A/N: Hey guys, sorry I've been a little MIA on the updating front lately, uni work got a little crazy for me for a while. I'm trying my best to get back on track, and up to speed with it all so I'll try to update more often. (Oh and a big thank you to everyone who's put this story on alert or favourited it - that really means a lot!) Enjoy!

24. Read All About It

From: Noah

I need to talk to you Q, I'm coming over.

That one message started it all.

He came over looking like he hadn't slept, something which Quinn knew would only happen if he had a 'lady friend' over. The thought of Rachel being his 'lady friend' the night before made her stomach churn.

He was quiet as he entered her dorm. Dark crescent shapes hung under his dark eyes. She watched him cross the room, but he didn't take a seat on the couch like he normally did. Instead he just loitered by the TV, hands stuffed into jeans pockets. 'Are you okay Puck?'

'We need to talk.' He answered but avoided her eyes.

She should have seen the signs. She should have seen it coming. A sinking feeling crept up her legs, settling in her abdomen.

Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke. 'Puck…?'

Dark eyes finally settled on hers. The whites of his eyes were slightly red and undeniably tired. His whole stance was limp, lacking the confidence she'd seen almost every day since they'd met.

The last time she'd seen him like this was the day his grandmother died. He wouldn't pick up his phone, so she had no choice but to visit his house.

His mother answered the door dressed completely in black, a small silver Star of David hanging between her collarbones. She looked worn out, but she smiled weakly recognising Quinn.

'Oh hello Quinn, how are you?'

Quinn smiled back, a little confused by the reversal of sunny disposition she was normally greeted with at the Puckerman residence. 'Are you okay Mrs Puckerman?' she asked carefully.

'Did Noah not tell you?' she responded quietly.

'Tell me what…?' Quinn worriedly asked.

An anvil blew through Quinn's body when Mrs Puckerman finally answered quietly.

'Bubbeh Ailsa passed late last night…'

She realised why she hadn't heard from him in so long. Quinn could only imagine Puck's face. Puck's dad wasn't around much, so he was pretty much raised by the two strongest women Quinn had ever met.

Mrs Puckerman and Bubbeh Ailsa had always welcomed Quinn into their home. Quinn had never had the best relationship with her father, often seeking refuge after their heated arguments at the Puckerman residence. They always welcomed her with open arms, literally. Quinn would always remember the smell of Chanel that gently washed over her as she was brought close by Bubbeh Ailsa and her tears dried. In many ways, Ailsa was her Bubbeh too.

Quinn felt her eyes sting with tears as she stood on the Puckerman's porch. Mrs Puckerman welcomed her inside.

'I'm so sorry Mrs Puckerman…'

She hugged Quinn and shook her head. 'Quinn you know by now to call me Debrah, none of this Mrs Puckerman business. It's good that you're here, Noah has hardly left his room.'

'I hadn't heard from him in a while, so I thought I'd pop over.'

She nodded. 'I think he could really use a friend like you right now.' She nodded towards the stairs. 'Y'know where his room is.'

Quinn nodded and smiled gratefully. 'I'll check on him.'

She climbed the stairs quietly, the steps creaking underneath her. She knocked softly twice on his white door adorned with band stickers and pushed it open.

As it squeaked a little he raised his head. He sat on his bed, the only light in the room coming from the black lamp on his desk. The dark navy blinds were still closed, blocking out most of the light from outside. His trusty guitar was laid across his lap, but he wasn't playing it.

Quinn approached him carefully, and sat timidly on the end of his bed. His eyes looked hollow, his whole face looking slightly gaunt in grief.

'Hi…' she gave a small smile as she spoke.

His voice was coarse and weak in response. 'Hi.'

'I heard about Bubbeh…' He looked down and started plucking at the strings under his fingertips, avoiding her gaze. She lowered her head, trying to catch his eyes. 'D'you wanna talk about it…? Your mom says you've hardly been out of your room…'

He cleared his throat but his voice still sounded hoarse. 'What's left to talk about? You already know what happened.'

She slid her hand gently against the jeans covering his shin. 'Noah…'

She knew that would get his attention. She knew his Bubbeh and his mom were the only ones who called him by his first name. His worn out eyes rose to meet hers. 'Have you slept…?'

He shook his head and answered with a quiet 'No. I kept mom company most of the night. She sat with Bubbeh until I convinced her to go to bed.'

A single tear dared to break free from his eye. He wiped it away with a stubborn sounded grumble. That was the first time she'd ever seen Puck cry.

He rested his hand against the old TV. 'Quinn if you're not even gonna pay attention I don't know why I'm trying with you anymore.' He huffed.

'I am paying attention.'

'Oh yeah? Then what have I just said…?' he folded his arms.

Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she gave up. He sighed heavily and shook his head. 'I don't even know why I bother. I'm done.'

He walked towards the door and reached for the handle. Quinn stopped him, pressing her palm against the door, holding it closed.

'No Puck, you said you wanted to talk. So talk to me.' He tried for the door again, reaching for the doorknob. 'Noah…' she tried again.

He froze in position, eyes fixed on the black doorknob. He spoke slowly and simply, keeping his voice down even though Santana was nowhere to be seen.

'Did Rachel cheat on me with you?'

The hitch of breath in her throat was the only sound in the room. His hand dropped its grip on the handle. 'Tell me the truth.' He couldn't bring himself to say her name, let alone look at her.

She stepped back; allowing him the storm out she thought was inevitable.

'I need to hear it from you. She told me, but I need to hear it from you.' He almost pleaded as he spoke. 'Just tell me the truth.'

Her eyes closed, feeling the crash around her. Lucy Quinn Fabray had finally found her downfall, and this time Puck wasn't there to save her. Her eyes opened and she looked down to find her hands trembling. She didn't want to find Puck's eyes watching her. She didn't want to know that Rachel had done this. She didn't want to know that she had the ability to hurt them both like this. She wished she could just shut her eyes and let it all drift away, but she knew it was time to stop running.

She took a deep breath, waiting for the impact. 'Yes.'

She looked up, eyes trained on the carnage.

A tremor rippled through the muscles in his left forearm, he still didn't let his eyes look at her. He simply stared at the plaster-washed wall across the room.

'I didn't want to believe it.' He finally spoke, refusing his voice to break. 'I didn't want to believe that it could happen. Not with you both.'

She remained silent, just listening to his voice. Underneath it all she was grateful that he didn't just storm out like he would have done not so long ago. And then that feeling broke with one word. He shifted his head to face her, a tear cascading down the smooth skin of his cheek.

'Why?'

She shook her head with a shrug. 'I don't know.'

He laughed slightly. 'Sure you do Quinn. You're just too scared to admit it.'

That's the thing about Noah Puckerman. He always knew Quinn better than she knew herself. She looked up and he watched her. Really looking at her, like he saw straight into her soul. He squeezed his fists together and gritted his teeth with a grumble, shaking his head.

'I am so mad at you Quinn…'

She looked down nodding. 'I know. I know…'

'…But I know why you did it. I shoulda seen it coming…' Her head whipped up, her eyes exploring his face once more. 'I can't believe I didn't see it. Why didn't you tell me?' his eyes slowly turned to face hers. The disappointment mingled with hurt.

'I couldn't tell you Noah…' she replied weakly.

'Yes you could. You knew you could tell me, you know you can tell me anything. You were just too scared to do it. To finally say it out loud.'

She sighed. 'You're my best friend Puck. How do you tell your best friend something like that?'

He turned his whole body to face hers. 'How do you not tell your best friend something like that?'

A tear rolled down her cheek, following the same path as his had. 'I can't believe I've done this to you. To either of you.'

His calm demeanour suddenly changed with a shake of his head. 'No. No you don't get to play the victim here Quinn. You did this. You let this happen. Both of you.' His gaze snapped away from her. 'I don't even want to look at you right now.' He shook his head again.

'I can't.' He ruffled one hand through his mohawk that Quinn realised wasn't gelled and styled like it was normally. 'I have to go.' He grumbled clutching onto the door handle.

She let him pull it open with a rough tug. He looked back around the room, everywhere but at her. 'I'm disappointed in you Quinn.'

He shut the door leaving her silently standing in the middle of the room, head hanging toward the floor.