A/N: Again, I own nothing from Glee. Songs in this chapter "From the Inside," by Linkin Park. I'm working on the next chapter right now!
Friday was the last day to practice before the project was due. Since Mr. Schuster paired Rachel with Kurt, Puck was now paired with Quinn. Puck and Quinn were scheduled to practice in the auditorium at 2:55. Rachel and Kurt were scheduled to practice before them. He thought that by showing up early, he might have gotten to see Rachel. He hadn't talked to her in a week and it killed him. He missed hanging out with her. He missed her tutoring sessions. Now that she had stopped tutoring him, his grades were falling.
He walked into the auditorium from the back entrance. To his surprise, Rachel was the only one there. Kurt must have left. She was sitting on stage with her back to him. She was playing the piano and singing a song that Puck had never heard before. It wasn't the type of music she normally listened to; it was raw and stripped down. If he didn't know any better, he'd say she wrote it herself. It seemed to describe how anyone in Rachel's situation would be feeling. He closed his eyes and listened to her voice. She really did have an amazing voice. No one's perfect, but if anyone came close, it was Rachel Berry.
I don't know who to trust no surprise
Everyone feels so far away from me
Heavy thoughts sift through dust and the lies
Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit
Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet
All I ever think about is this
All the tiring time between
And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me
Take everything from the inside and throw it all away
Cuz I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
Tension is building inside steadily
Everyone feels so far away from me
Heavy thoughts forcing their way out of me
Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit
Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet
All I ever think about is this
All the tiring time between
And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me
Take everything from the inside and throw it all away
Cuz I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
I won't waste myself on you
You
You
Waste myself on you
You
You
I'll take everything from the inside and throw it all away
Cuz I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
Everything from the inside and just throw it all away
Cuz I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
You
You
When Puck opened his eyes he could have sworn he saw Rachel crying. She got up from the piano and left the auditorium through the front exit. He thought about following her, but he couldn't cause her more pain than he already did.
"She's amazing, isn't she?" said a voice from behind him. He turned around and saw that it was Quinn. Since when did Quinn think Rachel was amazing? She hated her.
"Yeah, she is. I didn't think you thought so." He stayed where he was; not even acknowledging Quinn. She walked toward him and sat in the seat behind him. She leaned her head against his seat.
"Well after seeing her like that last week, it really made me respect her a lot more. I've been over to her house every day since. She's a really amazing person." He still couldn't believe that Quinn was saying those words about Rachel.
"Yeah, she is," he said again.
"You've got it bad," Quinn smirked, "I've seen the way you look at her. You've never looked at any other girl that way, well not that I've ever seen. You are so hard on youself when you let her down or hurt her in some way. I hate to break it to you, but it sounds to me like you're in love with her," Quinn said plainly. Puck didn't argue with her. He was tired of denying how he felt about Rachel. Maybe he was in love with her. So what if he was? Why did everyone care so much about what he felt about whom anyway?
"She doesn't feel the same," was all he said.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes. Why has she told you any differently?" He asked finally turning to face her.
"I can't say, but I can tell you that you shouldn't give up just yet."
"But what am I supposed to do? She can't even stand to be in the same room as me." He was really hurting. He realized he did need Rachel more than he ever thought he did.
"I have an idea," Quinn beamed, "we'll use our project to try and get Rachel to forgive you."
"Why are you helping me?" he asked Quinn. "I've never been nice to you."
"Because I know what it feels like to have your heart broken. I also know what it feels like to be judged," she said pointing to her pregnant belly. He had forgotten that Quinn was pregnant.
"Do you know whose baby it is?" he asked. Quinn didn't respond, so Puck asked his question again, "Quinn, whose baby is it?" She didn't have to answer this time for him to know.
"Finn can't find out," she said softly.
"Neither can Rachel." He knew if Finn found out, he'd tell Rachel and vice versa.
"That's why you have to promise not to tell anyone," said Quinn emphasizing the word, anyone. After a few minutes of silence, she spoke again. Her mood suddenly changed from frightened to excited.
Now all we have to do is make Rachel forgive you." She jumped out of her seat. "C'mon, let's get to it!" she said excitedly. She really hoped that her plan would work not just for Puck, but for Rachel too.