Part II – Walk me home
She doesn't know how long she's been sitting on the steps of some luxury apartment. The cold from the late night was beginning to seep into her skin and she curled tightly into herself, hugging her thighs to her chest. Her eyes were closed as her forehead rested against her knees.
She was just thinking. Thinking about nothing. About everything. Where to go from here.
The simple answer was the hotel where they were staying. The complicated answer? She didn't know.
As her mind wandered to the bigger picture and life and 'Why are we here?' She knew she had severely veered off course in her musings. Luckily she was saved from herself when the once silent street she had wandered down filled with what sounded like a bunch of cats screeching (which considering she was in NYC, was a real possibility). There was a clank and then a gruff, "Son of a-"
Her eyes were wide as she scanned the street, looking for the source, suddenly realizing she was very alone, in a little dress, in New York City.
She spotted some movement across the street where the buildings split and a tiny alley she hadn't noticed before was. A man came barreling out of the alley, an accordion strapped to his chest, swearing up a storm.
"Fucking-stupid-alleyway-evil -huge-black-plague-carrying-mother-fucking-fuckers-"
Rolling her eyes at his language she decided to speak up, saving any other innocent bystanders from his poetic diatribe.
"Noah?"
The boy in question spun in surprise, squinting across the street to see the small girl in a blue dress, sitting on the steps up to some apartment.
"Berry?"
Confusion written all over his face, Puck made his way across the street and stood in front of her staring at her harshly.
"What the hell are you doing out here?"
"What are you doing down there?" She shot back.
"Oh, the alley?" He jerked his thumb towards the aforementioned alley. "Me and 'Guppy Mouth' thought we'd try and get into a bar, serenade some NYC ladies if you catch my drift."
She awarded that statement with an indulgent smile. "Caught it," she said.
"I mean I know it's an accordion and all but, come on, I'm still hot as hell."
Puck then proceeded to bring his arms up to flex – body builder style.
"Good Lord." Rachel said, dropping her face into her palm. "Let me guess, your efforts went unrewarded?"
"Psh, whatever, the bouncer was the size of a fuckin whale (he could still take him) and he may have heard me say that, and he may have called me a 'fuckin hipster,' and I may have punched him."
"Noah!"
"What?" His tone suggesting he was completely innocent in the whole thing. "He punched back! Put a hole through my sweet ass accordion."
Rachel glanced down, and sure enough there was a bouncer-sized fist hole (about the size of her head) in the center of the instrument.
Puck was looking down at the instrument mournfully.
"So what happened next?"
"Some asshole called the cops, so Evans and I booked it. I got a record after all; my ma would fuckin murder me."
She nodded as Puck moved to sit on the steps beside her. He plopped down heavily, the accordion still strapped to his chest humming out several tragic off-key notes.
"I kind of forgot what direction the hotel was in and Evans was already out of sight. Fucker didn't have a 50 pound brick strapped to his chest though, did he."
Puck recalled the fear he had felt (and would refuse to admit to) when he had looked up to find himself alone on some seedy street in the middle of New York City, with the cops possibly looking for him (he wasn't exactly inconspicuous - mowhawk, accordion…)
"So I heard sirens nearby and threw myself down an alleyway." He waved his hand in its direction and she noticed him shudder.
"Do not go down there," he said seriously, looking her in the eye.
"Ok," she smiled.
He nodded, satisfied, but stopped abruptly and rounded on her.
"Wait, why the fuck are you out here again? Alone I might fucking add. There might be some big mutant rat rapist waiting in an alley." At this he pointed to the alley he had emerged from. "Where the fuck is Finn?"
"Big mutant rat rapist?" She asked
"I've seen the ninja turtles, shit was dope. But Splinter rubbed me the wrong way." She rolled her eyes.
"That's not the point – what the fuck, Rachel? Where's Finn?"
She looked down at her shoes. "He's gone."
He stared at her blankly.
"I left." She clarified.
"What happened? I thought you two would be doing the dirty in his hotel bed by now."
She gave him a dry look at his assumption.
"Come on Berry, throw me a bone here, what the fuck is going on? I thought this was your dream come true," he said throwing up his hands in air quotes at the last bit.
"It was." She answered truthfully.
"Well then what the f-"
"Was, Noah, WAS," she said exasperated.
He shut his mouth and gave her a wary look, confusion still evident in his eyes. He stared at her for a second then leaned back, putting his elbows on the step above them. The accordion rang out another sad note and she smiled slightly as she looked over at him. He gestured with his hand for her to go on.
She sighed and went on, "It was a perfect date. It could have had the perfect ending, but I chose differently."
Simply put. Her life had become so simple. It was amazing.
"What did you choose?" He asked softly.
"Me." She said staring across the street, a resolute and determined expression on her face.
Puck gazed at her, trying to grasp the whole fucked up situation. He thought he knew exactly how the story was going to play out. He knew how it was supposed to play out: A chick goes on the most romantic date ever with the guy she's madly in love with, flowers, candles, dinner, fuckin serenading, and happily ever after….in bed…naked.
But then this chick had gone and done something totally out of left field. She really was fuckin crazy.
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask where Finn was, but realized he didn't care where the goofy kid was. Little bit of a dick move, but whatever, for some reason when it came to Rachel, he was helpless against caring about her over most others. He never thought too much about it though (he swears he doesn't).
They sat in comfortable silence, him still reeling from finding her here, alone, and she, thinking about the date again.
He began to pick at a loose string on his jacket when she spoke up.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
She looked over at him and smiled, "Finn let slip whose idea Bella Notte was."
Puck wouldn't look at her, "Yeah well I thought it was gonna get my boy laid is all…"
Her hand on his stopped him.
"It's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me…..apart from 'Barbravention.'"
He let out a chuckle.
"…and you did that too."
He shrugged his shoulders (as much as he could with the accordion strapped to him).
"Like I said, I thought my b-," he looked over at her and couldn't finish his sentence at the look she was giving him, so sincere, so heartfelt, "You're welcome," he mumbled.
There was another stretch of silence. Puck didn't have a clue what he was feeling. All he knew was that it was weird, uncomfortable and freaking the hell out of him. He recognized it. It was a feeling distinctly associated with Rachel friggen Berry. He had felt this way three times before. First when Rachel had broken up with him (whatever he was gonna do that anyway), second when they were rehearsing 'Need you Now' (Finn was pissing him off and whatever, the song talked about getting drunk, he was down for that) and third, earlier tonight (he was helping his bro out, it absolutely did not have to do with the girl, in her blue dress, dark hair falling into her eyes, smiling softly at him as she walked past- yeah he saw her looking at him).
He sighted loudly.
"So what now?"
Rachel smiled to herself and mused on the question she had been contemplating when she first sat down.
"Walk me home?"
"Well duh. I wasn't about to let you wander these mutant-rat infested streets alone." He moved to stand up, the accordion impeding him so that he did a half roll and pushed himself to his feet.
"It's shitty I don't have my nunchucks with me, left 'em in the hotel room," he said holding his hand out for her.
She laughed, "I've been meaning to ask how you managed to get those through airport security?"
"My charm, babe."
She rolled her eyes to the night sky as she placed her hand in his and was pulled up. "I know which one was your favorite ninja turtle then…skateboard, nunchucks, your insistence on calling everyone 'dude.'"
"Dude, Michelangelo is my boy."
She felt lighter as she began to walk in the direction the hotel was, turning to yank Noah's jacket when he took off in the opposite (wrong) direction.
After five minutes, Puck spoke up.
"So, you ok?"
"I will be," she said as she looked up at him.
He nudged her with his shoulder as they turned onto the semi-busy street where their hotel was.
The accordion on Puck's chest rang out another pathetic noise and Puck looked down at it all forlorn.
"Do you think it can be salvaged?" He asked.
Rachel looked at the obviously broken instrument and shook her head sadly.
Puck pouted, then reached up to remove the straps.
"I've been meaning to ask," Rachel said. "When did you buy an accordion?"
Puck smirked, "Buy? Nah, I stole it from the music hall after our performance."
"You didn't!" she exclaimed as she smacked his arm.
Puck's laughter rang out as she launched into a speech about musical property, the law, right and wrong, damaged property, etc., etc. She failed to notice him taking a step closer to an alleyway they were passing where he had spotted a bum wrapped in blankets and newspapers. He dropped the busted accordion next to the man, muttering, "It'll keep away the rats." (Cause at that point, the only noise it could make was of a bunch of wailing cats).
Returning to Rachel's side where she was now going on about the amendments or some shit, he interrupted her, "Yeah, yeah, I'll write them a note, Berry, chill out."
Rachel glared at him halfheartedly, a smile formed on her lips as he made a bowing gesture to her as they walked into their hotel.
For a brief moment she thought of Finn, where he was, what he was doing; then shook her head riding herself of those thoughts. She was done with that, done thinking about him, the past, the date, the future, done analyzing it. She was here, now. Walking next to a boy with a mohawk, an old jacket, who steals accordions. Quite the juxtaposition against the boy she had been with earlier. With the gelled hair, crisp suit, and bouquet of purchased flowers.
Puck punched the up button for the elevator as Rachel glanced around the hotel lobby. She suddenly realized how exhausted she was. She was definitely ready to climb into bed next to Tina (Quinn refused to room with her). God she hoped Tina and Mike weren't engaging in some lewd hotel fantasy. The chime of the elevator broke into her thoughts and she walked past Puck, who was holding the door for her.
Her body sagged against one of the mirrored walls and she closed her eyes with a sigh. The sounds of a random piano tune filled her ears.
She peeked over at the boy currently leaning against the mirrored wall to her right. His eyes were closed and he was bobbing his head to the random music. She couldn't help the soft smile that overtook her features. How she ended up here she'd never understand.
But somewhere deep inside her, she knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
End.
AN: I hope you enjoyed it!
"Crossroad" by Marketa Irglova
It remains to be seen to which side I'm gonna move
Which road will I choose and will I win or will I lose?
I'm gonna come to my senses and see the light.
I'm letting go.
What I want now is to do what's right
However right I know, I'm here on my own.
It's just a crossroad.
Is the light red or is it green?
Givin' me the signals, I really don't know what they mean…
If I was a temporary plan, if I could only take a look and we would find
How simple it all is. How much do I need all this?
Is enough not enough? And am I really in love or is it nothing but a test?
If you wanna try me, go ahead and be my guest.
For myself, I'd like to know which way will it go I see it's undecided so I'll take it slow but as I regain my sight, I know I will do what's right
Indeed it's just a crossroad, one that I'm willing to clearly see, see things for what they really are and what I'd like them to be
There's nothing left to think about and I know you now.
I've no more doubt that I'm goin'.
Will you at least, will you sing for me please?