(no subject)
The Moments Far And Few Between - 5/5
Finally
After that one time not much changed. They kept doing it, they enjoyed it too much, but otherwise they remained the world’s best kept secret. They spent their nights and spare weekends together at restaurants, at bowling alleys, heading out of town sometimes when they inspiration struck - she was his best friend and she knew everything there was to know about him. They managed to place third in Nationals in eleventh grade and fuelled by passion and determination she led them to Nationals in their senior year. In between rehearsals her and Noah managed to fit in covert make out sessions, if not more, in the back of his truck or on his bed when they had the time.
The morning they were to leave for Nationals came and Rachel rose extra early just for occasion. Decked out in her favourite puffy skirt and bright McKinley coloured sweater she bounded through Starbucks and showed up at the bus twenty minutes early. As the rest of her team dribbled in they were all weary eyed, clearly lacking caffeine and were exceptionally thankful as she handed them each a steaming cup of coffee.
Finn and Quinn showed up hand in hand, Quinn proudly swaggering onto the bus in her Cheerios sweats that hugged her tiny frame that seemed completely unaffected by the baby that no one ever talked about.
Finn smiled dopily at Rachel, murmuring a brief hello causing Quinn to mutter beneath her breath vindictively.
Kurt, surprisingly mussed despite his usual flawless appearances stumbled in with Mercedes who was carrying three suitcases. Mr Schue with his fiancée Ms Pillsbury, in tow almost fainted at the amount of luggage. Puck arrived last, typically, and sauntered onto the bus with a cocky grin.
‘Who’s ready to kick some National ass?’ he asked.
The team cheered and he weaved his way down the aisle, his slender and calloused fingers brushing Rachel’s shoulder briefly as he passed. He shared a secret smile with her and flopped into his seat.
As they set off on their trip, Rachel kept glancing behind her. Puck was engrossed in some undoubtedly violent game on his PSP, his face wrinkled in concentration. She knew that she shouldn’t keep looking, that she was being a bad secret keeper, but she couldn’t help it. When she glanced back at Puck for the hundredth time he lifted his eyes. Their eyes locked at he grinned cockily, quirking an eyebrow, ‘Like what you see Berry?’
She rolled her eyes, ‘You wish Puckermann.’
She leant back in her own sit, a silly grin resting on her features. Why did this boy make her feel so much?
She chanced another glance back at him and he was still staring at her covertly above his PSP she grinned and then whipped back. As she did she met another pair of eyes, frosty and disapproving, eyeing the entire scene. Quinn.
Rachel sat bolt upright. Damnit, cover nearly blown. No one in Glee, hell, no one in the school knew about them. No one knew that they spent their hours after school worshipping one another’s bodies, kissing, laughing, and talking. They were friends with the best kinds of benefits.
Rachel knew she loved him, she had come to that conclusion over a year ago, but Puck just wasn’t ready for that next stage. He’d loved Quinn long ago and she had hurt him, bad, giving away his baby without a second thought and he was cautious to jump into anything serious after that. He claimed he just wasn’t ‘boyfriend material’. But Rachel was in for the long haul, she’d been in since tenth grade. He may not love her in return, he may not want the same things, but she couldn’t back away.
Hastily, Rachel reefed her copy of Broadway Magazine out of her tote and slumped down in her seat. Focus.
After 16 hours on the bus they finally arrived and tumbled out into the hotel amongst hundreds of other milling students. They stumbled into their rooms and without hesitation passed out resting up for the big day. When Rachel woke up in the morning she awoke to butterflies and a thundering pulse. Today was the day.
They had been doing this club for three years and this was their final chance to prove something, their final chance to win. Breakfast that morning was an oddly quiet affair, even as the normal rowdy boys wolfed down their breakfasts, trying to keep the nerves at bay.
As they walked to the theatre, Rachel fell in step with Tina and Mercedes, but she kept her eyes trained on the back of Puck’s head strongly. He seemed to sense her looking at him and turned and smiled at her. She felt better instantly.
They sat together in the theatre, lined up their order. Thankfully she was sitting directly next to Puck, and even being in such close proximity helped to calm her nerves a little. When the lights dimmed and the presenter came out on stage, Puck discreetly took her hand. She smiled at him in the dark, and squeezed his fingers. He was there, right there with her, all of the way.
As they watched the first five schools perform he didn’t let go of her hand. No matter what happened he was by her side, and they clung to one another. This meant a lot to both of them.
Then it was their cue to head to the dressing rooms. Puck released her hands and Rachel felt her confidence shake. In the change rooms, they were buzzing with enthusiasm. This was their last performance ever. They’d made it through all the heats, all the finals and they were finally here. This was it...
Rachel sat in front of the mirror curling her hair, with Quinn beside her as she slicked red lipstick on.
‘You’ve really changed him you know,’ Quinn murmured quietly, looking up from the contemplation of her lips.
‘What?’ Rachel replied, glancing over at her.
‘Puck. You’ve really changed him.’
Rachel’s heart stopped in her chest and she covered up her startled look quickly, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she replied haughtily.
‘Oh please Rachel, don’t insult me, I’m not stupid. I know you’re with Puck.’
‘I am not with Puck,’ Rachel sniffed haughtily and technically she was telling the truth. She wasn’t with Puck.
‘Okay, fine whatever. You’re friends with Puck, sleeping with Puck, in love with Puck... whatever you are with Puck, I know it’s happening. And you’ve changed him. A lot.’
Rachel still looked terrified so the blonde sighed, smiling softly, ‘Look, don’t freak out. No one else knows. I haven’t told anyone, I’ve just known Puck for a long time, and I see the things no one else sees.’
‘Oh...’
‘So, I know that you’ve changed him. And in a good way. He used to be a rough kid, deadbeat dad, single mom all that stuff. But just recently he’s become a human being. He’s nicer and he’s not sleeping around anymore. He’s the kind of guy that three years ago, when I was pregnant, I would have loved. You’ve really, really changed him.’
Rachel smiled, ‘He really is a great guy isn’t he?’
‘Be gentle with him okay? You break his heart and you’ll have me to answer to,’ Quinn stated, smiling benevolently.
‘Okay.’
As they joined once more, they huddled backstage doing vocal warm ups, stretching, jittering with nerves.
‘Okay team!’ Mr Schue called, ‘Gather around.’
They all hurried into a little circle, their hands locking.
‘This is it guys,’ he whispered, ‘This is your big moment to shine. Show everyone what you’ve got. This is it.’
Around the circle, Rachel studied all the people around her until she locked eyes on Puck wedged between Kurt and Quinn. She smiled at him and he nodded with a matching grin. They were ready.
Puck suddenly cleared his throat, ‘Bring it.’
Rachel laughed, tipping her head back, emitting a loud cry as the team cheered with her.
‘Let’s go!’
They quickly assembled in their lines, as they waited for the presenter.
‘And now, our final contestants , all the way from Ohio, McKinley High’s New Directions!’
Rachel’s stomach flipped and she grinned at Tina, ‘Let’s go!’
Tina grinned back and then slipped behind the curtain onto the stage, followed by the rest of the team in their neat order until it left just Rachel and Puck standing side by side on the platform.
‘Are you ready Berry?’
‘I hope so,’ she whispered.
‘You were born ready.’
He pulled her in for a soft kiss, brushing her hair behind her ear, ‘Break a leg.’
And then the music started.
Through it all, she danced, she sung, she gave it all she had. The lights glittered in her eyes, and her body slipped through the movements easily. She swayed, giving herself over to the rhythm, her voice meshing perfectly with Puck’s as it met in the air. She shimmied and twirled around Puck and none of them missed a step. For those few minutes it was her and him.
Their team were flawless, they were united and indestructible. All those years of practice, of being knocked back down.
At one point in time, Rachel saw the bigger picture. She saw them, performing. She saw the audience in awe, the judges satisfied smiles. And she knew. They had done good.
The song came to a stop and they all froze, smiles wide, arms splayed and bodies frozen. The audience erupted into applause and they all filed off the stage. It was done.
As Rachel climb back down into the audience she felt the strangest sense of sadness. No matter the outcome of the competition it was all done. There was no more Glee. It was over.
They slipped back into their seats while they waited for the judges, and they all linked hands. Puck held her hand the tightest.
The judges mounted the stage, standing in front of the audience, smiling knowingly.
‘Welcome one and all to the annual National Finals of the High School Show Choir,’ the judge greeted, ‘We’ll get underway with the presentations...’
Rachel’s hands shook as she listened to the judge, it suddenly seeming so distant. Everything sounded like she was listening to it underwater - it was distorted and odd.
‘Now to the places - 3rd place proudly goes to Penvellyn Prep’s Singers Elite. Welcome them to the stage,’
Rachel’s heart wrenched. They were third last time... what did that mean?
‘Second place goes to Webster High’s Webster’s Warblers! Congratulations!’
‘Oh my god!’ Rachel breathed, bordering on hysteria.
Puck leant forward subtely, his mouth resting near her ear, ‘Rach,’ he whispered, ‘You did so good. It doesn’t matter how we place, you did so damn good.’
‘And first place...’
‘Holy shit,’ Tina whispered.
‘I am so incredibly pleased to announce...’
‘I might throw up,’ Kurt muttered.
‘Because they were well and truly the most outstanding people this competition has seen in a long time.’
‘Oh please shoot me,’ Mercedes cried.
‘They had brilliant synchronism and amazing team work...’
‘Why won’t this guy shut up?’ Quinn groaned.
‘So, it is my pleasure, to proudly announce this year’s National High School Show Choir Championship’s First Place winner goes to...’
‘Shit...’ Finn muttered.
‘McKinley High’s New Directions!’
Rachel froze. She was in shock, a million foreign emotions coursing through her veins.
‘Shit yeah!’ Puck exclaimed, punching the air, as the audience thundered around them.
‘Rach!’ Finn cried, ‘Let’s go!’
Still stunned, but grinning from ear to ear, Rachel stumbled up onto the stage, followed by her team. She was shaking. They had won. They had won.
‘Would the team captain like to say a few words?’
Rachel thought back to all those years ago, when Spring Breaks were spent rehearsing speeches for this very moment. But in this moment she was frozen.
‘Rach, this is your moment,’ Puck whispered, nudging her forward tenderly.
She grasped onto his hand, pulling him forward with her, accepting the trophy with outstretched hands.
‘Thankyou all, so much. We have waited a very, very long time for this...’
When her speech was over they sprinted backstage, where Mr Schue was waiting for them. As soon as they had disappeared behind the curtain they erupted in cacophony of noise, shrieking and screaming.
‘Oh my god! We did it!’ Tina was shrieking, jumping up and down holding Matt’s hands.
Quinn and Finn were hugging playfully, giggling and swaying. While Kurt and Mercedes were both shrieking and Mr Schue was squeezing Brittany tightly, tears sparkling in his eyes. Rachel stepped in amongst the group and they all shouted her name.
‘We won! We won! We won!’
‘Thank the fucking Lord! Finally!’ Mike Chang yelled, squeezing Santana’s waist.
Before anyone could get Rachel in their grasp, Puck was there behind her. He laid one hand on her hip and she whirled around her eyes shining.
‘Noah!’ she cried.
She slung her arms around his neck and he picked her up, whirling her around. She shrieked loudly, giddy laughter lifting from her chest.
‘You were amazing. I’m so, so, so proud of you,’ he murmured.
‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you! You sounded so amazing! We did it!’
Puck stared at her tenderly, his eyes brimming with something she’d never seen before. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair off her face.
‘God, Rach...’ he murmured throatily, ‘I... I love you.’
Rachel gasped, her eyes wide, ‘What?’
He grinned, a little bit hesitant and shy, ‘Come on Berry, don’t make me say it again... I love you.’
A tear spilled onto her cheek and he looked worried, ‘Aw, come on... it’s not that bad...’
‘Oh god, Noah, you don’t know... just how long I’ve dreamt of hearing that. I love you too!’
‘You do?’
‘Of course I do!’
And then they kissed.
Their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss and for once he didn’t seem to care. They were surrounded by their closest friends and he didn’t care who saw them. To hell with them all.
Rachel fell into his arms and he still held her aloft from the ground. She truly loved him. And now she knew it, he loved her too. After all these years, this was their moment. Theirs.
When they broke apart, they smiled softly at one another, their eyes warm with adoration.
The room was silent.
‘Well...’ Kurt sniffed, ‘That was unexpected.’
‘Are you two together or something?’ Mercedes asked.
‘How long has this been going on for?’ Artie probed.
Mr Schue smiled at them as Puck placed gently back on her feet. She grabbed his hand and he looped one arm around her waist - finally hers to claim.
Rachel preened herself carefully in front of her dresser, fluffing her carefully curled hair. High heels? Check. Makeup? Check. Purse? Check.
She was ready.
There was a knock at her bedroom door and she turned around, smiling. Standing in the doorway stood her boyfriend (boyfriend - oh how she cherished that word), smiling at her.
‘You clean up good,’ Rachel commented airily.
‘Thanks!’ Puck grinned, inclining his head, ‘You don’t look so shabby yourself Berry.’
She stood up, smoothing the skirt of her floaty white dress, ‘Are you ready to go?’
‘Surely am,’
She wandered into his arms and he wrapped her into a tight embrace.
‘You look amazing today Rach,’ he murmured, ‘Absolutely beautiful.’
She took his hand, walking into the kitchen together. Both her father’s and Puck’s mother and sister were gathered in there together.
‘We’re gonna head off,’ Puck announced, wrapping a protective arm around his girlfriend’s waist.
Puck’s mother burst into tears, ‘Okay... oh my baby... my babies, both of you. Growing up!’
Puck rolled his eyes fondly, ‘We gotta go, we’ll see you at school in about an hour!’
Rachel’s fathers smiled, reaching for their daughter, kissing her head fondly, ‘Congratulation my baby girl,’ one crooned, ‘We’re so proud of you.’
Rachel smiled, ‘I’ll see you soon! Look out for me!’
With that they swept from the apartment and into his truck. The whole drive they chattered quietly, music humming in the background. They were acutely aware of the fact that this would be the last time he’d drive her to school. As they pulled into the school parking lot, it was filled with milling students, all crying and hugging one another. Puck jumped out of the car and opened up the car door for Rachel, helping her daintily out of the truck.
They linked arms and headed towards to gym together to get their robes. They were ready for it now.
‘Rachel Berry - captain of the Glee Club from 2009-2011, graduates with honours and is the recipient of both the Achievement of the Arts Busary and the Student Involvement and Support Award. She has also received the coveted scholarship to Julliard for the fall becoming the first McKinley student to win this prestigious award,’ Principal Figgins announced.
At the sound of her name, Rachel straightened her shoulders and beamed, strutting across the stage. A small group erupted in cheers, and Rachel looked back to see Puck grinning, his arms thrown in the air.
‘THAT’S MY GIRLFRIEND!’ he hollered loudly.
Figgins frowned, but couldn’t hide his bemused grin and Rachel giggled. It was still nice to hear him say that word.
Rachel grinned widely, shaking Principal Figgins hand firmly.
Mr Schue handed her the certificate and pulled her in for a hug, ‘Congratulations Rachel. We’re going to miss you.’
When he released her, Rachel turned back to the audience, blowing a kiss to her proud father’s waving and taking photos from the sea of faces. She was a graduated student.
After the ceremony, when it was all over, they gathered in a huge circle - every single one of them. They were her friends, her closest and only friends. Kurt was holding hands with Mercedes, Finn and Quinn were kissing furiously, Santana and Mike were whispering and Tina was resting on Artie’s lap shyly. And then there was him. Her everything.
Puck had possession of her hand and would occasionally drop kisses on her forehead. They were done. School was over.
She was truly in for the long haul - she wouldn’t be able to give him up if she tried. He had her heart and she wanted him to keep it forever. Who knew what happened after tomorrow - he was following her to New York for college, and she knew that if they tried they really had a fighting chance.
‘I love you,’ he murmured, ‘For ever.’
‘Me too.’
Kurt and Mercedes erupted into giggles about something and Rachel was brought back to the group around her. She had been searching for her entire high school career for somewhere to belong. And she finally did. Right here, in Puck’s arms.
Finally.
So no, maybe for Rachel Berry, it hadn’t turned out quite like her sixteen year old self had imagined. There’d been no fireworks, no magical first kiss that led into a never ending relationship. It had been something different, something special- a series of rare, insightful moments that made her fall just a little bit more in love with him every time. In the end it led to her soulmate, the perfect happy ending. Those few moments wouldn’t be their only moments, there were special moments still to come. But she was exactly where she wanted to be.
Finally.
And there we have it. All over. I hope you enjoyed it - I certainly loved writing it, I can't get enough of these two. :D I'll be sure to write more of them so feel free to friend me, I don't bite much.