(Hi readers, sorry about the delay in uploading my next chapter. Been a bit preoccupied because I just moved to New Jersey! Hopefully, story updates will be regular soon. Hope you like this chapter in the meantime. And for those worried about the new OC, you shouldn't be. She's just there to... speed things along.)

Chapter 4

"Are you sure I look decent?" Rachel asked Kurt softly, as they stepped into the cool air-conditioned mall together.

"Rachel, have you not yet learned that I'm the style guru? I know fashion like the back of my hand." Kurt said dismissively as he led her towards the central fountain area.

"But yes, I do believe you look decent. More than decent by the way. You look… hot." Kurt gave his final appraisal before he spotted Mercedes, Quinn, Tina and Artie standing next to the fountain.

Artie let out a low wolf whistle as they walked up to the group.

"Why hello hot mama." Mercedes grinned, appraising Rachel's outfit before she gave Rachel a hug.

"You don't think it's too – much." Rachel asked, looking over at Quinn for an answer.

Quinn gave her a once over taking in the denim shorts, the yellow tank top and the blue Keds. Kurt had also talked Rachel into putting her hair up into a ponytail, leaving tendrils to frame her face.

"You look great Rach. Seriously." Quinn reassured her friend (and she was still surprised to find that she could genuinely call Rachel that after all that had happened; it might have had something to do with the fact that throughout the whole pregnancy debacle up until the very end, Rachel had been on her side whether she liked it or not).

"You look stylish." Tina chimed in, tossing her long black hair over her shoulder.

Rachel beamed at her friends, all her worries about her appearance disappearing. This outfit was not necessarily too her but for once, she felt like she looked like everyone else and it wasn't all that awful.

"Hey you guys, isn't that Puck over there?"

When Artie said Puck's name, Rachel immediately felt all her nerve endings tingle.

Stop it Rachel, there is no reason for you to be reacting at all. It's just No – Puck. Just Puck.

"It's definitely Puck. But who's the girl he's with?" Quinn frowned, trying to get a better glimpse of the girl's face.

"I've never seen her before." Kurt shrugged, although his face held a curious expression.

"It's probably another one of his conquests." Mercedes added, her expression carefully blank.

"But he doesn't seem to be like the kind of person who would take his conquests to the mall." Tina said, her brow wrinkled in confusion.

"What do you think Rach?" Quinn asked when she realized the brunette had been silent during the group's exchange.

"I- I- I don't know." Rachel stammered, still flustered at the electricity that had shot through her when she had spotted his profile.

"I say we find out." Kurt suddenly interjected mischievously.

"Say what?" Mercedes asked incredulously.

But Kurt didn't respond, as he was halfway across the mall in Puck's direction, dragging Rachel, who was still clutching his arm, alongside him.

"Kurt! You don't mean to-" Rachel stopped talking when he dragged her into the arcade that Puck and that girl had just entered.

Kurt surveyed the area for a moment before he spotted his goal in one corner near the basketball games. He walked towards that direction purposefully; as he neared the pair, who were distracted by their attempts to one-up each other, he slowed down to a walk.

Rachel felt her face was on fire; why couldn't Kurt be any less obvious? It didn't help that the nearer they got, the warmer she felt and the more she tingled all over her body. What is happening to me?

"So Rach, like I was – Oh my goodness, Puck, is that you?" Kurt said in a mock surprised voice, coming to stop just behind Puck and the mysterious girl.

"Hummel." Puck groaned mentally before he turned to come face to face with Kurt and – Rachel? Great, just great.

His body suddenly came alive and he felt his earlier reaction to Rachel reappearing. What the fuck.

"Now this is a pleasant surprise Puck. I didn't expect to see you here…" Kurt continued on.

"I didn't expect to run into you here either." Puck said pointedly, feeling the slightest bit better when Rachel's cheeks went pink and Kurt stopped mid-speech.

Puck took the break in the conversation to stare down Kurt, who looked guiltily away after another moment.

His gaze transferred to Rachel and just as suddenly as the anger had appeared, it disappeared and was replaced instead by… lust? He had never seen her looking the way she did today, in those entirely too short shorts and that form-fitting top. The girl had a body that made him want her more than anything in the world.

He focused on controlling his desire, turning abruptly away from Rachel. You can't want her Puckerman. And even if you did, you can't fucking have her. Again.

"We were just- it was just-" Kurt stammered, trying to regain his former train of thought.

The girl that Puck was with merely laughed brightly and turned to face Kurt and Rachel head-on.

"Don't mind Puck, he's an idiot sometimes. Although you probably know that if you go to school with him." She chimed, smiling sweetly at Puck, who glared at her.

Kurt snapped to attention instantly, deducing that the relationship between Puck and the girl was a lot deeper than just a conquest. He stared curiously into the girl's face, wondering who in the world was brave enough to put Puck down without fearing any retaliation.

Rachel, in the meantime, stared at him curiously for a moment. Before it began to feel awkward, she turned her gaze onto the girl.

"We do go to school with Noah and we know he can be a jerk sometimes. But he's become a lot better now." She blurted out quickly, avoiding Puck's gaze.

The girl grinned when she said Noah and her smile widened at the rest of Rachel's statement.

"You do go to McKinley then. I'm Alexa, I'm a sophomore there this year."

Kurt and Rachel exchanged a glance in surprise. This new girl Puck was hanging with was going to be attending McKinley too? This definitely would not be Puck's style at all.

"I'm Kurt, McKinley's resident fashion guru and Broadway fanatic." Kurt finally said, reaching out to shake Alexa's outstretched hands.

"And this is Rachel, the star of the glee club." He prodded when Rachel didn't speak.

Rachel numbly held out her hand, still surprised by the revelation that this girl was attending their school come the new school year.

"It's really nice to meet you guys. Are you friends with Puck?" She asked, elbowing Puck lightly.

"We're in glee club together." Puck mumbled, still embarrassed to have been caught by Kurt and Rachel with Alexa.

"Oh! Glee club! That's right! Are you guys holding tryouts? I love singing." Alexa suddenly exclaimed, her brown eyes coming to life.

"As a matter of fact, I'm planning to discuss that very matter with Mr. Schuester, our glee club director." Rachel finally managed to say, swallowing her discomfort around Puck and focusing on her conversation with Alexa.

"That's cool! I can't wait. I hope I can get in."

"You'll get in for sure Lexi, you have an amazing voice."

The words tumbled out before he could stop himself and Puck mentally slapped himself when he caught both Rachel and Kurt giving him surprised looks.

"Why thank you Puck." Alexa grinned knowingly, patting him on the shoulder.

"I hate to dash but I think I hear Quinn calling us." Kurt said abruptly, tugging on Rachel's arm.

"I don't-" Rachel stopped talking when Kurt pinched her subtly.

"Oh yeah, I hear her now. We better get back before she freaks out." Rachel said sweetly, shooting Alexa an apologetic smile.

"It's okay. I guess I'll see you guys around." Alexa smiled and waved them off.

"See you Hummel, Berry." Puck muttered, giving a half-hearted wave.

As Kurt dragged Rachel away from the pair (who returned to psyching each other out about the basketball game), she found herself surprisingly concerned about Puck's reaction. Was it that horrible to have people discover that he had a softer side? He'd been less of a jerk after the pregnancy incident and the brief time he had dated Mercedes. She thought it was sweet that he was a softie at heart; but her senses instantly reinstated themselves when she realized her heart was thumping hard and her cheeks were still flushed.

Why in the world does he still have this reaction on me? I'm in love with – with-

"Rachel, have you even been listening to a word I'm saying?" Kurt's snappy voice cut into her thoughts.

"No." She admitted guiltily.

"You've got to stop thinking about Finn honey." Kurt suddenly switched to a more sympathetic tone, knowing exactly what had entered her mind.

Rachel took a deep breath. "You're right Kurt. Go on, what were you saying?"

"I was saying that Alexa seems pretty cool. It's just hard for me to figure out her relationship with Puck." Kurt mused, his eyes thoughtful.

Rachel shrugged.

"Well, we'll see what happens – school's starting in two weeks anyway and she's a student apparently. Think she can sing?"

Rachel thought for a moment, remembering the slightly musical quality of Alexa's voice. "I think so."

"Good. I think Glee club needs new meat, no offense."

"None taken." Rachel said gaily, agreeing with his diagnosis. Despite the fact that they were already good, more new talent would add even more benefits to their performances.

The pair walked slowly for a moment, thinking about the girl – Alexa – and Puck.

"Do you think they're dating?" Rachel blurted out before she realized what she was saying.

Kurt looked at her. "Not likely."

Rachel let out the breath she had been holding softly, wondering why in the world the idea of Alexa and Puck together had made her feel angry all of a sudden.

Kurt just stared at his best friend, the hint of a suspicion forming in his head. But before he could pursue the train of thought, he'd have to investigate a little more. But he couldn't help the niggling suspicion that Rachel was starting to feel something for Puck.

"Come on Kurt, the others are waiting for us back at the fountain." Rachel urged before the two of them hurried their pace towards their group of friends, both still processing what had just happened.

"You always sucked at basketball." Alexa laughed, slipping her arm through Puck's.

"I'm just damn tired." Puck snapped back, although a teasing glint lit up his eyes.

"Excuses, excuses, excuses, Puckerman." Alexa teased, poking him lightly in the arm as they exited the arcade.

If you want to know an excuse Lexi, I could have told you the truth about how I'm still thinking about Berry in those shorts…

"PUCK!"

He came back to earth at the sound of Alexa's near yell to find her staring thoughtfully at him.

"What is it Lexi?"

"You haven't been listening to a word I've said, have you?" She rolled her eyes as she spoke.

"Nope." Puck said cheerfully. He laughed when she swatted him.

"As I was saying-" She paused to make sure that she had his attention, "I like your friends."

"Well, they're not really-"

"You always did have a hard time making friends." Alexa sighed dramatically, blinking innocently at him.

"We're in fucking glee club together." Puck said defensively.

"Kurt seems like a real laugh. And Rachel seems nice." Alexa continued as they made their way towards the ice cream parlor in the mall.

"Yeah, well, she's always been nice."

Alexa's eyebrow rose when she realized that Puck hadn't said anything about Kurt.

"She's real pretty too." She said tentatively, baiting him.

"She looked kinda hot today." Puck murmured more to himself than to her, although Alexa heard him.

She grinned widely, "I think you like her."

Puck's head shot up at her pronouncement. "No fucking way. I don't like Berry. I mean I like her but I don't like her in that way…"

She was tempted to tease him some more but caught the sudden flash of emotion in his eyes and decided to drop it for the moment.

"Whatever you say my dear Puck. Now where's the ice cream you owe me for your serious loss?"

The shift in topics brought back the liveliness to Puck's eyes and he grinned at her.

"Right this way. But I didn't not lose, I let you win deliberately."

"Right Puck and I'm the Queen of England." Alexa retorted smartly, winking at him.

"I demand a rematch on another day." He declared forcefully, although his grin was wide and easy.

"You're on." Alexa smirked, coming to a sudden stop and putting her hands on her hips.

"Now, get me a double scoop of cookies and cream and we can call ourselves even for the day."

"At your service ma'am." Puck made a silly bow before he stepped up to the counter to order their ice cream.

Alexa just stared at his back, thinking about the tension she had felt between Puck and this Rachel girl. For as long as she had known Puck (and they had been friends for a really long time), she'd never seen him really feel something for any girl. As far as she could tell, he seemed to be the love them and leave them type.

But something about the way he looked at Rachel made her suspicious that he felt something for her. She knew, from his emails, that he and Rachel had been in a relationship briefly but then had broken up.

With a grin, she decided that her first mission when the school year started would be to befriend Kurt and find out all he knew about this thing between Rachel and Puck. After all, she thought with an amused smile, I only want the best for Puck. And Rachel seems like she could be the best.

When he returned with her ice cream in one hand, she grabbed it from him and began licking it furiously, her thoughts racing.

Knowing her as well as he did, Puck didn't say a word but put his arm around her and steered her through the crowd. He knew that she would eventually tell him what was on her mind. Sure enough, she spoke up around five minutes later.

"When am I going to get a chance to meet your other friends?" Alexa asked out of the blue, looking up at him.

"Soon." Puck shrugged noncommittally.

"Oh. Okay."

Alexa was quiet for a moment before she spoke again, "You know, it would be nice if I got to meet some people before I started school."

Puck rolled his eyes and squeezed her. "You don't have to worry about a fucking thing babe because the Puckster is going to be your first day of school escort."

But she just stared at him pleadingly, knowing full well that he could rarely resist a request from her.

"Fine, fine. I'll get people together in the park this week."

"Including your glee friends?"

Puck's face turned blank for a moment. Was she really asking him to invite that band of losers (well not so much losers as just not his normal crowd) to the park with the team?

She nudged him once. When he didn't respond, she nudged him harder.

"What?" Puck asked her, clearly exasperated.

"You don't have to invite them if you don't think it would be a good idea." She said in a small voice, worried that she might have made him angry with her.

Puck looked down at his best friend, catching the worry in her gaze.

"Lexi, don't worry, I'll invite the glee kids too. It'll be – interesting."

She grinned up at him adoringly before planting a peck on his cheek. "Thanks Puck."

"Anytime Lexi." He said gruffly, kissing her lightly on the temple.

When he pulled away from her, he caught the mischievous glint in her brown eyes.

"Race you to the truck." She raised an eyebrow at him, tossing the napkin into the trash and the remainder of her cone into her mouth.

"You're on." Puck grinned, finishing up his ice cream.

Before he could toss his trash away, Alexa had sped off through the crowd, weaving her way through the exit.

"You cheater!" He yelled cheerfully, tossing his trash away before he began to chase after her.

It was silly things like this that made him love Alexa – they got along so well because they understood each other on so many levels. They weren't exactly similar in tastes and personality but, for some reason, their personalities clicked when they were together.

Noticing that she was near the exit, he put on a burst of speed to catch up to her. It was good to see her again, he thought, laughing as he closed the gap between them.