Love Makes You Do the Wacky
(RATED M; Q/P/R/F, P/R)
CHAPTER XIV- Gasps and Sighs
The sighs of relief were drowned out by the thumping of her heart. She couldn't think of anything but Noah… Puck. She should probably get used to calling him that. Puck. She didn't even turn to greet Mike and Matt, not even smile. She couldn't while thinking about wether or not Noah… Puck will come. She guessed not. He had made his decision pretty clear earlier in the bathroom. She did jump at seeing Finn walk through the door. She wasn't expecting it, but he did seem disappointed, by his furrowed brow, that she didn't even acknowledge him.
Kurt was already there when they walked in three minutes before 3:30. They were happy to see him, even though his choice was expected. Although Rachel just walked in behind the group, straggling along like a sad puppy. When Kurt had jokingly asked why she looked like she just got diagnosed with 'cancer of the puppy', she just said "Noah" and they understood. They tried to hug her but when she didn't respond they just let her be. They stared up at the clock longingly, wishing the seconds would tick by faster. When the big hand was precisely on the six they, as a group, turned to stare at the door.
Ten seconds later, Mr. Schuester said, "Well, I guess they're not coming, you guys." But no one moved, not wanting to give up that easily. Not long after Mike and Matt bounded in, then Finn, but still no sign of Noah… Puck. She felt her heart clench and unclench like a fist, like Noah's… like Puck's fist when he was angry, as it was beating. Her bottom lip began to quiver and her knees began to shake. She got pats on the shoulder by her friends in an attempt to console her, but it didn't work she turned and sat in one of the chairs in the corner with her arms clutching her stomach, like she was trying to keep her guts from spilling out, or to keep her body from flying in every direction as if her body could no longer contain the sadness and just made her explode!
She sat in silence as the back ground noise of the Gleeks milled about. Mr. Schuester was messing with a pile of sheet music and talking with the pianist by the piano, Santana and Brittney flittered about Mike and Matt who were having an arm wrestling contest, Kurt and Mercedes were gossiping on about… whatever, she didn't care, and Finn and Quinn were holed up in the corner, acting all lovey-dovey. She felt like she might vomit. She and Noah… Puck used to do that. She was letting herself spiral into such a deep depression that she almost let herself sob in front of everyone. She was about to let out a sob when she heard Kurt gasp. She thought it was just some "juicy bit of news" that Mercedes had told him, but the rest of the room went silent. She held in the sob, and her breath, not wanting anyone to notice her misery by hearing her. She felt a dainty hand hurriedly, and quite annoyingly, tap at her shoulder. She looked towards the owner of the annoying hand and saw Kurt, continuing to tap at her, staring of towards the door. He looked down and made eye contact with her, then looked back toward the door and pointed.
Rachel slowly turned and gasped at the figure of Noah Puckerman, standing in the doorway with that mischievous smirk on his lips, with his hands in his pockets…staring at her. Her insides dropped. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. She must have fallen asleep. Or maybe she did explode from her depression and this was heaven, living how she wanted. Now she and Noah would graduate from high school and she would go to Juilliard, and him right along side her. They would get an apartment and eat soup and mac 'n' cheese (vegan, of course) with crackers and Kool-aid. Until she graduated and got the starring role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and they could up-grade to a penthouse and get married. She would get three Tony awards in one year and he would get three Grammys after signing a record deal with a major label and putting out an album. Then, they would get married, move out to LA and buy a house, have kids, and grow old together, happily married. Yes, that's it! Heaven.
She turns in her seat and lightly touches her feet to the ground. She gets up, with the help of the back of the chair, and begins to walk towards him, albeit, on shaky legs. When she gets to him, she stares in disbelief. Her brown eyes are watering and blurring the image of his face, but she doesn't have the strength to even blink the tears away. "Noah," she says in a raspy voice. She swallows to rid her throat of the lump causing that rasp, "is this… are you…?"
He smiles and lifts his hand to her face, wiping away the tears that haven't fallen yet. "Yeah, babe. This is real, and I'm really here." She takes in a shuddering breath and falls contentedly to into his arms. He holds her against his chest. "I couldn't leave you. I just couldn't," he says into her hair.
"Noah," she says, looking up at him, "are you sure about this? Choosing us over the team means you may get a slushie facial every day."
Puck looks back at his friends and back at her. He lovingly strokes his hand down her hair and looks into her eyes, "Bring it." He pulls her into a tight hug and picks her up, swinging her around in a circle as they both laugh.
Rachel Berry PoV (CHECK)
PS. You guys, when I was writing this, my heart was breaking. I had actual tears running down my face. I am that much in love with Puckleberry. So you guys better have liked it, otherwise I was crying for nothing.