AN: the chapter is based on 4.12 "Naked". For the purposes of the story Puck's little sister is named Rebecca, and he calls her Bec. Please read and review.
Chapter 4
Kurt and Rachel were about a month into the new semester when the latter came home with news about a student film. Brody had been trying to work his way back into Rachel's life after having slept with Cassandra. He had recommended her to his friend for his film project, and Rachel was eating up the offer. Had she not been spending so much time talking to Puck it probably would have been enough to work his way back to where he was.
There had been nonstop communication between Rachel and Puck since Hanukkah. While both were often too busy with work or class to call they were constantly texting each other about anything and everything that was happening in their lives. Puck was the first person Rachel talked to in the morning and the last before bed, and the reverse was true for Puck. Rachel had been supporting him while he looked into different career options and built a relationship with Jake. She had even befriended Jake's girlfriend Marley and the four had made plans to spend time together when Rachel was next in town.
This is why it surprised Kurt that she hadn't told Puck about the project when he asked her what he had said. "I'm just not even sure if I'm going to do it yet or not Kurt," Rachel had said. "There is no sense in wasting Noah's time telling him about a project in not even committed to yet." Kurt rolled his eyes at this, "Please Rachel, yesterday you sent him a picture of two different nail polishes and asked which one he thought would look better on your toes," Kurt said. "If Puck has time to help you pick out pedicure colors then this is something worth letting him help you decide on."
Any other conversation they would be having was cut off by a knock at the loft door. Sebastian was coming for freshman orientation at Columbia and had decided to stay with Rachel and Kurt instead of on campus. He had explained to Kurt that he was going to get an off-campus apartment anyway so there wasn't really a reason to stay in a dorm, and this way that had as much time as they could to see each other. After having agreed to take things slow the two had fallen back into their routine of Skype studying and phone calls, with some more overt flirting added into the mix. Both were excited for the weekend.
After having brought his bag in and settling into the apartment Rachel was headed out the door to go back to NYADA for an after hours workshop. "I'll see both of you when I get back tonight," she called on her way out the door. Rachel had come to really like Sebastian. He reminded her of Noah. He wasn't a bad person, he had just never had anyone pushing him to be better than he was.
After she left Kurt leaned over to Sebastian on the couch and kissed him. "I know we said we would take this slow," he said, "but I have been thinking about that for far too long." Sebastian gave him his most devilish smirk and began kissing Kurt again pushing him down onto the couch, were the two got lost in a hot make out session.
About 30 minutes later, both out of breath, they resurfaced and moved to the kitchen for dinner. After Kurt had shooed him away from the stove Sebastian was sitting at the table perusing the papers Rachel had left behind, when he found her movie script. After reading through it he asked Kurt what it was for. "It's a student film project that Rachel was asked to be in," he answered. "Does she know there's a topless scene in it?" Sebastian asked. Kurt just stared at home for a moment before everything clicked into place. That was why she didn't want to tell Puck about the project. She knew he would tell her not to do it, just like Kurt would had she told him. After sharing these thought with Sebastian, he pulled out his phone and called the only person he knew would be able to get through to her, Noah Puckerman.
"Go for Puck," Puck answered. "Puck it's Kurt. We need to talk about Rachel," Kurt started. "Has she talked to you about an offer to be in a student film?" "No," Puck answered not sure why Kurt was calling about a movie. "Listen, she's been avoiding talking about it, but she left the script here when she went back to campus tonight and Sebastian read through it. There's a topless scene, and I think she's actually considering doing it," Kurt rambled out. It didn't matter whether the nudity was tasteful or important to the plot or just for dramatic effect, he knew Rachel would regret doing it. "I'll handle it Hummel. Tell the Warbler I said thanks," and Puck disconnected the call.
"So, what did he say?" Sebastian asked. "I guess he's going to 'handle it' whatever that means," Kurt answered. "Now dinner isn't going to be out of the oven for at least another half hour," he said giving Sebastian his best fake innocent look, "whatever will we do with all that time." As Kurt leaned in Sebastian out his finger up to his lips. "God help me," Sebastian started, "because I may be having a stroke, but I think we should talk about us. I know we are taking things slow and I'm not saying we need to go shout about us from rooftops or fuck like rabbits all over this apartment, but I want to be able to tell people about us. Tomorrow, when I meet people and some starry-eyed loser from who knows where starts flirting I want to be able to tell him I have a boyfriend." Kurt nodded his head and picked up his phone instead of answering. Sebastian was about to walk away when his own phone chimed with a Facebook request.
Kurt Hummel is in a relationship with you. Please confirm request. Sebastian hadn't been expecting that. Looking up at Kurt he asked, "Are you sure? Your friends are going to see this. Blaine is going to see this," he said. "That's the point," Kurt answered. "I want people to know we're together just as much as you do," he giggled. "Now can I get back to kissing you because I was really enjoying myself." They never actually ended up eating dinner.
Across town in a practice room at NYADA, Rachel had gotten a phone call from Puck. "Hey Noah, I'm actually rehearsing for a workshop I have tomorrow, can I call you back?" She asked. "Hell no," Puck said, "are you seriously thinking about doing a topless movie just for the experience?" Rachel paled, "how do you know about that?" she practically whispered. She had known he would be against it and she wanted to make the decision on her own without feeling guilty about the outcome. "It doesn't matter how I know, you should have told me," he responded. "Why Noah, so you can yell at me?" She replied. "No Rach, because I care about you. I don't know what we're doing but we both know we aren't just friends. I don't care about you doing nudity, but I know you and I know that you will care that you did it later. I don't ever want you to regret any of the choices you've made," he answered. "I know you care Noah," she said, "I just wanted to work this out for myself. And how can you know that I'll regret it?"
"Because I know you better than anyone babe. We grew up together. How would you feel if Marley saw this movie after all the time you've spent telling her she is worth more than just her body? How would you explain this to Bec is she saw it?" he asked. Rachel sighed, barely holding back tears. But Puck kept talking not wanting to leave any doubt in her mind this wasn't what she wanted, "I know this isn't how you want to tell your kids you started your career." Rachel sniffed and responded, "I know your right Noah, but what if this is my break and I don't take it. How do I know this won't set me back?" she asked. "You don't babe," he answered, "you gotta believe in your talent as much as I do, that another opportunity will come. One that doesn't mean sharing the goods with the world."
Rachel laughed at this. She was convinced not to do the movie and opened her laptop with Puck on the phone to email Brody her regrets about not being able to take the part. Neither said anything but their relationship had shifted from platonic to something more.