Glee Fic!
Title: Moments in Time - Mash up
Author: AyLee Cambell
Paring: Rachel/Puck
Rating: PG
Warnings: Spoilers for Mash-up. I would suggest watching it before you read. Not beta'd
Summary: How Mash up went in my little verse...
Mash Up
How tonight’s episode went in my little verse. Everything is the same, except from the bleachers. That’s where it all changes and where this starts.
So, spoilers for Mash-up. If you haven't seen the episode, you might want to watch it first!
He was watching the guys play football as he sat on the bleachers. He hadn’t thought he would choose glee, but when he started towards the locker room and the football field all he could think about was the way Rachel’s fingers felt while she cleaned him up or the weight of her when she sat on his leg, or the way her lips felt against his forehead. Then after that he thought about how he felt while he was singing or when he was up on stage with the others and they had everyone watching him and he realized he didn’t want to give either of them up, that both of them were new but that they made him feel better then when he was on the football field.
Still, he missed it, missed the feeling of a winning game, or knowing that he was one of the best out there on the team. (Not that that was really saying much.) Knowing that some of the others looked up to him. He would miss the awe and respect he got from the guys.
But, if they could slushy him in the halls then maybe they hadn’t really been all that respectful or in awe of him. Maybe that was all a show and wasn’t real. But the friends he had reluctantly made in glee, well, they seemed a whole lot more real at the moment. And they hadn’t asked him to choose, to pick between the two. They had always accepted that he did both, had accepted him. They could have judged him or held his past actions against him but they hadn’t and that meant something.
He still missed football a little, but it would be something he would get used to living without. It wasn’t the end of the world. He missed the loss of his popularity and untouchable status a whole lot more than being tackled by a group of guys.
“I hope you didn’t give it up for me.” Rachel’s voice interrupted his thoughts. He didn’t look at her as she sat down on the bleachers behind him. The tone of her voice was sending warning bells off in his head and he knew the next few minutes were going to be important.
“I didn’t.” He told her, knowing that it was what she wanted to hear, even if it wasn’t the truth. He hoped that she left it at that and everything went back to being good. Things were working out surprisingly well between the two of them and he hoped that didn’t change.
But Rachel didn’t let it go, didn’t believe it.
“Because I wouldn’t want you to give up something you love for something that’s so new, something that we aren’t sure will work out or not in the long run.” She told him.
“Are you breaking up with me?” Puck asked, turning to look at her for a moment. He was shocked by how much he really didn’t want that to be happening.
“No, I’m just saying I don’t want you to give up football to be with me. Not if it makes you happy. Then you would probably break up with me cause you were miserable or something. I would rather we went through this now then later on when feelings are involved.”
The relief in her words made him look away. Taking a moment he gathered up what he was going to say. He wasn’t always good with saying things about how he felt, but so far being with Rachel and being his real self had been easier than he had thought it would be. Easier then it had ever been with anyone. It was one of the things that made him want to see where this could go.
He turned to look at her. “Okay, so maybe I gave up football because of you, because of glee. I love football, but it’s not the only thing I like to do. I like singing, even if I wouldn’t admit that to everyone, and I like you. If I have to give up football to continue both then I will even if it hurts a little. Because in the long run I’m thinking that it’s not going to mean as much to what I’ll have. Okay? It’s worth it, your worth it. Even if you wont let me touch your boobs.” He said.
Rachel smiled at him. “Okay.” She said and then moved so she was sitting by him. Puck wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.
Taking a deep breath he decided to broach a subject he would rather just ignore, but like she had said, it was better to find out now then later on.
“Do you still like Finn?” He asked and didn’t look at her. If she was going to pick Finn over him he didn’t want to see
“I used to.” Rachel said slowly and he jerked his head to look at her.
“Used to? What changed?” He asked.
“You did.” Rachel said then looked up at him. “You let me see you, the real you. And you’re beautiful. You have so much potential Noah, and you’re afraid to let people see it, but you let me see. Then you chose glee and me over football, even if it meant slushies everyday. How could you not change my mind?” She asked.
Puck leaned forward and kissed her. He couldn’t help it. No one had ever said anything like that about him, had ever chosen him over Finn or anyone else. And Rachel just had.
“Puckerman! This isn’t your bedroom, knock it off or leave!” Coach Tanaka yelled and the two broke apart.
He smiled down at her, ignoring everyone else, and pushed a piece of hair behind her ear.
Rachel smiled back and squeezed one of his hands, before looking away for a moment and looking back, her smile gone.
“But - um, but what about Quinn? I see you looking at her. Do you like her?” She asked in a small voice.
He looked away for a moment, his heart sinking. How could he explain it too her without telling her everything or scaring her away?
“It’s complicated. I don’t like Quinn, not that way. I pretty much think she’s a bitch, but she’s Finn’s girlfriend and she’s pregnant and this whole thing is weird. I can’t get into it right now, I’m not ready to talk about it. But I want to, I just can’t. Not right now.” He said and Rachel nodded.
“I understand. I just, I don’t want to be someone’s second choice. I used to like Finn, but for the wrong reasons and he kept stringing me along and it was horrible. I can’t do that again, and I wouldn’t do that to anyone else either, so I want you to know that right now I want you to be my boyfriend, not Finn, not anyone else. But I need to know that you feel that way about me too. Otherwise it’s not going to work. I just need that to be clear.” She told him, looking down before finally looking up at him and biting her lip.
He smiled at her and leaned down so that his forehead could rest against hers.
“I can honestly say that I only want you right now. I don’t like Quinn that way, or anyone else. We can make this work Rachel, we just have to give it a chance.” He told her then leaned back and made sure no one was looking or in hearing range.
He’d probably have to kill anyone who was. Luckily for everyone, no one was paying attention to them. He looked back at Rachel, who was smiling at him.
“You want to get out of here?” He asked, standing up and offering her his hand.
Rachel took it, nodding as she stood up. “Yeah, but where do you want to go?”
He shrugged, not quite sure. His mom wouldn’t be home yet, but he didn’t want to take her back to his place this soon.
“You decide.” He told her, hoping she would pick something fun or entertaining.
“Well we could practice.” She said, but quickly added when he groaned, “Or we could watch a movie.”
“At the theatre or your house?” He asked, though both had promise. Maybe he could cop a feel and maybe this time she would let him.
Please let me know what you think! Thanks!