Chapter 2

A/N: Wow! I can't thank you all enough for your kind words. I had a crazy big smile on my face when I saw how many people added my story on their alert list Thank you all!

A/N 2: I don't own Glee...if I did the show would come back before April.

When Rachel was six years old she somehow let her friend Natalie talk her into running away and joining the circus. She felt absolutely terrified as she packed her pink back pack but forced a brave smile on her face as Natalie chatted happily about all they were going to see and do.

Ten years later, Rachel couldn't help but be reminded of that day as she walked towards the hotel bar. She was surprised she could even manage to put one foot in front of the other since her body was shaking so badly. "Stay calm Rachel," she told herself. "You're not a six year old girl anymore. You can do this." She plastered her most sparkling smile, took one more step, and then let out a small shriek as a hand clamped around her arm.

Puck spun her around to face him, his face so close to hers he could swear he smelt the cherry chapstick on her lips. "Are you nuts Berry?" he hissed at her angrily. "You know what…don't answer that."

"Will you kindly unhand me," she replied furiously, trying to yank her arm out of his grip.

"There is no way in hell I'm going to let you go in there to pick up some perverted, middle aged pig!"

He started to drag her back towards the ballroom, muttering about his ruined night and crazy Jewish chicks.

"Noah, stop this instant!" Rachel snapped, finally freeing her arm. "I assure you that I am not crazy and know exactly what I am doing."

"Having some forty year old alcoholic pop your cherry is what you want?" He asked her sarcastically, a slight sneer playing upon his face.

"Don't be so vulgar. Besides, how is what I'm planning on doing any different than you and your cougar conquests?"

"Because I'm Puck and you're Rachel." He took a step closer to her, a jolt of electricity coursing through his body as he watched her chest rise and fall with each deep breath she took. "I'm a bad ass and you're a good Jewish girl."

There was that damn flip of her tummy again. Her eyes focused on his lips and for a brief moment she remembered what it felt like to kiss him, to feel his lips pressed against hers, her small frame straddling his muscular body as his warm hands ran up and down her body. Then she remembered how he said they were never friends and all the insults he had thrown her way since freshman year.

"Maybe I don't want to be the good Jewish girl," she replied, her voice laced with sensuality. She took a step closer to him and placed her delicate hand on his broad chest, pleased when she felt his breath hitch beneath her fingers. "Maybe tonight… I want to be bad."

Puck nearly came in his pants. Never in his life had he heard the word bad sound so good. An image of him being buried between her long, slender legs floated into his mind. That image was soon replaced with one of him wringing her neck as he watched her turn back towards the hotel bar.

Rachel took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She was standing at the entrance of the hotel bar now, somewhat dismayed to see only four men in the room. One was sitting at a booth, his arm placed around his date's shoulder. The other two looked as if they hadn't showered in weeks. The last man in the room was sitting at a table, sipping his drink while watching the basketball game on the flat screen TV above the bar. Rachel noticed he wasn't wearing a wedding ring and he was nicely dressed. "Gotcha," she thought.

"Okay Rachel," she said to herself quietly. "It's show time." She took a step towards her target and was promptly blocked by the waiter.

"Excuse me miss, but you can't come in here."

Rachel bristled. She refused to let another jerk try to ruin her plan.

"Is that so? Well, I would be more than happy to call an attorney from the ACLU, who just happens to be a close friend to my dads, and inform him that I am being denied service." She replied in annoyance.

The waiter gave an exasperated sigh and rolled his eye. "I don't care who you call. No one under twenty one is admitted in the bar." He pointed to a sign on the wall which declared just that.

"Oh," Rachel answered meekly, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She gave him an embarrassed smile a turned around. Her smile soon turned into a scowl when she saw Puck leaning against a pillar, smirking at her. "If he thinks he's won, he is dead wrong." Rachel Berry was determined to get what she wanted.

"Time for plan B," she told herself.

"Where's Romeo?" Puck called out mockingly as she walked past him and back towards the ballroom.

"Change of plans," she answered back through clenched teeth.

"I hope that means you're going home, make a lame ass MySpace video, and go to sleep." He began to follow her again, admiring the sway of her hips with each step she took.

"No…it means that I will just have to find one of my fellow students who wants to have sex."

She wasn't crazy, Puck thought. She was certifiably insane!

"That is the dumbest thing you have ever said…and you've said some dumb shit before."

"It's not dumb. It is a well known fact that the male adolescent mind thinks about sex every 15 seconds. Despite my abrasive nature I am sure that I can find someone who is willing to have sex with me." She continued to walk to the ballroom, scanning the lobby for any potential partners.

Puck let out laugh. "Really…and who did you plan on taking to bed? Oh I know! How about Jew fro boy?" He knew he was being an ass but Rachel Berry had a special ability to annoy the hell out of him. "Or maybe you can drag Finn away from Quinn…or maybe you can get her to join yo…"

"Just stop!" She yelled, her defenses crumbling finally. She turned to face him and Puck felt a kick in the gut when he saw eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Do you have any idea what I am feeling right now?" she continued, her voice overcome with emotion. "I'm angry and sad…my pride is hurt. Right now, I just want to feel something other than this pain."

Silence followed her statement. She deftly wiped the single tear that ran down her cheek and slowly turned around. Before she could take a step though, his arm reached out, his touch gentle against her bare shoulder.

Puck had no idea what he was doing. He just knew he couldn't allow her to go through with her plan. As much as a freak as she was he knew some ass hole would take advantage of her. Berry may be annoying as hell but didn't deserve that.

"I'll go up with you," he said simply.

"What?" she replied in disbelief. She turned to face him once more, surprised to see the look of tenderness on his face.

Puck gently removed the hotel room card from her hand and held it up. "I maybe a prick Berry but I am not going to let you take some random jack ass up to the room with you." He took her hand in his and walked them over to the elevator banks. They slowed entered the elevator, neither one looking at the other as the doors closed.

Kurt thought this night could not get any more dramatic. After witnessing the Finn and Quinn reunion he had gone to find Rachel. Kurt knew what it felt like to have the object of your affection deny you, and despite their tentative relationship, Kurt wanted to make sure Rachel was okay. The last thing he expected to see was Puck and Rachel going into the elevator together, a hotel room card in Puck's hand.

"Oh. My. Gucci."