Here you go folks, the next chapter, this one's a little longer than usual. Thank you for all the reviews so far, keep them coming they make me want to write faster for you! :)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
One Thing I Learned
If there were two things Rachel was surprised to learn about herself they were first; that she liked football- no really, she really enjoyed herself at the game. Sure, she'd googled the rules before she'd gone, but even with just the most basic of knowledge she'd liked the violence of the game- if you told anyone she'd deny it until her dying day- and the camaraderie of the crowd. Plus, hanging out with Brittany for any length of time was always entertaining.
The second thing she'd learned was that she couldn't taste alcohol. It didn't seem to matter how much vodka Santana mixed with her orange juice, it all just tasted like orange juice…
Brittany learned a few things on Friday. She learned that football was confusing. It was a lot different watching the game from the stands than it was sitting on the sidelines listening to Coach Sylvester constantly berate her and the rest of the Cheerios.
She learned that it was a lot better sitting in the stands bundled up in jeans, a sweater, and a jacket then freezing her ass off in her tiny cheerleading uniform.
And she learned that Rachel Berry was fun. The two of them had had a good time sitting next to each other, snuggled together under a single blanket, watching the football game- she hardly used any big words at all, and even though Rachel had dumbed down her speech she hadn't made Brittany feel like an idiot. But they'd really had fun once they'd hit Santana's party.
Puck also discovered a few things on Friday night.
a) He really loved- he meant liked- having his girlfriend cheer him on during the game. Sure when he'd dated Santana she'd cheered him on every game, but she was a cheerleader she had too. Rachel was there just for him, it made his stomach do a weird fluttery thing every time he looked up and she smiled and waved at him.
b) Rachel could party. She drank Finn- not that was hard, fucker could not hold his alcohol- and Matt- which was hard, 'cause for a smaller guy he could definitely drink- under the table and if he had his facts straight it was her first time. So hot…
c) Rachel Berry was a horny drunk. Enough said.
Mike walked in on Puck and the horny, drunk Rachel Berry. Enough said.
"Brittany." Rachel said seriously turning toward the blonde as the game was winding down. McKinley had lost horribly, as usual, though they had managed to score one touchdown, courtesy of Finn Hudson and one Noah 'Puck' Puckerman.
"What's up, Rach?"
"What do I wear to Santana's party?"
Brittany frowned "Have you never been to a party before?"
"I've been to parties." Rachel said indignantly, she would have stomped her foot had she been standing.
"Like, without your dads? Like a high school party?"
"Well no."
Brittany smiled and slung an arm about her shoulders. "We'll wait for San and then we can all get ready together. We can pre-drink and get all prettified." Rachel winced. "You've never drank before, have you?" the blonde guessed.
"I've had wine before." Rachel insisted.
Brit shot her a disbelieving glance "And?"
Rachel sighed "And it was horrible so I poured it into a plant and pretended I drank it."
Brittany giggled "We have so much to teach you, Rachel Berry."
Rachel and Brittany were leaning up against Rachel's car talking when Santana strutted up to them, her Cheerio's bag slung over her shoulder. "What's up bitches?"
There was a third thing Rachel had learned that day- she wasn't really surprised by it though. Once Santana claimed you there was nothing you could do, you were hers. When they'd skipped school that afternoon- Brittany, Santana, and Rachel, Kurt and Mercedes had both gone back to class- it was as if there'd never been any animosity to start with, like they'd all been best friends for years.
There'd been giggling and secret sharing and trying on clothes; girlfriend stuff. All three of them had been in the same dressing room at one point- it was a long story, involving hiding from Santana's loudmouthed cousin who worked at the mall. Rachel giggled at the field day Noah would have with that information.
"Rachel?" Brittany asked, curious about the brunette's laughter.
Rachel blushed "I was just thinking about how Noah would react when- if- he found out the three of us shared the change room at Victoria's Secret this afternoon."
Santana smirked at her friend's confession "Oh, he is so finding out." She tossed her bag into the backseat of Rachel's car, after the diva unlocked the doors, then she slid in after it "So what's the deal tonight?"
"We're going to Rachel's first." Brittany informed her "She's having a clothes meltdown."
"I would hardly call it a meltdown…" Rachel argued as she started the car.
"She's never been to a party." Brittany ignored her, twisting around so she could exchange glances with Santana.
"Really?"
"She's never even had alcohol."
"What?" Rachel's eyes met Santana's in the rearview mirror and she shrugged. The Latina just shook her head "We are so getting you wasted tonight." Rachel started to protest, but Santana just raised an eyebrow. "No arguments Rocky."
"We should get her laid too." Brittany piped up.
"What?" Rachel screeched, nearly swerving into the other lane. "Noah and I have only been together a week, I don't think-"
"Please," Santana scoffed, "Puck is retarded over you. You could probably convince him to make out with Hummel by just batting your fucking eyelashes at him. It's disgusting."
"He showed up to math on Wednesday." Brittany divulged.
"See?"
"Just because I mentioned he could easily get into college if he applied himself-"
"He hasn't been to math class in over a year, Berry." Santana cut her off.
"You could probably get him to make out with Coach Sylvester if you told him about the gag reflex thing." Brittany added as they pulled into Rachel's driveway.
"Why in the world would I want my boyfriend to make out with all these people that aren't me?"
Brittany shrugged. "We're just saying you could convince him to do pretty much anything." Santana responded as they entered Rachel's house. "Nice place, Berry."
"Thanks." The brunette led the two other girls upstairs to her bedroom.
"What gag reflex thing?" Santana asked suddenly, looking between Rachel and Brittany.
"I don't have one." Rachel answered nonchalantly.
"What?" the head Cheerio's eyes widened comically "You could get him to fucking serenade the entire football team with It's Raining Men with that shit."
"Why would I want Noah to do all these things?" Rachel asked as Brittany and Santana rifled through her closet.
"It's a power thing." Santana answered stepping out of the closet with a skimpy red halter top in her hand. "This is hot, can I borrow it?"
Rachel shrugged; no one had ever asked to borrow her clothes before. "Sure."
"Sweet." Planting her hands on her hips she turned back to the closet. "So what'd ya find Brit?"
The blonde exited the closet with her arms full of clothes, she could barely see over them. "Let's go over to your place and get ready, San, that way we can start getting Rachel drunk."
Santana nodded her agreement. "Let's do it."
Puck, Matt, and Mike rolled up to Santana's house together in Puck's truck. "Why am I here again?" Puck groaned as he turned off his truck. "This is the last night Rachel's dads are gone and Santana clearly didn't really want us to come…"
Matt shrugged "Come on man, you know you can leave whenever you want."
"Yeah Puck," Mike practically bounced up to the front door "you scored the only touchdown of the game; you have to at least make an appearance at the party."
Puck groaned again as they walked into the house. "I don't think you guys understand, her dads are gone. In New York City. Far away-"
He was cut off when Brittany flounced up to them "Hi guys," she greeted sunnily.
"Hey Brit." The trio smiled back at her. Mike leaned in and gave her a kiss. "What's going on?"
Brittany smirked and grabbed Puck and Mike's hands "Come with me, you guys have got to see this."
When they rounded the corner into the kitchen the first thing they saw was Santana, sporting a red halter top and a pair of dark skinny jeans, presiding over a drinking contest.
Azimio, a big 250 pound defensive tackle stood with 5 shots of vodka in front of him. He was gripping the side of the island tightly, Puck noted that the senior football player would probably fall over if he let go, and two more of their teammates stood behind him leaning heavily against the wall. His opponent was a tiny bit of a thing leaning nonchalantly against the counter her impossibly long legs crossed daintily at the ankle. He'd know those legs- and that ass- anywhere. "Rachel?"
The brunette twisted her head and beamed at them. "Noah! And Mike and Matt, you guys are here!" She looked back at Azimio and rolled her eyes "One second. San?"
Santana grinned "On it Rach," the cheerleader looked disdainfully over at the jock "you ready, King of the Shots?"
Brittany giggled at the obvious sarcasm dripping from Santana's mouth and bounded over to her two friends. "Go Rach!"
"Yeah, kick his ass Rocky." Santana added.
"Santana," Rachel scolded, although there was a mischievous glint in her eyes and a smirk on her lips, "you're supposed to be impartial."
The Latina rolled her eyes "Whatever, just kick his ass before he pukes in my kitchen."
Matt, Puck, and Mike exchanged confused glances, since when did Santana and Rachel get along? Brittany just leaned against Santana giggling. "Dude," Matt looked over at Mike, "your girlfriend's drunk." Mike just sighed and nodded.
"One. Two. Three. Go."
The three boys watched in open mouthed wonder as Rachel downed her five shots before Azimio could finish his second. "She wins again!" Brittany clapped.
The three girls laughed and high fived each other, "Team Diva is the official winner." Santana declared, glaring at the three defeated football players. "No more rematches. And if you three throw up in my house, so help me, I will hunt you down and make you clean every inch of this place." Then her scary look faded as she walked up to Matt and planted a kiss on his lips. "Hey baby."
"Hey San." Matt smiled goofily down at his girlfriend.
He was so pussy whipped, Puck snorted, and then his stomach did that weird fluttery thing when Rachel started toward him. She leaned up on her tip toes and kissed him lightly. "Hi."
"What the hell was that?"
"I was doing shots." Rachel informed him "Why? Did I not do it right?" She looked over at Santana who rolled her eyes.
"You did them right." The cheerleader reassured her.
"Let's go dance." Brittany said suddenly.
The others started following her towards the living room when all of a sudden Puck grabbed Rachel by the waist and hauled her down a hallway. "Noah!" She exclaimed as he pushed her into a room. When he flipped the lights on they discovered that it was the bathroom.
"Whatever…" He muttered as he buried his hands in her hair and dragged her up for a kiss. Rachel felt the kiss all the way to her toes. It was hot and bruising and demanding "I liked seeing you in the stands, cheering for me." He mumbled as he lifted her up and sat her on the counter.
"Oh," Rachel teased wrapping her legs around his waist "you thought I was cheering for you?"
"Rachel…" he growled.
She smiled at him and using all the muscles in her legs she pulled him against her. "Kiss me again."
"Yes ma'am." Puck grinned.
Mike was having a great time dancing with his girlfriend- a drunken Brittany was a grindy Brittany, after all. He was pretty sure he was getting laid tonight and from the way Santana and Matt were making out on the dance floor things were looking good for his best friend too. That's when Brittany stopped. "Brit?"
"Where's Rachel? San, Rachel's still gone!"
Much to Matt's disappointment that announcement caused Santana to pull away from him. Santana leered at her best friend "Do you think she told him?"
"Which thing?" Brittany giggled.
"Either."
"We need to find Rachel." Brittany announced.
"What?" Mike asked "Why?"
"Cause we promised we wouldn't let her sleep with Puck tonight." Santana answered. "She wants to save it or something." She cut Matt off before he could even ask her why. And with that both Brittany and Santana were off.
Matt and Mike exchanged glances before following the girls. "Puck's going to kill us." Mike mumbled. Matt just nodded his agreement.
Mike was the one who found them. After finding the bathroom unlocked he swung the door open. He wished he'd knocked.
A shirtless Puck had Rachel wrapped around his waist and pinned up against the wall. Rachel's shirt was pushed up and sat right below her breasts. She was fumbling with Puck's belt, while he attacked her neck with his teeth.
"Jesus Christ!" He swore, shutting his eyes.
"Mike?" Rachel asked, hazily.
"What the fuck, Chang?"
"Santana and Brittany sent me to find her."
"They did?" Rachel asked, pulling down her shirt and motioning for Puck to set her back on the floor. "Is everything alright?"
Mike shrugged, his eyes still closed, "They just sent me and Matt to find you."
Rachel leaned up to peck her boyfriend on the lips. "I better go find out what's going on."
"Jesus fuck, Chang." Puck growled when she was out of earshot. He quickly pulled his t-shirt back on and shook his head when he noticed that Mike's eyes were still closed. "Open your damn eyes, dude, you're not gonna see anything, she's gone."
Mike opened his eyes and grinned sheepishly at Puck "Sorry, man."
Puck sighed and rubbed a hand over his mohawk. "Seriously, what the hell?"
"I don't know," this time Mike sighed, "it was some girly pact Rachel, Santana, and Brittany made."
"I'm not sure I'm going to like those three being bff's or whatever." Puck punched the Asian dancer in the arm on his way past him "At least knock next time."
"Trust me," Mike responded as he followed his friend "if there's one thing I learned tonight, it's always knock."