Rachel felt happy, maybe these pain medications were making her perceive reality differently; but Fredrick seemed nice, and certainly friendlier than she would have expected.
"What the hell is going on here?" Noah shouted, dressed in fresh blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt.
She looked sheepish "This is my new friend Fredrick." She turned to the boy "Do you prefer Fred?" She would usually call someone by their birth name, but Fredrick was a mouthful.
He smiled at her and winked "You can call me whatever you want doll face." Rachel smiled, they shouldn't be playing Noah like this but it was fun.
Noah's face was red from either anger or jealousy, his jaw clenched "Rach, do you know this guy?" He asked his fists clenching.
She nodded enthusiastically "We just became acquaintances today, Fred came to discuss his feelings over the car accident."
Noah looked at her with wide eyes "Is...this...the douche that..." He stormed over to the boy and grabbed the collar of his shirt, getting in the boys face.
"Noah please calm yourself down, Fred came to apologize and it wasn't his fault. Let go of him."
The mohawked boy scoffed and glared at her but did as she asked " What do you mean it wasn't his fucking fault? Was it not his car that sent you hurdling through the air?"
Fredrick looked at the floor and scuffed the toe of his shoe against the beige tile floor "I...I never meant to hurt anybody."
"I know that, I barely know you and I believe you would never hurt anybody intentionally."
Rachel sighed at the look on Noah's face he was worried about her, but she knew deep down this was a good kid.
"Fred, thank you for the flowers." She smiled and nodded towards the door indicating that he should probably head out.
He smiled at her and smiled "You're a good person Rachel Berry." He walked past Puck who basically growled at him.
He was halfway out the door when a thought came to her "Are you in the phonebook?"
"Under Greyson." He called over his shoulder and then disappeared out of sight.
Noah sat down resting his elbows on the bed and leaning close to the girl's face "Why did you forgive him Rachel?"
She couldn't help herself from getting slightly irritated, her fathers had always taught her to have an open heart. "Because, he didn't mean it. It was an accident, he could be mad at me I practically bounced off the curb without a glance."
"I just worry about you..." He broke off from his little speech and looked into the chocolate orbs "I don't even want to know what life would be like without you."
"Noah promise me you won't be offended by what I am about to say," She asked looking directly into the brown eyes and watched the boy nod slightly "We need to take this slow. I want to go on dates and have you kiss me on my front porch. I want to text you constantly, and feel those nervous little butterflies in my stomach waiting for your replies. I want to go to your basketball, football, and baseball games. I want you to tell me that you love me after we've gone through all of that. I just want this to be a real romance." She finished greedily gulping in air, she was known for not taking breaths during her spiels.
She tried to read Noah's face, but it was too unpredictable "I've never done that Rach. I mean I usually would go on one date with a girl and then...you know, but you're different." He broke away from his thoughts and grabbed her hand "I want all of that too Rachel, but I cannot promise to wait to say I love you." He finished, his cheeks pink from embarassment.
She giggled like a little girl and leaned in slightly to kiss his cheek "Great, so when will our first date be?"
He gave her is infamous smirk "I'll text you."
December twenty third and she finally got to come home, with strict instructions of staying in bed and getting lots of rest. Noah would be staying with her ,while her fathers worked. She honestly could not be happier, though she knew he was going to watch her like a hawk and not allow her to do anything.
She was standing at her dresser on the twenty fourth when he came up with a tray of food and yelled at her "Get back into bed."
She pouted and gave him her best puppy dog eyes "But everybody's going to 's tonight and I really want to be there."
"I know you do Rach, but you know what the doctors said." He told her sternly trying to look away from the adorable pouting face.
She had been on the debate team freshman year, she could win this argument "I'll just sit on the couch and you can carry me in."
That didn't sound like too bad of an idea, actually it seemed like a fine plan "Let me call your Dad's, but you sit down." He told her authoritatively pointing to the fluffy pink bed as he pulled out his cell phone.
She happily sat on her bed, leaning against the many pillows and pulled out her phone sending a text to Kurt 'Are you going to Mr. Schue's apartment tonight?'
The reply was instant 'yes, are you planning to be there?'
'Of course."
The reply from Kurt took a few minutes so she knew he was going to scold her 'Rachel Barbara Berry you are supposed to be resting. Do you want me to have crows feet when I'm an old man?
'Sorry Kurt, see you later.' Rachel replied giggling to herself at the boys dramatics.
Noah walked back in the room then smiling "You can go Rach, for two hours."
She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest like a petulant child "Only two hours!"
The boy smirked and sat down next to the adorable pouting brunette "You're really cute when your pouting."
She scrunched up her face and glared at him "Let me go get ready then." She told him jumping up from her place on the bed.
Noah quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down "You look great."
She looked down at the sweatpants and baggy sweatshirt and ran a hand through her matted hair "I look incredibly lazy in this Noah and my hair, I don't even want to think about people seeing my hair."
"Well I'm sure Kurt will fix your hair at the party." He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled her closer to him. He had won this tiny battle against Rachel's stubborness and it brought a genuine smile to his face.
Rachel Berry was going to give him a goddamn heartattack, Kurt was sure of it. She had been out of the hospital for entirely one day and she had already refused to stay in her bed.
He ran a hand over his brand new Marc Jacobs jacket "Blaine, that girl is going to give me grey hair before my time."
The brunette chuckled at his adorable and hilarious boyfriend "She's fine Princess. "
Kurt nodded as they walked up to the choir teachers apartment "I bet she's her already."
Yes of course she was there when he arrived to the spacious, and he hated to admit greatly decorated. She didn't look like Rachel, sitting there in a baggy gray sweatshirt and black sweatpants.
"Hey guys, glad you could make it." Mercedes came to the door smiling "Everybodies trimming the tree." She added pointing to the large tree in the living room.
"Thank you darling." He kissed her on either cheek "By the way love the belt." He left Blaine and her to talk about the teen vogue December issue and walked over to the sofa.
"Rachel Barbra Berry, how dare you come here!" He shouted his voice going even higher.
She smiled at him "Hello to you too Kurt."
He sighed and sat down next to her "Well, how are you feeling?"
She shrugged her petite shoulders "I feel as good as could be expected I suppose."
"Good." He told her reaching over to give his best friend a hug. They just sat there silently, both watching the others trim the tree and for once nothing had to be said. The two were just starting to relax when Brittany bounded over to them and plopped down on the couch about to bust with excitement.
"Rachel, what did you ask Santa for?"
Kurt gave Rachel a knowing look but urged her to suggest something anyways "I have never actually partaken in the celebration of Christmas, as I was Jewish."
Brittany just looked at her with a very confused looking face, and Kurt chortled at the sheer hilarity of this.
"Britt, Santa doesn't come to Jewish homes." Rachel added trying to enlighten the ditzy blonde.
Brittany still looked highly confused and looked deep in thought for a few moments before she spoke again "But my Mom said that Santa Claus didn't have a religion."
Kurt thought that statement might have been the most sensical thing the blonde have ever said. He was just enjoying this show far too much to join in.
Kurt watched the tiny brunette squirm in discomfort not knowing what to say to the girl "Well I was very naughty as a child so Santa just lost all hope in me."
Kurt laughed at loud at that and heard Puck bark back with laughter. Oh Rachel she was far too hilarious for her own good.
"I didn't know you were naughty Rachel, you seem nice."
Rachel rolled her eyes "You didn't know me when I was a child Britt."
Finally the blonde gave up asking what Rachel wanted and instead asked Rachel if she could sign her cast.
"Of course you can Brittany, you know I would love it if you'd draw me a gold star."
Brittany squealed and bounced up and down in excitement "I brought my glitter markers just for you." She told the girl excitedly running to go and fine her markers.
Before she got back everyone else sat around the sofa enjoying the company and all wanting to put their marks on the cast, except Santana and Quinn.
"So Rachel, party at your place on the twenty sixth?" Bliane asked quirking an eyebrow.
"Blaine," Kurt hissed "you weren't supposed to tell her."
Mercedes huffed along with Kurt "It was supposed to be a surprise white boy."
Blaine looked sheepish and mumbled an apology to the group.
"Thank you for telling me Blaine. I hate surprises and probably would have suffered a myocardial infarction."
looked at her with a wary expression "Don't say that Rachel, I think we've had enough of you being in the hospital for a lifetime.
Everyone agreed in unison and grabbed their markers from Brittany, brushing away the feelings they still had form the accident.