Authors Note;

Hey everyone, I'm a new writer on here and so I'm going to tryout this story I've been working on lately. So I hope you enjoy the story. But just so you know the story takes place after the episode saddened 'Special Education'.

Chapter Synopsis: Rachel begins dealing with the aftermath of her break up with Finn. Feeling lonesome and isolated from everyone else, she makes a new friend in Noah.

Disclaimer- I do not own Glee or any of the characters and settings.

Rachel sat on the edge of the auditorium, hugging her knees close to her chest. Tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she recalled the haunting words that she had experienced of earlier in the day. "I never thought you'd make me feel this way" he had said with a solemn look on his face, and walked away from her and their love.

Rachel wandered around the school, tears spilling from her eyes. She let her feet take her to where she was guided to go. She had ended up in the auditorium, where they shared their first kiss, their first laugh, and their first date together. It hurt the most to think that the auditorium was where her love for Finn first began, but just started crumbling down right before her.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes as the auditorium door slowly opened, but she then sighed realizing it was just Puck. "Why are you crying" he asked with genuine concern, a side of Puck not often shown. "Finn and I broke up, I told him of what happened between us" she replied with a shrug.

"Oh, how are you holding up" he questioned with a soft smile on his face. "Horrible, I can't believe I betrayed him" she replied with tears spilling. They sat in a comfortable silence, "look, what we did was wrong, but please don't let it define your life" Puck said as he finally spoke up. Rachel looked up and shot him a questioning look.

"Look Rachel, I know we don't talk but I care about you. I've known you for a long time to know now that you never let anything define you" he began with a small smile. "We made a mistake and we both realize that now, but one mistake doesn't compare to the amazing person you are" he said finishing.

Rachel smiled, "I don't know Noah, I mean I don't know what to think of myself now" she said finding a new interest on the ground of the auditorium. "Look even though no one admits it, you are what keeps glee club together. You push us because you know how strong we are as a group, rather than alone pretending to be strong" he added.

"Thanks Noah, what you said really means a lot to me at a time that like this. I am really beginning to like this new side of you" she said as she let out a small smile directly facing him for the first time that he had arrived, right after her.

He looked at her with a confused look on his face, "Um thanks but what do you mean, this side of myself" he asked. "I think you're hiding your true self with a mask, a mask that you don't want to reveal because you're afraid of what people will think of this soft side" she replied. Puck sat in silence, contemplating what Rachel had just expressed to him.

"I guess you're right, people think I'm so confident. But really that's the mask I hide behind. So Rachel, whats your mask" he said and asked with a teasing smile. "Wanting to fit in with everyone, so I don't feel so alone in this world" Rachel replied honestly. "Well then take off you're mask and show you're true self" he said with a small grin. "Okay, I promise, only if you do to" she added.

Puck nodded before yearning for her hand. "Friends" Rachel asked bringing up her hand, Puck accepted her hand with a genuine smile, "God this is so cheesy" he replied. He stood up and broke the silence that just fell upon themselves "C'mon, lets go" he said.

Rachel looked up at him, trusting him to guide her. They walked in a comfortable silence and she found them standing in front of the choir room. Puck tugged on her hand as she stood there, her feet not allowing her to move. She motioned for him to go inside as she had to take care of something first.

She stood in front of her locker looking inside was her crazy cat calender, some photos of her and Finn, and lastly written out of magazine cut outs was what said 'Finn 4 Ever'. She took a deep breath before pulling of the calender and the photos. She stopped before the magazine cut outs and carefully pulled them off because even though their forever wasn't right now, she hoped it would be one day.

Rachel was about to close her locker before reaching for her neck where her 'Finn' necklace lay, she slowly brought her hands to the back of her neck and unclasped her necklace. She wasn't strong enough to continue to wear the necklace, but she hoped that she would be able to one day show her true self.

After closing her locker and letting her necklace fall inside, she again found herself in front of the choir room where all of her best memories occurred. Where she and all of the rest of the Glee club members were able to take of their masks, but where they put them back on before leaving, afraid to express their inner selves and reveal them to everyone else surrounding them.

She thought back to the promise she made to Puck, she hoped that one day she could lose her mask forever. She slowly opened the door and everyone's sudden attention was brought to her. Mr. Schuester welcomed her with a hug and a small smile, and finally introduced her to the discussion.

Rachel walked to a seat next to Puck, as everyone's eyes were brought toward the two. Some of the members gave her a small smile, but her eyes fell on his amber eyes, and let a small smile play on her lips. Maybe they would have a forever, but right now they just needed to heal and learn to love each other again.

Note: Hey everyone I just wanted to let you know that this particular story does not feature any type of a Puckleberry relationship, its a Finchel romance story, but I always loved for the two of them to gain a friendship. So I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter and please follow, favorite, and review this story.

TinaRose.L