There's Always Tomorrow
By: Meredith Richardson
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the characters that Ryan Murphy came up with.
Summary: Rachel thought her life was over the day Finn broke up with her in the school hallway… she was wrong. This is the story of a girl that learns there's more to life than boys and singing on Broadway.
Time Line: Takes place right after Glee S2E9 (Special Education) things will go a little AU from there J
AN: This is the second story I've ever written so please let me know what you think. It's a little rough around the edges but I started rewatching Glee this summer, waiting like everyone for Glee Season 4 (woot) and I had to share.
AN2: Thanks again to BurningCrashingRaining for being an amazing beta! I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who's following my story or made it a favorite. You guys are so awesome! I also wanted to thank you to lappers84 for being the first to review and staying with me now that I've reposted my story. Thank you so much for your advice and ideas. Now on with the show… I'm finally introducing Puck to the story. I hope you enjoy… please review 0:)
Chapter 5: Conversations and Truck Rides
Rachel was still nervous when she left for school the next morning. She had once again decided to wear her warm fleece sweater and a short black pleated skirt. Rachel had just locked the front door when she heard a car horn honk behind her. She tried to hide her surprise and confusion when she saw the familiar old beat up ford truck parked in front of her house.
She stood frozen on the sidewalk, internally debating if she should turn around, go inside, and lock the door behind her. Her mental struggle finally ended when she realized that she couldn't miss another day of classes. If she wanted to get into a performing arts school her record needed to be meticulous, skipping classes definitely wouldn't help with that.
She hadn't seen Noah since the day he walked out of her bedroom after trying to make her feel better about Finn. That had been an utter disaster, at least for her relationship with Finn. Rachel couldn't help but think about how he made her feel when he'd kissed her. She'd dated Finn for months and they hadn't shared the same chemistry. Finn had been annoyed when she barely let him touch her, but she'd been more than willing to let Noah caress her. There was something about Noah; maybe it was his suave confident persona that drew her in. She'd never met anyone more confident in his own skin, at least about his sexual prowess. He still hid the softer "Noah" from everyone around him.
"Noah, what are you doing in front of my house this fine morning?" she chirped, "Shouldn't you be off tossing someone in a dumpster?" Rachel called, walking closer as Noah rolled down the passenger side window of his old truck.
Puck smirked, "Berry, I did that last week. Get in, I'm giving you a lift to school today."
"I regret to inform you Noah, that I have plans after school this afternoon and will need my own transportation," Rachel responded.
"I heard about your little date with Evans. Quinn went ape shit when she saw you sitting together at lunch yesterday. What was up with that, Berry?" he questioned, trying not to sound jealous or overly curious.
Rachel scoffed, "Language, Noah!"
"Whatever, why were you hanging out with Evans," Puck questioned trying to find out the truth behind Rachel and Sam's relationship.
Rachel smiled, "Don't tell me you're jealous Noah," she teased, "There's nothing between Sam and I but friendship. Honestly why does everyone think that something is going on? I swear, first Quinn yesterday and now you. Can't a girl and a guy be just friends?"
"No, they can't," Puck said.
A look of confusion crossed Rachel's face, "Why on earth can't they?"
"Men and women can never be just friends cause one of them is always thinking about having sex with the other," Puck stated blandly. "I mean it's only natural, guys think about sex every few seconds. I've already thought of at least a dozen different ways I could fuck you!"
"NOAH," Rachel screeched, her cheeks turning bright red in embarrassment, unwilling to admit that he'd flattered her just a little bit. "That doesn't make any sense. I've had a lot of male friends," Rachel burst out.
"Name one!"
Rachel thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up, "Kurt and I are friends."
"Oh come on, Berry that one's too easy! Kurt doesn't count," Puck stated.
"Why not," Rachel asked pouting.
Puck smirked, "Because the dudes an honorary girl... sometimes I think he's more of a girl than you are, and no, I'm not insulting you. Who else?"
"Well... we're friends aren't we," Rachel questioned quietly.
Puck's face softened a little, "We are but we'll never be just friends, I can promise you that. I'm not gonna lie my hot little Jewish American Princess, I could never look at you in one of those tiny skirts without thinking about bending you over the piano in the choir room and-"
"NOAH!" Rachel blushed even harder, completely horrified and deeply aroused, "What if the neighbors heard you," she said swinging around to make sure they were alone. Luckily they were the only ones around and no one heard their conversation. If her fathers had heard what Noah had said…
Puck watched her before letting out a deep belly laugh, "Chill out, we're alone. Do you think I have a death wish? If your dads found out what I'd like to do to you, they'd be after me with that old shot gun your daddy keeps in the basement."
Rachel gave him a small smile, "He would, he's very protective of me and would kill you for trying to degrade me in any way. You're just lucky I never told him about all those slushies."
"Yea, whatever. Anyway you still haven't named one guy that you were just friends with. I think you're trying to distract me," Puck teased.
"Well, I was friends with Finn," Rachel trailed off.
Puck smirked, it seemed to be permanently plastered to his face, "You and Finn were never friends. He was always thinking about your tiny little skirts and your sexy long legs."
Rachel gasped and exclaimed, "Noah, why do you always use such derogatory terms?"
"Sorry but it's who I am, babe. And it's true. Finn's a guy. He just won't admit that he wanted to touch your boobs just as much as me. I don't have a problem with stating the truth." Puck noticed the sad look that crossed Rachel's face when he mentioned Finn's ability to lie and changed the subject, "And I'm not jealous."
Rachel looked confused, still thinking about how Finn had lied to her and gotten her into this mess in the first place, "What did you say?"
"You said I was jealous of you and Evans, and I'm totally not... just not cool that the guy's scamming on you and Quinn at the same time. Badasses like me do not get jealous of Bieber wannabe's," Puck stated.
"Don't call him that Noah Puckerman," Rachel exclaimed, "Sam Evans is a true friend and I thought you decided to turn over a new leaf after you got out of juvy. You could be such a good person if you stopped picking on everyone around you. You don't want to end up back there, do you?"
Though he would never admit it to her, Puck felt slightly embarrassed and ashamed of his actions, "I'm a badass Berry. I'll always be a badass, besides I only promised to be nice to hot Jew's like you princess, so get your fine ass in the truck."
"But Sam-" Rachel started.
Puck interrupted, "I have it on good authority that Sam's got his dad's car for the day so you won't need your car after school. So are you going to get in or not? I've got places to be and people to slushy!"
Rachel glanced at her car one last time before sighing, "Alright, I'll go with you but I refuse to listen to any of that atrocious music that you're so obsessed with."
Puck rolled his eyes before getting out of the truck to come around and open the door for Rachel without realizing what he was doing.
"Thank you Noah," Rachel shot him a megawatt smile before climbing into the truck, unaware of Puck's eyes following her progress, hoping to catch a glimpse beneath her skirt.
Puck may do something nice every so often but there were usually ulterior motives. He slammed the passenger door after she was settled in the truck and walked around to the driver's side and climbed in. He started the car and adjusted the rearview mirror before casually saying, "I heard about what happened with Finn. How're you holding up?"
Rachel glanced over trying to determine if he was serious, "Do you really care? Or are you trying to get me to make out with you again, which is so not going to happen. I've learned my lesson!"
"Just looking out for a fellow Jew. I know you really cared about Finn and he hurt you a lot when he lied about Santana. Santana's a total bitch, but at least she was honest with you. Who knows if Finn would've ever told you the truth," Puck said, for once sounding completely sincere.
"I guess you're right," Rachel admitted, "But it still hurts. She didn't tell so that I would know the truth about Finn. She told me because she wanted to hurt my feelings," Rachel let out a breath and wiped away a stray tear as she watched the blocks fly by, "I really loved him Noah."
"I know you did, and I'm really sorry that you got hurt but you deserve better than Finn Hudson. I know I don't say this... ever, but I'm sorry for the part I had in your breakup. You were hurting and I kinda took advantage of you when you were upset with Finn. I shouldn't have kissed you," said Puck, pulling his truck into one of the few remaining parking spots in the McKinley High parking lot.
"You deserve the best Berry, we all know that you're going to go places after high school. If anyone's dreams are going to come true they're going to be yours. Don't let a guy hold you back from reaching Broadway and becoming the next Barbra Streisand."
Rachel turned to look Puck in the eye, "It's not your fault Noah. I knew what I was doing with you and I have to live with the consequences. If it makes you feel better it was one of the best kisses of my life," Rachel blushed, and watched as small groups of students made their way through the doors of McKinley High, "Thank you for the ride, Noah." She leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek, climbed out of the truck, and walked away.
Puck would never admit it to anyone but as he watched her walk away and become lost in the sea of students, his hand gently cupped the cheek that was still warm from her kiss.
AN: I know this chapter is short but I'll try to get another one posted soon. Please review and tell me what you think of this chapter. Do you think Rachel can resist Puck long enough to teach him that guys and girls can be friends?