Puck's POV:
Why am I so fucking stupid?!
I can't keep my big mouth shut and probably just ruined any chance I had at winning Quinn back.
Shit.
Every time she runs from something, I'm the one that always chases her, the one that fights for her. And that is definitely not going to change.
I run back up to my apartment, grab my keys and my guitar, and run back out the door.
I have a feeling I know where she's going, I just hope I make it there in time.
Quinn's POV:
Here I am again, wandering aimlessly around the streets of New York City. The city refreshes me, and it's liveliness is just breathtaking.
I've been in New York a while, so I've kinda adopted Central Park as my thinking place. The beauty and being surrounded by all this nature just gives me the peace and serenity I need before I get back to reality.
Or at least that's what I tell myself.
What no one knows, well except the one person that I definitely do not want to find me, is that Central Park is where Puck found me when we were at Nationals junior year.
"I knew I'd find you here." Puck says as he walks up to the bench I'm sitting on. I was startled from watching the squirrels chase each other, and that was the only thing that made me feel better.
"Go away, Puck. I'm fine, I just needed a little space."
"Q, you have the whole club out looking for you, and by the way nice haircut. It gives you an edgy look that says 'I'm Quinn Fabray, the Head Bitch In Charge, don't mess with me'," He chuckles, as he sits down next to me. "I know your not fine." He looks directly at me, but I look the other way, not amused.
There was an awkward silence until Puck spoke up again,"So was this the big surprise you had planned for New York? A haircut and the hope of running away? That's kinda lame."
I laugh, half-heartedly, "Not at all," I get up and start walking away from him, hoping he gets the message that I don't want to talk.
"Well then what is it?" Puck says, following me. He doesn't get the message.
I keep walking, ignoring him because one, he is getting on my nerves, and two, I don't know. The big surprise was a project-in-the-making. I just said it because I didn't want people to realize I haven't been me lately.
"Quinn, just talk to me." He says, as I take a turn onto Bow Bridge. Luckily, no one's around to hear our conversation.
It was then I realized how lost I was. Like literally lost in Central Park. I have no idea how to get back out to the city. "God Puck! Now we're lost!" I say trying to push my way past him to retrace my steps.
"Q, calm down. It's Central Park, they have rangers, and carriages, and hell, just pull out your cell and mapquest a way out," He grabs me by the shoulders and stops me from pacing. "We both know you are trying to cover up what's going on. So just tell me, what's going on?" He says, looking me straight in the eyes. God damn those eyes.
"I-I just want somebody to love me." I confess my secret for the second time that day. And Puck's reaction... He laughs. He just starts laughing, actually having to hold his stomach because it hurts.
"Puck! It's not funny!" I yell, and hit him in the arm.
"Haha, yes it is. I don't think you realize this, Q, but you have the whole word wrapped around your finger. You set your sights on something, and you get it. Everybody loves you, Quinn Fabray. Everybody."
"That's such a lie." I argue.
"Well then, name one person that doesn't."
"Um, well, my so-called 'dad'." I breathe out, shuddering at the mention of my non-existent father.
"Well ya see Quinn, I'm talking about people that actually matter to you. Russell doesn't have a loving bone in his body. Name someone that actually matters."
I think for a little bit. Puck starts smirking when he realizes that I'm not coming up with anyone. But right before he has the chance to flaunt his victorious debate in my face, I know of someone.
"You." I simply say.
"Are you fucking kidding me Quinn?! First of all, I don't count because of our history." I see him glance down at the indirect mention of the daughter we had together. "Second of all, I'm here aren't I?" he says, gesturing towards himself. "And third, god, nevermind."
"And third what Puck?" I say finding the first two reasons to be pathetic excuses.
"No, just forget it. It's not worth it." He says backing away and turning around.
"Oh come on, Puck," I grab his arm and turn him back around to face me. "Just tell-"
I was cut off by a kiss that lasted longer in my mind than it really was.
"There, you happy?" he chokes as he pulls away. "I do love you Quinn. I always have, since before the whole Beth incident, before I knocked you up, before you became a cheerleader, ever since I first laid eyes on you. And I still love you, and I'll probably always love you, because you're Quinn Fabray."
I'm speechless.
He looks away, not being able to make eye contact.
I cup his chin and turn his face to face mine.
"Did you love me?" I say, a smile tugging at my lips. He returns the smile.
"Yes. Especially now." He says before I lean in and kiss him. Like I've always remembered. Like it feels like to be loved.
"Come here," he says against my lips and he pulls me to the side of the bridge. He digs in his pockets for something until he finally finds what he's looking for. He pulls out a coin. He notices the confusion on my face and chuckles.
"As long as this is engraved here, this will always be a reminder of this exact moment. The feeling we are feeling. This is the moment where everything is perfect. And this is a reminder that only you and me can feel this way, together. Through our ups and downs, and our twists and turns, remember this moment because, Quinn Fabray, I love you."
As he finishes speaking, he pulls away from the side of the bridge to let me see how badass he really is. The paint from the cast-iron bridge was scraped off, and in it's place read: "NP + QF" inside of a crooked heart.
I feel tears escaping my eyes as he wraps his arms around me and rests his head on my shoulder and we stand there like that watching the sun set over the lake and the rest of the park.
I let out a deep breath as I slide my thumb across the heart that's still there. I know this was Finn and Rachel's place, but where do you think Finn got the idea? Yep, Puck. We were juniors in high school, we were young, we were naive, we were selfish, we were stupid, we didn't know what love was. But this now-meaningless engraving still manages to reel me in, and pretend the last five years never happened.
A tear escapes from my eye as I think of that day junior year. What went wrong? Me, him, everything. It's like fate just doesn't want us to be together. I guess that's a good thing because I have Austin now. Austin. He has no idea, and truthfully I don't think he realizes I left. He is in his own little world, but he still somehow manages to make me smile now and again. I'm supposed to love him, but I'm not really sure anymore.
I was pulled out of my daze when I hear the strumming of a guitar. It's close to midnight and I'm in the middle of Central Park, no one should be out this late. That makes me laugh to myself because I'm out this late.
The strumming gets closer, and I hear his voice.
"Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else"
I have yet to turn around, still staring out into the sleeping city from the bridge.
"I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow I want more
I don't mind spending every day
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved"
He turns me around to face him, staring intensely into my eyes.
"Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along, yeah
My heart is full and my door's always open
You come anytime you want, yeah."
He is singing straight to me, and tears are steadily streaming down my face. His gaze doesn't leave mine.
"I don't mind spending every day
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
I know where you hide alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I don't mind spending every day
Out on your corner in the pouring rain, oh.
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
Please don't try so hard to say goodbye"
He finishes the song in a whisper. I finally break my gaze with him and look at the ground, biting my lip.
This song describes our relationship so well, it's scary. But I didn't realize this until he was singing it to me. Every word, every lyric. He's there, he's always there.
"I knew I'd find you here," he says, chuckling. "You know not a day goes by that I don't think of that day, we were happy."
I finally speak, "Yeah." That's all that comes out.
"Quinn, I know I hurt you, but trust me, I will never do it again. Never. Just let me show you,"
"How-how do I know your not going to leave again?"
"You don't, but Q, this," he grabs my hand, which causes me to look up at him, and puts it against his heart. "This, is the truth. This will always be here. My love for you has never left, and it will never leave."
I look up at him, he looks tired, like he hasn't slept much.
"Quinn, just say something, please. Don't leave me hangin'." his smile falters.
There is a long pause, but he really wants me to say something.
"I don't know what to say, Puck. I don't know what you want me to say." I confess.
"Just say that you'll stay. You won't run."
I don't know what came over me, whether it was the nostalgia, how close we were standing, only separated by a guitar, the fact his eyes still consume my whole body, or that he just confessed his love for me (again), but I kissed him.
This one lasted a lot longer than the last one we had on this very same spot. He moved his guitar on his back and pulled me closer to him. I could tell he didn't know how far to go, so I led the way. I place my hands around his neck and I push my tongue against his lips hoping he would grant entrance. And he didn't object. Our tongues started battling with each other, until I finally pulled away.
"I'll stay." I say looking up at him, longingly.
He's changed so much. Well, actually he finally grew up.
"All right then, I will too," he smirks. I'm pretty sure he does that on purpose. "Wait, Quinn Fabray, are you turned on right now?"
My cheeks turn red. I'm not surprised at the turn of events. There's the Puck I know. "Um, no." I stutter, causing him to chuckle.
"Glad I still have that effect on you," He says.
"Trust me, you have plenty of effects on me," I retort causing Puck to raise his eyebrows and wink.
He grabs my hand and kisses me, and starts dragging me out of Central Park.
We are in the cab on our way back to the apartment complex before I remember. Austin. Shit.
"Puck" I say, breaking the awkward silence that fills the cab.
"Yeah,"
"Austin can't know."
"But Quinn, we both know that you don't love him. Actually, everyone knows that."
"Just give me time. Ok?"
"Fine, but in the meantime," he pulls me into another kiss. "Man, I've missed that."
The cab finally slows down, and Puck drags me out of the car and we quickly get into the elevator. It feels like we are in high school again. Actually it is exactly what happened in high school. I can't let this happen again. The doors close and he is already all over me.
"Puck, I can't." His lips are on my neck.
"What?" He murmurs against my skin.
"I can't. Not again. I'm not ready. It's too soon." He pulls back as the doors open.
I quickly make my way out of the elevator, keys in hand, leaving a dumbfounded and heartbroken Noah Puckerman behind, again.
"She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5. Please read and review! Hope you like and enjoy reading. Till later. Xx