"She might be making a comeback," Finn smiled, walking away from a hopeful Rachel. She was truly touched by his compliments until she heard a voice come from behind her.

"I hope not." Rachel quickly turned around to find Noah Puckerman in all his glory.

"Excuse me?" she asked primly, trying not to show her affection to the tall boy who just walked away. Puck raised his hands in a mock surrender.

"All I'm saying is that that old Rachel? The one who's 'focused' and 'take no prisoners'? No one liked her," he told her bluntly, a bit of anger in his voice. "That girl got slushied and teased. That girl chased after Finn and Jesse to please them and ended up getting hurt each time. This Rachel, you right now, people are her friend. Hell, even Santana and Quinn are nice to her sometimes. She's still amazing and awesome but she's not crazy. I don't know why you right now wouldn't be good enough for him." Rachel was momentarily shocked by all of what Puck has said but she covered it quickly. "You laugh and joke around now. You even swear sometimes. You are happier and more relaxed. You're one of the biggest badasses I know. Finn's just too scared to see that."

"I don't believe that is what he meant by it," she tried to explain but he cut her off.

"Yeah it was," Rachel winced at his honesty but reminded herself that that is what she appreciated about Noah, that he wouldn't lie to her. "I've known Finn since we were seven. I know what he means when he says things. He didn't mean it as an insult but it wasn't exactly nice."

"Why do you care so much?" she whispered, she crossed her arms as a comforting gesture, one she just used with Finn, and looked up at him momentarily before looking at the ground.

"Because no one should tell you you're not good enough, remember?" he smirked, both of them remembering the many times she had told him that he was worth it and everyone in this town was wrong about him. Rachel gave a small smile in return. There was beat of silence before he spoke up once more. "So I'm gonna g-" he was cut off by her flinging herself into his arms. Puck was momentarily shocked but quickly recovered, his arms wrapping around her tightly and his face contorting from surprised to loving and caring.

Puck thought about how Rachel would never know how much he cared for her. He never know how to show it. She was so good and pure, his exact opposite. He didn't want to drag her down with the rest of the things in his life. She was going to be huge and he was going to be in the wings, cheering the whole way. Rachel Berry deserved that and Noah made it his goal to get her what she deserved, no matter what.

"Thank you, Noah," she whispered in his ear and he momentarily thought she had heard his thoughts but quickly remembered she was thanking him for being there in her moment of weakness.

He gripped her tighter, clamping his eyes shut, knowing that it would be a while before she was this close again. He didn't know why God let him have Rachel in his life but, except for Beth, it was the thing he was most grateful for.

Puck realized that they had been embracing for quite some time and figured it would hurt less later if he stopped this now. "You know Berry, if you want to stay like this I know this nice janitor's closet down the hall.." he trailed off suggestively, obvious that he was joking. Rachel pulled away quickly, letting out a mock gasp while hitting his shoulder. He expected her to tell him he was disgusting or deplorable or something.

"In your dreams," she beamed, before walking away with a small bounce in her step. Puck smirked widely after her, knowing that the old Rachel would never have even thought of saying that.

If only she knew how true her departing words were.