Rachel planned a dinner at Breadstix, because everyone was still home. Puck is the first one there; he gets their usual big booth and sits down. He can't help but remember the last time he was here.
FLASHBACK-
Quinn and Puck are seated in a booth, sitting across from each other, looking at the menu.
The waitress comes over to take their order. Quinn puts her menu down, "I'll have the house salad and a glass of water with lemon."
"I'll have the same."
The waitress takes their menus and Quinn looks at Puck, one eyebrow raised. "What? I gotta watch my weight." Quinn laughs softly and bites her bottom lip, looking at her hands that are folded on the table. Puck swallows hard, "I don't know why, but I'm nervous."
Quinn looks at him and smiles. "Why are you nervous?"
"Because Quinn, it's you. I don't want to mess this up, I finally have my chance to make things right with you."
"Were things wrong between us before?"
Quinn looks at Puck confused.
"Senior year was rough for us, and I screwed up, with Shelby and the whole situation." Puck stares directly into Quinn's eyes. "And then the day of Graduation, you kissed me and that was my chance. I should've called you, or told you how I felt after."
Quinn shakes her head. "Puck, this is all in the past-"
"-We just had this whole conversation about holding onto your past, I'm a part of your past, along with all the bad memories that come with me."
"You have to listen to me when I tell you that I am not holding anything against you that happened when we were too young to realize what we were doing." Quinn grabs Puck's hand on the table. "Did it hurt when you said you'd rather raw-dog a beehive than be with me? Sure. But I was acting crazy, you were confused, we were young and immature and didn't appreciate what was right in front of us the whole time."
The waitress comes with their salads and Quinn pulls her hand away from Puck's.
"You've changed."
Puck looks up at Quinn.
"How so?"
"You've just matured so much and have really become a man."
Puck looks down at his salad, "I promised myself I'd be a better man, for Finn."
There is a brief pause, neither of them say anything. Puck breaks the silence,
"I miss him, ya know?"
"I know."
Puck looks up at Quinn, asking the questions he's wanted to ask since he got back to Lima.
"Where were you? Why didn't you come to McKinley?"
Quinn is finished with her salad; she avoids eye contact with Puck.
"Losing Finn was hard enough, I didn't want to be around all the memories of him and that was selfish of me, it was just too hard."
"It was hard, and I understand, I just wish you were there."
The waitress comes with the bill. Quinn reaches for her wallet.
Puck rolls his eyes, "You're kidding right?"
Puck puts two $20s on the table. They both stand up and walk to Puck's truck.
END FLASHBACK-
Rachel walks over to the table, "Puck?"
Puck looks up at Rachel.
"Oh, sorry. Hey what's up?"
He stands up to greet her, kissing her on the cheek.
"No one's here yet?" Rachel sits down in the middle of the circular booth.
"No, who's coming anyway?" Puck opens his menu.
Rachel opens her menu as well, and looks through it.
"Um, Mercedes, Artie, Santana, Quinn and Sam."
Puck softly smiles.
"Don't start any trouble, Noah."
Puck looks at her, jaw dropped.
"Me? Never."
Rachel laughs and shakes her head. Quinn, Mercedes and Artie come in together. Quinn makes sure to sit on the opposite side of Puck. Sam and Santana come in shortly after filling up the booth. Santana looks around the restaurant.
"I haven't been here since that time Quinn brought her rich Yale boyfriend here."
Quinn covers her face with embarrassment.
"Don't remind me."
They all laugh. Santana nudges her, "Hey, don't be embarrassed, Q. He was rich and not half bad to look at, that was a proud moment for me."
Quinn and Rachel both shake their heads. Rachel grabs her hand.
"I for one thought you could have done way better and I am happy to see that I was right."
Puck hides his face in the menu, remaining completely silent throughout the entire conversation. The waitress comes over and the group orders their food. Artie wheels himself further into the table and folds his hands,
"So what's everyone been up to?"
Rachel is the first to respond, straightening up her posture and leaning forward.
"Me and Jesse have been auditioning, but we're taking a break after the busy year we've had with the baby and the Tony. What about you guys?"
Quinn looks around the table and no one says anything so she decides it's her turn.
"Well, I've booked my first commercial. It's nothing crazy just L'Oreal hair products but, I'm excited."
Puck looks at her with awe.
Mercedes interjects. "And we are all so proud of you, Quinn. I'm you know, still recording the second record."
Artie looks at Puck and notices his discomfort.
"What about you, Puck? You've been awfully quiet."
Puck fidgets with the sleeves on his jacket.
"I think I'm getting sent out again, soon." The mood at the table changes instantly. "But it's not confirmed yet, we just have been signing a lot of things, that's usually how this goes, so.."
The waitress comes with their food. They all continue to chat and catch up, however Quinn who is barely eating her food, stays quiet. She puts her fork down and moves her napkin from her lap to the table.
"You know, I actually forgot I have to be up early, so I should head out." Quinn opens her wallet and takes out fifteen dollars. She places it in the middle of the table. "I'll see you guys later this week."
Mercedes slides out to let Quinn out. She notices something is up.
"Let me walk you out."
She nods and they walk out. As soon as the fresh air hits Quinn's face she lets out a deep breath.
"I felt like I was going to suffocate in there."
Mercedes nods and leans against the brick wall.
"Puck's news really shocked all of us."
Quinn looks at her heels and brushes them on the sidewalk. She puts her hands in the pocket of her dress.
"No matter how angry I am at him, I still don't wish him to go into a warzone. I obviously still care about him, I probably always will."
Mercedes nods and grabs her hand that she has been playing with.
"You know it's funny, he broke up with you so you wouldn't have to worry...but here you are, broken up and still worrying."
Quinn leans against the wall next to her.
"Yeah, he's an idiot."
Puck walks out of the revolving doors and looks to the left and then to the right. He sees Quinn and Mercedes and walks over to them.
"I'm gonna go finish eating."
Quinn pleads to Mercedes with her eyes, but Mercedes simply winks and smiles at her. Puck stands across from her, a good distance between them.
"So uh, congrats on the commercial. I didn't know."
Quinn smiles and nods.
"Yeah, thanks."
"I'll never get sick of breadstix I love-"
Quinn cuts off the awkward, forced conversation.
"-why didn't you tell me you were being deployed?"
"Because I didn't know and I don't know if I am for sure."
Quinn nods and puts her hands back in her pockets.
"Well, I should go I have to be up early."
Puck rolls his eyes.
"You don't have to make up excuses, if you don't feel comfortable being around me just tell me."
Quinn rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She starts getting defensive.
"I actually have to be up early to pick up someone from the airport. So if you'll excuse me."
Quinn begins to walk away.
"Oh yeah, who?"
She turns around and pauses.
"My boyfriend."