in the middle of the room. It was times like these when he wondered why in the hell they'd continued this "thing" in the first place. It was supposed to a one-time thing and that was all…but now they were in each other's lives heavily for people where were seven hours apart geographically and weren't even a couple in the first place. It didn't make any fucking sense to him, really. Maybe it'd be easier if they just let it go…

"Noah, please have a safe flight home. And I hope it's going to be a good summer for you."

"You're not coming home, are you?" Puck rested the phone on his shoulder as he packed his bag.

"No. I can't…not with the show…"

Puck sighed heavily. It shouldn't bother him as much as it did. "I didn't think you'd be there, anyway. We all know that Broadway is your priority." He glanced up at the clock. "Look, I gotta catch my flight so I'll just… I'll see ya when I see ya."

Rachel closed her phone and closed her eyes, pressing it against her chest. He'd sounded so disappointed and frustrated. She was already missing him…the show had taken away much of her time to even talk to him and now she wouldn't see him this summer…or this August. She hated how much it hurt.

Back in Pittsburgh, Puck glanced around his dorm room one more time to make sure his meager belongings were packed. With his bags and his guitar over his shoulder, Puck hopped into the cab that would take him to the airport. He was glad to be heading back home for the summer but couldn't ignore the nagging voice in his head that reminded him that this summer, there would be no Rachel.

The summer passed in a quick blur of sleeping in, parties, drinking, the occasional joint, and doing random, useless shit with the guys. When Puck woke up on August 1st, he felt like there was a brick sitting in his gut. He stared at the calendar, his eyes settling on the next day and the fact that this year, August 2nd would be just another dull day. He stretched out in his bed and his eyes turned toward the ceiling. I wonder if Rachel realizes that we'll miss "our day" this year. He flipped over onto his side, trying to force the gnawing feeling from his stomach.

Making himself climb out of bed, Puck took a shower and then got dressed. Sitting back down at the computer, he found himself staring at the date again and then the thought occurred to him: Rachel can't come here but there's no reason I can't go see her, is there?

He glanced around his room, looking for any reason in the world that would keep him from heading back east early and ending up in New York City. Seeing nothing, a grin twisted his lips. He pushed himself up from his chair, went downstairs to talk to his mom, and then came back upstairs to pack. He was going to New York.

August 2nd was the most depressing day that Rachel could remember. She went about her normal morning routine but her thoughts were on Noah…on his smile and his laugh and the way he touched her. Her mind replayed their past two August 2nds and the subsequent nights they'd spent, bodies tangled together, and she couldn't help the sadness that overtook her.

It was my own choice to not go home this year. I have to do this show. This is going to lead to my big break…I can feel it. All I need is a chance to shine and the whole world will be mine.

But by late that afternoon, she's snapped at Allie and had told everyone to leave her alone. When she made it to the theater, she threw her costume on and got her hair and makeup done and then she sat on the couch and sulked until show time. Midway through the show, when she was backstage watching the lead be healthy and talented and un-needing of an understudy, she decided that as soon as she got done for the evening, she was calling Noah. Maybe hearing his voice will make me feel better?

Two hours later, Rachel's face was scrubbed free of makeup and she was stepping out of the stage entrance. When she did, she stopped short, her eyes settling on the tall frame of the man leaning against the wall, his ankles and arms crossed with a smirk on his face.

"Noah?" she shrieked, running toward him.

He caught her and hugged her to him, swinging her small body through the air slightly.

"What are you doing here?" she asked into his shirt before she pulled away to look up at him.

His eyes met hers and he pushed her hair from her face. "It's August 2nd, Rachel. Where else would I be?"

She turned her head up toward him and he lowered his head, their lips meeting in the middle. The kiss was tender and sweet and devoid of the normal passion that consumed them when they were together. When she pulled away, she smiled up at him and said, "You don't know how happy I am to see you. I've been sad all day today because…it's our day…and I was going to miss it."

"Yeah, me too…" Puck slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. "So, where are we headed, babe?"

Rachel looked up at him, concern crossing her face. "We can't go to my apartment. All my roommates but Flora are already back for the new school year and are home tonight."

Puck was quick to reply. "I have a hotel room. It's just up the street, actually. I mean…we can grab some dinner if you want and then…you can come back with me… If you want to…"

Rachel bit her lip, stifling a giggle at his obvious nervousness. "Hold on, Noah. Let me let my roommate know that I'll be…late." Pulling out her phone, she typed out a quick message to Allie and hit send. [Noah is in town! WILL NOT be home tonight. Going to his hotel. Don't miss me too much! :)]

Looking up from her phone, she met Puck's eyes. He offered her his arm and her hand slid down his bare forearm and grabbed his fingers, linking their hands together.

"I thought this August 2nd was going to pass without us seeing one another," she said as they strolled down the street.

"It almost did," Puck admitted. "But then I realized that I didn't want it to. And I was already planning on driving to school this year instead of flying so that I'd have my truck on campus. I just told my mom that I was coming back out early and then made a slight, seven-hour detour here."

Rachel glanced up at him when they stopped at a crosswalk. "I'm glad you're here, Noah."

Puck smirked at her and raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement. Rachel's phone beeped and she pulled it up, laughing as she read the message: [oh my GOD! I'm so jealous! DON'T FORGET THE CONDOMS!]

Watching the laughter play across Rachel's face, Puck asked curiously, "what?"

Rachel paused for just a second and then lifted the phone up for him to read the message. He laughed, the low rumble causing little electrical shocks in her spine, and Rachel laughed with him.

As they crossed the street, Puck leaned into Rachel's ear. "Bought a fresh box. The jumbo pack, actually. Not leaving New York 'til I've used them all."

Rachel blushed and her eyes widened before she grinned. "Then I guess we'd better get moving?"

Puck slowed down as they approached a restaurant. "Actually, and I know this is shocking, but I'm fucking starving. How 'bout we eat, get caught up..." Puck leaned down and spoke into her ear. "And then I take you back to my hotel?"

Rachel shivered when his warm breath hit her ear. She was so tempted to tell him that she wouldn't mind skipping dinner and then drag him to his hotel but alas, he pulled open the door to a pizzeria and ushered her inside. Everything else would have to wait.

After a late dinner spent laughing and catching up on the summer in Lima, Puck wrapped his arm around Rachel's shoulder and guided her toward his hotel. They entered the lobby and he nodded at the front desk clerk before they slipped inside the elevator. When the door closed, Puck pressed Rachel against the mirrored walls and softly brushed his lips over her open mouth.

"I've missed you," she said softly, tucking her hands behind her as his broad shoulders pushed her further into the glass.

"Yeah?" His teeth nipped and sucked on her lower lip as his hand slid down her side, settling on her hip.

"Yeah," she breathed, her eyes closing. Puck's lips glided up over her nose and then she felt him softly press a kiss to each eyelid before the door to the elevator opened.

He put an arm in front of the door to keep it open and motioned for Rachel to exit. Once he was out, he pulled the key card from his pocket and tugged her down the hall to room 2243. When he pushed the door open and walked inside, the darkness and chill of the room enveloped them. The curtains were open and his little piece of the New York skyline shone brightly into the room. She glanced out the window and then turned when she heard rustling behind her. Puck had kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it onto the chair that sat by the small table.

Wordlessly, he crooked his finger at her and she smiled shyly before slipping into his arms. She expected him to pick her up caveman style and toss her on the bed so she was surprised when his arms wrapped around her waist and he simply held her as they traded soft kisses. It was times like those, when he sipped her lips and stared into her eyes without them saying a word that she would forget that what they were to each other was undefined. They only spent time together as lovers for just a few days each year and the rest of the time they were friends. He'd never asked her about her sex life outside of what she did with him and she hadn't offered it up. He didn't need to know that for her, he was it. No, she hadn't purposely cut out opportunities with other men (other than by being far too driven to take the time) but when it came to sex, he was all she saw…all she felt, even when he was hundreds of miles away and probably between the thighs of another girl. And it wasn't because she loved him, she'd told herself over and over again. She knew better than to fall in love with Noah Puckerman. But she was also honest enough with herself to admit that he mattered to her in ways that no other boy or man ever had.

Rachel pulled herself from her thoughts when Puck's knee nudged her legs open, guiding her back toward the bed. She tumbled down into the softness when her thighs hit the mattress and laughed when she collapsed, pulling him down on top of her.

Puck watched her eyes crinkle with laughter and felt his heart quicken its pace. Pushing her hair back, he stroked his fingers across her forehead as he studied her features. "Are you happy I'm here?" he asked seriously.

Rachel lifted her head, sliding her fingers around his neck to pull his face down to hers. Their lips, just centimeters apart, danced and brushed against one another for what felt like a few long, torturous seconds to Puck before Rachel responded, "why don't you make love to me and find out?"

Puck shuddered, his cock already throbbing for how much he needed this girl. But he was going to take his time… They had all night. He knew he'd fuck her fast and hard before the night was over. He'd feel her come around his cock and his fingers and his tongue and he'd coax her over and over into orgasms that would wear them both out before they'd turn to each other for more. But on that August 2nd, Puck vowed to take things slow.

Rachel felt her mind go blank by the time he'd stripped her of her clothes and slipped his lips over her curves and valleys, never applying enough pressure to sate her but instead only fueling her need for him. She trembled when he finally pulled away long enough to remove his own clothes. Finally thinking that this was it, she groaned in agony when he began running his fingers over her body instead.

She cried out his name, begged him to take her, and arched her hips to try to force him inside her once she'd felt the heavy weight of his cock brush against her center. But only once she was trembling below him, head thrashing from the need that he refused to satisfy did he finally push her legs open and slide his tongue into her pussy. Rachel let out a growl so deep that Puck nearly stopped his ministrations because it didn't sound like her voice. She pushed up on her elbows and gave him a pathetic, frustrated look when she felt him pause against her body. He chuckled and pressed his lips to her inner thigh, his fingers spreading her open for him. When his mouth found her center again, her fingers pressed against his scalp and she bucked her body into his face. When she was crying out his name, he forgot everything else but making this girl – who at that moment was his girl – come so hard that she couldn't speak. Her thighs were trembling after she'd orgasmed and he watched the rise and fall of her breasts from his vantage point between her legs as he rained small kisses along her thighs. He slid the flat part of his tongue slowly up her body and stopped to swirl his tongue across her nipples. When her eyes were still closed as she came down from her high, he pushed inside her heat and slowly, painfully slowly moved his hips to prolong this time with her. He trapped her arms above her head as he thrust into her again and again, sucking hard enough on her breast to leave his mark. When she cried out his name for the second time that night, he gritted hers out just seconds later. And before she drifted off to sleep with her hand tucked into his over his heart, he kissed her forehead and let the feeling of relief of being with her again wash over him and soothe him into slumber.

Rachel was sliding off Puck's body and collapsing back onto the bed when sunlight began to seep in through the cracks in the curtains the next morning.

"God, I'm exhausted," Puck groaned, rolling toward Rachel to tuck her against him.

She laughed softly, her arm sliding under his to reach around and stroke her back. "How long are you here for?"

"I've got enough money for one more night's stay…" He hesitated for a moment. "So I guess I'm leaving tomorrow."

Rachel nuzzled her head against his neck and asked, "Well, when do you have to be back to school?"

"Not for a week."

Grinning against his body, Rachel pulled away and kissed his cheek. "Be right back."

Puck watched her hop out of bed and pad across the room naked. She unabashedly bent over to root through her bag and Puck groaned loudly at the sight of her swollen, exposed sex. Rachel flashed a red-faced smile over her shoulder and then grabbed her phone before climbing back into the bed with him. Sitting cross-legged, she typed on her phone while Puck's fingers slid along the crease in her hip and down her leg before repeating the motion. When her phone beeped a few minutes later, she read it, smiled at the small screen, and then placed her phone on the bedside table.

"It's settled. Flora isn't back yet so Allie is going to sleep in Olivia's room. You can stay with me."

Puck pushed himself up and looked at her. "You serious?"

Rachel bit her lip and nodded. "If you want to stay, that is."

Glancing over his shoulder, Puck read the time on the clock and then turned back toward Rachel. "Hell, yeah, I wanna stay! And we don't have to check outta here for five more hours."

Laughing as Puck pulled her into the blankets, Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her head to kiss his lips. "I'm glad you can stay."

Puck nibbled along her jaw and then swiped his tongue across her lower lip. Pressing his forehead to hers, he quietly said, "Me, too, babe."

...

At exactly five minutes before the checkout deadline, Puck and Rachel stood at the hotel front desk finalizing the bill. Once they were done, Rachel grabbed his free hand in hers and they headed out to the parking garage to get his truck. He shoved his bag in behind the seat with his guitar and helped Rachel inside. A few minutes later, he pulled into Manhattan traffic to drive toward Rachel's residence hall. Swearing and sweating through traffic, he was white-knuckled and tense by the time they'd reached her place. "This city is fucking nuts," he muttered to her more than once. He parked in the lot, grabbed his bag from behind the seat, and took Rachel's hand with the other, staring up at the high-rise she called home. "What floor do you live on?"

Rachel tugged him inside the building. "We're on the fifteenth." They entered the elevator and the doors closed, zipping them up to the correct floor. As Rachel pushed her keys into the lock, the door jerked open, pulling the keys from her hand. Puck stared into the wide eyes of a mousy blond with glasses who was staring at him with a grin on her face.

"Rachel! You're here!" She pulled Rachel inside, who dragged Puck in after her, and the door closed. "And you," Allie apprised, her eyes skimming over Puck, "must be Noah."

Puck nodded. "Hey." Under her scrutiny, he shoved his hands in his pockets and he smirked. This chick clearly liked what she saw.

"Olivia will be home later," Allie told Rachel in a quick burst of words.

Rachel smiled sheepishly at Puck and said, "Noah, if you'd like to get a shower, I'll give you some towels. I'm sure you…wouldn't mind one." Rachel's mind traveled to the many times they'd turned to each other over the course of the previous night and she realized that she, too, needed to get cleaned up. She lifted her head and met Puck's eyes, noticing the glint in them, and she groaned. Allie watched the exchange with interest and then cleared her throat.

"I'm…I'm gonna go get some lunch out. I'll be back in a few hours." Turning to Puck, she said, "Nice to meet you, Noah. I've heard a lot about you. I hope we have time to talk…later."

Rachel watched with amusement as Allie snatched her purse from by the couch and darted out the door, locking it behind her. But as soon as she was gone, Puck pressed Rachel against the wall and asked, "so how 'bout that shower, Rach?" He dipped his head, snaking his tongue into her mouth, and she moaned softly. When his hand slid down her torso to cup her sex, her head lulled back. Breaking the kiss, she pushed him backwards. "Your sexual appetite is insatiable, Noah."

Puck smirked. "Yours is too, babe…you just like to pretend that you're all uptight and shit but I know the truth."

Rachel rolled her eyes and, even as she admitted to herself that he was right, she tugged him into the bathroom and closed the door behind them.

Rachel let herself into the apartment after her show and saw Allie and Olivia sitting on the couch. Tossing her purse on the table, she asked, "Where's Noah?"

"He said he was 'bored off his ass' and went to take a nap about an hour ago," Olivia offered without looking away from the television.

Rachel smiled at her roommates and quickly walked across the open space toward her bedroom door. She hated leaving Puck every night for the show but he'd told her not to worry. He'd entertained himself by watching TV or playing on the computer and when she finally made it home each evening, they'd stay up until the early morning hours.

When she let herself into the room, she saw that Puck was asleep on top the covers in just a pair of shorts, one hand thrown over his eyes to block out what light had been in the room when he'd gone to sleep.

"Noah?" Rachel shook him gently but he didn't stir. He looked so peaceful, his face softened in his sleep. His long lashes fanned out over his cheeks and Rachel couldn't help but think he looked slightly beautiful.

She watched him sleep as she slowly slid her pants and her panties down her legs. She neatly folded her discarded clothing and placed it on the chair before removing her shirt and bra and folding those, too. When she was completely naked, she walked over to the bed and climbed in, swinging a leg over his hips and straddling him.

"Noah?" she whispered as she bent to kiss him. He stirred slightly but didn't open his eyes. Bending at the waist, she pressed her bare breasts to his chest and slid up his body slightly, running her lips along his jaw.

His eyes popped open and met Rachel's gaze. "Hey babe." His hands instinctively slid to her waist and his eyes widened when he realized he was touching bare skin.

"What're you doing?" he asked softly, his lips pressed against hers.

"Hoping to seduce you," she whispered in response. Puck chuckled against her mouth and slid his hand between them, down his stomach, and into the soft curls between her thighs.

She shook her head no and pulled away from him, gripping his shorts to pull them down. She pulled them off his legs and tossed them behind her and reached forward, grasping him in her hand. She leaned over him and softly kissed his lips as she stroked him until he was hard and throbbing. Her thumb slid over the sensitive spot on the underside of the head over and over again and his eyes rolled back into his head more than once. Pushing her off him, he grabbed a condom off the table and then turned her so that she was facing away from him. He slid behind her, bending her over at the waist, and pressed into from behind. She dropped until she was on all fours, her hair tumbling over her head and brushing against the blankets as his fingers held tight to her body as he roughly slid in and out of her from behind.

She was so wet and tight around him at that angle that his stamina was quickly in question. Then Rachel lifted her head and looked over her shoulder, urging him on with a "Harder, Noah." He groaned, grabbed her hips, and pounded himself inside her so fast and hard that her thighs started to shake. Reaching around her, he rubbed her clit hard, trying to push her over the edge before he came. When she cried out and fell forward, burying her face in the blankets, Puck let himself go as well.

Sliding out of her, he tossed the condom away and pulled her back to lie flat on the bed next to him. He tangled his fingers in her hair and kissed her roughly before reaching up to flip on the ceiling fan to cool their sweaty bodies.

"I like waking up like that," he said, his eyes closed.

The blood still pounding through her body, Rachel nodded. "I can tell. But we need food. I'm starved."

"D'you think Allie would bring us something? I don't feel like moving."

Rachel swatted his chest. "Yes, Noah, my roommate needs to bring us food while we're lying here naked and basking in the post-coital glow."

Puck laughed and pressed his lips against Rachel's forehead. "Well, I guess we're getting dressed. I'm craving tacos. Let's go find some."

Rachel pushed herself up and Puck grabbed her arm. "And Rach?"

Looking over her shoulder, she said, "yes?"

"Never say 'post-coital' again, please?"

Rachel giggled and slid her clothes back on. She knew they still had four days together but being with him like this, when the sex was hot and the laughter came easily, made it so hard to accept that their time was limited. As she watched him slide a pair of jeans on and button them low on his hips, she found herself wishing for the thousandth time since they'd begun this whatever of theirs, that things could be different.

As their days together passed quickly, Puck learned more than he ever needed to know about Rachel's roommates. Olivia was slightly stuck-up and border=lined on bitch. Allie was sweet and just as nerdy as Rachel had described her. Clearly still a virgin (or very inexperienced), she often blushed when Puck would touch Rachel or pull her onto his lap when they were all hanging out. Most of the time, though, Rachel was either giving Puck a very thorough tour of New York City or they were lost in each other behind the closed door of her bedroom.

On a cloudy Manhattan afternoon, the two were ambling through Central Park on their way to nowhere in particular.

"You talked to Quinn or Mercedes lately?" Puck asked casually.

"Yes, actually. I talked to Quinn about a week ago and 'Cedes the day you got here, why?"

Puck shrugged. "No reason in particular. Just curious. I heard from Matt the other day. So I'm sure you know that Quinn and Mike are dating now?"

Rachel stopped walking and sat down on a bench, her eyes on the skyscrapers of Central Park West. "I knew it was going to happen eventually. She's hinted around about liking him ever since they started hanging out on campus last year."

"Have you…have you told them about us?" Puck asked.

Rachel sighed and looked him. "Well, that's a pretty funny question. They know about what happened with us before we left for college but since then, I've pretty much kept it to myself. And I hate hiding it from them but it's…it's hard to explain."

Puck let out a small, deep laugh. "It's pretty simple if you ask me. We get together once a year for a day or more and fuck each other nearly to death."

Rachel scowled. It's more than that… She thought carefully, formulating her words. Finally, she just asked what she felt. "Is that all there is, Noah?"

Puck dropped onto the bench next to her, crossing his legs at the ankle and putting his arm behind her on the bench. "Damn, Rach… no, that's not all. But, like you said, it's hard to explain."

Nodding, Rachel slumped against him slightly. Puck's arm went around her shoulder and pulled her into the crook of his arm so that he could press a kiss to her forehead. "Besides, it's really nobody's business. It's just this…thing."

As inarticulate as he was, Rachel agreed. It was just a "thing." But she couldn't help but feel like it was a big thing…

Rachel stood stiff, her eyes darting as she studied the painting in front of her. She analyzed the strokes and the power in which the brush had been laid to the canvas, the coloring, and the way the light played with the shadow. A few feet away in that gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Puck stood, ignoring the hundreds of boring paintings scattered across the walls and instead, analyzing Rachel. His eyes slid up and down her long legs, over her ass encased in a pair of tiny shorts, and down to her Chuck Taylor-covered feet. Her hair cascaded down her back and her eyes were wide as she took in the painting in front of her. She's so fucking beautiful and she doesn't even realize it, Puck thought.

Puck stepped silently up to her, sliding his hand across her shoulders to cup her neck. With his mouth next to her ear, he quietly asked, "Do you have any clue how bad I'm dyin' to fuck you right now?" He felt her shudder under his touch and nearly groaned at the flush that rushed into his cheeks. She turned to face him, lips parted and eyes wide with a mixture of shock and lust.

"Noah, we—" Puck silenced her by putting his long index finger against her lips, which he then softly traced with the pad of his finger. Rachel continued to gaze at him, unblinking.

"Wanna get outta here?" he asked. Rachel nodded but didn't speak as Puck slung his arm around her shoulders and together, they ambled out of the chilly gallery and into the sunlight. Outside, Puck pulled Rachel against him, slipping his tongue into her mouth. She kissed him back breathlessly, looping her arms around his neck.

When she pulled away, she whispered, "Take me home."

Puck snickered and grabbed her hand as they headed down into the subway. Once they were seated, pressed together in the car, Puck's breath was hot in her ear. "As soon as we get back, Rach, I'm fucking you. I have to leave tomorrow and I'm not leaving your bedroom again until it's time to go."

Rachel's head lulled back, her mind whirring with the images of the many times they'd been together since he'd been in New York.

"Are Allie and Olivia going to be there?"

Rachel pulled herself from her haze. "No, I don't think so."

Puck exhaled. "Thank fuck. I can't wait to get you inside that apartment, screaming my name."

Breath caught in her throat, Rachel could only watch as Puck's hand settled on her thigh, his fingers massaging the flesh. Her eyes followed his hand as he discreetly adjusted himself and then told her in a low whisper, "So goddamn ready to fuck you, Rachel."

Rachel felt like she needed to scream. She was already wet and he was only making it worse. Relief flooded through her entire body when they finally arrived at her stop. Puck practically dragged her off the car, up the steps, and down the street to her building.

When he pulled her into the elevator, he thumbed the "15" and took Rachel's hand, settling it over his hard length. She cupped him through his pants, stroking her hand down his cock as he pushed the straps of her tanktop and bra down, his lips dragging down her neck and across her shoulder.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, pulling Puck and Rachel out of their hazy world. Puck pushed Rachel down the hall, his fingers slipping inside her shorts to stroke her hip as she unlocked the door.

The apartment was empty and dark when they entered. Rachel closed the door and then turned toward Puck, pushing his shorts down and sucking the head of his cock into her mouth without touching him. Puck's head slammed back against the door and he grunted, pulling her off him.

"Not now, baby." Puck angled her head back and looked into her eyes. "If I'm not in you in five seconds, I'm gonna fucking explode."

Puck pulled Rachel's shirt over her head as she stripped her shorts and panties off. Picking her up, he pushed her against the door as he sheathed himself in a condom. And then he met her eyes, pushed her legs wide, and drove into her. Rachel grunted, the sound lewdly escaping the back of her throat. Her hands reached for the hem of his shirt and she pushed it up to slide her open palms over his skin.

"God, Rach," Puck groaned, pushing her higher to angle himself in deeper. "Why can I never fucking get enough of you?"

"Noah….oh god, right there." Rachel's eyes widened as his cock repeatedly and brutally rammed against her G-spot. Her thighs clenched around him. There, Noah, yes, ohh yes…" Puck watched her eyes roll back and her thighs lock and he shoved his lips against hers as he felt her let go, milking him until he went with her. Rachel turned to jelly in his arms and Puck gripped her tightly as he slid to the floor. He winced when he slid from her body and then pulled her onto his lap.

"Holy fuck," Puck said, his head back against the door as he worked to catch his breath.

"That was…" Rachel leaned her head against his chest. "That was…why was that so incredible?"

Puck's chest rumbled with laughter. "Because were good like that, babe. It's pretty simple, really."

Rachel trembled as her body still throbbed but she stood up anyway, offering her hand to Puck. He stood up and slipped his arm around her body. "Let's get to your room. All we need is for Allie or Olivia to come in right now."

Laughing, Rachel collected her clothes and Puck removed the condom, throwing it in the trash. Just as the bedroom door shut, the front door open and Allie stepped inside. Her nose wrinkled and she recognized the smell of sex in the room. Muttering under her breath, she went into Olivia's room and quietly closed the door.

Rachel fell asleep in Puck's arms after their second round (safely behind her bedroom door.) Late that evening, Puck slid out from under her and fished around the floor to find his boxers. Sliding them and then his shorts on, he slipped his shirt over his head and watched as Rachel rolled over on her side to face the wall, still deep in sleep. Quietly, he slipped through the door and padded into the bathroom to piss. Once he'd washed his hands and splashed water on his face, he walked back down the hall to the kitchen and pulled open the fridge. Rooting around, he grabbed two bottles of water and nudged the door closed with his knee. Turning around, he nearly ran into Allie.

"Oh, sorry, Al!" he said, fumbling with the bottles. Allie reached out and grabbed the bottle, handing it back to him. He grinned and tucked one of them under his arm.

"So you're leaving tomorrow?" she asked pleasantly.

Puck's eyes darkened as he answered. "Yeah. Gotta get back to school."

"She'll miss you, you know." Allie leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she stared at Puck. She watched his face redden slightly and he shifted.

"I'll miss her, too."

"Noah…how do you feel about her?"

Puck's mouth opened and he stared at Allie. Seriously? What business is it of yours? "Rachel and I…it's complicated, Allie. We have history."

Allie snorted. "So I've been told, Noah. I know all about that. I'm just curious…do you love her? I think you love her."

Puck gawked and the water bottle slipped from his hand again. "L—love? Nah…we're nowhere near that, Al. She's..." He thought for a moment. "Rachel's a force, ya know? She's like this tornado or this bright supernova. You never know what she's gonna do but whatever she does, you'll probably be in awe."

"So…." Allie smiled at Puck. "That's not love?"

"It's…shit, Allie, it's… It's me and Rachel, okay? It makes sense to us and not to be an asshole but it's really our business and nobody elses."

Allie grinned and put her hands up in surrender. "I gotcha, Noah…I gotcha. Just sayin'… I don't know how you two handle this 'thing' that you have…. I'm not sure I could handle it."

"It just works for us, k?" Puck glanced around, clearly uncomfortable. "Look, Rachel's asleep and I'm going to go join her. See ya."

Allie watched Puck walk away, two water bottles in his hand and a frustrated look on his face. Chuckling, she grabbed a Diet Coke from the fridge and went back into the other room. She understood Rachel's attraction to him, yes. He was incredibly sexy and charming. She just wondered how long their arrangement could go on like it was without one of them, or both of them, getting hurt in the process.

...

Back inside the bedroom, Puck dropped the bottles on the desk and pulled his shirt off again. Pushing his shorts and boxers back off, he pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. Rachel was still asleep, curled against her body pillow. Puck's eyes roved over her body, appreciating the soft skin and the curve of her hip. He'd intended to let her sleep but knew that was out the window the moment she shifted and said his name softly in her sleep. Scooting against her, he dragged his fingertips along her spine and down to cup her behind, kneading the flesh in his hands.

Rachel slowly opened her eyes and stretched slightly, moving to roll toward him. Puck shook his head. "Nu uhh…stay right like you are."

Puck slid down so he was pressed fully against her and then lifted her thigh up and draped it over her hip, giving him full access to her core. His fingers dipped and teased until she was wet and then he was sliding inside her, his hand gripping her breast tightly as he pushed his hips against hers again and again. Curling into her, he whispered dirty things in her ear until she cried out loudly and pulsed around him. When Puck slumped on top of her again, Rachel grabbed his hand and held it tightly against her chest before lifting it and kissing him across the knuckles.

"I'm not ready for you to leave," she admitted softly, facing the wall so that she didn't look at him. She felt her tearing up and she didn't want him to see it.

"I'm not either, Rach. This always ends too fucking fast."

Rachel nodded, still facing the wall. Puck placed his hand on Rachel's shoulder and turned her toward him. She smiled, clearly embarrassed at the tears on her cheeks. Puck cocked his head, a small smile on his face before he bent and gently brushed his lips over hers for a barely-there kiss. Then, while twisting them quickly so that Rachel was on top of him and then swatting her on her ass, he said, "less crying…more fucking." Relieved when her tears turned to laughter, her dragged her head down to his and plunged his tongue into her mouth. They only had limited time left and he wasn't going to let her spend it being sad.

Rachel and Puck walked in silence to the elevator. His bag slung over his shoulder and his guitar case in his hand, he thumbed the "down" button and they waited for the elevator. Once inside, their trip to the ground floor was subdued.

When they got off the elevator, Rachel took his guitar from him and carried it to his truck. Again, they still didn't speak. Rachel wanted so much to say but she was afraid everything that came out of her mouth would only complicate things, so she pursed her lips and stayed silent. Puck loaded his bags into the front of the truck and then slammed the door, turning toward Rachel. He reached out and pulled her to him, his hand against the back of her head, as he hugged her silently. When they parted, she stretched to brush a soft kiss across his lips.

"Be safe, Noah," she said quietly.

Puck let out a nervous laugh. "I need some good luck getting out of this insane city. I don't know how you live here, Rach. Visiting, yeah…but day in and day out? It's fucking madness."

Rachel shrugged. "I'm just getting used to it, I suppose. It honestly feels like home."

The two stared at each other for a moment and then Puck pulled her to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he met her eyes and said, "Thanks for having me, Rach. It was…incredible."

"I'll miss you," she said honestly. "And you do know that ever single August, it seems to get a little bit harder to say goodbye, right?"

Puck sighed. "I know." He glanced away from her at the sound of a siren but then looked back down and met her wide, slightly wet, brown eyes. "I just don't know what the fuck to do about it."

Rachel reached up and kissed him again, winding her arms around his neck. "Neither do I," she admitted.

Puck crushed his lips to hers, their tongues mingling, before he abruptly pulled away. He dropped his arms from around her and jammed his hand through his hair. "I better go."

Rachel watched him walk around the truck and climb in, her heart heavy. Saying goodbye was so painful that their time together almost wasn't worth it. Almost.

The truck started up and Puck backed out of his space. He rolled the passenger side window down and said, "Rach…don't think that this shit is any less confusing for me than it is for you. I know I'm not good with words and all that bullshit but…I care, okay? I care a lot. And I need you to know that."

Rachel nodded, tears forming. "I care too, Noah. So much."

"Bye, babe," he said softly. Then he rolled the window up and with a final wave, he pulled out onto the street. Rachel watched him until the truck disappeared and then stood there for a moment longer, her heart pounding in her throat. Saying goodbye to him was so, so hard. If they weren't so far apart, she'd give anything to never hear him say goodbye again.

When she was alone and Puck was long gone, Rachel sighed and turned to head back inside. Now they had another year to wait and Rachel couldn't help but feel like everything was about to change.

Next up: Rachel gets her big break, Puck does a little growing emotionally, and those changes Rachel's worried about may start to happen.