Puck watched the storm door slam shut behind her. He was completely numb. His heart didn't hurt, in fact, he couldn't even feel it beating. The world was silent and still, as if time had stopped the minute she was gone.

She'd left him. She'd left him alone and gone after Finn. The look on her face, the regret... she'd known what she doing, and she did it anyway. He wanted to run after her, but what was the point? It was obvious she cared about Finn, at least more than the cared about him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and suddenly the room was full of movement and noise. People were still staring, but there was no one in the entryway, save Matt.

"Dude, Puck, are you okay?" Matt asked worriedly.

Puck glanced around, everyone was waiting for his answer. He could hear the murmurs. The fragmented words filled his head.

"Rachel Berry..."

"...left him standing there..."

"...how humiliating."

She's made a fool out of him. He'd be a laughingstock.

"...what a loser..."

He set his jaw and turned. "I'm good, man."

Matt looked unconvinced.

"C'mon man," Puck said, "We're talking about Rachel Berry here, it's no loss. I was just trying to figure out what the hell she had on under those skirts."

Looking around, he spotted the blonde freshman who had been talking to Finn earlier. When she saw he was looking at her, she perked up immediately and looked at him adoringly.

"Look, it's all good man, trust me, I'll be just fine."

With that he walked over to the blonde and flashed a smile. Putting his arm around her he guided her into the kitchen. He could feel Matt's eyes following him, and he hoped his friend had bought it.

Once in the kitchen, Puck grabbed a beer out of the ice chest that was sitting on the floor. Popping the top, he drained half the can in one swig. The blonde looked at him expectantly, and he just tipped the beer can back to his mouth. With a huff, she reached down and got her own can.

"Can you open this for me?" She asked, batting her eyes.

"Nope." Puck said, continuing to drink.

Annoyed, she carefully popped the can open, and took a tiny sip.

She eyed him carefully and apparently decided that his looks out weighed his rudeness. She tried again.

"So... I'm Amber... what's your name?" she giggled.

"You know exactly who I am."

"Puck, right?" she said.

"The one and only..."

"I've heard stories about you..." she said coyly, "are you as bad as they say you are?"

"Worse." Puck replied drolly.

She gave him what Puck assumed was supposed to be a seductive smile, and continued. He nodded here and there, and gave the occasional grunt but he wasn't hearing anything she said.

All he could think about was Rachel. He grabbed another beer, and let his thoughts wander. Seventy two hours ago he didn't give a damn about

Rachel Berry. She was loud, bossy and obnoxious and his greatest pleasure in the morning was dousing her with slushie. It was stupid to be upset over her, it wasn't possible for him to actually have feelings for a girl who he had hated three days ago.

He realized none of that made that sense. He couldn't not give a damn about her and hate her at the same time. And she had most certainly managed to crawl under his skin in three days. He thought back to the way she'd smiled when he told her to use normal people words. It had been adorable. He was also enthralled by the way she managed to call him on his bullshit. The only woman who had ever done that to him before was his mother.

He really had thought she liked him. The real him... Noah Puckerman, not just Puck. Obviously not, he thought. Anger started to overtake him as he thought about how she'd humiliated him. People were calling him a loser thanks to her.

Looking down at the ditzy blonde who kept on talking despite his obvious lack of interest, he was disgusted by her. What was wrong with her, didn't she have any self respect? Up until recently, he had found that quality to be handy in a girl, but now it made him think of Rachel and how she stuck her chin up in the air when she was trying to be tough.

He reached for another beer, and realized he had to drive home still. Glancing at... what was her name? Anne.... Amy.... ah fuck it he didn't care, he shook his head, and pushed himself away from the counter.

"Where you going?" she giggled in a tipsy voice.

Puck glanced and the barely half empty beer in her hand, and knew it was still her first.

"Bathroom."

"Need help?"

Good god, he wasn't even trying. What was wrong with these girls?

"No." he said harshly, and walked away.

He headed down the hallway, looking for the closest bathroom. He found it tucked into a corner, next to the study. After taking care of business, he washed his hands and splashed cold water on his face. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he carefully examined his face. He was a good looking guy, he knew that. So whatever it was that was wrong had to be on the inside.

He exited the small powder room and immediately ran into Santana. He could tell she'd been drinking, and he knew from experience that she was a mean drunk. He tried to brush past her, but she grabbed his hands and swung him around, pulling him through the open door to the study.

"Don't you miss me Puck?" she purred. "I miss you..."

"No, Santana, let go of me..."

"But Puuuck..." she whined, "I miss you."

"Too bad, Santana, that was over a while ago. That was your choice,"

She threw her arms around his neck and narrowed her eyes. "What? Am I not good enough for you?"

He tried to peel her off. "Santana, come on..."

Her eyes narrowed further and she looked over his shoulder. Before he could turn around to see what she'd been looking, she leaned forward and devoured his mouth.

She took him by surprise, and when he tried to pull away, she held on tightly.

Suddenly, she pushed him away and slapped him.

"Damn you Puck, leave me alone." she yelled and stomped past him out into the hall.

Standing in the empty study, holding his hand to his stinging cheek, he thought this might be a new record for him.