A/N: Alternate scene for 2x09, Special Education.
Rachel called her after Puck left, staring at the spot he'd last touched on her body. It was on her hip, right above her hip bone, and as she ghosted over her skin with her hand, she felt sick.
"You gotta stop callin' me, hobbit," Santana answered, popping what sounded like bubble gum, "It's bringing my rep down."
"How is it doing that?" Rachel answered distractedly, feeling her face and neck going hot, "No one has to look in your phone."
"Oh. Right. Well, it would bring my rep down if they knew. But since they won't…" Santana sighed, and it sounded like she was shifting, the rustle of fabric telling Rachel the Cheerio was most likely on her bed; more discomfort welled up in Rachel's body, and she covered her mouth with her hand, "What's up?"
Rachel slowly sat down on the edge of her bed. "Did your first time hurt?" she whispered, closing her eyes to stop them from stinging.
"First time?" Santana's voice was loud, "Like, sex first time?"
When Rachel didn't answer, Santana's voice became cool and uninterested again. "How should I remember? I knew I had to get it over with, so I got drunk and grabbed the first guy who was hot and fucked him."
Rachel drew in a deep breath. "It wasn't Puck?"
There was silence on the end of the line.
The spot on her hip was burning again, and Rachel fisted the fabric of her skirt, clenching her eyes shut, straining to listen over the sound of her constricting muscles.
Finally, "…I don't know."
Shifting forward, Rachel lowered herself to the ground, drawing her knees in close to her chest.
"I don't know if it was Puck or not. I know he was my second because he's a man-whore and I needed someone known, someone who had the juice, and, fuck, he at least had the reputation for getting the job done. It wasn't like I was looking for romance or shit like that."
When she paused, Rachel reached a trembling hand out to touch the fabric of her carpet. Running her fingers through it, her chin began to shake, the heat in her head becoming pressure building from her chest and behind her eyes.
"So you gonna say anything to explain your game of Tell?"
Tears pushed through her eyelids, and Rachel scrunched her face tight, digging her chin into her chest. Her arm tightened around her knees.
"Berry. If you're getting' off on this, I swear – "
"No." Forcing it out, Rachel sucked in a shallow breath, new heat rising up her legs and pooling in her stomach and below. "No," she repeated, swallowing and shaking her head, "I just needed to hear that." Her chest constricted, and she pulled her hand up from the carpet to press it against her eyes. She forced herself to smile. "Thank you."
The rustle of bed sheets again, followed by bed springs, and Santana's voice came through sharp and suspicious, "Why? You finally gonna spread your legs for the towering oaf you call your boyfriend? Lose your…" She lowered her voice, like she was saying something unpleasant, "V-Card?"
The sick feeling settled in her throat. "No," she whispered, keeping her hand on her eyes, "I can't do that anymore."
"What? You're saying you and Finn already – "
"No." The spot Puck had last touched on her body throbbed. "No." She curled her fingers and palm, catching the tears dripping from her eyes, "No. Puck just left."
