Caught In Your Web of Lies
Chapter 7: Don't Stop Believing

The last couple weeks of school flew by so quickly that Ray felt like she was flying through time. Her head hurt from all of the studying she'd been doing to finish up finals for McKinley while still doing her schoolwork from her theater school. She felt like she was being spread too thin, and she was starting to look forward to returning to Miami if only for the chance to attend only one school at a time. She'd be able to go to her drama classes in person instead of over Skype during lunch, she could move back into the house her family had closed up for the last three years, and she could reinsert herself into the school that actually appreciates dramatic flair and good choreography.

But she was going to miss McKinley and all the good memories she had made here. She was going to miss Santana's rants in Spanish, winning Glee Club competitions, all the good places to make out, and most of all, Noah. He hadn't been able to look her in the eye since his declaration of love in the auditorium. She knew it was for the best. She couldn't be tied down this early in her life. She wasn't even 18, not even a senior in high school, and she couldn't just give up her dreams for a boy she had loved in high school.

Santana had been there for her through it all, even though Ray knew she didn't approve of her pushing Noah away. Brandon and her had been packing for the last week, sending everything they didn't need ahead of them back to Miami. The house that had been her home since freshman year felt so empty that it seemed like a shell of the house she had fallen in love with. The for sale sign had gone up and the stagers had brought in new furniture, which put Ray on edge because to her it just didn't look right. Santana had been coming over every single day after school to help Ray pack, but also to get as much time together before her departure back to Florida.

On the last day of school, as the final bell rang, Ray burst into tears. Santana dragged her into the girls bathroom and they had a cry fest together, realizing that Ray was leaving the next morning, getting on a plane to Miami and never coming back.

"I'll text you all the time. And we're Skyping and FaceTiming every single day. I'm not allowing you to forget about me so easily San," Ray said through her hiccups.

Santana wiped her eyes and smiled at Ray. "And I'm still going to try to teach you Spanish because we both know I'm a better teacher than Mr. Schue. Plus you'll learn a lot more cuss words if I teach you."

Ray laughed and wrapped Santana in a tight hug. "That sounds wonderful San. I love you and I'm going to miss you so much."

Santana wrapped her arms even tighter around the small brunette. "I'm not a crier but you really know how to bring the tears, Ray. I love you too and I promise you that I'm going to come down to Florida and visit okay?"

As they walked hand in hand out of the bathroom and out of the school that had brought them together, Ray smiled. "Okay."

As Ray and her Miami Theater friends walked onto the plane, she felt a flash of doubt wash over her. All the laughter, all the songs, all the memories she had with these kids from Ohio, they would become part of the past. In a few years, they would be distant memories that would be difficult to fully remember. Ray turned and looked out to see all of her old Glee Club members smiling and waving at her. Brittany had an arm around a crying Santana, and Finn was waving his arm so much that Ray thought he was going to hit Mike in the face.

Everyone was there. Except Noah.

She searched and searched the small airport, trying to catch a glimpse of a mohawk or a smirk that caused her knees to buckle. But he just wasn't there. He hadn't come to say goodbye to her.

Ray took a deep breath and turned her back to her friends. She walked into the plane that was going to fly directly to Miami. She searched the rows and rows of seats until she finally found 34B, a window seat. 34A was vacant, so Ray hoped that she would have the seat to herself. But right before takeoff, a guy in a baseball cap sat down in 34A and turned his head to face away from her.

Ray shrugged and just thought that the guy was shy. She put all of her electronics away and braced herself during the turbulence. When they were finally high in the air and headed to Miami, Ray turned to face her neighbor. And looked right into some very familiar hazel eyes.

Ray gasped and reached her arm out, as if to touch him and make sure he was real. "Noah?"

Noah smirked and Ray felt her knees shake. "As if I was going to let go of one of the best things in my life."

Ray felt tears begin to form in her eyes. She tried to blink them away. "Noah, this is insane. Where are you going to get money for a place to live? A job to pay bills and school fees? I told you this was a bad idea."

Noah held her tiny hand in his and squeezed. "Ray, I got a scholarship to attend the Miami Theater School for the Gifted with you. I'll be living in the dorms on campus."

Ray cradled his face in her hands. Her thumb began to softly stroke back and forth across his cheekbone. "You did that for me?"

Noah smiled and turned his face to kiss her palm. "I'd do anything for you."

Ray let out a sob and kissed him soundly on the mouth. After she pulled away, she gasped, "I love you Noah Puckerman."

He smiled and kissed her again. "I love you too Reyna Rachel Brookhouser."

Ray closed her eyes and smiled. "We'll be at the same school senior year. We might have classes together. We're going to be okay."

As Ray rested her head on his shoulder and he held her hand in his, Puck felt content. "We'll always be okay, as long as we have each other."

Nine Months Later

"Reyna Brookhouser." Ray walked across the stage and shook hands with her principal, holding the diploma as if it was fragile and would turn to dust at any minute. She looked out to the audience and all of her fellow graduates, and caught the eye of a mohawkless Noah Puckerman sitting down wearing a cap and gown. He flashed her a thumbs up that made her smile, and she returned to her seat.

"Brandon Calloway." Ray and Puck whooped and cheered as Brandon received his diploma. Ray was so thankful that her half-brother was only nine months older than her and able to be in the same grade as her.

More and more people walked across the stage. Ray sat in her seat, holding hands with Brandon, and tracking Noah's movements with her eyes as he made his way up to the stage. "Noah Puckerman." Ray and Brandon hollered, and behind them in the audience, all of her McKinley friends cheered along with them. Puck's mom and grandmother were dabbing tears away, and his sister was cheering along with the newly graduated class of William McKinley. Puck mouthed 'I love you' to Ray as he made his way back to his seat, and she mouthed back 'I love you too.'

After the graduation was over, Ray, Brandon and Puck made their way to the Brookhouser household for their joint graduation party. Santana was glued to Ray's side the moment she arrived, forcing Ray to give her a tour of her house and sitting next to her during lunch.

Finally, now was the time to reveal to all the gathered guests which colleges the three graduates would be attending.

Ray stood up and watched Santana smile encouragingly at her. "Next fall, I will be attending Julliard on a full scholarship." Ray blushed when everyone screamed and cheered in delight.

Brandon stood up and rested his hand on Ray's shoulder. "I'll be attending NYU so I can keep an eye on my troublemaker little sister." All the guests laughed at Brandon's joke.

Puck stood up and smiled down at Ray. He hadn't told her where he was attending, and the only ones who knew were his mother and grandmother. "I have two announcements, actually. First, is that I will be attending Julliard next fall." Ray gasped and stood up, throwing herself at her boyfriend. "And secondly," Puck said once Ray sat back down, "is that I have a very important question to ask someone very special." He got down on one knee in front of Ray, all of the guests looking on in shock. "Reyna Rachel Brookhouser, I love you. And for some unknown reason, you love me back." Ray laughed as tears ran down her face. "And I was wondering if you would do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Noah Puckerman. We don't have to get married anytime soon. We can wait until after college, after your first leading role in a Broadway musical, or even until we're both old and saggy. But as long as I can call you mine, I'll be happy with your decision. Ray, will you marry me?"

Ray got down on her knees and threw her arms around Noah, holding him tight. "Yes. My answer is yes. Forever and ever. Yes, yes, yes!"

Santana called out, "Just make out already." All the guests laughed as Puck smirked back at Santana and began to almost devour Ray. Their passionate kiss lasted a couple of minutes until finally, Ray's dads cleared their throats and made the couple jump back from each other. Noah's mother came up and hugged Ray tightly. "A nice Jewish girl as a daughter-in-law. Oh Noah, you couldn't have done any better. I have to go call Rabbi Greenburg immediately!"

Santana called out to her best friend. "Yo Ray, what about that other announcement you were going to make?" Santana wiggled her eyebrows up and down, causing Ray to giggle.

Ray smiled at all of the gathered guests and then down at her fiance. "I've chosen my stage name once I've started my Broadway career. This is the name that I want to have up in lights for all of New York to see."

Santana rolled her eyes and called out loudly, "Get on with it."

Ray smiled at her best friend and cleared her throat. "The stage name I've chosen is... Rachel Puckerman."

All her old Glee Club looked giddy. "Rachel?"

Ray shrugged modestly. "Rachel Berry is a part of me. And Rachel is my middle name, so I want everyone to know me as Rachel Puckerman, Ray for short of course."

Puck hugged Ray closely to him. "Just thinking of your last name being Puckerman makes you 10x hotter, and I didn't even think that was possible."

Ray giggled and pecked him chastely on the mouth. "I can't wait to be your wife."

"And I can't wait to be your husband," Noah said, smiling down at the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.

"And I cannot wait to be your maid of honor," Santana said from behind the newly engaged couple.

"And I can't wait to be your best man," Brandon called out from the food table.

And like all cheesy musicals, the new high school graduates did what they do best. They ended the story in song.

Don't stop believing
Hold onto that feeling yeah
Streetlight people
Woah, woah
Don't stop believing
Hold on... Yeah
Streetlight people
Oh woah

Fin.

A/N- Ahaha sorry guys, I really needed to throw in some Journey. We've reached the end, everyone's graduated, and Noah and Ray are engaged. Did any of you see that coming? Because I sure didn't! Published this in 2012, and two years later it's all over. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with me and have added this story to their favorites or follows, all of you who continue to review, and all of you who PM me asking me when the next chapter is. This story is dedicated to all of you!

Thank you,
Raegan