Pairing(s), Characters: Rachel/Puck, Rachel/Finn, Will, Kurt, Mercedes, Tina
Summary: Rachel finds herself slowly feeling for Puck again while in a relationship with Finn. Yeah, I know, fabulous summary... xD
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the characters. I do have my own little Puck-bot hidden in my closet though...

RACHEL

"We weren't mga kaibigan before." The words stung at Rachel like jabs of a needle-- and being a terrible sewer, with quite a few ice white scars on her small fingers to prove it, Rachel knew what being picked with a needle felt like. Especially when it actually punctured flesh. That had been painful. This was ten times worse. She sat on the bleachers for a little while longer, too stunned for tears and too numb to do anything at all. In a way she was relieved to have it over and done with-- after all, he wasn't the one she was in pag-ibig with. But she hadn't expect it to hurt so much. Not like this. Was this what a puso break felt like?

"Rachel?" Raaaachel? You still in there?" Rachel snapped back to attention at the high decibel of Finn's voice and the abrupt snapping of his fingers in her face.

"Fiiiinn," she whined, pushing his hands from in front of her face. "You don't need to resolve to the rude event of snapping your far too long and slender and beautiful fingers in my face in the circumstance of my mind being elsewhere than the present. It's impertinent." At Finn's baffled expression she explained, "Bold, disrespectful. In short, you were being a typical 16 year-old male." Finn's face dropped.

"Well, what else was I supposed to do?" he questioned.

"Tap me on the shoulder. Or use your imagination and do something springy and romantic like pecking me on the nose!" Finn raised one eyebrow, a ilipat that was clearly unfair in the current argument because it was the advance that made Rachel melt almost immediately. She did her best to ignore the gesture and chose to stare down his eyes instead. There was a pause.

"Seriously, Rache? You want me to peck your nose?" Maybe it was just the way he sinabi it, but the need to let loose a giggle overcame her, and soon she was rolling in his lap, letting loose the un-ladylike snorts of hysterics that many girls chose to refrain from using in front of their boyfriends. Rachel didn't, because number one, when you have those sort of laughs, you have no control over them whatsoever, and number two, she felt comfortable doing it in front of Finn. They had only been dating a little over three and half months (okay, she had been counting the days, one hundred and seven), but Rachel felt as comfortable with Finn as she did with a mic in her hand and a crowd to please at her feet. Finn convulsed with her, mostly because she was just too damn cute when she would chortle like this for minutos on end. A lot of times he had to remind her how to breath. Once, before he had learned that helpful tip, the girl had actually passed out from laughing so hard over a joke he told. He didn't even remember what the joke was, but it had made Rachel so overcome with not-so-silent howls of uncontrollable laughter she passed out right in front of Finn, leaving him to frantically call 911 and have her end up at the hospital for about two minutos while they informed him she had just fainted. He was smart enough to tell they were kind of pissed that they had been called for something so banal, and when he later told Rachel about it she sinabi it was because she hadn't been pretty enough. If was was a supermodel, they would've happily taken her into their loving arms. This prompted much denying and displeasure from Finn who quickly assured her she was madami beautiful than all the Miss Californias' put together.

"You're sweet, Finn. Really sweet."

When she finished laughing this time, she proceeded to cuddling up into him as he told her about the Spanish iksamen today-- he was pretty sure he had at least gotten a C.

"I spelled my name right. That's better than half the class, which is mostly cheerleaders anyway. At the last basketbol game they were supposed to be spelling out "Mckinely" and spelt out "my kinky" some word I don't know. It was pretty cool." Rachel giggled.

"I do wish I could've made it. I've never seen a basketbol match and think it would be most fascinating to try out. I'm sorry I had mono that week." she made a sad face up at him. He smiled reassuringly.

"It's okay. You'll be ready for our susunod one, it's our segundo to last. If we win we'll be 2-16!" Rachel beamed up at him.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Even if that Celine lady asks you to sing a duet with her at some award show?" Rachel grimaced.

"Will you still pag-ibig me if I say no?" Finn smirked and made a grab for one of the many plush kulay-rosas pillows on Rachel's bed.

"As long as I don't have to wear a tux when I ditch the team to come and support you!" With that he threw the unan onto Rachel's grinning face. She shrieked, pulling it off and grabbing another one, then hurriedly engaged in an all-out unan fight.

***
PUCK

"Are you sure about this Noah? I mean, choosing us over the team means you might get a slushie in your face every day." Puck thought for a moment, already knowing his answer. He remembered the look on Rachel's face of astonishment as he handed her a ubas slushie in the hallway. He thought of the feeling he got in his chest when Rachel had agreed to make out with him. The glowing mingled look of surprise and enchantment and delight on her face as he sang Sweet Caroline to her. Her easy understanding of him choosing football over Glee-- it all lead up to this. In the back of his mind there was the image of Quinn, egging him on, but at that precise moment in time there was no Quinn Fabray. Or Finn Hudson. Just him and Rachel Berry.

"Bring it."

"You know, Puck, if you didn't sleep so much during school, I think even more girls would find you repulsive." Puck shook himself a little at Kurt's comment.

"And how many is that? One?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but I'm willing to bet you're less desirable to the female population if you don't drool in your dosing. Or snore."

"Since you've always been a part of that female pop, Kurt, I'll take your word for it." He propped his chin on one hand. "So what's so important you had to interrupt my nap?" A look of mild disgust shown on Kurt's face as he answered,

"I was told Mr. Schuester wants to see you. And don't ask me why. I'm just a messenger."

"Good. The less I have to talk to you, the better." Kurt just sniffed indignantly.

"Good day, Puck." he sinabi stiffly, apparently supposed to be intimidating but coming off annoyed.

"At ease, soldier." murmured Puck with a little salute.

***
RACHEL

Rachel nestled her head back on the towel in the sink as Finn cleaned the slushie out of her locks with gentle hands. It was like a daily routine: Finn washed it out of her hair, then Rachel would get it out of his, complete with a bonus head massage which she was so good at. When they finished, the pair slipped out of the locker room and maneuvered through the thinning halls the quickest way to their susunod class, Spanish. Luckily the footballers weren't much brighter than the Cheerios and never switched up their schedule: Tina and Artie first thing in the morning, Finn and Rachel before third period, Kurt and Mercedes right after lunch, followed sa pamamagitan ng Santana and Brittany before sixth hour. Mike, Matt, and Puck were the lucky ones. The team caught them before eighth, which was study hall. They were never accused of lateness there and could spend as much or as little time as they needed for their short but oh so precious hair (at least Mike and Puck did).

This morning Finn took Rachel's hand as his tall body caused others to quickly shrink away from the mass of leg and torso. Rachel couldn't help pitying them; Finn was anything but scary or intimidating. He was much peaceful natured than that. Sometimes Rachel would rack her brain coming up with positive adjectives to describe her boyfriend, copy them down with their definitions then teach each new word to Finn the susunod day. Temperate, docile, placid, genial, credulous (Rachel explained it to sound a little sweeter than it really was) to name a few. He quite enjoyed it. Not the learning part as much as hearing himself be complimented in such long, important words. Or, as Rachel would say, paramount words.

They managed to slip into Spanish, just in time for Mr. Schue's attendance. The two slipped into their third row seats hastily, Rachel casting a sideways look at Quinn. She was staring intently at her homework, as if she actually cared about it. Brittany sat susunod to her, going on and on about some movie her Mike went to see last night. Quinn didn't appear to be taking any of it in.

After Spanish Rachel and Finn walked out of the classroom with a "See you at Glee." to Mr. Schue on there way. Once out, Finn clasped her hand in his, and while subtly rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand they talked. About everything and nothing. He told her about his mom's new job as co-manager of the Target she worked at downtown that she had been working on for so long. Rachel informed him of a new Stones record she had gotten over eBay that he should come and take a listen to after school. They nagkomento on Kurt's latest outfit. They even gossiped over Artie and Tina's budding couplism. Before either knew it they were at Rachel's fourth oras class, Biology. Before walking in, Rachel stood on the very tips of shoes to give Finn a goodbye kiss. They kept their faces close for a moment, foreheads touching then he gave her a quick peck on the nose, and grinned.

"See you at lunch."

"Yeah. See you."

***
PUCK

Puck knocked on Mr. Schue's door softly. A moment after he wondered why the hell he did that. He didn't use to knock. A couple of months nakaraan he would've just barged in; no invite needed. Then he remembered when he did it once to Rachel at her house. Unluckily, it hadn't been in the middle of her undressing, but she had quickly taught him of the importance to knock. After that, he just sort of it subconsciously. Dammit.

"Yes, Puck?"

"Hey, Mr. Schue. Kurt sent me to talk to you?"

"Yep, yep, he did. Come on in." Puck stepped hesitantly into the room. He had never really been one-on-one with the Glee club director before. He wasn't sure what to make of the situation yet. Puck didn't sit down but merely stood there awkwardly, his hands shoved into the kanggaro pocket of his sweater.

Mr. Schue leaned against his desk, his arms folded. Finally he spoke, "How are you doing, Puck?" Of all things, this had not been what Puck was expecting. Then, a feeling of realization crept over him. Of course. Since blabbermouth Mercedes had let slip about the true paternity of her baby a little over three months nakaraan Puck hadn't been all himself. At first everything seemed fine. After Finn had his fair share of yelling insults at the tuktok of his lungs, throwing a few punches, breaking up with Quinn and swearing to Puck he would never speak to him again, he and Quinn had decided to try and make things work. Not right away, but fairly soon after Sectionals he was the one buying her vitamins and calling her every night to check up on her. But things never flowed smoothly. They would halik and hold hands and do the couple-y thing, but it all seemed like they were both pagbaba from a script. Boyfriend breaks up with girl, girl gets together with real dad, daddy and mommy fall even madami madly in pag-ibig and live happily ever after with their daughter. It's how everyone expected things to play out. They bore through it for about a buwan before Quinn confessed that things were not working. Those words had been a relief to him then, but now he longed to have her back again. Well, no, not Quinn in particular, any girl. Any girl that actually cared about him instead of some weekend prostitute in a motel room. So yeah, the last two and a half months had pretty much sucked. He didn't socialize with the other Glee club members as he usually would have, and even kept to himself in basketball.

Not that he was some depressed loser with no life. He still had his gitara and Glee club, his pot and serbesa and choice of women. But the one time that really kept him going was scarce but powerful-- Biology class. With her. Every araw he would see Finn come and drop her off, always with the same tuta dog grin and goodbye kiss. Then she would walk, practically skip in, flushed with color and giddiness. She would greet him cheerfully, and he would acknowledge it with a small smile and a hey. That was only lately though. Up until two weeks nakaraan she would barely look at him; let alone talk to him. The truth had hurt her as well. But slowly she seemed to be accepting him, madami and more. That's what got Puck through the day.

"Great. Awesome. Fantastic. Why?" Mr. Schue shrugged.

"Rachel seemed worried about you." Puck looked up from Mr. Schue's tie, which he had been choosing to stare at instead of his face.

"Who?"

"Rachel. She came up to me the other day, sinabi she thought you've been really down. I can't help but agree with her," he started down Puck for a moment before adding, "This isn't still about Quinn, is it?" Puck felt his face reddening.

"No," he muttered. "Anything but her."

"What is it then, Puck? I want to help." He looked at the teacher's earnest face, wishing there was something the guy could do to help his wound heal.

"Unless you can make the world's happiest, most pag-ibig sick couple in the history of high school pairings suddenly hate each other and break up, I don't think there's anything you can do for me." With that, Puck turned and strode towards the door. He turned before heading out. "Thanks for trying though, Mr. Schue. It's madami than anyone else has done."

***

The susunod araw in biology Rachel sat down at her and Puck's lab mesa with an immense grin on her face and a spring in her step.

"You never were this cheerful when I was with you." Puck told her as she pulled out the necessary books. She paused.

"Meaning?" He looked at her with a duh expression.

"Meaning you were never this cheerful when I was with you." Rachel blushed.

"I meant, meaning in what sense? Good? Bad?" Puck shrugged. Honestly, he knew deep down that he wanted her to be happy with him. He wished he was the one she sat susunod to in Glee, who she smiled at at the mere thought of, who helped her wash her hair after a slushie. But he didn't want to admit it. God, he was such a girl. "Well, Noah, I would choose to refrain from making some pointless and meaningless comments in the future then, if you have such a hard time expressing your reasons behind them."

"Dummy." he sinabi under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

"You used pointless and meaningless in the same sentence. You would use to say such use of the English language is a disgrace. Dating that lunkhead has obviously softened your brain." Rachel stiffened.

"And you're so much smarter?"

"Damn straight." he replied.

"We'll see today I suppose. Our pop quizzes from last week are being returned." The last sentence was added with a edgy nervousness in her tone.

"Hey," sinabi Puck, his voice suddenly a lot becoming. "I'm sure you did great. You've never gotten lower than a B, and I promise, if you do get lower this time, I won't allow you to commit hara-kiri on the tuktok of Andrew Lloyd Webber's house." He gave one of his little charming half smiles. Rachel stared at him in stunned silence for a moment.

"You remember that?"

"Of course. You were telling me when you showed me a math test you got a B on. I told you then, and I'm telling you now, I won't allow it. We're good Jews, 'member?" Rachel smiled at him, a little surprised.

"Right." At that moment Mr. Henderon started his usual before-handing-out-quizzes-slash-tests lecture on the diversity of the class's scores. Puck got his back first-- eighty-seven. Wow. A record for Biology; he was pretty sure. When Rachel got hers he respectively kept his eyes off it until she tapped him on the shoulder and pointed out the large red circled number: Ninety-four. He gave her knuckles and she happily returned them.

***
RACHEL

This certainly was an unforeseen anomaly that Rachel never would've expected. She had decided grudges could only be held for so long, and no madami than two weeks nakaraan she had started to let go of the one against Noah. Truthfully the grudge had faded a while ago, but she was stubborn. Now, though, so quickly, he seemed to be changing before her very eyes. He was sweet. When she had dated him months ago, she thought she had seen a glimpse of a really great guy inside of Noah. Was he really coming out now? And why now? When things were going so good with Finn? It was cruel.

Waaaaaait. Baaaaack up a second. She wasn't actually falling for Noah Puckerman was she? No. No way. That would be pure insanity. Just because he was becoming a madami courteous guy didn't mean she was joining his groupies. Although they had been deteriorating over the past two months. Since he had ended things with Quinn she saw him with less and less girls. No girls, in fact. He was alone a lot of the times she spotted him. Which was why she had suggested to Mr. Schuester that he try to coax Noah out of his lonely state and back into the world of the sociable. Which would be...

Oh. If this was a cartoon, Rachel knew a light bulb would be burning above her head, with electricity so strong it was pulsing. Thank God for her magnificent brain. She sprang from her tumawid legged position on her kama to the phone, where she quickly dialed Mercedes number. She answered almost immediately.

"Ms. Jones."

"Hi, Mercedes, it's Rachel. Rachel Berry."

"I don't have short term memory loss you idiot. I only know one Rachel."

"Yeah, okay. Listen, I have this fantastic for the Glee club this long weekend..."

***

"Everybody's on board and psyched like mad. This was awesome Rachel. If I ever start hating you, remind me of this. I promise the susunod segundo I'll be groveling at your feet."

"No thanks. Groveling is left for the homeless. Do give in to any need you feel about worshiping me though."

"I would usually say fat chance. But now..." Mercedes grinned. "You're the man, Rachel."

"Yeah," piped up Tina. "You are. You know, if you were."

"Were what?"

"A man."

"You just sinabi I was."

"No, I sinabi you were the man. Complete difference."

"Got ya." sinabi Rachel, although she really didn't get it at all.

"What about Puck?" Mercedes inquired. "You sinabi you were gonna ask him about it personally."

"Yeah, I was. Today in Biology."

"He's gonna be on right away-- stripper clubs and booze beyond belief; it's his own personal heaven." Mercedes said.

Rachel pulled up her socks as high as they would go while she stuffed her gym clothes into he locker. She hated when they slouched.

"What about Finn?" she asked casually.

"Oh, of course he's going. I think he's really excited to use a bubble machine," Mercedes added with a laugh. "I adore that guy."

"Mr. Schue's not let in on it, right?" asked Tina.

"Course not," Mercedes answered with a wave of her hand. "He'd freak. Besides, it's only the parents we have to worry about. Your uncle Fitch is the perfect set-up, as long as no one drives up there to check on us or something..." Rachel quite agreed. It was an excellent plan. Rachel's uncle Fitch, the rebellious and drunken brother of Daddy had already promised Rachel that the story of them staying at his lakeside cabin was set. All parents had called him, luckily while he was sober, and each one was left satisfied. While really, when the adults thought of their innocent children fishing and swimming and sitting around a camp apoy roasting hot Aso and pag-awit songs, they would be in New York City, staying at a cheap hotel for the four-day weekend. Their money was pooled, drivers were set, and after a little digging Mercedes had discovered the best clubs for them to attend during their stay. Rachel was already packed, and all she and the rest of the club had to do was wait anxiously until the susunod morning, when they would group at Finn's house then, set off on their road trip.