AU/AH First Fanfic for this Fandom, Let me know what you think.
When you have nothing you expect nothing and therefore no longer dream of could bes. When you are left on your own survival becomes important and pride be damned. That all applied to Rachel Barbara Berry's life and had since she was sixteen. Her mother had never cared about her; she was just something to hold over her father's head. He died when she was sixteen and her mother kicked her out of the house only two days after the funeral. She had nowhere to go. She had no friends, no family, she didn't have anything and never would.
Five Years Later…
Well she was wrong about never having anything. She had physical and emotional scars but that comes with being a street rat so she just numbed herself and moved on. She was on break in the bathroom checking her makeup and talking to Quinn Fabray. "I'll take your shift tomorrow if you clean the kitchen." "Fine but I swear you act like I never do anything for you." She snorted, "You don't. The only thing you do for me Quinn is bring me my mail." Quinn laughed as she came from the stall, "Yeah ok fine. Oh by the way you look hot tonight. Any reason?" she looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black bondage dress that clung to every curve and stilettos. "I'm singing tonight and I have to be pleasant to look at." Quinn rolled her eyes and left. She knew Quinn thought it had to do with a guy but she had learned her lesson years ago. There was no knight in shining armor, no prince charming, and no superhero that protected the girl and took her away from her horrible life. She ran her fingers through her loose curls and left the bathroom heading for the stage. She was the songstress of the night; she only did it once a month about the time her part of the rent was due. She lived with three others: Quinn Fabray blond and kind of bitchy, Brittany Pierce also blond and not the brightest crayon in the box, and her personal favorite Santana Lopez hot Latina who was a bitch and very protective.
Hey you get what you give right. Her roommates worked with her at club Taste. They were her friends sort of. She never allowed herself to become to close with them. She walked up the steps of the stage. Taste wasn't a regular club it was more like a pub with a hip-hop vibe. It was quiet and dark because what mob owned business would be bright enough for you to see the crimes going on. Quinn had to work lunch tomorrow that meant going to bed late and getting up early. She stood on stage behind the mic with the spotlight shinning on her. She took a breath; she had this job because she had foolishly been dancing around singing at the end of a shift while she was cleaning and the manager had caught her. She hadn't been hired for this, she'd been hired to barkeep, waitress, and sometimes bounce. Tonight she was going to be signing I'll Be Waiting by Adele. She closed her eyes as she sang so she didn't see her boss come in. He walked in dressed in his usual well-tailored suit with the usual people, Finn Hudson, Sam Evans, Mike Chang, and Artie Abrams. They set at a booth toward the back of the club but close enough they could see the stage. After she finished she opened her eyes and smiled at the room. She went to the bar and asked for a water. As she drank she felt someone come up behind her. She turned to see her stalker, great this is why I don't sing. "Can I help you Jacob?" "You were really good tonight." "Um thanks Jacob. I have to go." She grabbed Quinn's tray silently asking Will which table he pointed and she left as quick as she could. She was looking at the drinks on the tray when she got to the table, "Who had the vodka tonic?" "I did." She smiled at the voice; she knew it was Artie, "Should have known. You spent Friday night in here with me running back and forward while you tried to get in Tina's skirt." The guys at the table laughed, "I see your stalker is back Rae. You want me to handle it?" "Thanks Artie but no. If he touches me then you can handle it." She handed out the beers and was moving away, "Hey you did good tonight." She smiled at her boss, "Thank You."
He watched as she left the table he knew he wasn't the only one that watched her leave but unlike the others he knew they didn't have a chance in Hell with the woman. She was leaning over the bar laughing with Will and most heads were turned toward her. He turned back to his group clearing his throat causing them to refocus, "Least I know she's doing her job. But what's this about a stalker?" Artie shook his head trying to clear it, "That guy over there beside the stage comes in here only when she works and most nights all his does is flirt with her but its creepy. So far it's harmless but you know how that goes." He was looking at the man with the Jew-fro who was following Rachel with his eyes as she served drinks and talked to customers. He didn't like the way the guy was looking at her but as long as he didn't touch her, whatever. "Alright guys is everyone clear on the plan tomorrow?" He looked around the group as they nodded and said yes. "Wait," Finn said. "Where are you going to be?" "I'm going to help open the club tomorrow." Finn nodded and went back to watching Quinn. He sighed at his friend who he's known his whole life. Finn was with him through everything from him committing his first crime to his first child to now as he worked as a Lieutenant for the O'Donnells.
It was closing time; he was waiting for the last girl to leave. He walked with the girl who happened to be the singer from tonight. As they got to her car they noticed a guy leaning up against her door. He felt her grab his arm, "Do you know him?" "Yeah." "That's not the guy from earlier is it?" "No it's an ex-boyfriend I'd really rather not deal with." He nodded as they got closer to the car. He stopped in front of the man, "I'm going to ask nicely and I'm going to ask once. Will you please leave?" "No I need to speak with my girlfriend." She didn't say anything just stepped a little further behind him. "No you need to leave now." "Who are you to tell me whether or not I can speak with my girlfriend?" The man in front was turning red and then the man swung at him. He heard the girl gasp and yell something but he was too busy hitting and dodging the man. It felt like forever before the man was lying on the ground, groaning. He thought the girl would go to help the man but she surprised him by grabbing his arm and keeping him back. He wiped the back of his hand over his mouth, "I think it's best if you get the hell out of here and don't ever come back." The man got up and left, "Fuck. Shit. Fuck." He winced as he leaned against her car. He closed his eyes and was trying to breathe without wincing when a soft hand touched his chin turning his head. "How about I take you home and help you clean up?" She sounded unsure. "Sure why the fuck not but let's take my car."
They were in his kitchen. He was sitting on a chair with his dress shirt off and leaning his elbows on his knees. The girl was standing barefoot in his kitchen cleaning his cuts and bruises. "So um I don't think we've been properly introduced." She smiled at him as she ran a warm wash cloth over his face, "Rachel Berry." "Well it's nice to meet you Rachel Berry. Noah Puckerman but you can call me Puck." She finished with the wash cloth and walked to his freezer. He watched the sway of Berry's hips as she returned from the freezer with a package of peas. "What's his name and why did you break up with him?" She placed the peas on the left side of his face and said, "His name is Jesse St. James and I broke up with him because he's abusive." "I can see that but were you one of those that it took you years to leave?" She shook her head as motioned for him to lean back which he did and she pushed his wife beater up to look at his ribs. "No he hit me one time and I left. I've dealt with enough of that growing up." She dropped it back down. He was looking at her and he felt ashamed that he had never got to know this girl before now. She yawned causing him to yawn as well. "Come on. I'll find something for you to put on and you can sleep in the guest room." He stood wincing and keeping the peas on his face. He went in his room with her following. He pulled out a white T and a pair of boxers, "I'll just take the shirt. Your boxers are a little big." He nodded and showed her the guest room, "Night Puck." "Night Berry."