"So, are we here for the bride or groom?" Quinn asked when they finally reached the destination. The reception was held on a beautiful field near the church. Flowers of all colours blossomed, leading the way as they formed a small path to a large white tent. The place was crowded, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
"Both." Puck replied and he walked round to her side of the car.
"Both? Wow, that must be cool…"
"Yeah, bride's my ex-girlfriend and the grooms by ex-best friend."
Quinn gave him a confused look, but before she could ask more details, they were approached by the bride.
"Noah! So glad you could come," Said the radiant woman, who was being closely followed by the handsome groom.
"And you brought someone!" The bride smiled and Quinn, before pulling her into an awkward hug and kissing her on both cheeks.
"Hey man, glad you could make it." The groom shook Puck's hand, though it was clear Puck wasn't so keen.
"So, congratulations…" Puck broke the silence.
"Thanks," the bride replied awkwardly. "Well, uhm, the food'll be out soon, and there's an open bar, so… enjoy yourselves. Great to see you again though." She squeezed Puck's shoulder, before tottering off to another cluster of guests, followed by her husband.
"Well that was… interesting." Quinn said as she walked with Puck up to the tent.
"I need a drink." He replied shortly.
Puck and Quinn sat at their seats at a large white table. Everyone else was either sitting outside or talking to others, so they were alone.
"Why on earth would you go to your ex's wedding?"
"It's been two years, I'm over it."
"You don't seem over it…" Quinn said, gazing at Puck's depressed look and empty beer glass.
"Believe me, I am. It's just… seeing them together, brings back some… bad memories."
"It's ok, I know it's hard seeing your ex with someone else, but marrying them, jeez, that's gotta be rough."
"The crazy thing is, that I'm not jealous, or angry, or anything like that. I don't miss Julie. I just hate that everyone looks at me with such pity. It's like, people don't understand that I'm ok with being single…" He turned to look at Quinn.
"I know! Everyone assumes that you're crying every night and on a dating site 24/7. What's wrong with being single?"
"Exactly!" He looked deep into her eyes, before looking at the ground quickly.
"So, why come? If you hate that people pity you, then why come?"
"I need to show them that I'm over it."
"So, that's why you asked me to come?" Her voice was saddened, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
"No. I asked you to come because… because I wanted to spend some time with you."
She tried her hardest not to smile at his charm, but she couldn't help it. She playfully punched his arm. She hated that all he had to do was say a cheesy line and she was putty in his hands.
"Isn't your mom here?" Quinn asked, changing the subject.
"No, she called this morning and said she couldn't make it. Why, were you excited about meeting the in-laws?" He winked. She simply shook her head and tried not to smile again.
For the next couple of hours, they simply sat and spoke to each other. They discussed everything, and neither had felt so close or comfortable to talk about these things with anyone else. Quinn found this crazily strange, because letting someone in wasn't something she was used to. So why was she letting this stranger in?
"Wanna bounce?" He muttered in her ear, after checking his watch.
"You don't know how long I've waited to hear that," She laughed, following his lead by standing up. Puck first informed the bride and groom that they were leaving, before saying goodbye to a few random people on their way out.
"Still fancy that McDonalds?" Puck asked as they finally reached his car.
"Is that a rhetorical question?" Quinn replied, laughing as she climbed into the passenger seat.
"So, I never got round to asking you the other night," Puck returned from the counter to a two seated table which Quinn was waiting eagerly at, holding a tray of food, much more than necessary for two people. "What were you doing wandering round the streets during a storm?"
"I, uh, just needed some air." She brushed off the question and reached for the fries, hoping he'd drop the conversation. He looked at her sincerely and observed her expression, knowing something was wrong. She gazed up and saw his soft eyes.
"My dad came back into town. After abandoning me three years ago." She lowered her voice, mainly because it was hard for her to talk about. She hadn't told anyone about this, but for some reason, telling Puck was so easy.
"Oh, wow. That's gotta be rough."
"Yeah, well." Quinn chewed on a chip, feeling a lot better about the situation now she'd told someone.
"I know how you feel though. My dad left when I was young. He came back a couple of months ago, wanting money." Puck took a huge bite from his burger. It amazed Quinn how easily he talked about the topic, like he didn't even care.
"And you're ok with that?"
"No, you kiddin' me? It took all I had not to knock him unconscious right there and then. But at points like that you've just gotta realise who's worth it, and who's not. And believe me, your dad, certainly aint'."
She smiled subtly to herself. She finally found someone who made her feel good about herself. Someone who thought the same as she did.
"You eat like a baby dinosaur." He laughed, watching Quinn as her mouth widened to fit in her double cheeseburger.
"Sorry, were you expecting a girl who eats half a salad?" She laughed, trying not to spit out the food in her mouth.
"No, but I was expecting a girl who knows how to use a napkin…" He chuckled and handed her a napkin.
Puck parked the car outside Mercedes' apartment and turned to face Quinn.
"Thanks for coming today, I actually had a great day,"
"Surprisingly, me too."
"So, uhm, I'll see you around?"
"Yeah, see you around." She repeated as she climbed out of his car, before walking round, giving a brief smile goodbye, and buzzing into the building.
Like a gentleman, Puck waited until Quinn disappeared into the building, before driving to his apartment, not being able to get Quinn Fabray out of his head.