A/N: Yup…totally addicted to writing this story….. Thanks for all the reviews! I have company coming and have a bunch of work-related work that I brought home so writing Chapter 4 will be very delayed. Urgh…I hate things that distract from writing!


RACHEL'S SOPHOMORE YEAR


The drive back to the University of Cincinnati campus for the start of the new school was painful for Rachel. On several occasions, she nearly turned around and went back. Daddy is dying. Those three words kept repeating in her head like a flashing sign. She wished Noah had been able to ride with her because they could have talked about something, anything, to keep her mind off her heartbreak. But as it was, they had to drive separately because they would both need their vehicles on campus. The ride was long and miserable, to say the least. Every CD Rachel had seemed to be full of songs about love and loss, which only served to jab her in the heart like a dagger. Her body went lax with relief when she finally pulled onto campus and found a spot in the same lot as she had the previous year. Because Puck drove like a maniac and thought traffic laws were for suckers and old people, he had arrived at campus a full twenty minutes before her and was waiting, rather impatiently, for her to arrive. He only had a small duffel bag because his room assignment hadn't changed so he was able to leave everything on campus. In a repeat from the previous year, Puck helped Rachel drag her luggage (minus the ugly pink lamp) seven blocks to her dorm. Because she was in a single room this year, her dorm building was now next to Puck's instead of across the street.

"So, do you get to room with the incomparable Jeff this year?" Rachel asked as they walked.

Puck laughed. "Hell, no. Dude dropped out and went back to Bumfuck, Idaho, or wherever the hell he was from. I don't care as long as his dorky ass is gone. I actually don't know who my roommate is yet. They didn't bother to tell me this year. I really don't care as long as he stays out of my fucking way."

"I'm glad Jeff is gone. Jeff was really creepy, Noah. He…he always looked at me like I was covered in icing that he wanted to personally lick off."

Puck scowled at her. "You should have told me, Berry. I woulda thumped his ass for you."

"I know that, Noah." She smiled up at him. "That's precisely why I didn't tell you. You know I abhor violence of any kind."

Puck just muttered "whatever" because he didn't want to get another Berry lecture on how words are more powerful than weapons (because he knew that shit wasn't true anyway and she was just being a chick.)

They walked into her new building and lugged her suitcases up to the second floor. She let herself into room 202, which was right by the stairs, and Puck dropped her suitcases. "Berry, next year, you're not moving rooms because I'm not carrying your stupid luggage for again."

"I know, Noah. Since I have no roommate for you to have sex with, I shouldn't have to have a new roommate this year."

Puck's jaw dropped. "You're blaming me for Psycho Abby?"

"Partly, yes. After you slept with her and then dumped her like yesterday's garbage, she spent the entire rest of the year shooting me glares, like I caused you to be…you!"

Puck nodded his head. "Yeah, so I probably shouldn't have slept with her. I admit that wasn't cool. This year, any of your friends are off limits, I swear."

Rachel laughed. "Well considering my closest friend is, unfortunately, you, that means the rest of the UofC population is still fair game."

Puck cocked his finger and pointed it at her. "Fuck yeah they are!"

"Noah, you're a junior now. You've really got to focus this year so that you stay on track."

Puck shot her a glare. "Yeah, coming from the one who didn't take summer classes. Don't lecture me, Berry. I got this."

"Fine, fine. I know you're much more studious than you used to be."

Looking around Rachel's room, Puck cleared his throat. "I guess I'm gonna go and see what freak show I'm rooming with this year…Student center at 6pm for dinner?"

Rachel nodded. "See you then!"

After Puck had let himself out, Rachel began the dreaded task of unpacking. Her new room was small but she had a large workspace and most importantly, it was roommate-free. Yes, her tuition went up but that was a small price to pay to be devoid of the drama she experienced the entire year with Abby. By 5:50, her room was nearly put-together. Stomach growling, she headed off to the Student Center for her first of many dinners that year with Puck.


"Oh my god, Rachel. I thought Jeff was bad…." Puck growled as he ate dinner one evening a month after classes had resumed. "But this guy, Greg? Seriously…he's got to be a registered pedophile or some shit."

"What's wrong with him, Noah? I met him…he didn't seem too bad. He isn't nearly as creepy as Jeff was."

"He…he watches me a lot…Like, I'll wake up and he'll be staring at me. Like…well," Noah thought for a moment. "Like the way Kurt used to look at Finn…"

Rachel smiled, placing her hand on Puck's arm. "Did you ever think that maybe he has a crush on you?"

Puck groaned. "Do not say that…"

"I'm just telling you…it's a good possibility. You are handsome…it only makes sense that you would be as equally attractive to gay men as you are to straight women. "

"Rachel…stop talking. I will have to permanently move into your room if my own roommate is...oh shit that's disgusting…jackin' off to me while I sleep." Puck shuddered.

Having been raised by two gay dads, Rachel launched into a sermon about how gay men were able to control themselves and their urges for heterosexual males and that he needn't worry. Puck zoned her out. His roommate wanted to fuck him. Yuck.

Two days later, Puck showed up at Rachel's door before bedtime.

"He totally wants me," Puck muttered, shoving past her and stepping inside.

"How do you know?" Rachel giggled.

"He told me I have 'an impeccable physique' and then he winked at me." Swiveling around, he met Rachel's eyes. "Do you hear me? He fucking winked at me!"

Rachel laughed a deep, throaty laugh and turned toward her bed. Motioning toward it, she said, "I take it you're staying here tonight?"

"Of course! I mean…I gotta stay there some but…shit…I hope he gets a boyfriend and leaves me alone."

As Rachel climbed into the bed next to him, she grunted at him to scoot over. Flipping off the light, she muttered, "So do I!"


Two and a half months after school started, Rachel's father, Walter Berry, succumbed to the cancer that had been ravaging his body for more than two years. Rachel was in class when her cell phone buzzed. Looking down, she saw her other father's cell phone number and her gut instantly twisted. He never called her during the day. Collecting her things, she rushed from the room and called him right back.

When he answered, she could hear the grief in his voice and her knees buckled before he even spoke.

"He's gone, Rachel," he sobbed into the phone.

Rachel's head started to spin. "When, Dad?"

"About twenty minutes ago. The nurse was here because we could tell that he wasn't going to be able to hold on much longer." He stopped speaking, sobs echoing into the phone that tore through Rachel's heart.

"I'll be home in three hours," Rachel managed to grit out before her own tears won out.

Hanging up, she left the building at full speed and ran back to her room. Throwing a few things in her bag, she left the dorm and sprinted across the grass and into Puck's building. He didn't have classes at this time on Tuesdays (and his roommate was always out then) so she knew he'd be in. She pounded on the door and he yanked it open.

He saw the tears on her cheeks and the trembling of her hands and wordlessly, pulled her to him. His arms tightly around her, she cried into his chest for what felt like ages.

"I…I have to go, Noah," she whispered against his chest. She started to pull away but he stopped her.

"Wait, Rachel…I'm coming with you."

Her mouth dropped open and she began to protest. "But Noah, you have class."

He cocked his head as if to say "really?" and offered, "Rachel, you're in no condition to drive to Lima like this. Besides, I wouldn't be able to concentrate knowing you're dealing with this back at home. So I'm coming with you. You can't stop me." He stepped away from her, grabbed his keys, wallet, and cell phone, and turned toward her.

"Let's go."

She nodded, closing her eyes against the new tears that were beginning to fall.

As they rushed toward his truck, he took her hand in his and held it comfortingly. His warm palm in hers, for whatever reason, felt like a balm over hear heart and ratcheted the pain coursing through her veins from "excruciating" to "unbearable."

The drive to Lima was the longest of Rachel's life. She watched every mile marker tick by and even at Puck's break-neck speed, still felt like they would never arrive. Rachel rarely spoke, instead just stared out the window. If he hadn't known she was in so much grief, her lack of jaw-flapping would have completely unnerved Puck. As it as, he just kept his mouth shut, wanting to support her when she needed but also wanting to avoid the tears again at all costs. Crying chicks made his skin itch.

When they arrived in Lima, Rachel turned to Puck and said, "Thank you, Noah. Thank you for doing this."

He slid across the seat of his truck and pulled her into a hug. "Call me with the details, Rach. I'll be there."

She nodded into his shoulder. Pulling back, she kissed his cheek and let herself out of the truck. He watched her disappear inside her house before backing out of his driveway and heading to his own home.

Inside the house, Rachel ran into the arms of her surviving father, Fred. They sobbed together, unspeakable grief between them, until Rachel's head throbbed from the pain. Her father led her to the couch and took her hands between his.

"Your daddy," he began, before shutting his eyes and squeezing them tightly, "told me to tell you…before he…before…" Starting again, he said, "Your daddy wanted me to tell you that he was proud of you and…" He swallowed his sob, forcing the words out, "…and for you to never settle in life. Always go after what you want and never back down because Berrys…Berrys don't back down."

Rachel nodded, memorizing the words and tucking her father's last message into the tender part of her heart, where she would access it and use it whenever she missed him, which would be all the time.

Rachel and her father didn't speak for a very long time. He held her tightly, her head against his shoulder as they both sat on the couch, thinking about the massive void in both of their hearts that would never again be filled.

Finally, Rachel felt like speaking. "Did…did you guys already make plans?"

Fred nodded. "We knew this was coming. Arrangements are already made, as far as everything but picking the date and time of the…funeral. But I'm thinking it will be Thursday with visitation tomorrow night."

Rachel nodded glumly. She wanted to go upstairs, crawl into her bed, and sleep. Sleeping meant the pain would dissolve temporarily.

Kissing her father on the cheek, she climbed the stairs to her room. Walking inside, she sat down on the bed and let the tears overtake her again. Reaching for her phone, she typed out a message and hit "send".

Visitation tomorrow. Funeral Thursday. Will call you tomorrow. Thank you.

Lying across the couch in his house, Puck read the message. He wanted to hop in his truck and go back over there just to make sure she was okay. But he knew that if she needed him, she would ask. So he typed back:

Okay. Will be there. Call me tomorrow.

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed again. As he read the message, he pushed himself off the couch. Now she needs me.

Rachel's dad let Puck in the house and motioned toward the stairs. He stopped, sheepishly offered his condolences, and then climbed up to Rachel's room. Opening the door, he found her under the blankets with a stuffed rabbit in her arms, staring at him.

"This is Mr. Hoppy. Don't make fun of him…Daddy gave him to me," she said defensively as soon as walked in.

"Berry, I'm not going to make fun of you or your stuffed rabbit." Puck kicked off his shoes, crawled up onto Rachel's bed, and snuggled up behind her. Dropping his arm around her, he pulled him to her his chest against her back.

"I'm sorry to ask you to come back over but…." She whispered over her shoulder.

Puck leaned over her, turning her face to his, and dropped a chaste kiss against her lips. "You needed a friend. That's why I'm here, Rachel. You know that."

Rachel nodded into her pillow. With his warmth against her back and his arm around her, she finally drifted into a dreamless sleep.


Rachel woke up the next morning very early. She stretched and flipped over to look at him. Shaking him, she whispered, "Noah." He grumbled and opened one eye briefly to look at her before closing it again.

She tried again. "Noah, wake up."

Puck groaned, grabbing Mr. Hoppy from his spot on the bed and tucking him into his arms. "Leave me alone. Can't you see that Mr. Hoppy and I are trying to cuddle?"

For the first time since she got the horrible news, Rachel actually smiled. In fact, as she watched Puck cuddle with Mr. Hoppy like he was a cute puppy, Rachel emitted a small giggle. Convinced his work was done, Puck threw Mr. Hoppy aside and pushed himself into a sitting position. Running his hands through his mussed hair, he said, "I'm gonna head back to my house. Let me know when the viewing is and I'll be by your side."

Rachel turned to hug him. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Noah."

He kissed the top of her head. "Lucky for you, you don't have to find out." Standing up, he slipped on his shoes. With a "Later, babe. Call me if you need me," he slipped out her door and down the stairs.

Rachel forced herself into the shower and then got dressed. Downstairs, she found her father at the table, silently sipping coffee and staring into space. With their shared grief, neither one had to speak. They sat quietly, both thinking about the one who was now forever gone. Over an hour later, they were still there. Finally, Fred stood up, muttered something about having to go finalize arrangements, and left Rachel alone with her thoughts.

Feeling lost, Rachel wandered around her own home like she hadn't ever been there. Scattered throughout the house were belonging's of her father's. Daddy's reading glasses sat on the small reading table by his recliner. His black sweater, which he wore constantly in the fall, hung on a peg by the back door. Inside the kitchen cabinet was the mug Rachel got him for father's day that read "World's OTHER Greatest Dad." Dropping her head into her palms, Rachel sobbed as she stared at the mug, her pain echoing through the kitchen. Will this ever get easier? At that moment, she didn't see how.

Hours of sadness and depression later, Rachel was in a conservative black dress and black heels and was riding with her father to the funeral home. Because they already had arrangements done, and because there was no need for an autopsy given the circumstances, the viewing and burial were happening soon after the death. But Walter had made it clear that he had wanted "to be planted quickly so that the living could resume being alive."

When Rachel arrived at the funeral home, she was shocked to see Puck, dressed in a suit, standing by the door already. Walking up to him, he put an arm around her shoulder.

"How are you?"

She sighed, her throat and eyes sore from crying. "As well as can be expected, I guess. But I'm dreading this part…when people I don't know want to hug me and give me their condolences."

"I know it's hard, babe. But you'll get through it. Remember, Berry's are very resilient."

She smiled up at him as he used her own words to reassure her. Stepping up on her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek. He wrapped her in a bear hug and held her tightly, knowing she seemed to find strength and comfort in his embrace. And dammit, words usually failed him anyway. But he could always hug and hold her. That's what friends were for.

Walking inside the funeral home, Rachel let out a small sigh of relief when she realized the casket was closed. While she thought about wanting to see her Daddy one more time, she had decided that she would rather remember him like he looked before his body had been ravaged by cancer. Not long after she took her customary place by the casket (with Puck standing slightly behind her and to the left, his hand on the small of her back nearly the entire evening), she graciously smiled and hugged all those who came through to offer her and her father their condolences. The love that many people had for her father, who was a very kind, caring man, helped ease some of her pain. There were a lot of people who would never forget Walter Berry.

Two hours after it started, the viewing was over. Fred stayed behind, unwilling to leave Walter's body. Rachel tried to stay with him but he told her he wanted time alone so sadly, Rachel rode home with Puck. When they parked at her house, he grabbed his duffel bag and followed her in.

"I'm staying tonight, too, Rachel."

Her eyes were tired. "Good. I couldn't be alone here."

"I know…" Puck went into the bathroom to change out of his suit and Rachel changed into her pajamas. Together, they climbed into her bed and she settled in for a night in his arms. His hand playing with her hair, they both fell asleep.


The funeral was one of the hardest things that Rachel ever had to endure. Her father got up to speak and Rachel's heart broke all over again as she watched him break down at the microphone. Standing up, she joined him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He pulled her into a hug and they sobbed together, their cries amplified by the microphone. Puck's chest felt so tight at that moment that he thought he'd be sick. Rachel's grief was going to eat her alive if she didn't let some of it go. Steeling himself so that he didn't break down, he focused on Rachel, willing her to draw strength from his gaze.

Friends of Walter's got up to speak of him and his character. His sister spoke of their childhood. Rachel heard none of it. She simply sat in her chair, her fingers interlocked with Puck's, and repeated over and over in her head, Daddy is dead. Daddy is gone. At that moment, she felt like her life would never, ever be the same again.

There was no burial. Walter had requested that his remains be cremated so only a day after the funeral, Rachel and Puck went back to Cincinnati.


Once the two of them were back at school, Puck hoped Rachel would start behaving like her old self again. But instead, she moped, couldn't concentrate, and always seemed a million miles away. Nearly a month after Walter's passing, Rachel was still caught up in her grief. Finally, Puck couldn't handle it anymore so he made it his secret mission to get Rachel to smile again.

One of his workout buddies had approached Puck several times about "that hot little piece of ass you hang out with but apparently aren't tapping" so Puck finally decided that he would give the guy his okay to ask Rachel out. But before he did, the guy, Josh, had to agree that he would treat Rachel with respect and not try to sleep with her.

Josh threw his hands up in defense when Puck backed him against a wall. "Rachel is just getting over the death of her father. She needs to smile again, which is why I'm finally giving you my blessing. But if you hurt her or try to put the moves on her, I will end your ass, got it?"

Josh nodded, slightly stunned. "What's with you, dude? If she means that much, be with her yourself."

Puck relaxed a bit. "It's not like that. I've known her since we were 12 years old and she's….she's kinda my best friend. I just want to watch out for her."

"Okay, dude. I understand. And I promise I'll treat her well."

That night at dinner, Puck slid his tray across the table next to Rachel and sat down.

"You have a date on Friday," he informed her.

She looked up, mid-bite, and stared at him.

"No…I don't," she corrected him.

"Yup, you do. His name is Josh. We work out together. He thinks you're hot and he's been bugging me for months now to hook you two up. Usually I tell him to fuck off but…Shit, Rachel, you need to start living again."

"So you made a date for me?"

Puck bit into his hamburger, smirking while he chewed. "Sure did…somebody had to give you a little push because you're sure not making any damn effort to get out there."

Rachel just shook her head. "I swear, sometimes I don't know what to do with you, Noah."

Puck ignored her adoring comment and continued. "I gave him a little "pep talk" so if he tries any shit with you, I wanna know about it."

Rachel stared at him, a coy smile playing across her lips. "But what if I end up really liking him and I want him to try something?"

Puck paled for a moment, then snickered at her in dismissal. "Whatever, Berry. You don't fuck on the first date…."

"How do you know? We've never been on a date."

She had him there…but dammit, that's not the kind of girl Rachel was!

"Anyway…I'm going to kick his ass so he won't try anything."

Rachel just smiled. Puck was right, she didn't ever have sex on the first date…then again, she hadn't had a date in so long, she couldn't really say what she would or would not do.


Friday night came and Josh showed up at Rachel's door promptly at Puck's dictated time of 7pm. Opening the door, Rachel recognized him from a previous introduction and was more than pleased. Josh was tall, blond, muscular, and hot.

Josh walked in and handed Rachel a small bouquet of pink roses. She blushed and thanked him.

"I'm really surprised that you agreed to this, Rachel," Josh said. His voice was relaxed and casual.

Rachel grinned, blushing again slightly. "Noah made it sound like I didn't have a choice and in all honesty, I really could use a nice night out. Things have been…difficult lately."

Josh shoved his hands in his pocket. "Puck told me about your dad. I'm sorry."

Rachel's eyes misted as they did every time she thought about or spoke of her father. Pushing it away because she refused to cry in front of a virtual stranger, she smiled and said, "Shall we go?"

Josh ended up taking Rachel to dinner at a Mexican restaurant downtown. They laughed over dinner and margaritas and Rachel learned a lot about him. He was from a small town in southern Indiana, was a junior like Puck, and was studying education because he wanted to be a math teacher. He loved animals and enjoyed music. In short – he was perfect.

After dinner, Rachel and Josh took a walk through the public park that bordered the Ohio River. Taking a seat on the bench, despite the chill in the air, they watched the lights of downtown Cincinnati cause the waves of the river to sparkle like diamonds in the night. As they walked back to their car and Josh took Rachel's hand in his, she admitted she was smitten. When he kissed her at her door and promised he'd call her tomorrow, she was very smitten. Before bed that night, she sent Puck a text.

Thanks for the set-up. He is amazing. Really like him.

Puck smiled at his phone, relieved that Rachel had enjoyed herself. He responded.

Welcome babe.


By the time the students returned to campus in early January from the Christmas holiday break, Rachel and Josh had been dating for nearly a month. His schedule prohibited him from seeing her a lot during the week but they spent a lot of their time on weekends together. One such Sunday evening found Josh in Rachel's room, running kisses across her neck as she tried to study.

"Josh," she admonished, "You're distracting me!"

He put his hands on her hips and turned her to face him. "That's the point, Rachel," he whispered before brushing her lips with his and then kissing her intensely. Rachel felt heat shoot straight to her belly. As he deepened the kiss, Rachel gave in.

What the hell? She thought, leaning into his embrace.

The next morning, Rachel met Puck outside his dorm for their morning walk to class. As soon as he saw her, he took in the flushed cheeks, the goofy grin, and the relaxed way she carried herself.

"Shit, Berry! You got laid!" Puck's smile was devious.

Rachel balked, borderline horrified that he was so perceptive. "How can you tell?"

He rolled his eyes. "Seriously? I've caused that look a couple of hundred times myself. I know the 'I just got banged' look anywhere."

Rachel shushed him. "Lower your voice, Noah!"

Puck threw his arm across her shoulder and steered her toward the sidewalk so they could being their walk.

"So how was it?" Puck asked, his voice low and directed toward her ear.

"Honestly?" She asked him.

"Of course," Puck offered.

"It was badly needed. I mean…I didn't have much to compare it to…only Mike…but still, from what I could tell, it was pretty good!"

Puck stopped and turned toward Rachel. Raising his hand, he said, "I'm so proud of you! I think this calls for a high five!" Rachel slapped her hand against his, laughing. Leave it to Noah to be proud of her for having sex.


On Valentine's Day, while Rachel was getting ready for her date with Josh, she heard Puck's familiar knock on her dorm room door. When she opened it, he practically fell inside.

"I've got a fucking problem, Berry," he growled.

She glared at his back as he walked in and flung himself down on her bed, burying his face in her pillow.

"I have to leave for my date in an hour, Noah." Realizing she sounded annoyed, she changed her tone. "What's wrong?"

He lifted his head and muttered, "Chick I banged last month snagged me in the hall 20 minutes ago and told me she thinks she's pregnant."

Rachel's hand flew to her mouth. "Noah! Did you use a condom?"

"Yeah, I did…but that shit doesn't always work, you know." Puck flopped over on his back. "Berry, I'm telling you know. If she's pregnant, I'm throwing myself off the I-71 bridge straight into the Ohio River. My body won't turn up til near Louisville somewhere but at least I'll stop "accidentally" causing babies."

"Noah, is she going to take a pregnancy test?"

Puck shot Rachel a look like she had asked an insane question. "Of course. I gave her some money and told her to get her ass to the store right now. She's going to pee on the stick and text me with the results."

"And if she's pregnant?" Rachel asked, her voice quiet as she thought about the implications for him.

"I already told you…Flying Puckerman off the bridge."

"And if she's not? Will this make you keep it in your pants, Noah? You can't keep doing this."

Puck glowered. "I don't need a lecture, Rachel. I realize I'm a bit…free…with the Puck-love. But dammit, since I was like 14, girls have had this power over me."

"Noah, just because girls have power over you doesn't mean you have to act on every impulse."

Puck groaned. " Yes, Mommy…Berry, can you spare me the lecture right now? Please?"

"Fine," she huffed. Turning away from him, she stormed over to her dresser and began rummaging through her jewelry box to find the necklace and earrings she wanted to wear.

"Hey Berry," Puck called from behind her.

She lifted her head and met his eyes in the mirror. "Your ass looks amazing in that dress."

Turning, she stamped her foot. "This is what I'm talking about, Noah! Get control of yourself!" Turning to look back in the mirror, Rachel pushed her butt out a little bit.

"My ass does look pretty good, doesn't it?"

Puck rolled his eyes and shoved a pillow over his face, muffling curse words into the foam.

35 minutes later after Puck's arrival, his phone beeped with a text message. Reading it quickly, he visibly relaxed and said, "Thank fuck. Negative."

"See…now you did all that suicide planning for nothing!" Rachel patted him on the shoulder. Puck grabbed her around the waist and put his head against her stomach.

"Thanks, Berry. Glad I had you to come to, even if you did make me feel like shit."

Rachel kissed the top of his head and disengaged from his arms. Standing up, Puck leaned over and said, "Happy Valentine's Day, Rachel."

"You too, Noah."

Then he was gone, off to find some sad single girl who needed to feel a little better about herself that night.


"Seriously, Josh…you're breaking up with me because of that?"

Rachel and Josh were standing in a corner of the student center. It was late April and their relationship had been going strong for five months…until today.

Josh looked at the floor. "I'm sorry, Rach…I just can't get comfortable with the whole "Puckerman friendship" thing. I mean, fuck, he spends the night in your room like at least once a week! How am I supposed to be okay with that?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Josh, I haven't been "romantic" with Noah since I was sixteen years old. You know we're friends. Why does this bother you now?"

Josh blew out a breath. "You wanna know the truth? I saw you two walking the other day and you were fucking holding hands. You don't hold hands with another guy!"

"I do if he's my best friend, which is exactly what Noah is. Josh, I don't expect you to understand our relationship but you have to realize that Noah has been there for me when I had no one else. He is very special and he's not going anywhere." Rachel's voice climbed higher as she spoke, the ridiculousness of the entire situation wearing on her nerves. A romantic relationship with Noah? Honestly? And a clandestine one at that?

Josh shrugged. "I'm sorry, Rachel. I just can't do it…That dude is too…popular with the girls for me to believe it's completely innocent."

"Fine, Josh. That's just fine." Rachel spun on her heel and began to march away. Stopping, she glanced back at him. "Have a nice life, Josh."

An hour later, she was standing in Puck's dorm room, ranting.

"So he dumped you because of me? Seriously?" Puck asked incredulously.

Rachel shrieked. "I know! It's absolutely asinine!"

Puck thought for a moment. "Well, Berry…he does have a point. We are together a lot. I do stay over at your room a lot. I guess it could make a guy uncomfortable. I mean…I am a stud."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "I have to go study for an exam. I just wanted to let you know that our supposed "secret" affair was the reason I got dumped." She met Puck's eyes and said honestly, "Besides, the sex was getting boring anyway. Missionary all the time?"

Puck laughed and walked with Rachel to the door. As he opened it, he said, "If it's any consolation, I hope your next boyfriend is into doggie style."

Her face red, she muttered, "Goodbye, Noah" and left him chuckling to himself.


At the end of May, another successful school year drew to a close. It was the hardest year of Rachel's life due to the loss of her father but with Puck's help, she had made it through. In a reversal of roles, Puck went home to Lima for the summer and Rachel stayed on campus to participate in a theater workshop.

They got together at the end of the summer in Lima to plan out their final year of college together. Puck was going to be a senior and although Rachel was excited for him and very proud of his studiousness, she knew she'd miss him on campus once he was gone. She intended to relish this next year.


Next up: Rachel's junior/Puck's senior year