Chapter One:
It's Not Me, It's You
- 2 years ago -
Rachel stared wide-eyed at the man in front of her, her palms sweating nervously at the awkward tension.
He smiled widely, his teeth brightening as he engulfed in another bite of his sub, the juice from the cut meat spilling from the bread.
She gasped loudly, leaning back in her chair as he laughed, snorting as he wiped it off of his shirt. "Whoops," he spluttered, chunks of lettuce spitting from his mouth.
She gaped in horror as it slammed against her face, the wet drool dripping down her raged skin. She fumed intensely, glaring at the disturbing man eating in front of her.
"That is absolutely revolting," she hissed, pinching a napkin between her fingers and blotching it on her targeted face.
The boy smiled, as meat stuck to his yellow teeth. "I thought it turned you on."
She laughed sarcastically, arching an eyebrow at the curly haired child. "No, indeed it did not, it was nice to meet you Jacob – "
" – Ben Israel, Jacob Ben Israel . . . I like to give my name pride."
Rachel snickered, shaking her head in disbelief. "Well if you keep acting like this, your name will be nothing but a disgrace."
She stood up from the small table, brushing the remaining of chewed up food that spoiled over her nightdress. Jacob watched in awe as she spat at the crumbles, dusting it to the floor.
"Pleasure meeting you Jacob . . . Benn Israel, I hope you have a pleasant evening . . . without me."
She curtseyed lamely, rolling her eyes at her self-stupidity. He shook his head in bewilderment, reaching towards her as he caught her wrist in his hand.
"Baby, please don't go, our date just started, we've been planning this for months!" he whined, stubbornly stomping his foot on the ground.
Rachel ripped her wrist away from his dirty fingers, rubbing the grease from her skin. "No, I've been planning a date with Jacob from eHarmony, not with Jacob . . . the food monster."
He stood up in the empty restaurant, stepping closer to Rachel, who instinctively took a step back. Encouraged that she didn't run away, he once again moved closer and attempted to put his arms around her.
"This dress is amazing. It would look even better on the floor next to my bed tomorrow morning." Rachel cast a horrified look, as Jacob let a finger drag down Rachel's arm.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm new in town. Can I have directions back to your place?"
"Oh for Heaven's sakes."
"So. Is that a mirror in your dress? Because I can see myself in them."
She rolled her eyes at him, brushing past him as she walked towards the exiting doors. In a last minute desperate attempt, she heard one last remark from Jacob. "Wait! I'd marry your cat just to get in the family!"
She sighed heavily, horrifically as she whipped towards him, her hands clenched at the side. "I'M ALLERGIC TO CATS!"
She stalked out of the cheap restaurant, entering the polluted air of smoke. She coughed miserably, staring down the smoker beside her.
He smiled. "Sorry my lady, this isn't the only thing on fire right now."
She huffed in annoyance, as she stepped away from him, making her pathway on the sidewalk. Her feet dragged along the concrete, as she drowned in her own regret, hating herself for trusting a stranger.
God, why did it have to be so hard for Rachel Berry to find a man? Is there anyone in this God forsaken world that is capable of her talent and maintenance?
Anyone other than Jacob Ben Israel?
She shuddered at the thought of him, her thoughts interrupted by the pounding music of the bar beside her. It vibrated the ground below her, as she smelt the alcohol and slime from outside.
She snorted in disgust, watching as drunks stumbled out of the bar, their unbalanced feet spinning on the sidewalk, spiraling out of the control.
How irresponsible.
"Rachel Barbara Berry, are you out here?"
Jacob's shrilled voice rang through the alleyway, and she bulked in self-help, remotely hating her decision as she rushed into the crowded bar, away from the annoying pedophile.
The bass of the music echoed throughout the building, pounding against her vulnerable ears as she made her way to the bar counter. Rachel sat herself on a stool, propping her elbows on the counter as she sighed heavily, exhaling the scent of alcohol.
"Hey babe, would you like anything to drink?"
She looked up to find a bulked man leaning over the counter of the bar, his muscles flexed, his smile widening.
"Uhm." She narrowed her eyes curiously at his abnormal mohawk, her head tilting to the side in observation. "No thank you."
He overlapped his fingers over his hair, hiding it from her piercing eyes. "Come on, one shot, that's all."
Rachel hesitated, biting her lip anxiously. She huffed in defeat. "One shot then."
The boy smiled, nodding his head. She opened her purse from her lap, her hands rummaging for her wallet.
"No," the man interrupted her search, reaching over to place his rough hands over her own, stopping her exploring fingers. "It's on me."
She smiled. "Thanks – "
"Puck, Noah Puckerman," he announced in his best Bond imitation, lacing his fingers through hers.
"Right. Thanks Noah."
He gave a disappointed face. "You're not going to tell me your name?" he questioned, turning around to grab a shot from the backside of the counter.
"I'm Rachel Berry, and trust me, you'll remember that name one day."
He chuckled, his hands vibrating with laughter as he poured a bottle of Ever Clear into the shot glass. He placed it on the counter, pushing it towards her.
She wrapped her fingers tightly along the small glass, lifting it upwards towards him before gulping it down. Ice senses coursed through her as she swallowed it, and she stuck out her tongue from the sour taste.
"So Rachel Berry, you don't exactly look like you've came dressed for a bar." His eyes trailed along her skin-tight dress, stopping at her low cut top, where her cleavage was visible. "What horrible thing happened that made you come into this joint?"
She smiled sneeringly, shaking her head in declination. "Nu-uh, you're going to have get me really drunk in order for me to tell you."
He wiggled his eyebrows, grabbing the shot glass from her prying fingers. "Let's get you another shot then."
Or maybe one more shot after that.
And another two shots.
Three more shots.
She slammed down her seventh glass of alcohol, watching in amusement as Puck roared out his laughter, leaning over the counter for support as bubbles of chuckles escaped his open mouth.
"He said he would marry your cat to get into the family? What a fucking tool," he gasped between his laughter, holding his sides as it ached from chuckling.
Rachel nodded her head repeatedly, rolling her neck drunkenly. "He acted nothing like his eHarmony page promised."
Puck squeezed his eyes shut, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably as he tried unsuccessfully to hold in his laughter.
She rolled her eyes at his foolishness, waving her hand at him. "Fine, laugh, because it's so funny."
"I agree; laughing at a customer isn't going to do much business for the bar, dumb ass."
She cocked her head to the new voice that echoed through the small corner at the counter, dizzily turning in her stool to find herself staring into the eyes of a very, very handsome man.
"You a manager?" she slurred, annoyed to hear the continuation of Puck's everlasting, endless laughter.
He smiled, shaking his head. "Nope, just a bartender, like this idiot."
The handsome man leaned over the counter, smacking his large hand over the back of Puck's shaved head. Puck stopped immediately, staring intensely at him.
"Fuck you Hudson," he hissed, as he grabbed Rachel's shot glass, pouring her another round.
"Hudson?" Rachel perked in her stool, beaming at the man. "Were you born in the river?"
The man laughed, shaking his head. "No, Hudson is my last name, my name's Finn."
Rachel made a face, raising her eyebrows curiously. "So you're a fish?"
"How many shots have you drunk?"
Puck handed her the new round of shots, and she downed it quickly, in one swift gulp. Finn stared wide-eyed at her, watching as she burped harshly, rattling her tiny frame.
"Uhm – "
"Rachel, but you can call me Berry, because like your last name, mine is a fruit too!"
Finn laughed. "Uh Hudson isn't a fruit, you just said it was a river."
"Right."
A stubby man burst through the backdoors behind the bar counter, stalking towards the three of them, his face red with rage.
"Puckerman!" he growled, stopping right in front of his fearful face. Puck smiled widely, clapping his back. "Hey boss."
He whipped his hand off of him, grabbing him by the collar. "I told you to clean up that puke in the backroom an hour ago, and it isn't done, go now."
Puck nodded, watching in relief as the man stomped away, off into the direction he came.
He turned to Rachel. "Don't say anything embarrassing when I'm gone, I wanna be here when you do."
Rachel spat at him, as he chuckled, skipping off in the pathway of his boss. She sighed heavily, leaning over the counter, propping her elbows on them.
She turned her head towards Finn, who was staring at her in amusement. "Is there anything wrong with me?"
"Excuse me?"
"Look at me, I mean, really look at me, am I ugly?" She watched as his chocolate, brown eyes analyzed her body, and he looked back to her, smiling widely.
"Nope, you're freaking hot," he said proudly, and she groaned in frustration, wracking her hands through her tangled hair.
"If I'm so hot, then why can't I keep guys? I mean I try to be what men like, because I don't think people like the real, nerdy Rachel Berry."
Finn looked at her softly, his eyes content as he held her gaze. "And who's the real Rachel Berry?"
She bit her lip nervously as she gripped the hem of her dress, pulling it up to reveal the pokadot underwear she was wearing.
Finn smiled warmly, shrugging. "Well I think it's cute."
Rachel giggled, rolling the clothing over her flesh, patting her thigh. Finn narrowed his eyes at her, chewing at the inside of his gums. "What?" she question, realizing his knowing gaze.
"Soon," he whispered softly, smiling widely, "you'll find somebody who will love you for who you are. Trust me."
Yeah, that was two years ago.
She hasn't been on a date since then.
Hi again! I hope you liked the first chapter, there will be more Rachel, Puck, and Finn soon don't worry! But I think next chapter, will be more the relationship between Finn and Rachel, and Rachel and Quinn, so, don't worry, Puck will be back guys! Review please and comment if you are dying for some Quinn and Puck action! PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW AND HAPPY DAYS! BTW: GLEE IN TWO DAYS!