Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

A/N: I know this took a little longer to update this chapter and I know you probably don't want to hear excuses but it's very hard to be a full-time nursing student and keep up a full-time job. I'll try to update as soon as possible but I can't make any promises. I'm also thinking that I'm going to wrap this fic up soon. I should have about one or two more chapters. Again, I'm sorry this took so long but here it is: Chapter 4.

Rachel sat in her car for a least thirty minutes waiting for Sam to show up at Breadstix. He told her that he would pick her up but she insisted that she drive herself. Now here she was sitting in a parking lot waiting for him to show up but it was already fifteen past eight and he specifically said he would be here at eight o'clock. She sighed, knowing she shouldn't have actually believed him. Just because he had been nice to her for the past week didn't mean they were friends. A knock on her window made her scream and she turned quickly to see Noah Puckerman standing outside of her car.

She rolled the window down and he bent to look at her. "Sup, Berry." He smirked. "What are you doing hiding out in the parking lot?"

"Sam didn't show up." She sighed. "It feels like I just got stood up… and this wasn't even a real date."

"Come on." He opened her car door.

"What?" She looked unsure but she took his hand and let him help her out of the car.

"You're already here and you look fucking hot so why not go in and enjoy the free dinner with me." He suggested. "You do have the gift card, right?" He asked.

"Of course." She pulled it out of her purse. "I didn't trust Sam not to lose it."

"Then let's go." He smirked holding his arm out like he did that day Rachel had found out about Santana and Finn.

"You sure you won't be embarrassed to be seen with me?" She asked, rolling her eyes, but slipped her arm into the nook of his elbow. "I wouldn't want to damage your reputation."

"It's a free meal." He shrugged. "Besides, you aren't that bad. Like I said, you look fucking hot, Berry."

"Really?" She blushed.

"I said it, didn't I?" He smirked.

"Thank you, Noah." She smiled when they got inside and were quickly seated in a booth in the corner. "I guess you haven't talked to Sam. I'd love to know why he decided not to show up."

"I dunno." Puck shrugged, looking over the menu even though he already knew what he was going to get. "I think Mike said something about Sam heading over to Quinn's about an hour ago."

"Oh." Rachel wasn't sure why she felt the pang of jealously in the pit of her stomach. "Have you decided what you want to eat?" She asked quickly, hoping to change the subject.

"Yea… and you?" He looked up at her, taking the hint.

"They don't have a lot of variety when it comes to their vegan dishes but this one sounds good." She nodded and Puck motioned the waitress over.

They ate quietly through most of the dinner. Puck spent most of the time checking out the chicks that were walking through the door and Rachel sat there thinking of the many reasons why Sam hadn't shown up. Maybe there was bad traffic? In Lima? Not likely. Maybe he had been mugged? The crime rate in Lima was next to zero. Maybe he had been abducted by aliens and was currently being probed? She had really been spending too much time around Brittany. Whatever the reason it better be a good one.

"Thanks for this, Noah." She smiled as they left the restaurant.

"A free meal's a free meal." He shrugged.

"Why were you here anyway?" She asked. "I forgot to ask earlier."

"I dunno." He frowned. "I'll see you tomorrow, Berry."

"Bye, Noah."

"Hey." Sam leaned up against the locker next to Rachel's and she sighed. "What's wrong?" He asked and sounded like he really wanted to know.

"You didn't show up last night." She said. "I spent all of last night trying to think of a reason why you didn't show up and why you didn't at least call to tell me that you weren't coming. I sat in my car for thirty minutes waiting for you." She slammed her locker shut.

"So you didn't use the gift card?" He asked. "I thought maybe we could go tonight."

"Actually, Noah showed up and we had a perfectly nice dinner." Rachel told him.

"Really?" Sam looked upset. "Like a date."

"Maybe." Rachel lied. Last night was definitely not a date with Noah. "He was there and you weren't."

"I was busy." He told her.

"With what?" She asked seriously.

"Stuff." He shrugged.

"I don't like being lied to." She narrowed her eyes at him and he sighed slowly.

"Quinn told me that if I stayed home and didn't show for Breadstix last night that she would let me get past her bra." He said quietly. "I'm sorry, Rachel, I couldn't pass that up."

"You could have at least called." She started to stomp off.

"My hands were kind of full." He smirked but instantly regretted it when she froze in her spot. Probably not the best thing to say to Rachel.

"I'm just going to pretend like you didn't just say that." She sighed. "In fact, I'm going to forget about this entire week." She walked off and wasn't sure why she was so surprised he had picked Quinn over her.

"Noah!" Rachel called to the mohawked boy who was quickly making his way towards his truck after school. He stopped, turning at the sound of his name being yelled, and waited for Rachel to catch up with him. "I wanted to thank you again. For last night, I mean."

"I already told you it was no big deal." He looked around.

"Mike told me..." She smiled. "He said that you knew where Sam was and that you came to Breadstix because you didn't want me to get stood up."

"Oh…" Puck rubbed the back of this neck. "Chang was never any good at keeping secrets."

"It was very sweet of you." She told him. "And thoughtful. Lauren is a very lucky girl even if she doesn't realize it. I really hope that you and Lauren work out. You seem to really like her so I hope you find a way to get her to reciprocate your feelings."

"Thanks, Berry." He grinned.

"No problem." She looked over to see Sam and Quinn walking hand-in-hand towards his car.

"You like him don't you?" Puck asked. "I see you looking at him all the time in Glee."

"Why does it sound like we've had this conversation before?" Rachel laughed.

Puck smiled. "If it makes you feel any better every time Sam's hanging out with me and Mike you're all he can talk about."

Rachel nodded. "It doesn't… but thanks anyway."

"Anytime, Berry." He smirked.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Noah." She leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Have a good day."

"Bye, Rach." He watched her start to walk off and his gaze met Sam's. Sam was glaring his direction and Puck just shrugged. Not his fault Sam's a dumbass.

A/N: This chapter didn't have a lot of Sam/Rachel but I couldn't resist bringing in a little Puckleberry. I haven't had a lot of inspiration lately for Sam/Rachel so it was pretty hard to write anything decent with the two of them.