DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Glee.
Chapter 10 – Have a Little Faith in Me
"Little lower Rach. Oh, my gah, right there." Charlie groaned.
"Want me to do it a little harder?" Rachel asked curiously.
"No babe, just like that that's perfect." Charlie informed his girlfriend, "Ummmmp, there is goes. Thank you babe that felt awesome. I might need to get you to walk on my back a few times a week I think. I can never get it to pop like that." Charlie told her as he got up off of his bedroom floor.
"You're welcome. Now you have to hold up your part of the deal. You know how we spend our Friday nights babe." Rachel told him as she climbed up on Charlie's bed. "Go on. Put it in."
"I can't believe you're making us watch Funny Girl for the second time this week Rach." Charlie laughed as he put in the movie.
"I can't believe you don't have more of an appreciation for Barbra yet. She is amazing!" Rachel pointed out from her place on the bed.
"I know. I know. I appreciate her plenty." Charlie said with a smile as he crawled up next to Rachel.
They made it fifteen minutes into the movie before Rachel became more interested in the kisses Charlie was trying to give her than the movie that was playing. Rachel crawled over on top of her boyfriend, laying her full weight on top of him as she pressed her lips hungrily against his. Charlie slid his hand under the hem of Rachel's animal sweater so he could touch the warm smooth skin of her back. He placed his other hand gently on Rachel's side sliding both hands down to settle them on her hips as he pulled her down closer to him. Rachel groaned slightly before she slipped her tongue into Charlie's eager mouth allowing their tongues to entwine teasingly. Charlie could feel himself hardening inside his jeans so he rolled Rachel over onto her back and moved his hips away from her so she wouldn't feel his stiffening arousal.
"Why are you moving away from me?" Rachel asked innocently, "Do you not like this?"
"Oh I do. I do. A lot." Charlie assured her as he nodded his head.
"Then why did you stop?" Rachel asked him curiously.
Charlie buried his head in Rachel's shoulder and didn't answer. Rachel reached over and rubbed her hand through his hair and scratched her nails lightly down the base of his neck causing him to shiver.
"Charlie…" Rachel called, causing him to look up at her.
Rachel leaned back down to try to kiss him but he pulled back slightly. "Maybe we should cool down a little Rach." Charlie told her shyly.
Rachel's quirked an eyebrow and smirked knowingly, "Are you…excited?"
Charlie nodded and buried his head in Rachel's should again.
"May I make a suggestion?" Rachel asked timidly.
"Of course sweetheart." Charlie said, his voice muffled by Rachel's sweater.
"In situations like this Finn would always think of the mailman because he had a traumatic experience involving one once, maybe you could think of something like that and it would stifle your…urges." Rachel suggested helpfully.
Charlie head shot up making eye contact with Rachel, "You've been in situations like this with Hudson?"
"Maybe…once or twice." Rachel told him now avoiding eye contact.
"Well thinking of you two together seems to do the trick." Charlie said harshly as he sat up on his elbow and scooted toward Rachel.
"Don't worry Charlie. It was nothing." Rachel assured him as he leaned down over her.
"It must have been something, Rachel." Charlie insisted as he looked down into her eyes. "I was under the impression that nothing had ever happened between you and Hudson. Clearly I was mistaken. Will you fill me in?" Charlie asked her curiously. "Honesty is the best policy Rach. If we don't have trust we don't have anything."
Rachel nodded her head in agreement, "Finn and I have kissed a few times. A little light petting. We never…"
Charlie swallowed before he leaned his head down and nuzzled Rachel's cheek. "How strong were your feelings for Finn? Did you love him? You can tell me. I swear it won't change a thing about how I feel about you now." Charlie whispered in her ear.
Charlie felt her shake her head against his before she answered, "No. Nothing compared to what I feel for you Quinton."
Charlie kissed her cheek sweetly before pulling back so he could look at her face, "If I may ask, you don't have to answer, but I am curious as to what 'light petting' consists of."
Rachel's face flushed, "Umm he has touched my breasts."
Charlie closed his eyes tightly. Willing himself not to be jealous that Finn Hudson had has stupid hands on his Rachel at some point, the girl he loved, and the breasts that he himself had yet to touch. Oh how he hated that Finn Hudson.
"Are you mad at me?" Rachel whispered worriedly.
Charlie shook his head, "Never at you darlin. I just hate that guy." Charlie joked.
Rachel smiled, "Finn was so awkward, Charlie. I'm not even sure he meant to do it every time."
Charlie quirked his eyebrow, "Trust me Rachel, I assure you that if he touched any of your luscious lady lumps that he did it on purpose, even if he was fumbling through it."
Rachel giggled, "Luscious, huh? If they are so luscious then why haven't you shown any interest in them at all? I know they're small but-"
Charlie cut her off with a kiss, "Don't talk crazy, woman. They are perfect. You are perfect. You are a lady, and most importantly you are my lady and you will be respected and treated accordingly. There is no rush sweet girl. When we move forward you will know exactly how I feel about you and I hope that you will enjoy if far more than anything that Hudson could ever offer you."
Rachel smiled before pulling Charlie down for a kiss, "You are already so much better than Finn could ever hope to be. Now kiss me and think of Finn if you need a mood killer." Rachel laughed before she pulled him in for another kiss earning a low growl from Charlie along the way.
The following Monday at school Charlie and Santana were chatting at his locker.
"I'm not even sure if we're doing anything for Halloween yet or not Santana. I'd like to, and we've already picked out costumes, but nothing is set in stone. It's really up to Rachel." Charlie explained as he pulled books out of his locker.
Santana nodded in understanding, "Stacey has been hassling me to recruit you to come to her party, just FYI. I think that's where everybody else is going. You and the dwarf should go with Britt and me.""
"Ummm I dunno San. Rach doesn't like Stacey too much and vice versa. You know that." Charlie responded.
"That's why you gotta go with us. She won't do anything with all of us around. I don't think so anyway." Santana told him unsure.
"Exactly, who knows with Stacey? Ya know? What are you guys going as anyways?" Charlie asked her.
"I'm going as a Naughty Nurse and B is going to be a Police Officer." Santana told him with a smirk, "There will be lots of frisking and she got her hands on some real handcuffs. Dude, I love Halloween."
Charlie shook his head and laughed, "Why am I not surprised?"
"What are you and Berry gonna be if you get your lame asses out of the house?" Santana asked with a quirked eyebrow. "Dumb and Dumber?"
"You're cleverness is astounding Santana." Charlie deadpanned, "We've decided on being a Spartan Warrior and a Spartan Queen I think."
"Was that her Highness' idea?" Santana asked with a laugh.
"Mine actually. She suggested Cleopatra and Mark Antony or Zeus and Aphrodite. I thought we should be something that's a little more recognizable to people. Plus, wasn't it you who said that I should flaunt my assets?" Charlie asked her with a laugh.
Santana nodded her head with a smirk, "It was. Speaking of assets, has Berry let you touch her berries yet?"
Charlie turned to shut his locker before answering, "Have a good day Santana. See ya later." Charlie told her before he walked away.
"I'm gonna take that as a no!" Santana called after him, "It's been weeks Fabray. You're so lame."
Santana smiled at his retreating form when he threw both of his arms in the air as if to say oh well…
Later that afternoon Charlie was standing under the hot spray of water in the locker room reflecting back on his day. He was alone so he took the time to relax and try to let the hot water work a miracle on his sore muscles. He had been late to practice because he had to turn in some extra credit work for his AP U.S. History class which resulted in Coach Beiste made him run an extra mile after practice. During practice he had taken a beating from the defense because Karofsky just flat wasn't doing his job of blocking for Charlie on the offensive line. His whole body was sore from getting slammed into the ground so many times during throughout their practice. He was debating on asking Santana if he could come over later and soak in her hot tub for a few hours to try to soothe his aching body. It had just been a bad day and he just wanted it to be over. Charlie shut the water off and stood there letting the water runoff his body and down the drain. He exhaled deeply and turned around to find a smirking Senior Cheerio watching him intently.
"Stacey, what the hell are you doing in here?" Charlie yelped as he covered himself with his hand and grabbed the towel that he had draped over the shower stall to wrap it around his waist.
"Finn said you'd be in here. Initially I came in here to talk to you about something, but now I find myself in want of something…more." Stacey told him as he nodded toward his towel. "Very impressive Charlie."
Charlie swallowed nervously, "You're not allowed to be in here. You need to leave."
Stacey smirked again and shook her head before reaching under her skirt and shimming out of her spanks allowing them to slide down her legs to the floor. She kicked them off with her foot and they landed next to the bench on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Charlie whispered harshly.
"I'm dropping mine so you'll drop yours." Stacey said with a laugh. "Drop the towel Charlie. You won't regret it I swear. No one has to know if that's what you're worried about."
As Stacey reached under her skirt again clearly intending to lose her panties as well Charlie stepped forward and grabbed her hand.
"Stop." Charlie told her harshly. "Do not try that in here."
Stacey eyes widened a little, clearly surprised by Charlie stopping her. Charlie pulled his hand away from hers when he thought she got the point.
"I don't know what you thought was going to happen once you got those down but I assure you, Stacey, that nothing will ever happen between you and I. You know I have a girlfriend and even if I didn't, I would never ever go for something like this." Charlie told her, distaste coating ever word.
Stacey took a step back from him and looked at the floor clearly upset by Charlie's words. Charlie exhaled slowly trying to gather his bearings. He took a deep breath and tried to figure out the best way to handle the situation.
Charlie took a step toward Stacey before speaking again, "Stacey …" Charlie whispered trying to gain her attention away from the floor.
"Stacey, look at me." Charlie whispered again before tucking his finger under her chin to urge her to look at him.
"I'm going to tell you something I really hope that you listen closely. I know I don't know you very well but from what I hear you say in class and from what I've heard from Santana and Brittany I realize that you don't have the best time at home with your parents. I know that your Dad is always away on business or whatever and your mom has her own thing, but you have got to understand that you never have to try to gain attention from men like this." Charlie told her smoothly as he gestured from her to himself.
"You're a gorgeous, intelligent woman and you don't have to take off your clothes to try to get what you want in life Stacey. Despite what you may think, there are some men are not into this. The men who would take advantage of this type of situation don't respect you at all and you have to know that already. You demand respect when you walk down the halls here. You should demand respect from men too. This type of thing should be below a girl like you. You have too much going for you for me to believe otherwise. Someone should have told you that ages ago." Charlie told her before he stepped back. "Please don't ever try something like this with me again."
Stacey wiped her eyes before nodding. "I'm sorry, Charlie. You're right." Stacey said before turning to make her way out of the locker room.
Charlie turned to lay his head against the cool lockers, "Today could not get any worse."
When Charlie heard the door to the locker room shut he dropped his towel and scooped up his underwear before pulling them on.
"Dude, score! Was that Stacey Davis leaving outa here? Nice job Bro." Puck announced as he and Finn came around the locker nearest the door.
"Shut up Puckerman." Charlie quipped as he reached for his jeans.
"Fuck yeah, she left a souvenir." Puck said as he picked the pair of red spanks up off the floor. "Niiiceeee." Puck said as he took a quick whiff of the spanks.
Charlie looked at him disgustedly, "Give me those you idiot." Charlie said before he snatched them away tossing them on the bench away from Puck.
Finn looked from the spanks to Charlie who was now lacing his belt through his jeans, "What were you and Stacey doing in here, for real?"
"Talking." Charlie stated plainly before slipping on this socks and shoes.
"Yeah, Stacey and I have talked once or twice in here too." Puck told him with a wink.
"Umhm." Charlie mumbled absently, just wanting to out of there already.
"Well, we just came to grab our jackets. It's cold as balls out there dude." Puck said before he walked around to his locker and pulled out his jacket. "See ya tomorrow, Fabray."
"Later." Charlie told them as he slipped his brand new letterman jacket on over his clean shirt.
"Oh dude, are you going to keep those or…" Puck asked hopefully.
"Get outa here Puckerman." Charlie shouted.
"Right, just checkin. Peace." Puck said before he and Finn left the locker room.
Charlie grabbed his bag and the spanks and headed toward the door. He tossed the spanks in the trash before washing his hands in the sink and heading home. He just wanted to sleep for a week because today had had been absolutely exhausting.
The following morning he was greeted at his locker by a tiny smiling brunette who offered him a hug.
"I called you last night Charlie, but you didn't answer, were you busy?" Rachel asked him sweetly as he hugged her close.
"I was asleep. I had a really long day yesterday." Charlie told her before he kissed her lips quickly.
Rachel smiled, "Oh, are you having a better day so far today?"
Charlie nodded, "You make everything better Rachel. Do you want to maybe hang out this afternoon?"
Something over Rachel's shoulder caught Charlie's eye and he looked down the hallway to find Mercedes and Tina giving him evil looks. Charlie scrunched his face in confusion before he focused back on Rachel.
"Sure." Rachel told him with a quick kiss.
"Great, you can just meet me out at the field and we can go from there. That work for you babe?" Charlie asked her with a smile.
"Sounds perfect Quinn. Have a good day. Bye." Rachel told him before kissing his lips quickly and heading to class.
Later that afternoon after Glee practice Rachel was feeling extremely frustrated because of the way that her Gleemates had been acting. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew something was going on.
"Hey Rach, wait up." Finn called before she could have it out the door.
"Yes Finn?" Rachel asked harshly.
"I just wanted to check and see how you were. You seem to be handling it pretty well." Finn said with a shrug as he pulled on his backpack.
"Handling what, Finn? I'm in a hurry so either explain or I'm leaving. I'm meeting Charlie out at the football field." Rachel said, trying to hurry the boy along.
"You're still with him?" Finn asked, shocked.
"Yes. What's going on Finn? Why is everyone acting so strange today?" Rachel asked, getting upset.
"Yesterday Me and Puck caught Charlie in the locker room with Stacey Davis…" Finn informed her.
"What?" Rachel asked as her eyes fighting back tears. "You better tell me exactly what was going on Finn!"
Finn looked at her sadly before he explained what happened in the locker room yesterday.
Meanwhile out on the football field the Titans were finishing up practice and Charlie couldn't wait to get to Rachel's house. Today had been another rough practice and he could really use some Rachel time to make him feel better.
"Hey Charlie, can we talk for a second?" Stacey Davis called as she jogged over to him.
Charlie exhaled deeply, definitely not wanting to deal with Stacey right now.
"I just wanted to say thank you for what you said to me yesterday. I thought about what you said last night and I just… I wanted to thank you. That was the most positive thing that anyone has ever said to me and I realized that you're right. I am better than that." Stacey told him as she smiled gratefully.
"Good. I'm glad to hear it." Charlie responded.
"I also wanted to invite you to my Halloween party. Everyone's gonna be there and I just wanted to see if you wanted to come, well if you and Rachel wanted to come." Stacey told him with a smile.
Charlie smiled at the mention of his girlfriend, "I'll ask her and see then let you know."
Stacey smiled, "Awesome. So could I like give you a hug in thanks? A friend hug!" She assured him as she held up her hands innocently.
Charlie laughed, "Sure. Ya know you're not so bad when you're keeping your clothes on."
Stacey laughed as she hugged him, "Yeah well talking to you when you're not in the shower is a lot awkward than when you are. I really am sorry about that by the way."
"No worries." Charlie told her as he pulled away.
"Friends?" Stacey asked, offering him a hand shake.
"Friends." Charlie agreed, shaking her hand gently.
"Don't forget to ask Rachel about my party. It'll be cool to have the Quarterback there!" Stacey told him before heading back across the field.
"I won't." Charlie told her before heading to change clothes before meeting Rachel.
Charlie frowned when he got back out to his truck and didn't see Rachel anywhere around. He pulled out his phone to see that she hadn't tried to contact him. He hit the two on his speed dial and his call went straight to Rachel's voicemail so he left her a message.
"Hey sweet girl, I was just wondering where you went to. I just got out to my truck and I didn't see your beautiful face anywhere so I reckon you went home. I'm about to head that way. See you shortly darlin. Bye." Charlie cooed to Rachel's voicemail.
When Charlie made it to Rachel's house he was met at the door by an irritated looking Leroy Berry.
"She is on the war path today, Charlie. She is refusing to talk to me about anything. She's in her room. Good luck." Leroy told him as he allowed Charlie inside.
When Charlie made it up to the top of the Berry's staircase he could hear muffled crying coming from Rachel's room. He picked up the pace and didn't even bother knocking as he entered Rachel's room only to find Rachel lying curled up on her bed crying into one of Charlie's jackets.
"Oh baby, what's wrong?" Charlie asked her as he approached her bed.
Rachel sprang up at the sound of his voice. "What are you doing here?" Rachel all but shouted at him.
Charlie was startled, looking at her with confusion written all over his face and unsure how to answer her question.
"You were supposed to meet me after school. Baby what's going on?" Charlie asked her as he reached out to comfort her.
"Don't call me that and don't you dare touch me." Rachel seethed, "I talked to Finn after school and he told me about how he and Puck caught you and Stacey Davis in the locker room yesterday. Were all the things you ever said to me a complete lie?"
"Rachel I have never lied to you. I don't know what impression Finn gave you but I swear to you that I didn't do anything with Stacey." Charlie explained desperately.
"Don't lie to me Quinton! He told me that you were getting dressed when they walked in. He told me that Stacey's spanks were lying on the ground and that you kept them." Rachel told him through her tears, "How could you do this to us, Quinn?"
"Rachel…" Charlie said desperately, "I swear to you that I didn't do anything with her. I swear I didn't- just let me explain."
Charlie moved to Rachel again and caught her around her waist and pulled her back toward him and tried to soothe her. "I swear Rach," Charlie cooed, "I swear it's not what it sounds like. Have a little faith in me, honey."
Rachel cried in his arms, "Was she in there with you yesterday?"
"Yes." Charlie sighed.
"Why-why weren't you dressed?" Rachel asked through a ragged breath.
"Because I was showering when she came in there. I was showering after football, that's it." Charlie assured her as he held her against him.
"Why were her spank pants on the floor when Finn and Puck came in?" Rachel asked harshly.
Charlie closed his eyes before he answered her honestly, "Because she took them off, but…"
Rachel jerked away from him and wiped her eyes before straightening up, "But what Charlie? Did she give you the same thing she gave Puck in there? You're just like Noah."
Charlie's face went slack before anger surged through his body. "How could you stand there and compare me to Puck? He's a manwhore, Rachel. Don't you know me all? I would never do that to you. And you could've came to me and talked before you assumed the worst, but no, you're going off of what Hudson is telling you, someone who wants nothing more than for us to breakup so he can have a chance with you. How do you think so little of me?"
Charlie stepped toward Rachel who stepped back until the back of her legs hit her bed and she sat down. Charlie looked down at her sadly, heartbroken because she didn't trust him and thought so little of how he felt for her, how he felt about them.
"You are the best thing in my life Rachel, and you think I would throw it away for… for what? What is it that you think I did exactly? What has Finn convinced you that I've done?" Charlie asked her loudly.
Rachel looked at the floor. "You're scaring me Charlie." Rachel whispered.
Charlie mentally slapped himself before he fell to his knees in front of her. "I'm so sorry Rachel. I'm just so hurt. You didn't even ask me about anything before you assumed the worst and starting telling me what happened according to Finn Hudson, who wasn't there. Do you understand why I'm angry?" Charlie asked her softly.
"I went to ask you about it this afternoon after Finn told me, but when I got to the football field you and Stacey were hugging." Rachel explained as she started crying again.
"A friendly hug Rachel. Like a hug I would give Brittany or Santana." Charlie explained, "Nothing happened between us."
"Finn said that you yanked her spanks out of Puck's hand when he asked if you were going to keep them. Why would you want those?" Rachel asked as the tears openly slipped down her face.
Charlie tried to wipe them away from in place in front of her but was rejected by Rachel.
"I didn't want to keep them I just didn't want Puck to have them… I don't know how to explain that one. I threw them in the trash can on my way out yesterday. Puck is just so weird and degusting. He just…I don't know. It just seemed like the right thing to do." Charlie stammered in explanation.
Rachel wiped her tear streaked face with her sleeve before she spoke again. "I want so badly to believe you, but it seems almost foolish. Why was I not enough for you?" Rachel whispered softly.
"God Rachel, you are everything to me. I don't know how to convince you that I didn't do anything wrong here. I can't believe you're choosing to believe Finn over me. What have I ever done that would give you the slightest idea that I would be anything other than faithful to you?" Charlie asked her softly quickly wiping his eyes.
"All evidence points to the contrary Charlie. I don't know what to believe." Rachel told him as a fresh wave of tears escaped her eyes.
Charlie felt like he was being stabbed in the stomach every time Rachel reiterated the fact that she didn't trust him. Charlie slid toward her on his knees and put his hands on either side of her legs on the bed.
"What can I say Rachel to make you believe me? She came in there yesterday because Finn told her I was in there. She made advances, but I shut her down. That's it. I mean, are my actions toward you not enough for you to know in your heart that I would never do that to you?" Charlie asked her softly, desperate for a solution.
Rachel shrugged, "I don't know what to tell you Quinn. Stacey Davis is one of the most popular girls in school, she's a Cheerio, and she so much prettier than me-
Charlie sat back on his heels. "That's what this is about?" Charlie asked angrily, "You're doubting me because of your insecurities?"
Rachel stared at the floor unable to look at him. "I don't know any guy in our high school that would turn her down." Rachel responded.
Charlie stood up and glared down at Rachel angrily. "I would!" Charlie shouted.
"Hey!" Leroy Berry hollered from Rachel's bedroom doorway, "What in the world is going on in here?"
Leroy looked from his crying daughter to the angry blonde standing in front of her before he stepped closer to the couple.
"Baby girl, are you okay?" Leroy asked calmly toward Rachel who was now crying harder in response.
Charlie looked back to Rachel and moved closer to try to comfort her.
"Do not go near her." Leroy told him sternly before adding, "Get out of my house."
Charlie wiped his eyes again before addressing Rachel for the last time. "When you feel you can trust me, when you see that this is a huge misunderstanding, and when you realize that you are everything that I have ever wanted...give me a call."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Berry." Charlie told him as he walked out the door.
When Charlie got to his truck he looked at the picture he had of him and Rachel tucked into the recess of his dash over his speedometer and let a lone tear fall before he wiped his face furiously. He reached for his cell phone and called the one person who could comfort him now.
"Savannah… I wanna come home." Charlie told her as he unsuccessfully tried to hide the heartbreak in his voice.
TBC
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