"I just feel all my life, I've been wondering if I was gonna be as much of a man as my father was. Now all of a sudden, I'm up at night worried that I'm gonna become the man he was. Let's face it; I got high school hero, life zero written all over me. Except for one thing: you. You're like a beacon of light, guiding me through the darkness. You're like this big gold star and for some bizarre reason, you chose to let me love you. I feel like if I can just convince you to let me keep doing that. I'm gonna be okay. Everything's gonna be okay.
"I opened up my first credit card to get this. I know that it's not like a swimming pool full of dancers or a tux, and I know it's not very big. But it's a promise. A promise to keep loving you for the rest of my life. And all you have gotta do, is say yes. Rachel Berry, will you marry me?"
I didn't know what to say. I couldn't breathe, and one thousand thoughts were running through my mind. All of the memories, good and bad, came flooding back. The time when he broke up with me to find his "inner rock star," when he told me he loved me, when I found out that he slept with Santana, New York, everything. I took a deep breath, and prepared to give him my answer.
However, just before the words escaped my lips, I became terrified. I shot out of my chair, and sprinted towards the exit. I heard footsteps chasing after me.
"Rachel, wait!" Finn shouted, with voice heavy with desperation. I pretended that I couldn't hear him. I made my way outside, where rain was falling down in torrents. I dug the keys for my car out of my bag, thankful that I had driven myself to school today. I jumped in the car, taking comfort in its warmth.
I took a second to comprehend what had just happened. I loved him, but marrying him now would get in the way of my career. I had realized when Kurt and I were singing in New York that nothing could get in the way of my dreams, and I even told him that. However, I was also afraid to say no. Things would become incredibly awkward between us.
As I pulled out of the parking lot, I saw Finn standing by the school, a forlorn expression on his face. My heart broke as I drove away.