AN: Sorry for the delay I was suffering writer's block and I wasn't sure where this was going. But I'm back on track and will hopefully have another update soon. Sorry for the abrupt place this chapter leaves off but I'm exhausted. Please Review if you get a chance and thanks for all the reads. You guys are awesome!
It felt like the longest week of Puck's life, but he was so happy that it was finally Friday. Friday meant several things: 1. He would soon be free of the hassle that is school, 2. He was one week closer to his first paycheck and 3. The football team's last party of the semester was tonight. It was turning out to be a perfect week for him. His swagger as he headed for his truck after school was more pronounced than usual, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a familiar girl with a pronounced belly leaning on his truck.
"Hey, Quinn." He said thinly veiling his annoyance.
"Is that really any way to speak to the mother of your child?" she retorted, crossing her arms across her chest. Puck couldn't help but notice that pregnancy had done nice things for Quinn's cleavage, and when Quinn crossed her arms, it just emphasized that fact.
"Sorry, what did you say? I couldn't hear you over how loudly your boobs were calling my name." Puck continued to stare.
Quinn didn't uncross her arms but instead leaned her head down to make eye contact with Puck, "I know you think you're so the man, but please save your barbaric and perverse thoughts. I don't care about them. You aren't that awesome, Puck."
Puck just rolled his eyes. I am that fucking awesome, he thought. "Still got those panties in a bunch, Quinn?" he said under his breath.
"Puck. I didn't come here to start anything with you. I just wanted to give you these." She pulled out another manila envelope from her shoulder bag.
"I already told you I don't want to do adoption." He told her pushing the papers away.
"I know. Just look at the papers, please. I think this could work." She said.
"What do you mean work?" he asked, slightly curious.
Quinn stared at her feet before saying, "I'm not a stone wall, Puck. I have emotions. You're not the only one who doesn't necessarily want to give up my…I mean our child." Puck stifled a scoff and Quinn continued, "I still want to have her adopted, but I don't know if I can handle not being involved in her life. So, I researched some other options. That's what's in the envelope. So, just look at the papers, okay?"
Puck looked down on Quinn and he couldn't ignore the sincerity in her voice. "Alright. I'll look at them." He took the folder from Quinn and tossed it in his truck as he opened the passenger-side door.
"Thanks." She said and turned to walk away.
"Hey, Quinn?" Puck found himself calling her back not entirely sure why.
She turned and faced him, raising her eyebrows in a inquisitive manner. "Can I ask you something?" he said obtusely. "Do you miss Finn?"
"What kind of question is that, Puck?"
Just the one that popped into my head, he responded internally. "Nevermind." He told her.
"Puck, if you're wondering if I miss Finn and that's why I didn't choose to be with you or if he's the reason I'm still not with you, then stop wondering." Puck inhaled, ready for the bomb to drop and Quinn dropped it, "I will admit I still love him, but I'm not with you because I don't think we're right for each other. If we hadn't drunkenly hooked up and inadvertently created a human being, you wouldn't even want to be with me and I wouldn't want to be with you. All we have is sexual attraction and we both deserve more than that. Well, at least I do."
She made it sound so simple. Puck never really thought about whether he actually liked Quinn more than physically. Maybe she's right, he told himself. It was true that they never dated. Also, he didn't really know that much about her, and he didn't really want to get to know her until after she told him she was pregnant. But he thought sexual attraction was the most important thing, the other stuff you just tolerate about a person.
"Are you saying you only like me for my smoking hot body?" he deflected as he stepped out of his momentary deep-think session.
Quinn rolled her eyes, "Puck, I'm not saying we don't get along on other levels, but we're not exactly friends and we never really will be."
"So? What does being friends have to do with being in a relationship?" he asked incredulously.
Laughing, she answered, "In real relationships, the passion can sizzle. The newness wears off and if you don't really, truly like the person you're with, if you're not friends with them fundamentally, then the relationship will probably fail. I'm not looking for someone I want to be around without having to want to jump them. Does that make sense?"
"No." He said bluntly.
"Well, I don't think it translates into "Puck". But just know that we, as a couple, are never going to happen. Finn or no Finn."
Puck seemed to understand that, but the friend thing was still clouding his thoughts. It was foreign concept to him frankly. But he shrugged it off. Quinn, seeing that there wasn't anything really left to say, turned around again and walked away. Puck didn't try to stop her a second time.
Rachel paced back and forth in her room, wearing a small path in the carpet. She stopped abruptly and checked her phone. When it did not read what she wanted it to, she slammed it closed and continued to pace. She was interrupted by a knock on her door.
"Come in!" She squeaked.
"Honey, is there a reason you're stomping around up here?" one of her dads popped his head into her room.
Rachel sighed, obviously hoping that he was going to bring her different news. "Oh, nothing," she lied. "I didn't know I was being so loud."
"It's alright, Rachel. Dad and I just want to make sure that you're doing all right. You're not usually this stressed out." He commented.
"Oh, Daddy. I'm fine. Sorry to worry you two. I'm just waiting for someone."
"A special person?" her daddy asked. Both her dad's were always sensitive to make sure not to label their daughter, always using gender neutral terms, but Rachel knew her daddy's euphemism for romantic was special.
"No, Daddy. I'm just waiting for a friend Kurt to be precise. He's helping me get ready to go to the football party tonight with my boyfriend, Finn. Remember? I told you and Dad all about this last night."
Her daddy didn't want to admit it but it was sometimes difficult to listen to every word his little girl said, she talked quite a bit. "Oh, that's right. I remember now," he lied successfully. "Well, I hope he's here soon."
"Me too." she sighed honestly.
"Cheer up, Pumpkin. It'll be okay. I'll let you get back to your pacing." He left her.
Rachel plopped down on her bed, stretching out and trying to calm herself. Suddenly her phone made a distinctive ting. She quickly looked at the screen. She had a new text from Kurt.
Sorry hun but I'm totally not going to be able to make it. Another Diva is having an emergency I have to attend to.
Rachel felt a sudden loss of hope. Yeah, Kurt had mislead her last time about what to wear and he didn't exactly like that she was now dating Finn, but he did understand the popular crowd best. Plus, he had experience being with them a lot. She just wanted to make sure the outfit she picked out was sure to not only please Finn but not make her look like a total fool. Oh the things girls have worry about, she thought woefully.
Sitting up, she looked at the outfit she had laid out on her chair. It wasn't what she would typically wear but it was the only thing she could think might be appropriate. She didn't know how dressy or un-dressy these football house parties were. She decided that she would stick with what she had and hoped that it was okay. What Rachel really failed to realize what that it really didn't matter what she wore. She was Rachel Berry, she was going to stick out like a sore thumb no matter what.
Rachel was ready before Finn even got to her house. She sat rather impatiently on the couch for him. She thought maybe she should pretend to still be getting ready when he got there (like in all the movies) but she decided against it when she realized she's probably trip down the stairs and not descend gracefully. When the doorbell finally rang, Rachel sprang up and flew open the door.
"Hi." She breathed.
"Hi." Finn said back looking her over. "Rachel, you…you look…great."
"Really? You think so?" She asked genuinely pressing the sides of her skirt down. The dress was gift from her dads and she never knew if it was really "her", but Finn seemed to like it.
"Yeah, Rach." Finn answered sincerely. He really did think she looked gorgeous.
"It's not too much?"
"Naw." He said firmly but wasn't sure if that were the truth or a lie. Besides, he thought, it's Rachel. She always wears clothes people don't get but for some reason I find incredibly hot. And Finn definitely thought she looked hot now, so that's all he cared about. He admired the short length of the pale pink dress and the geometric tights that showed off only little peaks of her shapely legs. "You look fantastic," he reassured her. "So you ready to go?"
Rachel hesitated for a second, debating about whether this was a wise choice at all. She didn't really fit into that world of football parties and cheerleading, but Rachel quickly swallowed her fear and took Finn's arm. I'm ready for this, she tried to reassure herself, but the doubt still lingered.