Promise of a New Day (Part 2-Conclusion)
A.N. Shout out to everyone who voted for what happens with Jesse/Puck and reviewed the last chapter! You're listed at the end. I couldn't make everyone's requests come true, but I hope you approve of my choices.
Playlists and photo albums are the same as the previous chapter, but here are the links again. See my profile for full links or add these to youtube for new photo album: /watch?v=lx6F70oEV2g
and playlist: /view_play_list?p=9AC6F4C2D7366448
The links for just the songs that will be featured in this chapter are:
Someday We'll Know: /watch?v=jujqj8LNchQ
More Than a Love Song: /watch?v=l-s-jj9b-I
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, songs, or anything familiar. Photos are of real people and I've borrowed them for this story.
…
Puck was hours away from actually having to stay the night with his true arch-enemy, so he tried to suck it up. Still, he was not looking forward to spending the next two hours with just Rachel's dads for company while she was backstage and then while she performed. And although they hadn't planned it, Jesse was invited to the performance, so it wouldn't surprise him one bit if that little wad squeezed in between the Misters Berry and made himself right at home.
Bastard.
He'd get to actually see Rachel for a while during dinner, but it's not like it would be just the two of them. Far from it.
So Puck suffered in silence after Rachel rushed off to join her cast mates. Well, there was the small talk with her dads to endure, and the awkwardness when Jesse showed up.
And yeah, there was awkwardness.
Jesse spotted them in the lobby just as they were going to find seats. He hailed them with a wave, and Puck could tell the Papa Berries thought the sun shined out of his ass—they were beaming as they waved back.
"Jesse St. James! Glad you could join us. It's been a while since we've seen you! Tell us what you've been up to!" Aaron Berry buzzed.
Jesse smiled at his audience. "Aaron, Marshall, it's nice to see you again," he greeted as he shook their hands. He nodded at Puck. "Puckerman," he acknowledged and extended his hand.
Puck gave a single head nod and shook his hand. "St. James."
"So, what have you been up to, son?" Aaron repeated. Puck winced at the way he was obviously drooling over Jesse—it was clear which of their daughter's boyfriends they preferred.
Score one for Jesse.
Jesse told them about his acceptance to the NYU performing arts program and how he couldn't wait to hit the ground running, so he moved to the city as soon as he possibly could.
"It's so rare to find that kind of drive, motivation, and foresight among people your age," Marshall Berry told Jesse. "Very commendable, don't you agree, Noah?"
"Uh, yeah. I mean, I agree. But you know, Rachel's that driven. I know quite a few people our age that way."
"You're right about our little Rachel," Marshall said with a proud grin.
Score one for Puck.
"Let's get to our seats so we can get the best pictures," prompted Aaron.
Maybe that wasn't a score. Damn.
Jesse gave Puck a dirty look as they headed to find seats. What the fuck?
"You got a problem, man?" Puck whispered through clenched teeth while he followed Jesse down the aisle.
"I think you know," he whispered as he glanced back. "…About Rachel's future?" he hinted.
"Well, spit out already," Puck said in a low growl as he sat next to him.
"We'll talk later," Jesse told him before turning to his left where Rachel's dads were looking through their man-bags for their cameras.
Puck sat sullenly with his arms crossed, praying for an end to this level of hell. Finally the lights dimmed and the curtain rose, so he could at least start looking out for Rachel. Unfortunately, there were scenes from various shows performed before Rachel would grace the stage as Evita. During a number that was clearly not from Evita (Rachel was nowhere in sight), Puck noticed Jesse snapping pictures.
He jabbed him in the side with his elbow. "What are you doing?"
Jesse lowered his camera and turned. "I'm taking pictures of Rachel's friends. I assume she'd like the keepsakes. Besides, see the one playing Sally Bowles? That's Lilli. She likes me."
Puck had no idea who Sally Bowles was, though he felt like it was kinda familiar, probably from watching shit with Rachel. But he followed the direction Jesse was indicating. "The black girl?" he asked.
Jesse nodded, but apparently Puck was a bit too loud (and a bit too blunt), as not only did he get glares from Rachel's dads, but also the people in the seats in front of him. "Sorry," he muttered.
Strike one for Puck. Shit.
When Sally/Lilli started singing Maybe This Time, he recognized the song and realized why Sally Bowles was familiar. He decided he liked April Rhodes' version of the song better, but Lilli was really good too. Of course, he'd heard Rachel singing the same song, and he was sure she would have wiped the floor with this version.
During the next group of scenes, Jesse was taking pictures again. "That's Alexa playing Roxie," he whispered, as if the characters' names had some meaning to Puck.
They didn't.
"And that's Jen playing Velma," Jesse finished.
Puck nodded with mock appreciation. But then he thought it was helpful to see what Rachel's friends looked like before he was introduced to them at the dinner—which he assumed would happen. "Thanks, man," he said. It still sucked that Jesse knew all of Rachel's friends here.
Finally Rachel took the stage. Puck was on the edge of his seat. Jesse and Rachel's dads were taking pictures like mad men. Puck cursed himself for only having the stupid crappy camera on his phone. Well, Rachel would have all the pictures she could ever want between her dads, and she was sure to send him the best ones, so Puck sat back, ready to be wowed by his beautiful, talented girlfriend.
And wowed he was.
While singing Don't Cry for Me Argentina, Rachel felt positively euphoric. She knew she was killing it.
She was.
Rachel's dads were the first to stand up to give her an ovation, followed by Puck and Jesse, the rest of their row, and eventually the whole theater audience. Rachel was beaming with pure joy as she prepared for the next scene.
Jesse was kind enough to point out Rob as Ché and Blake as Perón to Puck during the next number. "They're pretty cool," Jesse added.
"Great," Puck said flatly. At least they were pretty average looking dudes—not that he was worried. He totally wasn't.
After the Evita scenes, there were some songs with what must have been everybody in the camp. First was one with the guys trading off on being the lead, and the other (that Puck actually paid attention to) featured Rachel as one of the leads. It was kinda familiar.
Jesse noticed Puck's look of deep concentration. He leaned over to whisper, "That's What I Did for Love from A Chorus Line."
"Got it," Puck nodded.
Marshall and Aaron Berry noticed the two boys had been whispering back and forth during the performances. They smiled, thinking they were witnessing friendship moments between the two boys.
The finale was One, again from A Chorus Line. (That info again courtesy of Jesse St. James. Puck resisted the urge to ask him if he's gay. He knew that would definitely be a strike against him according to Rachel's dads.)
Puck was quick to stand up and applaud when the show ended. Rachel was awesome, of course, and really he just couldn't wait for her to rush into his arms. He walked out of the theater in a bit of a daze, imagining her tiny body running toward him, brown eyes sparkling, teeth flashing as she laughed.
He was in such a haze that he almost missed it when she actually did that very thing. As she hurdled into his arms, he laughed and lifted her off the ground, spinning around before setting her back down. "You were amazing, Rach," he told her. "Definitely the best one here!"
"I couldn't agree more," said Marshall Berry, opening his arms for a hug from Rachel.
Score for Puck—he hoped.
Aaron Berry joined in the hug and then got one of his own. "I'm so proud of you, little star," he said, getting choked up and a little weepy.
"You have so much potential, Rachel," Jesse added, standing off to the side. "I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and can't wait to be there watching you develop into the star you can be."
Rachel stepped away from her dad. "Thank you, Jesse," she said politely.
Puck counted that as strike one against Jesse because that was not exactly the best compliment and it definitely didn't get a great reaction from Rachel.
Her dads noticed too. They could see the light in Rachel's eyes when she interacted with the Puckerman boy—a light that was not present for Jesse St. James. The two men exchanged knowing looks. They were going to have to change their opinions of Noah Puckerman. He clearly made their daughter the happiest they'd ever seen her.
"Follow me to the dinner reception," Rachel said as she held Puck's hand and led the way.
"You're beautiful as always, Rach," Puck whispered in her ear. She smiled brightly and kissed him on the cheek sweetly. Then she whispered in his ear.
"I'll reward you later for sticking through all of this—when we're alone."
Score! Even if it was with Rachel and not her dads, Puck couldn't help grinning with anticipation of his future reward.
And Rachel felt like she was floating on air as she glided next to Noah into the reception hall. She had changed from her costume and was wearing a formal blue gown and with the help of her boyfriend's compliments, she really was feeling rather beautiful and talented and…in love. She gazed up at him dreamily when he pulled out her chair for her to have a seat at the table. "Thank you, Noah."
Puck winked at Rachel as he sat next to her.
"Aw, what a lovely picture moment," Aaron announced with a clap of his hands. He took a picture of Puck and Rachel from their chairs. Following their picture, Puck stood up and offered to take a picture of the rest of them, intending the picture to be of Rachel and her dads. But he didn't say anything when Jesse wormed his way into the picture.
According to Puck's tally, that was probably a score for him and one for Jesse. After the picture moments, Puck returned to his seat and her dads sat on the other side of Rachel, leaving Jesse to choose the seat next to Aaron or next to the current boyfriend.
Puck raised his eyebrow as Jesse took the chair next to his, but he kept his mouth shut—at least preventing another strike. He noticed Jesse, then Rachel, waving at someone.
"Lilli!" Rachel exclaimed, standing up. "You were wonderful!"
"Thanks, girl," Lilli beamed, giving Rachel a hug. "You were fab too of course."
Jesse stepped up to greet Lilli as well. "A job well done, Lilli."
"Why thank you, Jesse. I didn't know you would be here."
"Neither did I. But Rachel invited me, and I'll be housing Puckerman over here," Jesse said as he gestured to Puck.
Lilli raised an eyebrow. "Really?" she looked at Jesse with a hint of admiration. "That's very big of you."
"I try," Jesse said.
Lilli moved toward Puck, who was ready to punch Jesse in his fake-smiling face. "So you're the infamous boyfriend?" she grinned as she looked him up and down. She turned to Rachel. "I get it, girl. I get it."
Puck smirked at the obvious appraisal of his physique—he was half-proud and half-offended. He had to show he wasn't just a hot piece of ass. He totally was, but he could also hang with these theater freaks. "I really enjoyed your performance of Maybe This Time. It reminded me of April Rhodes."
First, Lilli was obviously pleased and impressed, but at Puck's second sentence she was clearly confused.
Jesse cleared his throat, also looking puzzled. "Perhaps you mean Liza Minnelli or Natasha Richardson, but I'm not sure because those names sound nothing like what you said."
Rachel stepped in. "Actually, he means what he said. It's an inside reference from Lima. Noah probably thought I'd told you about April Rhodes, Lilli."
"Oh," Lilli flashed a small smile. "Then, thank you for the compliment," she told Puck.
"Yeah, sure. Sorry for the confusion." Puck realized he shouldn't always say exactly what he was thinking, and he wished he'd taken a second to realize they'd have no fucking clue who April Rhodes was. At least Rachel stood up for him. He pulled her in for a little hug.
Lilli turned around, realizing her parents were approaching. "Do you mind if we join your table?" she asked.
"Of course not," smiled Marshall Berry. "Please join us."
There were introductions all around. Lilli didn't realize Rachel had two gay dads, or that one of those dads was black. Somehow, that knowledge made Lilli admire Rachel even more. That little girl who seemed like she had it all in camp may have faced a bit more adversity in her life than she thought. Rachel had hinted as much, but Lilli hadn't really believed her. She was a pretty white girl with a hot boyfriend and a hot ex-boyfriend who could afford to attend Broadway Camp in NYC. What hardships could she have to face? Some baby mama drama was nothing. But considering all these factors on top of the fact that she came from Nowheresville, Ohio; Lilli thought maybe there was more to Rachel Berry than she realized. At the end of the night, she knew she definitely wanted to keep in touch.
Dinner was served and the topic of discussion was of course the camp and the show. Puck's eyes glazed over a bit during Jesse's detailed critique of the show. Then he realized that nobody else was thrilled to hear what the little douche had to say either. Heh. Strike two for Jesse.
That cued Puck to listen in for the first time Jesse took any kind of break for air. That's when he said, "Well, I'm not an expert like Jesse," he looked pointedly at his nemesis, "but as a performer and general fan of good music, I was really impressed with everyone and really enjoyed the show."
Rachel squeezed his hand under the table and beamed. "Thank you, Noah."
"Well said," Aaron told Puck.
He might consider that one a homerun: especially given the sour look on Jesse's face. That was gold right there.
…
During the evening the group mingled and Rachel introduced her new Broadway Camp friends to her family and boyfriend. Puck had to agree with Jesse's description that everyone seemed pretty cool. In no time at all (in Rachel's eyes), the reception was over, and Rachel's dads said they had to go back to the hotel and go to bed early for their flight. They offered to share a cab with the boys, but Jesse said they'd be fine and the subway was cheaper. So Puck had no choice but to say goodbye to Rachel in a publically appropriate way and head uptown with Jesse. It turns out that he lived close by, and they spent the crowded subway ride with Jesse just telling Puck directions in case they got separated for any reason. It wasn't until they got to his high-rise that he started in. "I have to say, you're welcome here, but I completely disapprove of how you're treating Rachel," Jesse said after he closed the door behind Puck.
"What the fuck?"
"I'm referring to the fact that you're compelling her to give up her dreams of stardom on Broadway without the slightest regard for what's best for her."
Puck clenched his fists. What did this little douchebag know? "You don't know shit, St. James. I was slow on the draw, but I made it up to her."
"That doesn't sound like love to me. It sounds like you're a selfish prick just looking out for yourself."
"Dude! Do you even know what you're talking about?"
"I know what Rachel told me. You may be surprised, but we talked quite a bit. We had a pretty nice time together these past few days."
"Really?" Puck scoffed.
"Yes," Jesse nodded. "Would you like some proof?" he offered.
"What the fuck?" Puck repeated.
Jesse shook his head at the poor bastard's limited vocabulary. But he brought out his laptop and pulled up a picture— their recent picture taken by Lilli walking through New York. That was followed by the one of him (and Blake) kissing Rachel on the cheek after her showcase performance.
Puck was stunned into silence. It was like that douche was staring at him from the picture, just daring him to punch that cocky look off his fucking face. He glanced up to see the real Jesse looking about the same way-without the puckered lips kissing Rachel on the cheek of course. Without warning, Puck hauled his fist back and gave a right hook to the jaw, followed by a quick left jab to the nose.
Well, that's what Puck wanted to do. But he stopped himself. He knew that Rachel would be…the opposite of proud—if he hit Jesse—not to mention her fathers. The last thing Puck needed was another reason for her dads to hate him and love Jesse.
Instead, Puck's fist pounded the wall: leaving an unfortunate series of cracks and a small hole in the drywall—and a few small gashes in his fist. "Fuck," he swore.
"I could say the same, given the damage you've done to my wall," Jesse said evenly. "But your aggressive display does nothing to reassure me that you care more for Rachel than you do for yourself—a true sign of love."
Puck was so furious, he could barely see straight. "I'm giving up seeing my kid grow up to go be with her in New York! If that doesn't sound like love, what fuckin' does?"
Jesse contemplated this new information. "I appreciate that," he said with icy calm. "This wasn't the case the last time Rachel and I spoke, so clearly this selflessness was not your first impulse."
"It's a fucking major decision!" Puck shouted.
Jesse responded coolly, "Like I said before, you can have this year with her in Ohio. I've given it to you, as we agreed. But when Rachel moves here next year, we'll see how things go."
"You're not giving me anything. She's with me, not you, and don't you fucking forget it again. Learn your fucking lesson, why don't you? Don't make me kick your ass a second time."
Jesse nodded dismissively. "If you'll excuse me, I should call my father and ask him what I should do about that hole you left in the wall."
"Are you shitting me?" Puck asked as he saw Jesse pull out his cell phone. "What did you think would happen when you showed me that picture?"
"I suppose I didn't prepare myself for the fist of fury to fly into the wall inches from my face. Now I know I should have," he stated matter-of-factly. "I assumed you knew about such things. When you clearly did not, I felt obliged to show you."
"Then who's the idiot now?" Puck smirked.
"Who, indeed?" Jesse smirked back.
"Mother-fucker," Puck ground out, punching the wall again. It was better than pounding that chicken-shit the way he wanted. And Puck didn't think actually kicking the shit out of the poor bastard was necessary. But he was at a loss for what to do next.
"If you're finished inflicting damage on my property, I'd like to call my father and probably the building super," Jesse said with a calm that surprised even him. "I suggest you leave now so you're not arrested."
"Oh you little shit head," he clenched his fists. "Yeah, I'm going. The only reason I'm not wasting more time on you is because I've got to meet Rachel tomorrow morning and I don't want to embarrass her if I show up with my knuckles fucked up from your face."
Jesse nodded and held up one finger as if to tell Puck to wait while he was on the phone.
Fuck that noise. Puck gave Jesse a different finger and headed out.
Jesse stared at the door while the phone rang as he tried to reach his dad. No answer.
As he suspected.
Jesse sighed and wondered whether he'd lost his shot with Rachel or not. She was clearly completely duped by Puckerman, and while her dads started out eating from the palm of his hand, he lost them over the course of the evening. Why in the world everyone seemed to think Puck was so great was beyond him.
…
Shit. Rachel was gonna be so pissed, Puck thought as he stormed out of Jesse's building. But wait a minute, he was pissed too. She never mentioned that they have a fucking picture with Jesse fucking kissing her on the cheek. But first thing's first, he needed to text Rach so they didn't stop by Jesse's to meet him since he obviously wouldn't be there. He typed out that he'd meet them at the airport and hoped that would work.
So Puck headed to the only place he could think of—the Jordan place. He had their address but didn't have their number—only Josh's cell—which was in Ohio with Josh. Apparently Rachel had their phone number since she'd tried to reach Liv and Jake earlier to ask if he could stay there instead of with Jesse, but Puck couldn't really call Rachel and ask for the number…Not without explaining why he had to leave Jesse's. And he didn't really feel like getting into it. He just hoped they'd be there when he showed up on the Jordan's doorstep.
…
"Noah Puckerman!" Liv exclaimed after taking a moment to register who was at her door. "I'm so surprised to see you! We were just talking about you!"
"You were?" Puck asked, confused.
"Well," she smiled conspiratorially and leaned closer. "We were talking about the band, and Josh. And by we, I mean Viv." Liv batted her eyelashes, in her best imitation of her sister Vivian.
"Uh, do you have something in your eye, Liv?" Puck asked.
Liv stopped blinking. Rachel would get it, she thought. Then she made a realization. "Where's Rachel?" she asked, looking around Puck.
He shrugged. "It's just me. Sorry to bust in on you like this. I was hoping I could stay overnight here. Just tonight." He lifted his duffle bag, revealing his split knuckles.
That's when Liv had a second realization. "You're bleeding!"
"Shit," he muttered. "Sorry. It's not too bad, but if you could tell me if I could stay here tonight or not, that would help me figure out what to do next."
"Oh! Of course! Now I'm sorry! Do come in." Liv stepped aside to let him inside. "Jake! Bring me the first aid kit!" she called into the hallway.
"What the hell? What's wrong?" Jake shouted back in a panic.
"Liv?" Vivian yelled from the kitchen before she came running.
Liv smiled nervously at Puck and then called out to her family. "I didn't mean to frighten you. It's not me who's hurt." Jake arrived with the kit in hand. Liv gestured. "It's Noah Puckerman. Josh's friend."
"Yeah, I remember. It hasn't been that long since he was here last," Jake nodded. "What's the first aid stuff for?"
Puck apologized again, explained that his hand was bleeding, and that he just needed a place to crash for the night.
"Are you in some kind of trouble, kid?" Jake asked as Liv looked through the kit for the right supplies.
"Nah," Puck shrugged. "I was trying to get a hold of you two earlier to see if I could stay the night because Rachel's dads wouldn't let me stay with her after her performance. So I had to go to the only other person in the city she knows—her ex-boyfriend. And…yeah…that didn't work out so well."
Jake chuckled. "Well, seeing that you're the one with the bloody knuckles, I'm guessing you punched him, not the other way around."
"He's a douche. I wanted to punch him; ended up punching his wall instead and getting the hell outta there."
Jake laughed. "Enough said."
Liv shook her head and shrugged at Vivian. "Well, it's a good thing we have extra space. Viv was planning to stay the night in the guest room—we've been having some sisterly bonding, but if you don't mind sleeping on the couch in the study, you're more than welcome."
"That would be awesome. I totally owe you. And I'll be out of your way early so I can catch my flight back to Ohio."
"It's no problem," Liv said. "Should we call anyone for you?"
"No, thanks," Puck said casually. Internally he was shouting HELL NO. "I don't want to wake Rachel and her dads since we have an early flight."
"Very considerate of you," Vivian said from behind Liv. She couldn't hide the hint of skepticism in her voice or the knowing look in her eyes.
"Uh, yeah. Well, thanks again," Puck said as he stood up from where Liv had been tending to his hand. "I'll just get out of your way and hit the sack if that's ok."
So with little more fuss, Liv prepared some pillows and blankets, and Puck headed up to the study to get some sleep.
…
Puck awoke to his cell phone alarm, telling him he had to head to the airport. He wasn't sure if he should just leave without waking anyone up, or if he should wake someone up to say thank you. Rachel would know what to do. But he sure as hell wasn't calling her to ask. He got dressed, gathered his shit, and headed downstairs quietly.
He was in luck. Everyone was up. Jake was starting some coffee and Liv and Vivian were pulling out bread and eggs and stuff from the fridge.
"Oh, Noah, good morning," greeted Liv. "Care for some breakfast before you leave?"
"No, thanks," Puck said. He didn't correct Liv's over-use of his real name. He knew she just called him that because of Rachel.
"These two make a good breakfast," Jake cajoled. "And I make a mean coffee," he grinned.
Puck chuckled but declined. "I'm not sure how long it will take to get to the airport, so I figure I should get going. But thanks again for letting me stay."
They said their goodbyes, with Liv extending an invitation for him to return anytime. "And don't forget Rachel next time," she said with a wink.
"Sure thing," Puck smirked. "Thanks again. See ya next time we're in town."
Puck headed to the subway station, feeling almost like Josh's older brother and sister-in-law were sorta like family to him and Rachel too: like they already had friendly faces waiting for them when they came back to New York.
It was a good feeling.
But not as good as the feeling of seeing Rachel again and heading home together.
He'd deal with the fall out of the whole Jesse thing when he had to. Ok, he thought about how he'd deal with it the whole way into JFK.
…
But when he got to the terminal and saw Rachel waving at him with a huge smile on her face, Puck's mind went blank. All he could do was jog over to her and wrap her up in a hug.
"I have great news, Noah!" Rachel was vibrating with excitement. Puck could see so many similarities between her and Aaron Berry. He could use some good news before he went into the bad news about Jesse's wall and his annoyance at Rachel for hiding the existence of that little kissy picture.
"Oh yeah?" he smirked. "Lay it on me."
She leaned toward him with a gleam in her eye. "Last night, Dad and Daddy talked about how impressed they are with you and how happy you make me!"
Puck was pretty shocked. After a few moments, he finally managed to say, "So they're finally coming around, huh?"
"More than just coming around! They've done a complete 180! Well, that might be an exaggerating, but they love you almost as much as I do! I think me telling them about your song and what it meant helped, along with them seeing us together yesterday. In any case, they're definitely on Team Noah," Rachel finished with a flourish.
Puck shook his head with a chuckle. "Team Noah, huh? That's…great…hard to believe, but great," he stammered. His insecurities about Jesse St. James were vanishing. It didn't really even seem worth mentioning.
"It is great," Rachel said, leaning her head on his shoulder and making herself comfortable in the airplane seat. "I'm so happy, Noah."
"Me too, baby, me too," he said, running his fingers through her silky hair. He dozed off and before he knew it, they were landing in Ohio.
…
It wasn't until after they landed and Puck was grabbing his bag that Rachel noticed his hand. "Oh, Noah! What happened?"
Puck glanced at the Papa Berries. "I'll tell you later, ok?" he pleaded in a totally manly way. "When we're alone."
Rachel looked at him with concern but agreed.
So after a reasonable amount of time (the amount her fathers made her wait at home unpacking and regaling them with stories from camp, Rachel went to the Puckerman residence to hear the story that her boyfriend wouldn't tell her in front of her fathers.
Of course, Puck had to tell her the story.
And of course, Rachel was upset.
She stormed out.
Then back in.
"I understand. And I'm proud of you for resisting the urge to express your emotions in the form of physical violence toward Jesse's person. While destruction of property is also…not ideal…" Rachel's voice trailed off.
"Yeah, but it's progress, right?" Puck asked hopefully.
"Yes, it's certainly progress," Rachel's lips curved into a small smile.
Puck opened his arms, gesturing for her to join him on the bed. She smiled wider and he enveloped her in a hug. "Still mad at me, B?"
"I'm trying to be," she joked, "but you make it far too difficult to stay mad. You're too charming, Noah Puckerman."
Puck laughed, feeling relieved.
…
The remaining weeks of summer were going rather perfectly, if Rachel were asked to give her assessment. The only imperfection was the lack of alone time to…be intimate, but she understood that even though her dads were now Team Noah, they weren't Team Sexually Active Teenagers. That was understandable, she decided, so she focused on the positive. Not only was she enjoying every possible moment with her amazing boyfriend, but she was catching up on friendships in Lima and maintaining her new friendships from Broadway camp. She made sure she talked to Quinn and apologized for her lack of good friendship behavior over the summer and asked about everything that had been going on with her lately.
She even had a new idea to share with Noah.
"So what do you think about a double date?" she asked. "Fuinn suggested it."
"Who the hell is Fuinn?" he asked with annoyance from his comfortable spot on her bed.
"Oh," Rachel said brightly. "You know how some people started calling us Puckleberry?"
Puck rolled his eyes and nodded.
"Well, Finn and Quinn's couple name is Fuinn."
Puck shook his head in mild disgust. Then he looked at Rachel. "So when we go out on double date things, people will call us Puckleberry Fuinn?"
Rachel started giggling in delight as she clapped her hands together. "Yes!"
"Put me out of my misery now," Puck groaned and fell back dramatically on her pillows.
She crawled onto her bed next to him and swiped at him playfully. "Don't be silly. It's a compliment. It means we're a power couple. Like Brangelina."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie—Brangelina," she explained.
"Well, who had a couple name first? Us or Finn and Quinn?" Puck asked.
Rachel's eyes lit up as she bounced up and down on the mattress. "We did! We won!"
"Damn straight we did," he said proudly—even though he wasn't sure exactly why he felt a sense of pride over a humiliating couple name. "I've never really won anything over Finn—especially when I'm not even trying."
"That's not true," Rachel said.
"It's not?" he asked, brows furrowed.
"You won me," she declared, stretching to give him a kiss before cuddling in bed next to him.
"Oh yeah! And I wasn't even trying," he smirked.
"Hey!" Rachel exclaimed as she elbowed him lightly.
…
So the foursome went on their second double date—the first being junior prom. When they showed up at Mario's—their favorite restaurant—Quinn shook her head at the sight of Rachel.
"What?" Rachel asked, looking down at herself for any obvious cause of Quinn's expression of amusement.
Finn caught on first. "You're dressed like twins or something!" he exclaimed with a chuckle.
"Damn, he's right," laughed Puck. "I'd say the day Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray dress as twins is a picture moment."
This time Rachel laughed at his reference to picture moments. Then she stepped toward Quinn. "Of course we're not dressed like twins, but we do obviously have good taste. What do you say, Quinn, will you pose for a picture with me?"
"Sure," Quinn said with a tentative smile. She smiled for the picture, but she was actually caught off-guard by how radiant Rachel looked. She hardly looked like the Rachel Berry Quinn was used to seeing. They definitely did NOT look like twins with Rachel in her white lacy dress and Quinn in her white ruffled summer dress, but whatever was different about Rachel—her hair, her makeup, Quinn wasn't sure—but whatever it was, Quinn was simultaneously happy for Rachel and a little nervous for herself. But while they waited to be seated at a table, she felt her fears dissipate as she could tell how completely engrossed with each other Rachel and Puck were—and Finn didn't seem to notice Rachel's new look—or if he did, he was smart enough not to bring it up in front of Quinn. He seemed to be unable to take his eyes off of Quinn, so she enjoyed the feeling of warmth spreading through her under his gaze.
When the hostess took them to their table, they seemed to have little to say to each other. Rachel didn't really know what to talk about without sounding like she was bragging about New York. Puck wasn't much of a talker in these types of situations and was mostly keeping an eye on Finn to make sure he didn't hit on Rachel. Finn was pondering whether to have lasagna or fettuccine alfredo—or both. Quinn couldn't stand the silence, so she thought fast and came up with a topic of conversation. "So…her going away party was so successful, I think Rachel should have a back-to-school party. Don't you boys agree?"
"Hell yeah!" Puck exclaimed.
"Great idea, Quinn," Finn grinned, putting the menu aside.
"Rachel?" Quinn prompted.
"Well," she answered hesitantly. "I'll have to ask my dads, but I imagine they'll be agreeable to a small celebration." Rachel kind of wanted to spend every moment possible with her boyfriend, but she supposed that having one party with their friends wouldn't hurt and would probably be fun.
So Quinn succeeded in ridding them of awkward silence and arranging a party. They agreed on details like inviting the glee club seniors (and nobody from Puck's band—she thought that went without saying, but Puck didn't get the memo on the 'no band talk' policy).
In a display of poor table manners, Puck took a bite of his lasagna before inviting Quinn and Finn to his next show with the band. "It's another all-ages show," he explained, "and it really helps if we have a friendly crowd. Plus, I'm gonna sing lead on a song for Rach," he grinned proudly.
"Really?" Rachel practically squealed, taking Puck's face in her tiny hands and kissing him. Then she turned to face Finn and Quinn. "Oh, you must come! Noah is so talented! He's even writing his own songs that sound better than the ones on the radio!"
Finn and Quinn looked at each other in surprise. "Puck's writing songs?"
"Yeah, I am, dude," Puck told Finn. "Don't act so shocked." He looked at Rachel with what he was sure was a sappy expression, but he couldn't help it. "It's easy when you have inspiration."
Rachel melted right there. If her body could correspond to her emotional state, she'd be a puddle on the floor. She told him as much, but apparently her language sounded odd. At the questioning quirk of his eyebrow, Rachel flung her arms around her boyfriend and kissed him enthusiastically. "You're amazing!"
"You are," he grinned down at her.
Quinn rolled her eyes at their cuteness, but she and Finn couldn't help but smile.
…
So that's how Quinn, Finn, and the rest of the glee rising seniors ended up at The Coffee House for another performance of The Relentless, with special guest Rachel Berry. Yes, that was actually written on the chalk board outside the café—with part of the message in Rachel's handwriting.
Josh handed her the music to Someday We'll Know. At first, Rachel was fine with the selection, but then she scanned the lyrics and found something she wasn't sure was appropriate near the end of the song.
"I'm sorry, I cannot perform this song with you in front of Quinn and Finn," she said formally.
Josh nodded. "That's ok. I could sing it alone since it's originally not a duet. …Or better yet, I could ask…what's her name? Santana, I think that's the one."
"Santana? How do you know Santana?"
"You mean Puckerman didn't tell you?" Josh smirked. "He invited some of your high school pals to watch a show we did here a while ago. Yeah…Santana…she seemed…eager for attention."
From across the room, Puck caught Rachel's death glare—first pointed at Josh, then aimed at…him! What did he do? He headed their way in time to hear Rachel say, "Josh Jordan, you are a fiend!"
"Whoa, breakin' out the big guns there, Rach. First and last name? What'd you do, Josh?"
"I simply requested Rachel's accompaniment on a song. When she declined, I considered asking your mutual friend, Santana."
"Shit," Puck muttered. He knew Josh had no way of knowing his history with Santana, but he'd stumbled on the one girl, besides Quinn, who would really drive Rachel crazy.
"Nothing to worry about, Puckerman," Josh smirked. "Your girlfriend here has a little jealous streak too, and she's agreed to sing with me."
"Dude, I don't know what this is about, but I do know one thing—you're a douche."
"I think I prefer fiend," Josh grinned. "It's part of my charm." He winked at the tiny brunette scowling up at him.
Rachel huffed and turned on her heel. Puck called to her, "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, even if I don't know why you don't want to sing some song."
She turned back around. "I have no doubt that Josh really would bring in Santana—and that thought bothers me more than singing this song," she said vehemently before calming down. "Besides, I'm always too sensitive about lyrics. This one just…made me think of Quinn. But maybe Josh will play it cool for once and not screw things up."
"Play it cool?" Puck smirked at her choice of words.
She gave him a playful shove. "Thanks for your concern though and for coming to my defense with Josh."
"Any time, little lady."
Rachel shoved him again with a smile. He was too charming.
…
After the band had played most of their set, Josh paused to talk to the small crowd—largely McKinley high schoolers—enjoying their performance.
"We have a special addition to sing the next song with me—it's a song I had to do as a duet because of my secret crush on Mandy Moore," Josh grinned into the microphone.
Quinn raised her eyebrow. Trey piped up, "Not a secret anymore." He hit the drums and cymbals in a rim shot with comedic timing.
Josh resisted the urge to flip Trey the finger—this was an all-ages show, after all. "Yeah, thanks, man. I realized that." To move things along without further delay, he counted off the beats and started playing. Rachel moved to center stage and began singing Someday We'll Know.
Ninety miles outside Chicago
Can't stop driving, I don't know why
So many questions, I need an answer
Two years later you're still on my mind
Whatever happened to Amelia Earhart?
Who holds the stars up in the sky?
Is true love just once in a lifetime?
Did the captain of Titanic cry?
Quinn was still pondering his choice of song. She'd never told Josh about how much she loved Mandy Moore or the movie A Walk to Remember. She'd never told Puck either. Finn was the only one who knew. But somehow, Josh picked this song to sing, on this day.
Oh, Someday we'll know
If love can move mountains
Someday we'll know
Why the sky is blue
Someday we'll know
Why I wasn't meant for you...
Finn felt Quinn's shoulders stiffen. "Isn't this from that movie you like?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded. She was playing the lyrics in her head and she knew what was coming—unless Josh changed the lyrics, she was preparing to be pissed.
Does anybody know the way to Atlantis?
What the wind says when she cries?
I'm speeding by the place that I met you
For the ninety-seventh time...Tonight
Rachel let herself forget about her discomfort with the song once Josh did an impromptu spin move with her. They danced around as they sang and she realized she was having a lot of fun.
Someday we'll know
Why Sampson loved Delilah?
One day I'll go
Dancing on the moon
Someday you'll know
That I was the one for you...
There it was. And Quinn was pissed.
Open up the world
I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow
Watched the stars crash in the sea
If I can ask God just one question
Why aren't you here with me…tonight?
This time, Puck didn't feel the jealousy boiling over as he watched Rachel and Josh dance around each other while they sang. He just chuckled and enjoyed the moment.
Oh, Someday we'll know
If love can move a mountain
Someday we'll know
Why the sky is blue
Someday we'll know
Why I wasn't meant for you...
Josh would glance at the audience (Quinn) every now and then, but for the most part he looked at Rachel during their duet lines. It was easier that way. But singing the song, this song, made him feel a little better.
Someday we'll know
Why Sampson loved Delilah
One day I'll go
Dancing on the moon
Someday you'll know
That I was the one for you...
…
When the song ended and Rachel left the stage, Quinn immediately descended on her.
"How could you do that to me?" Quinn whispered harshly. "And in front of Finn?"
"Did Finn realize anything?" Rachel asked.
Quinn glanced behind her. "I'm not sure. It's hard to tell with him."
Rachel nodded, understanding exactly what she meant about Finn's emotional acuity. "Well, I am sorry, but Josh blackmailed me, and I didn't think it would be…so direct."
"Blackmailed you?" Quinn raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"It's not important," Rachel said quickly. "And to be honest, Quinn, the song isn't that important either. What's important is how you feel. Josh was able to express his feelings, but what you do with that information is up to you."
"I suppose that's true," Quinn said slowly.
"Of course it's true," Rachel said breezily. "Besides, I doubt you'll really have to see Josh again if you don't want to."
Quinn frowned then looked at Rachel with resolve. "Yes, you're right. And it's probably best I leave Josh alone for awhile if he really feels that way…" Quinn leaned closer to Rachel. "Do you think he really thinks that he's the one for me?" she finished in a whisper.
"I think Josh always makes specific song choices," Rachel said carefully.
Quinn nodded. "I thought so."
"So it's settled then," Rachel stated with finality.
Quinn nodded again. "But Rachel?" she asked in a soft voice. "Will you check in with him every now and then? Just to make sure he's doing ok?"
Rachel's lips curved into a small smile. "Of course I will, Quinn."
"You don't have to tell me or anything," Quinn said quickly. "It's not like I need you to report back to me," she said with an affected casual air.
Rachel nodded. "I understand. I think you're making the right choice—with Finn. And you're a nice person—deep down—so it makes sense that you'd want to know that someone was making sure that Josh does well too."
Quinn didn't miss the back-handed compliment Rachel delivered, but Finn was approaching with his adorable half-smile, so she decided to let it go. "Thanks, Rachel. I'll see you at your party."
"Great!" she replied brightly. "See you both there! But you're not staying for the end of the show?"
"Oh, there's more?" asked Finn. "I figured once you left the stage, it was over."
Rachel smiled widely. "Well, I can understand why you would think that, but no, this is just a quick break before they do a little encore. It's a trick that works well in bars, but I'm not sure it works so well in coffee houses and cafés."
Finn nodded. "Well, sure, we can sit with you until the show's over. Right, Quinn?"
Quinn took a seat next to Rachel. "Right."
"Thanks, you two," she smiled. She was hoping Noah would play his original song in front of everyone for the encore. (Both for his sake and for her sake.)
But he didn't.
However, Rachel was pleased when Noah did take the lead on a song in the encore.
"Rachel, this one's for you," Puck smiled into the microphone.
The rousing strains of More Than a Love Song began, and then slowed to a more romantic tempo.
What can I say? I miss your eyes
Nothing more
What can a love song provide?
Nothing more
The words are a lovely try
For something more
And I wanna give to you
Give to you
More than a love song can give
More than a feeling like this
More than a dim light upon the path you walk
More than the words can explain
More than the falling rain
More than the sun shines upon your lovely face
It's more than a love song
As she listened, Rachel felt like she was glowing with pride and happiness. Next time she'd convince him to play his original song, she vowed. But she still had a lot of good behavior for which to reward her boyfriend. She rushed to the stage—ignoring social decorum, and reached up to kiss Noah. All the guys in the band chuckled.
Josh didn't expect Quinn to coming running into his arms after the second little stunt he pulled.
She didn't.
Ok, it would have been nice if that was her reaction, but he wasn't expecting it or anything. He was expecting what he got.
The cold shoulder.
He was back to where he was before he and Quinn dated, broke up, and became friends. Josh decided it was time to stop looking backward and look forward instead.
He was going to be fine.
Even if the chill of Quinn's freeze out left him feeling a little hollow and left out in the cold.
…
Cold is what Rachel felt at her back-to-school party, in more ways than one. First, a freak cold front blew in from Canada, ruining her pool party plans. She and her dads still strung lights around the pool area and the gazebo, and they prayed that the rain was over so they could still host the event outdoors. But without swimming, Rachel was at a loss for how to occupy everyone. Fortunately, Puck saw her distress and came to her aid. "Well, we're a glee club…How about karaoke?" Rachel beamed and claimed he'd saved the day.
All was going well, until Santana gave Rachel the cold shoulder at her own party. Not that Rachel expected to be giggling with the likes of Santana, but she wasn't prepared for the way she brushed past her without a word of greeting and seemed to give her annoyed looks all night. Of course, Puck figured she was probably putting on the attitude to make up for sticking up for Rachel earlier. But Rachel didn't know about Santana's switch to her side against Puck, so she was definitely put off by Santana's extra side of bitchy, and he hated to see his girlfriend feeling down.
Puck was about to say something to Rachel when Santana put a finger to her lips and batted her eyelashes, telling him to keep quiet. Puck shrugged it off, giving her a look that showed how much he cared (not at all). But that look changed when Santana made a rude and graphic gesture which simultaneously impressed and terrified him. He gave a sharp nod of acknowledgment and strode past Rachel to the drink table: because he needed a drink—even if it was soda instead of alcohol. He reasoned that Rachel would forgive him if he didn't tell her about Santana's ounce of kindness until they were safely moved to New York. But Santana—that bitch be crazy. She'd have his balls in a jar if he didn't watch his back, or well, his balls. So he wasn't about to cross her.
Rachel switched from karaoke to dance music once the karaoke seemed to be dying out. That gave some time for dancing—including slow dancing. Mercedes gave Kurt a questioning look. "Of course, dear," he motioned for her and held out his hands. All of the couples paired up: Rachel and Puck; Finn and Quinn; Brittany and Mike; Santana and Matt; and Tina took a spin in Artie's chair.
Finn held Quinn in his arms as they swayed gently to the music. "I can see the stars in your eyes," he told her.
"Is that a line?" she asked with a smile.
"Is it?" Finn asked with a half-smile. "If it is, I didn't know it. It's just what I see. Maybe it's these lights," he gestured at the twinkle lights above. "But whatever I see, it's beautiful."
"Oh Finn," Quinn beamed up at him. She settled back into his arms. She knew they were both ready to make a fresh start. Together.
…
The party was going rather well. Rachel's dads left to get refills of drinks, also leaving the kids a little time to themselves, but not so long that they were worried. Unfortunately, traffic didn't cooperate with their plans. Aaron called Rachel in a state of mild panic. "There's been an accident," he said quickly into the phone.
"What?" Rachel shouted. "Are you ok? What about Daddy?"
Aaron realized his mistake. "Sorry, honey, I meant that we're stuck in traffic because there's been an accident ahead of us."
"Oh, don't scare me like that! But I'm glad to know you're ok. And thank you for calling so that I won't be worried."
"Of course. I'm nervous about leaving you kids alone for so long, but it can't be helped," he replied, anxiety evident in his voice.
"Don't worry, Dad, we can take care of ourselves," Rachel smiled into the phone. "We're practically adults."
"That's what I'm worried about," he admitted.
"Oh, Dad. Everything will be fine. Just concentrate on making it back here safely."
"I will, sweetheart. See you soon. I love you."
"Love you too."
As she hung up, Rachel knew she had to act fast. She strode over to her boyfriend and whispered to him about her dads. Finn gave them a questioning look.
"I've just gotten a call from my dads and there's an accident on Main Street," she announced. "They think it might be best to cut the party short since they can't be here to chaperone." She rolled her eyes as she played the role of the teenager with over-protective parents. "Of course, I explained that their concerns are unfounded, but unfortunately, I must call it a night and ask for you all to respect my dads' wishes and say goodnight."
There were some suspicious looks exchanged between her guests, but she ignored them.
"Do you need any help cleaning up, Rachel?" Tina asked. Most everyone piped up that they'd help. Santana just looked away dismissively.
"That won't be necessary, by I appreciate the offer," Rachel assured them as she ushered them out.
When the last guest cleared out, Puck chuckled, "Alone at last."
"I think this is the perfect time to give you your reward," Rachel said seductively.
"Sweet!" Puck didn't waste any time following her to her bedroom.
She closed the door and stood with her back to it for a few moments, gathering her composure. Puck wasn't sure what the delay was, so he started stripping. They needed to get this show on the road. Her dads wouldn't be gone forever.
Rachel gasped. Then she smiled at her boyfriend already pulling down his jeans. She cleared her throat to call for his full attention. "Noah, I've decided to give you something you've been wanting."
Puck stared at her, wide-eyed, racking his brain to figure out what she could possibly be talking about. But the sight of her tanned, toned little belly peeking out between her shirt and her jeans was way too distracting. Little Puck was already rising to the occasion.
Rachel smiled wider at the sight of his growing erection. She joined him by pulling off her black blouse, revealing her pink and black bra. This was followed by her shimmying out of her jeans, showing off her matching panties.
Puck was more than pleased by what he saw. He pulled off his boxers and sat on her bed as she walked toward him. He held her hips as she stood next to him, rubbing small circles with his thumbs.
"You're so fucking beautiful, Rach," he murmured. "Perky, perfect boobs," he said, releasing the clasp of her bra and freeing them for his lips to have their way.
Rachel moaned lightly in her pleasure and arched toward him. She liked the little red marks he would leave. Or she liked the feeling that resulted in the bruises.
Puck loved the way she shoved her boobs in his face, silently directing him. He didn't know if she even realized she was doing it, but knew he loved everything about her. His hands traveled lower and he told her what else he loved.
"And that firm little ass," he said, giving her rear a light slap before pulling down the flimsy cotton and lace. He massaged her from her hips, thighs, calves, as he rid her of the panties.
She smiled as she realized she still hadn't told him his reward. She kissed his lips, his neck, and then his earlobe. Then she whispered. "I'm giving you a chance to try a new position."
Puck stiffened even more—the blood was really pumping.
"You keep saying you want to bend me over…" she said teasingly, pulling away from him slightly. He got an amazing view of her body. And holy hell was he ready.
"You'll love it, I promise," he vowed. "And if you don't, just tell me and we'll stop."
She nodded, feeling heat pulsing through her with her growing anticipation. "I trust you."
With those words and the look she gave him to back up those words, Puck didn't think he could get any harder. And he didn't think Rachel could get any wetter. "Fuck," he grinned at the slipperiness on his fingers.
Instead of correcting him for his language, Rachel just assumed her position and turned her head to look at him coyly. "Is this ok?"
He almost lost it just at the sight of her. Damn. DAMN. "Fuck yeah, baby. You're so fucking hot. I'm gonna rock your world."
She giggled, which he might have taken the wrong way, but he was too busy getting himself into position behind her. As he entered, her giggle turned into more of an "Unf" sound.
"Are you ok?" he asked with concern. He wasn't ready for this to end before he got started, but he'd totally pull out if he had to.
"I…feel…so full."
He could tell he was filling her up too, and that meant he was totally in the best position to hit her G spot. But still, he had to make sure. "So, are you ok?" he repeated.
"I'm…great…it's…amazing."
Puck grinned. He was so the man. And he totally rocked her world in record time—before her dads returned home to a mess from a party with no guests. Timing (and position) was everything.
To keep up appearances, Puck left after helping clean up from the party, but he snuck back in to sleep in Rachel's bed with her. He couldn't resist. She just…well, she rocked his world—even if she thought that was a lame line. He fucking loved her so much.
…
Lying safe in Noah's arms, she sighed happily. She loved him so much. What a perfect way to end the summer.
She was sad summer was ending, but Rachel felt the uplifting hope that the best for the two of them was yet to come.
…
END.
…
A.N. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the latest chapters, and really any chapters: PUCKLEBERRY PURE kaelaelameee DaniBelle129 Jen fresch slaygurl Nova802 BittyAB18 rhiwe starkoala Maiqu kezztip LizzayMartini growingyoung deli LJ515 DyeMeCrimson
And really, thank you all for following the Junior Year universe! I posted this conclusion about one year from when the first chapter of Junior Year was posted. That seems like a pretty good run and a good place to end. Yes, end. This story has received much less traffic than Junior Year, so I'm not sure it would be wise to drag this out into a Senior Year, though I appreciate the helpful suggestions on the subject (especially BittyAB18 who put in all kinds of thought into what I could do). I plan to take a break from writing because I have a very busy November. As some of you already know, during that time I'll catch up on my reading and reviewing other stories, and I'll be working on a new story outside of the Junior Year universe that I'm thinking of as a St. Puckleberry Fuinn (though I may add a little Sam into the mix, we'll see). This will embrace the events of Glee (from which Junior Year deviated) including Shelby, Beth, etc. So if you're interested, I'll be 'gone' for a while, but I'll be back—at least for one more story because it's in my head and it's got to come out.
Thanks again, everyone! I'm so appreciative of all the support!