Chapter 10
It had only been about an hour that everyone had been asleep. You could softly hear the crickets chirping it was so quiet out. Puck carefully unzipped his tent open. He turned the flashlight on before tripping over the bottom seam and carefully stepped out. He cracked a few branches stepping over them as he bit his tongue careful not to blab out the words shit every time he stepped on one. Guitar in one hand flashlight in the other he made his way over to where Quinn and Rachel's tent was. He peeked in through the tiny netted window and there she was. Her short blonde hair brushed over her perfect porcelain face. He couldn't help but smile. She was beautiful. He closed his eyes and his mind drifted thinking about something he'd thought about so much lately. Something that he felt himself feeling guilty for because he hadn't thought about it at all this year. But that was a lie. Of course he'd thought about her. How could he not. She was his daughter. He was so ashamed that the beautiful baby who looked exactly like the beautiful girl sleeping in the tent was not always on his mind. He almost shed a tear thinking about Beth. She'd be one now. One year old. That was a big deal, and it killed him that Quinn and him had forgotten all about her. He wasn't going to say anything, he had an image to up keep. And what could he do about it now?
He snapped back to reality looking over at Quinn and remembered what he'd come over for. He quietly unzipped the front flap of the tent and walked over avoiding arms and legs that were covering most of the floor. He bent down near Quinn's face.
He gently tapped her, "Quinn...Quinn."
She moved a little but stayed asleep. He shook her some more until she finally began to open her eyes. He quickly covered her mouth with his hand when she opened her eyes completely and looked like she was about to begin screaming at him. He raised a finger to his lips shushing her and gestured for her to follow him out of the tent.
He made his way out of the tent and shined the flashlight in so she could watch her step. She made her way out as he quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her in the direction towards the water. She hesitantly followed and as soon as they were far enough away to talk he stopped and she yanked her arm away from him.
"Noah Puckerman, what the hell are you doing?"
He'd stepped back a little as her words had gotten louder, "Quinn relax. I need to talk to you."
"About What? What is so important that you had to drag me out of bed in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere?"
He didn't know exactly what to say to her, "I still care about you you know."
She looked up at him furious now, "No I don't know. How am I supposed to know that you care about me. I haven't heard that ever being said out loud."
He snapped his head up he was mad that she was making him so angry, "Don't Quinn. A fucking year ago I told you I loved you. Out loud. Don't fucking pretend you don't remember."
She was now not only furious but she had started to cry a little, "HOW DARE YOU!"
She turned around not facing him anymore crying into the palm of her hands.
Puck was so mad at her, why was she acting like this with him. He knew he'd crossed a line bringing up Beth like that, but she needed to hear it from him. How could she not wonder about her, about them. He walked over to her, grabbing her in his arms and pulling her to his chest. She fought with his grip a little trying to pull away, "NO! Don't touch me!"
He never let go. And she gave in, letting him hold her as she continued to cry. They stood there for a while, as he held her in his arms.
She'd stopped crying a little and pulled away to wipe her tears. He looked down at her, brushing the hair out of her face, "I didn't mean to make you cry Quinn. I'm sorry. I just need you to know how I'm feeling, because I know you feel it too."
Quinn looked up at Puck, her eyes all puffy and red, "I just don't know what do. I never seem to get it right anymore. Everything that happened last year, I've kept it inside. It's made me the biggest bitch. And then this year, I've never felt so alone. Finally I'm getting some feeling back because I know have friends again, I have Santana and Brittany, and even more I have Rachel, and Finn and I love them so much now, but it hurts to be around them and anyone else in love."
Puck smiled a little, "Quinn. I love you, doesn't that count?"
She looked into his eyes, and she knew he'd meant every word, "It does. But It doesn't change anything. I can't be with you."
With that Quinn pulled away from Puck's arms and walked away. Puck stood stunned as he watched her walk away until she was no longer seen in the dark.
Quinn cried some more as she walked back. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She did love Puck, but they'd been through so much. It wasn't going to be easy. She'd never forgiven him for getting her pregnant, but she'd also never forgiven him for letting her give up the baby either.
She cried some more as she stumbled up the tiny hill heading back to camp, she was sure she was lost now, she couldn't see a thing. She walked a little further up the hill and was tapped on the shoulder. She jumped up and screamed.
"Quinn, it's okay! It's me." Rachel grabbed her arm to steady her.
Quinn caught her breath, "Rachel, what the hell is wrong with you? You just gave me a heart attack. And what are you doing, how did you manage to get up and walk over with your boot? And how did you find me? Were you following me?"
Rachel didn't say anything back at Quinn's numerous amount of questions, she nodded and grabbed her friend and gave her the biggest hug. After a few minutes of just standing and hugging each other. Rachel pulled away from Quinn.
Quinn opened her eyes and wiped away some more tears, "You heard didn't you?"
Rachel nodded in response, "I don't know what to do Rach. I'm stuck, and I'm so confused. And what is wrong with him? Why now?... It's too much. I can't take it. And I'm not giving in. I'm done. I need to focus on myself. I'm not letting him in."
Rachel couldn't help but feel for her friend, she tried to imagine what it must be like, Quinn could be an evil bitch, that's for sure, but she was so hurt, and she couldn't blame her knowing what she went through, what she was going through. "Quinn, I love you. You're my best friend and I can't be more thankful for that. I'm sad thinking of all of the time we wasted fighting. But then I think about how if we hadn't gone through all of the pain and hurt and boys, we wouldn't be like we are now... It's like with me and Finn, we're stronger in our relationship than we ever have been. That's why I know it's going to work this time, for good."
Quinn smiled a little at Rachel, she knew exactly where she was going with this conversation... "I just think that maybe it's the same with you and Noah. I know it in my heart that it'll all work out. Don't worry. And until then I'm here, and I've got plenty of tissues to go around."
Rachel leaned in for another hug. Quinn whispered softly, "Thank You Rachel."
She squeezed her once more before letting go, "Alright lets get back, my foot is killing me, It was so dark I think I put the boot on wrong!"
Quinn laughed a little and helped her friend back to camp.
When they'd gotten back, Puck and Finn were walking around near by with flashlights. Finn turned glancing over in the direction he'd heard the girls coming from. He ran up to Rachel as soon as she flashed her light at him.
"Oh My God. Rachel Barbara Berry! What the hell is wrong with you?" He pulled her up in his arms kissing the top of her head.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that? I don't think anything is wrong with me?"
Finn couldn't help but laugh. He set her down on the ground grabbing her face with both hands, "You scared the shit out of me. Puck comes over and says you and Quinn are lost in the woods, I don't even know what ran through my mind I...!"
Rachel laughed a little as she placed her hands over his cutting him off, "Finn! I'm fine. I had my flashlight and Quinn needed my help. It's okay. I'm back. And in one piece too."
He pulled her lips up to his and kissed her. She loved feeling his warm lips against hers. Each time they kissed was just like the first. Magical. Nothing compared to the way he kissed her, she was sure that the fact that she was utterly in love with him so much it hurt, sometimes helped. He grabbed her waist pulling him self as close as he could to her as her fingers tangled and in his hair.
Quinn quickly excused her self and made her way back to the tent. She glanced over at Puck who was also getting ready to go inside his tent. She quickly turned away and went inside without a word being said.
After a few minutes Finn gently pulled away resting his forehead on Rachel's. She softly whispered to him, "I'm sorry I left without telling you. But if I get a kiss like this... well, I'll have to start doing that more often."
He half smiled and rolled his eyes playfully, "Rach, I'm so in love with you, I could kiss you all day and night. And just like that too. You don't have to go anywhere."
She placed another small kiss on his lips before he picked her up and carried her back near her tent. They said their goodnight's again and headed off to bed.
The next morning during breakfast Quinn and Puck kept their distance. It wasn't until after they had finished eating and were sitting around deciding what to do next that Puck spoke. He'd been thinking about what happened with Quinn last night all morning. When Finn had gotten back to his tent the night before, he'd explained what had happened with Quinn, and he asked for advice on how to fix it. Now was his time to put the plan in to action.
He stood up in front of everyone, "I got an idea." Everyone looked over to where he was standing. We should take the boats out, find a small cliff to jump off of and just hang out in the water all day. But first I'd like to do something."
Everyone looked over at Puck as he picked up his guitar. He pointed to Quinn and said nothing more. Everyone now turned to where Quinn was as she brought her hand up to her face. She did not look pleased. Rachel nudged her friend and whispered, "Just let him sing Quinn."
"With a little inspiration from Sam, and some really great song choice help from Finn last night, I have found the perfect song to say exactly what I'm feeling."
The strings began to play a beautiful harmony as Quinn already began to tear up.
Don't tell me love is something you won't try again,
that's just not true.
But baby right now maybe what you needs a friend,
well I'm here for you.
He moved a little closer to where she was sitting never breaking the eye contact between them.
I will be by your side, if ever you fall deep in the dead of night,
whenever you call.
And I won't change my mind, no I'll see you through,
and I won't give up,
no I won't give up,
I won't give up on you.
Quinn began to really tear up, all she could think of was when Puck sang 'Beth' to her. She quickly glanced over at Rachel who was also beginning to tear up.
Rachel placed a hand over her knee squeezing it as tight as she could. All she could think of was how could Quinn not forgive him, this was beautiful and the song couldn't have been more perfect. She was so proud of Finn for helping him pick it out.
You need someone who knows you from the inside out,
the way I do.
I've seen you walk the wire never looking down,
I believe in you.
I will be by your side, if ever you fall deep in the dead of night,
whenever you call.
And I won't change my mind, no I'll see you through,
and I won't give up,
no I won't give up,
I won't give up on you.
Quinn stood up and walked over to Puck wrapping her arms around him. She wouldn't dare let go. Everyone clapped and shed a tear at how beautifully Puck had sang to her.