A/N: Disclaimer, I do not own Glee.
Here we are. The end of... an era? A story, nevertheless, and one I have adored. Thank you so much to everyone who read/reviewed/enjoyed.
As a final send off, please can EVERYONE who reads this chapter please tell me what you think, because it would make my day & I'd love you all so, so much for it.
I'd probably love you anyway, just for reading, but that would be extra special.
Thank you once again, and enjoy this last chapter of Hit and Run.
Yours, RoseFleur x
YOU OWE ME DINNER AT BREADSTIX. PICK YOU UP AT SIX. N x
Rachel wiped her thumb over the condensation covered screen of her phone. She had read the text so many times in the past five minutes it had become foggy and heated. It was 5.45, but Rachel insisted on standing by her window and gazing out of it for any sign of his oh-so familiar truck. She wiped the screen again and re-read his text. She slid her black clutch bag under her arm, nervously shifting it from side to side. Then she brought it out to check she had everything she needed. Her purse was there, her lipstick was there, her keys were there, her little perfume bottle was there, but she couldn't locate her phone.
Flustered, she rooted through the tiny bag hunting for it. She dropped the bag on her bed and searched around her room for it feeling hot and extremely agitated. She put her head in her hands and was met with a hard 'clunk' to the forehead. Retracting her head and feeling very annoyed at herself, Rachel wondered what it was about Noah that made her so nervous. Of course he was particularly handsome, but this she had known for a long time and it had never bothered her before. To her it seemed to be, the way he touched her, caressing her gently as if she was the most precious jewel to touch; or the way his murmurs in her ear sent a spine-tingling buzz through her veins; or possibly the way when he smiled at her, she felt like she was the only one that smile was meant for.
Either way, thinking of him right now was making her increasingly nervy and warm. She flapped her hands over her face, cooling herself down marginally and retook her spot at the window. Promptly, Noah's truck pulled up in front of her house. She grabbed her clutch bag off the bed and trotted down the stairs, careful not to fall flat on her face at the bottom. She called a 'goodbye' to her fathers and told them not to wait up for her and she exited the house.
Puck leaned against the truck wearing black jeans and an open neck blue shirt. He ran a hand through his Mohawk and watched as the door to the Berry household opened. He thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. Rachel wore a scoop necked red dress, with three-quarter length sleeves and an A-line skirt that rippled around her thighs in the slight breeze. It was coupled with a skinny black waist belt accentuating her tiny figure and thick black strappy wedges that made her legs go on forever. In true Berry style she had a red ribbon in her curled brunette locks, giving her the Rachel Berry edge.
Puck stood for a moment, awed and amazed before coughing gruffly and moving towards the door to take her hand and lead her to the car.
"You look breath-taking," He said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
She blushed, smiling gratefully and took his hand as he helped her into the truck.
He drove off in anticipation of a night that had so much potential.
xxx
"You're doing it again," She murmured, taking a sip of her water and wiping under her lip as she replaced the glass on the table.
"Sorry, I'll stop." Noah smiled and glanced away from her momentarily before returning his gaze to her.
"Noah!" Rachel cried, but she laughed as she said it.
"I'm sorry," He held up his hands in defeat and continued, "But you look so beautiful tonight, how can you expect me not to stare?"
Rachel blushed furiously and grinned demurely at him, thanking him softly and taking another sip of her water. The waitress came over and handed them their meals, flashing Puck a sultry smirk, leaning over him.
"Thank you," He said, barely glancing up at her.
Rachel smiled to herself as the woman marched away, looking angrily over her shoulder at the petite brunette.
"She's jealous," sighed Rachel, gathering her pasta onto her fork and sliding it into her mouth.
"Because she's not as stunning as you?" asked Puck, throwing a look over his shoulder to inspect the woman and sure enough, his assumptions were correct. She was just another lustrous cougar, desperate for his body, with little else going for her.
Rachel flushed again and said, "No silly, because I'm here with you."
Puck shrugged and replied, "She has nothing on you." He eyed Rachel, and smiled happily at her, spooning in another mouthful.
They ate slowly, taking the time to chat, discussing everything that would pop into their heads, never leaving them with an awkward silence to fill.
At the end of the meal Noah handed the disgruntled waitress their coupons along with his own addition for the dessert he had insisted buying Rachel as she stared wistfully after the cake cart. He had taken great pleasure in wiping the cream off her bottom lip with his thumb and watching her nibble at the pie like a small woodland animal of some sort. Possibly a squirrel, he'd always thought they were cute.
He stood up and took her arm leading her out to his truck.
"This has been a really wonderful night Noah, thank you so much."
"You're most welcome. But I'm not ready to go home yet…" He wrinkled his nose thinking of some way to extend the date as he helped her into the car.
"Why don't we go for a little drive?" offered Rachel, "I'll direct…"
"Good plan," said Puck, slipping into his side and switching on the engine. "Where to, madam?" He said, jovially tipping an imaginary hat.
She laughed, "Come out of here and take a left, then follow the road. We'll see where the night takes us."
xxx
"Erm… right," instructed Rachel spontaneously.
Noah followed her command, swinging the car to the right. They drove steadily down the road in the darkness before coming to a crossroads. He paused, and looked at Rachel questioningly.
"Right again," she directed followed by a swift nod of agreement from Noah. They continued again until a familiar landmark appeared.
"Ooh, pull up here," Rachel squealed excitedly, "Let's go for a walk round the park…"
Puck drew up to a halt and she hopped out of the car, eagerly grabbing his hand and climbing up the hill to the grassy knoll. They were the only ones in the dark park. The streetlights down where Puck had parked lit the ground up only marginally. The grass looked a deep green carpet, the night-time dew cold on Rachel's open toes.
He squeezed her hand gently and they walked over the grass, joined by their fingertips. In her wedges, Rachel was a fair bit taller than normal, coming up to almost eye level rather than his broad shoulders like usual. This meant that while they walked, side by side, in step with each other she could glance over to him and meet his deep hazel eyes, glinting softly in the moonlight. They crinkled slightly at her gaze, as though they were smiling in recognition of her dark chocolate ovals.
After walking for some time they found themselves under a mop of trees, guarding them from all else outside of this enclosure. Puck stopped and brought Rachel to face him. His stare bore into her and he brushed a flyaway hair from her eyes. He sighed deeply and did not let go of her face once he'd moved the hair. His soft fingertips drew light circles on her cheek and he bit his lip thoughtfully.
He leaned down, only slightly, and grazed her lips with his, only slightly. Then he pulled back and looked at her again. Her lips puckered automatically, desperate for more. He took his other hand, previously hanging limply by his side, and held it on the back of her neck under her thick curls. Then once again, he pulled her close and touched his mouth to hers. She threw her arms around his shoulders, kissing him voraciously which he returned only too hungrily.
His hands roamed her body; hers traced his shoulders, arms, back. They clutched to each other as though if not attached by the mouth they would be apart forever. Eventually, Puck retracted himself and moaned softly.
"Rachel," he murmured breathlessly.
"Mmm?" She whimpered quietly, her eyes tightly shut.
"Rachel," he repeated more strongly.
Her eyes opened and she gazed at him,
"Yes?" asked Rachel, her eyes searching his for an answer.
"I think I'm in love with you." Puck began, "And I know I've been bad before, and not treated you the way I should've done but I'll make it right I swear. I want this to be good and right and proper, and I never want to break your heart, I want to be the person to mend it and save it from all the shit you had to put up with that Finn caused. I don't want to be that guy Rach, I want to be the good guy who rights all the wrongs and gives you the perfection you deserve."
Rachel sucked in her breath tightly and exhaled slowly. Puck opened his mouth to blurt out a continuation but she placed a small finger on his lips and said,
"Noah?"
"Mmhmm?" He replied, his voice muffled by her touch.
She smiled, "You really do talk too much." She laughed, echoing the sentiments he told her far too often for her liking, and hit him playfully across the chest.
"And, I love you too, you silly idiot."
She moved her hand through his Mohawk, down along his neck, sending quivers through him, over his shoulder and down his chest. She clutched the light blue material of his shirt in her fist and dragged him close to her murmuring,
"Just shut up and kiss me."
To which he smiled, and obliged.
[Fin]