Hello beautiful people! :)
Thank you for your amazing response to the previous chapter! Thank you to the ones who put my story in their favourite list or decided to follow it: you rock and you all deserve a big present from Santa this month! And to the ones who took their time to write me a review: you make my heart sing! I would never stress enough how you guys are helping me with my writer-shyness!
There it is the 6th chapter of my story! See you at the end!
Disclaimer: Santa said he would do his best to give me both Glee and Magic Mike but, until then,...*shakes her head sadly*
Rachel laughed out loud reading the text that Noah just sent her: it was about the awesomeness that was Super Mario Bros. Who knew that behind the macho façade was hidden a dork at heart?
She heard a cough behind her and smiled when the brunette was greeted by the sight of one very-well-dressed Kurt Hummel.
They met the very first day of their first year at NYADA, during Carmen Tibideaux's singing class. The freshmen were supposed to sing a song to introduce themselves and Rachel chose to perform "My Man", as an homage to her idol. When she ended her performance, an enthusiastic and teary-eyed Kurt rose from his sit and clapped at her furiously; he stopped only when Mrs. Tibideaux glared at the young man. After class they talked and bonded over Barbra Straisand and moisturizers: for what it's worth, they were soul sisters.
"Well, well, well… glad to see that my diva is having a happy day. May I ask you why?" he said extending a cup of camomile tea with honey at her and sitting next to her on their favourite bench. They liked to spend their free period in the little park just outside the academy; it was a very peaceful place.
"Kurt, you are spoiling me!" she smiled at him, raising the cup that he just gave her. "You're so sweet that you make me want to be your boyfriend" she winked. That drew a laugh out of the flamboyant man. "Oh honey, I'm sure you would be an excellent one. But, to the matter in hand: why were you laughing so hard before?" he asked sipping at his non-fat cappuccino.
"Nothing" she looked back at her phone "Just a friend of mine who sent me a funny text. That's all". Her friend looked at her furtively and, with a smile, questioned " What are the chances that this friend of yours is the one that writes you several times a day, comes at the diner every Monday just to talk with you and also happened to be a very handsome male specimen, according to popular belief?".
"You definitely don't have to believe to anything Quinn and Santana say" she stated seriously. "Why? Isn't he as stunning as they say?" Kurt asked. Rachel looked at her friend from under her eyelashes, smiled knowingly and took a good sip at her beverage. The flamboyant man laughed and said "Very well, I take they told me the truth! So when are you two going to an actual date? It's been two months that this thing is going on! Aren't you tired of this situation?".
She licked her lips and shook her head "It's not that easy. I mean…" she sighed and closed her eyes "He's an amazing man: funny, caring and he really gets me. It's so easy to talk with him: I could spend days just talking to him about anything and…".
Kurt listened very carefully to the petite woman and decided to stop Rachel's rant "And where is the problem with that?! He seems perfect for you!". The woman passed a hand in her hair "We're different, maybe too much! He made it quite clear that he liked to "have fun" and spend his days from bed to bed. And I don't know if I can trust him with my heart".
He looked at his friend sympathetically and put an arm around her while she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Diva, I'm confident that everything will come together eventually. But please, don't close your heart to this guy: even I can say that he cares about you deeply, and I never met him! So don't be biased against it and just…let it be! Okay?". He squeezed her shoulder and the two smiled at each other. "Now, let's go to class. I can't wait to hear what you think about my version of "Le Jazz Hot". If I can say myself, it's one of my best works" and with that they got up and walked towards the academy.
Sam noticed that his best friend was acting weird. He didn't sleep with any of the club's clients from a long time and he smiled more. He SMILED; not smirk, not grin, but a honest-to-God smile.
The blonde couldn't find a reason for that; sure, his cocking abilities improved and maybe this was the reason why he seemed so happy lately but, come on, he wasn't that good.
One evening, while they were watching ESPN and eating Chinese take away, Puck's phone went off and he rushed to check on it. After a few seconds, here it was: another smile on Puckerman's face. So Sam did what every mature man of his age would have done: he grabbed his friend's phone from his hand, ran for his life down the hallway and, when he finally was safe into his room, locked the door.
In mere few seconds, Puck started to pounding on his door and growled menacingly "Evans, if you don't open this fucking door right now and give me my phone back, I swear I'll knock it down and I will kick your ass until your butt cheeks will become your tonsils!".
But Sam was a man on a mission: find the reason for Puck's smiles. He unblocked the phone and saw that it was open on a message.
From: Rachel* "Noah, I have to leave you now: trying to convince Brittany's cat to quit smoking is resulting to be a tougher task that we originally predicted. I'll talk to you soon. Good Night."
Rachel? Who the hell was this Rachel girl? The only Rachel they knew was….Oh!
He finally put the pieces together: the way Puck always tried to make Finn talk about his sister, or how he would dropped her name casually in random conversations, or the fact that he didn't have sex with none of the women at the club since the night Rachel and Santana came at the club a month ago. Just to double check, he opened the received messages' file in the other man phone; it was full of messages from Rachel.
Realisation hit him and, with it, so did Puck. Sam was shoved on the floor by a very angry Noah, who immediately got up, took his phone back and looked at the blonde enraged "The fuck is wrong with you?", his voice low and slow.
Sam looked at him still laying on the floor. "Rachel. Really Puck? You have the hots for Rachel?". Puck glared at him and stormed off the room. Sam was immediately after him, once he managed to get back on his feet. He found Noah on the couch, a scowl on his face and the phone in his hand in a dead grip.
"Why didn't you tell me?" the blonde said, receiving a shortly "It's none of your fucking business" as an answer. Sam suppressed a laugh: it was the first time he had ever saw his best friend like this; Rachel was really something special to make him react like that. Sam knew she was very sweet and nice but he never thought that the Puckfasa would actually feel something more for her. Scratch that, he never thought Puck could feel something for any woman!
"Did you tell her that you like her?" asked Sam with curiosity and Puck looked at him as if he was crazy "You insane? I'm not a pussy like you!". The brunette was putting up his walls; the southern man shook his head and thought that, finally, the day when he, Samuel Evans, would teach something about women to the one and only Noah Puckerman as come.
"Puck, if you really like her, you have to tell her! Maybe, if you two get together, you'll start to be less of an dumbass!". Noah threw a punch right into his friend's arm, making him winced. Then the hazel-eyed man shook his head and simply said "We're too different. It can't work out".
Sam looked at his best friend with a frown. Was he out of his mind? He couldn't just shut out of his life something that seemed to make him so happy! But he tried to understand his point of view by asking "And why is that?", with a very calm voice as if he wouldn't want to spook a wild afraid animal.
Puck stared at him in the eyes "Listen up, white Oprah; I'm not going to tell you about my feelings and you know why? Because I don't do feelings. That's why, me and Rachel? Can't work out. She deserves someone who can take care of her and not someone like me who will eventually hurt her. She's great". Puck uttered that final part with a warm glow in his eyes and the blonde totally noticed that. So, he said with a small smile "So, be the man she deserved to be with and don't be a coward. Since you met her, you're happier…still an asshole but a happy one! Don't push it away and fight for it. If she's so great as you say, it'll be worth it."
Sam got up, patted his best friend's shoulder and left the room, leaving his best friend thinking about what he should do.
At the bar down the street from Rachel and Finn's apartment it was karaoke's night and the siblings decided that, since it was a while since they sang (well, it was a while for Finn… and Rachel would never pass the possibility to show her singing ability), they would meet their friends down there and have some more than deserved fun.
Santana and Brittany were definitely in but Kurt and Quinn had to turn down the offer, so Finn had a great idea: he decided to invite his co-workers. He knew that Rachel wouldn't mind (she seemed to get along with them at the club – especially with Puck) and the more the merrier, right?
The boys all answered positively, telling him that they will meet at the bar.
As soon as Rachel found out that Noah and the other guys would join them that night, a smile appeared on her face and it stayed there for the rest of the day. It was two day since they saw each other at the diner and she set her mind at rest that she wouldn't see him until the following Monday; so knowing that that night he would be there made her heart beat faster.
With every talk, every smile and every look, she felt herself totally fall under his spell: she really liked discovering different sides of him, peeling the layers in which he hid himself since a very young age. She loved how he trusted her. It was scary how much she liked him and she was terrified at the thought that she might build all this up, she might have imagined it all. So she shook this feeling off and got ready for the evening.
She was just passing in front of the bathroom when she heard a muffled cry coming from it. She knocked on the door and said "Finn, everything's okay?"
The man yelled from the inside "Yes, yes…E-Everything is fine! Don't worry!" but the noise of falling items said the right opposite. Rachel tried to opened the door but it was locked so she started to knock faster. "Finn, let me in! Please!" she cried when she heard him hiss. She was worried sick that something happened to her brother. What if he slipped and knocked his head on the sink? Or what if he passed out and hurt himself?
"Finn! If you don't open right this instant, I'm going to call 911!" she stated firmly. She heard the door being unlocked and a very red-faced Finn looked at her with her bright pink razor in his hand. She had to double check that. Than she locked her eyes with him and asked slowly "Is it my razor?". Finn mumbled something and she took it as an affirmative answer.
"And what are you doing with it?". Her voice was very tentative and curious. "…" he mumbled again. Her chocolate eyes were big as saucers, looking from her razor to her brother. "I'm sorry, Finn; I didn't understand. Could you repeat what you just said?"
"I was shaving my legs and I cut myself" he said with embarrassment. Now her mouth was hanging open. She looked down at his legs and she saw a cut with bright red blood in it so she grabbed his arm and dragged him into the bathroom. He was sitting on the closed toilet bowl while she was ranting against him "Are you out of your mind?! Do you have any idea how unsanitary it is? And why on earth didn't you immediately open the door? I was worried sick, I thought something really bad happened to you!". She grabbed the cotton and the disinfectant from the cabinet above the sink and dampened the cotton with the liquid. She then pressed it against the cut, making Finn hiss. "Could you at least tell me why are you shaving your legs?" she asked seriously, staring into his eyes.
Finn scratched the back of his head and said "It's for my job. The guys told me I have to shave my body. And if I do it tomorrow my legs will be full of red dots and would itch so…". Rachel shook her head and looked at him in disbelief "You have to be gentle! If you're not, it's only natural that the skin gets irritated! Are you using at least a cream? And you have to apply a hydrant lotion afterwards and…". She abruptly stopped when a thought came in her mind. "Wait a minute! Since when do you shave yourself with MY razor?!" she asked with a high-pitched voice. "Well, almost three months I guess…since I started at the club" confessed him candidly.
She stared at her pink razor with pure disgust. She guessed she had to throw it away now.
She pointed right at her brother's face and stated "You owe me a new razor! And get your own!". She stormed off the bathroom fuming and closed herself in her own bedroom: she had to get ready for the night ahead and she wouldn't let anyone or anything ruin that for her.
She grabbed her phone to check if Quinn answered to a message she had sent her earlier. She had a message; but it wasn't from the blonde. A smile featured her face when she read what Noah wrote her.
From: Noah "Can't wait to c u 2night. Finally can hear if all the bragging about ur voice is deserved. C u l8r, B. I'll b the hot one w/ the 'hawk."
Well, that was a pretty good way to make her forget all the Finn-razor debacle. A very good one.
When the siblings arrived, their friends were already there. The place was packed but it was quite easy to spot them; they were the loudest, chatting animatedly and drinking beer around a large table.
Rachel waved her hand to the counter, greeting the waitress Tina. She was a lovely Asian girl; she had a very warm smile and black long straight hair with blonde ends. She was very shy but, once you get to know her, she was very funny and quite fierce. She waved back at the small brunette and mouthed that she would be at the table with their usuals right after.
She barely made at the table that Brittany threw herself at her, hugging her tight. She was a spitfire and the sweetest girl Rachel had ever met. She's from California and she moved here because she was studying at Julliard. She was part of a dance crew, of which she was the leader – Rachel saw them a couple of time and they were incredible, they even appeared in some popular music videos (she made a mental note to introduce Mike to her; he would be a terrific addition to her crew!). She and Santana were together from a couple of years and finally, 5 months ago, they moved together. The petite brunette had never seen her best friend happier than when she was with Brittany and, for that, Rachel would always be grateful to the blonde.
Than she began to greet the other guys and Artie introduced to her his girlfriend Mercedes, a ebony-skinned curvy woman with a large shiny smile, big dark eyes and long wavy hair; she seemed like a very friendly person.
She looked around for a place for her to seat and noticed that the only free seat was next to Noah. He was looking at her with a smirk on his face and patted the seat next to him. She sat down and than looked at him in the eyes smiling. "Good evening, Noah. How are you?" she said to him politely. He looked back at her and replied playfully "Well, no kiss for me? You kissed everybody except me, babe. And here I was, thinking that I was your favourite!". She rolled her eyes and pecked his cheek, lingering a little bit longer. She fell his arm circling her on her waist and lightly dragging her closer to him; his touch was soft and possessive. Goosebumps appeared on her arms and her mind was dizzy because his scent drove her crazy: it was Irish Spring mixed with something that she didn't quite figure out and she had to repress the urge to bit his neck, since it was right in front of her.
He got closer and whispered in her ear "You're fucking hot, B. We should hook up, we're are a couple of good-looking Jews. It's natural.".
Leave it to Noah Puckerman to ruin a perfect romantic moment! Rachel tried to push him away but he kept her in his embrace, until she finally gave up trying and settled in it. Only then, he kissed her forehead and let her go. Santana and Blaine didn't miss this little exchange between the two and shared a knowing glance, smiling subtly.
The evening was light and full of laugh; Rachel introduced to Mike both Brittany and Tina (the glances between the two were too cute to don't play matchmaker!), leaving her Asian friend with an almost new job opportunity, since Britt totally trusted Rachel's taste in artistic matters and was really curious to see what Mike could do, and a phone number of a very pretty almond-shaped-eyed woman.
Sam was just hilarious. He made some of his best impressions, that were really awful but very funny nonetheless and brought the petite brunette and Brittany in tears. The two blondes seemed like long-lost siblings: they were both very naïve yet very smart at the world that surrounded them.
Another pair of long-lost siblings? Definitely Santana and Noah. They were almost identical in their behaviour and had the same overly sexual sense of humour. They were both crass and still very protective to their loved ones. Rachel decided that Santana was just Noah with boobs and a vagina (or Noah was just Santana without boobs and a dick?). They laughed at Finn's high school stories, narrated by the Latina; the only thing poor Finn could do was groaning in embarrassment or laughing at some particular memories.
Rachel was really happy to get to know a little more Artie. He was from Chicago and arrived to the city to study engineering at the NYU-poly tech. He told her that his dream was to work on some prosthesis that could help people who couldn't walk; it was a very sensible matter for him because, when he was younger, he was hit by a car and, for several months, he couldn't use his legs. The doctors told him and his family that the possibilities for him to walk again were very slim but he fought tooth and nail against it and, thanks to hours upon hours upon hours of physiotherapy, here he was, walking on his own legs. But he knew that not everyone was that lucky so he wanted to do something to help them. But one day, he met Mercedes and they became each other's world. They were now engaged and, as soon as she would graduate in sociology, they would move west to Silicon Valley to made his dream come true. He started to strip for the money and now, even if he wasn't study anymore, he decided to keep the job and save as much money as he could for their life together.
Rachel was very moved by Artie's story and by the love that he showed for his fiancée: his deep blue eyes shone with love and affection. She really hoped that one day someone would talked about her with his same eyes (well…she wouldn't mind if they were hazel…).
The karaoke started and the first attendees were REALLY awful. When the last 'singer' killed (and not in the good way) 'You give love a bad name', Santana looked at her best friend in the eyes and stated seriously "If I hear another fucker try to belt out a Bon Jovi's song again, there will be blood on that stage. You'd better get your sweet ass on the stage and show 'em how it is done!".
Rachel was about to answer but she had to stop when a woman started to destroy "My heart will go on". The brunette glared at said woman. How did she dare ruin such a masterpiece? Rachel got up with fire in her eyes. That was it. She stomped to the guy who was taking care of the karaoke and told him what she was going to perform.
Noah was seating with his elbows on his knees and was staring at the brown-eyed woman across the room. He wasn't kidding before when he told her that she was hot. She wore a tight dark blue one shoulder tank top and skinned-tight jeans. Above the top she had a long white cardigan and sexy high-heeled boots at her feet. Her dark hair were straight and her lips shone thanks to the lip-gloss.
It was really hard for him not to drag her in the darkest corner of the bar and kiss her senseless, burying his hands in her hair and tasting her. He had to shake his head or he would had to deal with a hardest problem, if you know what he meant.
After his conversation with Sam, he really thought about what his blonde friend told him. Was he ready to be the man that Rachel deserved? He didn't know that. All his life, when it came to a girl, his dick was the one who did the thinking but the stunning brunette that he came to know in the previous couple of months didn't deserve that. She was amazing: strong-opinioned, passionate, funny, sweet… He never met someone like her and the strangest thing was that, for him, being with her was like breathing, the most natural thing ever.
He was brought back to reality when he felt someone poking his arm. He turned his head and Blaine was looking strange at him. "Puck, are you okay? You seemed a little spaced out.." the gel-bound man said a little bit worried. Noah shook his head and clapped one hand on the short one's shoulder, adding "Don't worry, man. I'm good".
Both men's attention turned to their friends, since every single one of them were hollering and whistling at Rachel, who was getting on the stage with a big shiny smile. The first chords revealed them that she was going to performed "New York state of mind".
When she started to sing six jaws fell open; she was magic. Her voice was warm and clear; her intonation was perfect and she delivered every single verse with such an intensity that made everyone shiver. It was impossible not to stare at her, she was mesmerizing. Noah finally understood why she told him that she was bound to Broadway: the stage was her home.
The bar went completely quiet during her performance, just to erupt in a burst of applause as soon as Rachel sang the last note. She smiled widely at her audience and bowed her head, getting off the stage and walking to the bar employee.
Puck was flabbergasted. He had never heard something like that, she had the voice of an angel. Suddenly, he heard someone next to him sniffing. He turned his head and he met a teary-eyed Blaine who was hiccupping and trying to hide the tears that were about to roll down his cheeks.
Puck asked him shocked "Dude, are you crying?". Blaine shook forcefully his head with the only result that a couple of tears escaped from his eyes. "I-I'm not crying. I-It's just that I got a l-little bit emotional because she was g-great" the short man sobbed, wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand.
The bow-tied man looked at something over Puck's shoulder and ran in that direction. The hazel-eyed man followed him with his eyes and saw that he was head towards Rachel, who was just a few feet from their table. Blaine placed himself in front of the petite brunette, grabbed her face and pecked her lips. Rachel's eyes were wide-open with surprise and Noah saw red.
"Oh. No. He. Didn't." thought Puck, tightening his fist until his knuckles turned white, and stomping his way towards them. As soon as he was behind his so-called friend, he growled "The fuck are you doing, Anderson?"
Blaine detached himself from Rachel, who was still a little bit shocked, and grabbed her hands in his, ignoring an enraged Puck behind him. Looking straight into her eyes, he told her "Honey, you're perfection. If I were straight, I would already proposed you to spend our life together. We would spend our days singing old tunes and watching black and white movies. But I'm gay so I'm just going to say that you're one of a kind, Rachel. Let's talk about your favourite musical icons". And, with that, she dragged her to their table, leaving a very confused Puck standing.
"That was hilarious to watch, Puckerman" Santana said, offering him a bottle of beer. He took it in his hand and took a long gulp at it, without breaking eye-contact with the two short figures. "I'm curious: how does it feel to know that Anderson kissed the girl first?" the Latina asked with a devilish grin. When she saw the glare that he threw at her, she couldn't help herself and started to laugh out loud. "Sucks so much, uh?" she said, wiping her eyes. "Well, that's what you get for being a pussy and not doing anything to be with her. But Puck? Let me give you a piece of advice: make your move and make it fast! As you could see: once you get to know her, she's kind of irresistible . She can turn gays into straight men and straight girls into lesbians. This is how hot Rach is!"
Puck was drinking at his beer and thinking about what Santana just said. "What do you mean straight girls into lesbian?! I didn't see it!".
Of course, this is all his brain took in from the Latina's little speech.
Santana smiled, watching her best friend talking animatedly with Mercedes, and answered "She was the first girl I fell for, I liked her since sixth grade". The black-haired woman sighed and kept going "I didn't know why I was feeling like that every time she was next to me and I was so confused that I started to lash out my insecurities on her, calling her names and making her life a living hell. That lasted until junior year when Glee Club came around and she was the fucking captain, mooning over the dumbass of a male lead. She forgave me for all the crap I put her through and we became friends. So, one day, I decided to man up and told her I was in love with her". She sipped at her beer and looked at Puck, who was literally hanging from her lips. "She told me, and I quote, that I was a 'stunning young woman and that she felt flattered that I chose her as love interest, but that she couldn't reciprocate the feelings because she was hetero, but that, if she would ever change her mind, I would be her first choice'".
At that, Noah laughed loudly: yes, that was definitely something Rachel would say!
He looked at Santana and asked "How did you manage to be friend with her if you were in love with her?". The Latina bowed her head and, with a small smile, said "You cannot force someone to be something she isn't. I've learnt it the hard way. And, lucky you, she is very much straight. But, after my confession, we got so much closer: she, along with Finn and their parents, were by my side when I came out. They gave me love, protection and a house when my biological parents throw me out of my own house because I love women the way I'm supposed to love men. I still love her. Hell, I will always love her! I'm just not in love with her anymore" she shrugged.
Than she groaned "Lord, I feel like I have a vagina now. It's all your fault, fucker!". She stabbed his chest with one finger and added "Last thing: you break her heart, I break your dick and you can wave goodbye to the future Puckerman spawn. Got it?". Puck laughed and nodded at the scary-looking Latina.
Then he looked back at the table but Rachel was nowhere to be found; so he muttered under his breath "Where the hell is she?". Santana started to walk towards the table and said "She's at the bar. Alone.", winking at him.
He scanned the crowd until he found her. She was talking with Tina, her arms on the counter and ankle crossed. He walked in her direction, boxed her between his arms and kissed her head. The Asian woman flashed a knowing smile at them and left them alone.
Rachel turned around and locked eyes with him "Noah, I was talking with her! It was very rude to interrupt us like that!". He smiled at her and looked at the waitress that was now talking to a very happy Mike Chang. "I say she didn't mind" Puck said to the brunette in a low voice, brushing his hand on his cheek and putting a lock of hair behind her ear.
She blushed at his mere touch. His hand lingered on her, descending slowly down her neck.
Rachel had to think fast and say something or her mind would turn to mush and she would beg him to take her somewhere when they can be alone. Think, Rachel, THINK!
"So!" she said a little too enthusiastic "What did you think of my performance? Did you like it?". He smiled warmly and nodded; he got closer to her and said with honesty "You were amazing". He locked eyes with her, licked his lips and said "You are amazing".
Rachel turned her head slightly and an embarrassed smile featured her face. His gaze was so intense that it was too hard to stare back at him; his eyes burnt holes into hers. He made her feel like she was the only woman in the whole room.
He grabbed her chin with delicacy while she said "Thank you, Noah. It's very sweet of you to say that". He shook his head and replied "Just the truth, babe. Just the truth".
This time, she was the one who got closer to him: they were so close that their chests were touching one other lightly. She smelled like strawberry and vanilla: she was so tempting and he was starving for her.
She said to him "Are you going to sing too? I'd love to hear you…". He laughed and brushed his hand down her spine. "Not tonight. The first time you're going to hear me, it's going to be a private show".
Rachel giggled at his statement and, after kissing him next to his ear, she whispered "Can't wait for it". She freed herself from his arms and walked towards the table; halfway she turned her head to look at him and flashed him a huge smile.
His heart started to beat fast and the answer to the question 'Is Puck ready to be the man Rachel deserves?' never seemed so clear. Hell yeah!
End of the chapter! What do you guys think? Don't be shy and write me! If you have questions, notes or remarks, write and I will be more than happy to answer to you!
Thank you for reading so far! As usual, you are amazing.