Hello everyone! So sorry for the wait, I've been trying to get settled at school. Enjoy!
Chapter 8: The Date
Rachel looked around and found herself standing alone in a dark room. "Hello? Is anyone here?"
Suddenly, she heard voices. When she turned around, she froze when she saw her 16-year-old self standing there talking to a 16-year-old Puck.
"So you would forget about everything we have and go marry some guy?" Puck asked, clearly upset.
Taken aback by his anger, Rachel instantly went defensive. "If it was to save my parents and my country then yes I would have to. I have a duty to my people."
"And what about me? I'm just someone to have fun with until you decide playtime's over and you go to give yourself over to that king?"
"Noah it is not like that. I love being with you but I cannot ignore my responsibilities. No matter where I am, I am still a princess and a princess is supposed to marry a prince."
He shook his head. "You're right, you should marry a prince. And clearly that's not me."
As he walked away, the younger version of Rachel sighed and looked at her older self. "Do you remember how horrible you felt when this happened? How upset he was?"
"Of course I do," she answered. "It was our first big argument. I hated that I was causing him so much pain but I also hated that he could not put himself in my position."
"But in this case, he is not wrong. He is clearly still madly in love with you and all you are doing is hurting him."
"He is not in love with me, that is why he is seeing Arabella."
"If he was seeing Arabella he would not have been so upset when you two weren't able to kiss and you accepted a date right afterward. Noah is still very much in love with you but you are driving him away with how you are acting. You cannot expect him to sit around and wait for you as you engage in this faux romance with Collin. You are becoming who you were back then and in the end, it is not going to get you anywhere. It is not going to give you Noah."
"Rachel?" she heard a voice say. She turned and saw Puck standing across from her. "I just want you, Rachel. Rachel. Rachel."
"Rachel. Rachel, darling you have to wake up," she heard her mother calling. She looked up and saw Shelby staring down at her.
"Mother?" she said, sitting up and seeing that she was in her bedroom. It was all a dream. But was Puck really still in love with her? Could she still be in love with him?
"Darling you have a busy day today. We have your lessons then you have to prepare for your engagement with Collin."
She nodded as her mother walked out. After the dream she just had, the last thing Rachel wanted to do was attend lessons and go on the date with Collin. Especially when she knew Puck was still extremely upset with her.
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Puck walked into the dining room where Ryder was happily humming to himself while polishing the silver.
"In a good mood?" Puck asked, walking over to him.
Ryder jumped in shock. "I'm guessing you don't make noise when you walk into a room?"
"That's beside the point. What's going on? Why so happy? I didn't realize you liked polishing silver this much."
"Very funny. I've just been thinking about some things."
"Things like?" he asked. When he hesitated, Puck smirked. "Come on dude, it's me. I'm not going to make fun of you or anything."
"It's just…you'll probably think I'm crazy."
"Try me."
Ryder sighed. "I kind of…have feelings for Princess Arabella."
"Seriously?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah I mean, she's pretty great and crazy gorgeous. Am I crazy for feeling like I might have a chance with her?"
"Not at all. And not to rain on your parade or anything, but how exactly would you two work out when she's-"
"A princess? Yeah that's why you'd probably think I'm crazy. I'm no prince, I'm basically a servant to a royal family. I'd have nothing to offer her."
"Dude, who cares that you're not a prince? Haven't you learned anything from me and Rachel's story?"
"Yeah but the difference is she actually loved you. Arabella wouldn't even look my way if I wasn't a servant."
Puck shook his head. "I don't buy that. She seems a lot like Rachel so I doubt she's that superficial. You just have to grow a pair and ask her out."
Ryder looked at him, confused. "Grow a pair?"
Remembering that they were from different countries, Puck sighed. "Get some courage."
"Oh. Well I already know I probably won't be able to get a word out without feeling like I'm going to throw up."
"Don't worry, I'll work with you. You'll be ready in no time."
"I sure hope so."
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The day went on and soon it was time for Rachel's date with Collin. As she was getting ready, she felt completely uninterested in going.
"Hey Rachel, your mom wanted me to ask if you were ready yet," Sara said as she walked in. When she noticed Rachel's face, she frowned. "Are you okay?"
"No I do not think so."
"What's wrong?"
"I just…I had a dream last night about Noah. I think...I think I am really hurting him by attending this date with Collin."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you just now realizing that?" Seeing Rachel's confused expression, Sara sighed. "Rachel, Puck's still crazy in love with you. That's why he told Arabella he just wanted to be friends."
"He did? Why didn't he tell me?"
She shrugged. "You know Puck. When it comes to his feelings, it's easier for him to lash out at you than express his feelings. You have to go to him and tell him how you feel."
"But he is so angry with me, I do not think he would even look at me. And I have Collin to worry about."
"Rachel you need to figure out what it is that you want here. If you want Puck, prove it. Before it's too late."
As Sara walked out, Rachel sighed to herself. She didn't know what to do. She had a duty to her country but at the same time, did she have a responsibility to her heart?
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"Are you alright Rachel?" Collin asked as they sat at dinner that night. She had gone to Collin's castle and they were enjoying a gourmet dinner in the dining hall. "You have hardly said anything since we've arrived."
She gave an apologetic smile. "I apologize Collin. I suppose my mind is preoccupied with other things."
"I understand. I get stressed as well from time to time. Perhaps you'd like to dance to ease the stress? It works for my parents all the time."
Hoping to get Puck off of her mind, Rachel nodded before getting up and going to dance with him as the music came on.
"I am sorry if I do not seem like I am enjoying tonight," she told him. "I think you are lovely and I appreciate the effort that has gone into planning this evening."
"Anything for a princess like you. And I want you to know that if we were to marry, we could have more nights like this. It would not be all business. If there is one thing my father taught me, it is that your queen will truly support you if you support her. That is what I plan to do."
She smiled. Prince Collin truly was perfect. He was the kind of prince that she hoped she would find when it came time to find a husband. But that was before she found Puck and suddenly everything was different. How could she resort back to the way she thought before Puck came into her life?
When the night ended, Collin brought her back to the castle and kissed her cheek before leaving. As she walked back to her room, she heard Puck and Maria talking.
"I'm telling you Mom, she's changed and I don't know what to do with her anymore. I'm not going to keep getting yanked around. If she doesn't want me, then when the wedding day comes I'm going home. I can't take much more of this."
"Honey I think you should think about this."
"There's nothing to think about. As soon as I find out when the wedding is, I'm asking Daniel to find someone to take me home."
Not wanting to hear much more of this, Rachel stepped into the room. "Noah please do not do that."
Maria looked between them. "I'll leave you two alone."
As she walked out, Puck looked at Rachel. "How was your date?"
"Honest answer?" she asked. He nodded. "It was lovely. Prince Collin was a true gentleman."
"I'm glad you had fun."
She sighed. "You cannot leave early."
"Why can't I? When your wedding day comes there's no point in me staying here. And clearly you don't want me here otherwise you wouldn't be getting mad at me for no reason."
"I am sorry about assuming that you and Arabella were together and for even thinking it was remotely my business. That was inappropriate."
"Rachel do you honestly think I can fall for another princess just like that? And do you really think I'd rub it in your face if I did?"
She shook her head. "No and I should have known that. I am just very confused right now and I do not know what to do."
"Look at the end of the day, I want you to be happy. But if it's not with me, I don't want to watch you make it official with some other guy."
"I am so sorry for hurting you. I understand why you would want to leave, as I would not want to watch you marry someone else."
After a moment of silence, Puck smirked. "So did he kiss you?"
"Do you really want to know that?"
He shrugged. "I'm curious."
"He kissed me on the cheek."
"You know if it were me I would've kissed you on the lips right?"
She rolled her eyes. "Well as I recall, the first time you kissed me was not on a date. It was in your bedroom after that disaster of a party."
"And then the second time was in front of the entire glee club. At least I was bold unlike that guy."
Rachel giggled before looking back at Puck. He really was still in love with her. She felt butterflies from the way that he was looking at her and she needed to see if there was still anything between them. Before she realized what was happening, she found herself leaning in and Puck did the same. When their lips connected, both felt a spark immediately. It was like they found that piece of them that has been missing for the past five years.
When they pulled away, Puck stared at her. "Rachel I-"
"Will you come to my room?"
He slowly nodded before they began to walk. Even though he knew it was a bad idea, Puck didn't care. At this moment, Rachel finally wanted him and he wasn't going to say no to her.
If you want to finally see some Puckleberry reconnecting, review! Bye for now :)