Hello everyone! Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Rachel sighed as she walked into school Monday morning. She knew that her relationship with Puck was going to have to stay under wraps but it was going to be hard to do that when he was constantly in the same place as her. Ever since he dropped her off at home she couldn't stop thinking about him and his situation. It worried her that he had to deal with so much and probably more than that. She wanted to help but she didn't know how.

As she walked down the hall and saw him with Finn, Rachel immediately smiled to herself, still not believing he was actually hers. All the worries washed away as soon as he came into view.

"What are you so smiley about?" Mercedes asked, walking up to her before looking in the direction Rachel was looking. "Did I miss something?"

"You can't tell anyone but Puck and I are together," she smiled excitedly.

"Seriously? When did that happen?"

"The night of the dance. I just didn't want to tell you because I was still processing. But he and his sister came over Saturday and it was so great-"

"Okay hold up. You had him at your house? What about your dad? You know if he finds out about you guys Puck's fired right?"

Rachel nodded. "Yes of course I know that. That's why my dad is not going to find out."

"You really think you can keep this a secret from him?" Mercedes raised an eyebrow.

"I'm certainly going to try," she replied as the bell rang.

As everyone walked to class, Puck walked around the school with Finn but as Finn talked, all he could think about was Rachel. He still worried about the fact that she knew about his life but she promised not to tell so he had to trust that.

"Puck," he heard Finn say. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. Look, I should probably tell you that…me and Rachel are a thing I guess."

"Seriously? When did that happen?"

"The night of the dance. We're keeping it lowkey so please don't say anything."

"Hey I was the one who was all for it remember? Just don't get caught."

"That's the plan," he nodded as they kept walking.

At lunch, Puck got a text from Rachel asking him to meet her in the music room. After clearing it with Finn, he went and found her sitting at the piano.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Hey, you came. I was afraid you'd be too scared to come."

"Hey it's not like you're asking me to rob a bank. Just sneak in here to get a minute with you," he smirked. "I do have to be concerned about someone coming in here though."

"Don't worry I reserved the room for all of lunch."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah they let us reserve the room to practice. Plus I had to check in after this weekend. How's Sara?"

"She's fine. We usually move on and pretend nothing happened."

She frowned. "It's not fair that you guys have to go through that."

"Hey we're okay. We always manage somehow but I don't want to think about that. I want to think about me taking you out this Saturday."

"Really? Where?"

"It's a surprise. Just say you're up for it."

"Of course I am," she smiled before frowning. "I have to ask you something though."

"Shoot."

"Has your mom ever…been abusive towards you or Sara?"

"Rachel," he sighed.

"I just need to know. It's been on my mind since you dropped me off."

He paused before letting out a breath. "One time while she was drunk she slapped me for calling her pathetic. She went to bed and slept it off and we never spoke about it again."

"Puck," Rachel frowned.

"I told you I can handle it. Look don't worry about us, we're fine. When I'm with you I don't want to think about any of that, okay?"

"Okay," she nodded as they started talking about something else.

When she got home that night, Rachel walked in and found her fathers waiting for her.

"What's going on?" she asked, worried.

"NYADA finally sent your letter about when your audition is," Leroy told her. "Open it, we're dying here."

She giggled before taking the envelope and opening it. As she read it, she smiled. "Next month. They'll be here next month to watch me audition."

"So you have to be prepared," Hiram told her. "Make sure you're on your A game. Stay focused."

"Hiram relax. She's still in her senior year, she still should have fun," Leroy told him.

"Of course you wouldn't understand the magnitude of this," he said before walking away.

As Leroy followed him, Rachel sighed to herself before smiling again thinking about the audition. Between that and Puck, she had enough to keep her mind off of her fathers' issues.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That Saturday, Puck picked Rachel up and drove until he got to a building. When they went inside, Rachel smiled.

"You brought me to a piano bar?"

"Yeah I figured since you have your audition soon, you'd be able to try out some of your stuff here sometime."

"You want me to perform in front of all these people?" she raised an eyebrow.

"When you're ready, yeah. Hey you've done it before."

"That's different, I'm used to being at school."

"Hey," he turned her so she could look at him. "You're better than you think."

She laughed and playfully pushed him before going to sit as she waited for her turn.

"So where's Sara tonight?" she asked him.

"At home with my mom. I'm hoping my mom actually tries to spend time with her but who knows. So will I be able to watch your audition?"

"Doubt it. Not unless you sneak into the auditorium or hide in the wings. I just have to find that perfect song that will set me apart from everyone."

"Well maybe these people can give you some inspiration. May I have this dance?"

Rachel smiled before taking his hand and walking to the dancefloor with him. As they swayed to the music, Puck couldn't help but stare at Rachel. She was so beautiful and talented and he couldn't believe he had her.

He smiled and kissed her as he held her tighter. She kissed him back, eager and wanting more. After a moment, she pulled away.

"Can we go outside?" she asked.

Breathless, Puck nodded and they walked out to his truck. As he laid her across the seat, they fumbled and giggled at their movements.

"Sorry, I'm not used to doing anything here," he told her.

"That's good to know." As he leaned in, Rachel stopped him. "Wait. I think now would be the time to mention that I've never…done it before."

"It? You're going to have to be more specific," Puck smirked, knowing exactly what she meant.

She rolled her eyes. "I've never had sex. Is that weird?"

"Not at all. We can take this as slow as you want."

"Great," she smiled before capturing his lips again.

As Puck moved his hands up, they were interrupted when he felt his phone vibrate. He groaned as he sat up to answer it.

"Hang on," he told her. "Hello? Yes this is him. What? I don't understand, what happened? Is she okay? Okay I'll be right there."

Rachel frowned. "What's going on?"

"There was a fire at my house. Sara's at the hospital, we have to go." He quickly got into the driver's side and drove off. When they got to the hospital, they raced inside and Puck went to the front desk. "Hi I'm looking for Sara Puckerman, I'm her brother, Noah."

The receptionist checked the computer. "Have a seat, someone will be right with you."

He sighed and sat down next to Rachel.

"Is your mom here too?" she asked.

Before he could respond, a woman walked over to him. "Noah Puckerman? I'm Jennifer Wright with the Department of Social Services."

"Is my sister okay?" he asked frantically.

"She's fine, she's being looked after. Mr. Puckerman, I have to say this could've been really bad."

"I know, I don't understand what happened. She was supposed to be home with our mother."

"Well it appears that your mother started a fire. Your sister says that she started cooking something and left the home without telling her. I'm sure the fire was an accident and it wasn't that bad but if Sara had not found a way to escape, she could've died from smoke inhalation. We're going to have to look after her for a while."

"No, no please all of this was just an accident."

"It was an accident that could've gotten her killed, Mr. Puckerman. You'll receive a call about visitation and following up but she's going to have to go to a foster home temporarily."

Puck shook his head. "Please don't take her, I will figure something out I promise."

"Sara is not in a safe environment right now. We've already received a phone call from her school about the times she's been left there. If the living situation changes I will personally help you get her back but until then I have to take her."

"Can I at least see her before you take her? Please? She needs to hear what's happening from me."

Jennifer hesitantly nodded and guided him and Rachel back to the room where Sara was.

Immediately, Sara ran to him. "Puck! It was so scary but I found a way out."

"I know, I'm proud of you," he said trying to keep his voice steady.

Sara frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Look things are a little too crazy for you to be home right now so…this nice lady is going to take you to stay with another family for a little while."

"But I don't want to be with another family I want to be with you."

He nodded, trying to hold it together. "I know but that can't happen right now. I'm going to come see you every day and I'm going to bring you back I promise."

"Sara it's time to go," Jennifer told her.

She hugged him tightly. "Noah please don't let them take me away. You promised they wouldn't."

"I'm really sorry kid," he replied as Jennifer started to gently pull her away.

"No!" Sara fought as she was taken out of the room. "I don't want to go. Puck!"

As he heard Sara's cries as they left, Puck crumbled. Rachel immediately threw her arms around him to try to calm him down. She didn't know what was going to happen but she knew she had to help them somehow. They didn't deserve any of this.

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