Ch 28. Drifting (Part 1)

A.N. Thank you to anyone reading. Huge apologies for the insanely long delay! Congratulations to thisisnutz for identifying the most correct answers in the contest question (oh so long ago). First honorable mention to ClassicArtsLover for having almost as many correct answers as our winner. Next honorable mentions go to SassyBR & broadwaybound2016! For those curious, the answer to the last contest question will be at the end of this chapter (because the list of Glee guest stars who starred on Broadway is soo long). Also, this chapter got so long that I broke it into 2 parts, so the new Contest Question is at the end of Part 2, to be posted relatively soon.

FYI, To those who've messaged me, I will reply, but I'm starting with the earliest ones-which were sent to me March! Sorry, everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own glee or anything familiar.

Puck knew he shouldn't have gotten so mad at Rachel when he found out that she didn't tell him that Jacob Ben-Israel was back at McKinley High. But he hated being in the dark about important shit because people didn't think he could handle it. It was like everyone always thinks they know better than he does-like he can't be trusted to know what to do or how to act.

Of course, he was wrong to go off on Rachel-he shouldn't have yelled like that. And she was probably right that he would have done something stupid like beat that fucker to a bloody pulp and gotten himself arrested.

So he figured Rachel had somewhat understandable reasons for keeping Israel's return to school a secret.

And for that, Puck was walking on eggshells around her because of their fight, and he wasn't going to do anything to make her upset if he could help it. He had to at least try staying out of trouble since Rachel was so worried about it. But he couldn't ignore how fucked up it was that a pervbag criminal was allowed to come back to their school-and he had to figure out something he could do about it that wouldn't result in jail time or rejection of his college application.

Puck had given himself one day to make it through school after he'd caught a glimpse of that panty-stealing stalker in the halls. One day before he'd do something to put a stop to this bullshit. He didn't see Israel again the next day, but it still pissed him off that he was allowed to be there. He made a comment about it to Rachel on the way to school.

That's when she explained that the restraining order had some weird caveats or some shit. So Puck just nodded like he knew the meaning of the word 'caveats'.

But at school he went to see Principal Figgins.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Puckerman?" Figgins asked warily.

"You can tell me why Jacob Ben-Israel is allowed to be in school with Rachel Berry even after he violated a restraining order by stalking her and hiding in her bedroom and taking her...under-things."

Figgins seemed to jerk awake, his sleepy eyelids opening wide.

Puck asked with a sarcastic bite, "You do know what happened, right?"

"Yes, of course I am aware of the situation, Mr. Puckerman. And Miss Pillsbury worked tirelessly to come up with a scheduling solution for Mr. Ben-Israel to avoid not just Miss Berry, but all of the students in the police report from the gathering that recently took place. Including yourself."

"He should be in jail, not at school with the girl he's stalking. How is that fair?" Puck complained with more whine than he intended.

Figgins shook his head helplessly. "It may not be fair, but when he re-enrolled he had already served his sentence."

"Wait," Puck interrupted. "You're saying he actually went to jail? Why didn't I know that?"

Figgins shrugged slightly. "Obviously, I can't have knowledge of what you do or do not know and why you do or do not know it."

"Huh," Puck snorted at the smart-ass remark from his principal.

Figgins continued. "But I believe the arrest occurred over the winter break. I don't know the details either except that after his jail time he's now on house arrest except for school, work, and approved locations. We are legally obligated to provide him with public education." He narrowed his eyes at Puck. "Since you're not here with a teacher or another authority figure, can I assume that you have not had an incident with Mr. Ben-Israel?"

"No-I mean no, I haven't had an incident," Puck corrected quickly as Figgins' eyebrow raised.

"Good!" Figgins exclaimed, clapping his hands cheerfully. "Then this meeting is over, is it not?"

"Yeah, it's over," Puck conceded.

...

That seriously sucked. He wished there was something he could do. He'd been pretty proud of the idea to go to the Principal-following the rules all resourcefully and shit-to do something about that fucknard. But now if he wanted to do something he knew it would be illegal or whatever and that would probably upset Rachel.

And knowing that little shitface would be around for the rest of the year with nothing he could do about it put Puck in a bad mood.

So when Rachel came to him at lunch with a rambling story and asked him to do something he never wanted to do again since the Run Joey Run disaster, his first response was, "No."

...

That morning, after Puck had gone off in another direction, Kurt approached Rachel. "Walk you to class?" he asked as he offered her his left arm.

"Why thank you, Kurt! What's the occasion?" she asked without expecting an actual answer.

"I have a favor to ask you, but it's a good one," Kurt said, ready to play to Rachel's vanity and drive for fame with his request. "I'd like you to star in my film project. And you really can't say no because you're perfect for the role and it would just devastate me not to have my first choice favorite. Please play the part I wrote with you in mind!" He had blown through his speech so quickly he had to pause to catch his breath.

Rachel was confused and flattered. "Of course I'll be your star, Kurt! How exciting! You're casting a film? That you wrote? Why?"

"Well, I've been dabbling with writing for a while now. Not necessarily screenplays...I've actually been working on a novel since freshman year. But now I've decided to apply to film school..."

"What? But I thought you wanted to be a performer!"

"I do," Kurt admitted. "But I've been getting the feeling at my auditions that my voice or something isn't what they're looking for...So I'm trying other options for staying in the arts and doing what I love."

"I can't believe this! Those schools must be crazy not to see your talent! Don't you think that you could be wrong about their decisions about you?"

Kurt shrugged. "I could be wrong. But I want a backup plan. And if I go this route, I can cast my friends in my films!"

Rachel admitted that would be excellent.

"So I know this is last minute, but we'll have to start shooting this weekend. It shouldn't be too hard because it's just a short film, much shorter than my original screenplay. Artie will co-direct the scenes I'm in. For technical things like lights and sound I have some of the AV club helping...like Lauren Zizes...Will that be a problem?"

"No..." Rachel said slowly. "That won't be a problem for me."

"Fantastic! And I hope it won't be a problem for Puck...because that's the other favor I have to ask you..."

Rachel did not have a good feeling about this. When Kurt asked for her to convince her boyfriend to be in his film, she told him that she doubted she could honor that favor.

Kurt was undeterred. "I'm sure you can find ways to be persuasive, Rachel."

"You may be overestimating my…talents in that arena," Rachel answered falteringly. She wasn't sure if she had anything to offer Noah that would be tempting enough to make him be the lead in Kurt's film. She could try withholding…certain things, but that's a lose-lose situation, really.

Kurt nodded. "Well, this bit of info might help. I had to cut out Sam's character for time, and he's dying to be involved. So I might have to cast him to play opposite you in what is supposed to be Puck's role."

"I still doubt that will drive Noah to participate...unless..." Rachel paused and then gasped. "Would there be...romantic scenes?" she squeaked.

Kurt chuckled. "That's right!"

Rachel was quick to say that of course she would be very professional about acting, but she wasn't sure Noah would be happy either way. "He won't want to do it and he won't want me to do it with anyone else," she predicted. "Perhaps I would have an easier time convincing him if we could see the scripts...to know just what we're agreeing to do."

"Fine!" Kurt sighed dramatically. "I'll give you a copy of the screenplay. But you have to wait to look at it until tomorrow."

"Why? Isn't sooner better?"

"No, you have to wait because I have to let Blaine read it first. He might not care, but I don't want to take the chance that he'd be hurt."

"Then I will respect your wishes, Kurt. That's very kind of you to be so considerate of Blaine's feelings. But I'm surprised he hasn't already seen it. Didn't you say you've been working on this for years?"

"Yes, but nobody else has read it. It's hard to explain...it's so personal...I guess I was afraid of showing that part of myself if it wasn't perfect. And it might not be perfect yet, but this is the moment of truth. So promise me that if I give you this copy now you won't say anything and you'll wait one day to read it so I don't hurt his feelings."

"Promise," Rachel affirmed a bit nervously.

"Oh, and don't mention this to Mercedes. Please," he added as an afterthought. He explained in response to Rachel's puzzled look. "I had to cut out her part. For time and to make a cohesive story. I want her to hear it from me first. I just haven't figured out how to tell her."

"Of course I won't mention it. But if you're so concerned, don't you think she could have a small role?"

Kurt raised one eyebrow as he appraised her. "Honestly, Rachel, how well do you think she'd take it to have a bit part in the Kurt and Rachel Show?"

"Is that really your title?" she asked excitedly.

"No. Obviously," Kurt snapped patronizingly as he rolled his eyes. "But she has been my BFF and it really gets under her skin when you get the big parts and she gets scraps here and there."

"Ok...I suppose I understand that. But did you really write a whole storyline for Mercedes that you had to cut?"

Kurt stared at her before deciding that Rachel didn't realize she sounded so snotty. She probably sincerely had no sweet clue about the lives of others around her. "Actually, yes, I have written about her in the novel-size work I've been trying to write. I had included lots of interesting aspects like being on the Cheerios together as outcasts who got to the inner circle, then how she quit and stranded me there...There's really quite a bit to tell. It just didn't have such a great parallel with the main story I'm going for in this short film submission."

Rachel flushed with embarrassment as Kurt got more and more animated while he spoke about Mercedes. "I should have realized how much a part of your life she is-of course you would write about her. I apologize."

Kurt shrugged. "It's fine. No big deal. Just do me a favor and don't say anything to Mercedes. And of course make sure you and your Mohawked boyfriend are on board."

"But if I can't read the script yet and we have to film this weekend, what should I tell Noah that it's about? I'm of course going to support you, but Noah will need convincing."

"Ok, good point. You can tell him that it's the story of two frenemies, that's you and me," he smiled conspiratorially. "One who dates her former bully and the other who befriends his." When Rachel's expression seemed troubled, Kurt tried to smooth things over. "Remember, I started it a while ago but it evolved. Please promise me that you won't get upset about the story or your character."

That sounded ominous to Rachel. "What do you think I would get upset about?"

Kurt shifted uncomfortably. "The story is kind of...based on our lives... with little twists...so it might feel really close to home."

The idea worried her, but she didn't want to pass up a chance to improve her acting resume and help out her friend. It couldn't be too personal if Kurt was willing to film it, right? "Oh...well, I am curious as to why you are ready now to share it with us and some college admissions board..." she ventured.

"Honestly? Out of desperation I guess," Kurt shrugged with chagrin. "I started panicking about my chances as a performance student, and this screenplay is the only thing I have that's close enough to being filmable. Please say you'll do it!" he pleaded.

"Kurt, I already said yes," Rachel smiled hesitantly.

He let out a sigh of relief. "Perfect! I just hope everyone else will be as supportive as you are on my new path as a force offstage."

Rachel nodded. "Well, I support you even if I think you're definitely a first-class performer for stage and screen. And I'm sure you'll find your way to the life of your dreams!" she enthused.

"Wow! Save it for the camera, Rachel," Kurt joked.

Rachel assumed that Kurt was slightly surprised by her loyalty and confidence in him, so she didn't want to make him uncomfortable with more compliments. "I'm going to hug you now," she warned before wrapping her arms around him.

Kurt let out a little laugh and shook his head, but he hugged her back and smiled. "I knew I could count on you. Now don't let me down with Puck!" he called to her as they parted ways.

...

Rachel wasn't the first actor Kurt had cast, but she was the first to ask for the screenplay. Blaine was the first person he had talked to about his film, and his wonderful boyfriend agreed immediately to do anything he could to help. Of course he did, because he's perfectly dreamy, Kurt thought as he walked the rest of the way to his class alone. And now that he thought about it, maybe Blaine had hinted that he'd like to read the full material. It was Kurt who kept putting off sharing what he'd written, which was silly because it had to come out sooner or later if he was going to ask people to act it out!

Rachel wasn't the second actor he'd cast either. Kurt had easily roped Finn into the film already. Asking in front of his dad and Carole didn't hurt. And somehow Finn had persuaded Quinn to do her part so Kurt didn't even have to ask. But Finn and Quinn had a lot of after-school activities and sports, so they got to work early shooting some scenes yesterday instead of waiting for the first big shoot with the whole group over the weekend. Kurt had them both record some voice-overs that introduced their 'characters' and shot a few scenes of them walking hand-in-hand down the hall during school. So they had both read lines from a page but they hadn't asked to read the whole screenplay. Probably because they didn't have a lot of free time. But Kurt could admit that he should have realized his actors would want to read the material he'd written. He should have given his work to Blaine a long time ago. He was his boyfriend, after all.

But it was Quinn's current boyfriend who wasn't too happy. Not that Kurt could blame him for feeling left out while Quinn walked down memory lane with her old boyfriend. He didn't say that exactly, but when Sam came to Kurt asking about being in the film, Kurt assumed as much. And Kurt felt bad that he didn't really have a role for him. After apologizing, he asked if Sam wanted to help with the behind-the-scenes work.

He nodded gratefully. "Thanks, man! I'll help as much as I can around my schedule," he promised.

"No, thank You!" Kurt emphasized. "I know you're really busy."

Sam, of course, made time to be around for Quinn's scenes with Finn.

And they were mostly minor scenes. Though Kurt hadn't said it to either of them, Finn and Quinn didn't have spotlight status in his short film. Their characters were there as part of the drama between the starring couples: Rachel and Puck, and Kurt and Blaine. But Kurt wanted to get some of their perspectives too, as the kids who seemed to have it all but really didn't. That's where the star quarterback and head cheerleader whose lives fell apart for all to see could shine in his film.

...

So Sam was spending time hanging out after school doing the lighting while Kurt recorded some scenes of Quinn and Finn in the halls. He didn't know why he was so nervous that Quinn would fall back in love with Finn or something stupid like that. Finn seemed so awkward and Quinn did a lot of eye rolling.

Sam was relieved, but he let his guard down too soon.

If Kurt had known what would happen over the next few weeks, he would have written a film-within-a-film with a dramatic line like, "There was something about bringing the past back to life that would change their future."

But nobody predicted how relationships would rise and fall under the catalyst of reliving the past.

...

Rachel was dying to read the scenes she was supposed to play, but she wanted to respect Kurt's wishes to let Blaine be the first. Then she reasoned with herself that the only way to convince Noah to participate is if she knew what to tell him about the film and their roles. So she took a few peeks at the first page during class and couldn't wait to talk to Noah before lunch.

That first page only had character descriptions and a brief plot summary, and her character was described as "obsessed with stardom to the point of being annoying and single-minded, who later proves she can be a driven and loyal friend." But the good in that description and the others she read gave her the feeling that this was going to be great.

...

"I have a request for Sweet Noah," she smiled flirtatiously.

Puck grinned automatically, but within seconds his suspicions were raised. "Uh-oh, I knew I'd regret agreeing to the whole 'sweet for the rest of the year' thing."

Rachel's smile bordered on evil, Puck decided, and he was curious about what could be going on. "What's the request?"

"Be my leading man!"

"Huh?"

"Kurt's doing a film and we're the leads!"

"Huh?" That made no sense to Puck, which he told Rachel. She explained what Kurt told her and why she wanted them to play the roles together. "Besides doing a favor for our friend, my best friend, it's basically playing parts written for us. And I think reliving our first sparks of romance will be good for us."

"Re-living?"

Rachel explained further that Kurt's film was based on his perspective of real life since the start of high school. "So it won't be hard to go through the dialogue...or the kissing scenes..." she finished nervously. She felt her cheeks heat up as she started blushing.

"Kissing scenes?" Puck asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Yes. And I've already promised Kurt that I would help him so if you're not going to then someone else will have to..."

"No," Puck interrupted.

"No, you don't want someone else to kiss me so you'll do it?" Rachel asked hopefully.

"No. I don't think either of us should do it," he said gruffly.

She gaped at him. "But why?"

"I don't think Kurt should do it either. I don't like the idea of having our lives out there like that. I'm pretty sure I know what he could be covering in this little project. You said we're leads but I'm guessing Quinn and Finn are in it too, right? It's my life, our lives, isn't it?" He didn't really wait for an answer, but he saw Rachel nod. He continued, "If he's gonna make a movie he should write something himself…original or whatever."

"I understand your point. I actually have some discomfort with the idea as well," she admitted.

"Good! So we won't do it! Let Kurt make a different movie."

"The problem is he doesn't have time. The deadline for his application is too soon, like next week."

"Sorry about his luck," Puck shrugged. "He should have planned ahead."

"Says the boy who almost missed auditions without my help," she reminded him.

Puck didn't want to admit that she had a point.

Rachel explained further. "Kurt has a bad feeling about his auditions for music schools and he needs this, Noah. Please, we have to help him!"

"What's in it for me? Besides humiliation?" Puck questioned with a gleam in his eye. "What do you have in mind to make it worthwhile for the Puckdaddy?"

"No-ah!" Rachel admonished as she blushed. "If there's anything in it for you, as you put it, it's nothing I could describe to you in school," she whispered.

"Then let's talk about this later when we're alone," he winked. He licked his lips as he started dreaming up 'requests' of his own for Rachel.

But he had no intention of doing Kurt's stupid movie thing.

...

Before sixth period, Kurt rushed up to Rachel. "So, how are your powers of persuasion? Do I have both of my leads confirmed?"

Rachel ducked her head a little. "I'm still working on it. I'm definitely...meeting resistance. But I think I'm making progress."

"Did you already tell him that if he doesn't do it, I'll get Sam to do it?"

Now Rachel knew the story was based on their lives and that her leading man was supposed to be the embodiment of Noah Puckerman, so she almost laughed out loud. "Sam? As a bad boy who's reformed by love?" She shook her head. "It's quite a stretch. But questionable casting aside, I honestly don't know if the threat of me kissing Sam would be enough to persuade Noah."

"Wait, did you start reading it already?" Kurt asked suspiciously, recognizing his wording from the character summaries at the beginning of the screenplay.

"I glanced at it," Rachel nodded sheepishly. "I'm sorry! But you must admit that Sam doesn't quite have that bad boy persona. He's a nice guy through and through."

"I know," Kurt nodded and grimaced. "It's not an ideal casting choice. But I had to cut out his parts to make this a short film submission, and he really wants to be involved. He said he'd play any part or do any of the crew work."

"Wow, really? I didn't know Sam cared so much about acting and film."

"I don't think he does. He cares about Quinn. Finn and Quinn have roles in my story too. Did I fail to mention that?" Kurt asked innocently.

"Yes, you did...though Noah assumed as much when I told him about it. So this really will be like reenacting our lives?" Rachel asked nervously. "And if Sam plays Noah's part..."

Kurt sighed. "No, it's not exactly the same. And yes, you'd have to act romantic with Sam. Didn't we already establish that?"

"In front of Quinn?" Rachel asked, getting to the point with an anxious strain.

"Oh! Right, yes. I suppose I could ban her from the set for those scenes...but that wouldn't go over well with our favorite blond hellcat."

"No, I can't imagine that it would."

"So just get Puckerman on board," Kurt prodded.

Rachel resolved to make it happen.

...

She was surprised when Noah presented her with a list of 'demands' to secure his participation.

"I've been working on this all day," he grinned as he opened the door to his truck for her to climb in to go home.

His smile struck her as charmingly boyish and devastatingly sexy at the same time.

And the Demands were a combination of perverted boy and villainous mastermind. He actually had a list-complete with explicit sketches to illustrate-and a percentage value next to each item.

"Dare I ask what these numbers indicate?"

Puck grinned wider. "Those are the odds of me actually being in Kurt's movie if we do each of these things." He was quite pleased with his work.

"So even if I do this," Rachel pointed at a disgusting cartoon depicting who-knows-what. "There's only a 95% chance that you'll be in the film?" she asked incredulously.

Puck nodded proudly. "Yep. I couldn't make it too easy."

Rachel's eyes darted across the page as she assessed her options. "So if I do this AND this," she pointed to two low-scoring acts, "then that adds up to 110% chance?"

Puck frowned and grabbed the notepad. "No, no adding," he said, silently cursing himself for thinking he was so smart when really he was so stupid.

Rachel smiled slyly, sensing that she could make this work. She leaned up to whisper in his ear as she drew a line up his thigh with her finger. "So you wouldn't want to come over and do numbers 10 and 11?"

He cleared his throat with a strangled sound. "Now?"

Emboldened by his reaction, Rachel pressed her body to his from her place in the truck. She kissed his neck lightly, her tongue flicking in and out as she reached his chiseled jaw line. She whispered, "As soon as you can get us there."

Puck drove to Rachel's house in record time.

...

Of course he couldn't get upstairs fast enough. Rachel enjoyed his urgency and this small power she had over him. She was prepared to do a little teasing along with the pleasing. She pushed him onto her bed-and he willingly allowed her to do so; otherwise she'd never have enough strength behind that tiny hand.

He was slightly amused and mostly turned on by in-control-Rachel. Then desire completely overtook amusement as she stripped down and crawled on top of him. The sight of her with her hair flowing and her back arching slightly as she made her way closer...she was so fucking hot. That tight little ass was in the air and her boobs just brushed over his skin. He shivered.

She smiled before kissing a trail from his lips down, down, down. And she went at him like a pro! Had it been that long since they'd been alone together that he had forgotten how incredible she was? When did she start doing that trick with her tongue? The way her lips would glide up and down? Holy hell. He exhaled roughly as he tried to hold his shit together. "Rach," he moaned. It was just enough to get her to pause.

He grabbed her and turned her over on her back. She deserved a reward, that was for damn sure.

...

And in a few minutes, they were both rewarded.

"That was wonderful," Rachel sighed contently.

"Mmm-hmm," he agreed sleepily.

"So does this mean you'll do the movie?"

Puck rolled his eyes, but he knew Rachel couldn't see that from her spot in his arms. "I'm still undecided. I'll have to consult the list too-you might have missed a few requirements," he declared.

"Missed a few requirements!" she exclaimed in offense.

He chuckled. "I'm joking, babe. You were amazing. Always. Seriously, like impressive."

"Oh, good. I'm glad you enjoyed it." Rachel settled back down into bed. She composed herself. "It's a shame then that this may be our romantic interlude for a while..."

"What?"

"Well, Kurt's second choice for your role is Sam. And to make our scenes together believable, especially the make-out scene, I'm sure we'll have to employ Method Acting," she stated nonchalantly.

"Method acting?" he repeated.

"Yes, we'll have to practice our scenes of course, but we'll also need to spend time together without the interference of our significant others to confuse our emotions."

Puck knew she had to be bluffing. She had to be. "I doubt Quinn would go for that."

"Possibly not. I have no control over that. I can only control my own actions. And to play Sam's girlfriend, I'll need to get you out of my system. That is of course unless there is anything else on your list that we can agree would be an appropriate compromise..." she trailed off as she let her hand wander beneath the sheets.

Clearly there were things on his list that they both knew that she'd do willingly even if he didn't agree to the film. But he figured she was serious about withholding for some length of time. He'd like to avoid that. Time wasn't on their side.

"So what exactly would I have to do?" Puck asked with a sigh as he held her.

She didn't lift her head from her place on his chest. "Actually...I'm not entirely sure about the details...I haven't read it yet."

"What? Then how can you keep swearing that it's so good?" Puck exclaimed. He must have shifted his position too much or spoken too loudly because Rachel sat up in bed and pulled her shirt on-followed unfortunately by the rest of her clothes. He reluctantly got dressed too while she talked.

"I just have a good feeling about it," she shrugged. "Well, I read a little, but I promised Kurt I'd wait until after he gives it to Blaine so that Blaine will be first."

Puck flopped onto the bed and sighed in exasperation. "You just have a good feeling? That's all?"

"No, that's not all," she said indignantly, hands on her hips. "It's important to Kurt and it's important to me."

He sat there silently for a moment. The whole thing was so dumb-waiting to read something after your gay friend's boyfriend reads it first, having to act like yourself on camera so your friend can get into film school, going along with all this to make your girlfriend happy-all so dumb. Puck didn't even know what to say. Being with Rachel definitely added some weirdness to his life. But when she squirmed her little body up next to him in bed and asked, "Please think about it, for me?" with a little pout, he couldn't help smiling.

And he couldn't help tickling her for being so weird.

Ticking turned to groping and kissing.

They didn't hear the footsteps on the stairs until it was too late. It could have been worse-they were just caught rolling around on the bed fully clothed-a few minutes earlier would have been really bad.

Rachel was silent in her embarrassment after squeaking an apology. Puck apologized too before standing in the awkward quiet of the two men's glares.

But when her dads sent him home for the night, he still heard Rachel's laugh in his ear.

...

Sitting through her dads' lecture about her behavior, Rachel's mind drifted to her upcoming film role. She could hardly wait until she was finally allowed to read Kurt's screenplay.

...

But she did wait that extra day (aside from a few peeks). The story was incredibly long and detailed even though the result was only supposed to be a 20 minute short film. And maybe it was because she was so close to the real-life events or because she had such great affection for everyone (most everyone) involved, but the feeling she got when she read the story was so incredible that she thought her heart would burst with excitement to be a part of something so special.

She had a few moments of concern when reading the script, so that night she called Kurt to make sure that some parts were fiction not fact.

...

The next day she passed the screenplay to Noah after she finished the last pages during study period. "Here, read it!" she exclaimed without preamble. "It's actually quite good and does have several differences from real life. Nobody will know what's true. Besides, only the admissions board will see it."

"Until it gets leaked to YouTube," he grumbled.

"Who would ever do that?"

"I don't know...Kurt? Trying to go viral or some shit," he shrugged.

Rachel nodded because it wasn't out of the realm of possibilities that Kurt would try to fast-track to success by making the video public. It was something Rachel knew she might consider too, if she were in Kurt's place. "Well, here," she pushed the script toward him again. "Read it and then decide."

He took the screenplay and sighed. "Fine. I'll read it. But if I still don't want to do it, that's it, right? No more bugging me about it?"

"I suppose..."

"And you won't do it if I don't, right?"

"No."

"No, you won't do it?" Puck asked to make sure they were on the same page.

"No," Rachel chirped. "I'm still doing it, with or without you. A promise is a promise."

She flounced down the hall with a smile while he stood in shock.

But she really hoped he would cave in soon.

...

He didn't really read the screenplay until he was home from school and could concentrate without Rachel peering over his shoulder and expressing how much she liked what she read through her little giggles and sighs.

Reading the script didn't win Puck over at all. In fact, it convinced him that he definitely did not want this movie made. He didn't understand why Rachel was so in love with it. He had a nearly opposite reaction. He didn't want anyone to read it, let alone see it acted out. Not only did he (or 'his character') have to be the dick who throws slushies at Rachel and impregnates his best friend's girlfriend, he also had to act like some kind of tortured freak who was acting out due to a bad home life. It sickened him to read how his character's life outside of school was so hard and how his life was turned around for the better when 'Rachel' took a chance on him.

He couldn't believe Kurt wrote it!

On one hand, Puck was disconcerted by how close to the truth it really was. How did that little prick know how hard it was for Puck to get through stuff at home with his asshole dad-and how much harder it was after his dad left? On the other hand, he kind of hated the obvious way that stuff was used to play up sympathy or whatever, to justify all the shit he pulled that really shouldn't be excused. He acted like an ass so he needed to own it, no matter what led him to take out his frustrations that way.

And seriously, what in the world made Kurt write that his 'character' was "super depressed, emo, and needy behind his badass exterior," Really? "A bad boy reformed by love!" What the actual fuck?

Puck read things about his life expressed in ways he never could have. He didn't realize people knew things like this about him. Kurt had been around a while (ok, since they were 5 years old) but to have him get so many things right-even though some of it was wrong-was really unnerving.

Plus, there was this whole thing about 'Kurt' attempting suicide because of 'Karofsky' and all of the general bullying. Suicide? Shit, did that really go down? And was Kurt trying to make it seem like the way 'Blaine' saved 'Kurt' from getting his death wish was the same as the way 'Rachel' saved 'Puck' from doing the same thing? Because he was not fucking suicidal. And Rachel sure as hell didn't save him from slitting his wrists or whatever.

He was ready to ask Rachel about this steaming pile of bullshit when he picked her up for school the next day.

"Rach, what do you like about this piece of crap?" Puck asked as he slammed his script on the seat in the truck cab.

She eyed him curiously in his unexpected outburst. "I like that it's heartfelt, funny, sad but uplifting, and really insightful."

"Insightful?" he exclaimed incredulously. "Do you think I'm a whiny fuck on a suicide spiral like the 'Puck' in Kurt's movie?"

"No, of course not." Rachel calmly explained that everyone is a caricature of themselves for dramatic effect because Kurt has to make his plot points in short time. "I even talked to Kurt who confirmed that the suicide angle is there for drama-as obviously he never tried to do that. And even small details are there just to make the film more dramatic. Like I'm playing a character who is so extreme that she doesn't resemble me at all."

Puck raised his eyebrow. He thought Rachel's character was Exactly like her. But he decided giving her the look was enough-or too much already. He really shouldn't say anything to upset her. But he couldn't let it go. "Do you think I was like this? That you and glee club saved me from a life of crime or worse?" Puck realized instantly that saying it out loud didn't seem that far from the truth. But he kept silent, waiting for Rachel.

"I-no, I don't think of you that way." Not quite that way, she qualified mentally. She decided he seemed too sensitive right now to point out all of the ways he's similar to the character. But she agreed that the depiction of 'Rachel' being his savior was off-base. "If anything, it was Quinn, well Beth really, who could be considered your motivation." She looked into his eyes and sensed that he needed more encouragement, so she continued sincerely. "But really, it was you. You didn't get rescued. You took charge, found your drive, and you steered away from the wrong path. Now you're on your way to a bright future!" She kissed him lightly, unsure if he was still too upset by the character and her insistence that he participate in the film.

But Puck kissed her back passionately as he realized how much Rachel really had done to help him, even if he had started seeing her with other motivations. He started to calm down.

"Thank you," he breathed as he broke from her lips.

"For this kiss?" she smiled quizzically.

"For everything."

...

They didn't discuss Kurt's film for the rest of the ride to school. Rachel knew that Noah needed to settle down first before he could be further persuaded. But as they walked to their lockers, she had to say a bit more.

"I really think we have quite an opportunity here with Kurt's film."

Puck grunted. "Opportunity? Yeah, right."

She continued. "Maybe it's selfish of me, but I don't see just the acting opportunity. I see the way that we can both benefit from reliving the bad times to get to the good times. I'm already reliving some of the struggles. We have been fighting quite a bit lately."

"And me throwing slushies at you is gonna help?" he grumbled. "Don't see how."

She stopped walking, standing still in the hallway. "We start there, yes. But then you get to woo me all over again." She smiled and reached for his arm.

"Woo you, huh?" he smirked.

"That's right," she nodded. "I caught the Sweet Caroline scene in Kurt's script, didn't you?"

"Guess I hadn't gotten that far," he mumbled, already feeling embarrassed about what he would have to do for this movie.

"What better way to get closer than to relive our love story?" she asked.

"Besides keeping it private instead of acting it out for the world to see?"

"The world? Really, Noah, I think my flare for the dramatic is rubbing off on you!" she laughed.

Puck shook his head. "Well, maybe not the world," he rolled his eyes. "But you know what I mean."

"Yes, a version of our story will be made public to a restricted number of our peers as well as some college professors. I think it's worth it. You have to admit, it makes for a powerful narrative," Rachel said.

"I admit nothing," Puck deadpanned as he opened his locker. Then he turned to face her again. "And never say I have flare for anything ever again."

Rachel smiled and rolled her eyes. His jokes-even offensive ones-were good signs that he would make the right decision. If she could provide just enough of a push in the right direction.

...

And ultimately she was successful.

She didn't know that both Finn and Sam had asked Noah if he was doing the film. She didn't know that Kurt needled him about letting Sam step in to be the man he couldn't be on camera. All Rachel knew was that by the end of the day, Noah mumbled that he was in and everyone could stop bugging him about it.

"Oh, Noah, that's great! Thank you!" She flung her arms around him and reached up for a kiss. "I'm certain Kurt thanks you too!"

"Yeah, yeah," Puck shrugged.

Rachel took a deep breath. "Now just to make sure,..you don't have a problem with Lauren Zizes helping Kurt with some of the filming, right?"

"No. Why would I?"

"You wouldn't," Rachel nodded. "I just wanted to make sure that seeing her again wouldn't make you feel uncomfortable in any way to play out our romance for the film."

"Seeing her again? We see her every day in glee, and I'm not uncomfortable there."

Rachel gaped at him for a moment before slowly answering. "Lauren hasn't been back to glee this semester since we got back from winter break. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you didn't notice. Mr. Schue didn't make a big deal about it because we aren't in danger of having too few participants for Regionals. And I'm glad I don't have to worry about you thinking about your ex-girlfriend." (That ex, at least.)

Puck furrowed his brow. Wow. He really hadn't noticed Lauren wasn't around anymore. "Well, if you're cool with it, I'm cool with it. But we could use it as one last chance to back out of this whole thing..." he suggested.

"No," Rachel stated firmly. "We're committed. At least...I'm committed."

"Yeah, ok, fine. We're committed."

...

So they both showed up in the choir room after school for the start of what promised to be the prequel to a weekend from hell for Puck. When he saw Kurt in some silly beret probably meant to made him look like a director, he had to bite his cheeks to keep from laughing and making a rude joke about a French mime. But Puck had to bust his balls a little for forcing him to spend his free time on this shit. "So if it's just based on real life, that means you're not really any good at writing, right?"

Kurt bristled at the question but answered diplomatically. "The best writers always say to write what you know. I'm sure I'll gain more experiences in life, have more to say in the future; as long as I can get training in my craft. And that's where I need your help of course."

"Of course," Puck smirked sourly.

"So to ease you into this, Puckerman, we're going to film some scenes of just you and Rachel. And you get to do your voiceover," Kurt told him. "We're starting on page 15."

"What?" Puck exclaimed. "We're not going in order?"

Kurt scolded him for being so naive and unprepared. But he didn't yell too much because he didn't want Puck to quit. "I'm sorry, Puck. I should have told you. Please take a few minutes to read the script. We'll record you for your voiceover first so you'll just have to read the lines here before we film the scene with you and Rachel."

Puck nodded with annoyance and sat down to read while Rachel chided Kurt for letting his directorial power go to his head. "You're already treating the actors poorly! And you think starting with a kissing scene on school property is easing into it?"

That really made Puck want to see what Kurt wrote.

What he read was Kurt's attempt to explain why Puck started dating Rachel. The first time. Kurt didn't write that it was a calling from a divine dream, but it did involve a push from his disappointed mother-"who didn't even know yet about the goya her son knocked up," as he was supposed to say in his voiceover.

"Kurt, you know I don't say shit like 'goya' right?"

"But in this film, your mother does," Kurt replied.

Puck huffed and shook his head as Rachel took a seat beside him. He leaned over to whisper to her. "Dude, how did he know all this about our lives and stuff?"

Rachel rolled her eyes at being called 'dude' but didn't bother commenting on it. "I may have told Kurt a few things. He is my best friend. That's not a problem for you, right?"

Puck just gave up on fighting it. "I guess I can't complain about making out with you on camera," he smirked.

She smiled. "Good."

...

A.N. You wouldn't believe how much of this I had already written before the last glee eps aired. So I hope the similarities were fun to catch even though they weren't intentional. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me even though my life is making it hard to update. Let me know what you think! I'll try to get Drifting Part 2 finished soon!

Answer to last chapter's question: Many guest stars have also performed on Broadway. Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, John Lloyd Young, Victor Garber, Debra Monk, John Stamos, Carol Burnett, Molly Shannon, Josh Groban, Loretta Devine, Kathy Griffin, Cheyenne Jackson, Patti LuPone, Ricky Martin, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jeff Goldblum, Telly Leung. Interestingly, Ian Brennan (who counts as an actor as the Narrator on Glee and not just a producer/creator/writer) has acted in New York and Chicago theatres. And Grant Gustin performed in the national tour of West Side Story (though not on Broadway, so I wasn't counting him or Ian). Lots of others like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessalyn Gilsig have done theatre off Broadway.