Unexpected Beginnings

A/N: This is my first attempt to write fan fiction (I hope that doesn't stop you from reading though). I have tried to keep the characterization as true as possible to the characters on screen. Please review, but no flames please.

A/N 2: This is a Puck/ Rachel story but all characters will make an appearance. Story takes place towards the middle of January.

A/N 3: I don't own Glee…if I did Mark Salling wouldn't be wearing a shirt on the show…or pants…or underwear.

The feeling had lasted all of two weeks. For two weeks Rachel Berry had been happy… blissfully happy.

Two weeks ago Finn Hudson, in his boyishly charming way, had asked her to be his date for McKinley High's Winter Formal. The logical part of her knew accepting would not be a good idea. Finn was still hurt from Quinn and Puck's deception, but Rachel could see that he clearly still had feelings for his pregnant ex-girlfriend. The logical part of her was telling her that saying yes would only lead to heartbreak. However, her heart (and her raging hormones) told the logical part of her to shut the hell up for once and accepted his request with a dazzling smile.

The evening had started out wonderfully. Finn had arrived at her house, looking dashing in his tuxedo, and immediately charmed her dad and daddy. When she walked down the staircase, her dad snapping her every step with his camera, she couldn't help but blush at the huge grin on his face. When he placed the red rose corsage on her wrist, all the while muttering something about a mailman, she could feel the electricity course through her body.

Yet now, standing in the middle of Marriott Hotel Ballroom in her ridiculously expensive dress and painfully uncomfortable shoes, watching her date make out with his ex-girlfriend, Rachel Berry had wished she had listened to the logical part of her.

"Sucks right," a low voice said to her.

Rachel turned her head to right, dismayed to see Noah Puckerman standing next to her, a scowl etched upon his face as he watched Finn and Quinn kiss.

"What does?" Rachel replied quietly, her heart breaking as she turned back to watch the scene in front of her.

Puck to a swig from the flask he was holding before answering her. "Knowing that no matter how hard you try…you'll never be good enough."

Rachel didn't know if his comment was directed towards her or him. All she knew was that she was tired…tired of Finn and his games, tired of being the freak of McKinley High, tired of being a good girl and getting nowhere and nothing in return.

With one last glance at her date she turned around and marched out with her head held high.

Puck knew tonight was going to suck…he just had no idea how much. The Freshman Cheerio he brought as his date was currently drunk of her ass and puking in the bathroom, which meant he wasn't going to get any action tonight. Santana was stalking his every move and he was pretty sure that Kurt was trying to have eye sex with him from across the room.

He took a swig from his flask and looked around the room, his gaze falling upon Rachel Berry. He did a double take as his mouth fell open in shock. "Holy shit!" he thought. "Berry is smokin hot!" The strapless red dress she wore hugged her curves, accentuating her breasts and hips. But it was the slit that ran up from the bottom of her dress to her mid thigh that was making Puck, the badass of William McKinley High, weak at the knees.

Puck took one more swig from his flask and started to walk towards her, his trademark smirk in place.

He wasn't quite sure what he was going to say to her, most likely some dirty comment about how good her dress would look on his bedroom floor, but as he drew closer to her he noticed her deer in the headlights expression. He turned to look in the direction she was facing and felt as if he had just gotten kicked in the balls.

His former best friend and his baby mama were currently sucking face. "Fickle bitch," he thought bitterly. He would be the first to admit that it was a dick move on his part to screw his best friend's girl and then get her pregnant. Once Finn found out the truth though, Puck began to feel some hope that Quinn would let him be part of her pregnancy and the baby's life. He would never admit it out loud but he wanted to feel his daughter kick, he wanted to hear her heart beat…he wanted her to know his voice, not Finn's. Quinn, it seemed, had other plans.

He stood next to Rachel now, watching the reunion play out.

"Sucks right," he said to her in a voice he almost didn't recognize as his own.

"What does?" she replied.

He took a swig from his flask, enjoying the slight burn he felt as the liquid slid down his throat. Now that Finn and Quinn were back together he knew she would never let him be part of his daughter's life. To Quinn Fabray, Puck would always be a Lima loser.

"Knowing that no matter how hard you try…you'll never be good enough."

Instead of a smart ass reply he expected he watched as Rachel stormed out of ball room. With one last look at the disgustingly happy couple, he followed her out, not really sure why or what he was going to do when he found her.

He walked out into the brightly lit hotel lobby and spotted her at the front desk.

"I don't care how expensive the room is," he heard her say as he stepped behind her. "I just want a room with a king sized bed." She handed the man behind the counter her credit card, tapping her high heeled foot ("Damn, those she shoes made her legs sexy as hell.") impatiently.

He leaned in close, trying to ignore the intoxicating scent of her perfume, and whispered huskily into her ear. "King sized bed Berry? Plan on getting freaky tonight? "

He smirked as she gasped and she spun around.

Rachel took a deep breath to calm her rapidly beating heart. The salacious grin on Puck's face made her tummy do a quick flip. "What I plan to do tonight Noah is of no concern to you," she answered, turning back to face the counter.

"Well, I don't know if you noticed or not, but your date is currently sticking his tongue down his ex's throat."

"I wasn't planning on using the room with Finn," she replied curtly. She took the hotel room card from the desk clerk and started walking towards the hotel bar, Puck following closely.

"Really Berry? And just who were you planning on doing the nasty with?"

Rachel stopped and faced him, her face flush with anxiousness. "As I already stated, it is of no concern to you, but seeing how you choose ignore my words, I plan on going in there," she pointed to the hotel bar, "and pick up some guy to have sex with me. I hope you have a pleasant evening Noah." And with that Rachel Berry walked away, leaving behind a speechless Puck.