The heavy weight of Puck's muscular arm around her shoulders took the edge off of Rachel's nerves. She was loathe to admit, even to herself, that the boy definitely had some smooth moves. Of course, that what was worried her the most about him.

With Finn it was easy, he didn't really have moves. She felt comfortable being herself around him, and he was so easy to talk to. On second thought, she realized that he hadn't had the most honorable of intentions when he fooled her with the running lines in low lighting bit, but when she had confronted him about it, at least he had been honest with her. She knew where she stood with Finn, even though she wasn't happy about it.

Puck, on the other hand, made her dizzy with his contradictions. Every time she felt like she had a handle on their situation, he did something to catch her off guard. Rachel hated the way he constantly kept her off balance, but at the same it thrilled her. Finn made her happy, Puck made her feel alive.

Halfway down the block, she spotted their destination. The large two story house was brightly lit, and she could hear music pouring from the windows. There were a few people standing on the wide porch, but she didn't know their names. Her stomach felt as though it were practicing a Cheerios routine, and she slowed her pace.

Puck noticed her hesitation, pulled her closer to him and bent his mouth to her ear.

"It'll be fine, Rach, just don't let'em see you sweat."

His smooth silky voice made her tingle, but she detected the slight catch in his delivery, and wondered if that statement had been as much for his benefit as hers. It amazed her that he might be nervous too.

"You ready?" he asked quietly.

She gulped, and nodded her head.

Turning down the immaculately landscaped front walk, he steered her gently up the front steps.

He nodded a greeting at the teenagers on the porch, and she tried hard to ignore the curious stares they were directing her way. Puck pulled the heavy storm door open and guided her from behind over the threshold. The were only a few feet into the house when Rachel heard the low buzzing sound of whispered conversation start.

She had to force herself not to shrink back against Puck when she spotted Brittany and Santana eyeing her. While Brittany merely looked curious, Santana's perfect face was contorted in an unflattering scowl.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Puck said, his voice full of cocky confidence.

It was silent for a moment, and Rachel could see that the five or so people standing in the wide foyer were struggling to figure out whether or not to ask him what the hell she was doing there.

Matt Rutherford broke the awkward tension.

"Hey Puck," he replied casually, and then with a small smile in her direction,"Hey Rachel."

She could have kissed Matt right then and there. His friendly acknowledgment of her, while seemingly innocuous, let the others know that questioning Puck about her presence was unacceptable. She relaxed slightly, and gave him a thankful smile. "Hey Matt, great game tonight."

Puck squeezed her shoulder, as if to say "Good job," and launched himself into a conversation about the game with Matt and the other two players who stood nearby. Rachel listened halfheartedly and let her eyes wander around her surroundings. There were about thirty or forty people standing in the visible rooms, and she could hear voices from the areas beyond. Most were members of the football team, the Cheerios and their respective boyfriends and girlfriends. She knew some of them by name, others she merely recognized the faces of.

It took her a few moments to spot Finn, which seemed surprising given his height. He was standing motionless at the far end of the large living room, staring at them. A small blonde was eagerly talking to him, gesturing animatedly and she hadn't seemed to notice that he wasn't hearing a word he she said. Rachel scanned the crowd hurriedly for Quinn, but the McKinley High princess was nowhere in sight. She returned her gaze to Finn, and felt a stab of guilt over the look of hurt and rejection on his face.

Glancing up at Puck, she noted that he was busy recounting his earlier touchdown, and wasn't yet aware of his best friend's presence at the party. Rachel briefly considered pointing Finn out, but she was hesitant to speak. When Finn started walking towards them, she poked Puck in the side. He stopped midsentence, and looked down at her with a mixture of irritation and concern. Rachel gestured in the direction of the approaching Finn.

Awkward silence fell over the small group again, and the tension in the air grew thick. She knew they were all on the edge of their seats, waiting to see the drama unfold.

Rachel felt Puck slide his arm down her back and wrap it around her waist. He pulled her tightly against his hard body, in a gesture that was both possessive and protective. Although Rachel knew she was maintaining the appearance of control, on the inside she quivering like a bowl of freshly shaken Jell-O. She wanted to squeeze her eyes shut, and disappear but she was frozen in place.

It was like watching two trains headed for a collision, you knew there was going to be a fiery crash, but you can't look away