Title: You Hit Like a Girl (7/?)
Rating: PG 13
Pairing: eventual Quinn/Rachel, Puck/Rachel friendship
Spoilers: Season 1 compliant, AU Season 2.
Summary: The summer after her sophomore year, Rachel Berry has three goals: 1. Prepare for Glee 2. Befriend Quinn Fabray 3. Create a Lasting Romance with Finn Hudson. By the fourth week of summer she's completely failed two of them. Now what is she supposed to do?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Rachel decided it was best they take two days off to gather information and Puck agreed. They had to do three things: 1. Find a new location 2. Find better supplies 3. Figure out what to do with Quinn. The third one was mostly for Rachel. She liked that Quinn seemed to care for her. Then again, maybe Quinn would stand up for anyone she perceived to be in an abusive relationship. But, Quinn had almost seemed… jealous? Stepping between Rachel and Puck, taking care of Rachel so Puck wouldn't touch her, getting angry when she found out Rachel was spending so much time with him… Rachel could only come to the logical conclusion that Quinn still had feelings for Puck. The illogical part of her may have said that Quinn seemed jealous of Puck and not Rachel, but the brunette ignored it. Really, it didn't matter whom Quinn was jealous of because she had made it perfectly clear that if Rachel were injured again, bad things would happen. Rachel knew that even if they were covered head to toe in protective padding, chances were something was going to happen and Quinn could not find out. So, they needed to avoid serious injuries and they needed a secure place to train.
Rachel and Elias looked in the attic for his old football gear, but they came up empty handed. She had to hope that Puck had some stuff laying around that she could borrow. She focused on finding a place to train. The problem was that there weren't any more parks in Lima. There weren't even any wide, open grassy areas. Sure they could still jog and work with weights, but that was it. Rachel was fairly certain that if Quinn even caught them playing catch she would kill one or both of them. The only other place Rachel could think of was the football field at McKinley and she held no grand delusions that it would be available to them.
When the two days were up, Rachel arrived at Puck's house more than a little frustrated. His mom was there again and once again she deposited Rachel in Noah's room with a kiss, peanut butter crackers, and some juice boxes. Rachel noted that Puck didn't look any happier than she did.
He spoke first. "I checked the sports shops, thrift stores, I even stopped at some old lady's yard sale. No good equipment anywhere, unless we wanted to shell out a shitload of cash."
Rachel frowned, "Even if we had the pads it wouldn't matter. I couldn't find any place at all, unless we wanted to rent the roller rink and drug the attendants so they won't realize what we're using it for."
Puck chuckled, "If the floors weren't so hard I would totally go for that plan. We could lower the disco ball."
She smiled and then bit her lip, "The only other place I could think of was McKinley, but I don't think that's really any option."
Puck nodded, "I thought of that too. I could totally pick the lock to the storage shed and we could use all of that equipment. Coach Sylvester has that place on lockdown all summer though. Coach Tanaka wanted us to use it for a football camp and she made him cry. I hear she doesn't even let Figgins in all summer. Teachers can't go to their classrooms until a week before school starts."
Rachel hummed and fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, "This sucks."
"No shit. Damn baby mama."
"I know. I mean it's nice to know she cares for my well being but that was a little ridiculous."
Puck grunted and then turned toward her, a thoughtful look on his face, "You know, I've been thinking about it and it's kind of like she's your girlfriend already."
Rachel's eyebrows rose to her hairline, "Excuse me?"
"Seriously, think about it. You text her like clockwork everyday, you apparently have to tell her what you're doing and who you're with or she bitches about it, she's insanely protective of you and she thinks she can tell you what to do. If that's not how a girlfriend acts, then my name isn't Noah Puckerman."
Rachel slapped his arm, "Don't be an ass, Noah. A real relationship isn't anything like that."
"I'm just saying."
Rachel rolled her eyes, "Well don't. I can barely hope to be her friend, let alone anything more."
He bumped her shoulder, "Maybe."
She shrugged.
Puck sighed and then frowned. His eyes were the saddest Rachel had seen them in awhile.
"Rach, we've got to think of something. I still need this. We're two reasonably smart and good looking Jews, remember? Superstar and Puckasaurus, we can do anything right?"
Rachel swallowed thickly. His eyes were shiny.
She licked her lips, "I might have an idea."
His brow furrowed, "Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"It's mostly nothing. My aunt, she…she has connections. It's possible that she might be able to do something for us."
"What?"
Rachel sighed, "I don't know. But it's worth it to try. I'll go talk to her."
Puck nodded and they ate their snacks in silence.
When her father Elias was kicked out, he had no one. Most of his friends abandoned him and his family pretended he didn't exist. The only person who stood by him was the ruthless head cheerleader. She was a bitch to everyone and she had a wicked temper because she always had to protect her sister from people who made fun of her. She and Elias had become friends when he stood up to some of his teammates for her sister. When the head cheerleader found the star quarterback sleeping under the bleachers, she took him home with her. Somehow the three of them, the angry cheerleader, the gay quarterback, and the girl with down's syndrome, formed their own family. Elias had always told Rachel he was closer to them than he had ever been his blood family. They had lived together until he married Hiram.
Rachel's aunt was an absolute hard ass, which she blamed on a four year stint in the military. She went to almost all of Rachel's performances, supported Rachel in whatever choices she made, and always pushed her to do better. She taught Rachel to pride herself on self sufficiency, so Rachel didn't like to ask her for much. Especially since her aunt never went around things the normal way.
Rachel knocked on her aunt's door and was lead by the housekeeper to the study. They passed rows and rows of trophies and medals. When they stopped in front of the door, Rachel took a deep breath.
She knocked.
"Enter."
She stepped inside and the imposing figure at the desk raised an eyebrow.
"Rachel."
"Aunt Sue."
"I wasn't expecting you today."
"I'm afraid I'm here for business purposes."
"Sit."
Rachel sat and Sue motioned her to continue.
"I need to use the football field for three hours every day."
Sue pursed her lips and leaned back in her chair.
"I don't mind if this is about your evil twin, Puckerman, but if this has anything to do with Frankenteen…"
"I believe I have made it perfectly clear over our Sunday lunches that the only feelings I have for him are negative."
"I've heard the same song and dance before, sister."
"Well, as you, dad, and daddy were already well aware, but failed to inform me, I'm a lesbian."
She shrugged, "I told Hiram self discovery was a load of garbage, but he insisted we let you blossom into a little fairy princess all on your own."
Rachel rolled her eyes and huffed.
Sue tapped her fingers on the desk, "So the diabolical duo really is back together for good. This next year should prove to be interesting. So, did this lesbian epiphany include your lady crush on Fabray?"
Rachel blushed, "Yes."
"Are you sure don't want access to the football field so you and Puckerman can tunnel into the cheerios' locker room?"
"Of course not!"
"Hidden cameras?"
"No!"
Sue stared at her and Rachel forced herself not to squirm.
"Blackmail me."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Dad wouldn't approve."
Sue smirked, "He never does. You know the drill, short stack, if you want it you have to work for it. We'll see how well you've been listening to my lectures about espionage and dirty dealing."
Rachel squared her shoulders, "I'll tell everyone you used to have a stuffed bunny named Mrs. Sparklepants."
"No one would believe you."
"I'll release the video of you dressed up as Ursula singing Little Mermaid songs that you made me for my fifth birthday."
"Sue Sylvester is a YouTube sensation and a close friend of Olivia Newton John. If America sees that video they'll demand a live action Litte Mermaid from those yahoos at Disney and insist that one Sue Sylvester take the role. Then they'll change the story so that Ursula prevails and that ridiculous Triton and that wimpy prince end up chained at the bottom of the sea, and she gets the redhead's voice all to herself."
Rachel leaned back and smirked, "I'll tell Mr. Shuester that the real reason you hate him is because you have feelings for Miss Pillsbury and you hate that he got to her first."
Sue narrowed her eyes, "Vicious little viper, aren't we?"
"I learned from the best."
She handed Rachel a set of keys, "The field will be free from 2 to 5."
"Thank you."
"Get out of my office. I'll see you at lunch on Sunday."
Puck gaped at her and then hugged her so tight her back popped when she showed him the keys. When he asked her how she had gotten them she just shrugged and said her aunt was a pretty scary person. He told her that her aunt had to be a god of some kind. Sometimes, Rachel really wondered.
They had a place to practice without prying eyes and they would have access to the pads and helmets. The only things they needed to provide were mouth guards, cleats, and football pants. Puck already had cleats and football pants. They dug around in the basement and were able to find some of Puck's old pants from middle school for Rachel. Rachel suggested they use their prize money from the fight to buy mouth guards and new cleats for both of them. His old ones were well worn and smelled like rotten cheese.
They decided to head to the sports store in the mall. Besides the park, it would be the first time all summer that they had actually gone somewhere together. Rachel was worried, but not for the same reasons she had been at the park. Her main concern was that it would somehow get back to Quinn that they were buying sports equipment. She tried not to focus on it and instead enjoy the fact that, for the first time in her teenaged life, she was hanging out at the mall with a friend.
"Rach, come on."
"No, Noah."
"Please, they look so delicious. Buy me a pretzel, pretty please?" he pouted.
Rachel huffed and shoved him playfully, "I don't know why you need my permission."
"You've got the cash, which means you're my sugar mama for the night." He waggled his eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes but let him pull her over to the pretzel stand. She bought two.
Puck spoke around a mouthful of pretzel. "You're the best babe."
"Of course I—"
"Good Gaga, did I just hear our resident Neanderthal call our resident diva 'babe?'"
Puck frowned and Rachel sighed. She forced a smile on her face as they turned to greet the source of the voice.
"Kurt. How have you been?"
"S'up, Hummel."
One of Kurt's meticulously plucked eyebrows was raised and Rachel noted that he was almost vibrating with excitement. He was probably already formulating some sort of mass text.
He gestured between the two of them, "Trying to rehash another old romance, I see, Rachel. When did this happen? Who's next, Jesse"
Rachel and Puck exchanged a glance and Puck spoke.
"We've been friends since we were in diapers, Hummel. You're a few years too late for that gossip."
"Friends, hmm? Pretzel sharing? Calling each other babe? That's awfully friendly of you."
"Kurt, I assure you that Noah and I are nothing but the best of friends. Also, I never called Noah 'babe'." Rachel smiled and Puck glared.
"What are you two doing here then?"
"Hanging out. That's what bros do. You should go back to shopping for moisturizer or whatever the hell—"
"Kurt, what Noah's trying to say is that we really must be going."
She grabbed Noah's arm and pulled him away.
Puck growled, "Bitch."
"Noah Puckerman…"
"He is! That's why I threw him into dumpsters, because he's a whiny bitch, not because he's gay."
"People say the same things about me."
Puck through his arm around her shoulders and squeezed, "That's because they don't know you and they're jealous."
"if you say so."
"I do. You're better than all of them."
Rachel smiled softly, "We both are. We make a fine pair of Jews."
"I know, right?"
Rachel didn't know exactly what they were looking for so she let Puck lead them around. Their first stop was at the mouth guards. He grabbed a red one and told Rachel to pick a color. She pointed to a green one and he raised any eyebrow.
"I figured you'd pick a yellow one. Why green?"
"Because the Green Ranger is better than the Red Ranger."
"Berry…"
"I'm just saying," she mocked.
When they went toward the shoe section they were accosted by a sales person.
"Can I help you?
Noah puffed out his chest, "Depends. Can you help us look for football cleats for her without acting all weird?"
The man hesitated a moment too long and Puck pushed past him, "We'll help ourselves."
Rachel raised an eyebrow, "That almost sounded like something I would say. A little brusque but I'll allow it."
"Anything for my bro. Now, if you were going to play on the football team you'd have to get school colors—"
"Just get me whatever you get, Noah. I trust your judgment. I wear a size 6. I'm going to peruse their martial arts supplies. Remember, get whatever you want, okay?"
"Sure thing, Superstar."
Rachel was eyeing a set of throwing stars when Puck called out to her. She turned to find him coming towards her with his arms full and his eyes sparkling.
"Hold these," he said, dumping a pile of long socks into her arms.
"Socks, Noah—"
"I'll explain in a minute. First, take a look at these babies." He opened one of the shoe boxes and pulled out a large cleat. It was black with a red star design.
Rachel hopped up and down, "Did you get me the same ones?"
Puck smirked, "Nope."
Rachel pouted.
"I got you these." The smaller cleat he showed her was almost identical except that it was bright red with a black star.
"They're beautiful, Noah. My very own ruby slippers."
Puck shook his head, "Check it out babe, they're like inverses of each other or some shit. Just like me and you. And look," he gestured to the pile of socks, "I got us socks the same way. Black socks with a red band for you and red socks with a black band for me. And I found some gloves, just plain black, but they got stars too."
Rachel couldn't help the amused smile that slid across her face, "And you complained about my matching calendars?"
Puck scowled.
They ended up getting the whole pile. Rachel grabbed the throwing stars too. While capoeira did not usually use such weapons, Rachel did know how to use them.
When Puck dropped her off the bumped fists and he drove away smiling. Rachel's fathers oohed and aahed over her purchases, though Hiram scowled at the throwing stars, and her daddy helped her prepare her mouth guard. She was making faces in her bathroom mirror and examining her green mouth when her phone beeped. Rachel frowned.
Finn: y r u w/pck
Rachel deleted the message and rolled her eyes. His text speak was atrocious. She silently cursed Kurt Hummel and wondered how many people he had told.
When her phone beeped again she eyed it warily. As she looked at the screen, her heart fluttered and her stomach dropped simultaneously. It was from Quinn.
Quinn: Guess what I just heard from Kurt? Apparently you and Puck were at the mall sharing pretzels. What interested me the most, however, is that he followed you to the sports store. Why exactly would you need to go to a sports store?
Rachel didn't know what to do. She hesitated.
Rachel: Keeping my promise.
Quinn: Oh really?
Rachel: Yes. I promised you I wouldn't get injured so I was purchasing the proper safety equipment.
Her reply didn't come immediately and Rachel couldn't help but fidget.
Quinn: I meant what I said! No football! If I see one hair out of place I'm going to kill Puckerman!
Rachel snorted indignantly.
Rachel: Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do? I appreciate your concern, Quinn, but I'll be fine. Besides, it's not like we really see each other anyway.
Quinn: Someone has to tell you what do to because apparently you want to get yourself killed! I'll stake out the park if I have to!
Rachel: I'm a tough girl, Quinn. Since when do you care if I killed myself? You didn't mind attacking my self esteem daily.
Quinn: Rachel…
She wished she could take back the last sentences, but she was frustrated.
Rachel: Besides, we're not going to the park anymore.
Quinn: Where are you going?
Rachel: I'm certainly not going to tell you. Quinn, we're just having fun. We're using protection.
Quinn: God, you just made it sound like you two were going to have sex.
Rachel: That's absolutely disgusting!
Quinn: My thoughts exactly. Now, about this practicing…
She rolled her eyes.
Rachel: Goodnight, Quinn.
Quinn: Berry, you don't get to end this conversation.
She forced herself not to respond.
Quinn: Rachel.
Her fingers twitched so she wrapped her arms around her middle.
Quinn: Dammit, Rachel! I'm going to figure out where you're going and when I do you're going to be in so much trouble. Sleep well tonight, because tomorrow there will be blood, mostly Puckerman's.
Rachel read the last message over and over again. She wondered, did that count as a goodnight text?
