A/N: I know I said it would be a while for the next update but I managed to find some time. Decided to change it up a bit in this chapter and throw you Puckleberry fans a curveball. Thank you for all of your reviews and support - I've been keeping an eye on the views this is getting and I'm just astounded that people are actually reading. So thank you so much! Enjoy :)

Chapter 11

I was just packing up my stuff from my locker after school and I heard music drifting down the hallway from the auditorium. I heard Rachel's voice singing. I hadn't seen Rachel we'd talked in her room a few days ago. I didn't know whether she was ignoring me or what, but I definitely wanted to find out.

I heard piano music as I pulled back the side door to the auditorium. He'd deny it if you asked him but I'd seen Finn sneak around there a few times. I climbed the staircase to the balcony, so I could get a better view. I stood in the shadows and watched her sit at the piano, playing a few notes and singing along. I guess this is what she did after school when we'd all gone home. I remember her sounding real good.

And then my stomach dropped. I heard a male voice but I couldn't see where it was coming from. Rachel's head jumped up and she stopped playing the notes on the piano. She sat completely still.

You tell all the boys no
Makes you feel good yeah
I know you're out of my league
But that won't scare me way out no
You've carried on so long
You couldn't stop if you tried it
You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
But I'm gonna try

He stepped out from behind the red curtain onto the stage where she was. A tall guy with curly dark hair and a weird dress sense. Basically the complete opposite of me. But man that dude had a good voice, which made me feel even fuckin' worse.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful
Would you let me see beneath your perfect
Take it off now girl, take it off now girl
I wanna see inside
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight

I could see her smile from all the way from the balcony. I stood hidden in the shadows, making sure they couldn't see me. And then she opened her mouth.

You let all the girls go
Makes you feel good, don't it?
Behind your Broadway show
I heard a voice say please don't hurt me
You've carried on so long
You couldn't stop if you tried it
You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
But I'm gonna try

She stood from her space on the piano bench, moving towards this guy.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful
Would you let me see beneath your perfect
Take it off now boy, take it off now boy
I wanna see inside
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight
Oh, Tonight

See beneath, See beneath,
I... Tonight
I...

And then they both started singing together. It made me wanna puke how good they sounded together.

I'm gonna climb on top your ivory tower
I'll hold your hand and then we'll jump right out
We'll be falling, falling
But that's okay
Cause I'll be right here
I just wanna know

They finished off the song together, just staring at each other.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful
Would you let me see beneath your perfect
Take it off now girl, take it off now girl
Cause I wanna see inside
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight
Tonight, see beneath your beautiful
Oh tonight, we ain't perfect, we ain't perfect
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight.

There was a pause between them and I was kinda starting to wonder if my mind had made him up.

He smiled. 'Glad to see you still know the words Star.'

'As if I'd forget them.'

She wrapped her arms up around his neck hugging him. He looked kinda possessive over her as he hugged her back.

Pulling back she smiled. 'Jesse, what are you doing here?!'

He spoke with one of those really 'cool' Californian accents that only people from like, L.A. or somewhere had. He had one of those bright white smiles. Definitely a fake Hollywood smile.

'Coming to see you of course!'

She paused, that smile fell. '…How did you find me…?'

'I have a friend that lives round here. People are finding out Rachel…'

'Does Paulie know?'

He nodded to answer her. She stepped back slightly. 'He sent you didn't he…'

He stepped forward shaking his head a lot. 'No, no I swear! You just upped and left, I had to find out from him that you'd quit. I've wanted to see you; I just didn't know where you'd gone. You could have dropped off the edge of the earth for all I knew!'

She nodded. 'I'm sorry Jesse. I just couldn't do it anymore. I had to get out. Paulie keeps asking me to come back but…I just can't do it…'

'So you're in hiding?'

'That's one way of putting it.'

'The industry isn't the same without you Gold Star.'

A sick feeling gripped my stomach. He didn't look much like a porn star. But I guess neither did she. She backed away from him.

She looked away. 'Please don't call me that.'

'For old times sake?'

Her eyes snapped back to him. 'Jesse I'm not sleeping with you. I'm not that girl anymore remember.'

My fists clenched into balls at my sides. I had a real urge to punch that douchebag.

'Neither am I remember. Come to New York with me. You and I both know your voice is still as incredible as I remember. New York would love you.'

'I'm not cut out for audiences.'

'Says the girl who is on the stage of a pretty big auditorium.'

'An empty auditorium. That's how I like it.'

'What's the point in that?'

'I like the quiet. I don't like people watching me.'

'Says the ex-porn star that millions of people watched.'

'Jesse, stop.'

He held up his hands in defeat. 'Okay, okay I get it… Look, I'm going to be around for a few days, I'm staying at the Flagship Inn. Come and see me okay…?'

She looked down and nodded. 'Okay.'

He smiled. 'Hug goodbye…?'

She wrapped her arms around his neck again, and he held her. He looked up to the balcony, staring right at me.