A/N: So sorry! Microeconomics is just not my thing and I literally spent hours studying every day for it. But, finals are done and I WILL be more consistent. If not, you are allowed to slap a reminder on me!
Chapter Ten
They were playing a game of touch football that wound up to be tackle football at the park. Mike was waving his hands over his head trying to get Finn's attention and just as Finn released the ball, Puck slammed into the quarterback. Staying upright Puck turned to see if Matt was able to reach Mike however it was Rachel who intercepted the throw and dodged Santana. He let the right side of his mouth twitch into a smile at the triumphant grin on her face. He was starting to be extremely pleased that he had taught her football two weeks ago.
"Damn it," Santana twirled around angrily.
Rachel slowed as she passed into the designated end zone, "I can't help my exemplary physical prowess and quick learning skills."
"I think Puck taught you already," Matt complained. "I thought you never played before Rachel."
Rachel tossed the football to Santana as Finn and Mike eyed Puck testily. He shrugged. He never specifically told them it was her first time ever, just first time- playing with more than just him. That sounded dirty, Puck inwardly chuckled at that train of thought. Santana set as center waiting for Finn to pay attention. After preventing them from scoring, they took a water break and laughed over Rachel's compelling them to finish their summer reading.
Matt bent over acting as center. Rachel clapped her hands together in the way Puck told her was badass.
"Down…set hike," Rachel commanded. Puck sprinted and turned just in time to catch the football as he glided into the end zone. Rachel cheered and jumped on Matt almost strangling him. Puck held out his arms as if to say 'hey, I got the touchdown, didn't I?' Finn was helping Mike detangle himself from Santana who was bitching about something. Rachel held up her hand for him to high five.
"Who taught you that," Puck quipped, slapping his hand to hers.
Rachel shrugged, "I don't need to be taught how to be badass."
Santana barked before laughing at Mike. Puck glanced over to them and asked if they were through for the day. After the unanimous assent, he suggested they head to the diner the popular kids frequented during football season.
"I'm going to call Quinn," Finn announced.
Rachel and he were walking to his truck when Rachel said,
"She still doesn't like me."
"Quinn," Puck ventured. "You won't. Ever."
Rachel sighed, "I suppose not. Though it isn't exactly singular in occurrence. She's definately is not the only person who will dislike me no matter how famous I become."
Mike ran passed them with Santana chasing him with the Frisbee over her head. Upon catching up to Mike Santana hit his head with the Frisbee. Mike exclaimed an 'ouch' as Santana triumphantly grabbed the keys from Mike's hands.
"Hurry Matt," she called. "We can leave him!"
Puck watched as Matt ran to get into Santana's car. Mike tried to grab onto the vehicle but Santana hit the gas calling out her open window,
"Snooze you loser!"
Mike pouted, Puck disbelievingly looked again, before shouting,
"I'll tell Brittany!"
Puck wondered if Mike thought that would get Santana to stop, before she did just that.
"Brit and I aren't…"
Puck slammed his door shut not really caring whether Brittany and Santana were still just benefits or not. Totally hot if they were, but regardless he was hungry. Rachel flipped his radio on and opened her window.
"Absolutely gorgeous day," she gushed. "I had so much fun Noah. Thank you for teaching me, it made today so much easier and enjoyable than if you hadn't."
Puck raised a shoulder, "Sure Berry. Any time."
He was laughing at Rachel when they entered, getting there just as Santana, Matt, and Mike sat down. Finn and Quinn came in a few minutes later. They were sitting all together chatting in the diner when Quinn asked unexpectedly,
"So what, are you two together now?"
Puck looked up to see who she was talking to before Rachel answered,
"No."
Quinn raised an eyebrow, "Really, because every time I see one of you the other is there."
"Then obviously you don't see us as often as you think you do," Rachel answered. "We don't see each other every day Quinn. So Santana I was wondering something…"
"You're wearing his shirt."
Puck cut in, "Anyone who had to listen to Berry bitch about grass stains would've let her borrow one."
Matt and Santana chuckled as Finn tried, unsuccessfully, not to appear amused when Rachel perked up and glowered at him. She started to rehash her phobia of grass stains. Puck settled his arms on the back of the booth and rolled his eyes.
"That's why I gave her one of the shirts from my cab."
Finn started to say, "The one's from foo- ouch!"
Giving the guy across from him a swift kick and glare, Puck warily eyed Rachel to see if she caught Finn's slip. She didn't and was now lecturing Mike. Rachel didn't need to know that his definition of a clean work-out shirt was Fabreezing it when it got too rank. Puck stopped listening and focused on Quinn who was scowling a little at Rachel. Finn was nervously shredding his napkin. Matt, Mike, Rachel, and Santana were now wrapped into a conversation.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Mike cried as the waitress placed their drinks on the table.
Matt nudged Rachel, "What that school begins in, how long Rach?"
"Nine days."
"Ugh," Mike and Santana covered their faces. "Too soon!"
Santana was walking to her car, texting, as she called over her shoulder, "Listen Berry, new year's coming up. Why don't you try to dial down the intense obsessive personality and maybe I'll hang out with you more. Because today? You were cool. Ish."
She got into her car and drove off with Mike and Matt as Rachel asked generally,
"Was that a compliment or an insult?"
Finn answered seriously, "With Santana everything is mean, even if it sounds like a nice thing."
Quinn smiled softly before taking Finn's hand. The two walked towards her car, Finn hardly drove if he didn't have to. Rachel jumped up into the cab where Puck was already waiting. He smirked at her before reversing and driving out. They were almost to her house when she turned the radio off.
"Noah. Do you think I should do what Santana said? Dial myself down? Would you? Because I personally realized after the fiasco with 'Run, Joey, Run' that I shouldn't change myself to be liked. Usually, I mess up and get people to dislike me even more. Being self-confident means that you are who you are without fear. And to be a star you have to be self-confident."
Puck looked at her from the corner of his eye, "Uh, yes. Be yourself? Because then you don't have to be, uh, ashamed of yourself."
Rachel sat silently for a moment and Puck wondered if he had somehow said it backwards. They stopped at a red light when she leaned over and kissed his cheek, "Thank you Noah."
Puck looked at her and leered, "There are other ways-"
"Don't," Rachel said seriously, before chuckling, "don't ruin that alright?"
A/N2: I know that this is AU since obviously Quinn didn't and won't miscarry, but I am going to try to keep most things in canon. 'Run, Joey, Run' (which I thought the movie was pretty funny and afterwards incredibly sad that even Puck was mad at Rachel) and other things are going to be briefly mentioned to keep it as close to the show as possible.
Please review with suggestions guys! I'm here to entertain all of you and clean up my writing skills.