It's Friday afternoon and all of glee club is in the music room, trying to cram one more rehearsal before regionals the following weekend. They worked hard since sectionals, and they have a solid set that they went through about a thousand times already, so everyone is pretty laid back.
Finn is standing with Quinn, going over their plans for the night, Kurt and Mercedes are giggling in the corner about something, Santana and Brittany are in their own little world in the last row of chairs, Artie shows Tina how to play something on his guitar, Mike and Matt are practicing this new dance move and Puck is just laying back in his chair, eyes closed, trying to catch a few minutes of sleep before they start.
The whole atmosphere is pretty calm and everyone is relaxed and confident about the performance.
Everyone except Rachel, that is.
It's not really surprising to anyone anymore that the closer they get to a competition Rachel gets even crazier than normal. It's their second year as a group, and they went through this kind of thing a few times already, so no one is really paying her any kind of attention as they wait on Mr. Schuster. They all just lounge around, while Rachel fidget around the piano, going through the sheets of music in front of her over and over again, mumbling to herself everything that they need to bring with them and going over the choreography in her head.
She's in her own little world when Santana and Brittany come up to her and pull her away from the work she's still trying to go over, talking about the party later on that night at Brittany's house. They've been getting along much better this year, to the point when she can actually call the two girls her best friends, so it doesn't surprise her anymore when they actually choose to strike up a conversation with her. And she knows that their intention right now is to help her relaxe a little. She's actually grateful for that.
She's in the middle of talking about who's coming over, when she notices something in the corner of her eyes, turns her head a little to see what it is and stops in the middle of a sentence.
Mike calls out to Puck, causing him to wake up from the short nap he's been having. He's raising his hands to rub his eyes and than stretching his arms high causing his t-shirt to ride up in the process. Rachel can't help from lowering her eyes to the expanse of smooth skin that is exposed between his jeans and the fabric of his shirt. It's all tanned and she can just make out the trail of hairs running down from his naval.
She's staring, she knows it. She just can't help herself. She always found Noah to be extremely attractive, and she can still remember how his body and skin felt from their brief (very brief) attempt at a relationship the previous year. So seeing a patch of skin that is usually hidden is doing very curious things to her mind, and body, right now. It's like her eyes are locked in his direction and she can't make them look anywhere else.
"Yoohoo.. Earth to Rachel.." Santana exchanges a look with Brittany, trying to gain Rachel's attention. Finally she just waves her hand in front of the shorter girl, and as Rachel finally turns her head back to the two cheerios in front of her, Santana chances a glace at the direction Rachel was just looking at.
Rachel gives herself a mental shake. 'Focus!'
"See something you like, Berry?" Santana's knowing smile lets Rachel know that there's no way around it. The girls saw her looking and she knows it. It still doesn't mean she's going to admit it to them.
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Santana." Rachel turns her back on Puck, her voice going back to being all business.
"Yeah, I'm sure you don't." The cheerio answers. "I'm sure you weren't just picturing that boy naked." She tilts her head in Puck's direction.
"Santana!" Rachel quickly looks around to make sure no one heard the comment. There's no reaction around her so she's pretty sure she's safe. "That's very inappropriate. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to make sure out music is ready for tomorrow."
With that she turns and leaves the two girls alone.
Santana and Brittany look after her retreating form before they turn just in time to see Puck following Rachel with his eyes as well.
"You know," Santana says to Brittany, "I think I have a plan for your party tonight."
Brittany smiles at her. "Does it involve bunnies?"
Santana just takes the blonde's pinky in hers as they start for the chairs again since Mr. Schuster just walked in the room. "No, but if it works than some of us are going to be imitating bunnies tonight."
When Brittany just stares at her blankly she whispers, "I'll explain later."