Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or its characters.
Chapter 7: Eleven
They changed that summer. Not being able to see each other as much made things difficult for the pair. Quinn spent most of her time in her room. Fran was headed off to college, so she was left alone. Her parents seemed to fight more. Or maybe the same amount and she just didn't have Noah around to distract her. She begged her parents to put her into more activities. Gymnastics, Jazz dance (on top of ballet), and of course more cheerleading. She barely even had time to eat. But that was good, she had to stay in tip-top shape anyways. She talked to Noah (she called him Puck, but he would always be Noah to her) every week or two over the phone. Lately, she liked that she didn't see him. Her body was going through some changes that she didn't think he would understand.
Noah was different as well. His voice was changing and he was growing hair in places he didn't think was possible. Once he noticed his voice starting to squeak, he refused to pick up Quinn's phone calls until it went back to normal. But it got deeper. More manly. His mom explained that he wasn't a boy anymore. He was becoming a man. She sent him to Temple more often to start practicing for his Bar Mitzvah. Rabbi Greenburg explained it all to him. What being a man was all about. Puck knew that if he was gonna be a man, he had to look like one. He found some old weights that his dad left behind, and started a lifting schedule. By the time middle school started, he was pretty buff for an eleven year old.
xoPQox
On the first day of 6th grade, everyone seemed to have changed. Some of the girls were wearing make-up and tighter clothes that showed off their 'development', the boys were taller with deeper voices, spiking their hair instead of letting it lay flat. Noah was with Finn in line to sign up for football tryouts. Quinn, who was in the next line over signing up for the Junior Cheerios, spotted him. She hid behind Santana, taking the opportunity to look him over. Having not seen him all summer, she was surprised at how much older he looked. He still had that ridiculous mohawk, he was taller, and she could tell that he had some muscles under the short sleeved shirt he was swearing. Puck looked over at the cheerleading wannabes, noticing a hidden head of sandy blonde hair and a set of ears he would know anywhere.
"Quinn?"
She looked up, pretending to be surprised to see him, "Puck! Oh my god! Good to see you!"
As she moved over to hug him, he noticed that her shirt was more low cut and her skirt was shorter than the last time he saw her. She left a big lip gloss mark on his cheek before pulling away.
"When did you start...wearing make up?" he furrowed his eyebrows as he wiped his cheek.
"Oh, my mom told me I have to look my best for school, so she bought me a bunch of stuff."
He looked her up and down, "Well, you look good."
"You too," she coquettishly ran her hand down his bicep, giggling as his eyes widened, "Well, I've gotta go. I'll see you around. What team are you in?"
"Uhh, team three."
"Me too! Then I guess I'll really see you around."
"Yea," he chuckled awkwardly, "Bye."
She twiddled her fingers at him before going back over to Santana and Brittany.
"He's changed."
"She's changed."
xoPQox
They had three classes together. Four if you counted study hall. English, Science, and Math.
He sat behind her in English; finding it hard to focus on anything but the back of her head.
She sat on the opposite side of the room in math. He still struggled with math after all these years, and now she wasn't even near enough to help him.
They shared a lab table in science. Thankfully Mr. Rand let them pick their own partners. They needed to catch up, so they saw this as an opportunity to reconnect.
By the end of first semester, Quinn and Puck were back to being friends. Not as close as they used to be, but as close as they could get with their limited time together.
xoPQox
After successful football games, the team and cheerleaders would always go out to Coneys to celebrate.
"Puck, can you order for me? I just have to go to the bathroom."
"No problem," he smiled.
"I want a-"
"Go ahead. I got it."
"Oh, o-okay. Thank you!" she pat him on the shoulder before running off.
Puck walked up to the counter, telling the teenaged boy behind the counter what he wanted.
"Will that be all?"
"No, can I also get a medium cup of strawberry ice cream, with hot fudge and rainbow sprinkles?"
"Sure thing, kid. That's $4.95."
Puck went to pay for their orders separately like Quinn wanted, but instead he handed the cashier his five dollar bill, receiving his change and waiting on the side for their ice cream. Quinn came back from the bathroom as soon as their orders were ready.
"Thanks," she took her bowl from him, "Do you have my change?"
"Oh, yea. Here ya go," he handed her the five dollars she had given him.
"This is what I gave you."
"I know," he smirked as they sat in a booth.
"Puck..."
"Don't worry about it."
She smiled warmly and watched him dig into his sundae.
xoPQox
Quinn faints while they're dissecting frogs in science class. After the teacher revived her, Puck offered the bring her to the nurse. She was his partner after all.
He sits out of the way while the nurse takes her temperature and blood pressure. She offers to call her mom, but Quinn insists on staying at school. The nurse instructs her to lie down for a few minutes, just to make sure she's alright. Puck took the opportunity to move his chair over to her bedside, finding her hand with his. She smiled at him, weakly, but it was a smile.
"Thanks, Noah."
"It's P-"
"I know," she chuckled, "Just making sure you didn't forget."
xoPQox
He needs money. Rabbi Greenburg told him that men help out around the house. He could tell that his mom was struggling. She was sad a lot, and had two kids to support on top of it. Luckily, Sara wasn't as high maintenance as she used to be. She was almost five, and becoming quite independent. But he wanted to help. He started mowing lawns and walking dogs. He insisted that his mom take the money.
"Noah, this is very sweet and helpful of you, but it's your money. You earned it."
"At least take half. Please?"
Deborah gave him a weepy smile and a hug, kissing his head.
She put his money in a jar for his college fund.
xoPQox
