A/N: So here it is. Part III of Pretending. I worked very hard on this and I really hope you like this. I just felt like Puckleberry needed its chance for season 2. Hopefully Ryan Murphy will wise up and make Puckleberry endgame. Because Finchel is okay but I'm just so tired of the two of them. Anyway, please leave reviews because feedback really puts a smile on my face. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own glee, at all, even though I wish I could have Mark Salling all to myself ;)
Pretending
PART III
It's not until many hours and seven empty pizza boxes later when the group finds themselves with a dilemma.
"Finn, this song you wrote is… fantastic." Mr. Schuester compliments and Finn nods appreciatively at his teacher's words. "Now all we have to do is decide who's singing it."
"Well I wrote it as a duet for me and Rachel." Finn points out and Rachel grimaces. How is she supposed to tell him she can't, that she won't? Rachel is in the middle of biting her lip when she sees Puck slam his pencil down on his notepad. She looks up, startled like everyone else.
"I think someone else should sing the duet with Rachel." Puck tells them and Rachel's mouth falls open.
"Dude." Finn scowls and Puck looks to him and shakes his head.
"Don't dude me, bro." Puck replies before turning to the New Directions and trying to convince them. "Look we tried to beat Vocal Adrenaline last year with a Finn and Rachel duet and it didn't work. I'm not saying that the two of you don't sound good together but obviously it isn't enough."
"But I wrote the song for us." Finn argues and Kurt raises his hand to draw the attention of the others and give input.
"And Rachel's our star." he concludes and Tina as well as the others nod in agreement.
"He's got a point." Santana admits and Rachel feels her heart warm at their words.
"I know that, which is why I think someone else should sing with her." Puck explains and Finn frowns. "I'm not trying to say you aren't good or anything dude but maybe the judges are looking for something else."
"But how are we supposed to decide who should sing or not?" Mercedes questions from Sam's side.
"How about we hold a vote?" Mr. Schuester offers as a solution. "Everyone will write the names of the people they think should do the duet. Fair?"
Finn nods reluctantly as Rachel and the rest of them rip off small slips of paper and write on them. Kurt whispers to Brittney, Mike, Santana, Sam, Quinn, Tina and Mercedes before placing his vote and the rest of the New Directions follow swiftly after him. Rachel folds her small sheet of paper up that reads Noah Puckerman and Mercedes Jones. Two people who deserve the chance to showcase their talent. A year ago she wouldn't be caught dead voting for someone other than herself but she just knows now that everyone deserves their chance in the spotlight.
After everyone has given their slips to Mr. Schue, they all wait anxiously as he opens them up one by one before taking a deep breath and facing them.
"The two who will be singing the duet for nationals are… Rachel and Puck." Mr. Schue smiles and Kurt and Mercedes clap and cheer with the others, while Finn looks heartbroken. "Congratulations, guys."
"What?" Finn questions sadly and Puck looks to Finn then Rachel and back again, his expression disbelieving.
"Mr. Schue this isn't what I wanted…" Puck trails off and Rachel feels her heart drop into her stomach at his words. He didn't want to sing with her, he just wanted Finn not to.
She looks at everyone around the room and her eyes fall on Lauren. And again she feels guilt worm its way into the pit of her stomach.
"It was your idea Puck. Obviously everyone thinks you can do it, otherwise they wouldn't have chosen you. So make everybody proud." Mr. Schuester says, patting Puck on the back before walking over toward the others so they can start working on the second song for their performance. Rachel sighs as she watches Finn give her a disparaging look as he slinks over to the group and Puck remains unmoving from his spot. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before telling Mr. Schue she needs some air and making her way out into the inner depths of the hotel.
She walks for a while, not really sure where she wants to go but eventually she finds herself moving toward the stairwell that leads to the roof. And before long she's standing up there, breathing in the New York City air as she stares out across the rooftops. She should have know Noah wouldn't want to have anything to do with her. What? He's nice to her a few times and she automatically thinks that they have this stellar connection? Who is she kidding? It was a struggle to get Finn's attention, how did she ever expect to catch the eye of a boy who could have pretty much any girl he wanted? She's stupid and naïve and… not to mention, Lauren. How could she justify pursuing Puck when he is obviously already attached. It's not right. She's not going to be a part of another love triangle. She just can't be.
"Rachel? You up here?"
Rachel spins around to see Puck emerging from the door she just walked through not even a few minutes ago and she wraps her arms around herself self consciously as he comes closer. They changed into their pajamas a few hours ago and she isn't really sure what he thinks of the tank top and shorts Santana loaned her because somehow her pink and purple polka dotted cotton pajama set seemed to vanish out of thin air.
"Hey." he mumbles as he stuffs his hands in his pockets and comes to a stop a few feet away from her. "Thought I'd find you up here."
She wants to say something, anything, but she isn't sure what. So instead she decides to focus on the obvious. Something easy.
"Yeah, it really is beautiful. And everything is so bright and colorful and full of light. It's like a whole other world. I just couldn't stay away." she admits as she stares past him at the city. He nods and looks with her.
"Sure is." he agrees before moving a little closer and stepping in front of her to block her view. "What's the matter? You were so happy about getting that duet and then you just walked out. What was that about?" He's quiet for a moment before he offers up a theory. "Is it about Finn? Do you think a duet with him would be better?" he asks, his face looking almost pained at the idea.
Rachel almost wants to scream at him for being so oblivious. Can't he see what he's doing to her? That she wants to sing with him? Its not about Finn. It hasn't been about Finn since they arrived in New York.
"Do you actually like singing, Noah?" Rachel asks and he nods vigorously.
"Of course I do. It's why I'm here." he replies and her eyes glaze over as she stares into his. "Well one of the reasons."
"Don't you want to sing with me?" she questions tearfully. She doesn't understand why. Why she always picks the guys who are either using her (i.e. Jesse) or the ones who just don't take an interest. Why she can never seem to get it right.
"Rach, why would you even ask that? Do I want to sing with you? Hell yes, I want to sing with you. Your voice is like nothing I've ever heard before. Just being able to listen to it is good enough for me and now I'm going to sing with you at nationals…" he shakes his head and smiles to himself. "It's incredible and so…"
"Surreal." she finishes for him and he brings a hand up and strokes her cheek.
"Exactly." he drawls, his voice heavy and husky as he leans in. Her heart races in her chest as he gets closer and she can almost taste him on her lips. She's so close to him and she can feel his breath fanning her face. She wants so badly to give in but there's still Lauren. There's always something. Quinn. Finn. Lauren.
She turns away and his lips hit her neck and she feels that heat race through her as he presses kisses up her jaw line and sucks at the skin. She starts to run her fingers through his mohawk before she gasps, pulling away and pushing her bangs out of her eyes.
"I… can't." Rachel whispers to him before running toward the stairs. She feels like she's said those words a thousand times and each time it gets harder and harder. She forces herself not to look back, taking two steps at a time until she reaches the first floor she passes with an elevator. She jumps in and sees Puck just as the elevator doors slide shut and she closes her eyes and leans back against the cool metal. It's time to focus on nationals and not boys. Not the way Noah's tongue feels against her skin or how his hair feels between her fingers. Nationals. And song writing. That's it. Nothing else.
xxxxxxx
The next two days are made up of nothing but eating, sleeping, practicing, and song writing. They finish up their second song which Puck suggested be titled Light Up the World. Rachel's been avoiding him at all hours of the day and night apart from the ones they use practicing their duet. Kurt, Mercedes, even Santana and Quinn continuously question her about what happened between them but her mouth is a steal trap refusing to say a word. She refuses to even acknowledge Puck, she can't let herself be distracted by thoughts of him. She does a good job keeping up her façade and she plays her part well.
It isn't until they're in the building, with their costumes securely fastened and their voices ready to go that she feels the overwhelming excitement that's been brewing finally spill over.
"We made it. We're one of the top fifty show choirs in the nation. Tomorrow ten will only move on to showcase and then five will go on to the national championship." Rachel squeals, her boy troubles temporarily forgotten.
"We've so got this." Kurt exclaims determinedly and Rachel nods, agreeing with him.
"Usually I'm pretty cautious about getting your hopes up but honestly guys, I think we got a really good shot at winning this thing. Now put your hands in the middle." Mr. Schue coaxes and everyone stacks their hands together. Rachel meets Noah's gaze as his hand comes down on hers.
"One, two, three. New York City!" they all shout before going in and finding their seats. There are a few performances and Rachel particularly recalls an all girls school's rendition of Usher's Yeah and how Mercedes said they were good, but Rachel can't help but know they are better. Each one of them posseses a special quality that puts them above the other groups here and most of all, puts them above Vocal Adrenaline. She gets up during one school's somewhat disturbing version of Katy Perry's E.T. to go to the bathroom and as she gets up she notices Santana is gone. She shrugs it off until she gets into the bathroom and overhears someone barfing.
"Santana?" Rachel calls out her brows furrowed in confusion but instead of the headstrong Latina, out comes Sunshine Corazon, from the small stall in the ladies room.
"Aw, shoving your fingers down your throat like the rest of your brainwashed Vocal Adrenaline brothers and sisters?" Rachel questions sarcastically as she stares at Sunshine through the mirror.
"I'm not throwing up on purpose. I'm so nervous I cant keep an food down. I used to love singing. It was the only thing that relaxed me. Now I hate it." Sunshine admits quietly and Rachel narrows her eyes at the tiny Philippine girl.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Rachel counters. Does Sunshine really think she can fool Rachel Barbra Berry? The pity party is the oldest trick in the book!
"I think you're kinda mean but I don't think you're stupid." Sunshine insists and Rachel looks at her intently.
"No, I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to get me to feel bad for you so that I don't try as hard to crush you on the stage." Rachel retorts and Sunshine shakes her head. Sunshine can deny, deny, deny all she wants but Rachel knows the truth.
"What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much? When I came to your school I heard that the glee club was where kids went when no one else would take them. A safe place. For some reason you made me the only one who wasn't safe there." Sunshine tells her harshly, before turning to leave. Rachel's brows furrow as Sunshine starts to leave.
"Where are you going?" Rachel blurts out and Sunshine stops and stares. And Rachel can see so much sadness in her eyes.
"To the Philippine embassy. I'm going to get them to revoke my Visa and deport me back home. That's the only way I'm going to be able to escape Vocal Adrenaline."
"Wait, wait." Rachel says, walking over to stop her. She can't let Sunshine do this. "It's because you're good. That's why I hated you. That's why I sent you to that crack house." Rachel looks down before looking up, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry."
Sunshine nods and puts on a small smile.
"But you have to go out there and sing." Rachel tells her, as she grips her shoulders and then brushes Sunshine's bangs from her face. "You have a gift. Something that Dustin Goolsby would kill for."
"I can't. I'm going to barf all over the stage." Sunshine replies sadly, shaking her head. But Rachel isn't going to let Sunshine give up.
"If you feel like you're going to throw up, just look at me and I'll help you." Rachel tells her and Sunshine cocks her head to the side.
"Why? Don't you want to win?" Sunshine wonders and Rachel's lips tug up at the corners. How could she have been so self absorbed? All Rachel ever used to want was to be the best, but glee club has taught her that being the best means knowing when to let others be their best too.
"Guys like us have to stick together." Rachel replies and they both smile. "I'm going to hug you now." Rachel tells her and she laughs with her before leaning in and embracing her. Rachel knows she was mean, well mean is an understatement, she was awful to Sunshine but at least now she can make up for it.
Rachel runs back to her seat and Sunshine takes the stage as the crowd cheers for her. Rachel stands up, the only one among the New Directions until a confused Puck joins her as she cheers Sunshine on. Everyone settles down and sits and as the cheers die down Sunshine searches the crowd for Rachel. When she catches sight of her, Rachel smiles softly and gives her two thumbs up in encouragement. Sunshine smiles back and the music starts.
"What are you doing?" Puck asks quietly from behind her and she keeps her eyes straight ahead as she answers.
"Making something right." she says simply as she lets Sunshine's voice drown everything else out. Her and Vocal Adrenaline perform a stunning performance of an original song. And she knows she should probably be worried about it but as Sunshine finishes the final note all she can be is proud as she sends the girl a warm encouraging smile. One of many she's given tonight.
They go back stage to get ready to perform and Finn pulls her aside to talk before she has to go off with Puck and take her place.
"You wrote an amazing song, Finn. I didn't know you had it in you." she compliments and he shakes his head.
"Who cares about the song. What I don't understand is all you've ever wanted was for us to be together and I'm basically standing here begging for another chance and now you're not interested." he tells her perplexedly and Rachel takes a deep breath, getting ready to finally tell him what's on her mind.
"Finn I care about you, I really do, but I finally realized, we're not enough for each other. You don't think there's a reason you keep going back to Quinn? Its because something is there. Something I can't touch. And yes I love you very much but… not like I did." Rachel shakes her head before meeting Finn's eyes. She hopes he's getting what she's saying.
"So what? You're saying we're really over?" he questions, sadness coloring his features. And she can feel sadness in herself too. What they had was wonderful and great but its over. They're finally finished.
"Yes. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing, Finn." Rachel whispers to him as she looks past him toward Quinn. "There is a girl out there that loves you more than anything. You just have to open your eyes and look." she tells him sweetly and he looks over at Quinn before looking back at Rachel, awareness filling his eyes.
"Thank you, Rachel." he says before kissing her cheek and walking in Quinn's direction. Rachel takes a deep breath and turns away as Kurt comes up and stares at her.
"You ready for this?" he asks challengingly and she nods. "As I'll ever be." she replies as someone comes to usher her and Noah to their spots. As they wait for the group before them to finish up and their music to cue Rachel looks over at Noah at the other end of the curtain. He looks kind of nervous. When he catches her staring he straightens up and walks over to her.
"So?" Rachel prompts and Puck shakes his head.
"Cut the bullshit, Rachel. What is going on with you? Ever since we found out about doing the duet together you've been acting different." Puck tells her and she looks away to try and figure out what to say. He lifts her chin up and directs her gaze toward him, with his fingers. "Tell me why, Rach."
"I.." she opens her mouth to say something before shutting it. No, she cant be that girl again. She can't be the boyfriend stealing backstabber who is too selfish to think of anyone else but herself. Noah is with Lauren. That's it. End of story. She's never going back. "Nothing." she says quickly before breaking out of his grip and shuffling over to her side of the stage. They share a long, meaningful glance before the music cues. Rachel feels her stomach knot as they step out onto the stage.
Face to face and heart to heart. We're so close, yet so far apart. I close my eyes I look away, that's just because I'm not okay.
They slowly make their way to each other across the stage until they finally come face to face. His eyes are filled with emotion and she tries to hold her head up and keep from crying.
But I hold on, I stay strong, wondering if we still belong.
Will we ever say the words we're feeling, reach down underneath and tear down all the walls Will we ever have a happy ending or will we forever only be pretending. Will we a-a-a-always a-a-a-always a-a-a-always be pretending.
Puck wraps his arm around her waist and she does the same to him as they spin slowly. His touch leaves a trail of fire lingering on her waist and she takes a deep breath as they go their separate ways again and he sings his verse.
How long do I fantasize, make believe that it's still alive. Imagine that I am good enough and we can choose the ones we love.
Rachel and Puck walk agonizingly slow past each other again as they sing together and to each other. Their voices intermingle and Rachel pours every bit of heart into her performance. How much she wants him and needs him into every word she lets leave her lips.
Keeping secrets safe, every move we make seems like no one's letting go and it's such a shame cause if you feel the same how am I supposed to know?
The New Directions accompany Rachel and Puck onstage as they back away from one another, once again passing each other by then turning to make their last descent toward one another. Each step brings them closer and Rachel's skin aches to feel him, to touch him one last time.
Will we ever say the words we're feeling? Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls. Will we ever have a happy ending or will we forever only be pretending. Will we a-a-a-always a-a-a-always a-a-a-always be (pretending)will we a-a-a-always a-a-a-always a-a-a-always be (pretending)will we a-a-a-always a-a-a-always a-a-a-always be …
pretending.
Rachel and Puck sing the last note as they come nose to nose and Rachel feels that spark ignite between them. Puck wraps his hand around the back of Rachel's neck and pulls her in until their foreheads are touching and his breath is fanning across her face. She thinks about how sweet his breath is and how he smells like coming home. He leans in and presses his lips to hers and she realizes that the world around her never truly disappeared until the moment Noah Puckerman kissed her under the bright lights on stage. Their tongues dance and Rachel feels her breath run short as they both pull away and the entire audience is silent.
Then out of nowhere there's clapping and it all flies by so fast. Before Rachel knows it, the music for the next song starts playing and her and Puck saunter up to their spots. He smirks at her from across the stage before Santana launches them into Light up the World.
And singing with them all is amazing as it always is. Santana, Artie, Brittany and Finn really give it their all and propel the performance up ten thousand notches. She really has a good feeling when they shout the last note and the audience erupts into applause.
When they're back stage waiting for the results, Rachel and Puck stand with one another and avoid eye contact. But Rachel can't help the smile that tugs at her lips and the tingling feeling she feels all over. The after effects of the mind blowing kiss with Noah Puckerman.
"I think we did good." Rachel declares and Puck grins. Of course he looks smug when he replies. "Good? We were amazing!"
Rachel blushes as she rocks back on the balls of her heels.
"The kiss was interesting." she notes shyly and Finn looks over and smiles at the two of them.
"Yeah, Quinn and I are calling it the kiss of the century. Definitely topped anything you've ever seen in any musical, huh Rach?" Finn questions and then Jesse's there and Rachel's suddenly wondering where he even came from.
"You're wrong, Finn. Their kiss was unprofessional. It was too personal and intense. The judges wont like it. They'll consider it common and vulgar and it'll cost you nationals." Jesse says sadly before looking to Rachel and smiling. "Hi Rachel. You look amazing. And you sounded great, you just shouldn't have kissed Puckerman."
"Why are you here, Jesse?" Rachel questions outwardly and he smiles at her, much to Puck's dismay.
"For you." he tells her sweetly and Rachel bites her lip. Three, two, one…
"Back off St. douche." Puck growls, stepping in front of Rachel and she can't help but think about how attractive Noah is in this moment. What she has eyes! "You're just jealous. Jealous of we have and what you wish you had. Too bad for you, Rachel's done with you. So run along and go find someone else to chase after because Rachel?" Puck pauses, wrapping his arm around Rachel's waist before turning to Jesse and scowling. "Is mine."
Jesse opens his mouth to reply as Rachel tries to bite back a smile when squeals erupt around them. Rachel's eyes widen as she watches the chaos around her.
"What's happening?" she asks as the groups around them scurry toward the wall and Kurt comes bounding from the crowd.
"They just posted the top ten for showcase." Kurt says breathlessly as he bounces up and down excitedly. "Come on everybody, gather 'round this moment's history in the making."
"Okay, okay. What should we do?" Rachel asks nervously as Puck places a hand on her hip. Mr. Schuester smiles at them.
"Let's go look at it." he tells them, patting Kurt on the back before turning to lead them through the crowd. "Come on."
The walk over is a silent as they watch Sunshine being hoisted on the members of Vocal Adrenaline's shoulders. Rachel sends her a small nervous smile as they make their way past more celebrating and crying glee clubs.
"Oh I'm too nervous to look." Rachel squeaks and Mr. Schuester takes a deep breath.
"I'll go." he tells them, stepping forward to read the list of top ten. Rachel can feel her heart hammering in her chest as she takes Kurt's and Mercedes's hands anxiously. This is it. What it all comes down to.
"What did we place?" Sam asks expectantly and Mr. Schuester continues to stare at the board.
"Well Mr. Schue. Say it. What rank?" Finn pleads desperately as Mercedes and Kurt squeeze Rachel's hands tightly.
"We didn't." Mr. Schuester says somberly and Rachel hangs her head. "I'm so sorry you guys. We aren't in the top ten."
Rachel feels the angry tears slip before she has a chance to stop them and she feels so ashamed because she knows this is her fault. Her fault for kissing Puck and for not addressing her feelings before the performance to keep from not being able to control herself. When they get back to the hotel Rachel expects Santana and the others to rip her a new one but instead of turning on her, Santana screams at Puck in a slanged Spanish that Rachel does her best to understand.
The plane ride home is completely quiet but none of the New Direction express their anger. Noah avoids all forms of contact: eye, speaking, touching. He completely avoids her and she feels the sadness plague her entire form.
When they get back to Lima and make their way through school she reluctantly makes her way to the final glee club meeting of the year. She's prepared for things to go back to the way they were before. But when she finally builds up enough courage to go inside Quinn greets her with a hug, Santana and Brittany wave at her from across the room and Kurt, Mercedes, Tina, Mike and Sam smile at her as if she didn't just cost them all nationals.
"Hey diva. Where's Puckerman?" Mercedes asks suggestively as Sam raises his eyes brows and Rachel smiles sadly before looking away.
"What is it, Rach?" Sam wonders as they all look at her with concern.
"I uh.. don't know. We haven't spoken." Rachel tells them, her eyes downcast as she remembers the look on Puck's face when they lost. He blames her. He has to blame her.
"What?" Santana demands harshly, putting her hands on her hips. "Look I know you feel guilty and all, which you totally should, but goddamn the whole reason all of us are okay with this is because we thought this would finally get you and Puck together already."
"Yeah we want to see a Puckleberry reunion." Finn adds supportively, a weak supportive smile on his lips.
"I…" Rachel trails off and Santana scowls menacingly in a way Rachel cringes at.
"And I sure as hell am not going to let our loss be for nothing." Santana assures her and Quinn nods approvingly.
"Yes Rachel it's the least you could do for our battered hearts." Kurt tells her as Sam, Mercedes, Tina and Mike hold their hands over their hearts and pout at her. She shakes her head. Are they seriously trying to guilt her into…
"But…" Rachel tries to present a counter argument but none of the present New Directions give her a chance to object.
"I don't want to hear it. All is forgiven. Do you hear me?" Kurt asks and Rachel nods tearfully.
"Now go find Puckerman." Santana demands and Rachel turns to the girl.
"Santana…" Rachel tries to reason but Santana shakes her head and points to the door.
"Go!" Quinn commands and Rachel looks at the faces of her friends. Sam. Mercedes. Artie. Tina. Santana. Brittany. Mike. Quinn. Finn. All of them smiling tentatively and trying to help her. She nods before taking toward the door.
"And don't come back until you have one Noah Puckerman hanging on your arm, like a piece of arm candy. Do you hear me?" she hears Santana shout as she leaves the choir room and Rachel lets the smile she had been holding back break loose. All she ever wanted was for the glee club to feel like a family and it seems like she's finally got that. She starts to think of all the places Puck might be when a familiar voice calls out her name or surname to be exact.
"Yo Berry." Lauren calls out across the hall and Rachel cringes as she considers running in the opposite direction, instead turning to face Lauren bravely and get the beating she's expecting to come over with and out of the way so she can find Noah. All she can do is pray that Lauren doesn't break her nose.
"Yes, Lauren?" she asks hesitantly and Lauren cocks her head to the side as Rachel backs up against the set of lockers behind her.
"Heard you were looking for Puckerman." Lauren states plainly and Rachel nods as confirmation. She closes her eyes and lies in wait but she only hears Lauren's laugh. "I'm not going to hit you. But uh, I thought I'd let you know, you'll probably find him in the library."
Fear for her life aside, Rachel's jaw drops at Lauren's statement. Did she just say…
Sure enough, Rachel finds Noah Puckerman leaning against one of the stacks in the library toying with a book.
"Noah, where have you been?" she questions as she walks down the aisle to his side.
"Did you know our school had a library? And they actually like let you borrow books?" Puck laughs at the sheer absurdity as he avoids her question and Rachel smirks. Only Noah Puckerman would be that naïve. He shrugs. "Anyway, I've been here trying to avoid Santana."
"Why?" Rachel wonders as she looks down at the beautiful boy who won't look her way.
"Have you seen her? She's on a freaking rampage. I think she even made a voodoo doll that looks like me. And that shit just ain't kosher, Rachel." Puck shakes his head. She has no doubt that Latina did something of that nature. No matter how nice Santana is to her now its still Santana and that girl can make a grown man cry.
"That still doesn't explain why you haven't said a word to me since we got back." she says quietly and he scowls before looking away. She takes a deep breath before taking a seat beside him on the floor and moving her hand to his jaw. She gently turns his face towards her and he looks at her, his lips pouting and his eyes dark. "Just help me understand, Noah."
"Because you should be more pissed with me than anyone else. I screwed up, Rach. This was my first big competition and I acted like a complete selfish ass. We worked so hard and I blew it." he lets out angrily and Rachel doesn't even flinch. She prides herself on knowing him well enough to see that the anger he's harboring is for himself, no matter how guarded he tries to be.
"Look, being an artist is about expressing your true feelings in the moment no matter what the consequences. What were you feeling in that moment?" Rachel asks. She looks over at him and feels the flutter in her stomach, as if on cue.
"That I loved you." he breathes and Rachel's eyes widen as she looks at Puck with awe. She knows how hard it is for him to express his emotions and the fact that he's telling her he loves her is amazing.
"You do?" she asks hopefully and he turns to her. Rachel bites her lip before putting her hand on his shoulder and looking into his hazel eyes as he nods.
"Was it worth it?" she asks, insecurity showing its face. "Was it worth losing nationals over?"
"Yeah, it was." Puck replies without doubt and he looks to her. "How about you? Was it worth it for you?"
"Yes. Cause I know in my heart we'll have another shot at nationals. And because, I love you too… But you need to know something. Come graduation. I'm leaving for New York and I'm never coming back."
"That's good 'cause Kurt has pretty much already started bugging me about damn apartments and décor. Oh and he said something about me being the muscle? I refuse to be over worked without compensation." Puck waggles his eyebrows and grins before pulling Rachel in and dragging her lips to his. She smiles into the kiss before swiftly pulling away.
"Okay, let's go." she says sweetly as she gets up and brushes herself off.
"Where are we going?" Puck wonders as he sits up and leers lovingly at her.
"The final glee club meeting of the year." Rachel rolls her eyes playfully as she holds out a hand to him and he gets up and wraps it around her shoulder. Puck reaches in his pocket and pulls something out. He unwraps the ring pop in his hand as they make their way to the choir room to meet up with the others and places it on Rachel's finger.
She laughs loudly taking a lick and planting a sloppy kiss on his lips as they walk through the door. Rachel smiles as she surveys the room and sees Quinn and Finn ushering them in excitedly. She watches as Santana, Artie and Brittany laugh about something silly while Mercedes, Mike, Sam and Lauren talk animatedly about Call Of Duty. Tina and Kurt greet Rachel and Puck as they come in together with bright smiles and fingers intertwined.
Mr. Schuester walks over to them and holds up their trophy with pride.
"You want to know what eleventh place looks like?" he asks as they look at the paperweight sized trophy in his hand. They all cheer and clap because they've got one more year and each other. And as Puck squeezes her hand, Rachel knows that their senior year is going to be a good one.