Chapter 9

Rachel kept humming the little girls song from Moneyball, Puck shook his head in amazement. Any other girl it would irritate the hell out of him but Rachel he found adorable. Dinner at Breadstix had been pretty cool, they'd had a few things that were vegetarian so Rachel could eat them and he hadn't even bothered to try and get them wine the way he might have last year.

He stretched his arm out and wrapped it around Rachel's shoulders, sliding closer to her on the couch. Her dads had laughed when they'd come in a little after six and said they had a dinner date. Apparently Sam was out with some of the guys at a party.

"Noah are you certain you don't want to go to the party with the rest of the football team?" Rachel looked up at him curiously, "I've had a lovely time but I'll understand if you want to hang out with your friends."

"You're my friend Rae, you an' Artie and Britt along with Mike an' Sam," Puck told her letting his hand play with the silky strands of her hair. "Artie don't do parties much 'cause it's hard for him to navigate in his chair. Britt goes and gets bored 'cause everybody makes less sense when they're drunk. Mike'll go but his dad is strict so he has to be home by ten and he can't drink so we end up talkin' half the night 'cause I don't drink more'n a beer anymore." He shrugged and lifted her into his lap, amazed at how light she was, "Rather stay with you angel, hanging out with you an' watchin' goofy reruns is more fun than some stupid party." He frowned, "Did you want to go Rae? Never thought a that, if you wanna go we can."

"I think I'll pass," Rachel shook her head and leaned against his chest, nestling her head against his shoulder so her lips could touch his neck. Puck legit felt his pulse triple time when she did that. "I don't care for parties too much these days," She admitted. "What I remember the most is noise and drinking and a lot of people I didn't know very well. I don't think I'd handle a similar situation well until we've been going out a while longer and I'm sure no one would manhandle me."

Puck nodded and bent his head down to rub his cheek over her hair, he was totally not acting like a badass at the moment and he couldn't care less, "I totally get that baby." He said quietly, "Sometimes we have Glee get-togethers and those are usually quieter, and fairly fun. Maybe we can go to one a those."

"I'd like that," Rachel lifted her head to smile up at him. "May I ask you something?"

Puck chuckled, "Rae, you're sittin' in my lap. You can pretty much ask me anything." He tugged at her curls teasingly. "Whadda ya wanna know?"

"You said something earlier about needing to get used to how I made you feel," Rachel said quietly. "That you had no control; I didn't quite understand it at the time." Her eyes were huge and dark and trusting as she looked up at him.

"Not so sure I understand it myself Rae," Puck shifted a little bit, slouching comfortably. Rachel giggled at him and put a throw pillow against the arm of the couch before rearranging his position so he was reclining full length on the couch, his feet dangling off the cushion diagonally. When he was arranged to her liking, Rachel carefully lowered herself down onto him so her legs were tangled with his and she was lying half on his chest. "Damn Rae, if we end up like this you feel free to move me around anytime," Puck chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "This conversation we're havin' or startin' to have…can you gimme a coupla weeks on it? I just don't have a handle on it myself…ain't sure I can explain it too good. Nothing bad though."

"Noah surely you've noticed that I tend to talk a lot?" Rachel's mouth quirked up at him and he couldn't help grinning. "If you're not ready to talk about something I certainly don't blame you. I'm a little surprised at how much I've told you these past couple of weeks. I don't usually share so much with people I've just met. But I told your Coach about that party and I've told you and I've…" She sighed a little and Puck cuddled her closer, warmth seeping through his body at the feel of her relaxed against him. "You're just so unexpected Noah, sometimes I really think I'm delusional because you can't be real."

Puck looked down at her and shook his head, "Rae, you're nuts." He told her flatly, "I'm the one should be looking around to see who's gonna come take you away. I'm nothin' Rachel. I'm a screw up, and it's pretty much common knowledge that if I get out of Lima it'll be 'cause I been sent to a federal prison." He slid one hand up to stroke her hair, "Angel, you're…well you're the most perfect girl I've ever met and that you'll give me a chance just makes you too good for me. I'm grateful you talk to me. Hell I ain't ever talked about my dad with anyone. Nobody knows what he used to do. Nobody gets why I got issues with anger, they just think I'm no good."

"Well I'm glad you're in my life. And if you decided tomorrow that we're better off as friends I'd fight you on it tooth and nail," Rachel retorted. "I'm grateful to have you Noah. I wasn't joking when I said you were my best friend." Puck was going to argue with her when she pressed her lips to his fiercely, her mouth hot and hungry against his.

He wasn't about to argue with her when she was kissing him like this, her lips nibbling at his, demanding his participation, her hands sliding over his chest and shoulders, gripping him possessively. He'd never felt anything better in his life than the feel of Rachel's slender little hands stroking and petting and hanging onto his shoulders as if she was dizzy when he acceded to her demands and began to kiss her back. She was still wearing her jeans and one of his hands slid down to her ass and squeezed, pressing her pelvis to his slightly. Puck nearly groaned his appreciation, Rae had a great ass and he'd spent all their walking time today admiring it in her jeans.

She moaned slightly, shifting her hips against his and Puck almost cursed at the feel of her soft lower body pressed to his. They'd managed to situate themselves in a very tantalizing position, the apex of her thighs pressing down against his straining cock and every either of them moved the result was a burst of frustrating pleasure. Rachel's breasts were pressed down against his chest, soft pressure that teased him with the need to touch her flesh but if he did, he'd need to move his hand away from her ass and he was not giving that up. He groaned into Rachel's mouth as she shifted again, feeling her shudder with sensation, and pressed her body closer to his.

"Noah," Rachel's voice was a throaty murmur that seemed to go straight to his cock. Puck took a half a second to appreciate that everything his girl did seemed to go straight to his cock and tried to give her his attention. "Noah," Her voice repeated and Puck opened his eyes and tried to focus.

"Yeah Rae," He took a deep breath and felt her breasts pressing down on him, her entire body rubbing against his and nearly lost his concentration again. "Damn angel, you're so fuckin' hot." He took his hand off her hair and stroked a thumb over her cheek. "An' fuckin' beautiful to boot," Puck shook his head in amazement. She smiled, her lips swollen from kissing and Puck tried to listen to what she was saying, "I'm sorry baby," He groaned. "My blood ain't in my brain at the moment. Small words…an' talk slow please?" He shuddered as she shifted her hips over his and groaned.

"I like your hand on my ass," Rachel spoke slowly. "I want it inside my jeans please, over my panties though," She added the qualifier after a pause, maybe so she could be certain he'd understand. "Or else I want your hand under my shirt on my back… I…I want your hands on my skin Noah."

"God you're awesome baby," Puck couldn't help the grin that spread over his face as he found her waistband and slid his hand between her jeans, finding the seam of her panties with his fingers. "You got the best ass angel," He peered over her shoulder and gave her butt a little squeeze. "Love how it looks too. Is there any part a you ain't quality?"

"My feet," Rachel told him in a wry voice. When Puck looked at her in confusion she just smiled and kissed him again. Puck had other ideas for his mouth though, pulling her up so her pelvis wasn't situated directly against his cock, which set her head slightly above his and his mouth at the soft skin of her neck and collarbone.

"Gonna taste you some Rae," He muttered glad he'd shaved after the game instead of before. "Such pretty skin." Puck let his lips glide over her jaw and down her neck, her skin was so soft, he felt her tremble everywhere his mouth touched. When he reached the pulse in her neck he could feel it beating wildly under his lips and groaned as her hands slid up to his shoulders and neck, clutching at him desperately. "God you're beautiful Rachel," He groaned as he licked and nibbled at the sensitive spot, feeling his heart pound along with the blood in her neck. She moaned and Puck couldn't help shuddering as her body writhed against him, every shift of her body like lightening to his dick.

His skin felt like it was on fire everywhere she touched, even her hands through his shirt felt like brands, as if Rachel was marking him as hers irrevocably. Her collarbone was sweet under his lips, she'd dabbed jasmine perfume on the hollow of her throat and the scent was heady. Puck groaned as he nuzzled the neckline of her shirt, the scooped neck showed off a lot of her flesh but only a hint of cleavage and he was so tempted by that little valley. His lips brushed over the uppermost swell of her breast and Rachel moaned his name low in her throat. Puck shuddered and found another tender spot, slightly lower and was rewarded with another moan. Rachel was trembling in his arms, breathing hard, and he wasn't sure how much further he should press. "Baby, you all right?" He murmured the words against her skin, not sure he was able to relinquish that soft spot beginning the curve of her breast. "Ain't scarin' you am I?"

"It just feels…so good," Rachel sounded bewildered and aroused and Puck groaned and moved his mouth to the opposite side of her chest to give that neglected flesh the same treatment. Her breath caught in her throat and Puck groaned again as her fingers tightened convulsively on the ends of his mohawk. "Please Noah," She begged. "Please."

Puck slid his hand from her hair and neck and up under her shirt, stroking the skin over her spine, "'S'all right angel," He pressed a gentle kiss further up her chest, leaving her breasts alone for now, "I gotcha Rae."

"Hmm…" Rachel sighed and looked down at him, her skin flushed with need, "You're stopping aren't you?" Her voice was resigned without sounding too accusing and Puck shrugged slightly.

"I only got so much self-control," He admitted. "An' I don't wanna push you too far. I know I can make you want me Rae," Puck knew that sounded a little too self-assured but she'd been moaning his name and begging him not five minutes earlier and it was the truth. "But…to sound really crass, getting my hands or mouth on your tits won't be much fun if you're too embarrassed or upset to talk to me for the rest of the year." He shrugged, "I got skills. Earned 'em, but I like to think I got enough control to not use 'em when it's just me seducin' you, not you bein' ready on your own." He slid his hand out from under her jeans and patted her ass fondly. "Love touchin' you Rae. Wanna keep doin' it. But you've only known me for two weeks."

"And I haven't been kissed since I was fourteen…so two years," Rachel sighed. "I really am going from zero to sixty here aren't i?"

"Well you are drivin' a fuckin' Porsche," Puck grinned up at her.

"Are you referring to yourself or to me?" One of Rachel's eyebrows slid upwards incredulously and Puck chuckled.

"You're the Porsche angel, sleek and tiny and hot," He ran his hands over the curves of her back and her ass, giving her butt a nice firm squeeze. "And now that I've got my hands on you…damn it's gonna be hard to behave."

"Hmm…" Rachel's hips swiveled wickedly against his and Puck groaned, "It is very hard on you isn't it."

Puck let his head fall backwards, "Such a fuckin' tease," He couldn't help laughing at his own predicament. The guy who either got some or cut out was laying on a couch with his cock so hard his balls were blue. It was more than a little painful and he'd pretty much decided to just ignore it because he still had an armful of Rachel and that was worth some pain. He gave her ass another appreciative squeeze, "Why's it I like when you tease me baby?" He wondered with a smile, "You get me goin' so easy, stoppin's fuckin' painful. And then you pull shit like that an' all I can do is laugh." He shook his head, "Are you a witch Rae? A hot little Jewish American Witch?"

She just laughed at him and shook her head, "I've known you two weeks and I've let you put your hands on me, on my skin no less, and I was almost begging you to—" She paused and shuddered before taking a deep breath that did great things to her breasts and Puck's libido. "I think you're a sorcerer or something, I've never even cared about kissing a boy since I was fourteen and you… you've had me mesmerized since you sang with me."

"Hey be fair now," Puck chuckled, "You play your cards right and you'll be leading me around by my dick. And I'll be lovin' every second of it. That don't happen to me angel. I don't do relationships, I don't do girlfriends, an' I definitely don't encourage teasing, but you got me breakin' every rule I ever made for you." He shrugged, "I figure I may as well concede the inevitable." Looking at her Puck just couldn't believe she was lying there with him, "I figure I got about two months before you realize you're too good for me."

"Noah," Rachel frowned at him and shook her head. "You really don't have a very high opinion of yourself do you?" She traced her finger over his cheekbone to his nose and down to his lips, "Do you think I'd let just any boy put his hands where yours were? Do you know how careful I've been? How guarded?"

"Maybe 'bout as much as me not letting chicks get by me," Puck guessed with a half-smile. "Baby it's all right," He shrugged. "I don't expect anything."

"Noah Puckerman, that is exactly my point," Rachel scowled ferociously and Puck couldn't help think how cute she was all frowning and serious with his hand still on her ass. "You should expect more. You should expect everything. You're...you're a good person." She shook her head at him, "If I'm a Porsche, you're like Daddy's Impala."

"An Impala?" Puck rolled his eyes, "Baby, seriously? Can't I at least be a badass four by four truck? Or a Mustang?"

"No," Rachel shook her head stubbornly. "First of all, Mustangs are pussy cars. Second of all, the Impala has been immortalized by the Winchesters on Supernatural. And third, Daddy's car is beautifully restored, in mint condition and it's totally badass. It's like a sleek sexy tank. I love that car."

"Mustangs are pussy cars," Puck repeated with a grin. "Okay baby, I'll be an Impala then." He kissed her cheek. "So you like Supernatural too huh?" Her affirmative answer and the subsequent discussion distracted her long enough that she forgot she hadn't convinced him of anything.


Puck sat back in his chair and prepared to be bored to tears. Rachel was at a doctor's appointment and wouldn't be back until after calculus. She'd be able to make Glee but she'd been gone the last three periods. He looked over at Artie who was looking as bored as he was, "Dude, do you need this review?"

"Nah," Artie rolled his eyes. "I'm thinkin' I might ask to cut out, head to the choir room."

"Yeah, me too," Puck grinned. "I got an idea for a song for Schue's homework."

"I'll go ask," Artie chuckled, "I've got a better chance of getting a yes for both of us." Puck rolled his eyes and looked around for Mike. "Don't bother," Artie murmured so the teacher wouldn't hear, "He asked to study in the library. Apparently he's having trouble with chemistry or something."

"Does he need help?" Puck frowned, Mike's dad was seriously hard core about Mike's grades.

"He needs a chance to be away from everybody else and just read the book," Artie shook his head. "He hasn't had any time to himself with his dad on his back about colleges."

"Shit," Puck sighed. "Wish we could get his dad to take a pill."

"Preach," Artie shook his head again rolling his chair forward towards the front desk.


Puck took a deep breath and let it flow out, a series of notes falling from his lips increasingly higher as he warmed up his voice the way Rachel had taught him. Mr. Schue still hadn't considered the idea of warm-ups for the club, and Puck was getting more than a little irritated by it. Artie rolled in and blinked at him, more than a little surprised by Puck standing at the piano and singing progressively higher notes. "Dude, what are you doing?"

Puck held up a finger to hold his friend off a second as he finished the last run and held the note as long as he could. The breathing exercises were working pretty well and he could hold a note a lot longer than he could even a couple of months ago. Finally he finished and looked at Artie, "I'm doin' the breathin' exercises and vocal warm-ups Rae taught me so I don't wreck my voice."

"Huh," Artie rested his elbows on the arms of his wheelchair and leaned forward, "I wonder why Mr. Schue doesn't have us do those?" He shook his head, "Might give us an edge, I'll bet Vocal Adrenaline does them."

"Of course they do," Puck rolled his eyes. "I mentioned it to Mr. Schue more than once, he just says it's good I'm takin' the initiative an' says maybe Rachel should teach Finn." He couldn't help the scowl that darkened his face at the thought of fuckin' Finn in a room alone with Rachel.

"I could get over Finn being the golden boy any day now," Artie shook his head as he went to grab his guitar. "I mean my voice is just as good, but I'm stuck in this chair so heaven forbid I get the lead."

"Yeah," Puck sat at the piano and began to mess around with some of the things Rachel had taught him. "I was thinkin' Rae has a free period every day, an' she only has voice twice a week," He looked at Artie, half grinning at the loving way the boy cradled the guitar in his lap. "Maybe we could work somethin' out so she teaches anybody as wants to learn, you know breathin' and warm-ups. You know unless Finn suggests it Schue won't make it a thing before practice."

"Rachel's workin' for Coach Sylvester right?" Artie asked as he tuned the guitar. "Maybe Coach could give us a hand with Schue."

"She does hate Schuester with a fiery passion," Puck grinned. "I'll ask."

"So what's up with you and Rachel anyway?" Artie smirked, "Ain't ever seen you so wrapped up in a chick Puck."

"Yeah well ain't ever met a girl like Rae," Puck smoothed a hand over his mohawk with a shrug. "I mean you see how awesome she is."

"Yeah dude, that's why I'm tryin' to figure out what's goin' on," The thinner boy chuckled, "She's fairly cool. She's pretty. She's smart. So what is she doin' with you? You work your mojo on her to put her in a sexual stupor?"

Puck felt his neck click his head snapped so quickly in Artie's direction as he glared at the boy, "Fuck you Abrams, you don't talk about my girl like that."

Artie's hands went up in the universal signal for surrender, "I was jokin'." He offered slowly, "Just haven't ever seen you like this man, kinda tryin' to figure it out." He shook his head, "There's rumors goin' round that you an' she have been... intimate since the beginning of the school year. Other rumors that she isn't putting out for you and you've taken it as a challenge." When Puck's face darkened Artie shook his head, "I'm not sayin' that's what's goin' on man, I'm askin' you."

Puck scowled and shook his head, "She's the only person don't...judge me ya know?" He said slowly. "Told her I wasn't good enough for her. Told her almost two months ago that I was kinda waitin' for her to wise up and kick my ass out."

"Okay..." Artie was clearly confused. "Puckerman, you let her call you Noah. You hang out with her as much as you can. You kiss her but you've been keepin' the PDA to a minimum at school. The whole school knows something's up but nobody can figure out what it is."

"Shit," Puck looked at the boy who'd been a friend to him ever since he got sprung from juvie. "Sam... heard all the rumors about me, but didn't make the connection until later, an' then he'd already introduced me to Rae 'cause we were both into music..." He ran through the story of his first week hanging out with Rachel and Sam, skipping anything too personal. He might know about Sam's family and Rachel's history but neither had given him permission to tell anyone else. "An' two weeks later...I begged her to go out with me. Not as pretend, as my girl."

"So you're actually Rachel Berry's boyfriend," Artie said slowly, "You're dating." He frowned, "Okay then what is up with her clothes?" He shook his head, "I mean I see her at the games. I've seen her at the mall. She does not dress like...well like she does at school." He fingered a chord on the guitar, "Not that she doesn't look cute, and her legs are insane, but it's kinda split personality."

"You know her family just moved here the week before school?" Puck remarked quietly practicing the song he'd picked out as he spoke. "Rae couldn't find her regular clothes. So she did her best. She got slushied first thing." He shook his head, "An' when I explained that gettin' slushied is kinda like the scarlet A she decided she wouldn't wear the clothes she liked to school. She was gonna dress the way she did when she got slushied an' at least keep her nice clothes from gettin' wrecked. 'Course bein' Rachel she's gotta put her own twist to the theatre geek look so she's got those great heels and the stockin's that drive me fuckin' nuts."

"That explains an awful lot," Artie chuckled. "I know a lotta guys are grateful for her skirts though. Berry's legs are fuckin' epic."

"Well you and a lotta guys had better stay away from my girl," Puck growled. "I ain't havin' some asshole treat her like shit 'cause he thinks he's better'n her." His frown deepened as he thought of Finn again. He'd made it clear as can be that Rachel was going out with him, even to the point of laying a good kiss on her in front of the now second string quarterback. Nothing seemed to dent the idea Finn had in his head that Rachel liked him.

"Well you're her boyfriend and she's your girl so don't be an asshole an' it won't be a problem," Artie said reasonably. "It ain't like the whole school don't know you're together. They just can't agree on the reasons for it." He patted the guitar, "So what's this song idea you got? Schuester's fairy tale theme is a little weird, just seems like an excuse for Disney songs to me."

"Yeah," Puck grinned. "About that..."


Rachel frowned and looked up as Coach Sylvester entered the library, "Hi Coach Sue," She greeted the adult. "How are you?"

"Kickin' ass and takin' names B," Sue grinned as Rachel slid her a sheaf of paper with several potential routines written out and then diagrammed. "How're you doing?"

"I like the choreography," Rachel smiled. "My dads are happy that I'm busy with something theatre related but not strictly in my comfort zone. They think it stretches my brain." She shrugged, "And I love... parts of being in Glee, but I really..." She frowned. "Sometimes I wish you were the director Coach Sue."

"That's a first," Sue raised an eyebrow. "Even my Cheerios don't want me invading the choir room. Though Brittany has been trying to convince me that I'd get a kick out of Hudson's awful dancing."

"She isn't wrong," Rachel chuckled, Brittany was her first real girlfriend and she was a sweetheart if she did occasionally act a little dim, on purpose Rachel suspected. "I just...you could tell from watching me with Britt that I have a background in dance and theatre. Mr. Schuester has heard me sing, knows that I've taught Noah and Brittany about breathing and warm ups and he still doesn't listen to me. He's blind to everything but Finn as the male lead."

"You want Puckerman to get a solo or a duet?" Sue asked shrewdly, "Schuester doesn't like Puckerman's attitude much."

"Because Noah doesn't respect Mr. Schuester," Rachel shrugged slightly. "There are a lot of great voices in Glee but we only ever hear Finn, Quinn, Mercedes or Kurt. Artie has a lovely voice, Blaine is great but he's being ignored and he feels isolated at McKinley as it is. Santana has a range that could rival mine with some work and Brittany and Tina and Mike all have such potential. And Noah... he's the only voice that can actually match mine. If I did a duet with Finn I'd overwhelm him. Noah..." She shrugged, "Mr. Schuester won't even listen to me about warm ups and breathing, he told me I should work with Finn when I suggested it but he doesn't even think about the rest of the group." She looked at the cheerleading coach, "You might yell crazy things at the Cheerios and you might be driven and demanding but you teach your Cheerios how to do what you want them to. You don't let them get lazy and you reward hard work."

"And Schuester doesn't, he stays with the same old thing, and just likes being the 'cool' teacher," Sue shook her head in irritation. "You're still in Spanish with him?"

"No," Rachel rolled her eyes, "I speak it better than he does." She sighed, "I'll start with German next semester and we'll see how that goes. But that's why I'm in the library so much. I keep annoying my teachers. Mr. Schuester had me test out of Spanish so now I have two free periods a day. I get a lot done but..."

"But it's irritating to be shoved aside because you're intelligent," Coach Sue narrowed her eyes. "You have Glee today don't you? Maybe I'll sit in."

"Brittany will be very excited," Rachel grinned slightly. "I'm supposed to meet Finn in the choir room to teach him warm ups and breathing. Mr. Schuester basically told me that if I ever wanted a chance at a solo I'd make an effort to be a team player." She rolled her eyes, "Noah is not happy about me being alone with Finn. I'm going to make sure the door stays open."

"Puckerman should trust you," Sue pointed out quietly.

"He does," Rachel smiled. "He says he doesn't trust Finn." She shrugged and began to gather her things, "Hope to see you at practice Coach."


Rachel opened the choir room door and flipped down the doorstop before she set her bag on a chair and took a seat at the piano. Fifteen minutes later, and subsequently ten minutes after they'd agreed to start, Finn ambled into the room. "Hey Rachel," He greeted her with a boyish smile.

"Finn," Rachel forced herself to nod politely. It hadn't escaped her notice that he'd shut the door behind him, "Please leave the door open."

"Can't, if we're practicin' we'll be too loud," Finn shrugged at her and dumped his books next to her bag.

Rachel frowned and stood, opening the door and flipping the doorstop down again before taking her seat, "If someone thinks we're too loud then they can come and tell us. But I don't like closed doors."

"Okay," He shrugged again and sat down next to her on the piano bench, slumping.

"You should stand," Rachel explained, "It'll deepen your breathing, there's a reason we always stand to sing." Finn grumbled but did as she said and stood by the piano.


Nearly forty minutes later, Rachel was wondering just how stupid Finn Hudson was. He continually referred to Puck as his best friend, yet he seemed to have no idea how offensive it was to say Puck was dumb. She'd never met a boy so clueless about his own abilities but so puffed up with his consequence. He constantly made derogatory remarks about Puck, not seeming to realize that she was dating the boy in question. She was grateful they only had twenty minutes before the rest of the club would arrive.

"You know you'd be really pretty if you, uh, you know, didn't dress so weird," Finn remarked in the thoughtless manner Rachel was beginning to expect.

"I see," Rachel gave him a repressive frown and pressed a key down, "This is the note, you'll want to match it."

Finn nodded amiably and sat next to her again, keeping his back straight, before singing the note, "I mean you're kinda cute." He told her with a smile, "Your hair is pretty."

"That's nice," Rachel shook her head, wondering what he was thinking with these random pronouncements.

"I bet you'd be more popular if you didn't act like you knew so much in class," Finn told her with the air of someone being helpful. "Guys don't like it when girls act smarter than they are; guys like to feel smarter."

"As I'm dating Noah and he doesn't seem to mind I don't see how your opinion is relevant," Rachel fought to keep her derision out of her voice. "He likes me the way I am."

"Yeah but Puck's an idiot," Finn shook his head. "I mean, I can see how you'd think you couldn't do better, but really, if you just dressed better and didn't act so... you know, weird, you could totally date some other guy. Even a guy on the football team."

Rachel frowned and hit another note on the piano with perhaps more force than was needed, "So you think I'm settling for Noah and that he doesn't mind that I'm smart because he's stupid. And if I just fixed everything that was wrong with me I could get a better guy."

"Yeah, totally," Finn told her with a grin like he was pleased she'd gotten the idea.

Rachel frowned at him and tried to think of how she could explain exactly how offensive his words were. While she was still trying to determine her wording Finn's mouth pressed down to hers, his hands gripping her upper arms and shoulders. Oh ick, Rachel nearly groaned in dismay, his mouth was wet and sloppy, nothing like Noah's warm, sweet kisses. And he wasn't stopping, wasn't letting go of her, Rachel started to push at his chest, hoping that would help.

It didn't, he just tried to pull her closer until she was squirming and really pushing at him trying to get away. He finally just muttered against her mouth, "Relax Rachel, it's okay. I know you like me," And kept kissing her.

Rachel shuddered and tried to yank her mouth away, which unfortunately encouraged him to think he could start kissing on her neck and cheek, "Ugh, stop," She demanded trying to twist away. It wasn't easy when his hands pretty much covered her upper arms and he was holding her pretty tightly, she'd probably end up with bruises. "Finn, stop it, I don't..." She shoved at him far too ineffectually for her own comfort. This was the problem with being so little, even twisting away wasn't helping her, and he didn't seem to be listening to her. "Finn no, stop it, stop right now," Rachel put as much force into her voice as she could and even that didn't seem to get through to him.

The roar that filled the choir space and the shouting that followed it was overwhelming, Rachel was supremely conscious of someone or something, hitting Finn and knocking him away from her. Strong arms caught her as she tumbled backwards off the piano bench and carefully moved her away from the second string quarterback. Smaller hands tugged her back against the wall and Rachel looked up to see Brittany and Sue Sylvester standing near her protectively. By the piano Puck, Sam and Mike had wrestled Finn away from her and someone had punched Finn hard enough that his eye was already swelling. Apparently Finn hadn't gone quietly because Sam was holding Puck back and Puck's jaw was beginning to bruise. Mike was pushing Finn back and trying to keep everyone from renewing the hostilities.

"What happened here?" Mr. Schuester's voice was accusing and Rachel realized that he was looking at her. As if she'd done something.

Instinctively she recoiled from the expression on his face, sliding her hand into Brittany's and backing up so that Sue was standing beside her. Mr. Schuester was looking at her with an expression of resigned irritation and more than a little repugnance. Fortunately Coach Sue wasn't having any of it, "What happened here William was that Rachel attempted to teach your favorite mouth breather as you demanded. When Brittany and I came in with Puckerman and Evans, Chang apparently right behind us, Hudson was kissing Rachel while she kept telling him to stop. She was trying to get away from him but he wouldn't let her go."

"She's a fuckin' tease," Finn spat the words from where he was being restrained. Puck uttered an honest to God growl at those words and lunged at the bigger boy only to be held back by Sam, Rachel's brother being quicker than he seemed.

"You better shut your fuckin' mouth Hudson," Puck looked ready to tear off the bigger boy's head.

"Puck," Sam smacked the boy's chest, "Get it under control man. Rae needs your brain right now, not your fists."

Rachel took a deep breath and shuddered, and Coach Sue put a supportive arm around her shoulders, "Berry, tell us what happened."

Her hand clutching at Brittany's Rachel slowly began to explain what had happened, how she'd made sure the door was open.

"Why?" Mr. Schuester didn't even let her speak for five minutes before he interrupted. The rest of the group was trickling in and taking their seats, confusion in their faces.

"I'm Noah's girlfriend," Rachel looked at Mr. Schuester and knew she looked as confused as she sounded. "It wouldn't be right for me to be in a closed room with another boy. Noah trusts me, I would never..." She shook her head.

Sam spoke up then his tone ugly as he looked at Mr. Schuester, "In spite of the reputation the gossips at this school have given her, my sister is a good girl. She doesn't even close her bedroom door when Puck is inside with her. She isn't a tease. And she wouldn't want the door closed if the boy wasn't Puck."

Mr. Schuester made a slightly disbelieving face but nodded and gestured for Rachel to continue. She explained what she'd been attempting to teach Finn and was interrupted again, this time by Santana, "So why does Finn get tutoring? If it helps with singing then wouldn't it be better if we all learned it?"

Rachel didn't wait for Mr. Schuester to give his version of the story, "I've been offering for months to show all of you the breathing exercises and the warm ups I showed Noah. Mr. Schuester told me that I should teach Finn. When I argued and said I didn't see the point in teaching only Finn Mr. Schuester said that if I ever wanted a chance at a solo that I'd do it." She ignored the furious look on Santana's face and continued to explain what had happened.

When she began to repeat Finn's words verbatim the quarterback objected strenuously, "I didn't say any of those things," The tall boy denied. "Why would I say that?"

"I have a photographic memory," Rachel said coldly. "My verbal recall is near perfect," She didn't bother to say anything else, describing what Finn had said and done next with cool accuracy and completing her report of the events with a frown, "I asked him to stop. More than once I tried to push away from him," Rachel shook her head. "Even if I'd invited his attentions, even if I had been, as he so crudely accused, a tease, that doesn't give him the right to maul me or kiss me after I've said for him to stop. I told him no. Simple words that even someone of Finn Hudson's level of intelligence should be able to process."

"Unfortunately Rachel it's your word against his," Mr. Schuester began in the voice of a man who's prepared to be reasonable.

"No, it isn't," Sue interrupted with what Rachel could tell was a great deal of pleasure. "Since Brittany has been asking me to watch a Glee practice or two I decided that today would be the day. I arrived to find Berry attempting to get away from Hudson, who had his hands on her arms while his mouth was...on her neck. She was repeatedly telling him to stop and trying her damndest to get away but Hudson's a lot bigger than she is."

"I don't believe that you're in charge of this club," Mr. Schuester didn't quite sneer at Sue but he was pretty pleased about what he was saying. "Now Finn will apologize to Rachel and that'll be the end of it."

"The end of it," Puck repeated dangerously. He looked at Finn, "What the fuck were you doin' man? You know Rachel's with me."

"Quinn was with me and you fucked her," Finn retorted furiously. "So being with someone doesn't matter. I can make a move on Rachel if I want, she's been all over me."

"You're talking about my sister you gigantic douche," Sam's voice was vibrating with anger. "She's not a thing you can just take because you think she belongs to Puck."

"And if you think for one second it's the same then you ain't been payin' attention," Puck snarled. He almost shrugged off Sam's restraining hands. "I won't hit him," He said flatly. "Much as I'd love to, I'm not gettin' expelled less Rae tells me she wants me to hit him." He moved over towards Rachel and looked at her, sandwiched in between Brittany and Coach Sue. "Think I can hug on Rae a little bit?"

"Yes please," Rachel knew she sounded as if she was about to cry and took a deep steadying breath. "Noah I didn't..." His arms enclosed her gently and she felt him lean against the wall, pulling her with him so she could just relax against him. "You know I wouldn't..."

"Yeah Rae, I know," Puck murmured into her hair and she could feel the truth in his words. Whatever fury he was vibrating with he didn't blame her for any of it. "I'm your boyfriend, not Finn, an' I know you're loyal. I trust you baby."

"William since you don't seem to see the problem inherent in what you just said we'll take this to Principal Figgins," Sue sneered right back at the choir director. "Berry, Puckerman, Hudson, Evans, Pierce and Chang, you're comin' too."

"But," Rachel looked at Sue and sighed realizing that there was no quiet way to deal with this. "Yes Coach."

"William, let's go," Sue Sylvester snapped as if she expected the other teacher to simply fall in line. Fortunately for Mr. Schuester he did so though not without a sneer of his own.


Author's Note: So we've got Schuester acting like a jerk and Finn is being a douche. But Puck and Rachel seem to be getting along okay right?

I know a lot of people are upset by the death of Cory Monteith and I find it very sad. But I began writing this long before he died and I can't change everything to reflect him as a person better when the character he played could be such a jack ass. His behavior has been consistently inconsistent as far as morality goes and I hate him with Rachel, they bring out the worst in each other, at least in my opinion.

As a person, he sounded like a great guy who was very deeply troubled. I'm sorrier than I can say for his family and friends and I really wish he could have found some sort of peace on this earth. But Cory isn't Finn. So let's all keep that in mind.

Maybe at some point I'll be writing something that treats Finn a bit nicer but that isn't this story.

That being said I hope you like the chapter, it's a little longer than the last one so I hope that makes up for the length of time between posts.