A Fools Bet
He bets that he could make her beautiful, his girlfriend and win prom queen all together. He's angry and hurt and this'll show everyone else that he's still the man, Quinn will be jealous and he's going to get extra cash out of it all. It's just a game.. For a while.
4. Let's do it together
Rachel has to spend her entire Saturday babysitting her neighbors twins. She didn't plan it, contrary she had plans with Kurt since the day she saw Noah on the beach. Which still caught her by surprise. Kurt, who after riling her up for once again refusing to go out with Noah Puckerman, changed the subject and thought that it would be nice for both of them to go shopping. At first she tried going around it and even not so subtle tried bringing the subject of Noah Puckerman back inside the conversation (talk about desperate), which sadly only worked for a few minutes before Kurt once again begged her to go shopping with him.
Reluctantly she agreed. And there seemed no way out of it. Until a bright light shown upon her and announced (through) her neighbors who had a business meeting till late evening, an empty spot as a babysitter. They've tried many sitters, perhaps too much to even count from. But when the sitters heard their last names and knew who their childern were, they hung up... On the ear, during the still continuous conversation... Rachel does not blame them from doing so... Her neighbors children aren't particularly the kind of kids you want to spend a Saturday with. Or better yet even want to spend time with. And thus her neighbors on the end of their ropes, came to the one person who they've known for quite some time, the sweet, young (future Broadway star); Rachel Berry.
She was, of course, about to say no. She didn't want to spend her time alone with the devils from hell themselves (they made Santana Lopez look like an pure honest Angel). But when she remembered the day she had planned with Kurt she found herself caught between two fires. Going with Kurt to the mall as he, not so sweetly, plays dress up with her and perhaps even suggest burning down her animal sweaters. Or babysitting the devils and risk getting burned.
She chooses burning.
Kurt was disappointed for halve the time during their phone call, but he accepted her fate and thought that she couldn't really undermine it (she couldn't help but let him think that that was indeed the case, just because that was a better excuse then to tell him that she was scared of what he could do with her sweaters). He suspected that babysitting the twins was far more frustrating. And thus he let it be, wishing her good luck, and even telling her that he's going to put his morals aside and pray for her to come out of this alive.
She thanked him
That's how she finds herself inside the evil twins home, covered in chocolate...
At least, she hopes it's chocolate...
God, please, let it be chocolate.
''Put that down!'' She growls, running behind the boys, her hands exclaimed as claws. ''Don't let me warn you again!'' She stumbles over the cushion they have thrown towards her to create a barrier, causing her to fall over, hard. ''Damnit!'' Look what those boys have done to her... Making her less than the respectable young ingenue her fathers have raised her out to be. ''Junior and Jake, put it down!'' They don't listen of course, and the screaming is not only negative of her voice but also a pain on her vocal chords.
She needs her voice if she wants to guide her teammates past Sectionals.
This will not at all do.
She pushes herself up, blowing the strands of hair of her face and taking the cushion in her hands. She walks up to them seeing the twins (devils) throwing their mothers jeweler case around. ''Catch us if you can!'' They chant, throwing the fragile object in the air. She balls her fists in the cushion and throws it furiously their way, little chocolate (she hopes) droplets leaving her hand and falling somewhere on the floor. Unluckily she misses her targets, and the scowl haunting her face voices her irritation.
''Oh, you can't do that!'' The red haired Junior tauntingly says, sticking his tongue out. ''I will tell mommy and daddy.''
She grows softly under her breath. ''Oh yeah? How will you do that without a tongue!'' She sees the fear crossing their faces and she dares to look back at them with the same scowl at place, fire burning in her eyes. Without thinking thorough the two boys run up the stairs with too much adrenaline for two seven year olds to contain, and scram away.
Rachel is about to follow them, planing a little wrath plan within her mind. Perhaps stuffing their bodies inside the pillows of their rooms, or throwing them somewhere inside the garbage can and taping the lid on top of it. Or oh, oh, she could just make them suffer with various of deadly equipments...
It all sounds so tempting (so good), and she can't wait to set one of those plans in motion. However, a screeching bell rings, shifting it's volume throughout the house and signaling that somebody is at the door.
Without even thinking through her clothing situation, or even so likely pushing the permanently attached frown from her face, she walks (stomps) towards the door. Her hands balled into fists.
(And she may or may not still be thinking about a murderous plan.)
She wipes the chocolate (?) of her face and takes the doorknob in her palm, opening it vigorously. She doesn't try to be the civilized girl she always is, as she yells to the offender a well emotion filled; ''What!"
She didn't expect to see Noah, nor to see him double over as he sees her in all her glory cladded in brown scum. ''W-what are you doing here?'' She asks clearly surprised. She coughs a little, pulling a hand through her sticky brown hair and straightening her posture. Trying again to talk to him, but this time far more determined. ''I mean... What are you doing here?''
He finally stops laughing, pinking away a tear from his eye. She rolls her eyes. ''What the- is-is that chocolate?''
She shrugs. ''I hope so.''
He looks confused for a second, before reaching his hand forward and wiping with his index finger at her cheek. She looks offended (and kinda grossed out) as he licks the tip of his finger. ''Yup, definitely chocolate.''
''Did you just... Taste me?'' He nods, not at all ashamed. ''What if it wasn't chocolate?''
He shrugs. ''I dunno, but you probably would've let me in so I could puke in your neighbors toilet.''
She wants to ask him if he's crazy because this... This just makes him really insane and- but... Wait, wait what? ''Wait, how did you know that I was here in my neighbors house?''
''Kurt told me.''
''Kurt? How... How do you know his name?'' She pulls a hand up in the air. ''Most importantly, why did you even ask?''
''I wanted to hang out with you.'' Without even asking he pushes his self into the house. Offended she closes the door and walks up to him closing the distance between both their bodies as he looks around the house. ''And you could clearly use a little help...'' He stares at the chocolate on the floor and the several of broken glasses scattered around. ''Looks like a struggle took place, before somebody got murdered...''
She mutters an I wish under her breath before shaking her head. ''I still don't understand how you know Kurt.''
He shrugs, finally putting his attention on her. ''I don't... I just, saw you with him, did a couple of calls and got his number.'' He pierces her with his glance. ''He, too, happily told me where you were and I thought maybe you could use some help...'' He shrugs. ''I babysit my sister millions of times.'' He walks away from her, heading to the couch and placing his hands on top of it. ''And by the way, whats up with your friend? He kept asking me what my size underwear was.''
She laughs softly. ''Believe me, you don't want to know.'' He quirks his eyebrows up and she walks up to him but keeps in mind to keep a large amount of space between them. ''I could use some help with babysitting these kids, though. But honestly...'' She crosses her arms over her chest. ''They aren't your typical next door children and they are nothing compared to babysitting a little girl.''
Noah looks offended. ''Hey, my sister can be a pain in the ass too.''
''Yeah well, these children aren't a pain in the ass, they are better yet, fire in the ass.''
He laughs, a grin falling on his face. ''I can see.'' He gives her a once over, liking his lips. ''You know, they are gone now, so let me help you clean that chocolate off, so we can call it a day.'' He starts walking up to her, taking slow yet wide steps towards her.
She's tempted all together to slap him across the face. Or even to tell him off for trying something this stupid. But with inches apart between their bodies she's still standing on the same spot and waits to see his next move. She's like jell-o and he's the spoon, picking her up.
Before he even takes it further, they hear steps on the stairs, and before they know it, they are being attacked by water balloons clattering against their skins. Well, she hopes it's water.
(God... Please let it be water.)
She covers her face instinctively and can hear Noah somewhere before her growl out an incoherent word (probably offensive). She hears the laughter of the twins throughout the air, and Noah manages to growl out something between the lines of; ''I'm going to hurt them.'' Which only makes the balloons hit her skin harder and explode on her head and clothing with a louder pang.
At least she's clean now. Soaked, yes. But clean.
After what feels like millions of balloons blurring her sight and wetting her clothing attire, she hears hard stamps on the stairs and the door closing. Soft inaudible laughter falling past a barrier.
She finally dares to open an eye and look next to her, spotting Noah just as wet, maybe even worse, next to her. Fuming red. ''Told you.''
He castes her a glance back, knitting his eyebrows together. ''This. Means. War!'' He glares dangerously back at her, and she can't help but feel amused. With her right hand she wipes the water droplets of her face. ''Nobody, and I mean, nobody, water balloons me.''
She giggles, and it only makes him look angrier and angrier (somehow this sight only makes her feel far more amused). ''What are you going to do about it, slushy them?'' She mocks. He kinda looks hurt, but soon gets a thoughtful expression on his face. She rolls her eyes. ''We will not slushy seven year old children!'' She shrugs, taking her brown hair between her hands and wringing the water out. Casting a sideways glance up to him. ''I won't get paid if they tell on us.''
He shakes his head. ''It's all about the money, isn't it?''
She nods. ''Yeah... Well... Yes!'' She states logically. Letting go of her hair. ''You really think I would babysit these demonic posed children without earning something out of it?''
''No.'' He laughs softly, staring back at her. ''Yeah, neither would I.'' He looks around slightly, the same thoughtful expression haunting his features. Ensuring Rachel to wonder what is possibly going on in that mind of his. ''We have to make them pay.'' He bows his head, cupping his chin between his index finger and thumb. ''But how...''
She shrugs, wiping her hair over her shoulder and trying to wring out the water from her sweater. ''Maybe we should just let them do whatever they want...'' She does not tell him that she was planning to hurt them, tremendously. Rachel doesn't want him to also think that she's crazy. She get's enough of those name callings at school. ''It may wave off.''
''Nah...'' He shakes his head. ''I won't stand for it any longer. And 'cause I'm helping you, you won't automatically stand for it either.'' He cups his head up, fast, looking past her and staring into nothingness. Causing her to turn her head around and look at what he's looking.
She doesn't see a thing. ''What?''
''That's it!'' He say's, more to himself. ''We fight fire with fire.''
She frowns. ''Like, throw water balloons on them?''
''No, better.'' He gives her a devilish grin. And she can't help the shivers from expanding on her skin, or the worried expression from crossing her face.
''I don't like it.''
''You don't know what I'm about to say.''
''I still don't like it.'' He rolls his eyes, muttering a soft drama queen under his breath. ''I am not!'' She shrugs. ''I just don't want to be put in jail for anything.''
''Who said that it would be juvenile?''
She purses her lips. ''You are Noah Puckerman... It probably is.''
She dislikes this, she dislikes this, she dislikes this wholeheartedly. This is bad, and honestly, it is a bit juvenile. Doing this to children isn't what parents expect babysitters to do to them.
''This is wrong, Noah.''
He quirks an eyebrow up, turning his glance towards his left. ''Did you just call me Noah?'' She nods, looking back at him. ''Nobody calls me Noah, except my mom and sister.''
''Yes, I should have figured that out when I noticed and heard that nobody else on school calls you like that.''
''You should call me Puck.'' He states, turning his head to look at the door from her neighbors bedroom.
''I won't.''
''You should.''
''I'm not going to do that.''
He sighs, feeling agitated. ''I don't want you to call me like that.''
''Well,'' she straightens her back, holding the rope tightly between her hands. ''Deal with it.''
Confused, yet impressed he cups his head back to hers, raising an eyebrow. ''Let's just do this, okay?'' She states, sighing along the way. ''And I will have you know, if they tell on us, and the police comes and picks me up, ensuring to break all my future star dreams. I will, pull you down with me.'' She glares up at him, pursing her lips. Never has she looked more serious. ''I will.''
He grins back at her, confusing diminishing and impression increasing. ''That's kinda hot.'' She rolls his eyes, and he maneuvers his body to the door before them. ''I'll count to three, and then we're going to bust that door open.''
''Wait, wait!'' He looks down at her.
''What?''
''It is their parents bedroom, what if it breaks and we get the fault... No, not you, you won't get any faults... They don't know about you... Thus that automatically means that I will get the fault! I can't have that.''
He sighs. ''Remember the plan.''
She thinks slowly, nodding hesitated. ''Okay.''
''On three.''
''Wait wait.'' She says again, earning just an harder sigh from his lips.
''What now?''
''Is it on three, or are you going to say, three and then go?''
''What does it matter?''
''Well,'' she looks up at him, biting her lips (she notices his eyes falling down to her lips, but she doesn't say anything about it. She could be wrong). ''What if I react later than planned and they get a chance to escape?''
''They won't.''
''They could...''
He cracks his neck, sighing. ''On three.'' She nods triumphantly, and waits for the start sign.
''One...'' She bends forward slightly. ''...Two.'' He touches the doorknob, breathing in. ''Three!'' He turns the doorknob around and pushes his body against the door. Feeling no motion at all come forward. ''Okay... What the hell?''
She rolls her eyes. ''They've probably closed the door from the inside out.'' He nods understandingly.
''Then lets switch to plan B.''
''Plan B?'' He doesn't answer, instead takes a fair amount of space between him and the door before kicking it with much force open. Earning the door to fly widely and hit the wall with a loud bang. The childern sitting on the bed turn their heads to the offenders, clearly shocked of what has just been done.
They aren't the only ones. ''Oh my God, or you out of your mind?''
''Kinda,'' he looks back at her, shrugging. ''Get use to it.'' He turns back to the twins on the bed, and without sticking to the plan as in, counting to three, he runs up to them. ''Berry, kinda need your help here.'' The twins see the rope in her hands and know exactly what they are about to do. Feeling smart they try to out master Noah and run around him.
He runs after Junior (yes she can separate them apart, the shirts are different), successfully grabbing him along the waist. Rachel, seeing this as an opening goes for Jake, but the little boy is fast and runs right past her. Thinking quickly she runs just as fast and manages with inches apart to close the door and stand before him. Looking back at his thunderstruck eyes.
(And... Does she suspect a bit defiance shifting through them?)
She grabs Jake around the arm, feeling him struggle against her and call her not so nicely names, as Noah seems to hold Junior up just ease fully. He consciously flexes his biceps when he catches her staring, sending a smirk her way. Rachel rolls her eyes and puts Jake up on the bed, pinning him down and grabbing the rope tightly between her hands.
''This is so wrong.'' She pipes up, swallowing softly.
Noah nods slightly, viciously throwing the foul mouthed Junior on the bed, before looking back at her. ''Yeah...'' She sends a confused expression his way, never expecting him to agree with her. Of course that doesn't last too long. ''It should be me you're pinning on the bed.''
''We will tell our parents!'' Jake say's, struggling to get lose from the rope. His feet are crossed and his back is against his brother's. ''This is not fair!''
Noah sighs. ''You stupid fucks aren't fair.''
''Noah!'' She leans against the wall, looking back at the taller boy before the bed. ''They are children you shouldn't be talking to them like that.''
''Fuck off.'' Junior say's, rolling his eyes.
She gasps audible. ''Yeah, you are right, they know enough words themselves.'' He sends her a smirk. Walking to Junior and grabbing the boy around the collar. ''Now apologize idiot, or I'll make sure your parents find out that you've broken their mirror.'' He points at the large mirror in the parental room, the glass standing right next to her body.
Junior looks confused. ''It's not broken.''
''It will be.'' Noah turns his head towards her, motioning for her to grab something, anything. Thinking back at the plan she obeys and looks underneath the king sized bed, looking for a base bat or a stick, or anything that could be used for muggers. She reaches her hand forward and manages to touch something smooth yet hard. She takes it out from underneath the bed and pushes herself up. Grasping the baseball bat between her hands and walking up to the mirror. ''You see that?''
The twins nod, still confused. ''If you guys, don't listen and keep quite for the rest of the day, we're going to break that glass and pin the blame on you.''
Jake laughs, toughly yet scared. ''Our parents won't believe you.''
''Oh yes they will, won't they Berry?''
Rachel nods. ''Many, and I say, many, babysitters know just how awful you guys can be... If we call one of them up, and let them explain the things you guys have done, your parents will be bound to believe us.''
''And you guys will be in a whole lot of trouble.''
Jake raises his eyebrows as Junior shakes his head. ''They won't do anything.''
''You think? I doubt it... Especially when something so big and beautiful gets broken...'' Noah moves his head towards the mirror. She smiles, viciously. ''Break it Berry.''
Okay, that was not part of the plan. ''Uhm... What?''
''Break it.'' He lets go of Juniors collar and puts his full attention on Rachel. ''We need them to fear us, remember?''
''But we wouldn't break it, we would only frighten them.''
''Aha!'' Jake screams, trying to look at them. But the way they've bounded the two together he fails to even turn around. ''You guys are only trying to scare us into being nice... It won't work.''
Noah, clearly angry, walks up to her and takes the base bat from her hands. ''Step aside Rachel, this is clearly a matter for a man.''
''You are right.'' She fakes a smile. ''I wonder when one will come around.''
He clenches his jaw and narrows his eyes. But somehow she suspects a little smile twitching up. ''Touché.''
She rolls her eyes and walks away stepping towards the twins on the bed and falling on top of it. Without counting down (he doesn't ever hold to the plan) Noah takes one swift hit on the mirror and breaks the whole thing. The glass shards scattering around the floor. She can't help the shock from crossing her face, or her mouth to fall open.
He really did it. He really, really did it... Does he want her to get charge for ruination? ''Are you crazy!'' She shrieks standing up, unknown from the same shocked looks plastered on the twins faces. Noah heads up to her grasping her wrist and pulling her close to him. Her breath catches in her throat and his fingers dig into her skin, not painfully, but a bit... Tensive. ''We need to stay in control, Rachel. We need them to fear us.'' He looks over her shoulder watching if the twins aren't overhearing their conversation.
''Thus, this is what you did to your sister?''
He nods. ''Yeah, and it always, always worked.''
''That's monstrous.''
''That's me.''
She should've suspected that he was a monster. She pulls her wrist from his hands (somehow missing the contact of his fingers) and walks up to the twins. She sighs for a moment, and plasters the best fake smile she can muster on her face. Her acting skills falling across her words and movement. ''So, there you have it. Obey, or be betrayed.''
They gasp, eyes wide. They seem to reflect about it, but soon both of them nod. Giving up.
''See, easy.'' Noah say's, walking up to her and putting an arm around her shoulders. ''They got what they deserved.''
She kinda feels bad, sick, angry, proud, and annoyed altogether.
Tiredly she falls on the couch placing her head in her hands, and moaning softly. She feels the couch dip in next to her and knows that Noah has seated his self near her body. She pulls her hands through her hair and looks up at him. Knowing that this has to be said, right now and here.
''I should probably thank you.''
He shrugs, like it's no big deal. ''Nah, you shouldn't. But if you want to, I have some ways...''
She shakes her head. ''You can forget about that.'' He sighs, shrugging.
''At least I tried.''
She bites back a grin. ''Seriously though, I should repay you back... And no, it won't be any sexual favors.''
He seems to think about something, pursing his lips. Before voicing his mind. ''Go out with me.''
She can't believe he's still on with that. ''I needed time, remember?''
''Yeah well, that was like two days ago.'' He shrugs. ''That was time.''
''Okay, and what if I said you weren't my type.''
He seems shocked and puzzled, before responding a bit surprised. ''I'm every bodies type... Heck, I'm even some dudes type.''
She mutters a soft, 'I know' and quickly shakes her head. ''Not mine, I guess.'' She feels the words sting in her throat and leave something bitter on her tongue. ''You're too crass.''
He sighs. Pursing his lips, in a 'I-can't-believe-I'm-doing-this' kind of way. ''If I'm not your 'type'.'' He uses the air quotes. ''Than what is your type.''
''Everything your not.''
''Yeah okay... That's helpful.'' He sighs. ''Seriously what is your type.''
She leans further in the couch and seems to think of it, she wants a boy who's kinda bad, but has a good side underneath him. Someone with much potential even if he doesn't know it himself. A leading man with a sweet smile and who can make her laugh. She needs somebody who doesn't want to change her and loves her for who she is... But doesn't every other girl want the same? She thinks through it and figures soon that the words kinda fit Noah in some way.
That's why she shrugs. ''I don't know...'' Veining ignorance. ''Why do you even want to go out with me?'' It's the first time she really asks him this, and she expects a honest answer to leave his lips.
''Your kinda cool.''
It doesn't sound as a lie. ''You don't know me.''
''Yet, I want to.'' She bites her lip, and again she feels his stare fall on them. ''I know your Jewish.'' She rolls her eyes. Of course he does, she sees him temple and if that doesn't give it away, her nose will. ''I know you love singing-''
She gets a little idea. ''Do you like singing?''
''I don't sing.''
She's kinda let down at that, but doesn't give up. ''If you join Glee club and manage to get a few more teammates to join, I'll go out with you.''
He laughs, out loud, shaking his head. He even looks up the stairs to see if Junior or Jake are coming down. As though he doesn't want them or anybody else to know that she's just mentioned Glee club to his face. ''Are you shitting me?''
She rolls her eyes. ''No, I am not.'' She bites her bottom lip, letting her tongue slide over it. ''We need more members, and if you join maybe other students will.''
''I won't join.''
''Then I won't go out with you.''
''That's unfair.''
''That's life.''
''That doesn't make sense!'' He crosses his arms, leaning back against the couch. ''How the fuck will I do this?'' He mutters more to himself. ''It's wrong.''
She shrugs. ''I guess you don't want to go out with me that much.''
He castes a sideways glance her way, shaking his head, before sighing. ''Damnit... Fine... I-I'll see what I can do.''
She can't help the smile from crossing her face or her eyes to light up as though she's captured the sun and inserted them within her eyes. He looks at her, longingly and fascinated, an unreadable expression falling on his face. ''Good.''
He gives her the same glance during the entire time they're babysitting.
I don't own Glee.
TBC