And now, the last chapter of my story! Thanks to everyone who read my words!
Much love!
Chapter 7 – What do I gotta do?
As I enter Rachel's house, it's dark. The only noise I can hear is coming from upstairs. I lock the door behind me and head up..
As I stood right out side her door I could hear the music she was listening to…
What's happening?
Everything I say I want to sing.
Everything I've dreamed is coming true.
What's this feeling in my heart?
It must be you.
It must be you.
I could hear her get up from her bed, I knocked softly.
"Come in, Noah." she spoke softly.
I cautiously opened her door to see her standing at her stereo taking the cd and putting in her large case labeled, Barbara.
"She always makes me feels better," she said as she zipped it up and placed it on her desk. She turned around and smiled. She looked exhausted. Her face was puffy and her eyes fresh of tears.
She walked over to me, took my hand and we sat on the edge of her bed.
"Finn left right before I sent you the text. We had a long talk." I just sat and let her speak. The last thing she needed was me getting defensive. "I told him that he is constantly trying to change me. To make me into something I'm not. And then I told him that with you," she squeezed my hand, "I don't feel like that with you. You accept me for everything, as I do for you."
"Rachel," I tried to stop her but she continued on.
"Noah, you have been there for me. Once you overcame your desire to slushie me every day," she nudged my side, "Once you decided I was special enough to kiss, to sing to, to just, be friends, you have been there."
I grabbed both of her hands, "I just wished we would have realized it sooner."
She shook her head, "No, I'm a true believer that everything happens for a reason. If we hadn't sung that song to make Finn jealous, we may not have been chosen for the duet at Nationals then how would we have been able to know?"
"Fate would have brought us together eventually," I smiled, "that or our badass Jew ancestors are up there making it happen."
She laughed as I wrapped my arms around her.
"So, I've been thinking," I said and kissed the top of her head, "I say we present our song to Mr. Schuester tomorrow. I'll call him up in the morning and ask if we can stop by his place."
"But Noah, we haven't picked a song," she looked at me quizzically.
I smiled at her, "Sure we have."
She looked confused at first but then she returned a smile back to me.
It was the end of the school day on Monday and the Glee kids were filing into the choir room. Rachel and I were sitting in the middle row, hands intertwined. She was shaking her leg nervously and I place a hand on her knee.
"Calm down, baby," they will love it.
"It's not that," she shook her head, "I have a feeling Finn is going to cause a scene." She titled her head towards the door where Finn was standing talking to Mr. Schuester who had just nodded at him.
They both entered the room and Finn took a seat in the front row. We had been able to avoid him most of the day, except in Spanish. He had nodded at him quickly but that was it.
"Alright guys," started Mr. Schue, "I've got great news! Rachel and Puck have picked their song for Nationals!"
Our fellow glee clubbers clapped, "they will be performing it for us today and I have to say, it's amazing!"
Rachel blushed. I kissed the side of her head and squeezed her hand. I could see Finn watching us from the corner of his eye.
"But first, Finn would like to sing a song for us, so, Finn, come on up!"
Here we go…
I felt Rachel tense up once a gain, but I just held her hand tighter.
"Well," started Finn, "I wanted to sing this song for Rachel."
The rest of the gleeks seemed to be holding their breath, me included.
"Rachel, I'm sorry that things won't work out with us, but just know, I still and always will love you. What we have is truly special and I don't want to ever forget that." Rachel bowed her head.
"Puck, congrats. You have an awesome girl on your arm now. Just don't screw it up, cause I will be right here waiting when you do."
It took all I had not to get up and punch the kid…when I screw it up?...He expected me to fuck up this relationship. That just gave me more motivation to make this the best relationship that Glee had ever or will ever see.
The band started Finn's music. Rachel seemed to know the song moment she heard the music. I could hear her catch her breath.
Finn's eyes were on her the whole time.
What have I got to do to make you love me What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word
Finn finally took his eyes off Rachel and started pacing around. I could have killed me for how uncomfortable he was making her It's sad, so sad What do I do to make you love me
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
Finn turned back to Rachel
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word
Mr. Schuester clapped but everyone else didn't quite know what to do. I am sure our teacher was wondering why, but when he saw the look I was giving Finn as he stared Rachel down, I think he got the point.
I was half expecting Rachel to get up and run out of the room in tears. But she calmly stood up, smoothed out her skirt and walked over to Finn. She took him into a hug and whispered something into his ear. When I saw the smile on his face turn to defeat, I knew I was safe. Finn proceeded to take a seat in the back row.
Rachel cleared her throat, "Noah? Are your ready?"
I got up and grabbed a stool and my guitar. I took a seat in the middle of room and gave Rachel the go ahead.
"The funny thing about this song," Rachel started, "Is that it was the first song Noah came up with. I think by accident," I smiled at her, sharing our memory of that day. "But we would like to dedicate this song to all of you. Our own little family of misfits, outcasts and losers like us."
Oh, why you look so sad? I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side tooWhen the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothin' you confess, could make me love you less
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you….
By the time we finished the entire club had joined in, including Finn.
"I think they like it," I said to Rachel after she had got done hugging Tina.
She looked over at me and winked, "I knew they would."
"Can I ask you a question," I took her hands into mine, "what did you say to Finn?" I asked her in whisper.
She kissed me on the lips, "I simply asked him to be happy for us."
I took her into a big hug and lifted her off the ground. My secret was out, our secret was out, and I didn't give a damn who knew.
And that's that folks! I simply can not take this story any further. I hope you are okay with how this ended. It being my first fic after 7 years, I'm pretty proud of it.
Now if only Ryan Murphy would listen to the people! I keep hoping he has something up his sleeve that will finally bring Rachel and Puck together, FOR GOOD!
I've already got an idea for my new story so stay tuned!