. Thank you all for your support. It means so much to know people care about what I write. You guys seriously are the reason I update this story so fast. So here it is. Enjoy!
While Nelly was being tortured by Three Six Mafia, Rachel was playing on the jungle gym with Ethan. The monkey bars were her favorite. When she was a kid, her fathers taught her how to swing from them, holding her waist to support her as she went. They used to take her to the park every Saturday when she was a child. As she got older, the trips to the park were replaced with daddy-only lunch dates and parties at the office until they disappeared completely. Nowadays, Rachel rarely saw her fathers at all. They're either at work or on one of their many anniversary trips. Although she pretended it didn't bother her, deep down Rachel only wished to be loved. That's the reason she became so attached to Finn so quickly. She craved male affection and sought to find it elsewhere since she clearly wasn't getting it at home.
Rachel was so lost in thought that she missed a bar and fell to the ground, scraping her knee on a sharp piece of mulch. Ethan quickly jumped down and rushed to her side, helping her sit up and checking out her knee.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking her over for any other injuries.
"I'm fine," Rachel assured, standing up and brushing herself off. "Just a little scratch." She winced as she went to move.
"Come here," Ethan said. Before she could object, Ethan had lifted her up and into his arms, carrying her bridal style back to the bus. "You need some first aid and I happen to be certified." He smiled down at her and nudged her forehead with his nose. Rachel giggled and laid her head against Ethan's chest.
"I'm quite surprised by your strength, Ethan," she commented. "You seem to be significantly small compared to your teammates."
"Oh, I am," he confirmed with a chuckle. "But don't worry, you're light as a feather. I won't drop you." They made it over to the bus rather quickly. Ethan had Charles open the door and he walked up the steps, still cradling Rachel. He placed her onto some seats before searching through one of the overhead containers. "I know it's in here somewhere. Aha!" he exclaimed, pulling a plastic first aid box out. "Here we are. Now you just sit still and I'll take care of everything."
As Ethan worked, Rachel watched him attend to her wound gracefully and meticulously. "Why did you get certified in first aid?" she wondered aloud.
"I have two younger siblings," he began to explain. "Suzy and Jack have always been very adventurous and this results in many injuries. My older sister Danielle was going to take the course for babysitting, so I tagged along. I thought if I was certified, if anything really bad happened, I'd know what to do."
"That's really sweet of you," Rachel commented with a smile. "You're so fortunate to have siblings."
"Yeah, well, Jack and Suzy are pains in my ass most of the time and Danielle is away at college now so I rarely see or hear from her," he replied sadly. "We used to be really close but she's drifted apart."
"I know exactly how you feel." Rachel looked down and fidgeted with the hem of her sundress. "My fathers used to take me to the park near my house every Saturday. Then other things became more important." She shrugged. "I barely see them anymore these days. They still support me by leaving money in my account and I know they love me, but I'd rather they actually be around and show it, you know?" She looked up at him, unaware of the tears that had begun to well in her eyes. When a tear rolled down her cheek, she muttered a 'sorry' and went to wipe it away. Ethan stopped her, grasping her wrist lightly and placing her hand in his.
"No child should have to feel so alienated by their parents," Ethan stated, rubbing soothing circles on Rachel's hand while he wiped away her fallen tear. "It's their loss. They don't get to experience how wonderful you are to be around."
Rachel smiled softly. "Thank you Ethan." She stood up and looked into his eyes, becoming lost in the bright blue pools. In a flash, Rachel laid her hands on his shoulders and lifted herself up to press her lips against his. At first he was slow to respond, but soon he was wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her back fervently. Rachel couldn't believe it. This was exactly what Finn had been talking about. Fireworks. When she felt Ethan's warm tongue brush her bottom lip, she gasped, secretly loving this new buzzing sensation running through her body. Her mouth opened in response and it was all teeth, tongues, and lips until they had to separate for air. They were both panting, their foreheads pressed together and a smile on both their faces. "That was…"
"Yeah," he sighed, his smile growing brighter. "Um, we should head back." Rachel nodded and walked off the bus, only to find herself face to face with Luke.
"There you are Rachel. I've been looking for you." He put on his cocky smile, something Rachel was sure he used on girls to make them swoon. "May I escort you back to the playground?"
"Um, I need to make a quick call," she murmured. "I'll meet up with you later, okay?" She fake-smiled.
"Very well," he bowed his head and walked away.
Rachel walked past Nelly, Kurt, and Ross sitting at a picnic table (wait, was Nelly crying? I'll ask her about it later), Flint and Zack playing basketball, and the three quiet boys reading until she found an empty bench under some trees and far enough away from everyone else that she had privacy. She sat down and pulled out her phone, chocking up when she caught site of her background. It was still a photo of her and Finn, smiling and hugging each other during glee. Nelly had taken it secretly and sent it to her that night. Rachel's eyes filled with tears as she scrolled through her phone book, finally finding the number and pressing the green 'call' button. After two rings, she heard the one person who would be most honest with her.
"Go for Puckerman."
"Noah," Rachel whimpered, tears now falling from her eyes.
"Rach is that you? What's wrong? Did Karofksy slushy you again? Is it Finn? Who's ass do I have to kick?" Puck rushed out, causing Rachel to giggle softly.
"Noah, calm down. I just need you to be honest with me."
"About what?" he asked puzzled.
"What should I do about Finn?" she asked, feeling embarrassed about the whole situation.
"I thought you two broke up," he questioned, even more confused.
"We did, I just don't know if I should wait for him to forgive me or move on," she explained honestly.
"You know Finn is my boy," he paused, something Rachel knew he did when he was considering his words, "but you are my top girl, aside from Ma and Sarah of course. Water bug, you deserve so much more than that thick head." Rachel sighed, showing her uncertainty on this statement. "I'm serious. Rach, you're my best friend and it kills me to see you trailing after a guy that is stupid enough to cheat off Brittany. You are sexy as fuck, have talent out the ass, and are the smartest bitch I know. Frankenteen is just keeping you down."
"Noah-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, language. But you know it's all true." Rachel could practically see his smug look, complete with eyebrows raised and a toothless grin.
"I guess you're right," she sighed.
Puck chuckled, enjoying hearing those words come from her mouth in relation to something he said. "Where is this coming from anyways B?"
"I met a guy-"
"Name, age, and address."
"Noah, no," Rachel said adamantly. "I will not let you terrify poor Ethan."
"Ethan who? Come on Berry, work with me here," Puck joked.
"Noah!" she yelled frustrated.
"Fine, fine," he laughed again. "But seriously, who is this guy?"
"He's a Warbler."
Puck groaned. "Not another Jesse St. Douche, Rach."
"Noah, shame on you," Rachel scolded. "Not only is that a horrible name to call Jesse, despite the fact that he was utterly cruel to me, Ethan is nothing like Jesse. Besides, he's Kurt's friend. Do you really believe Kurt would befriend a Jesse-like character?"
"Not after he broke St. Jackass's arm after Regionals last year," Puck chuckled, stopping when he heard Rachel gasp on the other line. He smacked his hand onto his forehead. "Shit, you weren't supposed to find out about that."
A disappointed sigh left Rachel's mouth. "I will have to discuss the lack of necessity for violence to Kurt later." Just then, Rachel noticed Ethan making his way over. He smiled at her, to which she returned an equally pleasant smile.
"Berry, you still there?" Puck asked. "Berry? Water bug? Rachel!" Puck shouted when he got no response.
"Oh, sorry Noah," she blushed, speaking just as Ethan sat beside her. "Um, I'll talk to you when I get home okay? Maybe we can get coffee before we head to school?"
"Sure," Puck replied, "and water bug?"
"Yes, Noah?" she said in a spaced out tone, barely paying any attention and opting to look at Ethan smile at her out of the corner of her eye instead.
"I love you."
"I love you too Noah," she responded before realizing what she was reciprocating. She heard Puck chuckle and became very flustered, awkwardly laughing and blushing as Ethan looked at her quizzically. "Goodbye Noah."
"Later Berry," he managed between chuckles. "Say 'hi' to Ethan for me." Rachel hung up just as Puck was busting out in harder laughter. She cradled her phone in her lap and waited for the blush to leave her cheeks before slowly looking up at Ethan.
"So, you have a boyfriend?" Ethan asked, keeping his eyes on his hands.
"No," Rachel spoke just above a whisper. His head shot up, confusion clear on his face.
"But you said- I thought that- huh?" he stammered, stopping when a soft smile brushed Rachel's lips.
"Noah Puckerman is my best friend," she explained. "I've known him since preschool when our parents met at temple and tried to plan our future together. They had practically forced us to grow up together and some form of a friendship had formed. We were really all each other had. I comforted him when his dad left and helped babysit his little sister Sarah when his mom had to work double shifts at the hospital to get food on the table. He hung out with me when my dads were away and held me after I got egged by my ex and his soulless automatrons. Despite how close we were, he became a jock and I became an outcast. In order to keep up the illusion, I allowed him to slushy me as long as he paid for the dry cleaning bill and helped me clean up. It's a really twisted relationship, but he knows me the best and is the most blunt with me, especially when I need it but don't necessarily want it."
"So… You don't have a boyfriend?" Ethan looked at her incredulously.
"Correct," Rachel giggled.
He let out a breath of relief, smiling back gently. "Good."
"And why exactly is that a good thing?" she asked, looking up at him shyly.
"Because if you had a boyfriend, I couldn't ask you out," Ethan smiled, nodding reassuringly when Rachel's eyes widened.
"You want to go out with me? Like, on a date?" she questioned, clearly skeptical.
"Yeah," he confirmed. Taking her hands in his he asked, "Rachel Berry, will you do me the honor of having dinner with me on Friday night?"
Rachel giggled, squeezing Ethan's hands and nodding. "I would love to." Ethan smiled and kissed her cheek, unintentionally sending more sparks through Rachel's core.
Ethan stood up and offered his hand. "May I escort you back to the playground," he mocked Luke.
She laughed a little harder and took his hand, standing beside him. "You most certainly may." The pair smiled at each other as they walked hand in hand back to the playground. They were too caught up in each other to notice a certain blonde glaring at them from inside the play area.
"Rachel Berry, I will make you mine." With a smirk, Luke walked away, Iggy trailing behind him.
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