Author's Note: Hi there! Thank you for reading this. This is part of a two (possibly three) part series, and each part will have about 10-15 chapters. Please review! I'm new to fanfiction, and would love to know what I can work on. Feel free to ask questions when reviewing too; I'll do my best to answer them!
As for updating, I'll add a new chapter approxamately every week. If I have tons of free time, it could be shorter, and if I'm really busy, it could be over a week. So just be paitent, and read!
Thanks. -Lizzy :)
Chapter 1 – the Grocery store
It was just a trip to the grocery store. How was I supposed to know I would run into him? I mean, it's not that I planned to run into him, for crying out loud. He was a former flame of mine. It's been, what, five years since I saw him? What was he doing here anyways? I mean, the last time I saw him was on graduation day from McKinley, and after that he was off to Notre Dame on a football scholarship. God, what did I get myself into?
So, I was just standing there in the pasta aisle, trying to decide what kind of noodles I was going to use for dinner tonight. It was my turn to cook tonight, as my roommate, Tina Cheng, and I always take turns cooking. Then all of a sudden, someone bumped into me.
"Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry-" he blurts.
"Oh, geez, I apologize-" I say at the same time as him. I turn back to the pasta, but he talks again.
"Rachel? Rachel, is that you?" he asks me.
"Yeah, I'm Rachel…. Who are-" I look at him intently, trying to figure out where I could have seen him before, and then I realize it was Finn Hudson. My ex-boyfriend from senior year. "Oh god. It's you. It's Finn. God, I haven't seen you in so long!" I stutter, still processing all this information. He's gotten much taller than he already was, and he had grown out his hair a bit. He had definitely gotten more toned while at Notre Dame.
"Wow, for a second there, I thought you didn't remember me," he says. I can tell he's just as nervous as me. I'm his ex from high school, so I don't blame him. "This is so weird, as I was just thinking about you the other day. Well, everyone from glee club, really. I miss everyone. I'm so glad we have our five year reunion coming up in a week." I feel so bad for him. He sure is nervous. And that must be why he's here! Reunion! How could I have forgotten that?
"So you're going to the reunion? Is that why you're here? I thought you were still in Indiana," I ask. It's quite embarrassing. I, the person who most people thought would be going off to Juliard, the most prestigious acting school there is, stayed here in boring old Ohio, and went to Ohio State. Meanwhile, Finn went to Notre Dame, and I heard Puck and Quinn went somewhere in New York. I, Rachel Berry, feel like a total failure.
"Well, yeah. I am here for the reunion, of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world," he adds with a chuckle. "I graduated last year, and it's not the same out there in Indiana. Don't get me wrong, college was great. I just want to be back home, where I grew up. So I'm moving back."
"Wow, that's wonderful Finn!" I exclaim. I glance at my watch, and realize it's already five o'clock. Tina is going to be wondering where I am. "Oh, god, I'm so sorry. I really wish we could catch up some more. But I have to get going. Tina, you remember her from Glee? She's going to be wondering where I am. We share an apartment now." I start walking off with my pasta in hand, and turn and wave by to him.
"Wait a second, Rachel! Do you want to have dinner tomorrow night?" he calls out after me. I turn around, and take a breath. I honestly don't this is a great idea. It would be really awkward after all this time, you know?
"Umm, I don't know Finn," I answer, walking back to him. He can tell what I'm thinking. I mean, it may be five years since I've seen him, but he always knew how I was feeling in high school. He could sense my feelings.
"It's just a dinner between two friends, Rach." My heart jumped when he said Rach. In my entire life, he was the only one who called me Rach. It made me feel special. "We'll just catch up on these past few years. How about I pick you up tomorrow? Then we can decide where to go when I get there," he said with a smirk. I loved how he knew how I felt. Ok, that'll be great. I live on Applewood Drive, number 613. Can't wait," I said to him. I waved by, and walked off with the hugest smile possible and headed to the register.
"Something good happen today, I presume?" the cashier asks me. "That'll be five dollars and sixty-three cents, please."
"Yes, something spectactular," I reply, as I hand her the cash.
xxx
I lay there on my bed that night, unable to get to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Finn. I have a date with him tomorrow night. No, no, not a date. Just a get together. As friends. No dating. It's obvious that I still like him. I wish I could have shown it less though. But I've wished that we could be more than friends my entire life. I mean, how desperate does it look if you still like your ex-boyfriend from senior year of high school, more than five years ago? Yeah, really desperate. I need to get over this.
And I'm not doing well with hiding this, either. All through dinner, Tina was on to me. I don't know why I can't just tell her about it, though. She's been my friend for nearly ten years. She knew something was wrong though.
"Rachel, what's wrong? I know something is. You don't seem yourself," she said strongly.
"N-nothing's wrong," I stuttered. "Just a lot on my mind."
"Nothing big happen?"
"Nope." God, why was she being so nosy? Well, she is my friend. And I usually spill everything to her.
"You sure?"
"Positive," I replied, with still a bit of uneasiness in my voice. We just sat there for the rest of dinner, eating quietly. Since we ate on the late side, we both went straight to our rooms to relax after dinner. Tina may be over there relaxing right now, but I am over here in my room still wigging out. I don't understand why though. I need to get over myself. I'm going to tell Tina, and come clean with it.
As I got up and headed to Tina's room, I composed myself. I knocked on the door, opened it, and sat on Tina's bed.
"Tina, I-" I began, but she interrupted me.
"I already know, Rachel. While you were in your room wigging out, Finn called up, asking where you were. I was like, what the hell? You know, because I haven't seen him in so long. Then he explained, and yeah. This is why you were freaking out, right?
"Umm…yeah," I answered sheepishly. I was really embarrassed.
"Rachel, Rachel….. whatever will I do with you?" she said with a smile. "Don't freak out, and just relax. I'll help you get ready for tomorrow night. When I was talking to him, he seemed really eager. I think he still likes you."
"Are you sure Tina? Honestly, I think I still like him too."
"Yes, I'm pretty sure. I'm going to go to bed now, so go. Good night," she said as she shoved me off of her bed. "By the way, I think you need counseling. You worry over the littlest things." She was laughing as she shut her door. I walked back to bed, feeling better about tomorrow night. I was now so excited I could hardly wait.
