Hello again...hope you enjoyed my last chapter :)
hope you enjoy this one X

Chapter Two

I avoided Finn for a while. It wasn't a conscious thing, but wherever Finn was, Quinn was and it was hard to see them together. They were annoying. I could see that she wasn't that interested in Finn. I don't know how I could see it but I could. She just didn't look like she really wanted it when they were together. Her eyes glazed over, her smile was fake. She wasn't passionate. Finn didn't notice for a while, he was too involved with Quinn.

"Dude, what's up?" He asked me about two months into the semester.

"Nothing Finn." That was all I said in reply. Surprisingly he dropped the subject.

That weekend there was a party at Santana's house. She would normally have them and there was always an abundance of alcohol and drunk chicks. She would normally host them every weekend. Although Lima Heights was a poor part of town, her house was a little more up market than most in that area. Her parents worked away a lot so San would make the most of it.

So that Friday night I found myself standing on the deck in Santana's back yard, plastic cup of beer in hand. A large crowd of people were standing around the keg laughing and drinking. Normally I'd have been there among them but that evening I didn't feel like it. Some drunk girl staggered over to me and tried to thrust her hand down my pants forcefully so I pushed her away. She flipped me off and left to annoy another guy. That's when Finn and Quinn walked in. Finn was smiling broadly, wearing his McKinley Titans letterman jacket over a blue dress shirt and jeans, Quinn was dressed in a floating white baby doll dress, a light pink cardigan and flats. Her golden hair was down, make up subtle. Finns hair bared the slight impression of a comb. Quinn wasn't smiling. She looked stern and unhappy as she walked to the table and got a bottle of water. Finn went to talk to a group of football players. After a while, Quinn walked into the house. As far as I knew, nobody was in there so I decided to seize my chance. I finished my second beer and crumpled the cup, then followed Quinn into the house. I found her standing in the kitchen with her back to me, still nursing the unopened bottle of water.

"Quinn?" I said quietly. She whipped around and settled her eyes on me. She smiled faintly.

"Puck." Her eyes were red with tears. Instinctively I walked over to her.

"What's up Fabray?" She took a deep breath to steady herself.

"I was talking to my parents before I left to come here. I told them I wanted to break things off with Finn and I didn't tell them why." She held up her hand as I began to question her about that. End things with Finn? Score! Clearly she didn't want to discuss it. She continued speaking,

"And they made it clear they'd disown me if I did. My mother seems to think he will help keep my popularity strong and that, apparently, is the most important thing."

I hadn't heard her say so much since we were ten years old. I didn't know what to say so I wrapped my arms around her. Surprisingly her arms wrapped around my waist. I felt her head rest on my shoulder. I stroked her hair.

"Quinn…I've been meaning to talk to you for a long time now." Thirteen years to be precise, I thought. She pulled back.

"About what?"

"Well. I was just wondering if I could take you out soon. Maybe to dinner. Breadsticks?" She looked confused but not angry.

"Puck I'm Finns girlfriend I don't think that would be appropriate." She unwrapped her arms from around my waist. I suddenly grabbed her shoulders.

"I need you." I said simply. She opened her mouth to speak then closed it.

"I have to go." She replied after a few moments.

"Don't go….please. Don't go. " I felt like a fucking chick but I knew I had to tell her. Unfortunately I didn't have the vocabulary to describe the way I felt. She looked me in the eyes for a long time. I loved her eyes. They were hazel, just one shade away from green. Like a crisp and clear autumn morning. She smiled a small, timid smile and I swear my heart stopped for a second. My return smile was broad and happy; it hurt my face to do it. She rested her small hand on my bare arm, just below my bicep. I could feel the warmth radiating from it along with the cool smoothness of the ring she wore.

"Puck." She whispered. Although she didn't move I could tell she wanted to. Tell she wanted to stand on her tiptoes and plant a kiss on my lips. I stared adoringly into her eyes. We were interrupted from our silent reconciliation by a marginally tipsy Finn. His jacket was gone and his hair was slightly ruffled.

"Hey guys! What's up?" Quinn's hand ripped from my arm at Finns arrival. It felt like I'd been burned. She recovered quicker than me.

"Nothing Finn. Puck wanted some tips for his chemistry paper." She lied so effortlessly I found myself almost believing her.

"Oh yeah that things a fucking nightmare isn't it? I'm lucky I have a smart girlfriend or my grades would totally go to shit." With that he sauntered over to Quinn and planted a wet kiss on her forehead. She turned to him and smiled. The then grabbed her and kissed her forcefully. Her eyes were open and they bored into me. Finn made a noise and her eyes went to him, closing as he kissed her more.

I left without another word.

XXXXXXX

I didn't want that weekend to finish. I knew that I would at least have to look at Quinn at some point and even that made me want her more. For the first time in my life I was dreading school on Monday morning. And, for a change, my mom picked up on it.

"Noah what's wrong? You seem distant." She always called me Noah. I'd told her before I didn't like it but she still insisted on calling me Noah. I couldn't tell her the truth though, no way. I couldn't tell her that I'd been in love with the same girl since I was four, but she was with my best friend. I wanted to be with her, look after her and make her happy. Shit did I really just say I loved her? I thought to myself. Did I love her? Yes you idiot. You always have.

"Nothing Ma." Better to avoid the questioning.

That Monday morning bought with it a sense of impeding doom. Quinn would most probably question me about my behavior on Friday and I didn't have any answers that wouldn't make me sound like a total idiot. I parked the truck in the lot and stepped out. It was raining so everyone was inside. I turned the collar up on my letterman and walked through the increasing downpour into the school. When I got to my locker, Finn was there. He looked very pleased with himself.

"Hey dude." He greeted me.

"Hey." I replied unenthusiastically. He didn't pick up on my tone.

"Guess what man? You'll be proud of me for this." He was gleeful.

"What." I somehow knew what was coming.

"On Saturday night I went to Quinn's place, and things got a little heated in her hot tub if you know what I mean." He winked at me. I slammed my locker a little harder than necessary and turned to look at him. I concentrated hard on making my face a mask of boredom but it was insanely difficult. I couldn't help myself from asking,

"Did you two…?"

"No, no we didn't have sex but we made out a whole lot. We had our bathing suits on. " I breathed an internal sigh of relief. If Finn told me they'd had sex I might have smacked him. Instead I patted him on the back.

"Good going buddy. Maybe she'll let you get a little bit farther next time." He smiled and followed me as I walked to English.

She was in all of my classes. In English she sat next to Finn. I sat right behind them. It was torture. I kept imagining them in that hot tub and I felt physically sick. I remember when her folks first bought that thing. I was the first guy she had in there. Granted I was ten but it was still hot.

The day flew by and before I knew it. It was fifth period math. I didn't bother going. I decided to take a walk over to the football field. I used to go there a lot when I needed to think. I stood behind the bleachers with my hands in my pockets, thinking about Quinn. Suddenly I heard light footsteps. When they sounded near enough I stepped out form my hiding place to see who it was. Hopefully it was a nerd I could bully or, even better, a teacher I could out smart.

It was neither.

It was Quinn Fabray.

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