Mr Berry dropped his daughter off at Breadstix. He waved to her, before driving away. Rachel entered the restaurant, excited for her date with Finn. Okay, so they were only going to Breadstix, but this was the first date she'd let Finn plan, and at least it wasn't bowling. She shuddered at the idea of all the germs there could be in those holes. Yes, she thought to herself, Breastix is perfectly fine.
Noah sat in his car, gazing up at the stars. For the first time in eight months, he was free of responsibility, free to be the sixteen-year old stud he was before he'd got his best friends girlfriend pregnant. He smiled to himself. No more responsibility. He could go back to chasing after hot mums. Although, he'd give up all the hot mums in world to have one particular girl. What was it with him and wanting what Finn has? Noah had to admit it; he was a pretty crap best friend to him.
Rachel smiled to herself as she left the restaurant and begun to walk. It had been a nice evening. The conversation and company had been good, even if the food was only mediocre.
Puck jumped as he heard a knock on his car window. There stood Rachel Berry. He could have sworn this girl was following him. Shaking his head, he rolled down his window.
"Hey there Berry. What are you doing out alone at a time like this?" He asked, peering though into the darkness with concern.
"Hello Noah. I had a date with Finn, but my fathers dropped me off, my phones out of battery and Finn left before I realised. So now I have to walk home" She filled him in on her predicament. "And I'm in heels so that will probably mess up my feet…" She finished, sounding upset.
"Hop in then. I'll give you a lift" Puck smiled to himself. Offering Rachel a lift when Finn had neglected to was going to work out his way.
"Noah, I hope this isn't a ploy for you to try and win me over again. I didn't come here begging for a lift…" Rachel told him.
"Why did you come here then?" Puck pointed out.
"I don't really know… I suppose a friendly face in the darkness is always welcome." Rachel said. She really didn't know why she'd gone to talk to Noah when she'd seen his truck. "I'll accept your offer as long as you behave yourself"
"I'm always well behaved babe." Puck winked at her. "What's a lift between friends?"
Rachel walked around the truck to the passenger door, smiling to herself that not only had Noah called them friends, but he'd also called her babe. She blushed, and then felt a squirm of guilt. She'd just had a date with Finn. She mentally shook herself before climbing into the truck.
"Hey Berry, I was thinking… Wanna come over to mine? My mums out of town at a wedding and my sisters at a sleepover. What do you think?" Puck looked at Rachel, waiting for her answer.
"I don't know Noah, it's been an eventful night for me already, and also, I am dating Finn. I don't think he'd be very happy with me going to your house" Rachel replied.
"Why? Is he trying to stop you having friends now?" Puck scoffed, starting up the truck and driving in the direction of his house. He'd convince her to stay by the time they got there. If not… he was stronger than her.
"No, it's just knowing your history, especailly with Finn, and with what you said to me-"
"About not giving up?"
"Yes, about that. Maybe its not a good idea to go to your house alone, especially with you in a flirty mood as it is." Rachel finished quickly, blushing yet slightly annoyed at his interruption.
Noah sighed. "Rach, I promise, I wont do anything you wont like. Okay?" He looked at her seriously.
Rachel read in his eyes that he meant it, so she agreed to go with him. Puck smiled to himself. He could always charm girls into doing what he wanted. Only, Rachel seemed harder to sway, more of a challenge. He liked that in a girl. Or was it just that he liked this girl.
At Noah's house, they put on a film, and sat together on the sofa. They just sat and chatted, mainly about the other members of glee club, although they both avoided discussing Finn and Quinn. Rachel found being friends with Noah easier than dating him, because they'd never had time to talk before.
They started debating about whether modern music or musical theatre songs are better. Noah found that there was no way he could argue with Rachel, but he had a feeling their conversation was a lot more interesting than any she could have with Finn.
"So, now that I've failed at reasoning with you" Noah teased. "Tell me about your day"
"Well," Rachel began "I went out shopping with Kurt and Mercedes for my date with Finn in the morning. Then I spent the afternoon practising my singing, then went to Breadstix with Finn, and then I met you and came over here" She told him, ticking them off on her fingers.
"Wow, Breadstix. What an inventive and thrilling place for a date" Puck muttered sarcastically. "So, are you close friends with Kurt and Mercedes?"
"I suppose you could say that. They help me when I need it, and vice versa." Rachel told him. "Plus, it's good to be able to hang around with people with some talent, and who are as musically minded as me. Some people at this school wouldn't know what the word talent meant if you shoved it in their faces. People in Glee are different to that."
"Brittnay doesn't know what talent means. I mean come on, she thought a ballad was a duck." Puck responded with a chuckle, making Rachel laugh.
Noah liked seeing Rachel laugh. He liked the way her eyes shined, and the cute way she smiled. He made a note to himself to make her laugh more often. She looked so carefree when she did, unlike the usual, determined expression she wore. Her need to be a star generally over- ridded everything else, but when she laughed, she let it all go.
Rachel felt Noah watching her. She looked up and met his gaze. He really did have lovely eyes, such a nice colour. She swallowed, feeling guilty again at thinking about Noah like that while she was with Finn. But Noah, realising he had a break-through, raised his hand to her face, softly cupping it. They both felt the spark.
"Noah…" Rachel began "I'm with Finn…" Her voice was a whisper.
Noah leaned in, but at that moment, Rachel's phone rang, loudly playing Popular from Wicked. They jumped apart, and Rachel hurried to answer it. She answered it. It was her father, wondering where she was. She told him, and he told her he was on her way to pick him up. For the ten minutes Mr Berry took to arrive, Rachel watched the movie that was playing, and didn't once meet Noah's eyes, scared to get caught out again, and knowing that she'd only see triumph in them.