Cool

What to do? What to do? What to do?

Puck was pondering about his next moves on Rachel.

Actually…

He was thinking about something else.

''Fucking shit… Me and my stupid ideas.'' He mumbled, while walking through the school halls full of nerdy and horny students. There were some hiding their faces in books and some making out in the middle of the way, not caring if everyone could see them.

There were also many girls who winked at Puck as he passed them, in hopes he might take his time and give them something they needed.

But right now, he was blind.

He did not hear, nor did he see anything besides his way to his locker. His thoughts made him crazy and as cool as he thought he was, this game was getting to him.

Rachel was in his mind and as hard as he tried to not feel the pressure of his conscience, he failed.

It was eating him.

It was eating him inside out thinking about what else he has to do to Rachel who was ''so fucking blind and oblivious!'' he said to himself when he reached his locker and opened it. While he roomed around in it, he heard his football friends laughing and talking loudly as if there was nothing wrong in the world.

They happily joked around, when they came to their lockers next to the one of Noah and greeted him.

''Yo, Puck! How is it going?'' asked Karofsky and friendly punched him in the shoulder.

Puck sighed and turned around smirking: ''What do you think?''

They all laughed and high-fived.

''This game really is awesome. I can hardly wait for the climax.'' One of the boys called and some of the others whistled enthusiastically.

Puck laughed weekly and turned to Karofsky: ''But you know what? The girl can really be cool sometimes.'' He said and tried to be as casual as possible. If he wanted to – kind of change the plan of the game, he had to be pretty careful.

His giant friend looked at him with a raised brow and smirked: ''Yeah, I know. The chick is actually funny. Letting us slushy her- she really must like it.''

That did not go the way he wanted.

''No, I mean, when I talked to her, she really is- um- kind of nice.'' Puck continued unsure. He knew this might go wrong. Especially with Karofsky.

The other boy sighed and looked around, seeing his friends still laughing and talking about girls and football. Then he again turned to Puck and bumped his fist into his shoulder.

''Yeah, I know. The chick must be crazy – she helps me with Sociology sometimes. It was actually the teacher who asked her to, but she didn't complain and really explained the stuff to me. I almost felt bad the next day, when it was my turn to slushy her.'' Karofsky looked sorry for a moment.

If he only knew that Rachel has no choice but to follow teacher's instructions; most probably she wanted to scream and run away back then, but had to teach Karofsky anyway. The teachers were really unfair and most probably unsuitable for this job.

Unsuitable…

Berry already contaminated him with such words.

Yeah…

''Well, yeah… She is kind of strange-'' he said, but was interrupted.

''Chickening out?'' asked one of the football players and it suddenly became quiet.

Karofsky and Puck looked up and saw James, Azimio's brother who by the way was in waaaay better body shape than his with stimulates filled brother, but wore the same obnoxious smirk. He stood there in the middle of the group with his two apes-of-best-friends on each side and challenged with his expression everyone in the group.

He knew how to play the leader.

But Puck was better.

''What?'' asked the mohawked boy with his coldest voice and stern expression he could manage. He knew that all the boys respected and feared him even more, when he looked like that. That is why everyone tensed; James did too, but managed to stay as relaxed as possible.

''Are you chickening out? The way I got it, I had a feeling, Berry will get away.'' The muscular boy posed presumptuously – damn, Berry really talks too much in front of him – and smirked as if he was smarter than anyone else here.

Puck was very good in reading people; his life-style forced him to; so he knew how to react.

He snorted loudly and chuckled, making James lose his cool for a moment: ''And what do you care what plans I have with Berry?'' Puck asked and smirked at the boy in front of him.

James raised his brow: ''So you want to stop the game?''

''What is it to you?''

''Nothing. Just asking. So the stud king became a pussy because of Berry? That's rich.''

''You jealous or something? Cuz' what I hear is like you want to do all the work.''

''Jealous?'' James snorted. ''Yeah, sure – just reminding you to not forget about the bet. What would people think if you chickened out.'' He smirked again, thinking he got him there.

''And who are you to tell me, what I should do?'' Puck asked with such force and authority in his voice that James had to make a step back.

It was like Puck looked down on him, although he was the same height. His back was straight and his muscles tensed; his green eyes were focused on James who started to breathe faster under his look. This was the state of Puck that people did not want to see – it made them back off from him and respect him for his power over them.

Puck knew that. That is why he learned to do it.

Of course it did not really mean that he really felt stronger; he actually struggled not to laugh.

James tried to not to look too unsure, but Puck knew that everything he is about to say is just to seem cool.

''What? Don't tell me Berry got to you so much that you'd stop the game?'' James said, trying to sound mockingly.

''What I do is none of your business.'' Told Puck coolly.

''Oh, don't tell me you like her. Or is it that your conscious finally found its way to your brain? Oh oh wait, I know! Your mother knows her and you're afraid she would find out!'' James did not care anymore what he was saying and he only looked at Puck, mocking him and laughing in his face.

If he would have looked around he might have noticed the dark stares he was getting from other football players. It was not just about the game anymore – he went a step further, which was a step too far.

Puck's anger slowly developed into rage, but his face stayed calm and one could admire him for that. From the corner of his eye he saw the short brown-haired girl walk through the hall to her locker and take out some books. When she turned around, she noticed him and his friends and by the frown on her face, he guessed that she also noticed the strange atmosphere in and around the group.

She slowly made her way to the group and stopped few meters away like other students that watched what was going on did. Puck could only be lucky she was not there when they talked about her.

''I seriously don't give a fuck what you think about it.'' Puck stated calmly and hoped not to explode.

James did not want to give up: ''Oh I'm sorry, your mother means a lot to you, since she's the only one you have left.''

Ok that was too much.

Puck's friends growled.

Rachel stiffened.

Puck was close to do something bad.

''I don't care what you think.'' He said and knew that the next thing will be told by his fist.

''Oh, of course Mr Puck doesn't care. Since his dad left him behind-'' James mocked him and Puck saw red.

He did not notice the movement near him.

''-he is unable to have 'feelings', am I right?'' he laughed. And the moment Puck would have punched James so hard that the ambulance would have to come to help, he was suddenly gently pushed back with a small hand pressing at his chest.

At the same moment he heard a loud crash of someone hitting the lockers with his back and he looked up.

There she was.

The small midget of Rachel Berry standing in between him and James. Her hand was still pressed at his chest and her other hand was pressed into James chest who was obviously the one who was pushed back and hit the lockers.

The other boys were as surprised as he was.

''Ouch…'' whimpered James and finally looked up- um… down.

''What the hell woman?'' he called and tried to make his ground but Rachel fully turned to him and pressed her finger pointedly into his chest. Puck supposed that her finger nails were sharp. He stoped in his movement and waited.

''I will have you know that you are in no position to use these unreasonable statements against my friend because as far as I am aware of, you do not have the slightest idea about him or his situation in whatever approach we look at it. So if you are going to be presumptuous and rude to that extreme about this topic only one more time when I'm around, I can assure you that you will feel terribly sorry and regret afterwards. Am I clear enough?'' she talked with a loud and authoritative voice, standing on her toes, her finger pointing at his chest and her eyes watching him like she is going to punch him any minute.

To say any less, Puck was impressed.

The other boy blinked confused at the short girl between him and Puck. When he finally got what she said, he relaxed and smirked.

''Berry, I suppose.'' He said and looked her up and down.

Rachel glared at him and made a step back.

''The one and only.'' She crossed her arms and watched for his next move.

The boy leaned at the locker and also crossed his arms.

''Hot-tempered I see.'' He winked at her and smirked even more.

Puck could kill him.

''I would say straightforward.'' She smirked herself, earning a proud chuckle from the football guys.

James licked his lips and looked her up and down again: ''That hurt pretty much, you know?''

''That was the point.'' She stated, her eyebrow rising.

''I just said what the truth was.''

''And none of your business, as far as I know.''

''Oooh, feisty.''

''Just stating the obvious.''

The others watched impressed the evident flirtation that was suddenly going on and stood silent to hear as much as it was possible.

''You're pretty strong for a midget.'' James winked at her again, but Rachel just rolled her eyes.

''This is insulting. I am not a midget. My height is perfectly normal for a girl.'' She stamped her foot annoyed, but it was obvious that she enjoyed the teasing.

''Shorter I would say, but therefore harsher.'' He leaned into her a bit, but Rachel just bent her head to the side and snorted: ''Poison is in small bottles, you know.''

He laughed at that and leaned back on the locker. He looked at her and then around.

He grinned at his friends, signalled the two next to him to move and smirked at Puck: ''Lucky bastard.'' He told him, stepped away and looked at Rachel again: ''My phone number, Berrystar.'' He gave her a piece of paper, winked at her again and walked with his two friends away.

Rachel watched him and called after him: ''I don't want it!'' But he just laughed and waved back, finally disappearing behind a corner.

The short girl sighed, scratched her head and looked around.

She blinked confused, but immediately went to her defending position. She was surrounded by smirking football players. Was she crazy? Why did she run into the lion's cage?

But her fast-running thoughts were interrupted by something around her shoulder.

Puck put his hand around her shoulder and she turned to him with big bright eyes. When both wanted to open their mouths to say anything, they were interrupted by loud whistling and cheering that came from all the football players.

Rachel was surprised when she turned around again and faced the applauding group of football players and few other people.

Karofsky was the first one to speak: ''Berry, as short as you are, you're pretty cool actually. I understood almost nothing, but the look on that douche's face- awesome.'' He threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in the middle of the group where all the boys clapped her arm, and all in all told her that she was super-duper great.

The hall became so loud that more and more people stopped to watch what was going on; but even more people cheered and screamed that Berry brought down a jock and even flirted with him.

Puck watched with amusement in his eyes what was happening and the feeling of pressure that he had before slowly disappeared.

Maybe this is going to be alright.

He laughed at Rachel's shy expression on her face, still watching out for something like a slushy to come.

It will not.

He arranged it.

And right now, no one wanted to do it.

She was cool.

''Berry, that was hugeee!'' Said one of the jocks and hugged her head, almost squeezing her nose. But she was pulled out of his grip right away into another boy's chest and she had to look up to see that she again did not know who he was.

''Yeah, have you seen that look? Poison!''

They all laughed and whistled loudly, taking all the attention in the hall. Rachel could not believe that the boys, who bullied her on daily basis few weeks ago, were talking with her as if they were friends since forever!

This was too screwed up.

They laughed and clapped on her shoulder, pulling her here and there and giving her compliments about her badassnes.

Finally Puck stepped in the middle, pulling her to him and laughed with his friends.

''Oy oy! Back off. My territory!'' Called Puck when he threw his arm over Rachel's shoulder and pulled her next to him. The poor girl was already red as a tomato but the boys did not stop talking about how cool she was. They joked around until Puck finally told them to: ''Fuck off guys! You're scaring her! I'm taking her now!''

They all laughed punched him friendly in the shoulder, smirking at him knowingly.

Wells shit.

It seems like the bet is still on.

''Protection, son!'' called Karofsky behind him in a girly voice, imitating a girl, but laughing his head off afterwards.

Rachel blushed even more, but Puck just showed them the finger: ''Fuckers!'' and pulled Rachel away through the hall, still laughing and cursing about how badass she was.

''Yo Puck!'' called Karofsky behind him and the bad-boy turned around. ''Don't worry about James.'' He assured him and clenched his fists. The others nodded with serrious expressions and saluted him to go.

Puck saluted back, happy to be a part of the jocks, and happy to have a back up. And most of all, he was happy that he had her on his side.

Without her, he might have done something bloody.

Rachel wisely stayed silent and just smiled to herself, but still wondered what was that about. After Puck finally calmed down a bit, he pinched her cheek, earning a squeak and teased her: ''So… A friend huh.''

He smirked down at her and pulled her nearer. Rachel blushed, but kept her head high.

''I don't see what is wrong with calling you a friend. That is if you don't like it of course.'' She said full of pride and power in her voice.

Puck just laughed and disheveled her hair a bit, gaining loud protests from her side.

''Of course you're my friend girl. I just thought that I won't ever hear it from you.''

Rachel tried to put her hair in order and mumbled under her breath: ''What? He was a jerk and I could not let him talk about such rude things, knowing he had no idea about anything. And he also provoked you so much that you were just microseconds before using violence.''

The boy watched her from the side and sighed: ''Well shit. He would deserve it.''

''Of course he would. But teachers wouldn't care about that, you- you oaf! You could get suspended for breaking his nose!''

''Not only his nose, Shorty. Have you seen my guns?'' he teased, showing off his muscular arms with his free arm. Rachel just rolled her eyes and sighed: ''Your arms are lovely Noah, but there would be no one to show them to in juvenile.''

''Ts, breaking his face would be worth it.'' He sneered, but suddenly looked at her again: ''Oy, you two flirted!''

Rachel's eyes went wide and she blushed furiously: ''That was not flirting! That was-''

''Flirting!'' he interrupted, smirking at her, but had a strange feeling in his chest.

Was he ill or something?

The girl just sighed, her shoulders falling, but smiled eventually at him: ''Well, I had to do something to prevent you two become fighting animals.''

Her eyes were shining, he noticed. And her lips were red and juicy, just ready to be touched. Her cheeks were slightly red and her skin seamed soft and gentle and he would like to touch it so much right now. She was so warm under his arm. And he also felt so warm right now. His stomach felt strange and his chest was unusually full of air. He just had to breathe faster to get it all out.

Puck blinked.

Ooouukeyyy…

That was creepy.

He cleared his throat and shook his head slightly.

''…so therefore I don't believe that this was flirting because it was just my attempt to stop him from noticing you.'' She finished talking.

He did not even notice she was talking.

''Oh, um, alright then.'' He concluded unsure and Rachel noticed his confusion, but when she was about to say something, someone called her name from behind. They both turned their heads back and saw Mike Chang jogging towards them.

''Hi Berry! Sup' Puck!'' he greeted them a bit out of breath and scratched his head.

Puck blinked confused when Rachel smiled at the tall boy in front of her and greeted him as an old friend. She did not use his name, but his surname – and that was something, considering we are talking about Rachel.

''Good day Chang. How are you?'' she asked and was already looking down because she opened her bag and rummaged through it.

''Cool cool, how are you? Yo Puck, coach said we have extra runs today. No idea what her problem is.'' Mike looked at Puck, while waiting for Rachel to find something in her bag and Puck had no idea what that could be and why should these two be even knowing each other, less speaking.

Ok.

It's not as if it was a problem or something.

It was just that Rachel never really talked to someone unless they needed her help.

Oh.

Yeah, of course.

They all just talked to her when they needed her help.

Dumbass.

''Her date must have gone wrong, you know…'' Puck smirked and Mike had to laugh at that.

''Oh, yeah. I remember…'' They both laughed and Rachel just watched them from the corner of her eyes, smiling to herself. She finally found what was she looking for and pulled out a pile of papers, neatly ordered in a folder.

''Here you go.'' She smiled at Mike and handed him the papers.

''Awesome! Thanks Berry! I owe you! I'm gonna learn this and if it kills me!'' he called, nudged her lightly on the shoulder, gave Puck a high-five and started running through the hall somewhere like a maniac.

Puck just blinked after him and then turned to Rachel who was still smiling after Mike.

''What was that about?'' he asked confused and Rachel looked at him, shrugging her shoulders: ''Just for class.''

Then she started to walk forward and Puck ran after her: ''So, you know Mike? You help him in class?''

He did not put his arm around her shoulder again because it might look strange now, but it itched him to do so. He had a strange feeling in his stomach. You know, as if he ate something bad and now it hurt a bit.

Yeah…

''Of course I know him. He's my classmate and we sometimes cooperate.'' She explained without looking at him and smiled to herself.

''Cool. So not all football players were asses towards you.'' He said and regretted it right after. Rachel's face darkened, but she tried to look as normal as possible.

''No, I didn't mean-''

''It's alright Noah. It's actually true. Mike has never- he has never done anything to me. He is quite alright. And I also noticed that all the slushy facials stopped. If I count how- how nice all the boys were to me few minutes ago, I can confidently say that everything might be ok.'' She concluded, finally looking at him with a tense smile.

Puck nodded and gulped.

If she only knew…

''So, you're cool with it?'' he asked unsure.

''If I'm cool with what?'' Rachel was not used to this way of talking. It is not like she did not hear it every day around her, but she just did not really understand what was meant with it.

''Um, you know, the guys fancying you?'' he smirked at that and again threw his arm around her shoulder.

Rachel smiled again: ''Of course I'm alright. To be honest, I'm pretty surprised that they welcomed my speech so enthusiastically. For a moment, I was afraid that they might laugh at me and spread it throughout the school that I'm an attacking monster.''

Puck laughed at that shook her lightly with his arm around her: ''Berry, you really are something. Don't worry, they actually like you, you know. Standing up for the Puckzilla was something no one than the football players would do. And you're even shorter than half the population here. You really have the guts.''

Rachel blushed furiously: ''I told you, I don't like people talking rude things about others who they don't really know.''

Puck smiled: ''Yeah yeah, tell yourself that. But we all know that in reality, you're a badass girl.''

She giggled: ''If you say so.''

They arrived at her class and Rachel turned to him with a bright smile on her face: ''Thank you for accompanying me to my class. I really appreciate it. Oh, and say hi from me to your mother.''

Puck laughed and pinched her nose: ''I will and Berry, don't be so formal.''

''Rachel.'' She said and looked him right in the eye.

Which caused a strange flip-flop in his stomach.

He really must have eaten something bad today.

''Rachel.'' He said. ''Thanks for standing up for me.'' He really meant that. He really did. She was most probably the only person who knew everything about his past family problems, and she was brave enough to defend him.

She, as in the shortest and weakest girl in school.

She, as the craziest freak of this school.

She, as Rachel Berry, his past and most probably future bully-victim.

This girl in front of him – she is really something special.

She really is.

''No problem. I know you would have done the same for me – now.'' She waived at him, turned around and disappeared in class.

Yes, now. He would have done it now; not months ago. Months ago, he was one of many who bullied her. But not now.

Now he would stand up for her, like she did for him.

Would he?