Author's note: I am SO sorry for the delay on this chapter. I promise the next one will be up much sooner!
Mike absolutely hates lying to people; he always feels so guilty afterwards that he generally tries to avoid doing it all. But when Matt approached him yesterday and told him that Puck and Rachel weren't speaking, Mike figured that there wasn't much harm in telling a little lie if it would help his friends work out their problems. So he'd told Puck that he had to take his grandmother to the doctor, and asked him to take Rachel home, then called Rachel to tell her about the change of plans.
At night, however, Mike kept having the same dream over and over again: Rachel was standing on his doorstep, wearing the yellow dress from the mashup competition, only it was all tattered and worn. She kept wailing that if he had just helped her with her dance recital piece, she could have been a star.
And so, Mike is now sitting in his car in front of Rachel's house, waiting for her to come out. He'd called her this morning to see if she wanted to work on her dance, but she told him she had to work on her group English project. It sounded like fun – they were going to film Jane Eyre as a horror movie – and since he didn't have any plans today anyway, he'd volunteered to help out.
Also, he really wants to meet this Jason guy, who (according to Matt) has Puck raging with jealousy. See, here's the thing: Mike knows Puck likes Rachel. It's pretty obvious, really, to anyone who knows him well. But since Puck isn't exactly the type to talk about his feelings, Mike pretends not to notice, although he isn't above flirting with Rachel when Puck's around (it's pretty damn funny to watch him act like he doesn't care and then fume silently). Still, Puck is definitely his boy, and if Jason is seriously a threat to Puckleberry happiness, Mike will totally shut that shit down.
As Rachel walks down the driveway, Mike notices that her step is lacking its usual bounce and energy, and he immediately feels ten times guiltier. He's never telling a lie again.
He steps out of the car, takes her duffel bag, and gives her a quick hug. "Is everything okay? You seem a little down," he comments as he sticks her bag in the back seat.
Rachel sighs. "Well, I just received some rather upsetting news. I'll tell you about it on the way to Artie's house."
Nodding, Mike turns on the ignition and pulls onto the road as Rachel explains how Jesse had tricked her into meeting him after school yesterday, and that he'd left a letter on her doorstep telling her that he'd first approached her because her mother had asked him to get to know her.
Mike lets out a low whistle. "Wow. So, what happens now?"
"Nothing, really, which is why I'm upset," Rachel says with a frown. "Daddy called the lawyer's office this morning, and found out that he'll be out of town until the end of the month, so I won't be able to get my mother's contact information until then. I really don't want to speak to Jesse again, but he said he could get in touch with her." She lets out a frustrated breath, blowing her hair off her forehead. "If I'd just listened to what he had to say, I could be speaking to my mother right now!"
"Nah, don't give that jackass the satisfaction," Mike says, shaking his head. "We'll just have to keep you busy for the next two weeks. Anyway, with Regionals and your recital coming up, that shouldn't be too hard to do."
The corner of Rachel's mouth turns up. "I suppose you're right. That's what Noah said as well."
"Speaking of Puck, is everything okay with you guys? I haven't really seen the two of you together much this week." When she doesn't answer right away, he glances over and sees that she is blushing. "Rach?"
She hesitates. "If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone?"
"Uh –" Not even Matt, he wonders, although he's a little embarrassed to say it out loud.
"You can tell Matt," she adds.
Relieved, Mike nods. "Oh, good. He can always tell when I'm hiding something. Yeah, of course I promise."
Rachel glances around as if to make sure no one can overhear. "Yes, it's true we haven't been together much since I've been back to school. That's because I've been avoiding him." She takes a deep breath and practically whispers, "I think I have a crush on Puck and I thought if I stayed away from him it would go away but it hasn't and now I don't know what to do." She collapses back into her seat dramatically, as if a huge burden has been lifted from her shoulders.
Mike unsuccessfully tries to hide his grin. Luckily, Rachel is still staring up at the car roof and doesn't notice. He finds her melodramatic tendencies to be completely hilarious. However, since she obviously seems upset, some delicacy is in order, so he forces his face into a neutral expression and says gently, "Okay. But why would you want it go away?"
"I just…I don't want to be that girl again, pining after the guy that wants someone else." She laughs mirthlessly. "Funny, isn't it? It seems I'm destined to always be Quinn Fabray's understudy."
Mike is thoroughly confused. He knows Puck has feelings for Rachel, so he has no idea why she thinks he wants Quinn. "I don't understand. Puck and Quinn are just friends. Yeah, they're having a kid, but there isn't anything romantic between them, not anymore anyway."
Rachel shakes her head sadly. "I wish that were true, but I've seen the way he looks at her. Like on Monday, after school – I was with Quinn and Jason, talking about our English project, and I saw Noah staring at them from the parking lot. That's when I decided that it was hopeless and that I needed to get over him." She smiles wryly. "And anyway, didn't you tell me not to date any more of the guys in Glee?"
Mike rolls his eyes. "I was mostly kidding about that. If you really have feelings for Puck, then you should tell him. Actually, I'm kind of surprised that you haven't already – it's pretty unlike you to not go after what you want."
They've arrived at Artie's house. Mike pulls up to the curb and turns off the engine, but he makes no move to get out of the car, waiting for her reply.
Rachel just shakes her head. "Perhaps it is. But I scared away both Finn and Jesse by being myself, I couldn't bear it if I lost Noah as well. And if I told him that I like him, I would. It would completely ruin our friendship. It would be so difficult to be around him, knowing that he doesn't feel the same way about me. I mean, of course, I'm a professional, and I would never let my personal life affect my performance in Glee –"
"But, Rach," Mike interrupts, "you can't know for sure how he feels about you unless you talk to him."
"But why bother?" Rachel's smile is sad. "I'm well aware that I'm nothing like the type of girl that he wants. I might as well spare myself the pain of actually hearing him say it out loud. "
Her voice has a ring of finality to it, and although Mike still wants to argue, he can see that he won't be able to change her mind, at least not today. He is certain that she's wrong, but he just doesn't know how to prove it to her.
Mike is having a blast helping Rachel and her group film their English project. He even got to play the minor role of Mr. Mason, who gets mauled by Bertha (played by Tina) and then breaks up the wedding of Jane (Rachel, naturally) and Rochester (Jason). He thinks Puck would appreciate that last part, even if it was fake (and Jane and Rochester get together at the end anyway). And Jason seems like a nice guy – it only took Mike about five minutes to realize that Puck is a blind idiot for being jealous since Jason is clearly in love with Quinn.
Late in the afternoon, Mike stands on Artie's porch with the group, discussing the big finale for the film. Rochester and Bertha are supposed to struggle on the (fake) roof before Tina leaps off of it, but after a few takes, Artie isn't happy with the footage.
"It just doesn't look convincing," he states with a frown.
Mike looks at the prop roof Jason had built, and then up at the real roof. "Well, what if we filmed on the actual roof instead?"
"We could do that," Jason says thoughtfully. "I'm sure Rachel could film us with the camera, Artie, if you explain to her what angles and shots you want."
"But I can't just jump off the roof," Tina protests.
"You could," Mike says, "if you had something to land on. Or in. Like, say, the bed of a lifted truck."
Rachel catches on, and shakes her head. "Oh, no, I'm sure he's much too busy to let us use his truck –"
"Nah, I'm sure he'd be happy to help you…guys. Uh, all of you guys," Mike adds lamely.
"Who?" Quinn demands from her seat on the porch swing (due to her pregnancy, most of her contributions to the project were behind the camera, although she did play Blanche Ingram).
"Puck," Mike answers. "His truck would be perfect. It's lifted high enough that the jump from the roof wouldn't be too bad, and we can put couch cushions or something in the truck bed to soften the impact. Puck and I could stand there too, and help catch Tina."
Tina nods enthusiastically and squeezes his arm. "I think that could work! That's a great idea, Mike!"
Huh. Mike has never noticed what a pretty smile Tina has.
Artie's voice cuts into his reverie. "Great, so do you think you can call him?"
Mike nods and phones Puck, who says he'll be there in half an hour.
"Tell him to bring Pringles!" Quinn calls. "Cheddar – no, sour cream and onion!"
Mike passes along the message, then turns away from the group and lowers his voice. "See you in a few. And dude, you should see that Jason guy, he's all over Rachel." He hangs up with a grin.
Puck's at Artie's house in ten minutes flat.
He hands two cans of Pringles to Quinn (he brought both flavors, just in case), and nods a greeting at the rest of the group. Mike notices the slight glare he gives Jason, and the way Rachel blushes slightly when he smiles at her.
Artie tells Puck to back his truck into the driveway, and they fill the bed with couch cushions and pillows. Filming the fight on the roof goes off without a hitch, although Mike is pretty sure Tina flubbed her lines on purpose at least twice just so that she could jump off the roof a few extra times.
"Dude," Puck comments as Rachel and Jason climb down from the roof, "if I got to jump off a roof for a class project, I totally would've gone to English more often."
"Thanks for your help," Artie says. "We only have a couple of scenes left, and then we're all done! Well, except for the editing, adding the special effects, and the music, of course. So, really, we still have a whole crapload to do."
"Okay. Anything I can do to help?" Puck asks.
"Actually, I am getting kind of hungry," Quinn says as she polishes off a can of Pringles. "Would you mind picking up a few pizzas? It'll be on me, Jason, and Rachel, of course, to thank you guys for all your help."
"I'll go with you," Mike volunteers.
The group decides on toppings, and Mike calls in the order as he gets into Puck's truck.
"Oh, I forgot, how your grandma?" Puck asks as he pulls out on to the main road.
"Huh?" Oh, right. "She's fine, thanks. How was the ride home with Rachel?"
Puck scowls. "Did she tell you what that asshole Jesse did?" Mike nods. "Yeah, well, I'm just glad I was there, she was really upset. I ended up staying until her dads came home."
"Really?" Mike is surprised. Puck isn't really a meet-the-parents kind of guy.
"Yeah, it was kind of an accident. I fell asleep, and then when I tried to sneak out, I ran into her dad at the front door, and then her other dad threatened to get his shotgun. I've never been so scared in my life."
Mike raises an eyebrow. "Fell asleep, huh?" Rachel certainly hadn't mentioned that.
Puck glares at him. "Not like that, dude."
"Then why were you sneaking out?"
"I don't know, instinct?" Puck shrugs. "Anyway, they ended up being pretty cool. After Rachel woke up and explained everything, they invited me to stay for dinner. Chinese takeout."
"Mandarin Garden?"
"No, Imperial Palace."
"Ooh, nice," Mike says approvingly.
Puck parks in front of the pizza place and the two of them go inside. The pizzas won't be ready for another couple of minutes, so they sit on a bench to wait.
"So, Rachel's dads liked you, huh?" Mike asks, glancing at Puck.
"Yeah, I guess," Puck shrugs. "Once her daddy realized that I hadn't just defiled his little girl, he was a lot nicer. Guy's kinda terrifying for someone I could probably bench press."
"But you want to, right? Defile his little girl, I mean," Mike clarifies.
Puck looks genuinely pissed. "What the hell? No, it's not like that." He hesitates. "I – I think I really like her. And if you tell anyone I said that, I will kick your ass," he adds with a scowl.
Mike grins. "I knew it! I just wanted to hear you say it. So you don't have feelings for Quinn?"
"No, of course not. I mean, we're friends and all, and I'm gonna be there for her and my kid, but that's it."
"That's what I told Rachel, but she seems to think you're in love with Quinn."
"Dude, why are you and Rachel talking about me?" He pauses. "Well, what did she say?"
Mike chooses his words carefully, trying to keep Rachel's secret without outright lying to Puck. "I asked her why she was avoiding you. She said she saw you watching Quinn the other day, and that she didn't want to get in the way."
Puck looks confused. "She saw me watching Quinn? When?"
"Monday, I think. She said she was sitting with Jason and Quinn, and she saw you staring from across the parking lot."
Pucks thinks for a second before his face clears. "Dude. I wasn't watching Quinn, I was watching her. She was talking to Jason for a while before Quinn joined them. I didn't know they were working on a project together, and I thought…" He shakes his head with a laugh. "Seriously, only Rachel would catch someone staring at her and think he was staring at someone else. She's got some issues."
Mike nods. "I know. It's like, when she's singing, she's got all the confidence in the world, but as soon as she's off stage, it just disappears. I've been trying to work on that with her."
Puck stares at him for a beat. "You know, you're a really good friend."
Mike shrugs modestly. "Well, I should probably tell you, as her good friend, that I will personally break both of your legs if you hurt her."
"I'll try not to," Puck says, shaking his head. "So what do I do now? Santana said I need to 'stake my claim,' but how am I supposed to do that?"
Mike cracks up. "You went to Santana for romance advice? Dude, that's like asking a shark how to ride a bike."
"Shut up," Puck says, shoving him. "I didn't ask for advice, she just kind of gave it to me."
"She does have a point though," Mike concedes. "Rachel's awesome, and the more she comes out of her shell, the more people will notice – the more other guys will notice."
"And again, I ask, what do I do now?"
"Well, just tell her how you feel. I'm sure the two of you will figure it out."
"Huh. Really, that's all I have to do?"
"Seriously? Haven't you ever told a girl that you liked her?"
"No," Puck says with a shrug.
Mike sniffles and pretends to wipe a tear from his eye. "Aw, my little boy's growing up!"
"Fuck off," Pucks says, punching his shoulder.
The two of them swat at each other playfully until the pizza guy calls them over to let them know their order is ready. Back at Artie's house, the group finishes filming just as Puck pulls up to the curb.
"And that's a wrap! Perfect timing, guys!" Artie says, grinning at Puck and Mike.
The group settles in the kitchen to start eating. Rachel jumps up from her seat suddenly and dashes into the living room, returning with a plastic container that she sets on to the table. "I almost forgot! I baked these for us this morning."
Mike snatches a sugar cookie out of the container and lets out a moan after the first bite. "Rachel," he says seriously, "I love you. Will you marry me?"
Rachel giggles. "Why, Mike! This is all so sudden, my parents would never approve!"
Mike yelps as he feels a sharp kick to his shin. "Dude," he says to Puck, who is sitting across from him. "Did you just kick me?"
"Sorry, my foot slipped," he answers with a glare, completely unapologetically.
Mike rolls his eyes and rubs his shin. Note to self, he thinks ruefully, no more flirting with Rachel in front of Puck now that he's admitted he likes her. A brilliant idea suddenly pops into his head. He makes a show out of looking at the clock on the wall and stands up. "Oh my gosh, I completely forgot! I'm supposed to have dinner with my family tonight, for, uh, Chinese New Year."
Tina looks confused. "But Chinese New Year was months ago –"
"I know," Mike interrupts her hastily, "but we haven't able to celebrate until now. Dad's been busy at work. So, Puck, would you mind taking Rachel home? I mean, if it's okay with you, Rach."
She gives him a suspicious look, but nods her head.
Puck shrugs nonchalantly. "Sure, no problem."
Mike promises to call Rachel in the morning so that they can work on her dance recital piece, and heads out to his car. Halfway home, he remembers that his parents took his grandmother to visit some friends in Columbus, and wouldn't be back until late that night.
Dammit, he should have had more pizza.
Oh well, he thinks as he boils water for his instant noodles, it was worth it. At least I'll sleep like a baby tonight.
And he does.