Chapter 9: Dinner With Noah Puckerman
Finn and Puck spoke about their Rachel situation. Puck wanted to take her out for dinner so Finn offers to watch the girls. It took a lot of convincing for Rachel. She thought about it over and over and finally agreed to give Noah a second chance.
Puck wore a suite and when he picked up Rachel he saw her wearing a beautiful crystal blue sparkle dress. Her hair was curled and she had make-up on. She had black high-heals.
She's so beautiful. I could drool. Puck thought. He drove Rachel to the restaurant. It was a fancy Italian place which Rachel loves.
Puck opens the car door for Rachel and holds her hand. They got out of the car and went inside. The place was beautiful. Rachel was confused why no one was there inside.
Did Noah set this up? Just for me? She asked herself.
"I made reservations for Noah Puckerman and Mrs. Rachel Berry." Puck says politely. The man seats them in their table. They had their waiter set them up They both ordered red whine and some appetizers to start with.
"Noah? What is this? There's nobody here. The place is so nice, how could you afford this?"Rachel asked.
"My friend's a manager at this store. Don't start worrying, just enjoy the night." Puck says.
They ordered their dinner and desserts.
Rachel told him more about Emily while Noah told her more about Beth. "Finn wants us together. It's funny, coming from a guy who I've been married to for seven years now."
"Do you love him?" Puck asked.
"He's my husband."
"Do you love him even more now?" Puck asked.
"I'm sorry, Noah. That duet we shared just confuses the heck out of me."
"That duet we shared is what I call falling into love." Puck says sweetly.
"Love? As in me and you?" Rachel asked trying not to laugh.
"If our daughters could be best friends, then why can't we?" Puck asked raising an eyebrow.
Noah isn't stupid. He knows what he wants and he wants me.
Rachel shrugs her shoulders. "You never told me what you do." Rachel changes the subject.
Puck sighs. "Don't change the subject on me." He says. "You know what Finn told me before I picked you up?" He asked. Rachel shook his head. "He gave me his blessing if we fall in love and get married."
Rachel was taken a back. Noah Puckerman is seriously falling for her. "I can't be married to two men. That's illegal."
"Berry..." Puck says slowly. "Finn is planning to divorce you if we happen. He believes that there is an us."
"Divorce me? He hasn't told me anything..." Rachel asked. She wasn't going to choke. She wasn't going to cry. This is supposed to be a special dinner.
"He believes in us, Berry. He believes that one day you'll be married to me. He sees the Chemistry between us. He sees the friendship between our girls. Finn will always be there but there will always be an us. I'm not asking for you to marry me just yet. I'm asking you to please let me know where we stand. I love you, Rachel Berry. I've always loved you." Puck admits his feelings for Rachel. He wanted his lips to press against her's but it was wrong.
She's still married to his best friend.
Rachel stayed silent. This couldn't be happening. Noah Puckerman just told me he loves me. The guy who threw slushies at me, the guy who I once dated briefly, the guy who I had sex with seven years ago, the guy who gave me my beautiful daughter. The guy who's the reason for my mix-emotion. He's the reason why I'm not a huge successful Broadway star.
Then I have Finn. The guy who I'm married too. The guy who I wanted Emily's father to be. We weren't in love when she was born. We broke up but things happened. Noah got me pregnant and I begged Finn to marry me. I begged Finn to stay in my life with Emily. I begged him to be Emily's father. I am such a horrible person. It's time to get back to reality, Rachel. Where were we? Oh, yeah. Noah told me those three meaningful words..
"Berry? Are you alright? You look zoned out." Puck says trying to get Rachel's attention.
Berry. He's always called me that. It's never Rachel. It's like with me calling him Noah, never Puck. If he loves me then why does he call me Berry? Could he at least call me Rachel for once in a lifetime?
"Rachel?" He asked.
Uh-huh! There he goes. He finally called me by my given name.
Rachel shook her head, getting back to reality. "Thank you for dinner, Noah. It was wonderful. I have to get home to check on Emily. I'm sure Beth is worrying about you." Rachel stood up, wanting to run out of the restaurant, leaving Puck behind.
Puck stood up. "Rachel? You can't just leave me here."
"Noah? I have a lot to think about it. Thank you for dinner." Puck watches Rachel leave just like that.
She left him alone in the fanciest restaurant that was just reservered for him and her. He watches her walk out that door. He stood there feeling dumbfounded.
