"I'm busy."
He takes another step closer, "Doing what?"
She quickly takes a step back.
"Stuff." She stutters, her normal wide range vocabulary list evaporating into thin air.
A step closer.
"What stuff?" His eyes don't leave hers, his hazel piercing her brown ones.
A step back.
"Work stuff." She wants to slap herself with the flimsy excuse, she knew he'd see through instantly.
A step closer.
"It's a holiday today." He can't help the small smile on his lips when her back hits the wall.
"I-I have…" Whatever she wanted to say dies on her lips when he leans down, both arms easily caging her against the wall. Every thought she had is quickly wiped away when she feels his breath on her lip.
She feels the warmth radiating from his body.
He takes advantage of the situation, "Are you over Finn?" His question is blunt.
"I'm…" she desperately tries to unscramble her thoughts, "I'm not completely over him."
Her tongue darts out to lick her bottom lip.
She watches his adam's apple bob up and down as he swallows.
They both stay like that until his phone rings, jarring both of them from their positions.
She jumps away and he clears his throat.
She valiantly pretends not to notice him shifting on his feet. He clears his throat before he brings the phone to his ear.
She pushes away from the wall and thinks about slipping out the door.
His eyes stray to her and she feels his big, warm hand on her arm.
So much for running away. Her eyes drop down to his hand, whenever they were together, they were always touching, small touches; shoulders brushing, his hands on the small of her back, her hand on his arm.
He ends his call soon afterwards and stuffs the phone in his back pocket. The action pulling the shirt tight across his chest and arms.
The sight makes her freeze in her spot. It wasn't the first time she's noticed his body this way, but it's been awhile since she's seen it at such an intimate setting.
"Rach?"
She snaps her eyes away to meet his amused hazel ones. "I-I was thinking."
His smirk is proof he doesn't believe her.
"Whatever you say, Rach. Whatever you say."
"When you two are done making googly eyes at each other, can we start talking about Finn's failure to sign the last two contracts."
Santana pushed past the both of them hesitating in front of the doorway, splitting them right in the middle.
She turned to glare at Santana, while Noah just chuckled. "We were not." she huffs adamantly.
Santana's raised eyebrow just makes her want to stomp her foot.
Noah shrugs and seats himself at the head of the table. Santana settles at his right while she makes a face before ungracefully slumping into the one at his left.
"Start talking bossman."
"Rachel, would you mind accompanying me to the party tomorrow?"
She quickly ran through all her plans in her mind. She had half a mind to refuse Finn's request, but he sounded so desperate, a tone she rarely ever heard from him.
Santana laughed a smidge scornfully, "Isn't Quinn going with you? I heard you asking her last night."
She quickly butts in, knowing his answer would either be that Quinn was busy or the fact that he needed her to meet some uppity up. "What time is it?"
She sees him breathe a sigh of relieve and the look Santana sends her.
"It's at 6. It's just a casual thing with his friends, so jeans."
"Who is he?" she asked, just to be sure.
"Mr. Schue."
She nods, she's been to his casual parties before, lots of mixing and schmoozing.
"I'll pick you up?" He asks, already assuming she'd go.
She hesitates, he'd never really offered to pick her up. "It's ok, I can get there myself, I've been there before."
He frowns a bit before he nods his thanks and walks off without a second glance.
When he's out of sight, Santana instantly latches onto her arm, "I thought you were over him." she whispers furiously.
She laughs at Santana's mulishness against her older brother. "I am. I just want to see if I'm completely over him or I was just… distracted."
Santana cocks her head to the side, a satisfied smirk replace her previous frown, "Distracted, huh?" She then makes a face at her, "Why do you get all the men flocking to you?"
Rachel slaps her shoulder before sticking her tongue at Santana and walking away. "Green is not your color."
"Which do you think is better? The skirt or the shorts?" She flashes both items in front of Noah's face.
He moves his eyes away from her face to the two things in her hands, then frowns. He stands up from her bed and sticks his head into her closet, pulling out a pair of long pants and a granny sweater.
"This is better."
"Don't be silly." She laughs and smacks his arm lightly. "It's so hot outside."
"Well you deserve it."
She mocks frown, "Why?"
"You're ditching me. Today is Wednesday, it's supposed to be our day." It's cute the way he's pouting.
"I know," She drops the clothes on the back of her chair and pulls Noah down next to her on the bed, "I want to be sure I'm over him. I don't want to have this awkwardness between the two of us. I'm just hoping I can still be friends with him."
"Do I have a chance then?"
She draws shapes on his wrist with her hand. It was the first time they talked about his feelings for her. She's talked about it with Santana, but it was different.
She watches his expression, it's hopeful yet hesitant. She smiles softly at him, "You do."
She's proud she put that grin on his face.
His fingers thread through hers. He knows that's the extent of their talk, so he chuckles, "It'd be awkward when I wife you."
"Are you okay?" Noah's face is filled with concern.
She waves it away, "I'm fine."
She drops down a bunch of papers on his desk and leaves his room before he can even question it.
It's not until the next day he finally sees her. When she sees him approaching her, she instantly grabs Finn and moves away.
Undeterred, he follows behind with a tiny frown.
"For the ads-" she stops talking the instant he walks into the room.
Noah stands at the doorway, blocking the only exit.
Finn looks confusedly between the two of them. "I'm going to go…" He tugs his arm out of her grip and slips by Noah.
Noah pushes away from the wall as Finn shuts the door behind him.
She turns her back to him and diddles around with the things on the table. She clears her throat and tucks her hair behind her ears.
He doesn't speak yet, he just moves in front of her, gently lifts chin up with his thumb and forefinger.
"Why are you running away from me?" He asks when she finally meets his eyes. "I thought we were ok."
"I'm not." Her reply was too quick. Both of them know it.
He waits for her to cave, she was going to eventually.
"I'm not ready for it, you've been by my side forever, what if I lose you? You're the only one who hasn't hurt me." Tears suddenly pool in her eyes, her voice is soft when she speaks again, "I don't want it to change."
He softens, "Nothing's going to change."
"How will you know that? Can you predict the future? Do you know-"
His lips meet hers, cutting her. It's doesn't take long for him to feel her smile against his lips.