Reminder- Molly is the friend from chapter one that transfers to McKinley. I thought I'd remind you since I posted that chapter four months ago. And happy New Year! Enjoy and review!


Tossing her cap up with the rest of the 2012 class, Rachel cheered. She cheered, not because she was glad she was done with high school, but that she was leaving McKinley for something way better. Julliard was just two months away.

Scooting down her row when she saw Mr. Schue's cue she lead New Directions up to the stage. One last performance with everyone. One last chance for the school to hate them, even though they'd won Nationals this year. One last chance for them to prove them wrong.

Give me a second I
I need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom
Getting higher than the Empire State
My lover she's waiting for me
Just across the bar
My seats been taken by some sunglasses
Asking 'bout a scar

This time Puck took Finn's solo. He had willingly handed it over when Puck won Nationals for them with his solo on David Cook's Come Back to Me. Rachel had to admit it had been a compelling performance. Puck's emotions had been so real.


And I know I gave it to you months ago
I know you're trying to forget
But between the drinks and subtle things
The holes in my apologies
You know I'm trying hard to take it back

Puck had jumped at this solo. If not to do one last awesome performance, but to have Rachel look at him and say my lover.

He didn't know when it had all fallen back into place for him. It might've started when he first heard Rachel call him Puck, or when Zisces dropped him and glee. Maybe it was when her friend Molly dumped him after only a month this year because he kept asking about Rachel. He didn't remember doing it but apparently he had done it a lot.

He knew his emotions had won when Molly told him Finn and Rachel had ended it, this time on good terms. Finn was staying in Lima and Rachel was heading to New York. It was time for them to move on, and Puck's time to move in.

No one else knew but Puck was heading to NYU next fall. He was heading out with Rachel, whether she liked it or not.


The gym was empty now, and Rachel stood alone on the edge of the stage. The graduates had cheered for them, loudly. She still didn't know if it was because they actually thought they were good or because they were just happy to be out of there.

She couldn't blame them. McKinley had been a living hell. Not just occasionally, but from day one it had been a disaster. It always felt like she could never catch a break here.

"Good riddance McKinley." Her voice echoed around the empty gym. She jumped when a voice answered it.

"And hello New York, right?"

Whipping around Puck was at the back of the stage, already out of his cap and gown. Something happened in Rachel's stomach that she couldn't explain.

"Right, the place where dreams come true."

"And stars are born."

"And the city never sleeps."

"And friendships repaired."

Puck saw her face form confusion. "I've never heard that one."

"You wouldn't. I just made it up."

"And how long have you been working on that line?" Satisfied when he didn't respond she turned back to all the empty chairs. She was drained though and sat down, discarding her own cap and gown.

Puck came to the front of that stage and sat next to her. Rachel could feel him next to her but wouldn't look at him. According to him they had never been friends, so what friendship was there to repair?

But she could also feel what he was probably feeling. Regret. Pain. Nostalgia, as their story flooded her mind again. They had been a good team until McKinley had stepped in.

She had promised herself though that she wouldn't let him back in. She only ever allowed herself these short periods of remembering. This was when she was supposed to shake it off and walk away. She couldn't pick herself up this time though.

"I am sorry Rachel, for everything. For Kurt in ninth grade, for slushy after slushy. For basically denying everything that ever happened between us. I'm sorry."


Puck let out a sigh of relief. Rachel was right. He had been planning those lines for ages. But they were true, they were real, and from the freaking bottom of his heart.

He held his breath as he waited for Rachel to respond. It had been so long he had no idea what was going on behind those big brown eyes.

"I guess I should apologize to. I didn't really give you a chance to apologize in ninth grade. You were still an idiot on the bleachers though."

"I know." He didn't know what else to say other than, "You're right." That usually worked for Rachel.

He saw her smile a little but could tell she was still thinking something. "What else is there?"

"I don't want to let myself to do this Puck. I-"

"Don't call me that!" Puck jumped up covering his ears. "Don't call me Puck!"

Turning back he saw her shocked expression but that didn't stop him. "I don't want to be Puck anymore, especially not to you!"

She jumped up quickly. "What do you expect from me? You abandoned me through all of high school! Do you honestly think I could look at you and think of you as my Noah?"

"You can try! Rachel, if you could just look at me and call me Noah, I would have just a little hope that I could turn myself around. I want to start over Rachel, and I want to start over with you."

Rachel paused in the pacing she had started out of frustration. "I don't know what you're asking me."

"I want you to give me the chance we wanted to take before freshmen year."


Rachel had seen it coming the second Puck had showed up but wasn't ready to hear it. She didn't want to hear it. She had been doing so well at pushing these emotions away for four years and he was breaking her.

"Even if I thought we could do that Puck-"

"Noah."

She sighed, giving in to his one command. "Noah, even if I thought we could do that, how do you expect to stay together when I'm in New York?" She grasped for the one thing that could stop this.

"When we're in New York. Rachel, I'm going to NYU next fall. We wouldn't be far away. We could be together. We could do this." He was grasping for his last hope.

"But could I trust you, Noah? Two different schools, lots of pretty girls wandering around campus…"

Rachel felt her heart sink when he didn't say anything, but what did she expect? Him to suddenly be her Noah? The Noah she had grown up with and could trust with her life? "See! How can you expect me to take this risk if you can't even promise me this?"

"What do you want me to say Rachel? Do you really want me to promise you something that we both know might only end up hurting us later?"

"It wouldn't hurt us! If you were my Noah again, you would be able to tell me that I can trust you! My Noah would be able to promise me this with no hesitations."

"Then what do I do Rach? What do I tell people when they see your name in lights? Do I pretend I never knew you?"

He made her stop again. He had faith in her, but none in himself? "You can say we grew up together, that we're friends. And I'll do the same if some girls show up after a party talking about the amazing guy they met that goes to NYU."


Amazing? Yeah, she had said that. But everything else she was saying lead him to be believe something else. "I guess I'll see you around then." He turned to leave when her soft voice pulled him back.

"I'm so sorry Noah," regret dripping through her voice.

Noah. She had said it, and just like that the fire ignited in his chest. He had hope again. Taking three large strides back to Rachel he pulled her into a long kiss. Bodies molding together and lips moving as one he enjoyed every second of it, because he didn't know when she would finally push him away.

When he felt her pull away he kept his eyes shut for a second, savoring it. He might have to for a long time. "I'm not giving up Rach, just remember that." Before she could say anything he left the gym.

Outside Sam was waiting by Puck's truck. When he caught sight of him he gave a hopeful thumbs up, but dropped his hands when he saw Puck's face. It wasn't the face of success. It was the face of determination. "So what's the plan from here?"

Puck slid into the driver's seat and clenched the wheel, feeling the disappointment and frustration from what had just happened. "I don't know, but this isn't where it ends."

Sam let the subject drop as they drove to Finn's. He just needed to cool off right now. If anyone pissed him off right now he would probably do something he'd regret.

Finn was on the phone when they entered the house but he quickly hung up. "Who was that?"

"Molly." He locked eyes with Puck.

"And why were you talking to Molly?"

"She's worried about Rachel."

Sam didn't need to look at Puck to know the name alone would get him steaming. "And why is she worried about Rachel?" Puck asked through gritted teeth. Why worry about Rachel? She had gotten what she wanted.

"Puck, come on. Tell us what you did."

"I told her how I fucking feel!" he exploded. "You know, opened up, something I thought girls liked! But no, that wasn't good enough for Rachel!"

"Dude, since when has simple been good enough for Rachel?" Finn said, trying to be the voice of reason. "It's Rachel. You need to prove yourself."

"And how can I do that?"

"You're heading to New York dude. I think you'll have plenty of options once you get there," Sam said.

"So I have to sit around and wait all summer to try and get her back?"

"It's what's best dude. Molly says she's pretty emotional after whatever you did. The best you can do is lay low right now. If you try again to soon you could scare her away."

Finally taking some deep breaths Puck looked up at his friend. "Why are you being so cool about this dude? You should be pissed I want to move in on her."

Finn laughed. "Because Rachel and I are done. We cooled off and ended it. I think she moved on before we even broke up. And Puck, if I know Rachel, she moved on to you. She's just scared. Give her time to adjust in New York. I think you two will be fine."

The hope grew in Puck. If Finn, who was pretty stupid sometimes but knew Rachel better than he wished, thought Rachel would eventually come around, maybe there was a chance.


Rachel stood where Puck had left her, fingers touching her lips. She couldn't move, couldn't think, just feel the spot that was still warm from Puck's lip. Tears would eventually come, but right she would only savor. She was afraid that it might be the last.

She didn't flinch when she heard Molly's phone snap shut but willingly entered the hug she offered. Finally letting the tears fall she shook her head. Why hadn't she taken the chance? Why hadn't she taken what she taken her Noah's hand and pulled him back?

Molly lead her off the stage and to the car. She didn't make Rachel say anything until she hauled her up to her room and made her sit. Letting out a few last sobs Rachel finally looked up at her friend. "What just happened?"

"Puck told you he wanted you back and you told him you couldn't trust him. Then he kissed you and said he wouldn't give up."

Rachel let out another sob and shook her head. "Why did I let him walk away? You know of all people that this was my dream, my happy ending. Why didn't I take it?"

"Because you're a smart person Rach, and smart people know it isn't this easy and smart people don't settle for anything below their expectations. You didn't think you could trust him and you were smart enough not to be okay with that."

"No I wasn't!" Rachel screamed. "What if that was my only chance? What if I never see him again?"

"Weren't you listening? He's not giving up Rachel. Puck may act like a ten year old sometimes but if you'd seen the look on his face when he left the gym, you wouldn't be worried."

When Rachel still didn't perk up she went on, "And honey, we're all going to be in New York next fall. If nothing happens there, the most magical place on earth, where dreams come true, it isn't meant to be."

"And it is meant to be! I know it!" Desperation rang through Rachel's voice.

"Then stop worrying."

She knew Molly was right, but worry was second nature to Rachel. Right now, her Noah was somewhere, and she didn't know if he would turn into Puck tomorrow morning.

Yesterday she was certain what would happen with her life. Julliard, Broadway, happy ending.

Well, not anymore.