I DO NOT OWN ANY PART OF GLEE, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND, OR LOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS. A FEW OF YOU EVEN MADE ME CRY WITH YOUR KIND WORDS. ALL THE FAVORITES AND REVIEWS JUST TOO MUCH! GLAD YOU'RE ENJOYING IT SO FAR! GLEEKGENICA—I AGREE WITH YOU, I KIND OF HATED TO DO THAT TO THE LAST CHAPTER TOO, I HAD IDEAS FOR HOW EACH PERSON WARMED UP TO HER BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD JUST PROLONG THE STORY AND BECOME BORING SINCE YOU KNOW EVERYONE BECAME FRIENDS IN THE END AND…. WE MUST GET TO THE FINCHEL OF IT ALL! :)
AND YES OHHH HOW THE FAITHFULLY COPYING IRKED ME…ONLY ONE ORGINAL PEOPLE!
Rachel took down one of the curlers. Who would be here? She ran downstairs and before he turned around she knew exactly who it was.
"Noah?"
"Hey Berry! Nice hair."
She put her hand up to the fallen tendril and realized how she looked. "Oh no! Excuse me for just one moment, I'll be right back! Do you have time to wait? I can only talk for a few minutes, I have to go to a wedding…"
Pulling on his suit lapel "I know, you don't think I'm dressed like this for temple do you?"
"What?"
Puck shrugged, "You're in need of a stand in for today, well I'm definitely nothing like Finn but I figured we could have a fun time."
*************************************************************** back to the present*****************************************************************
"WHAT THE HELL? I don't want to hear about this" Finn fumed, he stood up and kicked the bean bag chair.
"What is with you and kicking chairs?" Kurt questioned.
"Stops me from punching someone, but I can do that too!" he lunged at Puck.
Sam stood up and intervened "Look, like it or not he was there when you weren't but you have to hear what happened!"
"I don't HAVE to hear anything!" All I've heard is how I'm the bad guy and you took her side! Didn't any of you think I might need someone? I'd lost MY best friend too!"
Artie stood up, "Finn, we were with you too, that's why we've done all of this."
Mercedes touched his arm, "We took sides, the boys didn't…they just came to like Rachel and wanted to support her."
A frustrated Mike turned to Finn, " the sooner we finish this, the sooner you can go see Rachel."
"Can I say something Finn?"
Everyone turned to see a sad Brittany on the couch looking at Finn. "Sure Brittany." His voice softened as he answered her.
"You aren't a bad guy. If you were, we wouldn't want you back together. I know I'm not that smart and everyone always makes a point to take care of ME, but for once I got to take care of someone else. At the restaurant, I made her stop crying! It felt good that I could be there for her and hold her hand through it AND she let me." She looked down at her feet. "I just…didn't know how to be there for YOU too. I'm sorry. I'm sorry you felt alone."
Finn sat beside her on the couch, "I understand, it's okay."
She reached over and grabbed his hand "I'll hold your hand now, while you listen to this part though, if you want me too."
He smiled at her, "Thanks Brittany." He looked over to Puck still not sure he wanted to hear what was coming. "Go ahead."
*******************************************************back to the past*******************************************************************************
Rachel and Puck followed her dads in his truck. It was quiet for about fifteen minutes.
Puck drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, "Soo what the hell happened?"
"What?"
"Quinn wanted to punch you Friday morning, and then last night she's dragging us to a new restaurant so YOU'RE comfortable."
Rachel squirmed in her seat, "what did she tell you?'
"She just said she saw something different, you two argued, and she realized you would need friends."
"That's it? She didn't say what we argued about?" Rachel closed her eyes and suddenly felt pathetic if he knew.
"That's it, she said the rest was a secret between friends or some shit."
Rachel smiled and started briefing him on the wedding.
They arrived, and Rachel went to the front of the church to take her place by the piano.
Puck sat with her Dads, he was surprised how nice they were and how accepting they were of him. Then the bride entered while Rachel started singing something, everyone else looked at the bride, but he watched Rachel. Sure, he was a badass but when he listened to her sing, it made him feel like he could be a better person.
The ceremony was over and it was time for the reception. They took their seats and watched as the happy couple continued to dance.
When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.
Rachel was grateful that Puck was there but she really missed Finn. She played with the place card that hadn't been updated 'Finn Hudson' and he saw a tear slip down her cheek.
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.
The DJ took the mic, "We'd like all the couples to join the bride and groom on the dance floor now."
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
Puck leaned towards Rachel, "I guaranteed you a good time, let's dance."
I'll come running to see you again.
Rachel kept playing with the card, "Noah, I'm not really in the mood, I'm sorry."
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
all you have to do is call and I'll be there,
yeah, yeah,
you've got a friend.
He stood up and extended his hand, "When have I ever taken no for the final answer?"
He took Rachel's hand and began dancing.
If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow,
keep your head together and call my name out loud.
Soon I will be knocking upon your door.
She was crying into his shoulder, he cared for her, but not like what he felt for Quinn.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there.
He hadn't seen her face the entire time they danced, and come hell or high water she was going to have fun.
He bent down and started singing softly along with the music.
Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you. Well, they'll take your soul if you let them,
oh yeah, but don't you let them.
Rachel looked up at Puck as he held her closer and continued to sing
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there.
She kissed his cheek and smiled through her tears, "Thank you Noah."
He smiled down at her as Rachel's cousin took the mic. "Aww, that was a sweet dance baby, now who is ready to party!"
Shawty had them Apple Bottom jeans, jeans
Boots with the fur, with the fur
The whole club was lookin at her
She started walking back to their table, when Puck grabbed her, "ohh no you don't!"
She hit the flo'
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low…..
He spun her around the dance floor
Them baggy sweat pants
And the Reeboks with the straps, with the straps
She turned around and gave that big booty a smack
She hit the flo' she hit flo'
"C'mon Berry! Get low! "
She laughed, "I can't get any lower Noah!"
He took her hand, grabbed her waist and dipped her back as her laugh filled the whole room.
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low…
Her dads grabbed the camera and took a picture, they hadn't seen her that happy in a while. Before they knew it, it was getting late and they did have school the next day so they left before her dads.
Puck had always liked her, he meant it when he said it in the green room at Sectionals. "You didn't deserve that. Ya know that song."
"Yes I did, I screwed up."
"So did he."
She looked down, playing with the hem of her dress, "Not as much as I did, I knew what I was doing."
Puck pulled the truck on to the shoulder of the road, "You don't think he knew what he was doing by keeping a secret this long?" Rachel you HAVE to stand up for yourself. I know you love him but he's not the greatest guy in the world." He shook his head and hit the top of the steering wheel with his palm. "That's both of your problems…you see each other as soo perfect and then when something goes wrong it's the end of the world. SOMETHING is always going to happen, you can't be together a lifetime and not fight and not screw up but you get through it! You shouldn't have sat there and taken that, okay he's mad but it was out of line!"
Rachel stared at Puck blankly.
"He can be such an ass, he lets you find out that way and it's your fault? He does these grand gestures as apologies, and you know why he has to do that? cause he screws up so epically that he has to make an apology a huge scene, he's a loser and…"
Rachel sat up and faced Puck, "SHUT UP! DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM LIKE THAT!"
Puck laughed as he merged back onto the highway… "well it looks like you aren't going to have a problem standing up to people anymore."
Rachel leaned back in her seat and touched her forehead, "I've yelled a lot this weekend, I think more than I ever have."
"And how do you feel?"
Rachel sat straight up and beamed, "Like I could win a screaming match with the devil!"
Puck glanced over at her, "Oh, I wouldn't take on Santana just yet.'
They laughed and talked the rest of the way home. He pulled up to her house and parked the car "We'll get him back, this won't last long." She reached over and gave him a hug then got out and closed the door. He rolled the window down and leaned to her side. "Hey, I meant all that at the wedding, you need me…just call."
Puck leaned forward, "Finn, I do love her, the same way everyone in this room does. We hang out and I like who I am when I'm around her. I'm not going anywhere."
Kurt walked over, "you dated a girl who only had you, was insecure, and afraid to try new things. That's not Rachel anymore. She has a group of friends that aren't going anywhere. We've instilled confidence in her and even when we've argued she understands it's fleeting and not the end of the world. She doesn't think you're Mr. Perfect anymore, but she does miss you and you make her happy. That's all we want, we just want both of our friends to be happy. The old Rachel would have taken you back that night, but the new one has learned a lot from everyone in this room…she's stronger. That's what we meant when we said she rejected you because of us."
Quinn joined, "so here is your envelope, you have one as does she. You open it when you get to Rachel's. A few things we feel you need to discuss to make a fresh start then we're out of it and wish you all the best. "
Finn stood up and smiled, "Thanks, I guess I did need to hear all that." he hugged Kurt, and looked at his group of friends, "I know you guys never left me alone."
Puck stuck out his hand "We cool?"
Finn raised an eyebrow and met his hand with Puck's "Yeah, we're cool…but if you ever kiss her again I'll kick your ass."
Puck slapped him on the shoulder, "go, she's waiting."
Finn smiled and started running up the stairs,
"FINN!" everyone yelled.
"What?"
Quinn rolled her eyes and stood at the bottom of the stairs with her hand stretched out. "The envelope."
He laughed and sprinted back downstairs, "oh thanks!"
He went to his room to do a quick change, he at least wanted to look good for his beautiful girlfriend.
He jumped in the truck, turned on the radio and started off to Rachel's. He thought of how much he had missed, he hadn't been there for the holidays, her birthday, new years, the wedding…all of it. He had been mad though, she had cheated but in reaction to his lie. Puck was right, there were going to be bumps in the road, they had to deal with them and not walk away.
He ran his fingers through his hair as he walked to her door. He was nervous and he really didn't know why. Everything pointed to getting her back in his arms tonight…but the club had talked to her LAST night! She's had more time to think! What if she's had a change of heart? He held the envelope tight and knocked on the door. What if she's not happy to see me? What if…
Then the door opened.
SO IT WAS PUCK! NOW WE'RE AT RACHEL'S. OUR COUPLE IS ONE STEP CLOSER .YAY! PLEASE REVIEW! :)
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MEMBERS OF NEW DIRECTIONS HAVE WRITTEN DOWN FOR FINCHEL?