A/N: Ok, time for an overdue update....Thank you to all the people who have favorited, reviewed and added this to your story alert! Really guys, I'm so flattered and ecstatic to have gotten such a reaction from so many people! I had this massive fangirly fit when I saw all the emails from this site! Seriously, you guys are so awesome...Congrats to The3siskatears, lind-z lou and LoLTwilightLover124 for guessing which song I used for the last chapter! It was Hair/Crazy in Love xD Also, the movie they watched was The Proposal! Congrats to all of you who guessed it right! n_n I'm seriously glad you guys liked the way I wrote Finn for this story...because it was kinda a challenge...yet so fun XD I'm sorry this update has taken so long...I've had a massive case of writer's block and trying to write in the beginning was a complete and total NIGHTMARE. So yeah...sorry if some of this seems...OOOC or choppy. XD; But now it's done! This marks the conclusion of this story. I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it n_n Thanks again you guys...And now, onto the final chapter! *apologizes profusely for any typos* I'll fix them later..-.-;
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Chapter 8: Never Gonna Desert You
It's been a long weekend. Really long. Almost unbearably long. Not to mention, awkward...
But...Rachel smiles to herself as she slips on a pair of black knee high socks.
It's not like last week when she was absolutely dreading the day. She doesn't want to crawl back into bed and just cry herself to sleep.. Today she actually wants to go to school. She's excited. She gets to see Finn...to be with him. Today they're going to go public.
Friday had been a little different. They decided to keep their relationship on the down low. At least until Monday. That way they can start out the week with whatever reactions their peers have, and not have to spend the weekend worrying about said peer's retaliations (this, Rachel had done solely for Finn's benefit- she doesn't care what everyone else thinks of her.) So Friday had been spent acting as friendly as possible whilst managing not to look "too friendly". Not even the Glee club had found out, though some of them -Kurt and Mercedes- obviously had their suspicions.
Then Saturday Finn had come over for dinner, so he could meet Rachel's fathers. The visit had been...interesting, to say the least. Not to mention a little...awkward. Not that she wants to elaborate on it...but Rachel can honestly say that if she ever sees a banana again she's more than likely going to get sick...or die of embarrassment. Or both. Needless to say, she and Finn had barely gotten any alone time, and had had to settle for sitting down in the living room and watching Funny Girl. That hadn't been terrible..but it hadn't been very private either, what with her two dads taking turns checking up on them, and in doing so, making Finn feel almost too uncomfortable to even put his arm around her.
Yesterday, Sunday had been a lot easier, really. Finn's mother had decided she wanted to have Rachel over again, and so she had gone over to Finn's house early, receiving a text from Finn shortly after getting out of the shower. She'd hurried to get dressed and had just finished doing her hair when she'd heard Finn's beloved truck pull up in front of her house, and she had hurried down the stairs, barely having time to say goodbye to her fathers before opening the door and running out to meet her grinning like an idiot boyfriend. Once they'd arrived home (after her "speeding" Thursday, Finn had insisted he drive this time, being careful to stay under 20 miles an hour) his Mom had greeted them with fried chicken and pasta (which Rachel had noticed totally made Finn drool), and they'd just spent the rest of the day fooling around doing whatever whenever they felt like it. It had been peaceful and, in Rachel's opinion, the perfect way to end such a hectic weekend.
Her favorite part had been the ride home from her chivalrous boy toy, and the make out session that had taken place in the back seat once he'd parked around the corner from her home. It had been their only real chance to be in any way intimate with each other, and they'd gone for as long as Finn had been able to hold out (they'd started out slow and stayed that way for about 10 minutes, but then things had heated up, and before she'd known it, Finn had been gently easing her off his lap). They'd pulled into her driveway and he had leaned in to plant one more kiss on her unsuspecting lips before whispering goodnight as she'd climbed down from the passenger seat, smiling as he saw the bright, dazzling grin she was throwing him over her shoulder. She'd watched through the window as he drove off, and hadn't been able to help sinking down onto the floor leaning against the door just like all those chick flicks she'd watched.
The smile on Rachel's face widens slightly as she hears the sound of an engine outside her house, and she hurriedly grabs her bag before turning her light out, having finished the 100 brush strokes to her hair. She runs down the stairs so she can be there to answer when he rings the doorbell, not even caring that he's about a half hour earlier than usual. She stands by the door, wondering if it may be possible for her heart to leap its way out of her chest when the doorbell sounds, and she jumps, flinging the door open and flashing her best Rachel Berry smile.
In response, the jock outside gives her his trademark half grin, the one she can't help but go nuts over. "Hey, Rachel." he greets, and walks in as the tiny brunette steps back for him to come inside.
"Good morning." She responds softly, smiling warmly. "Finn...I feel that I must point this out to you, and while I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with this, I just can't help but wonder if you realize you're here 30 minutes earlier than usual."
To her surprise, he just shrugs that halfway kinda shrug thing that only he seems able to. "Yeah, I know...it's kinda really early..and I should totally still be at home right now...but..I can't stop thinking about you, Rach."
She blushes at his words. "I feel the same..I've been thinking about you all morning." she admits.
The tall boy smiles at this, and he steps forward a little, appearing a bit more confident than before. "See? So..uhh..anyways...I just had to...you know...see you..." he pauses, grinning wider. "And then I thought, hey, if I'm gonna go see Rachel I could take her breakfast..so I went to the store and got us these." Now he holds up a package of Hostess chocolate donuts, and Rachel can't help but giggle at him.
"Finn...you shouldn't have..."
"I know...but...I wanted to..." The jock grows hesitant. "Of course! You know, if you don't like donuts or something, you totally don't have to eat them...I probably should have like called and asked if you liked them, or if you even wanted them, or just...whatever." He looks down, shoving his empty hand in his jeans pocket, trying to hide the troubled look on his face- he's totally embarrassed that he didn't think to ask first.
"Finn.." Rachel moves closer to him and puts her hand on his arm. "I think that was really sweet of you, and I appreciate it...come on, let's go in the kitchen and eat these."
"You're sure...?" The boy looks down at her in surprise and she nods, smiling brightly at him before taking his hand and leading him into her kitchen. She doesn't usually eat a whole lot of this type of thing, because the chocolate is bad for her teeth and they're loaded with sugar and calories, but she doesn't mind eating them today. Not if Finn's the reason she's eating them.
They sit down at her table and she watches as he fumbles with the package, finally getting it open (which was easier than he made it look). He offers her one of the small, rounded chocolate coated donuts and she gently takes it, smiling at him in thanks before taking a small bite, cringing inwardly as she struggles not to think just how much that chocolate is going to stain her pearly whites.
After a couple more bites she finishes the donut, and she looks up at Finn, giving him a close mouthed smile.
She tries not to laugh but fails miserably as the boy grins back widely, various parts of his teeth covered in layers of chocolate.
"Hey, what's so funny?" The dark haired jock asks, frowning a little.
"It's nothing Finn, really." Rachel giggles before reaching and taking another donut, taking another delicate bite before her boyfriend can question her further.
Finn pouts for a few minutes, but seeming as he can't come up with anything else to say to make her talk, he lets the matter drop, grabbing another donut and popping it into his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully as he tries to think of something, anything to say to the brunette sitting across from him. Of course, his mind doesn't conjure anything for him to say, and so they sit in silence. Though to Finn it's not really a bad silence. This is nice, sitting here in Rachel's kitchen...eating donuts with Rachel.
Eventually the donuts run out (Finn can't help wondering who ate more donuts....though it was probably him, since Rachel doesn't strike him as a big eater.) and the silence is broken as Rachel stands up, smoothing out the wrinkles on her black and green plaid skirt and adjusting her cream sweater.
"Thank you very much, Finn...that was delicious." She gives him the best smile she can without showing too much of her teeth, which she's sure are coated in just as much chocolate as the jock's are. "I'll be right back, I just need to brush my teeth."
"Oh, ok, cool." Finn smiles at her and she has to try her hardest not to laugh again as she turns to leave. However, she barely gets to the stairs before she turns around and walks back to Finn, who's still sitting at her table waiting, and grabs his hand, surprising the boy.
"Rachel?"
"Come on...you need to brush your teeth too." She says calmly and quickly.
Finn gets up as she asks, but he's got a confused look on his face. "Rach...I kinda already..you know...brushed my teeth this morning. Before I came here...So why do I need to brush again?" He flashes her the grin he has saved for when he's trying to look cute despite being confused, and she loses it.
"Because...you look like a hockey player." She manages to say through the laughter that is escaping her.
"...What do you mean by that?" The jock asks, even more confused.
Rachel breaks herself out of her laughter, breathing hard as she fishes in her bag and pulls out her compact mirror, opening it and holding it in front of Finn for him to see. His expression quickly changes form confusion to one that is sheepish as he sees all the black spots on his teeth, and he nods, realizing this has to be why she was laughing at him earlier. "Uhh, yeah...so...can I like...do you have a...toothbrush I can...borrow...?"
Nodding and giggling, the brunette takes her compact back, returning it to her bag before leading the large boy up the stairs and into her bathroom, where she pulls out a toothbrush, still in its packaging and opens it, handing it over to him. "I always have an extra toothbrush for company." she explains when he gives her a curious look, and he nods.
"Cool..thanks."
Rachel gives him a nod of her own before taking out her own toothbrush, which is pink and glittery, and squirting a fine coat of toothpaste onto it (the toothpaste is also pink). When she passes the tube to Finn he tilts his head at it, appearing worried, and she can't help but giggle. "Finn, nobody is going to know that you used pink toothpaste, if that's what you're worried about."
"Oh...you sure..?" Finn questions, and she gives him a reassuring nod, so he takes the tube and squeezes a good amount onto his toothbrush before starting to brush, making a mental note to keep a small tube of his favorite toothpaste on him at all times...his favorite MANLY toothpaste.
He can't help but feel surprised at the flavor of the toothpaste. Mint. Isn't mint supposed to be like...green...or blue...? He shrugs and goes back to brushing, trying not to think about it.
A few minutes later, they're done, and he takes a step back, examining his handy work. He's pretty proud of himself- he can barely see any sign of the donuts now, and that means he definitely doesn't look like a hockey player....definitely not. He glances at Rachel then and his eyes bulge to the point where they might drop out of their sockets (and Finn's thinking they just might) as he stares at the brunette's teeth. God, not only are they clean....they're...they're spotless! Like, seriously, he can't even tell she's ever eaten..well..ANYTHING...like..EVER!
He can't help himself, when she smiles at him, he catches himself leaning closer. He has to kiss her...He's surprised when she stops him, his mouth pressing against the palm of her hand as she shakes her head at him. "Not now, Finn."
"Huh? B-but--Rach-" Finn stammers, looking more than just a little confused.
She can't help but giggle at his facial expression as she leans over and pecks him on the cheek. "I mean...not yet." she whispers.
"...What do you mean, not yet..?" Finn frowns at her, more confused than before if possible.
She just smiles at him before walking out of the bathroom, leaving him alone with his puzzled thoughts. She runs into her room and grabs one of the tubes of lip gloss off her dresser before walking back to the bathroom, resuming her position beside Finn. The boy watches curiously as she props herself up so she's sitting on the sink counter then opens the tube, slowly spreading something across her lips, lip...something...gloss? Yeah...lip gloss...that's what it is...
It has a strong scent, and he can't help sniffing the air, smiling to himself. Somehow, being here in Rachel Berry's bathroom watching her put on her makeup feels...special. Like, there's a certain level of intimacy that comes from watching his girlfriend apply her lip gloss.
Quinn never let him watch whenever she did hers, so this is kind of a new experience for him. He likes watching how relaxed yet completely focused she is while she's applying it. Then, when she's finished, she does this thing with her lips that makes the lip gloss look even shinier.
Then she returns the cap to the tube and turns to him, getting down from the sink, a small smile on her face. "Are you ready to go?" She asks softly.
Maybe it's the way she looks...or maybe it's the way he just realized her lip gloss is strawberry scented...Whatever the case, he's unable to stop himself from mumbling the one syllable reply. "No."
Rachel just stares at him, her turn to look confused now as she frowns. "...What do you mean, no...?"
"I mean...there's something I need to do first." Finn replies, wondering just where this confidence came from as he closes the door to the bathroom and pulls her into his arms, still amazed at just how well she fits in them.
Rachel starts to say something, but whatever it is gets drowned out as the boy holding her suddenly claims her lips with his, kissing her gently. She responds, and gentle turns to not so gentle as the kiss turns fiercer, and they both lose track of the time. His hands are just sliding under her sweater when she pulls away, eyes widening, and he grimaces, wondering if he somehow hurt her.
She just stands there, supporting her weight against the wall and panting softly, and after a few minutes, he can't handle the silence. "Are you..ok..? I mean.."He smacks his forehead lightly. "I didn't...you know...hurt you or anything...did I..?"
He's relieved when the brunette shakes her head. "Oh, good...that's good..." He pauses then adds, "So then...why'd we stop again...?"
"Because, Finn," She responds, "We have to go to school now."
"Oh...we do?" Finn glances at his cellphone and blinks. "Oh...we do." He sighs and puts the phone back in his pocket and nods. "C'mon, then." he smiles and holds out his hand to her, which she happily accepts, and they head downstairs, stopping only so she can grab her bag and him his backpack before leaving the house.
Chivalrous as always, Finn opens the door for Rachel and she smiles appreciatively at him before climbing up into the passenger's seat. He then closes the door and gets in the driver's seat. They both buckle up and he takes off, of course, staying 5 miles under the speed limit.
--
A few minutes later Finn pulls into the school parking lot and stops the car, turning to glance at the brunette next to him. She's been unusually silent the entire drive, and he's beginning to wonder if something is wrong, so he puts a hand on her shoulder, quickly getting her attention. "Hey Rach...? Is something...bothering you..?"
Rachel frowns and chews on her lower lip, trying to avoid his gaze as she answers, "Nothing, really...I'm just...thinking..."
"Oh...are you thinking about...good things or bad things...?" Finn can't help asking, and she gives him a small smile.
"Finn...I know how important your popularity is to you...and there is a very high chance that when we come clean about our relationship today, you will get slushied by your own team...so I just wanted you to know...that if you choose to break things off instead...it's fine with me."
It really isn't fine with her, but she's coming to accept reality. She knows how important it is to Finn that the popular kids like him, and she's well aware that being with her will make them treat him bad..and she knows Finn can't handle that. He can't take a slushy to the face daily like she can..and she accepts that. If they're meant to be, they'll still love each other after graduation...then maybe they can try again.
"What? Rach! What are you--I don't want to break up!" Finn can't believe he's hearing this...after all the trouble he went to to get this girl...she's saying they might break up?! Life just isn't fair...he suddenly feels like crying...but he totally can't try in front of Rachel. He doesn't wanna look like a pansy..
"I know that, Finn.." Rachel replies softly, placing a hand on his arm to try and comfort him. "I'm not saying we have to...just that if you decide you want to, I'll be ok with it...I know you can't deal with being slushied."
"Hey wait, wait a minute," Finn frowns, "I got slushied when I was with Quinn but I never let that stop me from being with HER."
"That was for a different reason though, Finn..Plus, Quinn was still technically popular in a sense, since she was still a Cheerio." Rachel sighs. "Besides, it was only one day....with me you'll get it pretty much every day." She hesitates. "Look, I'm not saying we HAVE to break up, because I love you...I just wanted you to know that whatever you choose to do I'll understand.."
"Let's just decide as things happen, ok Rach?" Finn can't help the hint of a growl that comes out in his voice. He doesn't want to lose this girl after all he's done to get her, and he doesn't want to talk about the possibilities of them breaking up for his benefit. He's pretty sure that he's willing to do anything to keep the girl his, and that includes ignoring what the popular kids say.
Besides, if he's being honest...he never really fit in with that crowd anyways...he's much nicer than any of them are. Suddenly he finds himself wondering just why he's let what they say affect him....then quick as the blink of an eye he remembers. 'Oh yeah...I'm too self conscious to stand up for myself.'
That doesn't matter though, he tells himself. Because he is not going to let the popular kids tell him who he can and can't date. They may have been able to make him stop watching those Star Wars movies when he was younger, and he may have been talked into sitting only at the jocks' table at lunch, but he's not gonna be talked into ditching Rachel.
Besides...he's kinda been sitting with Rachel or the other Glee kids every chance he has so...he's already sorta standing up to the popular kids...in his own silent way. There's no way they're gonna make him leave Rachel. No way. He's better than that. So much better.
He snaps out of his thoughts and stares at the brunette in the passenger seat, realizing she's staring at him with a look of....is that....concern?...Fear? Whatever it is, it vanishes when he gives her his half smile and takes her hand, pulling her closer so he can kiss her. When they pull apart, she's grinning at him.
"Ok, Mr. Finn Hudson...we'll do this your way." she says softly before pulling her hand free and opening her door. Finn gets out and is at her side before she can get out, however, reclaiming her hand and helping her onto the black cemented ground.
"Remember what I said, it's a longer drop from there than it looks." he reminds her with a cheeky grin, and she just smirks.
Finn hears a sound behind them then, and glances over his shoulder, just in time to see Kurt and Mercedes standing there, Kurt shaking his head and nibbling on his lip, Mercedes just staring, her face unreadable as she seems to stare...past them.
Curious, Finn glances in the direction Mercedes is looking, and suddenly it all makes sense. Puck and Quinn are walking up to them, for God knows what reason. He really doesn't want to see them...let alone talk to them. Not right now. Not when he was about to kiss Rachel again...Dang it those two have really bad timing!
He sighs and turns back to the brunette, who's eying him with this hard to read, confused expression of hers. Then without even thinking about what he's saying he murmurs, "C'mon, babe, let's go." He links arms with her before walking off, locking his car as he does so.
Finn sneaks a glance at Rachel as they leave and sees that her face is beet red, then decides that if she's gonna blush like that every time he calls her "babe", he totally has to use the name with her more often..
--
Nerves aren't usually something she deals with. Of course she gets nervous at times when it comes to performing for others, but...people in general don't make her nervous, nor do they intimidate her...Though right now, all she can feel is anxiety. Ever since she and Finn left his truck he hasn't left her! Even when she went in the girl's bathroom he waited outside for her and the minute she came out his arm was linked with hers again, keeping her very close to him as they walked.
This is how he's been all day. She thinks a part of him might be anxious, worried too, but he certainly isn't showing it. It's as if they've switched roles. For once she's the awkward unsure one and he's the super confident one that doesn't care what others think.
Still, they haven't revealed their secret to their peers yet...She wonders just how Finn plans to do that, and is kinda wishing she'd thought to ask him after his surprising outburst in the car when she brought up the subject of a potential break up. His reaction had really surprised, not to mention thrilled her to no end. He really cares about her...he doesn't want to break up and lose her. She's almost convinced that this alone is one of the few reasons she's been able to stay calm all day.
She still feels anxious now...because it's lunch time, and anything can happen during lunch period. She walks into the cafeteria, wondering just how it is that she managed to avoid walking with Finn this time around- he's been walking her to and from her every class. All day. It's sweet but in a way she can't help feeling a bit...smothered. Is this how it was for Quinn when she dated Finn? She's seriously wondering. But then she has to stop herself. Finn is not like that...sure, he may be a bit...possessive of her in a way...but...after what Quinn and Puck did to him it can only be expected, really.
Ok, that's it, she decides. She will be the understanding, supportive girlfriend who takes his advances in stride; not the girlfriend who screams and tells him to go away and calls him stupid. Somehow she has a feeling Finn's had enough of that from pregnant Quinn to last a life time. Besides that, Rachel has been pining after the football player for a long time now...and she'd never stop hating herself if she screwed things up in such a petty way.
She smiles to herself, a fire of determination in her eyes as she makes her way to her (his, their? It's kinda become theirs exclusively since they got together) table in the cafeteria and takes a seat. She waits for Finn, deciding that the supportive girlfriend will wait for her boyfriend then graciously offer to go and get them their lunch. She's seen it in chick flicks and thinks it's adorable when the role is switched, and the one being chivalrous is the woman while the man sits and waits for her, wondering just how he got such a goddess.
She's snapped out of her thoughts as she looks up and sees the object of her affections weaving his way through the crowded cafeteria, balancing two lunch trays and she sighs, laughing softly. So much for getting him his lunch...they seem to have had almost the same idea. She can tell by the puzzled look on his face that he's having a hard time finding the table, and before she can talk herself out of it, she jumps up on her chair (she IS rather short, so the chair adds a good foot or so to her height), waving her arms and calling to him.
"Finn! Over here, Finn!"
Finn's surprised to hear the soprano voice calling him. Well, not really...it's more like he's surprised he CAN hear it over all the noisy chatter in this room. He smiles, finally spotting Rachel standing on her chair, and makes his way toward her. God, she's cute when she's trying to attract his attention. It's then that he realizes he can hear her because she attracted more than just his attention. Others (especially the popular kids) are quieting down and starting to look over at him, confused and shocked expressions on their face.
Good, let em watch, they were gonna find out after lunch, anyways, he decides, smirking to himself as he finally gets to the table and takes his seat beside the brunette, who's face is flushed as she undoubtedly notices the crowd of kids staring at her and she hurriedly takes her seat once more.
He decides to distract her, because she seriously looks like she wants the world to swallow her up forever and he doesn't like to think about a world where she's not with him anymore. It hurts almost more than the Quinn and Puck lying to him thing. "Hey, Rach...I got your lunch for ya." he says, smiling that grin that he knows she loves so much.
His distraction works,and she beams at him, seeming to forget that the entire cafeteria is watching them. "Thank you, Finn, that's very thoughtful of you." she says softly, gazing into his eyes with those gooey chocolate eyes of hers he loves. He seriously thinks he could get lost in them if he tried. Or maybe even if he wasn't trying, he thinks.
"Don't mention it." He looks away bashfully as he slides her tray to her and she just continues giving him that stare that he found so...stalker-ish when he first joined Glee but totally loves now. They eat in silence, though it's not an uncomfortable one despite how everyone is still totally watching them. He can feel their stares just like he's sure she can. Heck, she's probably trained to know when she's being watched, with all the years she's spent being the target of the jocks and all that. He thinks he may have even taken part in picking on her when they were younger...but he's not really sure. Their earlier years of school seem so far back whenever he tries to recall them.
He frowns down at his tray, wondering if the school's giving out smaller portions of food to them now...because he totally doesn't eat THAT fast does he? He doesn't think so...Oh well. He glances over at Rachel's tray and sees that she's finished as well, and she's totally watching him with this wide eyed stare of hers. He finds it adorable until he realizes that she's trying to tell him somehow that they're being watched. He can see it in her body language. She's all tense and uncomfortable looking- not anything like how she looked when they were eating.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Finn."
He's suddenly aware she's talking to him in a hushed tone, and he looks down at her seriously. "What?"
"...You do realize that whatever you do now will determine your future as far as slushy facials and your status as one of the cool people here." Rachel says quickly in that same hushed tone and looking at their audience, he gets it. Seeing the way the jocks are looking at him, the disgusted faces he's getting from the cheerleaders...They're totally waiting for him to do something to humiliate Rachel. They think he's playing a cruel joke!
He shifts his stare back to Rachel and sees the compassion in her eyes, trying to hide the look of pain that's behind them. "I already told you...it's ok." she says softly.
Suddenly, he knows what he wants to do. Exactly what he wants to do.
"Rach...I know I've probably told you this before and all so it won't mean much but...you're awesome." he says, his voice slightly rising a volume louder with each word. "...I'd really be lost without you, especially now...and I don't want you to think that I'll leave you over something as unimportant like my popularity. I've realized I'd rather be considered a loser and be with the one I love than be popular and end up with a girl that'll disappoint me again." He smiles at her.
Rachel's eyes are as wide as saucers now, her jaw dropped slightly as she glances around, appearing panicked. The people around them have to have heard Finn...he's talking really loud...He just screwed up his popularity big time...all because of her. She didn't want to cost him the one thing that seems to matter to him so much in this school! She's brought back to attention again as the boy next to her scoots closer, his hand taking hers.
"...Rachel Berry, I love you, and I don't care what the school thinks. I'm proud to have you on my arm."
Ok. That was really shocking. Not to mention sweet...Coming from Finn, the guy who cares way too much what people think, those two sentences really mean something.
"...I love you too, Finn..you're such an awe-" She doesn't get to finish her sentence as Finn leans in and captures her lips with his, and she ignores the shocked gasps of people around them as she kisses him back, and smooths one of her hands through his short, messy hair, the other wrapping around his middle.
Finn deepens the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer until she's sitting in his lap, and he tangles one of his hands in her long, dark locks of hair, reveling in her sweet scent.
This is what it means to be a relationship, he decides. To love the other, to not care what people will think of you...It's so much better than just going with the obvious choice, a cheerleader. Gleeks have more surprises in store anyways...and Finn's always liked surprises ever since he was a little boy.
The two of them break apart after a few seconds and smile warmly into the other's eyes.
"Well, Finn...I need to go and get ready for my next class...walk me there?" Rachel asks softly, her eyes seeming to sparkle with happiness.
He can't look away, even if he wanted to...and he totally doesn't want to. He can't even talk, because that kiss, so short yet so sweet was so...meaningful...so passionate. He can barely wrap his brain around it. So in response to her question, he just nods, his trademark half grin forming on his lips.
She giggles then, and he smirks. "What?"
"Well, Finn," she says quickly, "I'm happy you want to walk me to my class, but I do believe that in order for that to happen I'm going to need to get up, which means you'll have to let go....and stop feeling me up." She adds in a whisper, and his face heats up.
Of COURSE Rachel would know he was doing that...she's Rachel Berry, for crying out loud! "Uh...yeah...um..sorry." He removes his hands and lets go, and she gets up, giving him a smile that tells him it's ok, and he's suddenly happy again. She's totally got this control over his emotions...
He takes her hand, not even caring that practically everyone in the cafeteria is whispering about them now as he puts their empty trays in the designated spot for drop off and they leave.
--
"Well that was rather....interesting." Rachel comments as they leave the choir room, and Finn can't help but nod.
Glee club today was full of reactions and stuff apparently he'd been right to assume EVERYONE heard his little declaration at lunch...oh, and everyone totally saw him kiss Rachel. Not that he cares. But it did cause a bit of a problem with Quinn...
The ex-cheerio had approached him and Rachel the minute they arrived (since when did SHE arrive early?), Puck on her arm, and she'd screamed about what a jerk he was, how he sure didn't waste his time going after Rachel once he'd left her...All these accusations of him having wanted Rachel even when he'd been with HER. (Ok, so maybe he HAD kinda been wishing he was with the brunette while he was dating Quinn, but he'd stayed as faithful to the blond as he could while he'd thought her unborn child was his.)
He'd stayed silent, not sure what to say, but when she'd accused him of just using Rachel to make her feel bad, he'd lost it, and had yelled at her, telling her she had no right to even confront him on this when she hadn't had even the decency to tell him the truth, and had lied to him for 2 solid months about him being a father and all that crap.
The confrontation had grown heated, because Puck had stepped in then, and it had taken both Rachel and Mr. Schuester to break up the argument, Rachel taking her boyfriend's arm and leading him to his seat, and Mr. Schuester having to practically shove Puck back to his (though the sobbing Quinn DID help Puck decide that staying with her would be better than facing off with his former best friend).
The rest of Glee had been less eventful. Kurt and Mercedes had come up to them, Mercedes gushing over how she KNEW it would happen, and Kurt warning Rachel to "treat her role right, or he just might steal the part away from her". To which Rachel had responded, the whole time looking warmly at Finn, "Don't worry, Kurt, I believe I'll do fine in this role...there is no need for an understudy."
Kurt had simply snorted, warning her not to screw up, before turning and walking away, taking his seat with Mercedes in the front row. Nothing had really happened after that, save for Artie raising his eyebrow at Finn, and Tina beaming at Rachel as if she'd just announced she'd earned a Grammy earlier than she'd planned. Then they'd gotten to singing and even Mr. Schuester seemed to want to let them know he'd acknowledged their new relationship, cause he'd called him and Rachel up front and had them sing the mushiest love song he'd ever heard (not that Finn was complaining).
They'd barely gotten done singing when their teacher had glanced at his watch, eyes widening and announced he was cutting practice short that day cause he had to go see someone. Finn had seriously wondered if that someone might be Ms. Pillsbury, and apparently Rachel thought the same, cause she'd asked him point blank if he was meeting her somewhere. Mr. Schuester's face had turned a shade of red, indicating that he and Rachel were on the right page as he'd avoided the question, giving a hasty goodbye and leaving.
"Um.....Finn....?"
Finn is snapped back from his thoughts as he hears the edge of panic coating the normally calm tone of Rachel's voice, and he looks at her. "Yeah...? What is it?" It's then that he notices the jocks surrounding them. The football playing ones. Well, minus Puck, Mike and Matt. Thank goodness...he'd seriously kill Puck if he was in the group who looks ready to slushy him into next Thursday.
"Uhh...hey guys....what's up...?" he greets, trying not to panic as he notices the slushies in their hands. This is totally reminding him of that time with Quinn, when the guys warned him that he had to choose football over Glee club.
One of the guys has just opened his mouth to say something, and Finn's prepared for the worst when suddenly Rachel holds up a hand and takes a step forward. "Stop. I'm sure I know what you're here for." She says quickly. "You're here because you're appalled that your star quarterback has chosen to go out with me and therefore you were hoping to convince him to leave me because you're afraid that by being with me not only will it look bad, him downgrading from the cheerleader to the gleek, but that he'll abandon you and your sorry group of jocks for show choir. Correct?"
The guy just stares at her for a few minutes, digesting what she said before nodding. "Exactly. If he stays with a chick like you he'll abandon us, and we're his friends."
"Oh really?" Rachel puts her hands on her hips and marches forward, staring the jock down. "Let me ask you this, then. If you're really his friends, why do you force him to be somebody he clearly isn't? TRUE friends don't care about those things...They accept and encourage each other, and the last time I checked, you were doing the exact opposite to Finn. Which is unfair, because he's a good guy, and he does the best he can to see the good in everybody. He IS what you'd call a true friend."
Normally Finn would be embarrassed that a girl is sticking up for him but he's kinda enjoying this, the view is nice, standing behind Rachel in her typically short mini skirt, listening to her defend him. He thinks he'll let her go on and just see what all she thinks of him. Besides that...how many guys can say their girlfriend would stand up to the football team for them? Finn sure doesn't think many could say that. So he's lucky. Really lucky. Yeah..He listens as she goes on, her words flowing out of her mouth in a seemingly never ending way, like a river. It's like listening to her singing...It never ends. He's not even sure he WANTS it to.
"..Finn has the decency to be civil to those who deserve it the least, and you jocks are at the top of that list! Do you really think that jerks who go around throwing pee balloons at people, egging houses, and throwing kids in dumpsters REALLY deserve the kindness and understanding that you're given by your quarterback here?! Because honestly I don't!"
Finn can't help but smile goofily and nod silently. He's never had anyone lift him so high, besides his mom..and it feels amazing to hear all this stuff. About him. HIM. Finn Hudson...The guy who's frequently wished he was someone else. Though right now, listening to all the great things about himself, Finn's thinking he's a pretty good guy to be.
"Sure, he may be a little too naive and a tad bit over trusting. He may have some problems sometimes being who he is, but really, that's your fault...because it's only when he has to prove himself to you that he acts out of his character...when I'm around him..." Rachel turns to look at Finn, her eyes full of warmth, and he suddenly feels like he has butterflies in his stomach. "...It doesn't matter where we're at. Glee club, the bowling alley..anywhere. He's an amazing guy who's extremely talented, and incredibly forgiving...he's honest, a complete gentleman and chivalrous...and fun to be around! He makes people happy...He makes me happy."
She turns her attention back to the football players and Finn's a little relieved, cause he's totally turning red now. Her words are so kind...is he really all the things she said? Really just..wow. Ok, so the naive and over trusting comment hurt a bit but he can overlook those...cause she's making him sound like a freaking GOD. She's so amazing and she doesn't even know (well she probably DOES know, cause she's Rachel Berry, but she probably doesn't hear it often from people besides her Dads.). He's totally gonna have to make it a point to let her know just how great she is.
"...Finn is all the things you guys will never be, and that's what makes him great. He is better than all of you, and you're lucky he's kind enough to stick with you, no matter how bad you treat him...it's a shame that you can't just accept he's different from you and forget it...you're too clueless to understand what it's like to have a heart and CARE about people other than yourself. Finn has all that and more. And I'll gladly take every one of your slushies to the face because HE doesn't deserve it. Neither of us do really...but I'm used to it...and don't you dare take what I said out on Finn. He didn't know I was going to defend him."
Having said all she can at the moment, Rachel steps back, slipping her hand back into Finn's and leaning into him, lacing their fingers together as she glances up at him. He's got this..unreadable look on his face and she feels a slight surge of worry run through her. Did she overdo it? She was only telling the truth...and those stupid jerks needed to hear that. They have no right to go around tormenting Finn just because he's different. And she told the truth. Finn really IS all those things she just listed...all that and MORE really...She's really worried though, cause he keeps opening and closing his mouth, like he wants to say something but can't.
There's an uncomfortable silence between the group and it doesn't seem like it's ever going to be broken but then the guy Rachel cut off earlier speaks, bringing the silence to an end. "...Fine, if you're willing to take it...step away from Hudson."
Rachel's eyes widen slightly; she can't believe that out of all she just said that the only thing they seemed to grasp was that she'd take the slushies in Finn's place. What jerks! But she said she would and...in a way that's a promise to her. So she lets go of Finn's hand and takes a step forward, surprised as she finds herself pulled back into the boy, who seems to have snapped out of whatever it was he was thinking about.
"Guys...what Rachel said was true...what's so wrong with me being different? I'm still the quarterback..I'm just the male lead in glee club at the same time. Is that really such a problem? You know I'm not the only one of you who joined Glee."
"Yeah, but you started it, and ever since you joined you aren't the same. You're no fun to be around cause you're always goin' around singing SHOW TUNES!" one of the guys argues.
Finn sighs and tightens his hold on Rachel, bringing his arms to rest around her waist. "Look guys...I'm happy doing this...and...it's...I like being in glee club...and football. I'm happy. Can't you just..you know...be happy that I'm having fun?" He's not quite sure where those words came from. Certainly not his mind. He's not gutsy like that...but...after hearing all the praise Rachel was just singing about him...He really wanted to do better.
He wanted to prove she made the right choice agreeing to be his girlfriend, and he wants to be the guy she was talking about. So he stood up for himself...Dang does it feel great! He totally thinks he'll do it more often...well, as long as he's got Rachel with him. Cause she like, makes him feel he could do ANYTHING. Including stand up to his so called friends...Which he totally just did. Score one, Hudson!
The team is silent for a few more minutes before the guy from before speaks up. "Yeah...I guess we can accept that..."
"Oh, great, thanks guys! I really o-" Finn doesn't get to finish his sentence because he and Rachel are both suddenly drenched in cup after cup of grape slushy, and Finn's pretty sure now they must look like...you know, grape slushy monsters from outer space.
"Have fun being a loser!" The team says and they all turn and hurry away, laughing like hyenas.
"..Finn.." Rachel's voice snaps him out of the hurt anger he's feeling and he glances down at her the best he can for a guy with corn syrup in his eyes. "Yes..?"
"...I'm so sorry..." He's vaguely aware that she's turned to face him and has wrapped her arms around his waist, shoulders heaving slightly. Is she crying?...That is so...not like Rachel Berry...yet totally her at the same time. It's cute. He pats her back gently, smiling even though the slushy is totally dripping down his back, and he feels like he's one of the eskimo dudes in Alaska living in like those ice house things.
"Rach...don't be sorry...they're jerks...and you shouldn't apologize for any of that." He laughs. "They so needed to hear that and you totally surprised them."
"...What do you mean by that?" Rachel's voice sounds choked, hesitant.
"I don't think they expected so much to come out of someone so small as you." Finn smirks as she whacks him lightly. "Hey it's true...I can relate cause I totally didn't expect you to be like that either when I met you..." He hesitates before leaning down, his lips seeking hers out, and she meets him halfway, kissing him deeply.
After a few seconds she pulls away (a few seconds too soon for his liking) and he can see she's smirking at him. "What?" he asks.
"Oh nothing.." She smirks a little wider. "You just taste really good."
He blushes faintly but then realizes she meant the grape slushy on his face and he gives her his own smirk. "I'm pretty sure you tasted better."
She just laughs before shaking her head and sighing. "Well I was going to invite you over for dinner tonight..but at this rate I don't think you'll even be able to drive..." she says softly.
"I might take you up on that..." Finn replies quietly. "But first I need you to do something for me.."
"Anything Finn, anything." The brunette says quickly. "What is it?"
"Can you maybe...uhh..you know, help me get cleaned off first? I kinda wanna...you know look nicer than this if I'm gonna be eating with you and your Dads tonight."
She can't help but giggle as she nods vigorously. "Of course, Finn...if you'll help me wash my hair."
"Deal." Finn says quickly, unable to believe his luck. Washing Rachel Berry's hair sounds really intimate and...he gets to play with her hair!...Ok that made him sound girly. But he can't help it. Her hair always smells so good and stuff, and he's just really psyched.
"Shall we then?" She beams up at him and all he can do is nod as she takes his hand and they head to the nearest restroom.