Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, any of its characters or the plot of the show. Glee belongs to Ryan Murphy and Fox.

I do not own the song by Bon Jovi; I am just using it for a title.

I do own this plot line.

Who the fuck did Finn think he was? Threatening Puck was going to do no good, because he wasn't going to hurt her. He honestly wanted Rachel to be his friend, and he was trying to work up a way to get his friends to be okay with her.

Rachel woke up in a somewhat bad mood. It was Friday and she had to go to school. She would have tons of homework and she also had to bake a bunch of stuff as soon as she got back home. She only had one thing to look forward to. It was dinner with Noah.

She wasn't sure why she was looking forward to it. She knew that it only meant that he would excel at their glee assignment, but she couldn't help it. She really liked him. She liked him more than Finn and that was saying something.

He didn't say anything, didn't look to her at school but that wasn't out of the ordinary. She was used to being ignored when other people were around.

During free period, Rachel watched Puck leave the main school building to go out to the track. He went out there every chance he got, running off his anger and frustration so he didn't blow up at everyone (because he was working on that shit.) So, Rachel decided that it would be a good time to sit under her favorite tree. It had always been her favorite, even before her heart to heart with Puck.

He had been watching her all day. She was more quiet than usual, and it was kinda hot when he knew that there wasn't something wrong. He noticed her watching him when he left for the track and he could see her going toward the tree.

He didn't want to make it seem obvious that he noticed her, so he ran for a little while to give her time to relax before he went over to her.

She was watching him now, and when he felt her eyes on him, he slowed to a slow jog and looked at her. She saw the slight smile that appeared on his face. He went to his duffel bag and then made his way over to her. He wiped his forehead and arms with a white towel as he walked.

"Hey, Rachel. What are you doing out here?" He asked as he moved to sit next to her.

"I didn't feel like sitting in the library today." He nodded. "How was your run?"
"Short."
"You didn't have to stop just because you saw me." She looked at her shoes.

"I know that. Just wanted to talk I guess." He shrugged. "So, um, what time should I pick you up tonight?"

"Dad doesn't leave until 6. So if you could come over just before that, I'd appreciate it." Puck smiled because he knew she was also doing that for his benefit. She knew that he didn't do well with girls' parents.

"Yeah, I can do that." They were sitting in comfortable silence for a little while. Rachel loved the moments where they didn't have to say anything, that their presence was all that was needed.

They had only ten minutes left of their free period so Rachel was getting anxious. Puck stood up and extended his hand to help her up.

"Thank you, Noah." She spoke after she stood up. She tried to take her hand from him, but he had other ideas. He pulled her close to him and kissed her.

At first, she didn't respond. She was surprised that he was kissing her. On school grounds. In broad daylight. But the initial surprise wore off and she began to kiss him back.

"What was that for?" Rachel asked quietly when he pulled away.

He leaned in to whisper into her ear. "I felt like it." The warmth of his breath on her ear sent shivers up her spine. Before she could say anything as a reply, the bell rang and signaled the end of the hour. "Get to class, Rachel." He squeezed her hand and gave her a wink before walking to the locker rooms.

They didn't know that someone had heard them talking and that someone had seen them kiss, but someone did.

And she was pissed.

Santana nearly flew down the hallway as she looked for Puck. There was no way in hell he was with Rachel. Puck was above that. Furthermore, he had only broken things off like yesterday.

The anger she felt had only increased when she couldn't find Puck. She looked in the parking lot for his truck only to find that it wasn't there. The only cold comfort she had was that Rachel wasn't with him.

She was going to do something about this, this whole Rachel and Puck thing. It just couldn't happen. The social hierarchy wouldn't stand for it. She spent an entire hour thinking of ways she could prevent what she thought was going on. They were going to go to dinner, but she had no idea where. That was going to be a problem.

She thought that she would be all on her own when she heard Daniel Sampson venting to some random second string football players. He was still pissed over what Rachel had done. She couldn't just stick up for herself. She needed to hurt or he would lose his place as top dog at McKinley. He worked his ass off, he told the other guys, to get to where he was. Puck held the spot for so long that no one thought they would ever have a chance. But now Puck wasn't in control and things were going to change.

Santana got an evil grin as she thought about the kind of revenge the two of them would be able to achieve.

"Daniel," Santana said from across the hall. "I have a proposition for you." The smile Daniel had told Santana that he understood exactly what she meant.

"Fill me in, San."

"It has to do with Rachel." Daniel's grin almost reflected Santana's.

"What do you need me to do?"

Rachel paced in front of her window. This wasn't a big deal. It was just dinner.

It was just dinner with her friend Noah.

Puck knocked hesitantly on the front door of the Berry household. He wasn't exactly looking forward to dinner out. Especially not after he heard David talking in the locker room after practice about getting revenge on Rachel. He wasn't in the mood to deal with David's shit.

Fucking David and his asshole status.

Rachel's dad opened the door and stared Puck down.

"Hello Mr. Berry." He said politely. He was terrible with parents. It seemed that Rachel's dad was going to be a hard guy to get along with. He was way over protective of his daughter.

"Noah." He replied with no interest. "I'll get Rachel." He left Puck standing in the doorway. He entered the house and shut the door behind him. "She will be down in a minute." Alexander said as he made his way back down the stairs. His disinterest stunned Puck. Normally Alexander quizzed him over what he was going to be doing even when they were just hanging out in the studio. "Come in." He said at last, leading Puck past the entry way and into the living room.

It was obvious to Puck that Alexander was in a hurry, as he kept looking at his watch then at the stairs to see if Rachel was ready yet. It was another five minutes before Rachel came down and Alexander was visibly happier. "I'd like her home by midnight."

They went to the diner on Saint Johns Road. It was the diner all the McKinley high students loved. Rachel really wasn't sure why Puck chose a place frequented by the majority of the jocks.

"Why are we here?" Puck noticed the anxiety in her voice.

"It's relaxing, the food is great. I figured that we could work on the instrument arrangements for our glee assignment." Rachel couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. She was so surprised that Puck had thought this dinner thing through.

They were laughing and talking about random things until the door of the diner opened, bringing attention to the two people that just made their way inside the restaurant. Santana approached their table, holding hands with Daniel.

"Puckerman, what are you doing here with…that?" Daniel motioned towards Rachel. Rachel's posture stiffened.

"Looks like we are eating. We were laughing about how she slammed you the other day." Puck replied nonchalantly, biting into a fry. Daniel's face turned red, and a growl emitted from his throat.

This was not part of the plan she had made with Daniel. Puck was supposed to get embarrassed, and say that he had no choice, that he didn't really want to be with her. But he was protecting her and Daniel was being something like a jealous ex boyfriend.

"Is there something you needed, Daniel?" Rachel asked, ever the polite lady.

"Don't talk to me." Daniel said. His eyes were set in a glare and focused on Puck.

"Are you jealous, Samson?" Puck asked. "Wish Rachel wanted to spend time with you?" Rachel's eyes widened at Puck's ludicrous accusation.

"Noah," Rachel warned.

"Why would I want to spend time with her? She's toxic." Daniel retorted. Puck stood up and got in the other guys face.

"Watch your mouth, Samson, if you want to keep it." Puck threatened. "Now, I suggest you and Santana get the hell away from my table. And keep your fucking mouths shut about her. Got it?" Rachel could barely hear what he was saying, but the venom was clearer to her than any words.

Santana tugged on Daniel's hand and pulled him away from the table. Puck asked Rachel is she was ready to go. When she nodded, he led her to the front counter, paid the bill and followed her to his truck.

Once they were both inside, he turned to her. "Sorry for that. Daniel is a dick, and Santana is… Well, she is Santana."
"It's fine." Rachel insisted.

"No, I shouldn't have picked the diner."

"Really Noah, it's fine.

They returned to Rachel's house about four hours before he was required to get her home.

"Would you like to come in?" Rachel asked shyly.

"Yeah, that'd be cool."

They sat down on the living room couch to watch a movie. Puck was more than surprised that she had chosen 'Law Abiding Citizen'. Puck loved the movie, but was finding Rachel's reactions to the film much more entertaining. Every time there was a loud noise, Rachel would jump, and every time she jumped her body moved closer to him until their upper thighs were touching. Puck grinned at Rachel.

"It's not scary, Rachel. Why're you jumping at the noises?"

"Because I'm not expecting it!" Puck laughed and shook his head.

"They're just sounds."

"So you've said. Do you want a cupcake or something? I went on that baking tangent earlier. "

"Sounds awesome." Rachel didn't reply, she just hurried to the kitchen and returned to the living room with a cupcake with chocolate frosting.

"I'm sorry that dinner turned out the way it did."

"How were you supposed to know that Santana would show up?"

"I should have. Santana used to drag me to the diner on weekends. If she would have been alone, it would have been fine." He paused. "I heard Daniel talking about wanting to get revenge on you for what you did the other day." Rachel laughed.

"He certainly got it, didn't he?" She asked sarcastically.

"If I would have known that Daniel and Santana were plotting something, we wouldn't have gone there."

"Noah, honestly, it's fine. Though, I imagine the encounter was awkward for you."

"That's an understatement." Puck laughed.

"Well, I enjoyed the evening regardless. Thank you for staying here and keeping my mind off of everything. It's getting late though, and my father will be home son."

"Yeah, it's no problem." Puck took his uneaten cupcake and stood from the couch. "I'll see you tomorrow. Only got two more days to practice. Thanks for the cupcake."

Rachel walked him to the door. She got on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight."

It was 2:30 when Alexander finally returned from the group. He tried to sneak upstairs.

"Dad, why are you just getting home?" Rachel asked, making her father jump.

"Baby girl, I appreciate that you're concerned about me, but I am the father. I don't have a curfew."

"Yes, I know. However, I'd still like to know that you're okay." Her voice broke as she spoke.

"I'm so sorry, Rachel." He kissed her forehead. "I didn't realize." He spoke in a whisper. "How was your date?" She blushed.

"It wasn't a date, it was just dinner and discussing our glee assignment."

"And a movie." He motioned to the case on the table. "You wouldn't watch that by yourself." Rachel silently scolded herself for not picking the case up. She didn't want her dad to make a big deal about what had happened with Noah. They were friends.

"I told you, it wasn't a date."

"Sweetie, it was definitely a date."

"Noah doesn't like me like that." Rachel assured her father.

"If that's what you want to believe, I'll let you." She rolled her eyes.

"Good night, dad."

"Night, baby girl." She turned and went up the stairs.

Rachel didn't sleep that night. She was stuck in her room, alone with her thoughts, and that was never a good thing. There was no way that Noah had a thing for her. No one did. He may have kissed her, but with Puck, that didn't exactly mean anything. She shook her head, trying to make her mind stop wishing that Puck did like her.

Saturday, Rachel decided that she should give the chance to redeem himself. He had apologized to her for all the things he had said, and it was only fair since she gave one to puck. Finn deserved one.

They were sitting on the floor of the studio, laughing when she remembered that she was supposed have Puck over to practice the piano/guitar arrangements for their duet.

-Hey, are we going to practice today?-

She sent the message to Puck and went back to pretending she was interested in whatever Finn was saying.

*Yeah. around 4. That cool?*

-Sure.-

*It'd be earlier, but I'm cleaning pools 2day*

Finn noticed that Rachel wasn't giving him her undivided attention, that she was very distracted by whoever was texting her.

"Who ya texting?"

"Just N- Puck. I'm texting Puck."

"Oh, what did you do Thursday and Friday?" He asked.

"Nothing really. I was busy practicing for glee with Puck."

"You were with Puck?"

"Yes, I was. Is there a point to where you are taking this conversation?"

"I guess. I was told that Puck was off with Mrs. King. Or Mrs. Mendez. But I'm sure he was with you." Finn said innocently.

"I assure you, he was with me." Rachel said firmly. "He was not with a cougar either of those days."

"Are you sure?" Finn questioned. "He told me that Mrs. King was definite on Fridays." Rachel's eyes began to sting.

"Finn, I really don't want to talk about this right now. He probably was with Mrs. King before he came over." She said, no longer doubting Finn.

Puck was at Mrs. Mendez's house finishing her pool before he headed to Rachel's. Mrs. Mendez, or Stephi as she asked him to call her, was probably the hottest mom on Cedar St. and he liked to think that she was his best lay of the week.

Saturdays were his favorite days because he had a reason to be at her house. It wasn't unusual for his truck to be parked across the street from the house. Since the Mendez's had the biggest pool in town, it normally took a while for him to get it completely clean, and he would always take his time.

Today he wasn't taking his time and he was avoiding all contact with Stephi because he didn't have time to deal with her. It wasn't just Stephi; he wanted to spend time with Rachel. After their dinner turned date, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He also couldn't stop thinking about how Finn wasn't happy about Puck spending time with her and wanted to screw everything over.

Puck was actually into her. He was pretty sure that he liked her. And Puck went after the girls that he liked. The only problem he saw was that Rachel wasn't just a girl he could fuck and throw away. She deserved better than that. She deserved a boyfriend, and for some reason he wanted to be that boyfriend. He did, but he wasn't able to be with just one girl. His life had always been about pleasing the ladies (plural) never the singular. It was against his code or something.

He figured he'd ask Rachel out again, this time for an actual date, and see where it went. The least he could do is try.

Stephi wasn't happy when Puck didn't want to go inside to get his money. He told her that he had a lot to do, more pools and stuff and he couldn't spend the time. She called his bluff, because she knew that he only did her on Saturdays. She went so far as to tell him that she would fire him. He couldn't lose the best lay around. He just couldn't. Four o'clock was approaching fast and he needed to get to Rachel's.

His previous thoughts of wanting to be her boyfriend didn't stop him from following her inside and smirking as he took her on the kitchen table.

He got to his truck at five thirty, smelling like sex and cigarettes. He had a smug look that screamed good sex. He pulled away from the Mendez house and headed across town.

Rachel and Finn were laying next to each other in her back yard.

"Quinn keeps telling me about her guys on the side. It bugs me."

"You have an open relationship, Finn."

"Well, that doesn't mean I want to know." Rachel shook his head.

"Then tell her." Finn lifted his head from the grass and looked at her.

"I never thought of that." He said with a smile.

Rachel looked at her watch. It was 5:50.

"It's been almost two hours, Rachel."

"I know that, Finn."

"Do you think he is with Mrs. Mendez?"

"I don't know."

"I heard she was spectacular." Finn said quietly.

"What?" Her question was met with silence.

"I'm just saying, I bet he is with her."

"I really don't want to know." Rachel whispered.

"You like him, right?"

"I thought I did. I thought he might like me."

"Puck is good at playing people, Rachel. Don't let him get to you."

"I'm not." She insisted. She halted conversation when she heard Puck's truck. It was so sad that she knew exactly what it sounded like. Finn looked at her in sympathy.

"Puck's here." Finn announced so Rachel didn't have to. Now, it sounded like it was turning onto her street. "I guess I should get going now." Finn went to stand up, Rachel shook her head.

"No, he won't be staying."

"You sure, Rachel?"

She wasn't able to confirm before Puck got to the backyard. He almost didn't see the pair laying in the grass.

"Hey Rachel." He said, completely ignoring Finn's presence. "What are you doing out here?"

"You are two hours late. So, Finn and I decided to hang out a little longer."

"I thought we were going to practice the piano and guitar arrangements?"

"No, I've got it down. You just need to practice. Which, after thinking about it, you can do by yourself."

"Rachel," Puck began.

"I'll let you two talk." Finn said as he turned to go inside the studio.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"Watch your language, Noah. I don't appreciate it."

"Then what the hell is going on?"

"Do you like me?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"What is this about?" His face was clearly puzzled.

"Were you late because you were with Mrs. Mendez?" Puck let out a breath of frustration.

"You want the truth? Of course you do. Yes, I was with Stephi, but I had meant to come over right after I finished her pool. And I would have if she hadn't threatened me."

"Well, I guess it's true what they say? Once a player, always a player."

"She was going- I'm not playing you, Rachel." Finn laughed from the doorway.

"I think you should go." Rachel left Puck standing in the middle of her backyard. The door to the studio closed. Finn came up behind Puck and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Looks like I win this one." Finn said, Puck looked over his shoulder to see that Finn was wearing an extremely smug grin.

"This isn't a fucking contest, Hudson."

"Kinda feels like it." Finn laughed again and went to join Rachel in the studio.

Puck was left to walk back to his truck and wonder how the fuck the day ended how it did.

Finn had to hide the smirk from Rachel. He was feeling great, Rachel was basically his. It wouldn't take much to get her.

"Finn, I'm not feeling well." Rachel placed her hand on his forearm.

"Alright, I'll text you."

She was getting ready to crawl into bed for the night when her phone went off.

*Rachel…* Rachel sighed when she read the text from Puck.

-What?-

*I wanted to ask you something.*

-What is it?-

*I wanted to ask you out. Like for real.*

-Did you decide this while you were having sex with what's her name?-

*No. It was before.*

-No.-

*Just give me a chance.* If Rachel didn't know better, she would think that Puck really did want a chance.

-Why?-

*Because, I actually like you.*

-You have a great way of showing it. If you really do, prove it.-

She closed her eyes as she held the power button down. She didn't want to read anything he said.

It turned out, she didn't have to. He didn't reply.

Longest chapter to date.

Saint Johns Road is actually in Lima. The diner St. Johns R&B Restaurant is real too.

I hope you are all enjoying this still.

Only a little bit left!

Reviews are so appreciated, and they provide drive. So please review.