AN- Again, sorry for the huge delay. Here it is: the race to the finish. Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I didn't want to abandon it incomplete, and I won't have time to devote to the story anytime soon. Thanks for being such good readers.

Azimio and Karofsky each flung a slushy, coating us in freezing, purple goo. Noah was about to launch himself after them, fists-first, when I grabbed his arm.

"Noah, wait!" I knew I would have to think fast to avoid violence, which would be bad for our permanent records. Also, if anyone pummeled Noah's lovely face, it could have a negative effect on both his appearance and his singing ability.

"Why?" he gritted out between clenched, chattering teeth. I knew logic regarding negotiation as an alternative to violence would not be effective at this point.

"Because it's grape?" I asked. Then, I stretched up on my tiptoes, and (before I could think better of it) licked his jaw.

"Oh, yeah, Berry?" Next thing I knew, Noah had my back pressed against a row of lockers, and my legs were wrapped around his waist. First he licked slushy off my jaw, but his lips kept creeping lower and lower until I moaned. Which made Tina giggle, which reminded me that we were creating a spectacle of ourselves in public! I tried to remind Noah of the fact.

"Babe, you love attention and notoriety," he said, sucking on my earlobe in a way that made it quite difficult to form a coherent argument. I couldn't help but wiggle against him. He only held me tighter and kissed me more passionately.

"Noah, please!" I gasped. My hands and legs were holding him closer, even as my brain screamed that we needed to stop this madness before I ended up happily losing my virginity in a crowded hallway.

"God, I love it when you say that!"

"Jacob Ben-Israel is watching!" I yelped before I kissed Noah again.

"Maybe the little perve will learn something." Then he used his teeth to tug my shirt, and a button slipped out of a button hole. It took only a fraction of a second. How was that possible?

"He's going to learn what my bra looks like if you don't stop unbuttoning! Noah, I swear if we don't…Oh!" I shook my head to clear it. "If we don't stop, I'll…"

"THIS IS A HALLWAY, NOT A BROTHEL!" I have never been happier to hear Coach Sylvester's megaphone.

The video Jacob shot of our slushy make-out session was all over the Internet by lunch. Instead of congratulating the puckheads who doused Noah and me, the McKinley student body was complimenting us on our physiques and kissing techniques.

"Aren't you embarrassed that your shirt was basically see-through?" Tina whispered, scandalized.

"I think it's more alluring to leave some things to the imagination," I replied honestly, "But I'm not opposed to nudity in a role if called for, so this is good preparation."

I thought being in New Directions was going to change everything, back when I turned Sandy Ryerson in for fondling a student. Well, some things are the same. Finn and Quinn are the perfect couple. Mercedes and Kurt are BFFs, and so are Puck and Finn. I'm still the target of slushies and online gossip.

But a few things have changed, and they've made all the difference.

I have a mom. She adopted Puck and Quinn's baby, and these days she's more interested in Beth than in me. That hurts, but I know who she is and where she is. I know she's there if I really need her.

I have a sister. She's moved back in with her mom (now that Mrs. Fabray kicked out Mr. Fabray), but Quinn's made it clear: "Me leaving doesn't change anything. We're family now. I love you, Berry."

"I love you, too, Fabray!" I'd said. And then my dads initiated a group hug and we all cried so hard that it was an hour before we could finish carrying Quinn's suitcases to the car. We hang out sometimes, and even go on triple dates with our boyfriends and Santana and Brittney. Quinn will even text me out of nowhere just to ask me how I am.

So does Noah. Last week, he even said he loved me. He said it in bed, though, and Quinn says that doesn't count because guys will say anything between the sheets. But Santana pointed out that she's never heard of Noah saying anything like that to a girl, and Britt and Quinn had to agree with her. However, I once heard my Daddy make an observation similar to Quinn's, so I'm holding out for Noah to say it again while we're both fully clothed. I'm confident that the declaration will occur within the week.

Boyfriend or not, even when I'm by myself now, I know I'm not alone. I don't feel my life ticking away anymore. I'm part of something special, and when you're a part of something special, that makes you special.

I used to hope that was true. Now I know it is.

The End