All the standard disclaimers; I don't own any of the characters, all credit to the genius Ryan Murphy and the show glee.
The year we all graduated from McKinley was tough. Really tough.
Quinn and Sam got together while Puck was in Juvie which messed up Puck's visions of what getting released would look like... Getting picked up by his crying Nan and driven directly to temple for a chat with the Rabbi was not exactly the warm, ponytail wearing, welcome he was picturing. Well, he got over it and moved on to the next dickhead thing.
Santana's threats of leaving him rolled off his back like water because he knew she could ever stay away, and she couldn't. Brittney and, well, everyone at one point were, well, Brittney. How she every managed to graduate is beyond me, but she did have the Glee club to copy off of so maybe between all of us we knew enough to get her by.
Kurt changed after the incident with his dad, he's rougher, and doesn't mess around in things that waste his time. Thank god he didn't leave glee, even though I'm sure he couldn't stand it sometimes. Mercedes really kept us grounded after our win at sectionals, right we're we could feel the New York hair. She was our rock, but I know that inside, she could see us all with someone to hold our hand and she couldn't help but feel how cold hers was.
Mike and Tina were amazing. It was hard to not imagine them together. Oh yeah, they fought every once in a while but the way they pushed each other to be better made Finn and I try harder to do the same.
Right, so then there Finn. The way he grew into such a strong and determined leader in those last 6 months before graduation made me proud to have him on my arm. And I, Rachel Berry, was doing my very best to be better, nicer, more popular and get into NYU. Which I did!
This is where the story begins, here in New York, as I move into the dorms and take in the intoxicating smell of higher educated and proximity to Broadway. The only thing missing is Finn. He had said ``we`ll see how things``... but he might as well have said, "let's just break up now because I can't wait three years for you." And it broke my heart.
By the time my dads had gone home and I was more or less set up in my dorm it hit me. This is it, I'm here. Next thing I know I'll be taking classes, learning new techniques and showing the faculty just who Rachel Berry really is. But before all of that, I opened my laptop on my newly made bed and connected to the wifi in the building "NYU housing east network" and I wondered if everything I would do from now on would somehow be stamped with a big NYU.
As the icons of the screen appeared I logged into Skype. Something my dads and I decided to do to keep in touch. I not sure why I logged on just then, I knew there was no way they would be even half way to Ohio by now. Once logged on my heart dropped, my list of friends consisted solely of my dads' e-mail. So I tried to find some friends. Mercedes, Mike and Tina even Kurt and Ardie had accounts. Then I tried the name I hoped would work. I typed F-I-N-N-H-U-T-S-O-N and crossed my fingers. Sure enough, there he was. So I added him too and waited. No one was online. Alright, maybe this Skype thing is a bit over rated. So I got up, finished organizing made myself some cereal and just as I was putting the milk away I heard the distant sounds of a Skype call to I walked back to my bed. A little window had appeared asking me to accept a video call from Finn Hudson. Now that I could do. Leaning back on some pillows, cereal firmly griped in hand I answered the call squirming with excitement.
A big head was the first thing I saw, "Hello? Rachel? Is that you?"
"Yea, it's me! Hi! Oh my gosh, I can't believe you have Skype!"
"I know, it's cool, but I still can't see you, turn a light on or something."
I looked around and realised that the sun had gone down so I turned on my side table lamp and all of a sudden the black box at the bottom of my screen was replaced by a slightly grainy image of yours truly.
"There's my beautiful girl."
"Hi Finn." I answered, blushing.
"Hi." He shot me a lopsided grin and it took all I had not to attempt to crawl though the screen.
"So, are you guys in the house yet?"
"Yeah, moved in today too, Ardie was here a couple days ago with his family to get up all this stuff, you know he had this awesome thing that like carries him up the stairs? It's the coolest thing, it's so much fun even though it only moves a mile an hour."
"Sounds great, when are the rest of the guys getting there."
"Oh, Mike and Sam are moving in tomorrow and Puck I think should be here the day after that. Rachel this was such a good idea, you know, getting a house all us guys going to college, although I might need Kurt to come and organize a bit... what about you? How's dorm life? How's the Big Apple?"
"Oh you know, Fabulous. I haven't met my roommate yet, I have no idea who she is. But I kept all my stuff on my side of the room just like you said I should. I even labelled all my food in the mini fridge."
"Good. I'm glad you're alright."
I looked down my heart was beating too fast; it was just too much at once. New York, dorms, and now seeing Finn's face again and know that I wouldn't be able to touch it. It was too much.
"Rachel is everything OK? Rach?"
I looked up at the screen biting my lip and wiping away tears, nodding at I was fine.
"Yeah right. You can't lie to me."
Sniff "I know. It's amazing here. It's just... it's so different. And now, seeing you... you know?"
"Yeah. I know. It's hard for me too. But that's why I was so pumped to see you had Skype! Now we can talk face to face whenever we like."
"Wait, I don't know if I can do this all the time. I don't think I'll be able to move on if I keep being you."
"Hold on... move on? What do you mean? From me? Don't I get a say in this?"
"I though that's what you wanted... you know 'we'll see what happens'... I thought that's what you wanted."
"Rachel, no. I just meant we'll work something out. But I guess, if that's what you really want then I can just take these train tickets for the first long weekend in October and rip-"
"What? You're coming here? Really?" my tears drying.
"Yeah, I booked them the day you told me you were going. I wanted to surprise you."
"Oh Finn! I'm so surprised! Oh, if only I could kiss you!" I was just bursting.
"Kiss me know" he smiled.
"What? Um, what do you mean? You're not in the next room are you?"I said, looking around.
"no, I wish..." just here, now, through Skype, lay it on me."
"You're kidding, what do you want me to do? Kiss the camera?"
"I donno, whatever makes you feel better, blow me a kiss from there."
"Alright" I looked around... "Now which was is west... OK" I held my hand up to my lips and kissed, blowing smooch after smooch in Finn's direction. "I" smooch "Love" smooch "You" smooch. Smooch smooch smooch.
Finn laughed a made like he was being hit in the side as my kisses made their way to Ohio.
"Alright, alright! You love me!" he cried, getting back onto his chair. Be both laughed and for a moment there was no distance between us. "Now it's my turn... get ready..."
