"It's tall. What floor are you on again?" Rachel asked, looking up at the building in front of them.
"Twelve. It's a double."
"What's your roommate's name again?"
"Tyler something. He seemed nice when I talked to him on Facebook."
Rachel and Puck were sitting in his car, staring up at the building Puck was going to be living in for the next year.
This was it, the day when he moved into his dorm for college. Rachel had driven up with him to help him move in. She was getting a car service back to LA after dinner and started preparations for filming the next day.
This was probably the last time she was going to see Puck until the holidays. They'd both decided to go back to Lima and see their families. She had a two week break from filming around then, so Puck was going to come down to Los Angeles, then the two of them were going to fly home together.
"You wait here, I'm going to check in and get my keys," Puck said, kissing the side of her head. He got out of his car, walking into the dorm building.
Rachel couldn't believe move in day was already here. She and Noah had spent the summer in Los Angeles after graduation. It had been the best summer of Rachel's life. There had been no parents, no rules, and no curfews. It was just the two of them, partying and fucking every night.
But that time was over. Puck was going to be hundreds of miles away from her. They were only going to be able to communicate through phone and the internet, and Rachel was not looking forward to it.
This was going to be a real test in their relationship. They were going to be living apart while still being together. What if he met someone else while he was at school?
Rachel fidgeted in the car as she watched multiple blonde girls walk by the car. They all looked similar to Quinn, the other girl Puck had loved. What if he decided here that's what he wanted, not her? She didn't know if she'd be able to take it if Puck dumped her for a California-version of Quinn Fabray.
The car door opened and Puck was looking over at her. "You okay, baby?" he asked, a packet in his hand.
Rachel put on a show face and smiled. "Of course I am. I'm just realizing how much I'm going to miss you when I head back to Los Angeles."
Puck let out a laugh, closing the door before heading back to the trunk. Rachel climbed out of the car and saw he had a cart with him.
"What's that for?" she asked as he started loading things from the trunk into the cart.
"To bring my stuff up to my room. I'm sure as hell not carrying it."
Rachel nodded and helped him move his stuff from the car to the cart. It took them three trips, but they finally got everything from his car into his new room. His roommate wasn't there yet, so they had more space to organize and put everything away.
Puck set up his desk while Rachel put all his clothes away. She made his bed, too, before lying down on it.
"Now that's a sight I like," Puck teased.
"What is?" Rachel asked, looking over at him.
"You lying in my bed looking as cute as you always look."
Rachel laughed, throwing his pillow at him. "Of course you like seeing me in your bed," she teased, kicking her shoes off. His stuff was all unpacked, and her time with him was disappearing. She was leaving in five hours.
Puck climbed onto the bed with her, lying next to her with his arms wrapped around her. He nuzzled his face into her neck, his hands resting on her waist. "I think I'm going to miss this most."
"Miss what?" Rachel asked, shifting a little on the bed so she was facing him. She reached her hands up, letting them run over his face.
Puck chuckled, kissing her once. "You, silly girl," he teased. "I was referring to missing cuddling with you in bed, but you in general is what I'm really going to miss. Are you going to call me every day?"
"Of course. Are you going to leave me cute Facebook messages?"
"Whenever I have a chance," he promised. "Are you going to send me wake up texts in the morning?"
"It'll be the first thing I do after I wake up. I'll do it before I even brush my teeth," she laughed. "Are you going to send me good night texts?"
"Right before I go to bed. Even if I'm up at two in the morning studying, I'll send you a text saying good night and I love you," he murmured, kissing the side of her neck.
Rachel smiled, leaning her head back as he kissed up her neck. "Mm, good. You better remember to do all that stuff or I have every right to kick your ass," she laughed.
"Right, ass kicking if I forget," he muttered against her skin, his hands slipping under her blouse.
"Noah, wait," Rachel said, sitting up and pushing her shirt back down. "I have a present for you."
"Is it a present that involves you naked in my bed?" he asked hopefully, giving her a wink.
Rachel rolled her eyes at him. "No, this present involves me keeping all my clothes on and you taking a cold shower," she teased, reaching down and pulling a wrapped box out of her bag. "Here, open it. It's my 'congratulations you're not a fucking idiot' gift. You know, since you somehow managed to get into college despite everyone's assumption you were too dumb."
"Wow, who knew I had suck a supportive girlfriend," Puck said sarcastically, kissing her cheek as he took the box from her. He unwrapped it, taking off the lid.
Inside, there were two things: an oddly decorated picture frame with no photo in it, and a pink pillowcase.
"Um, thanks Rach," Puck said, not sure what to make of the gifts. Was this some kind of joke?
"Don't be an ungrateful asshole. That is the actual pillowcase from my pillow on my bed at home. And I decorated that picture frame just for you. I thought we'd take a picture now for you to put in it."
Puck smiled at her explanation, hugging her tightly. "You, my love, are the best girlfriend on the face of the planet. This pillowcase is never being washed."
Rachel made a face. "That's disgusting."
"Well, if I wash it, it won't smell like the love of my life anymore," he reasoned.
Rachel shook her head, tapping his nose. "You are insane, I hope you know." She kissed him on the lips, holding his face to hers. "Now look up and say cheese," she laughed, holding his camera above their heads.
Puck pulled her close, kissing her cheek as she pressed the button down. There was a flash as the picture was taken.
"Okay, now I want one of just you."
"Why?" Rachel asked, rolling her eyes at him.
"So when people ask me why I won't fuck them, I can show them a picture of the most beautiful girl in the world so they understand."
"Oh, so you want me to make myself really beautiful in this picture?" she asked. Puck nodded his head, holding the camera up. Instead of just simply smiling, Rachel puffed out her cheeks and crossed her eyes.
Puck laughed, taking the picture. "That's perfect. Now everyone will see how perfect my girlfriend is," he teased, tickling her.
"Noah, stop!" she giggled. "You know how I feel about tickling."
"Are you referring to the fact that you are very ticklish and squeal like a pig when I tickle you?" he teased.
"Yes!" she shrieked, though Puck kept tickling her non-stop. Rachel squirmed on the bed, trying to push his hands away, though it was to no avail.
Eventually, she gave up fighting. Puck smirked at that, bending his face down and kissed her, no longer tickling her.
Rachel smiled against his lips, pulling him close to her. Puck lay on top of her small body, one leg on either side of her. His hands were on her waist once more, inching up slowly as he pulled her top up.
Rachel fidgeted underneath him, kissing him deeper as his hands inched their way up to her bra, running over the cotton material. Rachel shivered slightly as she felt his thumbs run over the wire before his hands slipped under the material.
"Noah," Rachel moaned as he gripped her breasts roughly with his hands. "We have to go get dinner soon," she whispered.
"I know, baby," he murmured, kissing down her neck slowly. "But not yet. I want to enjoy the fact that I have you in my bed right now," he teased.
Rachel gave him a look. "Clothes stay on," she warned.
Puck let out a groan. "Come on, Rachel! You're leaving and I'm not going to see you until December."
"I don't want your roommate walking in on me riding your dick. I don't think that would be a good first impression."
"I think it would be a great first impression. He would know I was a champ if he saw that," he laughed, kissing the tip of her nose.
"Regardless, clothes are staying on. Why don't you just lie with me so we can cuddle for a bit before I have to leave?" she suggested.
Puck let out a sigh. Well, it wasn't the same as having her naked in his bed, but at least he got to have his arms around her. Puck pulled his hands out of her shirt and lay beside her, his arms around her body. "I hope you know that I wouldn't just cuddle in bed with any girl except you," he muttered.
Rachel smiled, kissing his cheek. "I know, and I love you for that." She snuggled her head against his chest, her fingers drawing circles on it. "I love you for everything, actually," she teased.
Puck smiled, kissing the top of her head. "Do you have to go back to Los Angeles?" he asked, though he knew the answer.
"I do," she sighed, holding onto him tighter. "I don't want to, but I have to."
The door opened then and Tyler, Puck's roommate, walked in with his parents. He was cute in a Finn sort of way. Rachel could see him and Puck becoming friends. She hoped they did, at least. She didn't want Puck being miserable at school without her.
"Oh," Tyler muttered, seeing Puck and Rachel lying in bed. "Sorry, I didn't realize Puck was going to have company."
Rachel smiled at him, shaking her head. "It's fine, I'm going to be leaving soon, anyways. Noah was just going to take me out to dinner before I head back to LA."
"So you're Tyler?" Puck asked, climbing off the bed and shaking the hand of his new roommate."
"I am. You must be Puck. It's great to finally meet you."
"Likewise," Puck said as Rachel climbed off Puck's bed. "This is Rachel, my girlfriend. Though you're probably never going to see her because she's going to be busy becoming famous in Los Angeles," he teased, kissing her forehead.
"It's nice to meet you, Tyler. Make sure my boyfriend actually goes to his classes so I don't have to tell everyone that I'm dating a college dropout," she teased.
Tyler nodded his head while his parents brought all his things into his room. "Will do."
Rachel bent down, picking up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "Why don't you take me out for an early dinner so I can head back to my apartment and get in at a reasonable hour?" she suggested, taking Puck's hand.
Puck waved to Tyler, telling him he'd see him later before he led Rachel out of the room and down the hall to the elevator. They headed down and walked out of the building, climbing into his car.
Puck drove them to a small restaurant close to campus, getting a table right away. Rachel and Puck sat at dinner silently, not saying much. Their imminent separation was getting closer and closer, and neither of them was looking forward to it.
By the time their food arrived, the only words that had been spoken were their orders. Rachel looked up at Puck, a sad expression on her face. "Noah, do you hate me for staying in Los Angeles while you're up here?" she finally asked.
Puck sighed, setting his fork down before walking over to her, kneeling in front of her. "Rachel, I would never hate you for anything. Is this going to be hard? Of course. Am I going to miss you? More than you will ever know. But we're going to get through this because a we love each other, and that's all that matters."
Rachel smiled at him, hugging him around the neck tightly. She kissed him once before letting him up.
They finished dinner, walking out of the restaurant hand in hand. Out front, the car waiting to take Rachel back to Los Angeles was waiting.
Rachel turned to Puck, looking up at him. "I love you," she whispered, standing on her toes and kissed him. "That's never going to change, I promise."
"I know, baby." He hugged her tightly, the two of them standing there lost in each other's embrace.
Rachel finally pulled away, a few tears falling down her face. "I'll see you in December," she whispered, waving as she climbed into the car.
Puck watched the car drive away, Rachel getting further and further away from him. He frowned, one tear falling out of his eye. He was going to miss her .
Rachel sat in the back seat of the car, crying. She couldn't believe they were being separated again. They had just gotten back together, and now they were apart once more.
She heard a small chime and picked up her phone, seeing she had a new message. She flipped the phone open, reading the text.
Chin up, baby. Remember that more than anything, I love you—Noah
Rachel couldn't help but laugh a little, reading the message over and over. He did love her. Rachel supposed it didn't matter where they were or how far apart they were—if they were 200 feet or 200 miles away, they were always going to love each other. And that was all that mattered.