Quinn carefully unlocked the door to the apartment (Mercedes gave her a key incase she 'got lucky' and needed to let herself in early in the morning) and tried her hardest not to stumble over anything in the darkness. After carefully taking of her coat and throwing it on the back of the couch, she nearly had a heart attack when Mercedes flicked on the light switch as she entered the livingroom.

"Oh, shi-" Quinn hissed, before she saw Mercedes' face, stopping her cursing. "You nearly have me a heart attack!"

"Sorry, I just needed to hear the gossip!" Mercedes walked over to the couch and lay down, making herself comfortable.

"There is no gossip." Quinn replied shortly.

"I don't believe that, what base did you get to?" Quinn stared at Mercedes blankly, causing her to ask abruptly "Please tell me you kissed him?"

"Nope."

Quinn left Mercedes and made her way into the guest room. Mercedes followed her, with her mouth still wide open in shock.

"What? He took you on a date, that was the signal he wanted some lip action!" She stood with her arms folded in the doorway, while Quinn took out her earrings in the mirror in her room. Quinn sighed, and proceeded to tie her hair up in a messy bun.

"We had a nice time. Some people can do that without putting out y'know!"

"Oh, I get it." Mercedes walked in and took a seat on her bed, trying to hide a smile. "You like him."

"What?" Quinn stared at Mercedes, trying to put on her best confused face.

"You're crushin' on the bartender!"

"And you're crazy!"

"Oh c'mon, you had a good time didn't you?"

"Yeah, I have a good time with you. And Finn, and Artie, and Rachel."

"This guy's different though, I can tell…"

"Sure, he's kinda cute, and he can be sweet, and kind, and… gentle…" Quinn trailed off as she twirled her thumbs.

"So you do like him then?"

"Maybe," Quinn took a seat next to Mercedes and put her head in her hands. "Eurgh! I hate myself for liking him."

"Why?"

"Because! I know he's gonna play me, and I'm gonna end up heartbroken. Again."

"You don't know that. I think you should give him a chance." Quinn sat and thought about it. "Look, I'm going to bed now, gotta get my birthday beauty sleep y'know!" She got up and winked, making her way to the door. "And hey, good job on hiding my birthday cupcakes, I couldn't find them anywhere!" Mercedes laughed and left Quinn's room.

"Crap." Quinn's eyes blew wide open and she fell backwards on the bed. She quickly reached for her phone and loaded Facebook instantly. She searched Mercedes Jones and sighed at what she saw. Mercedes Jones' birthday is tomorrow. Quinn remembered she'd promised Mercedes that she'd make cupcakes for school the next day, only she'd said that weeks ago, and got completely sidetracked. Where was she going to make cakes at half eleven at night? She couldn't make them there; Mercedes would hear and go totally crazy at her for forgetting, and they probably didn't have the ingredients anyway. And then, without really thinking, she texted one single person on her phone.

Quinn: "Hey, this might sound crazy, but have you got a cake mix and a free kitchen?"

Quinn waited anxiously for six minutes, hoping to get a positive reply.

Puck: "Can't stay away can you? I may have a cake mix, but it depends what you need to use it for. Sexual use is an immediate yes."

Quinn: "I'll be at yours in fifteen minutes, and believe me, the only sexual thing will be me kicking you in the nuts if you annoy me."

Puck: "It's better than nothing…"

Quinn buzzed into Puck's building, shivering outside. She changed from her dress, into grey jeans, a black vest top and her black leather jacket. After a few seconds, Puck buzzed her in and she proceeded to his apartment. Strangely, she didn't have to think twice about what his apartment number was.

When she finally reached his apartment, she tapped on the faded black door and waited for him to reply. He immediately opened the door, allowing her to see his welcoming, smiling face. He was wearing grey sweatpants, with a black tee. He welcomed her in, his smile broadening. He took her jacket off her sleeves and threw it on the back of the sofa, which was mostly covered with casual mess.

"Uhm, I hope you don't mind me asking, but who needs a cake at half eleven at night?" He walked into the kitchen, while she followed. He grabbed a bowl out the bottom cupboard, while pointing at another top cupboard, directing her where to get the cake mix from.

"I need cupcakes for my friends birthday tomorrow, I totally forgot." She examined the back, hoping he had the small amount of ingredients that needed adding. "Have you got an egg?"

He walked over to the fridge and looked at its bare contents. He moved around a few empty orange juice cartoons, before pulling out a container with one spare egg in.

"250ml of water," She carried on reading as he tottered around the small kitchen, collecting the necessary things. "And 100g of plain flour."

"There we go." He placed all the ingredients lined up on the counter.

"Add the inside contents to a mixed egg and gently stir," She ripped the box open and threw the small bag to Puck. He ripped it open with his teeth and poured it into the clear bowl. He cracked the egg and poured it in, throwing the shell over his shoulder and straight into the bin.

"Toss me that wooden spoon?" Quinn threw him a spoon near the sink and continued reading.

"Following this, gradually add in the water, stirring every time." As before, Puck followed the instructions.

"Y'know what's weird? You need these cupcakes, and yet im making them…"

"Beat in the flour-" Before she could finish (after completely ignoring Puck's earlier statement) he tossed a pinch of flour in her face.

He started laughing as she wiped the flour off her face and began an evil smirk.

"You're gonna regret that." She laughed through gritted teeth, and picked up the jug and threw the small remains of water at him. After wetting his face and shirt, he picked up the whole flour bag and began chasing her around the counter. He threw flour left, right and centre, all though she only got hit minimally. A thick cloud of flour masked the room, allowing Puck to sneak up behind Quinn, wrap one hand round her waist, while the other tipped a handful of flour over her head. By this time, both were laughing hysterically.

"Ok, ok, I give up, I give up!" She screamed, mid laughter, as he wrapped his other hand round her waist and began tickling her. Puck let go of her waist, but held onto her hands, as she turned around. They were both still laughing, but looked into each other's eyes.

Quinn knew what was coming, and if she wanted to, could've diverted it and carried on baking. But something deep inside of her forced her body to move closer to his, so close that she could hear his heart beating. He moved his large hand to her face, wiping away some excess flour with his thumb, but not breaking eye contact. His eyes searched deep into hers, seeing a different side to her. Just as he moved closer, she broke the gaze and turned to the counter.

"Should we carry on with the cupcakes then?" She aimed to make her tone as normal as possible, as she turned away from him altogether and carried on baking as usual. He forced a smile and helped her again, following her lead, pretending that whatever moment they just had, didn't exist.

"You're a life saver." Quinn said with relief as Puck handed her the box of perfectly sized, perfectly iced, perfectly tasting cupcakes.

"It was no problem." Quinn glanced at her watch, amazed that it was already 1am. Strangely, she didn't want to go home yet. She stood awkwardly in the kitchen, not knowing what to say.

"Do you need a ride home?"

"No, I'll be fine. But, uhm, do you mind helping me with one more thing?"

Puck looked intrigued, and smiled at her offer.

Thanks for reading!