A.N.: Realized I have to apologize for taking some liberties with timing and performances. I know it seems like Glee just has them learned one song with full choreography and whatnot a week, but I took the chance that maybe they've performed these songs more than just when we see them on the show. Plus I liked a song that's on the radio now and threw that in here too. :) Thanks, enjoy!
Oh, and for those who don't know me by now, the outfit does exist. Links at the end :)
Chapter 4: The Water Will Only Rise
Rachel examined herself in the mirror and shook her head. "I look nothing like myself." She checked the clock, and exhaled slowly. "And isn't that exactly the point."
"Rachel?" Hiram stopped in the doorway. "Sweetheart, you look stunning. I told you that when I picked you girls up, and that was before I saw the outfit." He paused for a beat. "That girl, that Santana - she's not normally nice to you, is she."
She stood and fiddled with her hair. "What makes you say that?"
Hiram shook his head. "I knew it. You just seemed uncomfortable. Why are you going to her party, then?"
"Noah asked?" Rachel sighed. "And she - she said she actually wants me to come, and she invited Mercedes now, so...I can't not go."
Hiram chuckled. "Considering Noah is probably just about down the block? No, it's a little late and a little rude to cancel the date now."
"It's not really a date, Dad." She bit her lip. "Isn't it too soon?"
Hiram shrugged. "It's Noah, Rachel, you've known him practically since diapers, whether either of you liked it or not." He smiled as he considered her. "I think you can call it whatever you want, and he'll still be your champion."
She blushed and picked up the cardigan she'd insisted on adding to the outfit. "Do you think that's because we're two of the most notorious Jews in Lima?"
Hiram raised a brow. "I think it's because he's had a thing for you for years, but what do I know?"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Not a thing, Dad. Those slushies are not -"
"A child acting out on a crush? Rachel." Hiram crooked his arm for hers. "Noah is still somewhere between being a boy and a young man, you can't blame him entirely." He kissed her temple as she slipped her arm through. "I'm not used to you being this tall!" He chuckled. "Just…with Noah, just keep an open mind."
She shrugged. "I am, or I wouldn't be going." She caught her lower lip between her teeth. "Are you sure you're okay with me going?"
Hiram laughed. "Sweetheart, why do you think I've basically been pushing you out the door? I'm thrilled you're going, and I really do hope you have fun." He cleared his throat. "Just, uh, be safe, all right?"
Rachel blushed deeper. "I will be, Dad, I promise. I'll call if I don't feel like Noah is able to drive."
Her father sighed. "That, and...the other, Rachel, we've talked about what happens between some guys and some dolls, and -"
"Dad!" Rachel shook her head. "Please, I - I will be safe, I know how to be safe, and I'm not planning to...to find some abandoned bedroom like a high school cliche."
Hiram relinquished her arm and took a deep breath. "Honey, I know, but I also know that things happen. So…" He reached into his pocket and handed her a condom. "Just in case."
"Dad!" She turned away. "I can't - I don't believe -" She snatched in from his hand, blushing fiercely. "Because you want me to, not because I have any intention at all to use it!" She stuffed it into her wristlet.
"Thank you, honey. I don't mean to embarrass you." Her father shrugged. "But I also need to make sure you're prepared all by yourself."
Rachel kissed his cheek. "I appreciate it," she acknowledged as she peered out the window.
Hiram tugged her towards the couch. "You don't want to seem too eager. Sit with me, Daddy can get the door."
She blew out a breath and nodded. "I'm just glad Mercedes will be there."
Hiram chuckled. "Let me tell you a secret, so am I."
"Am I out of my mind?" Rachel sighed.
Her father shrugged. "Maybe, a little, but you're entitled to be." He shook her gently. "You're young, Rachel. I know you and your father have things all mapped out, but...don't forget you're young. Serve a detention, go to a house party. Please, by all means, live." He caught and held her gaze. "But don't be foolish. You use protection if it's appropriate, and call if he's had too much, or if you want to leave and he won't."
Stephen walked to the entryway of the living room, leaning against the arch. "Giving her the heart to heart, dear?"
Rachel gave the blushing father in question another kiss. "Yes, Daddy, and I appreciate it."
Stephen smiled. "Well, good. We worry, but your father has me convinced that a little trouble and a little rule-breaking might be just what you need, after everything with Finn."
Hiram gestured his husband over to sit with them. "Well, it doesn't hurt her to live a little. Barbra did, Patti did, and they both turned out wonderfully. If that's what -"
All three froze as the doorbell rang. "Which one of us answers?" Stephen asked. "I just sat down."
Hiram shook his head. "You or me, Rachel doesn't open the door." He giggled. "Especially not in that outfit. Actually, do you want to go upstairs to get a picture of Noah's reaction?"
"Dad!" Rachel groaned and shook her head. "No, just go answer it, please, one of you!"
Stephen shrugged and stood. "I'll get it, sorry, pumpkin."
She sighed. "It's all right, I just don't want to make a bigger deal of this than it already is."
Stephen opened the door. "Promise we won't."
Puck cleared his throat. "Good evening, Mr. Berry, I wanted to know if Rachel was ready?"
She took a deep breath and walked out. "Hello, Noah, I am. Just let me grab my coat."
"Don't." Puck shook himself. "Sorry, I didn't...I didn't mean to say that out loud, but you look...Rachel, you look amazing."
Rachel took a deep breath and deliberately relaxed her stance. "Thank you, Noah, I had a lot of help."
He flicked one of the loose curls floating down around her shoulders. "You got your hair done?"
She feigned a nonchalant shrug. "Maybe."
Puck shook his head. "No, you got your hair done - looks awesome, by the way - and -" He grabbed her hand, nodding. "Yup, nails too. That dark red looks good on you. And new outfit, which, might I say, you should wear all the time because your body is absolutely bangin'…" He whistled low. "I am a lucky dude to call you my date tonight. Shit, San may kick us out for you lookin' better than her."
"She, um…" Rachel tucked her hair behind her ear. "She helped."
Puck made a mental note to French kiss Santana later. "Then we better not be late." He linked his fingers with hers and waved to her fathers. "I have both your numbers, and I promise not to drive drunk or buzzed or anything other than sober."
Hiram nodded. "Thank you, Noah, and have fun tonight." He turned to his daughter. "You need it, you deserve it."
Rachel smiled. "Thank you, Dad. I'll be home later tonight...or early tomorrow, technically."
Stephen waved her off. "Safety first, don't forget."
"We won't," she confirmed, and turned to her companion for the evening. "May I retrieve my jacket?"
Puck looked down at their entwined hands. "Oh, uh…" The hell? He relinquished his grip. "Yeah, go ahead."
"Oh, Noah." Hiram called him back into the living room. "Rachel, he'll be with you in a minute." He gestured the nervous boy closer. "Come here for just one second."
Puck swallowed hard. "Yes, sir."
Hiram held out his hand. "Just wanted to shake your hand and thank you again for taking care of Rachel."
Puck frowned and clasped the older man's hand. "You're - wait, what -"
"Do not take this as permission, or as encouragement, to attempt or succeed in deflowering my daughter." Hiram released him and pinned him with a stare. "I may want her to be a normal teenager more than she is, but I also don't want her to be an after school special or cautionary tale. Nor do you need any potential trouble, regardless of whether it's my daughter or another guest who becomes the focus of your amorous attentions. Just take it and promise you'll be safe, whomever your partner."
"I, uh, I promise." Puck tucked the condom into his pocket. "And just so you know I'm - I'm sticking with Rachel tonight." He shook his head. "I'm not gonna just go hook up like that, I wouldn't leave her alone."
Stephen sighed and shoved his husband lightly. "No, of course not. Now get going, I'm sure Rachel has her coat by this point."
On cue, Rachel walked in, tying the belt of her wool trenchcoat. "All right, I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
Puck spun with a smirk. "So many responses."
Rachel raised a brow. "Do I want to know?"
Puck shook his head. "Nope, not at all. But let me just say, again, you are smokin' hot tonight."
"Come on, before Santana gets mad." Rachel blushed and nodded towards the door. "She threatened me if I didn't come to the party looking like this."
Puck wagged his eyebrows. "Thank you, Santana." He turned to her fathers. "Good night, Mr. Berrys."
They both laughed.
"Good night, Noah," Hiram said, smiling. "Have fun."
"Not too much fun though," Stephen clarified. "Just the type that Rachel can channel into future performances."
Puck looked between the three Berrys and laughed. "Okay, I don't know whether to be impressed or terrified that that actually made sense to me."
Rachel giggled. "You had best go with impressed, or I'd be insulted."
Puck snapped his fingers. "Impressed it is!" He let his gaze go hot as it settled on Rachel's. "And impressed I am."
Rachel blushed. "Can we - shall we go?"
Puck nodded and waved. "Good night!" He gestured Rachel ahead of him, lowering his voice. "Those jeans are nice, Berry. And I wouldn't mind seeing those heels a lot closer..."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Puckerman." She tightened her belt and opened the front door. "May I ask why you seem to rotate between last name, nickname, and my actual name?"
He shook his head and jogged to the truck. "I will call you whatever you want me to if I can feel your boobs in that tiny little top. Sequins? They're like, hypnotizing." He opened her door. "Can I - can I see the whole outfit again?"
Rachel blushed. "I feel like one of those...those flashers in Central Park." She untied her coat and held it back. "Top, jeans, cardigan and boots, nothing too elaborate."
Puck slipped his hands in around her waist. "What you're missing is this little peek of skin in between -" He squeezed to emphasize the feel of her bare flesh. "- that's gonna be making me crazy all night, sweater or no sweater."
She shivered. "Noah -"
"How are you feeling after last night?" He grinned. "I've been dying to know. You okay? I didn't scare you off?"
"Scare me?" She blushed deeper and shook her head. "If anyone should be...embarrassed or otherwise negatively impacted by last night, it should be -"
"Oh, uh-uh." Puck shook her lightly. "I told you, nothing to feel bad about. I was thinking about how you felt all day."
Rachel stumbled against him as her knees went weak. "Noah -" She grabbed for his arms.
He gripped her tighter and leaned in to whisper. "Babe, if Santana wouldn't kill us both, we wouldn't be going to that party, we'd be going somewhere where I could get you to do that again." He let go of her waist and knotted her coat closed. "Get in the truck before I give the neighbors a show." He spun her around and boosted her into the cab.
Stephen stepped away from the window, clearing his throat. "Noah's definitely not leaving her side in that outfit," he remarked to Hiram. "I doubt she's going to spend a second with Mercedes."
Hiram shook his head. "I could've told you that from when I picked her up. She wasn't even wearing it, but the girls were buzzing like bees. I didn't expect what she came out in."
Stephen smiled. "I'm sure not, darling, but our little girl is growing up."
Hiram shook his head again. "You don't have to tell me twice, love. I just hope she doesn't grow up too fast."
Puck started the truck and pulled away from the house. "My hands are like, itching, to get to you."
Rachel shifted in her seat, fingers caressing a curl. "I - I don't know what I'm supposed to say to that."
Puck shook his head, smirking. "Whatever you want, babe, though I wouldn't mind something along the lines of 'go for it', or even 'please'...maybe in that sexy voice from last night…"
Rachel shivered again. "We - I - Noah…" She shook herself. "How about answering my question from earlier about settling on what to call me?"
He rolled his eyes. "Really? That's what you wanna focus on?" He put a hand on her leg, slowly stroking up and down. "You sure?"
"Noah…" She shifted in her seat again. "I'm feeling a bit like Sandra Dee at the moment…" Except this time, I don't have to beg for attention. She blushed. "Just...please…"
He grinned. "Fine, but don't fall out of the car." He shrugged. "Turned out good for Sandy in the end though, right?"
Rachel bit her lip. "Y-yes, it rather did." She fought back another shiver. "Noah…" She placed a hand over his to still its motion. "I - I have to answer your question too." She cleared her throat. "I - I hadn't - I didn't - ever."
"You - what? Oh." Puck's hands tightened on her leg and on the wheel. "You maybe didn't want to tell me that right now."
She shook her head. "It matters, though, Noah. It - it matters. And I just...I need you to...to know and respect that." She cleared her throat, removing her hand from his. "Especially since I have trouble remembering that around you."
He shook his head. "You're really not helpin' us get to the party, y' know that?" He exhaled, thumb unconsciously rubbing circles on her thigh. "You're killin' me here, Berry."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "You never did answer my question about the names, you know. As if you're not...pushing my buttons?" She shifted in her seat again. "Did you fully comprehend what I just told you?"
Puck pulled his hand back reluctantly. "What you're also telling me is that the hottest makeouts you've ever had have been with me. What do you think that makes me wanna do exactly?" He ran a hand over his head. "Names. Shit. Uh...I don't really know. Sometimes I feel like calling you one thing over the other. If I'm trying to get in your pants, I'll probably throw you a 'babe'. Chicks dig that. I don't think I even realized I was calling you Rachel a lot more. When I wanna make a point. Maybe with your dads, but...speaking of. Your dads. They're...different. I always forget how much. Am I babbling? I'm fucking babbling."
Rachel giggled. "Maybe we will make it to the party after all?"
He chuckled. "Don't make any bets, babe." He smirked. "They say third time's the charm, how about we get the second time outta the way?"
Finn sighed. "I just don't get it, dude. Like, it's Rachel. She's not supposed to be with Puck."
Kurt shrugged. "I did try to speak to her, Finn, I did, but...she seems entirely under his spell."
"See, I knew it!" Finn shook his head. "He did something to her, I know he did. Maybe if I can just get her alone tonight…"
Kurt held up a hand. "Finn, if you want to get in Diva B's good graces, I would suggesting halting the attacks on Puck. She gets...protective."
"Yeah, I noticed." Finn frowned. "She told me to leave while we were still civil. That's...that means while we're still nice, right?"
"Right." Kurt rolled his eyes. "Finn, have you...have you given any thought into maybe not getting back together with her?"
"What? Give up on Rachel?" Finn shook his head again. "I'm really into her, Kurt, I don't wanna just give up."
"I'm not saying forever, Finn, but just...maybe until she's gotten him out of her system?" Kurt shrugged. "It was just a thought…"
Rachel made a vague noise of displeasure. "Oh, see, now that's how not to make it happen at all. I may have..." She blushed. "All right, I'm a liberated woman, I can say that I greatly enjoyed what occurred last night, and I may have contemplated - " She shook her head. "The point is that simply propositioning me that bluntly -"
Puck pulled over and parked, turning to look at her directly. "You look fucking amazing. Your hair makes me wanna bury my hands in it and mess up those waves." He shook his head. "That top isn't a top, it's a bustier, I would know, and it makes your boobs look outstanding. The little sliver of skin between those sequins and those tight pants is making me lose my mind, and the way they hug your ass make me wanna take a bite out of it." He blew out a breath. "How am I doing?"
Rachel shuddered against the seat. "I - you - " She rubbed a hand across her forehead. "Is it warm in here?" She closed her eyes and took a breath.
He grinned and moved closer. "I'm gonna kiss you now."
She turned her head to protest and met his lips instead.
"I'm not gonna give up on us, Kurt." Finn shook his head. "She just has to believe me. I want to be with her, not with Quinn."
Kurt harumphed. "If that's what you think is best." He stood and swept on his cape. "But might I suggest, then, that you focus on the brunette, and not the blonde?"
Finn frowned. "Not you too."
Kurt shook his head. "I'm the outside observer, here, Finn, you called me for help with Rachel. I'm just telling you the only things I know are Puck is giving Rachel a lot of undivided attention, and she's eating it up. Maybe you should consider whether you're actually doing the same." With a wave, he left Finn to think.
Finn shook his head again. "I'm not gonna give up," he muttered. He threw on his lettermen jacket and jogged down the stairs and out the door.
With a low hum of triumph, Puck threaded a hand through her hair to cup her cheek, the other releasing her seat belt before finding the expanse that had fixated him since he'd seen her.
Rachel whimpered, her hands clutching at the seat.
Puck slipped his tongue into her mouth and pulled her towards him.
Rachel moaned outright, wrapping her arms around Puck and pouring herself into the kiss.
Puck choked out a laugh. "Killin' me," he rasped, tearing away for a breath. He laughed and nuzzled her neck. "Just watchin' you is so good," he mumbled into her skin.
Rachel whimpered again, twisting as a chill trailed through her body. "Oh my -" She gasped, cold leather hitting her back and sending her eyes flying open. "Noah! What did you - where are we? What was I...oh my goodness…" She blushed. "Noah…"
Puck nipped at her lower lip, chuckling. "I had to get that out of my system and into yours before we went got there." He raised a brow. "But that offer for getting the second time out of the way still stands. Who's gonna be looking for us?"
Rachel shuddered, lowering her forehead to rest on Puck's. "Noah...remember how I asked…" She shivered. "Terrible for my equilibrium."
He grinned and stroked her cheek. "Remember that when everyone else there is trying to get in those most excellent pants." He kissed her softly again. "And we're about two minutes from Santana's, I know this parking lot, no one comes through till later and no one has an angle into this corner." Another kiss. "Okay?"
Rachel looked around and confirmed there were no lights visible nearby. "If -" She shivered, her blood going hot. "Are you su-"
Puck slid her closer to him and nodded. "Don't ask, just go with it," he murmured, and kissed her again.
Mercedes stepped out of the car, waving as her mom backed out of the driveway. She blew out a breath and approached the door, ringing the bell.
Santana answered with a frown. "Aretha. Come in. Just...don't do...anything that would make anyone notice you." She waved her in. "Where are they?"
Mercedes looked around. "They're - they're not here yet?"
Brittany joined them and pouted. "They're not here yet, and that makes me sad, because Rachel really looked hot." She looped her arm through Santana's. "I wanted to show her off and see if she'd let me ki-"
"Okay, never mind," Santana interjected. "Whatever, you wanna call, go ahead. But the snacks and drinks are in the back, refills and water are in the kitchen, there's one bathroom you're allowed in, you go upstairs, I'm not responsible for what happens." She smirked. "Or for what you see or hear up there, it's a party, you be cool or you go home."
Mercedes held up her hands. "Look, I'm just lucky to be here, so I'm gonna call her and then get myself a drink."
Santana eyed her. "Let me know what you find out."
Rachel sighed and smoothed her fingers down Puck's Mohawk.
Puck growled his approval, hooking his arm tighter around her waist and hauling her into his lap.
Rachel jerked as she settled against his erection.
Puck nipped at her lips and ground his hips against her. "You feel so damn good," he whispered.
Rachel moaned and shifted. "Noah…"
Puck groaned and kissed her again, his arm keeping her close.
Rachel whimpered and pressed herself closer, circling her hips against him.
"Fuck, Rachel," he rasped, tearing his mouth away. He buried his face in her collarbone. "Keep going," he choked out, and bit lightly at the cord of her neck.
Quinn opened the gate to the backyard, scanning the crowd.
Sam followed her through. "You okay, Quinn? You've been really quiet all day."
She took a deep breath and put on a smile. "I'm fine, Sam, don't worry about it."
He took her arm and turned her to face him. "Quinn, seriously. It's been really weird since Glee. If you're mad at them, why are we even here?"
"Sam. Stop." Quinn shook her arm in his grip. "We're here because it's Saturday night, and we go to Santana's to party. That's what we always do."
"Just because that's what you always do doesn't make it a good idea." Sam frowned at her.
She tugged against him again. "We're going to have fun, Sam. It'll be great. Promise."
Rachel arched into Puck, grip flexing on the back of his head. "Mmm, Noah..."
Puck groaned and bit down harder, arm sliding her firmly in place.
Rachel arched even deeper. "Oh!" She shuddered against him, gasping.
Puck held her, kissing and licking her skin. "Ride it out, Berry, just breathe."
She gave one hard shudder and took an unsteady breath. "Mmm, that. Breath. Good." She shivered. "I hear bells ringing. Goodness, Noah."
He froze, listening. "Shit. No, that's a phone, Rachel. Where is your phone?"
She nuzzled her forehead to his. "Hmm? What?"
He laughed, shaking her lightly. "Rachel, phone. The ringing, as badass as it would be if it were 'cause of the sweet orgasm you just had, is your phone."
Rachel shook herself. "Purse. My purse." She fumbled with her free hand, tilting it to see the ID display. "It's - oh, Noah, it's Mercedes! I forgot I told her we'd be there by now." She flipped the phone open. "Mercedes?"
"Rachel?" Mercedes exhaled. "Hey, you guys on your way?"
Rachel blushed furiously. "We'll be there in five minutes, I - did some agonizing over the outfit."
"The only agonizing is me, over the blue balls you just gave me," Puck whispered in her ear. He pumped his hips upward.
Rachel hissed in a breath and swatted at his arm.
Puck only tightened his grip and blew her a kiss.
"So you're on your way?" Mercedes gave Brittany a thumbs-up.
Rachel nodded as a full-bodied shiver rippled through her. "Yes, we're - we're almost there. I'll see you soon." She hung up without waiting for Mercedes to respond. "Noah, she's waiting."
He dropped light kisses up the side of her neck. "And you said five minutes."
She let out a low hum of pleasure. "I - yes - to allow - mmm.."
Puck circled his hips again. "Just remember who got you off when Hudson's trying his puppy dog eyes on you," he muttered.
She exhaled shakily. "I couldn't forget if I tried, Noah." She sat back from him. "Do you - can you tell anything? Am I - do I look all right?"
He smirked. "You look better than all right, babe, you look thoroughly fuckable." He wiped a spot of gloss from next to her lips.
She touched the spot gently. "I - I have more gloss in my purse, I have to - " She cleared her throat. "I have to get off -"
Puck groaned. "I have heard your request and I will be more than happy to - "
Rachel quickly shimmied across him, catching her breath at the sensation. She reached for the gloss and flipped down the mirror.
Puck thumped his head against the back of the seat. "Why did I point out it was a phone?"
Rachel glanced at him from lowered lashes while she concentrated on evening out her breathing. "Because you bring out the badass in me and I bring out the gentleman in you," she offered. "At least that's what Mercedes and Santana seem to think."
He quirked a brow. "You were talkin' about me?"
She smacked her lips and replaced the gloss in her wristlet. "I - we were deciding wardrobe and...it came up." Something like that, anyway. She blushed, biting her lip.
He gave a low laugh at the look on her face. "Oh, I get it. So, not only was that the first orgasm of your life last night, you liked it so much you wanted to get an outfit guaranteed to score you a second one." He smirked. "Babe, all you had to do was say so." He reached for her again.
Rachel smacked his hands away. "Noah! They're looking for us now."
Puck nodded. "And every minute we're late is a minute San will take as a win." He tucked a curl behind her ear. "So will I."
Rachel shivered. "But...Mercedes…"
"Mercedes can take care of herself for a few more minutes," he murmured. "Let's mess up your gloss at least a little. You gotta give 'em something to wonder about."
She giggled breathlessly. "This - the outfit - Noah…"
"I think I have at least a minute or two left," he whispered, brushing his lips lightly over hers.
Mercedes hung up and looked over to Brittany. "Five minutes."
Santana smirked. "That means ten. C'mon, Aretha. Have a drink." She walked through to the backyard.
"But - she said -" Mercedes blinked, looking at Brittany as she followed.
"Just join the party, will you? They'll get here when they get here." Santana rolled her eyes. "Go make sure Frankenteen stays away from Ken and Barbie or something."
Mercedes scoffed. "I'm not gettin' anywhere near that."
Santana laughed. "Honey, we are all up in that. But I admire the sentiment." She gestured for some punch. "Here, you're gonna need it for the show."
Mercedes surveyed the backyard. "It's gonna be a show, isn't it." She spotted Finn sulking in a lounge chair by the pool, and Sam and Quinn with their feet dangling in the pool in the opposite corner. She took a sip of the punch and coughed.
Brittany thumped her back. "I don't know why they call it punch when mostly I just end up patting people like this when they start coughing after they drink it. Shouldn't it be cough? Or pat, or choke?"
Santana shook her head. "No, honey, but maybe it should have a warning label." She raised a brow. "Which one of you cabrons spiked it again? I already put the good vodka in!" She stormed off towards the group of football players huddled together in a corner.
Brittany giggled. "She takes her parties really seriously. Those guys are gonna get kicked out."
Mercedes took another small sip. "It's actually not that bad, I just - I don't drink."
"My doctor says it's important to drink every day...or to water yourself every day...but wouldn't that be a shower?" Brittany shrugged. "Anyway, I'm going to make sure Santana doesn't beat up the football players. See you when Puckleberry gets here!" She waved and scurried off after the Latina.
Mercedes turned back to the punch bowl.
"Hey! I didn't expect to see you here!" Sam waved from across the table. "Anyone else from Glee coming?"
Mercedes shook her head. "I'm only here 'cause I helped with - uh, something." She sighed. "Santana invited me, but...not the rest of us."
Sam pursed his lips. "Oh. I kinda would've liked everyone to be here."
Mercedes laughed. "Oh, Sam. You're new, and you're nice. But that ain't happenin'."
Quinn watched Sam and Mercedes talking, a frown settling on her face. She stood, marching over to Santana. "Lopez. What is she doing here?"
"Pendejo, go find a toy store and buy yourself a clue." Santana waved them off. "Who? They're not even here yet."
Quinn glared towards the punch bowl. "Is the rest of the Glee club going to follow?"
"Did we not talk about this?" Santana narrowed her eyes at the blonde. "I can invite whoever the hell I want to my party at my house. You do what you want. And if you don't like it, believe me, you can go the hell home."
Brittany looked from one to the other. "Don't fight, guys, I like Mercedes." She shrugged at Santana. "I like the rest of Glee too. Maybe we should invite them."
"Ugh!" Quinn threw her hands up in frustration. "Is there nowhere safe from those people?"
Finn sat up straighter, eyeing the scene in the corner.
Santana raised a brow. "What people, blanca? The ones that have actually tried to show you they give a damn about you and what happens in your life? And I will cut you if you ever repeat that." She waved Quinn off. "You don't like it, go home. I'm not changing a thing about who's here." She turned to Brittany. "Maybe next time, Brit, we can have a party with the Gleeks, okay?"
Brittany bounced up and down. "Yay! I love when we have parties. And I love when the parties are over, and everyone goes home except you and me…"
Santana grinned and hooked pinkies with her. "C'mon, we'll leave Q to figure out what she wants to do. Because she's not starting a fight here." Santana cast one last glare over her shoulder.
"Noah, come on!" Rachel squirmed under his grip. "It's definitely been more than five minutes."
"Word choice, babe," Puck groaned. "You know she'd call back if they were wondering." He tightened the hands on her waist. "Third time, remember?"
She fought against a laugh. "Stop it, Noah, I just - you said just a little kiss."
He wagged his eyebrows. "I never said where..."
Rachel inhaled sharply. "Noah!"
He grinned. "Incorrigible. But you're here anyway." He pressed a kiss to her neck. "I think you like incorrigible."
"Noah!" Rachel shivered. "I - maybe a little bit," she admitted. "But we need to go."
Puck sighed. "Fine, you win." He smirked. "For now." He bit lightly at the long line of her throat before releasing her. "There's always the ride home." He laughed low as he pulled out of the parking lot. "And maybe another ride if you're feelin' it."
Rachel shivered and shook her head. "Let's see how I survive this party first."
He laughed. "If you're not totally relaxed and glowing walking in there, I didn't do my job right." He trailed a hand up her leg to settle around her waist and squeeze. "Happy to try again…"
She blushed. "I'm - I'm definitely -" She shook her head. "You scramble my brain, you know that?"
He grinned. "Good, 'cause we're here." He blew out a breath as he parked down the block. "You ready for this?"
Rachel met his eyes and smiled. "Bring it."
Puck shook his head. "Never gonna forget that, huh."
Rachel smiled wider. "Never."
He chuckled. "Worse things for you to remember, I guess."
She raised a brow. "Don't think I forgot about the slushies, Noah. I just know that there's a lot more to you than that."
He snorted. "That makes one of us, then." He hopped out of the truck and came around to open her door.
Finn approached Quinn. "Hey, you okay?"
Quinn folded her arms. "No."
Finn frowned. "What's wrong?"
Quinn rolled her eyes. "Not only do I have to deal with Puckerman and Man-Hands -
"Hey!" Finn glared at her.
She waved him off. "But now my boyfriend is off talking to Big Bertha over there."
"You can't say things like that, Quinn." Finn shook his head. "That's not cool."
"You too?" Quinn rolled her eyes. "Everyone keeps telling me how bad I am, but you're all still talking to me, aren't you?"
Rachel checked herself in the mirror quickly.
Puck shook his head again and flipped the mirror back up. "Nu-uh. You don't get to be too together when we're walkin' in. Gotta give them something to start with." He held out his hand.
She re-tied her coat and stepped from the truck. "Noah, you don't think the minute I take off this coat, they'll be buzzing like...like overcaffeinated bees?"
He shrugged. "Nah. It'll take 'em a second to get over the shock." He tucked her arm into his. "Do we make a bet on this one?"
Rachel giggled. "Only if I know the stakes in advance."
Puck nodded. "Okay, fair. Uh...how about if I win, I get to touch your boobs, no shirt, and if you win...uh…" He smirked. "I touch your boobs over your shirt?"
"Noah!" She swatted at his arm. "If, as I expect, the party comes to a screeching halt, I want...I want you to promise that you'll let me leave when I want to go, even if you're not ready to go."
"Aww, come on...we can't make deals about leaving before we even get there." He led her up the front walk. "How about I promise that if you wanna talk to me, I will drop whatever I am doing so we can talk, okay?"
Rachel took a deep breath. "Good enough."
Puck leaned in to whisper in her ear as he opened the door. "You're more than good enough, Berry, and don't forget it, okay?
She looked over at him and shook her head. "How could I with you next to me?" She swallowed hard and stepped through the door.
Finn shook his head. "Quinn, you gotta stop being so mean all the time, though."
Quinn turned to him and glared. "Why? Your ex-girlfriend is coming here with the guy who got your last girlfriend pregnant. Aren't you mad? Do you care at all?"
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Finn ran his hands through his hair. "Yes, I care. I tried to talk her out of it yesterday -"
"You did?" Quinn laughed. "I'm sure that went well."
"Went horrible." Finn shook his head again. "She's really mad at me. But I'm really mad at her!" He took Quinn by the shoulders. "And it all comes back to you."
Santana shoved the potato chips at a passing partygoer as she heard the door open and left the kitchen. "About time," she remarked, taking Rachel's coat and nodding her approval. "So? How'd we do, Puck?" She eyed Rachel's lip gloss and smirked. "Never mind. Come on." She started through the house towards the backyard.
Rachel looked at Puck, a laugh bursting from her involuntarily. She swatted him lightly in the chest. "You rigged that!"
Puck grabbed her around the waist and pulled her tight to his side. "What? No. What do you mean?"
Rachel laughed and shook her head. "You knew no one would be around to see, you knew there'd be time between me taking off my coat and the… the bees!"
"You really think that I think that deep?" He raised a brow.
She raised a brow in return. "Incorrigible?"
"Yeah, but sneaky like that? To break your words down that specifically?" He inclined his head thoughtfully. "You really think I'm that good?"
"This from a boy who loves -" Rachel caught herself and leaned in. "Shakespeare? Yes, absolutely."
Santana looked back at them, shaking her head before stepping outside.
Puck bowed his head in acknowledgment and chuckled. "Well, okay, yeah, maybe…" He whispered the rest hotly into her ear. "And I really want to touch your boobs."
Santana walked over to Sam and Mercedes, still chatting by the drinks. "Uh-oh, Trouty Mouth, you may wanna check your girl." She nodded towards Finn and Quinn. "Looks like they're either friendly or fighting, but either is trouble for you."
Sam followed her gaze and frowned. "Uh, really fun talking to you, Mercedes, but -"
Mercedes smiled. "Same to you, country boy, now go on." She waited till he moved away. "Show about to start?"
Santana nodded and smiled. "Oh, yeah."
Brittany refilled her punch and joined them. "What's going on?"
Santana hooked pinkies with the blonde. "Puckleberry, babe."
Rachel blushed. "Noah…"
He stopped them before they walked outside. "Wasn't a no, I noticed." He smirked. "I win."
She shook her head. "You cheated. That's a forfeit." She frowned. "Right? In sports?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, or DQ. Disqualified."
She nodded with satisfaction. "So, redo from here. I say we walk out and they start buzzing immediately, and you say stunned silence first. Stakes are -"
"The same." He gave a sly smile. "You coulda just called off the bet, but you want it so...stakes are the same." He quirked a brow. "Deal?"
Rachel looked down at her outfit and over at Puck. "Deal."
Sam joined Finn and Quinn. "Everything okay here?"
"Yeah, we're good." Finn released Quinn quickly. "I just - Quinn was - "
Sam wrapped an arm around Quinn's shoulders. "I got it from here, thanks."
Finn shook his head. "I'm getting a drink." He left them to search for the beers.
Puck kept his arm around Rachel's waist and stepped through the doors to the deck.
Rachel swallowed hard as her heels hit the wood. "Just don't let me trip in these," she whispered.
"I've got you," he whispered back. "I'll take the excuse to hold onto you."
Santana smirked and looked around at the group slowly noticing the couple who'd just walked in. "We did good," she murmured to her two accomplices.
Finn rummaged through the cooler for a Corona, glancing up as he heard a murmur run through the crowd. "What the - Rachel?"
Rachel looked over at Finn and pursed her lips, then turned back to Puck. "Does that count as instantaneous, or do you consider it a delayed reaction?"
Puck laughed and shook his head. "You're askin' me? You know what my answer is gonna be." He walked her over to the punch bowl. "Lopez, Brit, Aretha. What up."
"Puckerman." Mercedes fought back a grin. "How's your night?"
He took a flask from his jacket and spiked his cup of punch. "Fucking awesome." He tasted it and smiled with satisfaction. "Wanna try, Rachel?"
She raised a brow and tipped the red cup back for a tiny sip. "Not...not bad, actually. Honey and fruit."
Puck nodded. "Keep it." He poured himself another. "So, impartial jury. How would you say the crowd reacted - right away or was there a moment of stunned silence while these losers got a good look at my bangin' date?"
Mercedes swatted at Brittany's hand. "Your date, huh?"
"Rachel?" Finn shook himself and came over to join the group. "What - you - whoa." He looked her up and down.
Santana narrowed her eyes at the interloper. "I'd say it took a second for everyone to notice you guys come in. Though those heels were just as fabulous as I knew they'd be, that click was wicked."
Rachel looked at Finn. "Um, thank you?" She turned to Puck. "Impartial jury, huh? You don't think you're swaying the vote by billing this as a date?"
"'Scuse me?" Puck raised a brow. "I remember someone telling me to ask them properly and I did."
"You - you did." Rachel blushed. "That's still manipulation. Any girl would -"
"Excuse me?" Santana interjected. "You tellin' me I'm being manipulated by Puck?"
Rachel paused to consider. "You know, you're right." She turned to Puck and rolled her eyes. "Okay, now you win."
"Win? What? Rachel?" Finn shook himself. "Can I - can I talk to you?"
She bit her lip, holding Puck's gaze. "No, Finn, not - not now. Maybe later -" her expression begged Puck's forgiveness - "but definitely not now. I just got here, and I'm not leaving my date just yet."
"Date?" Finn's jaw dropped. "You're - it - what?"
"We'll speak later, Finn." If you remember to look for me after that beer you're drinking. Rachel smiled at Puck. "I should probably eat something if I'm drinking."
Puck nodded, glancing at the thunderstruck quarterback before speaking. "Yeah, the real food is over there on the burners - anyone who comes here long enough knows if you're having the punch, you gotta have some rice and beans."
Santana shrugged. "Sounds stereotypical, but there you go." She glanced at Brittany. "I made some without the meat for you, Berry. It's in the kitchen."
Brittany grinned. "I love when she's thoughtful. Not everyone gets to see her soft teddy bear center, but it's really cute and I like it the best."
Santana ducked her head. "Brit…"
Rachel giggled. "I might have suspected from the makeover magic," she stage-whispered. "Thank you, Santana. That was amazingly considerate."
Santana rolled her eyes and waved them inside. "Go, eat. Two tupperwares, one for Puckerman, one for you. He'll know the difference."
Rachel squeezed her arm as they turned to retrieve their goodies. "Thank you for everything today."
Santana just nodded her head towards the house.
"What - Rachel...thanking...you?" Finn frowned at Rachel's back and pinned Santana with a glare. "You dressed her up, didn't you."
Santana met his glare with one of her own. "Stay in your lane, or go home, Hudson."
Finn frowned at the three girls. "What is it with everyone helping them be together? Kurt was even telling me to let it go."
Santana snickered. "He has different reasons for that, Fluffy."
Puck raised an eyebrow as Rachel exhaled. "You okay?"
Rachel giggled and nodded. "I am, actually, and I'm thrilled." She toasted their punch cups. "One weekend, barely begun, and I feel like a new woman." She took a long drink. "Thank you," she murmured huskily.
He grinned and spun her back to the countertop, setting his drink down to boost her onto the counter. "You're just playing with me now," he growled. He looked down the counter and snorted. "Yeah, I'll definitely tell the difference between yours and mine." He handed Rachel a bright pink tupperware and took the blue one for himself. "Wanna lay low in here for a bit?"
She nodded and put her drink on the counter to pop the top. "Wow, this - this actually smells amazing."
"No kidding." He grabbed a fork for each of them. "Santana's abuela is the best cook, San's got her recipes."
Rachel dug in and took a bite. She closed her eyes and hummed in pleasure. "It tastes as good as it smells."
Puck nudged her knees apart and moved to stand between them. "Make that sound again," he invited.
She blushed and shook her head, offering a bite of her rice and beans instead. "I didn't mean to tease," she whispered.
"Babe, I won the bet." He took the bite and gave an exaggerated growl. "Every minute we're not leaving is a tease."
She giggled. "I never should have offered it up for discussion, should I? I should have just declared it instantaneous." She wiggled slightly on the counter to sit up.
Puck put his hands on her knees and leaned in to whisper. "You might not wanna move too much right now. Being this close is giving me ideas."
Rachel flushed deeper. "Noah..."
He winced and spun away. "That's the 'you're not gettin' anywhere' Rachel Berry voice." He picked up his rice and beans and nodded to her. "Keep drinkin', I'll see if I can't change your mind later."
She rolled her eyes and took another bite. "You should have made that the wager - I would think my inebriation would have provided you ample opportunity to…" She shrugged, grinning. "I don't know, molest me? Harass me?"
He shook his head. "Wouldn't work for me. Not with you." He looked down at his food. What the hell? Why not?
Rachel dropped her fork and turned to look at him. It wouldn't?
Finn nursed his beer and kept an eye on the backyard. "This is too weird," he muttered.
"Yo, Hudson. What's your girlfriend doing with Puckerman?" Azimio snagged a beer from the cooler and sat down. "Screw that, what's your girlfriend doing here at all?"
"Ex-girlfriend," Quinn corrected. "Better get it right or Puck might punch you."
"Shut up, Quinn," Finn muttered.
Azimio stood. "I am getting out of this mess." He stood and left the two exes near the drinks.
"What is that, anyway?" Quinn held her hand out for the punch Sam brought her. "And what's with the makeover?"
Finn nodded towards Santana. "She did it. I don't know why, or, or what got into her, but it was Santana."
Quinn took a drink. "Which means it was Brittany. She loves Puck and Ma- " She rolled her eyes at Finn. "Those two together."
Sam frowned at them both. "Uh, why do we care? Rachel looks awesome, and she and Finn have to work things out themselves." He sat next to Quinn.
Finn shook his head. "You don't know how this goes with them, Sam. They're not good for each other. I just - she's just being crazy."
Mercedes rolled her eyes as she went by for another cup of punch. "Maybe not calling her crazy would help," she remarked.
Quinn scoffed. "Oh, please. I don't even know why you're here. Santana has lost her mind."
Mercedes raised a brow. "Sure it was her that lost her mind and not y'all? The way I see it, we're all good. It's just you two who are sulking into their beverages." She gave Sam a sympathetic look. "Sorry, sweetheart."
Sam frowned deeper and shook his head. "Why do I feel like I keep missing things here? Like, how crazy was last year?"
"Crazy." Finn, Quinn and Mercedes responded in unison.
Mercedes shook her head. "Look. Y'all are crazy. But I spent the day with Rachel and...she's having fun tonight." She turned to the bewildered transfer student. "They actually work, Sam. You can judge for yourself, you're new enough. Something about Puck and Rachel, with each other? Evens them both out." She returned her attention to the quarterback. "Finn, you really need to figure it out. I'm not even tryin' to talk to Fabray over there, but if you really want Rachel, you got work to do, that's all I'll say."
"Why is everyone looking at me and you know, asking me if I care and stuff?" Finn frowned, wounded. "Why not Rachel?"
Quinn snorted. "Because we all watch her practically throw rose petals before your feet every day. It's sickening." She sipped at her punch and shrugged. "It was sickening when we were together and it's no better now."
Finn took a long pull from his beer. "But just because I'm not...I'm not like that...doesn't mean that I don't care! Why does everyone take it there?"
"You're still always watching Quinn," Sam offered sullenly.
"You just stood there while someone accused her of being a ho," Mercedes added.
"You put her down without even noticing." Santana filled her cup with ice and punch. "I've seen you do it, it almost makes me proud."
Brittany frowned. "You never bring her anywhere," she remarked. "This is the first time she's come to the party ever, but you guys have been dating for a while. It's like you're hiding her."
Finn opened his mouth and shut it quickly. "I - it's just -"
"Just what? You didn't think she'd come with you? Or you didn't want to bring her around?" Santana raised a brow. "You never once asked. Maybe you should think about that." She nodded to Brittany and left the group to head inside.
"What did you put in the punch, Noah? It's really delicious." Rachel took another sip and licked her lips.
"Well, give Santana credit for throwing down a good starter drink." Puck pulled the flask from his front pocket. "So the punch is the fruit, with some alcohol already in it, but then I add Jack D's Tennessee Honey. That's the sweet." He unscrewed the cap and took a shot. "Want to try it by itself?"
Rachel pursed her lips. "One...shot, right? A shot's worth." She took the flask from him. "How will I know?"
He grinned. "Do you trust me?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, the answer hasn't changed since yesterday."
He gestured for the flask back. "Tilt your head back, I'll pour the shot right in for ya." He tilted his back as reference. "Not too far, don't want you to gag."
"Oh, I don't have a gag reflex." Rachel bit her lip. "Maybe I shouldn't have -"
Puck fumbled the flask slightly, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, maybe not. But -" He blinked and shook himself. "Shot?"
She nodded. "Just one."
He smirked. "Famous last words." He cupped the back of her head. "Tilt."
Rachel tipped her head into his hand and closed her eyes.
"Open," he whispered.
She licked her lips and opened her mouth.
Puck poured the shot and followed it with a quick kiss. "Mmm, tasty."
Rachel gave a low murmur of agreement.
"Well aren't you two disgustingly into each other." Santana rolled her eyes. "Don't defile my counters, will you?"
Rachel blinked slowly. "Santana! Sorry I -"
Brittany shook her head. "Don't apologize, that's exactly what I wanted to see, and that means that's what she wanted to see too. She just can't admit it."
Santana ducked her head. "Whatever, you guys good?"
Rachel licked her lips and nodded. "Noah was just introducing me to the deliciousness of Jack D- Daniels?" She smiled when he gave her the thumbs up. "Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey."
Puck's eyes lingered on her mouth. "Liked it?"
"It tastes like honey." She flushed under his gaze. "I very much enjoyed it."
"Should I invite you both to get a room?" Santana took a forkful of Rachel's vegan alternative entree. "I might make beans like this once in a while. Faster." She jerked her head towards the fridge. "Hot sauce?"
Rachel shrugged. "I don't, usually. Would you suggest it?"
Santana opened the fridge and handed her the bottle of Cholula. "Few dashes should do it. Finish up, then come back outside." She smirked. "I didn't invite you to have you hide in the kitchen all night. It's fun out there."
"I bet," Rachel muttered. She slapped a hand over her mouth.
Santana turned to Puck, snickering. "Now I get it."
He shrugged. "Not my fault you didn't give her a chance."
Santana sniffed. "I'm going back out there to make sure Hudson doesn't off himself in the pool."
Rachel shook herself. "Finn? Offing himself? Why?"
Santana raised a brow. "Have you looked in a mirror, sweetheart? He's out there dying a thousand deaths at how hot you look, and how happy you seem on Puckerman's arm." She nodded to them both. "It's working like a charm."
It's working. Right. Rachel swallowed hard. "I - Santana, it's not -"
Santana rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You keep Puck in your back pocket when you need Finnessa to fall in line."
"Hey, it's not like I don't know the deal, Lopez, back off."
Rachel looked at Santana, then Puck, and back again. "That's really what this looks like?"
Santana nodded, but Puck shook his head. "Only if you don't know better, babe. Chill."
Rachel retreated into herself. "You asked me, Noah, this isn't -"
"That's why I said relax!" He glared at Santana, all tongue-kissing thoughts vanishing. "Santana's talking out of her ass."
Santana blinked. "Yeah, wow. Actually I was. I thought for sure she asked you to bring her."
Rachel frowned at her. "No, actually, I didn't."
Puck shook his head. "Just let it go, Rachel, it's okay. If anything, I volunteered to be the jealousy guy."
Rachel turned her frown on him. "I - that wasn't my intention at all."
"Chill, I told you, it's cool." He cast her a smirk. "Besides, I won the bet, you can make it up to me later."
She sighed, putting the Tupperware down on the counter. "Thank you, Santana, but I believe I've lost a bit of my appetite. I'll definitely return to it in the event I feel excessively inebriated."
Santana frowned. "Look, Berry, relax, seriously. No one is accusing you of anything."
Rachel tugged her cardigan closer around her. "No, just implying everything." She shook her head. "I feel ridiculous now, I don't know why I thought this was a good idea."
Puck glared at Santana, shoving his Tupperware at her and grabbing Rachel down from the counter. "Come on, we need to talk."
"Why don't I take her anywhere?" Finn shook his head. "I never thought about it. When I would go places, Quinn would get invited and I would come with her. And after, I just…kept showing up, but I didn't – I didn't even think about why she didn't come with me."
Brittany shrugged. "That's because you're so tall it's tough to see someone that short. Puck looks down more often."
Finn sighed. "I wish it were just that. But there's something more going on. I know there is." He stood. "I'm going in."
Rachel buttoned her cardigan as she walked ahead of Puck. "Noah, just – I'd really just like to go home, I think, this has been a lovely illusion, but –"
Puck grabbed her hand away and dragged her towards the stairs. "Shut up and trust me."
She bit her lip. "I did say that, didn't I."
He nodded, throwing open a door and pulling her inside. "I'm closing the door and we're gonna talk, okay?"
She tugged at his grip. "Fine, but I still want to go home." She folded her arms in front of her.
"At least talk to me before calling your dad or dads or whatever." Puck sat on the futon and gestured Rachel over. "I know this place like the back of my hand and I picked the room with the futon, not the bed. I think you can sit next to me."
"I need to pace right now." Rachel took a deep breath. "Noah, I – I'm sorry that I ever used you as a weapon. That – that wasn't right. Santana is correct, and so are you. I think that's what stings so much."
Puck stood and crossed to stand in front of her. "You don't have to apologize. I'm no dummy, and you didn't make a secret out of what you were doing."
She dropped her gaze and sighed. "Even that. I should never be that desperate or resort to such things for a boy. Not Finn, not...not Jesse, and not you."
"Well, yeah." He bent down to catch her eyes. "Hey. Look, if we're bein' honest? You didn't notice what I said yesterday. I wanna do all sorts of sexual things with you because you're fucking hot…but I did ask you out the first time because of the Jew thing. And I didn't tell you that. So, how about we're even?"
Rachel frowned. "You – your mom?"
He shrugged. "Schindler's List, Jewish guilt. Plus I –" Puck swore under his breath. "Plus I kinda dreamed about you."
She froze. "You – dreamed about me?"
"Yeah." He eyed her. "Do you own a long white nightgown? Like, some lacy stuff and a ribbon thing?"
She shook her head slowly. "I – I have a white nightgown, I believe. Not sure if it's what you're thinking of."
He smirked. "Guess you'll have to show it to me."
Rachel laughed weakly. "All right, fine, so we both have had ulterior motives with each other. But tonight…even if I thought about it for jealousy, after yesterday…it's – it's not about jealousy. I really – I really wanted to come with you. I thought –" She sighed, casting her eyes to the floor. "I thought it would be fun, and I need some fun right now."
"We both could." Puck took her by the shoulders and shook her until she looked up. "So we're gonna call it a clean slate tonight. I asked you to come. You're here. No one said anything about getting revenge or being jealous. I said to let him see you do your thing. That's what I'm here for. Do your thing. Be you. Drink, take off the sweater and sing showtunes if you wanna. I think I even have the guitar in the truck."
She raised a brow. "You do? And you'd sing with me?"
Finn entered the kitchen, looking around. "Hey, has anyone seen Rachel or Puck?"
A lacrosse player he didn't recognize pointed up the stairs.
Finn's jaw dropped and he bounded up after them.
Puck nodded. "I mean, I wouldn't call everyone's attention or make an announcement like it was Glee or whatever, but if you wanna just chill in a corner and work on an arrangement of something, I'm totally down for it." He smoothed his hands down her arms. "Worked for us the first time, right?"
"Rachel?" The door was flung open and Finn charged through. "What are you guys doing up here?"
"Finn?" Rachel peered over Puck's shoulder. "What is wrong with you? We're talking."
Puck snickered. "Afraid I'm givin' her something you can't?"
Rachel smacked Puck on the arm and stepped free from his hold. "Finn, you have to stop. I'm fine, I haven't lost my mind, and I'm not trying to get back at you or make you jealous with anything I'm doing tonight." She looked back at Puck. "In fact, that's what we were discussing. Noah and I were making sure we were both clear on our motives being here tonight."
Finn glared at Puck and spoke to Rachel. "So you're okay he's here trying to get in your pants?"
"I don't think anything could fit in those pants, the way her ass is poured into them." Puck wagged his eyebrows. "Wouldn't mind getting under them, or having them off…"
"Noah!" She fought down a smile at the look on Finn's face and forced a glare at Puck instead. "Stop instigating."
Puck held up his hands and bowed his head.
Rachel turned to her other ex-boyfriend. "Finn, I don't know what you want me to say. Is Noah hypersexualized? Absolutely." She folded her arms. "Am I well aware of that and equipped to deal with it? Yes." She shook her head. "Noah asked me to come with him. He even asked me again when my fathers called it a date and he didn't protest."
"Wait, your fathers are in on this?" Finn frowned. "I thought your dads liked me."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "However they may feel about you, I'm their daughter. If I say Noah defended my honor at school," she flashed Finn a glare this time, "they're not going to question my decision to socialize with him." She turned and placed a hand on Puck's arm. "Besides, he also gave both of them a lovely apology."
"He what?" Finn stared at Puck. "You apologized?"
Puck shoved his hands in his pocket. "Damn, is it so hard to believe that I actually get that I was a jackass?"
Rachel shook her head. "It's not, Noah, it's just hard for Finn to believe." She sought Finn's eyes. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. No one will ever take that away from you. But you also have to figure out how to live past it. You can't just have this underlying hatred -"
"Why not?" Finn burst out. "God, Rachel, why can't I just hate him forever? Is that so hard? That maybe it's that unforgivable to disrespect my girlfriend and my relationship like that?"
Rachel recoiled, wrapping both arms around herself. "Oh. So it's that level of disrespect that warrants a response. Pregnancy." She gave a short laugh.
"Rachel...that's not - that's not what that means." Finn ran his hands through his hair. "I can't say anything right by you."
She inhaled shakily. "I just - that's still what's haunting me, Finn. Noah - he may have been a jerk, but he also -" She turned to Puck and smiled softly. "He asked me out and takes me out, in front of people - people who mostly actively hate me. It's not like he's hunched over and hiding." She licked her lips, a frown flashing across her face. "He couldn't stand there and listen to someone insult me without defending me, he chose Glee - me - over football…" She blinked slowly. When I put it all together like that…"And then there's you."
"There's - " Finn scoffed. "Yeah, that sounds great. There's me."
Rachel crossed to him and put her hands on his chest. "Finn. You're the lead. You're the reason Glee exists, the quarterback, our protector and our champion. But…" She smoothed his shirt and shook her head. "I don't know that you're...my champion." She looked back at Puck.
Puck shook his head. "Look, I don't - I don't need to be in the middle of this, okay? You guys wanna talk, whatever, go ahead and talk, I don't mind." He met Rachel's eyes. "Do you want a few minutes?"
She bit her lip, thinking of the bet she'd made. "Yes, actually, Noah." She glanced at Finn. "Before the night goes any further, yes."
Puck frowned, looking between the two of them. The fuck does that mean? He met Rachel's eyes questioningly.
Rachel shot a quick look at Finn before looking down at her breasts.
A laugh burst from Puck before he could stop it.
Rachel glared, blushing. "Some lines I won't cross without…"
Puck shook his head. "I'll be outside. I'll grab the guitar, come find me." He raised a brow. "As long as you're sure."
She nodded. "I'll find you, soon."
Puck kissed her cheek, lunged at Finn in warning, and left the two alone.
Rachel blew out a breath. "Do you want to sit down?" She took a seat on the futon.
Finn sat next to her. "Rachel…"
"I - Finn, I don't want to hurt you." She licked her lips. "But I don't want to hurt me, either, and that's the point I find myself at."
"I don't want to hurt you." He shook his head. "I don't understand how we got here, where everything I do hurts you."
"I don't either, Finn, I just know that it's…" She sighed. "It's not something I can unsee, to borrow from a friend." She took his hands. "I don't think you see me, Finn, I think I came to represent something for you, and you were something I was aspiring to. But I think we bring out - we don't -" She swallowed hard. "We might be...we might be better people apart."
Puck jogged out to the truck and hopped in, grabbing the guitar from the back. He looked at Santana's house and shook his head. "I'm gonna give 'em at least ten minutes before I go back in there." He took the guitar from the case and started strumming the song he'd been working on learning.
Finn jerked in her grip. "What? Rachel, what are you saying? That I shouldn't even bother telling you how crazy this is making me, seeing you with - with him?" He moved closer to her. "That I shouldn't say how - how amazing you look, and how I've never seen you look like this ever?"
Rachel blushed. "I - I had some help today."
He nodded. "It shows." He ran a hand down her hair. "You'd never wear your hair like this, it's too - I don't know."
She stared at him and gave a small sigh. "Back to criticizing how I look again?"
Finn shook himself. "No! No, that's not what I meant. I told you I can't get anything right with you."
"Maybe that should tell us something," she said quietly. "Maybe we really are too different."
"So you have more in common with Puck?" Finn rolled his eyes. "You want me to believe that?"
Rachel stiffened. "To be quite honest, for someone who was supposedly his best friend, you know shockingly little about him, I think." She searched Finn's face. "I don't know that you ever paid attention to Noah, you just know Puck and who he wants you to see."
Finn shook his head. "I don't even know what that means."
Rachel took a deep breath. "I can tell," she muttered. "And that's part of the problem. I don't know that you and I would ever truly understand each other. Noah and I - somehow we communicate more honestly than...than we do with anyone else."
"You really do want to be with him," Finn said softly. "You like him."
She flinched. " I -I don't - " I don't think I should even be thinking about that today. She sighed. "Finn, he's still Puck. Even if he and I can be our most authentic selves with each other, that doesn't mean he would change his womanizing ways and settle down with me." She paused. Do I want him to? She shook herself. "I'm not under any illusion that tonight means more than just a fun Saturday night for him." She caught her lower lip between her teeth and shrugged. "But it really has been fun, and I - I need some fun. I think - the way that everyone's been looking at me - I've lost myself, somehow, and I don't like it."
"So...if you can be so honest with him, you're not gonna lose yourself." Finn frowned. "Right?"
She nodded. "I think that might be the idea. I don't have to question his intentions, or who he's thinking about." She gave a short laugh. "He's very clear that he's admiring my physical form. But it's clear that it's mine that he's thinking about. That's the part that I just...don't have with you right now. That physical chemistry, and the certainty that it's about you and me, not -"
Finn lunged towards her and kissed her.
Puck sang softly as he picked the melody out on the guitar, glancing at the house.
"You see her when you close your eyes -
Maybe one day you'll understand why,
Everything you touch surely dies..."
Rachel caught her breath and closed her eyes, kissing him back. She put her hands on his shoulders and sighed.
Finn cupped her face gently. "You okay?" He gave her another soft kiss.
She nodded, blinking slowly. "Yes, I - I'm fine." She leaned in for another kiss.
Finn put his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, relax." He smiled at her. "Wanna get back to the party?"
Rachel shook herself. "Wait. What?"
He kissed her again quickly. "You were worried we didn't have chemistry, right? We do." He squeezed her hands. "So, if that was the only thing you were worried about, we should be good." He brushed a thumb across her cheek. "I told you, Rach, I only want to be with you. I don't care about anyone else."
Puck put the guitar back in the case and hopped out of the truck. Better to know now whether I should just get totally wasted…He paused for a second and grabbed the case. But I can be prepared either way.
Rachel shook her head. "Finn, it's - it's not just whether we kiss well." She licked her lips. "Although, it's not irrelevant."
Finn looked at her, brow furrowed. "Should I kiss you again?"
She caught her lower lip between her teeth, considering. "Yes."
Puck settled into a chair in the corner of the deck, his back to the house. He glanced around and took a long pull from the flask. Don't see either of 'em.
Santana snatched Brittany from the conversation she was having with a couple of Cheerios. "Brit. What's that about? Where's Finn Tin Tin?" She nodded towards Puck in the corner.
Mercedes saw Santana's move and joined them. "What's - wait, what?"
Finn leaned in slowly and pressed his lips to hers.
Rachel opened her mouth and shifted closer.
Finn put his hands on her shoulders and pressed his lips against hers more urgently.
Rachel sighed and tangled her hands in his hair.
Puck grabbed a beer and chugged it all, snagging another before reclaiming his seat. He freed the guitar from the case and started strumming.
Mercedes waved Santana and Brittany away and refilled her punch before approaching him. "Whatcha workin' on?"
He shook his head. "Nothin', really. Just been messin' around with something I heard on the radio."
She waved him on. "So? Go on. Lemme see if I recognize it."
Finn gingerly slid his hands from her shoulders to lightly hold her waist.
Rachel sighed, squirming in his hold. I should...I don't feel….
"I don't know if you would." Puck kept strumming but shook his head. "It's not really something I'd usually pick."
Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Try me."
He shrugged, glancing around before starting to sing.
"Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go…"
Rachel cupped the back of Finn's head, struggling to deepen the kiss.
Finn tightened his hands at her waist, urging her slightly away. He tore his lips from hers. "Rachel, you gotta - you gotta slow down, I can't -"
She released him, hurt in her eyes. "Can't or won't, Finn?"
"Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast..."
Rachel searched his face. "You wanted to go all the way with Quinn, that's why you were so mad about Chastity Club, that's why you first even...even looked at me. Wasn't it."
Finn avoided her gaze. "Rachel -"
"Finn, you can tell me the truth." She ducked to meet his eyes. "Wasn't that it? I - I said that even girls wanted to. And you - you liked that I said that, right?"
He nodded, swallowing hard. "I - yeah, I did, Rachel, but -"
"But what?" She shook her head. "But what, Finn. That's the problem, there's the question." She blinked tilting her head. "Do you hear a guitar?"
Finn shrugged. "The window's open. Rachel -"
Rachel sat back and frowned. "Tell me, Finn, finish the sentence. You liked that I said it but…"
Finn rubbed his hands over the back of his head. "But now that...that we're...we're together, I just...I don't know why it's such a rush."
"I'm rushing?" Rachel's jaw dropped. "I'm inviting you to kiss me with...with tongue, Finn, that's not exactly rushing you into bed."
"Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much
And you dived too deep…"
"Right, but...I could kiss you like, like we do, for hours. I'm just - aren't you happy?" Finn shook his head. "I don't understand what's going on."
Rachel stood, crossing to the window. "I don't understand either, Finn, but...something's not feeling the same."
"Are we - are we seriously breaking up because I don't kiss you the way you want me to?" Finn crossed the room and turned her to face him. "Rachel?"
"Finn, it's not that," she sighed. "It's - you were so anxious, so ready for Quinn...and with me it's like you could wait forever."
"Why isn't that a good thing?" Finn shook his head again. "Why doesn't that tell you you're special?"
Because I know what it feels like when someone wants me now. Rachel shook her head. "It doesn't feel like that. It feels like I'm not the one you want."
Finn let her go. "Maybe I'm not the one you want anymore."
"'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go…"
Puck strummed the last chord and let his hand fall away, the minor hum echoing. He turned as the back door opened. "Berry?"
Rachel turned to the sound of his voice. She looked at him, his eyes searching her face. "Maybe he's not," she whispered to herself. She crossed the deck, her heels clicking deliberately.
Puck put the guitar aside and stood, frowning. "Rachel? You okay?"
Rachel shook her head. "No, but I think I know how I can make that happen." She licked her lips, took his face between her hands, and kissed him.
Outfit is here: aeropostale dot com slash product slash index dot jsp?productId=28548576, aeropostale dot com slash product slash index dot jsp?productId=11807051, debshops dot com slash platform-bootie-with-perforated-upper-and-peep-toe slash 1000055408 dot html ?cgid=3315
Song is "Let Her Go" by Passenger.
A.N. I promise the next chapter is in the final edits...and will be completed in proportion to the frequency, number and enthusiasm of your reviews. (Translation: bribe me with your pretty words and I'll provide more of mine soon!)