A/N: if you haven't already heard it, please go listen to the song Lover; you should've come over, by Jeff Buckley. I'm sorry to the people who don't like reading lyrics, but in my humble opinion, these lyrics are more than worth reading and even better, listening to. Best line: "she's a tear that hangs inside my soul forever."
Rachel hates the word lover. (That's actually me, but whatever.)
Also, I think a great duet for these two on the show would be Broken by Evanescence and Seether, but I sincerely doubt that will ever happen.
Noah had a feeling that when Rachel had started to pull away from him it wasn't really his fault because he was pretty sure he hadn't done anything wrong. She wasn't very keen on the idea of 'going public' with whatever it is that was going on between them.
When he confronted her about it and found out that it was because she was 'confused' or whatever… he was willing to ease up a bit, but when she told him that Finn wanted them (Rachel and Finn) to still be friends and she didn't want to 'flaunt' what they were doing in front of him, he was downright pissed.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!"
"No, Noah. I just do not think it would be fair to him right now."
"He fucked Santana, Rach!"
"Thank you for reminding me." She rolled her eyes.
"You are un-fucking-believable. You're crazy, you know that, right?"
"I didn't say it was rational, but I do expect you to respect it."
So, being Noah, his initial reaction was to piss her off just as much as she was pissing him off. When he was mad, he lashed out. When he was hurt, he lashed out. He wasn't going to chase her like some pathetic little lapdog. There were plenty of chicks he could fill his time with. He did a good job of flirting with plenty of them at school, but only in front of her or within earshot of her. He even asked a couple of them if they were 'busy later' just to torture her further. He couldn't bring himself to let it go any further than that.
"You are such an ass!"
"I love it when you curse."
"I can't believe you. Are you trying to hurt me?"
"Me?! This is the first time you've talked to me in days!"
"Well, I had trouble getting near you with all of your whores hanging all over you!"
"So, you did actually notice that I was alive?"
"I can't believe I was stupid enough to think that you could actually…"
"What, Rach? That I could actually what?! Because I'm pretty sure I actually can…if I don't already!!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"I don't know! What are you talking about?!"
That's when she turned around and practically ran away from him.
He stopped the flirting. He started moping. Hard. He didn't prepare himself for this feeling. He didn't think about what came after he allowed himself to fall for Rachel. She was completely avoiding him.
Noah: y r u being like this?
Noah: answer your damn phone
Berry: I cant talk right now, working on my solo
Noah: what solo?
Berry: ask one of your girlfriends
Noah: that doesn't even make sense
Noah: please come over?
Berry: I'm tired
Noah: I'll come 2 u
Berry: I'm going to sleep.
Noah: I miss u
It had been a month since the last time him and Rachel had sex, two weeks since they had kissed.
Noah knew Rachel wasn't head over heels for Finn anymore, but he was really uncomfortable with them trying to have a friendship. He knows how friendships with Berry can turn out. He couldn't stand watching them dance around each other and singing to each other all the fucking time. If Rachel wasn't treating him like she hated him right now, it probably wouldn't even bother him. A part of Noah wanted Rachel to hate Finn, but he knew it was unreasonable and more than a little hypocritical of him.
Noah: he cheated on u. not me.
Berry: I cheated on him!
Noah: I know. I was there. U regret it?
Berry: of course not.
He figured that was progress so he didn't push her.
He had to figure out a way to apologize to her for all of the shameless flirting he had been doing with everyone but her (even if it was just an act) and for reacting so badly when she said she didn't want to hurt Finn.
His sister of all people was the one to point out to him that 'duh, she's a nice person…you knew this.' He did know that. Of course she was considering Finn's feelings. That's why he knew when Rachel had cheated on Finn with him it wasn't because she was just fulfilling her needs. She did it because she had feelings for him. She wasn't some cold bitch that just wanted to get her rocks off (ahem, Santana). She's an actual nice person and he really likes that about her. She's not a fake person, she's genuine. Except for the whole cheating and lying thing. Yikes.
Her feelings had shifted while she was dating Finn. He had become more of her friend and Noah was more like her boyfriend with each passing day. She stayed with Finn for too long and didn't end things with Noah because she was too afraid of hurting either of them. He wasn't even aware he had feelings to hurt, but she knew. And he knew how she treated her friends, so yeah; he was an ass for getting jealous.
Noah had stayed after glee practice one day to ask Mr. Schue if he could maybe perform one of the duets or possibly even a solo. He told Noah that he couldn't just give him a solo or duet; he would have to 'try out' like everyone else. Mr. Schue decided to open up the opportunity to everyone in the club and told them they had to pick a song and perform it in front of the rest of the club in the auditorium on Friday.
Britney sang that song from The Wizard of Oz about rainbows that always makes Noah a little sleepy and bored. Matt and Mike sang If I Ever Fall in Love by Shai which was a little old school, but definitely good. And then it was his turn. He sat on one of the stools with his guitar and a mic in front of him. He asked one of the band kids to assist him on drums, because Finn was obviously out of the question.
Mr. Schue asked him what he had prepared and he told them that he was going to be singing Lover, You Should've Come Over. Everyone looked at each other with the same question in their eyes, 'what the hell is that?' except for Rachel who cringed when she heard he title. He knew that would get her attention.
"Okay, Puck…let's hear it." Mr. Schue told him.
Looking out the door I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations as their shoes fill up with water
They were still looking at each other, incredibly confused.
And maybe I'm too young to keep good love from going wrong
But tonight you're on my mind so… you never know
He smiled a little before closing his eyes and continuing. When I'm broken down and hungry for your love with no way to feed it
Where are you tonight, child you know how much I need it
Too young to hold on and too old to just break free and run
He didn't stare at her while he sang. He pretended he was alone in his room, with his mother and sister out of the house. It was just easier that way.
Sometimes a man gets carried away, when he feels like he should be having his fun Oh lover, you should've come over
And much too blind to see the damage he's done
Sometimes a man must awake to find that really, he has no-one
So I'll wait for you... and I'll burn
Will I ever see your sweet return
Oh will I ever learn
'Cause it's not too late
Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in
Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him
My body turns and yearns for a sleep that will never come
His favorite part is next and he closes his eyes and puts everything he has into it. It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder Well maybe I'm just too young Oh... lover, you should've come over Well I feel too young to hold on Lover, you should've come over
It's never over, all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her
It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter
It's never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever
To keep good love from going wrong
'Cause it's not too late
And I'm much too old to break free and run
Too deaf, dumb, and blind to see the damage I've done
Sweet lover, you should've come over
Oh, love well I'm waiting for you
'Cause it's not too late
He waited for her reaction. It was the only one that mattered. Everyone else was just sitting there dumbfounded. He knew he was good and wasn't really looking for their approval, but he felt a little raw and exposed.
She had heard him sing before, but only ever messing around in his or her room, or the bed of his truck. Or even driving around, but they were always silly songs that everyone loved to sing along to like, Jack and Diane or Brown Eyed Girl. He had held back every time, not sure why, but he decided that if he wanted to play the leading man he had to man up and play the part. Again, man of action. And what better way to grab her attention than to sing to her? Really sing to her.
"Wow, Puck…that was…amazing!" Mr. Schue said emphatically and pointed a finger at him accusingly, "YOU have been holding out on us!"
Everyone else voiced their agreements with Mr. Schue as Rachel got up and walked to the exit. He barely heard them as he rushed out after her.
"I'll be right back, Mr. Schue. Need some water."
When he opened the door, she was pacing in front of him in the hallway. The second she realized he was there she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face into his neck.
"I'm sorry." He told her as he wrapped his strong arms around her squeezing her to him.
"That's all you had to say."
"Well, I figured you were more of the grand gesture type."
She laughed a little at this and kissed him. "I don't know what got into me." She admitted.
"I do." He answers with a smirk and gravel in his tone as his hands slide lower to her ass as she pushes herself up onto her tip-toes. She brings her hands to his chest and grabs his shirt to pull him into a kiss before asking him, "What's that?"
"You're a smart chick, Berry. You'll figure it out."
"Noah?"
"Yeah?"
"Worst song title. Ever."