flirt - noah puckerman

Chapter 18

chapter eighteen - new in town

Erin's POV

I pull my car into my usual spot in the McKinley High parking lot before quickly getting out and hopping into the passenger seat of Finn's.  I furrow my eyebrows at him as he gives me a disappointed look. 

"Have you seen Jacob Ben Israel's blog?" He groans. "He's already got an entire story out on the Glee Club."

"What?" I frown, as he passes me his phone. "It's the first day of school," I sigh, looking down at the small screen showing an article entitled, 'Glee's Big Gay Summer'.

I quickly scan the blog post, seeing a few paragraphs about Finn and Rachel's new relationship, Quinn's post-baby life, Tina and Mike's new relationship-

"I can't catch a break," Finn scoffs. 

"He didn't even say anything mean about you," I laugh. 

"He said he was surprised that Rachel didn't spend her summer back in her homeland-- The Shire," Finn scoffs, as I muffle down a laugh, making him glare at me. 

"Again, he didn't say anything mean about you," I let out a small laugh. 

"Keep reading," Finn frowns.  I look back down at the phone, reading another few sentences about Santana's new boob job, a link to a petition to get Mr. Schue to stop break dancing at assemblies-- which I need to remember to go back and sign later, and... 

I look up at Finn nervously to see him already frowning at me. 

"You know it's all just rumors, Finn," I roll my eyes, attempting to push away the heat running to my cheeks.  

"I didn't want to have to hear that you were hooking up with Puck all summer from Jacob Ben Israel," he groans. 

"Read the next lines, Finn," I shrug, pointing at the next paragraph. "'Apparently, Noah Puckerman is suffering from a crippling depression due to his unrequited feelings for Erin Gardner.'" My face twitches into a small frown, reading the words aloud.  I quickly push away the strange feeling in my stomach and return my attention to reassuring Finn of my innocence.  

"I can't believe you didn't tell me," Finn sighs, as I hand his phone back to him.  

"I just... assumed you would've seen his car outside of my house," I try to say as convincingly as possible, but it ends up coming out as more of a question.  

"I thought we told each other everything," he groans. 

"I didn't want you to kill him, Finn," I sigh in defeat. 

"I wouldn't have killed him," he scoffs, dramatically-- a terrible liar, as always. 

"Look, it wasn't anything serious," I sigh. "And at least we used protection," I frown at him, making him roll his eyes.

"It was one time," he defends. 

"You have nothing to worry about," I swallow. "I ended things with him a few weeks ago.  I didn't want to start the school year with any Puck drama," I shrug.  Finn purses his lips and gives me a small nod before letting out a small sigh.