A/N: SORRY! I know, I promised to have this up within like a week! Sorry! So here's the next chapter, and I'll have the last chapter uploaded by tomorrow night, I just need to go over it. Please review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any of the characters – I wish, I really, really wish

Chapter 3: Dedicated to Will

Thursday morning, Puck once again pulled into the Berry driveway. This time, Rachel wasn't waiting, or even stepping through the door. He figured he'd give her a couple minutes; maybe she was having a human day and running late. He turned up his radio, rested his head back, and closed his eyes.

When he realised two songs had played all the way through, he opened his eyes, and realised Rachel still hadn't emerged. He turned off the truck, and stepped out, making his way to the door. He knocked, and when there was no answer, tried the handle. The door swung in, and he stepped inside. He paused, and when he heard noise upstairs, he headed up the stairs.

He paused in the doorway to Rachel's room, watching her flutter around, looking panicked.

'Rachel? What's going on?' She spins to face the door, a small squeak falling through her lips, and he laughs. 'Sorry, but you didn't come out so I came in to make sure you were still alive and, well, Rachel.'

'What? Oh my god what time is it? I was just… and the performance… my music… looking for a new song…'

'Ok, wow, calm down Rach. Rach. Rachel! Ok FREEZE!' He had to bite back a laugh at the way she literally froze, only moving to look over at him. 'Ok, so pretty much you were freaking bout your song choice for today? Don't ok, whatever it is, it's gonna be great.'

'But I don't think anyone will like it. I mean, I'm not sure it's appropriate, and considering what occurred on Tuesday, I'm not sure performing a song of this nature would be the best course of action.'

'Hang on… ok, so this song will kinda build on what you were saying Tuesday?' She nodded, and he smirked. 'So, does that mean this song is basically sticking it to the rest of those losers?' She nodded again, and he laughed, tipping his head back. When he looked back, she was grinning at him.

'Can I tell you a secret?' He grinned in response, and nodded. 'The song I'm singing? It's for everyone, really, in Glee. But I'm dedicating it to Mr Schuester.' He took a moment to realise what that meant, and as soon as he did, he was laughing again, picking her up for a hug, swinging her around.

'I knew there was a badass in there somewhere, this is gonna be epic! You are so awesome!' Rachel was laughing when he stopped spinning them and went to set her back on her feet. She looked up at him, smiling, and he reacted. He leant down, moving his hand to the back of her head, pulling her towards him. He felt her body tense in shock when he kissed her, then relax as she started to respond.

Her arms came up around his neck, as if trying to hold him in place, and that was fine by him, he had no intention of leaving. He pulled her body flush against him, holding her in place, and he felt her moan.

When she moaned for the second time, he thrust lightly against her, grinning into the kiss when this elicited another moan from her. Hell yeah. He moved her backwards, manoeuvring them until she was on her back across the bed, and he was hovering above her. As he moved to place soft kiss across her jaw, he glanced up and caught the time on the clock by her bed.

'Shit.' He muttered under his breath, but she heard and her eyes popped open.

'Noah?' he shut his eyes at the soft, unsure tone of her voice.

'Rach, this is so not what I wanna be saying right now but we gotta go, or we're gonna be late.' There was silence, and her face was scrunched into confusion.

'Wait… you're don't want to make out because we have to go to school?' She sat up, moving away from him to sit on the edge of the bed, her back to him, and she was tense again. 'We should go Noah, we wouldn't want to be late.' She stood and collected her folder of music, and school books from her desk.

'Rachel-'

'Come on Noah, we should go.'

'Rachel… damn it Rach! Would you just stop for a second.' He reached for her arm, and she stopped, looking back over her shoulder. 'I'm not stopping this, or leaving. Trust me, that's totally not what's going on. But I know if we don't get to school on time, it'll eventually come back to bite me on the ass when you realise we missed school.' She had to smile, and nod her head once.

'Well I can not dispute your logic, although I must admit, I wouldn't have noticed how late we were.'

'Yeah?' She rolled her eyes at his sly, proud tone, then sighed.

'You have a one track mind Noah Puckerman. Well, come on, we have to leave now, or we'll be late for school.' He stood, and grabbed the hand she was using to gesture to him.

'Just so you know, we're totally picking up right where we left off as soon as school's over. Alright?' she nodded, eyes wide, a small smile forming.

'Alright.'

'Well guys, um, so Tuesday's performances were cut short due to… extraneous circumstances, so we have a couple extra people singing today. So, let's start with the people we didn't get to on Tuesday. Quinn?'

'Huh, so I'm extraneous circumstances? Translation?' Rachel glanced over at Puck, and smiled.

'I believe Mr Schuester is referring to the fight between myself and Santana, which was not directly related to the assignment, or what was occurring in the room. Although, it was, in my opinion, related, as it started due to her completely inappropriate comment on your song choice, which was of course related to the assignment and therefore Glee.' When she looked back at him, his eyebrow was raised, and he was staring at her. 'Mr Schuester used the wrong word to describe the unfortunate fight on Tuesday.'

'Right.' He smirked, then slid down in his chair, arm lazily thrown over the back of Rachel's chair, and closed his eyes, settling in to wait for Rachel's song.

After the remaining performers from Tuesday finished, Mr Schue started calling on the singers due to perform today. Each time he called for the next person, he was surprised when Rachel Berry didn't automatically jump up each time to steal the stage. She was simply sitting quietly next to Puck. The Puck part wasn't so unusual now, he knew they'd gotten close since Rachel and Finn had broken up, but a quiet Rachel was never good. So when the next person was done, and there were only two left to sing, Rachel and Tina, he looked up at Rachel.

'Rachel, would you like to go next?' She looked up, and just stared at him.

'I don't mind going last Mr Schuester. In fact, after Tuesday, I thought it might be best if I were to perform last.'

'What do you mean Rachel? What are you planning?' She shrugged her shoulders, but he knew Rachel Berry, she was anything but innocent.

'Nothing Mr Schuester, just the assignment. I simply meant that after the outbreak on Tuesday, anything I sing may not be well received so I thought it best to go last so any arguing that may ensue doesn't stop others from singing.' He was about to respond when Mercedes beat him to it.

'Aw hell to the no! You're just waiting to go last so you do some huge, show stopping number that probably has nothing to do with the assignment so you can show us all up and be the annoying diva you are.' Again, Mr Schue was about to speak when he was beaten to it again, this time by Puck.

'Mercedes, shut up. Mr Schue, this is annoying, Rachel said she doesn't want to sing next, can we move on so we can get this shit over with?'

'Language Puck. And you are awake. Do you think you could open your eyes then, so you can at least appear to be enjoying the performances like the rest of us?'

'Why Mr Schue? Didn't seem like people were paying attention to my song on Tuesday. Also, I don't know about you, but I use my ears to listen. Not my eyes.' He cracked an eye open here, to look at his teacher. 'Let's see, Quinn sang some lame song about being independent or some shit, Finn sang yet another boring, soppy ballad about having his heart broken, which by the way Finn, shut up it's getting old, you need to move on, she screwed up, get over it. And also, I remember last year when you made out with Rachel when you were still with Quinn, while you thought she was having your baby. So yeah. Where was I…'

'Alright, that's enough Puck. Everyone settle down, we still have two more songs, so Tina, if you will.' He sighed as Tina stood, and when he looked back over at Puck and Rachel, Puck's eyes were closed again, but he was leaning towards Rachel, listening to her whisper something to him. He shook his head.

'Alright, thanks Tina. And last, Rachel.' He watched her whisper one last thing to Puck, who smirked, before she stood and made her way down from the seats.

'Thank you Mr Schue. You said we could dedicate these songs to someone in particular, and so this song is, well, relevant to most of the people in this room, but it's dedicated to one in particular.' She paused, and everyone looked at her, confused. They'd all been expecting some song for Finn, but clearly that's not what they would be getting. 'I dedicate this to you Mr Schuester, although I hope everyone takes something from it.'

She stepped back, so she was leaning against the piano. 'You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me

You have knocked me off my feet again, got me feeling like a nothing

You, with you voice like nails on chalkboard calling me out when I'm wounded

You, picking on the weaker man'

She was looking at Mr Schue during the first lines, but when she sang of a voice like nails, she moved her gaze to Santana, then for the last line, on to Quinn, who looked disgusted.

'Well you can take me down with just one single blow

But you don't know what you don't know'

She looked over at Finn now, shaking her head as she pushed off the piano. She turned back to Mr Schuester as the chorus started.

'Someday I'll be living in a big ole city

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean'

Puck smirked as he watched the performance. Rachel was giving it everything, and he could tell by the looks on the faces of those around him that her words were hitting their mark, these guys looked pissed. Well this is what she wanted. She was the one who whispered 'let the show begin' to him before she went to perform. He looked over to Mr Schue, who looked shocked. He wasn't moving, just staring at Rachel like he'd never seen her before.

'You, with your switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation

You have pointed out my flaws again, as if I don't already see them

I walk with my head down trying to block you out cause I'll never impress you

I just wanna feel okay again'

She wasn't focusing on any specific person now, just looking over the group, and Puck watched as most of them looked away, trying to avoid eye contact. A quick glance over at their teacher showed he was slowly coming out of his trance, anger showing in his eyes.

'I bet you got pushed around and somebody made you cold

But the cycle ends right now cause you can't lead me down that road

And you don't know what you don't know'

Rachel turned and looked directly at their teacher, who looked about two seconds away from jumping up and screaming, but Rachel just kept on singing, not looking away.

'Someday I'll be living in a big ole city

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean

And I can see you years from now in a bar

Talking over a football game with that same big loud opinion

But nobody's listening

Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things

Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is mean

All you are is mean

And a liar and pathetic and alone in life

And mean, and mean, and mean'

Rachel was moving around the room, once again looking at different members of the group, raising her eyebrow at Mercedes when she sang of the loud opinion, or at Brittany on the line about not being able to sing. Puck rolled her eyes, cause hello, they all knew she could sing, despite what Brittany thought about being better.

'But someday I'll be living in a big ole city

And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah

Someday I'll be big enough so you can hit me

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean'

With one last look for the group, Rachel looked to Puck for the first time.

'Someday I'll be living in a big ole city'

He smirked at her, and she smiled back, nodding, before she turned back to sing the last lines to Mr Schuester.

'And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean'

Rachel finished, still looking straight at Mr Schuester. She took a deep breath and turned away, looking to Puck, who was smiling at her. When no one said anything, she began to move back towards Puck.

3… 2… 1…

'What the HELL was that?'

'Who do you think you are manhands?'

'You're nothing RuPaul, you're just a loser, you can't pull things like this.'

Puck watched Rachel stiffen, and just stand there as the group shouted abuse at her. He was up out of his chair, tipping it backwards, kicking the chair in front of him out of the way as he jumped down to where Rachel was standing.

'Alright everyone needs to shut the FUCK up! No-' he cut of Finn, who was about to talk back. 'No, you all need to stop, right now. This is EXACTLY why Rachel was just singing that song. Seriously, are you all that retarded?'

'Puck, that's hardly appropriate language for school, and Rachel, your song-'

'Was amazing, and completely appropriate for the assignment. You told us to sing about something important to us, or someone. That's what Rachel did, she sang about how everyone here makes her feel. Rachel said it on Tuesday – you're the teacher here Mr Schue, you should be handling this situation. You did nothing to stop their comments on Tuesday, are you really gonna do the same thing now? Or is it just that if the comments are directed at Rachel it's ok?' Mr Schuester just looked at him, and he stared his teacher down, eyebrow raised, one arm wrapped around Rachel's shoulder, holding her close.

'Puck…'

'No Mr Schue. I'll admit, I treated Rachel like absolute shit for two years, cause it's what everyone did. I'm also a teenager, we're known for bending to peer pressure. You're an adult. If I can grow up and actually get to know Rachel, I think you could, you just don't want to. You got some issue with Rachel and you won't let it go. You-'

'Noah, I think he gets the point.' She put her hand on his chest, pushing slightly, before turning to Mr Schue. 'He's right Mr Schuester. You may think the song was inappropriate, but I just followed the instructions, and I know you don't like me, but maybe just this once you could act like the responsible adult in this situation and control the others. Give me a tiny moment in this school where I'm not being constantly berated by insults and names and just… just CRAP! Oh God. Ok, well now that I've resorted to such language I think it's time I left.'

Rachel moved away from Puck up to their seats, and picked up their bags, his guitar at home, then moved back down, grabbing his arm to drag him out, as he was still glaring daggers at everyone.

'Come on Noah, let's just leave it for now.' When they were at the door, Rachel pushed him Puck into the hallway, then turned back to the room, where everyone was staring after them. 'Mr Schuester, I love Glee club, and I remember telling you I wanted to be part of something special, because that made you special, but now… I really want to come back, but if this is how things are going to stay, I don't know if I can. That's not a threat, it's just the truth.'

She turned and walked through the door, letting Puck lead her now, down the corridors, and out into the car park. When they reached his truck, he grabbed the bags off her, threw them into the car, and turned to her.

When he pulled her into him, and simply held her, Rachel was shocked. Not that she'd been expecting him to kiss her, but Noah Puckerman wasn't the kind of boy to go around hugging people. She wrapped her arms around his back, and pulled as tight as she could.

'Proud of you Rach, you totally rocked that shit, it was amazing. Those douches had that coming, and Schuester's face… if he doesn't get his act together now, he's seriously pulling some like emu shit and burying his head in the sand.' She giggled, and he smiled at the sound.

'Noah, you mean ostriches, not emus. Though I'm surprised you know that, it's not something a lot of people our age would know. Also…' He pressed his lips to hers, effectively shutting her up. He pressed against his truck, trapping her as he kissed her slowly. When he pulled back, she was half smiling, looking up at him.

'Anyone ever tell you, you talk too much Berry?' She shrugged, smiling.

'I may have heard it once or twice. Although I must admit, if that is going to be your preferred method of shutting me up, I'll be talking an awful lot more.' She was grinning now, and he smirked.

'Oh yeah?'

'Yes.'

'Awesome.' He pulled her in for another kiss. 'Talk as much as you want babe, I have no problem shutting you up.' She smacked his arm, and he chuckled, placing another quick kiss to her lips, then letting her go, ordering her into his truck. Grinning, he rounded the front, jumping into the driver's seat.

'Noah?'

'Yeah babe?'

'Can we just drive around for a while?'

'Sure babe, we'll drive.'

'Thank you Noah.' He looked over at her, she was resting her head on the seat, looking over at him, a serious look on her face.

'Just a drive babe, nothing special.'

'No not for the drive. For everything.'

'No problem.' He looked over again, and she was looking down. 'I mean it Rach, it's no problem. I'm just sorry it took me two years of being a dick.'

'Noah, that doesn't matter now. It's the past. So forget it. Focus on now.'

'Well, it's a pretty cool now.' She smiled at him, nodding in agreement. 'So, where are we going?'