Chapter 1: Finchel

Rachel's POV

"Alright, you're good, white boy. I'll give you that. But you better bring it. Let's run it again", Mercedes said as Rachel completely ignored everyone else but Finn Hudson. She was amazed at just how talented he was vocally. She stared at him while the banter around her continued, her sole focus was the quarterback who, by some miracle, was now in glee club. She wasn't concerned about Mercedes' little diva moment, nor Mr. Schuester's disregard for acknowledging her talent. She was too busy studying Finn.

"Alright. From the top", Mr. Schuester announced as he somehow managed to get Rachel to focus on the task on hand. After the tenth time going over the song, Mr. Schue ended the rehearsal and told them to meet again in the choir room on Wednesday. Rachel took a mental note of his reminder, and pushed it to the back of her head. This was her chance to just go for it. She had no hesitation when she approached Finn to compliment his performance.

"You know you're a really good singer", Rachel said without hesitation, wanting to make sure he knew she was talking to him. She noticed he jumped a little and slightly frowned, but it was lifted when she heard him respond. "Uh, thanks. Rose, is it?", she heard him ask as a look of disappointment took over her face. "Rachel, actually", she said with her voice quietening on the second word. Finn just looked toward the auditorium exit awkwardly and tried to make a dash.

"I know who you are. I walk by you all the time", she blurted out as she vividly remembered the first she ever saw his face. He was in his letterman jacket and he had smiled at her. No one in the football team even acknowledged her presence unless it was to give a slushie. She made sure she learned his name and that she would be nice to him if she ever got a chance to talk to him. Today was the day, but she was so nervous that all that came out of her mouth were stupid comments that made her sound like a stalker. She brushed it off and made sure to listen intently to him.

"Oh, yeah, I remember", he replied as she smiled and walked alongside him as he made his way to his lockers." So, what made you join glee club? Not many of the popular kids even know what a glee club is she", said as she stared intensely at his profile. She admired his attractive features on his face and smiled to himself. "Well, I take Spanish class with Mr. Schue and he offered me extra credit if I joined", he said as she tilted her head in curiosity. "Oh?", Rachel said as she thought deeply about it. Mr. Schuester never offered her extra credit, even though she didn't need the enticement. She was so eager that she wanted her name to be the first on the list. She was furious to see that she wasn't the one to sign up for glee club yet again. Mercedes Jones would somehow always get her name on first!

"Well, I gotta go and see Mrs. Hagberg now. See you at glee practice, Rachel", he said as he left her standing there by herself. Rachel grinned as she heard Finn say her name for the first time. It was like everything she imagined. Her day was now a thousand times brighter than it had started.

Finn's POV

"Alright, you're good, white boy. I'll give you that. But you better bring it. Let's run it again", Mercedes said as Finn tried his hardest to listen. It was true what everyone said about glee club. He looked around the room and saw a gay guy, an Asian goth chick, a loud black girl and a crazy girl who was currently staring at him. He tried not to pay her any attention as he analysed the situation, or as much as Finn Hudson could analyse a situation. He had seen them all around school but their paths had never really crossed until now. The girl who was playing Sandy was still staring at him when he heard Mr. Schue's next announcement.

"Alright. From the top", he heard say as he blew out a breath of relief. This meant the psycho stalker girl had to go back to her first position. He didn't even know her name. In fact, he didn't know any of their names. He shrugged it off as they continued rehearsing their rendition of "You're The One That I Want" from the musical Grease. Finn had only seen it twice. The first time was with his mom because she loved that era and it brought back memories for her. The second time was a dare from the football guys. He didn't even get halfway before he had fallen asleep.

After half an hour of rehearsing, Mr. Schue released them and reminded them of their next meeting. He knew crazy girl was still watching him so he quickly went for his bag when he heard her right behind him. "You know you're a really good singer", he heard her say as he jumped a little. How the hell did she get so close to him so fast? He turned around with his bag strap on one shoulder trying to play it cool. "Uh, thanks. Rose, is it?", he said as he tried to remember her name. He wasn't even confident her name started with an 'R'. "Rachel, actually", he heard her say only barely because she said it so quietly. He didn't want to make the situation any more awkward as it was so he made his way to his locker, not knowing that she was right behind him yet again.

"I know who you are. I walk by you all the time", he heard her confess which was a little creepy, if he was being totally honest. He also felt a little guilty that she knew him and he didn't even have the decency to know her name. He kept repeating her name in his head so next time he was more polite. Rachel. Rachel. Rachel. "Oh, yeah, I remember", he lied as he saw her smile. She had such a nice smile. He felt bad for lying, but even worse for making her feel rejected or lonely so he did the gentleman thing to do and keep the conversation when he heard her talk again. "So, what made you join glee club? Not many of the popular kids even know what a glee club is", he heard her ask as he found his locker and started fidgeting around with his belongings inside. He panicked a little thinking she knew all about the marijuana and the 'Chronic Lady' whatever that was. He decided to test the waters and lie again. "Well, I take Spanish class with Mr. Schue and he offered me extra credit if I joined", he said as he stuck to the story he and Mr. Schue agreed to. "Oh?", he heard her say but he was getting very cautious about her and needed to leave.

"Well, I gotta go and see Mrs. Hagberg now. See you at glee practice, Rachel", he said with a smile as he mentally patted himself on the back. Not only had he remembered her name but he saw that gorg- nice smile again. He made his way down the hallway and looked back to see if she had followed him. She hadn't as he sighed in relief as he decided to look for his girlfriend.

A/N: This is my first ever fic, so I don't really expect anything. I just needed to get this out of my system. I realise that the first time Rachel and Finn saw each other was in the hallway, but I wanted to do first encounters instead. Next up: Hummelberry