DISCLAIMER: However much I love this show, no, I don't own it. Which is probably good.

A/N: This has been tumbling around my head for awhile, so I decided to write it and share it with y'all.

Chapter One

It wasn't as though he could help it. Although if truth be told, and it wouldn't, she had made it pretty easy for him. But there was no way that anyone would find out that Noah Puckerman had had it bad for Quinn Fabray. Possibly in the past tense. But then again, maybe he just wanted her body. That wasn't true; Puck actually thought she was real. Not like any of the rest of the girls in McKinley.

Of course, what shocked him was finding out that there were other real people in McKinley High. Tina, he half-nodded to her when he passed her locker, was pretty awesome though the stutter sometimes, most of the time, distracted him from what she was saying. Puck glanced down knowing that Artie would be near Tina and almost chuckled at the sight of Artie's sweater vest today. Until he realized the color was off because it had been stained with a cherry slushie. Clenching his fists, Puck continued down the hallway and let the rest of the student population stare at him.

'Wouldn't you know', he thought sarcastically, 'that when you blab you're biggest secret it actually gets around?'

Puck saw Finn, who had gone into remission for a couple weeks, leaning up against the locker next to Rachel Berry's. Rachel was putting a clean shirt into her locker because she had to use the one that was stored in there up to Tuesday. Puck was fairly certain Crap-lonsky wasn't going to be able to hold anything remotely the size of a slushie cup for awhile.

"Good morning No-Pu…," Rachel smiled brightly to cover her stumble.

"Yeah, back atcha' Berry," he responded nodding at Finn.

Finn looked at him face crossed between irritation and resignation, "Puck."

Puck continued walking. At least Finn was able to say his name without sounding like he was choking. He heard Rachel tell Finn that she was glad that he was working on forgiving Puck and Quinn. That made him feel a little peeved, though he wasn't certain why. He continued pass Quinn who was surreptitiously glancing at Finn.

"Wait, Puck?"

He slowed and allowed Quinn to close her locker and catch up to him; he wanted to make sure he had enough momentum to break into a run if she decided to go crazy pregnant on him. Not that he was a coward, but hormones! They were seriously a bitch! Which he thought made complete sense….

"Hey," she said softly. "Um, I need to go to the store and buy some maternity clothing. I was wondering if… well, I need money. And since you got me this way…"

For a moment Puck had thought maybe she was going to be nice about it, right up until then. But if she was sweet, then she wasn't Quinn Fabray. He kind of liked that about her, that someone was just as mean as he was.

"It takes two babe," Puck glared at her. "And I recall you pushing me ont-"

Quinn shushed him, "Puck are you trying to make me look bad!"

He huffed, "See you later Quinn."

"Wait! Puck!"

Shaking his head, Puck turned and entered the cafeteria. He entered the breakfast line and let the greasy smells erode the smell of vanilla and almonds. His nose twitched. As he pulled out his wallet to pay, he quickly debated eating in the cafeteria or just taking it to-go. Seeing some football players enter the slushie line Puck decided warning the other members of Glee to take out their raingear and, in Artie's case, protective goggles, was the least he could do. The absolute least he could do because he had many years of torment to make up for.

Puck bit into his biscuit just as Kurt and Mercedes rounded the corner.

"Yo! Slushie's on the way."

They both looked at him with eyebrows raised.

"Swallow your food Mister," Mercedes said. "It's disgusting."

Kurt nodded before sweeping his bangs to the side, "I agree you need to learn some manners."

Puck wrinkled his nose and gave them a patent 'hell no' look. They sighed before changing directions back to their lockers.

"Tell Artie and Tina!"

A Junior, Karen?, stared at him as she walked into a locker which caused him to snort. Then he turned and glared at her to make sure she wouldn't look at him that way again. He almost walked clean pass Quinn again before remembering.

"Slushie's are on their way," Puck didn't look at her.

He got it, really he did. She loved Finn, thought he was better for her and Puck's daughter. All he wanted was a chance to see if he actually liked her or just the idea of her: Cheerio (well ex-Cheerio now), hot, and seemingly perfect. That's what he really thought was awesome, that people thought she was perfect and he totally knew she wasn't. But considering how she was stationed down the hall from Finn, pining after him, Puck knew his chances were slim to none.

"Berry, Finn, slushie's."

Rachel was tapping her foot outside the room they used for Glee waiting for it to be unlocked when she looked up at him and made a face.

"Ugh, why is frozen water and high-fructose corn syrup so fun for them to pitch unto to us unobtrusive targets? It's rather lame."

Puck shrugged as Finn nervously pulled a poncho from his back pack. Rachel smiled at Finn before saying,

"I need to get my rain jacket from my locker. I'll be back momentarily Finn."

She cocked her head at Puck as if daring him to walk with her. So he did, he never backed down from a challenge.

"I wanted to tell you that I appreciate the sentiment behind crushing um, whatever his name's hand. It was very brutish, but I'm not one to be hypocritical. Though my way of retaliation is by no means physical."

Puck glanced at her as she drew in a breath. They reached her locker and he leaned up near her and whispered conspiratorially,

"He had it coming. I…," the words stuck in his throat even though he had been trying to say them for a couple days now. Rachel was the only one not to treat him any worse. If anything, she treated him nicely, and definitely better than Quinn.

Rachel drew out her rain jacket and pulled it on looking at him before smiling slightly, privately. Puck thought that smile was nicer than the one she had given him earlier. Then he mentally smacked himself for being so sappy.

Rachel spoke, "I understand Noah. That's why I'm trying to be your friend. It isn't the easiest thing I've ever tried to accomplish, but I have not failed at any task I have set for myself and I will not let you be the first. You aren't as simple as you think you are! So-"

Puck cut her off, "Thanks."

Rachel blinked and smiled again, "There! That wasn't too hard now was it? No. Now all I have to do is be verbose to get you to-"

"You are always verbose," Puck let slip out. He winced.

Rachel's eyes lit up, "I knew you were smarter then you previously led us to ruminate!"

"Puckerman!"

Puck saw the slushie container in the corner of his eye and turned to face it straight on. The cold, syrupy drink slid down his face and pooled into his clothes. Wiping at his eyes, he turned to a shocked Rachel asking,

"What the hell does ruminate mean?"

She blinked and giggled before laughing outright. Raising his eyebrows at her Puck swiped at his face again. Rachel continued laughing as she pulled out her slushie clean-up kit and pushed him towards a bathroom. As he settled at the sink for her to wash the stickiness off, he listened as she gradually stopped laughing and resorted to chuckling every so often.

He knew when she stiffened that she was remembering the last time they were in this position. But before he could tell her he was fine, that he could clean himself off, she spoke.

"You know I think its karma." Rachel explained when she saw his confused face, "You started the slushie thing, now you're on the receiving end of it."

Puck grumbled, "You didn't laugh last time."

Rachel threw him a dirty look, "Well last time I was shocked and speechless. And I figured it wasn't very nice of me to laugh at my… you."

Puck shrugged, "But now that we aren't in a relationship, hey! It's safe!"

Rachel poked him hard enough for him to wince. Puck knew it wasn't safe ground to talk about that period of time so listlessly with her, but that's what he did. Play with the edge. It was exhilarating and freeing. A guy walked into the bathroom and smirked at Rachel before continuing over to the stalls. Puck growled and started to stand up when the guy scurried out of the room after Rachel sprayed her perfume in that direction.

Rachel looked down at her bottle sadly, "This isn't exactly cheap. I regret rashly spraying his disgusting body with this!"

Puck settled back down and chuckled, "Smart, Berry."

He sniffed the air appreciatively though. The boy's bathroom always smelled worse than the locker room, which didn't make sense to him, but Puck figured it was because of creatures like Jacob Israel that smelled the place up. Fear, he reasoned, football players didn't fear the other students.

"I'm speaking to you!"

Puck blinked and focused on Rachel who had an eyebrow quirked, "What?"

Rachel huffed, "I was saying that you can wash your face now. I've gotten all of the slushie out of your Mohawk. Would you hurry? I want to give Finn a CD I forgot I packed before the bell rings for classes to start."

He let her continue to ramble as he scrubbed at his face; school wouldn't start for another twenty minutes, but it was safer to just go along with Rachel than oppose her. Suddenly his eyes pricked and his throat clogged up. Feeling ridiculously emotional, Puck scrubbed harder and growled to clear his throat. It was weird that right now, right that second he felt the pressure of everything pile on him. Rachel was still talking, not even looking at him; she was messing with her hair.

"Ugh! I swear Noah Puckerman; I would like to slap you for selecting slushies to throw at people. You wouldn't even know how complicated it is to wash it out of long hair in a sink!"

Ah, so she was splattered with the drink too. He dried off his face and spoke,

"I'm done. We can go and you can give Finn that CD."

Rachel nodded before grabbing his arm and staring at him hard. Uncomfortable with her scrutiny, Puck stared back. Obviously she saw whatever it was she was looking for because she let go and turned around. He followed her out of the bathroom and saw that Matt, Mike, and Brittany were standing with Finn at the rehearsal room. Hoping that the added company would make it less awkward he followed Rachel as she practically flounced their way.

Mike and Matt both nodded at him and Brittany glanced at him unsure if she should smile at him or not. Puck knew she was influenced by Santana because when they were dating Santana got Brittany to do things for her while she and he made out. Matt asked Rachel if she would mind wearing shoes that wouldn't get caught on his shirt when they rehearsed today. Collectively, they all relaxed as the focus shifted from Puck to Rachel, who frowned and asked why.

"My mom thinks I was attacked on my way home yesterday from all the cuts your shoes gave me!"

Mercedes and Kurt walked up to them Kurt's rain coat wet. He loudly complained,

"Do they not know how expensive this Dolce and Gabbana rain coat costs? Those uncultured louses!"

Mike and Matt chuckled as Finn got wide-eyed and backed up when Kurt turned to him and continued to whine. Puck cut him off.

"They aren't gay. They don't care about," he waved at Kurt's outfit, "that!"

Kurt got an offended look on his face and was about to respond but Mr. Schuester walked up apologetically and unlocked the door. As they filed in, Puck saw Quinn standing at the end of the hallway watching them. Santana walked up behind her and said something before stalking away. Quinn met his gaze and raised her chin.

"You coming in, pretty boy," Mercedes questioned.

Walking in, he smirked at her and nodded satisfied when she rolled her eyes and ignored him. He got out his guitar and began strumming. Artie and Tina rolled in moments later both dry. The wheel-man came over to him and took out his bass guitar. They sat jamming, having a fun time if Puck was going to admit it, when suddenly Finn began playing the drums to the song they were currently playing. Rachel, Puck knew was about to come over and sing-

"Layla! I love that song, Eric Clapton is-"

Puck almost laughed at his uncanny timing. He started to sing over Rachel's history of Eric Clapton. Artie chuckled and Finn grinned at Rachel as she scrunched her mouth up at being interrupted. He wasn't worried soon enough she would start to sing with him.

"Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?"

Suddenly, Puck winked at Artie and switched to play "Cocaine" singing along, completely throwing Rachel off. The rest of the room laughed and surrounded them as they strummed and sang.

Please let me know how I'm doing. And don't be afraid to tell me that I'm OOC! Without your input, I can't get better!