I own nothing...
She couldn't let him do it, she loved him too much. He was meant for great things and she couldn't let him stay here for her. She would rather have him hate her now then resent and hate her later.
"Long distance relationships don't work Noah," The girl on the stage said to the boy in front of her, "When you go to New York you will forget all about me."
"Rachel I told you I am not going to New York," Noah said, "I am going to stay here with you. I got accepted into Ohio State too."
"New York is your dream," Rachel said, "You talk about winning Grammys and writing songs, Noah you can't do that here."
"But you're here," Noah said his green eyes almost staring into her soul, "I want to be where you are."
"I don't," Rachel lied, "I don't think I can do this anymore. It is just too much for me. Go to New York Noah, I…I…am breaking up with you." Rachel said lying through her teeth, but she hoped he wouldn't notice.
"You don't mean that," Noah said the hurt on his face almost killing her.
"Yes I do," Rachel said and then braced herself for the biggest lie of all, "I don't love you Noah, who even knows what that word means? I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore." He looked at her in disbelief before putting the mask that she hated on.
"Fine," Noah said, "Whatever Rachel." He walked away leaving her standing there. Rachel began to sob and put her hands on her knees in an attempt to calm herself. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut trying to stop the tears from falling. After a minute she looked up at the stage lights. Noah and herself had spent many hours here. Wither it be performing with their Glee Club or practicing where she pretended she was on Broadway and Noah pretended he was performing at the Grammys after winning album of the year. Then Rachel busted her knee and her dreams were over. She couldn't dance anymore, not like she did before, and her father couldn't afford surgery. Mr. Puckerman offered to pay for it, but Rachel had too much pride for that. Pride was all she had.
After Rachel's Mom left she took on mothering her little brother while their Dad worked as a mechanic and did some construction trying to make sure there was always food on the table. Once Rachel turned 16 she began to work at the Lima Bean trying to help out too. Noah's Dad was a doctor and his mother was a lawyer. Noah Puckerman was an only child and was the pride and joy of his parents. Everyone called him "Puck" because of his last name, but Rachel always refused. Noah was also on the football team though his grades weren't that great because he took nap in the nurses office rather than attending math class. Noah was sarcastic, charming, and an ass, but Rachel had loved him forever. Since he was such a golden boy Rachel still didn't understand why he picked her. For two years Rachel had watched him go through girl after girl, she knew he hooked up with almost all the Cheerios. He had been throwing slushes in her face for years and only stopped after he joined the school's Glee Club.
"It's grape, I know that's your favorite because the last time I threw a grape one in your face you licked your lips before cleaning yourself off." He had said to her. Rachel just stared at him wondering when someone was going to yell "You've been punked" before she got thrown into a dumpster. Rachel found out later it was just because she was Jewish and Puck's Mom had been on him for not dating a Jewish girl, but his Mom wasn't really going to hold him to that. They had been together ever since. She watched girls flirt with him, and he might have flirted back a bit Puck just couldn't help it, but it never went farther. Puck had beautiful Cheerios standing in front of him throwing themselves at him but when he saw her Puck just moved them aside and put his arm around her. She was good, he was bad, he was rich, she was poor, but somehow they fit. And as much as Rachel wanted him to stay she couldn't let him. Noah would be winning awards and Rachel would still be working at the Lima Bean. Rachel took a deep breath and did the only thing she could think of, she began to sing.
If I should stay,
I would only be in your way.
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you every step of the way.
Not a day would go by and not think of him, Rachel knew it would be worth it. Noah deserved to have everything he ever wanted.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
You, my darling you. Hmm.
Bittersweet memories
that is all I'm taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don't cry.
We both know I'm not what you, you need.
She felt the tears falling again, a part of her had always thought Noah was too good for her.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
Rachel was too caught up in her song to notice that she had acquired an audience.
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.
Rachel did want him to fall in love again, but no one could ever love Noah like she does.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.
You, darling, I love you.
Ooh, I'll always, I'll always love you.
Rachel heard clapping and she looked over to see the worst cheerleader of them all Santana Lopez coming towards her. Rachel wiped her eyes quickly.
"What did you hear?" Rachel asked.
"Everything," Santana replied, "I heard everything."
"I couldn't let him stay for me," Rachel said wondering why she was even talking to her, "Noah is meant to go places and be someone, not stay in this crappy town." Rachel began to cry again.
"That was a pretty selfless thing you did Berry," Santana said coming even closer so she was standing next to her.
"I told him I didn't love him," Rachel said her voice cracking, "But that is the thing, I love him so much. That is why I did it. God I don't even know why I am telling you this."
"Because you needed someone to know the truth," Santana said, "Tomorrow you will be back on the bottom, and Puck will tell everyone he broke up with you."
"I know," Rachel said with a humorless laugh, "I am just the Lima Loser; no boy would ever want me."
"Come on," Santana said taking Rachel's pinkie, "You are staying at my house tonight."
"Why are you being nice to me?" Rachel asked.
"Because at this moment you need a friend," Santana told her, "Even I am not that heartless to leave you here alone." Rachel nodded and Santana put her arm around the shorter girl and led her out of the auditorium.
"No one else knew why you had landed one of the top three either if that helps," Santana said later that night as she painted her nails.
"Thanks," Rachel said rolling her eyes as she painted her own nails, "You have dated all of them right?"
"Well officially I was only with Puck, and that was for about a week, and then he became all one girl guy for you. With Sam and Finn we just fooled around. Puck was the best at sex though."
"He was good," Rachel agreed as memories of them together flowed through her, "But he was more than just sex. Not many people knew this but Puck could be really sweet when he wanted to be. I am going to miss him."
"I can make sure no Cheerios date him if you want," Santana said, "They are all scared shitless of me."
"Quinn and Brittney aren't," Rachel pointed out.
"Brittney is with that Artie kid and Quinn has her nails deep into Sam," Santana told her, "They aren't going to let them go. I will just make sure they know that Puck is off limits, tell them to go for Finn."
"Noah won't like that," Rachel said giggling. Finn had taken over as the player of McKinley when Puck started to date Rachel.
"Well I don't want you suffering while he goes back to his old ways," Santana said.
"I want him to be happy," Rachel said, "If sleeping around gets him through it then let him."
"Do you ever think of yourself?" Santana asked.
"Not since my Mom left," Rachel replied, "I had to take care of Ben and my Dad. Noah did spoil me though. He said that someone had too. A lot of people said I was with him for his money, but I wasn't I promise." That was one of the many rumors going around and it was one of the ones that hurt Rachel the most.
"I know you weren't," Santana said, "If I have learned anything about you today it is that you love Puckerman."
"I will always love him," Rachel said.
Did you like it? 7 reviews and I will go on...
This came to me after hearing I Will Always Love You by Whitney Huston
I wanted to change things up at bit having Rachel be the one taking care of her brother and Dad while Puck was the star.