Hello all… I haven't given up on my stories, there's just so much going on in my life right now that writing has kind of fallen behind. I got married and my son started kindergarten so life has been pretty hectic. I hope you're all doing well and you're still with me. I promise to see this story through to the end but it won't be a quick journey.

She's ignoring me.

It's been two weeks since I made her come apart in my hands and she hasn't spoken to me once. Not a text, not an instant message. Nothing. It's driving me crazy that I'm straddling the line between being hurt and being pissed.

Who the fuck does she think she is?

I'm Noah Puckerman, badass motherfucker. Chicks don't ignore me. That shit doesn't happen. Yet somehow Rachel fucking Berry has it in her head that she can discard me like some dirty ass one night stand.

It would actually be kind of hot if I wasn't so fucking angry.

It's not like I haven't seen her. I've seen her a bunch of times. I saw her the next damn day at Dairy Queen. And do you know what she did? She gave me this bullshit polite smile and went back to talking to Santana like she hadn't spent the previous night riding my face. It stung, but did I give her the satisfaction of knowing that?

Hell no. I made a dirty joke to Santana and chucked them both the deuces.

Screw her. I don't need her big bambi eyes and tight little body. Do you know how many girls are dying to get their hands on the Puckerone? Hundreds. That's right fuckers… Hundreds.

I don't even know why I'm still thinking about her. She's obviously not thinking about me. There's plenty of ass to be gotten and I'm wasting time obsessing about Rachel.

I reach down to check my sac because my train of thought has me worried it's missing.

Another weird thing that has occurred in the last couple of weeks? My core group of people has grown. It's usually just Mike, Matt, Finn and I during the summers; but this year Finn's out and Rachel, Santana, and Brittney have joined.

You know now that I think about it, it's extra strange that Rachel and I haven't spoken considering how often we've been around each other. Always with the group though, never alone. Somehow that little scenario keeps from happening.

It's probably a good thing because choking her is becoming more and more desirable.

I steer my truck through the dusty lot of the fair and park between Mike's Camaro and Santana's Explorer. As my friends hop out of their respective vehicles, my eyes immediately find Berry.

She looks great in a pair of cutoffs, a McKinley tank top, and platform flip flops. Not that I'm staring or anything. I just happened to notice. She's giggling at something Mike said to her and when her gaze meets mine she gives me a slight nod.

Seriously. She tilts her head back like you'd do a guy you vaguely remember but can't place from where.

I ignore her and start talking to Matt about the upcoming Nogueira vs Mir UFC fight.

We're standing at the ring toss watching the other four lose a shitload of money when she finally speaks to me. "You up next?"

I look at her and wonder what the hell her game is. After 2 weeks, this is what she wants to talk about? Fine, I can bullshit with the best of them.

"Nope… this is kinda lame. I'd rather save my energy for the basketball game."

She nods and then there's silence. Awkward.

"So how have you been?" Her eyes are shining and hopeful as she waits for an answer. It's like she's begging me to be cool with her and let everything just go back to normal. Fuck that. "I've been good… not that you'd know since you've been avoiding me like I've got the plague."

Her head snaps back at my harsh tone. "I haven't been avoiding you. I just saw you yesterday!"

"Cut the bullshit Berry. You haven't said a word to me since I had you grinding in my lap after the party."

Her face flushes as she glances back to make sure none of our friends are listening. "You know you're disgusting right?"

I shrug. "I'm the same person I've been all along. You're the one who can decide if you're the vixen or virgin."

Her eyes snap fire at me. "What's wrong? Your big bad ego can't handle that I'm not falling all over you like every other girl you know? Get over yourself Puckerman."

I lean forward and growl in her face. "Whatever Berry. You wanted me to do everything that happened that night and more. Lie to yourself all you want, but I'm not buying that shit."

When she whirls on her heels and stalks off further into the fair, I smirk at her back. If she's waiting for me to follow her, she's out of her mind.

I haven't been avoiding him… exactly.

I prefer to think of it more as calculating my next step. I know that Noah has done that same stuff with tons of girls before, but I don't want to be just some sexual object to him. Or anyone else for that matter. I might be a little intense, but I'm a damn good catch. I'm smart, loyal, and flexible. What more could a guy be looking for?

Just because I'm not willing to screw around with no understanding of where it is leading doesn't mean I'm a prude. I deserve respect. He didn't call me either, so I don't know why he's playing the victim like he's been at home pining for me. Noah Puckerman doesn't pine. He pursues, bangs, and then wanders off to the next conquest. I've watched it happen for years and I'm smart enough not to expect anything different.

How dare he act like I did something wrong; I just followed the same modus operandi he has been working with for years.

I'm trying my hand at bouncing ping pong balls into fishbowls when I feel someone standing close behind me. I huff out a breath because seriously? I'm not in the mood for Puck's attitude tonight. When a hand closes on my hip, I spin around ready to let Noah know in no uncertain terms that this behavior isn't going to fly with me.

My anger turns into confusion at when I see a stranger smiling at me. He's cute in a Bradley Cooper type of way, but why is he touching me? Without breaking eye contact, I grab his wrist and push his hand away from me. If my tone is haughty when I speak, it's just reflects my mood. "Can I help you?"

His smile doesn't dim as he leans closer and I smell the beer on his breath. "I don't know… can you? You're looking real good bending over this table in those shorts."

I cringe away disgusted and slide to the left so I'm not stuck between him and the booth. "I don't know you and I'm not interested so… have a nice night." I turn to walk away from him and when he grabs my arm this time, my mood shifts from disgusted to pissed. I rip my arm away and face him down. "What the heck is your problem?"

The guy stares at my chest for a second then meets my gaze. "Since when are McKinley girls so damn selective? From what I hear, you girls spread it for anyone asking. Consider me asking." My hand flies up on its own accord and meets his cheek with a resounding slap.

As he staggers from the blow, I once again attempt to walk away. This time I'm grabbed by the back of my shirt and yanked against his front. "I'm not asking again bitch." I stomp on his foot and spin bracing for a fight as my mind runs through every self-defense class my fathers ever made me take. Just as I'm preparing to drive this jerk's nose into his brain I hear a voice behind me. It's soft and dangerous and for the first time… I'm afraid.

"Is there a problem here Berry?"

When I turn and meet Noah's eyes, the violence reflected there makes me shudder. He's rolling his shoulders like a boxer before stepping into the ring. The fact that Mike and Matt are standing behind him with the same look in their eyes doesn't make me feel better. Past that I see Santana looking like she's one step from starting the brawl herself. Brittany's standing with the same vague look she always has, like she doesn't realize we are one punch from Armageddon.

I step closer to Noah and instantly rub his forearms to soothe him. "No… no problem. This gentleman thought he recognized me and I was just letting him know he was mistaken." I turn back to the guy and I know my eyes are pleading for him to use some common sense. Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky.

"Look this is between me and the McKinley skank."

Santana's loud exclamation of "Oh no the hell he didn't!" is like the opening bell. Puck's hands grip my waist as he gently lifts me off my feet and hands me back to Matt. By the time Matt has me secure behind him, the fight has already began. Puck's fists are landing hard damaging blows and screams fill the air. It takes me a second to realize that most of them are coming from me.

As I struggle to do something Santana pushes Puck's keys into my hands. "Come on Rachel." I turn to her in confusion as the melee begins to draw a crowd. I'm shocked at the number of hooligans and heathens who are standing around whooping and hollering like this is some sort of awesome sideshow. Santana leans forward and hisses as she tries to pull me away. "We gotta get the fucking cars! The cops are going to come. We have to get the guys out of here before that happens." I glance back at Noah. He's now straddling the unconscious boy and pummeling his face as Mike and Matt try to pull him off. Sirens sound in the distance and spur me into action.

The girls and I race to the parking lot coughing as dust flies up under our feet. I jump in Noah's truck and crank the ignition. We pull out of our parking spots and drive towards the entry as the guys come running out. I lean across the seat and push the door open for Puck and he jumps in without stopping. Whipping the truck in a tight circle, I speed through the lot and out onto the street with the girls behind me in row. I see the flashing lights arriving at the fair as I cut down the first side street I come to.

I thought I was going to kill him. If Mike and Matt hadn't pulled me away from him, I'm sure I would have. When I saw that asshole grab her arm, I was already heading towards her to help. By the time she stomped on his foot, I was running. There wasn't any thought process other than kill him.

When she turned and met my eyes and I saw the fear in hers I almost lost my fucking mind. What right does that douchebag have to fucking scare her? She's gotta be one of the most gentle people I know. Anybody trying to damage that deserves nothing but pain and I'm glad I was the one to dish it out.

I flex my swollen hands and look at the girl currently driving my truck. Her hands are gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles are white. Her bottom lip is tucked between her teeth and her eyes stare straight ahead as she maneuvers the vehicle through the back roads.

When she finally pulls up at the park and stops the truck the breath she releases is loud and broken. Her eyes are shining with unshed tears when she turns to me. I immediately fall back on humor. "Gotta admit Berry, that 360 you did in the lot? Pretty badass." Her shaky grin makes me feel marginally better.

We're both silent as she gently grabs my hands. She looks at my bruised knuckles for a few seconds, and then gently presses her lips to each hand. My breath whooshes out in a rush and I feel light-headed when she meets my gaze again. "Thank you… even after how I treated you today… how I've been treating you since that night; you didn't hesitate to defend me."

I almost give her a bullshit remark to break the mood but the honesty falls out of me before I have a chance to brace for it. "I'll always defend you. I'll always be there for you. You're my… Rachel."

Her tears spill over onto her cheeks as she crushes herself against my chest. My arms wrap around her and I press my lips to the top of her head. I murmur utter bullshit that I couldn't repeat under oath but I just want her to stop crying. It makes me feel like shit okay? When she finally pulls back and looks at me, I wonder if she's gotten it all out.

My mind empties as she touches her mouth to mine and pours her emotions into the kiss. If I had to slay dragons for her to kiss me like this, I would have done it gladly. Like seriously, I've never been kissed like this and I've kissed a ton of chicks. When we break apart, we're both breathing heavy and I try to gather my thoughts as she looks out the window at our friends who are on the playground romping like children.

"Why did you ignore me Rachel?" I don't know who is more shocked at the sadness in my voice, me or her.

She looks back at me and ducks her head avoiding my gaze. When I tip her chin up so that our eyes are level, she whispers. "I didn't want to be just one of the girls you screw around with."

I shake my head. "You couldn't be just one of the girls… you were born to be the only girl."

"The only girl for what?"

I sigh and put my cards on the table. "The only girl for me. The only one that can hurt me and the only one that can make me feel like a king. You don't even realize what you do to me Rachel, that's the fucked up part. You're holding yourself back from me because you think you're like everyone else and I'm trying to give you my heart because you're the only one I can trust with it. I don't want anyone else… I want you and if I have to beat up every asshole that looks at you wrong until you understand that I'm your guy whether you want me or not, then that's what I'll do. No one is going to hurt you or disrespect you while I'm still breathing."

I break off; out of breath and slight embarrassed at the emotion she pulls out of me without even trying. She frames my face with her hands and kisses me again. She sighs into my mouth as I move closer to her.

When the kiss ends, I lean my forehead against hers. "I want to be with you Rachel… just you." She nods against my head. "I want to be with you too."

Our intimate moment is shattered by our friends banging on the truck for us to get out and hang with them.

Rachel's smile is brilliant and she kisses my hand one last time. "Come play with me!"

Her immediate joy echoes in me and we climb out of the truck and run towards the swings.