A/N: Hello lovelies! I'm back! I hope you enjoy my new fic- this is very different from my last one. I got the inspiration from working nights myself while going to school, which is very lonely and long work. Shout-outs are always in order to my loves, Brooke, Gabi and Nenne for helping me turn this idea into an actual fic. I love you girls! Hope you all enjoy Part One! Reviews are love love love!
She was the purest beauty Yeah, we owned the night
But not the common kind
She had a way about her
That made you feel alive
And for a moment
We made the world stand still
There was nothing better than walking around New York City at night. Well, early morning anyway. Finn loved the energy and vibrancy the city contained during the day- from the many different neighborhoods and burrows tucked around each corner to the millions of people pushing and shoving each other just for room to walk on the streets. New York knew who it was- brave, bold, and alive- and didn't care what anyone else in the world thought about it. That attitude is what attracted Finn to the city in the first place- a city that was the epitome of confidence and excitement was refreshing after growing up in small town Ohio.
But New York at night? There was nothing that could compare. Cloaked in darkness, the city spoke for itself. Most people were shut down for the night, tucked away inside the many buildings that framed the small island. The people were replaced by the dark, and by the soft glow of street lights. Without the pressures and chaos of the day, the night could relax in to itself, comfortable in its skin. Because, like most girls Finn had known and even dated, New York liked to pretend it was tougher than it really was.
When his mom had found out about his recent nightly walks, (not from him, obviously- his step-brother Kurt had a tendency to let slip certain details of his life when Carole felt her son wasn't always telling her everything,) she had been so mad she almost flew out to the city and dragged him all the way back to Lima, Ohio.
"You could get killed, Finn Christopher Hudson! You could get mugged or someone could car-jack you like they do in that video game you like to play!"
"But Mom I don't even have a car-"
"That's not the point, Finn!"
Finn still had a ringing in his ears from that particular lecture, and unfortunately for him his mom was starting to make them a weekly occurrence. It's not like he was up walking the streets to attract trouble, or because he had a death wish, (his mom's words- not his).
It wasn't his fault he couldn't sleep.
Finn sighed as he walked out into the night, closing the door of his apartment building behind him and walking north. It was a mild night- summer was slowly fading into fall, and Finn silently wished he'd brought a coat to shield himself from the slight chill that ran through the air.
The neighborhood he lived in was sleepy and small, mostly older couples and a few families. A good majority of the buildings were older, which to some made the street look worn down, but to Finn it was charming. Much better than his first apartment in the city, which had been infested with rats and smelled like curry from the restaurant it sat above. He never felt at home there, not really. But, then again, it took a while for anywhere besides the small yellow house with the wooden fence that he had once shared with his mom, Kurt, and his step-father Burt to feel like anything close to home.
As he straightened the strap of his backpack and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, Finn couldn't believe he'd survived that long. It had been 3 years- 3 years of going to school and playing football and working crappy bus-boy jobs and finally, finally, the city felt familiar, a place he missed when he left for a weekend or holiday. Surviving New York City was a point of pride for him- probably one of the first times in his life he felt like he was more than just a Lima Loser.
Finn walked briskly down the road, swiveling his head back and forth as he searched for a place the grade the stack of papers currently in his bag.
Being a teaching assistant was probably the best job he'd ever had. Seeing a confused student come to him and leave with a better understanding of the subject was truly amazing, and Finn really felt that he was making a difference. Sure, the pay wasn't that good, and he ended up doing most of the professor's work plus his own most of the time- but it didn't matter. In another year he was gonna be a teacher, and that's all that was important.
All he was worried about at that moment though was finding a place to grade those papers. Though New York was famous for being the city that was "up all night", it was hard to find a quiet place that served good coffee and that was open that late. Since he hadn't been sleeping, the nighttime was his only real option to get any work done, anyway.
Turning the corner, Finn stopped short when he saw the bright light of what looked to be a diner tucked underneath a patch of trees near Central Park. Moving closer, Finn was able to see a blue sign that read "Finer Diner", which made him smile. Crossing the street, the place looked more and more inviting, a cheery "Come on in!" sign propped against the front. A glance in the front window confirmed that it was open, and from his spot on the street he saw a blur of movement in the form of what he guessed was a waitress. Leaning in for a closer look, Finn stopped and listened.
Was someone singing?
The feeling of papers yet to be graded weighing on his back and his overwhelming curiosity pushed Finn to lean on the door, the smile returning to his face as a small ding signaled his entrance.
xxxxxxx
Working the graveyard shift was absolutely brutal sometimes.
For one thing, no one ever came into the Finer Diner after midnight except the occasional group of drunk NYU students or a homeless person looking for a cheap cup of coffee. And no customers on her shift meant nothing to do to pass the time. And Rachel Berry wasn't one to just sit there and do nothing for 7 hours.
Sometimes she was able to do the New York Times crossword if someone left that day's paper on a table, using the pencil she stuck in her ponytail while sitting at the counter. Other nights she was able to bring in her books and study; there was many a shift where Rachel found herself buried beneath a pile of homework, nursing a cup of coffee in a booth in the back.
Being a junior at the New York Academy for the Dramatic Arts was all about pressure- pressure to perform, pressure to impress, pressure to be the best. And working nights in order to survive in New York City was not going to keep her from being the best, in academics or in her performing.
Some nights, if Lucy the cook was feeling generous, she would give in to her constant pleading and read lines with her through the kitchen window- from Shakespearean monologues to the script for the fall musical. Lucy, an older Southern Bell who she had learned moved to New York to escape an unhappy marriage, came off as blunt and nasty, a scowl permanently affixed to her face every night. She was Rachel's companion on the graveyard shift, midnight to seven, and though Lucy would never in a million years admit it, Rachel knew the older lady had a soft spot for her. Besides the fact that she read lines with her, she also cooked Rachel vegetarian omelets whenever she was hungry, and sometimes let her go home early in order to catch some sleep before her morning classes. She did everything with sarcasm and a condescending attitude, but nothing could convince Rachel that she wasn't fond of her.
She'd actually come to think of her as the grandmother she never had.
And on the nights when it was the slowest, and it felt like the clock stopped moving entirely, Lucy, who never left her post in the kitchen, turned down the radio, the melodies of her favorite Big Band station becoming silent. Whenever Rachel stopped hearing the now familiar songs of Benny Goodman or Glenn Miller, she took it as Lucy's silent signal that she wanted her to sing instead.
Those nights, in her opinion, were the best. There weren't many places in New York where Rachel could just sing whenever the mood suited her- her apartment was out of the question, since her roommate was pre-law at NYU and needed her beauty sleep. Even the practice rooms on campus couldn't contain her voice- one day she had disturbed a period-acting class and the professor came out to yell at her.
No, the diner was the only place in the whole of the city where she could sing- not like she was at school, competing and pushing to be heard, or even singing lead during her high school glee club days. No, it was just singing for the joy of it.
And it was the sole reason she never quit.
All the sleepless nights and aching feet were reason enough to leave and never look back- find a job on campus or at least one that was during day-light hours. But it was the stillness and freedom of the world at night that kept her coming back- it was like the world stopped turning at the sound of her voice.
That feeling is what Rachel imagined being on a Broadway stage felt like, and it made her crave her dream of one day actually performing on one even more than she already did, (which was saying something, because Rachel Barbra Berry had known from the age of 3 that she was meant for the stage).
Tonight was one of those nights. Finer Diner was completely empty, and every surface was clean, left glistening and untouched. The only animated thing about it was the coffee maker tucked behind the counter, spitting and humming as it warmed coffee for the two women. From the looks of it, no one but them would be drinking any of it tonight.
Rachel sighed from her spot perched by the counter. Twirling a stray hair around her finger, she looked down at her open textbook. It was something about Greek tragedy? Shakespearean tragedy? (She was almost positive it was something to do with tragedy). She'd stopped reading before then, but she was so tired she felt training her eyes on something was better than closing them and risking falling asleep.
Lucy would never let her hear the end of it if she started snoring.
"Wake up, girl! You're shift ain't over yet!"
Rachel almost fell off of the stool as she jerked awake.
"I wasn't sleeping!" She rubbed her eyes, pointedly ignoring Lucy as she cocked her eyebrow and rolled her eyes from her spot at the kitchen window. "I was studying for my Greek Tragedy test tomorrow."
"You studying with the wrong book then, sweet cheeks. Unless Mr. Shakespeare wrote Greek tragedies on the side."
Rachel groaned when she realized the book in her hands was, in fact, the wrong one. Rifling through her bag, she also realized she left the right one at home. Perfect.
Rachel tried not to let herself be frustrated as she yawned, stretching her arms above her head in the vain hope of waking herself up. A quick scan of the mint and cream interior of the diner confirmed that it was still vacant, and the clock on the wall next to the register showed it was only 3am.
Suddenly aware of the silence, Rachel paused and listened. It seemed that while Lucy had been giving her a hard time she'd also switched off the radio. Feeling a smile grow on her face, Rachel bounced up from her seat, a new energy taking her over as she slipped her shoes back on and retied her apron.
"Ok Thumbilina, what ya' gonna sing tonight?" Lucy's southern drawl blasted from the kitchen. "You've kept me waiting plenty as it is."
"How about some Barbra?" Rachel chuckled at the sound of the woman mumbling under her breath.
"Every freaking night. Sweet Jesus."
Rachel knew that she secretly loved Barbra Streisand, (she'd seen her stuff a copy of Funny Girl in her bag one night,) so it only took a few moments for her to fall silent. Taking a deep breath, Rachel jumped into one of her favorites.
"I've dreamed of you
Always feeling you
Were there
And all my life
I have searched for you
Everywhere
I caught your smile
In the morning sun
I heard your whisper
On the breeze of night
I prayed one day
That your arms would hold me tight."
Rachel felt her hands move and wrap around her middle, letting the emotion of the song take her over. The orchestra inside her head rose and fell with the words as she sang them, her eyes falling shut.
The song was one she came back to time and time again without really knowing why. She couldn't really relate to it, since she's never been in love. The only relationship she'd ever had ended with being dumped the day before her graduation- and that couldn't possibly be equated to true love in anyone's book.
Love was supposed to move mountains, inspire great literature and music, triumph over the evil in the world. Rachel had never felt the longing to hold someone, nor had she missed a man when he left her sight. No fireworks, no violin concerto in her head. Nothing.
Rachel had resigned herself to the fact that she was more in love with performing than she ever could've ever been with Jesse.
I promise you
As I give to you my heart
That nothing in this world
Shall keep us apart.
Come happily ever after be
The man I'll love until the very end.
I've dreamed of you
My great love and my best friend.
Wrapped up in the moment, the song flowing out of her, Rachel didn't hear the ding of the door as a tall man wandered into the diner.
xxxxxxx
Finn couldn't help but stand in the doorway of Finer Diner, transfixed by the small brunette in front of him.
This little girl- woman- was clearly lost in her own world, tangled up in the song she was belting out. Finn felt himself get sucked into a trance- his breathing slowed, his heart raced. At first glance she looked like any other girl- her hair was up in a ponytail; her uniform had a stain on the hem. But he could tell she wasn't.
Her eyes were shut- probably why she hadn't noticed him- but the rest of her just radiated a dynamic energy. As she moved her body through the maze of tables, twirling in and out with the song, he could tell she was graceful, more so than anyone he'd ever seen before. Maybe she was a dancer, too? Finn wouldn't doubt it.
She also had this life to her, a simple joy that made his heart skip a beat. The woman in front of him was charged by the music she was creating; her vibrancy cut through him and struck his heart, causing him to catch his breath.
If this waitress's voice could do this to him, Finn sure as hell wanted to meet the woman who it belonged to.
Finn watched as she winded down, her hands coming up to clutch her heart. Slowly, her eyes opened and fell on him. As it dawned on her that there had been someone watching her, her eyes grew wide, and the last note of the song became lodged in her throat, sending her into a coughing fit.
In seconds Finn was by her side, lightly rubbing circles on her back as she tried to catch her breath.
Rachel, (or at least that's what her nametag said,) quickly stepped away from him, ducking under his arm as she grabbed a pad from her apron and the pencil from her ponytail. Clearing her throat, she managed to squeak out a few words.
"Hi, welcome to Finer Diner, where there's no finer food in the city. Let me show you to a table."
Finn raised an eyebrow, amused. So that was the way she was gonna play this- act like nothing happened? The redness of her face indicated something else entirely. Before he could say anything, she turned on her heel and headed for a booth in the back corner.
Apparently, she wanted him as far away as possible.
"Uh, if it's ok with you, I think I'll just sit here."
Finn had to resist the urge to laugh out loud at the sight of her paling when he sat himself down right next to where she'd been sitting minutes before, her books and homework still in piled neatly on the counter top.
He didn't think it was possible for her to be more embarrassed than she already was, but her face told a different story, becoming even redder as she rushed up and started thrusting things into a bag.
"I'm sorry about all this, let me make room…."
"Hey, it's alright. I interrupted your study time, obviously. You shouldn't have to move."
Rachel continued to grab her books, and Finn watched curiously as she directed a glare at the vacant window that lead to the kitchen.
"Just give me a sec-"
Still flustered, she ended up dropping her bag on the floor, everything she'd just put in it spilling out. Freezing, Finn watched as she shut her eyes and let out a deep breath, tucking the wisps of hair around her face behind her ear before bending down to get everything.
She was freaking adorable.
Finn knelt down to help her, glancing at a book he picked up.
"You a fan of Shakespeare?"
Rachel continued to avert her eyes, gathering her things in her arms as they stood up.
"Sometimes. I prefer his comedies to his tragedies."
"Agreed, too depressing. Hamlet was the worst for me to get through. I mean, come on. Did the dude really need to kill off everybody?"
Rachel almost dropped her homework again, a look of surprise on her face.
"You read Shakespeare?"
Finally laughing aloud, Finn nodded.
"Not by any choice of my own. It's a requirement for the class I help teach. Confuses the hell out of me, really."
Shifting the load in her arms, Rachel tilted her head.
"You're a teacher?"
"Don't sound so surprised."
Finn chuckled again at the sight of her reddening, a small smile appearing on her lips for the first time since he'd met her.
It was a beautiful thing to see.
"I didn't mean to be." Shuffling behind the counter, she stored her homework and grabbed an empty mug, placing it in front of him. "You just don't look like a teacher to me."
"What do I look like, then?" He grinned mischievously, enjoying playing with her. He didn't quite understand why he enjoyed teasing this girl he'd just met so much, but it felt good.
"Well, you look more like a football player." She pointed at his shirt. "You went to NYU?"
"I'm still going there actually. I'm in my third year." He nodded as she motioned towards the coffee, pouring some in his cup. "Thanks."
"But how can you be a teach-"
"I'm only a teaching assistant. Feels like I am the professor most of the time, though. Guy doesn't really do much besides show up and put kids to sleep."
Rachel laughed at his words, and Finn swore his heart stopped.
Wow, this girl really was doing a number on him, and he'd only been talking to her for 5 minutes.
"That sounds familiar. I feel the same way about one of the choir directors at my school." Gesturing widely, she described this large woman with curly purple hair who had interesting traditions- including not shaving before performances, and not showing up to random classes to "test their nerve and drive as performers."
"What school do you go to?"
"NYADA." She told him, standing a little taller as she spoke. She was proud of where she went, that much was clear.
"Isn't that the performing arts school? Supposed to be one of the best in the country?"
"It is the best." She smiled again, making his heart dance. "It's an amazing school."
"I bet." Deciding she was feeling more comfortable with him, he dove in, hoping not to scare her off. "You definitely sound like you belong there, based on what I heard earlier."
Rachel immediately turned red again, fumbling as she grabbed her pad.
"Oh no, I never took your order! What would you like? Lucy makes a delicious vegetarian soup-"
"Rachel?"
Jumping a little bit, she dropped her pad and almost knocked over his cup of coffee. Placing his hand over her's, he immediately felt her still.
"You have no reason to be embarrassed. You're the most talented person I've ever met."
It was a bold statement to be making to someone he'd only known for an hour, but it didn't make it any less true.
Blushing furiously, Rachel looked up and met his eyes for the first time.
Finn could feel the electricity, sending a shiver down his spine. There was a tether there, locking their eyes over the counter at this diner in the middle of New York City. Nothing could tear him away from her at that moment.
"Hey, you gonna order anything or what? I ain't gonna sit here all night while y'all make faces at each other."
Rachel jerked back, slipping her hand out from under his.
Except maybe that.
Rachel walked up to the kitchen window, her uniform skirt hiking up a bit as she leaned into it, (not that he was looking at her ass- ok, maybe he was). Looking over her shoulder, Rachel asked him if he was hungry.
"That vegetarian soup sounds good."
A few more words were passed before she turned around and walked back around the counter. Peeking through the window, Finn noticed an older woman glaring at him, her fire engine red hair almost the same color as Rachel's face earlier.
"Sorry about Lucy. She can be kind of gruff."
"I'm pretty sure she could kick my ass if I wasn't paying attention."
Sinking into the chair next to him, Rachel nodded and giggled.
"No one should ever cross her. Ever."
"Nice to have someone like that looking out for you."
"Don't let her hear you say that!" Rachel shook her head. "Besides, what would she need to protect me from? I can take care of myself."
"I know you can."
Rachel stopped and looked into his eyes again, looking for any trace of humor or sarcasm. There was none- he was completely serious.
"How would you know? You don't even know me."
Finn turned his head, giving her comment deep thought. He really didn't know why he was getting so personal with a complete stranger. Maybe it was her eyes, or the way she could be graceful when she performed but drop everything in her way when she was uncomfortable, or the way her voice was still ringing through his head.
Maybe it was all of those things.
"I just do."
Leaning towards him a bit, she smiled.
"You never answered my question, by the way."
"And what question was that?"
Pointing at him, she reminded him of her football player comment. "You sure have the body of one."
"So you were checking me out."
Finn knew he was never gonna get tired of making her blush.
"But yes, I used to play football."
"Used to?"
"Yeah. I actually got into NYU on a football scholarship. Full ride."
"Wow, that's impressive!" He could tell she meant it, too. "But if you're still there, why aren't you playing?"
Dropping her gaze, Finn ran his hand over his knee, remembering a night the year before where he was playing what started out as a normal game.
Remembering the wind rushing through his helmet, the feeling of being completely alive charging his body from head to toe.
Remembering the feel of getting slammed into by someone twice his size the moment he passed the ball.
Remembering lying on his back in the grass as he stared up at the blinding stadium lights- the last thing he saw before he passed out.
Remembering being told his football career was over.
"I got hurt- my knee." Finn was touched by the look on Rachel's face- the concern there was over-whelming. Tentatively, she reached out and touched his arm.
"That's awful. I'm sorry that happened to you."
He shrugged. "It's alright. It took me a while to get over it- you know, PT and stuff, but I got better. I still play in the park with my friends sometimes. Don't go telling my doctor, though."
Though he had tried to shrug it off, Rachel kept her hand where it was. They way she was looking at him- like she knew how he really, honestly felt about the whole thing- was unnerving. There was nothing he could slip by her.
She must have sensed it was a tough thing for him to talk about, so she quickly changed the subject, pulling her hand away.
"How do you get from a future football career to being a teacher?"
Running his hand through his hair and forgetting about the pile of papers he still needed to grade, Finn laughed, the tension in his body easing.
"Now that is a good story."
Finn could have sat there for days talking to Rachel. He couldn't pinpoint what exactly made her so amazing- but he swore, she was. Like, really was. Over some really good soup, (he had to give it up to Lucy for her skills- even if she did almost pour the bowl into his lap,) he told her how he needed to keep it grades up or else the school would have taken away his scholarship. His amazing tutor- Laurie- who inspired him to become a teacher, and his eventual decision to change his major, hoping to one day work with high schoolers or little kids, he wasn't sure which yet.
And she just listened, like she cared about everything he was saying. He'd never had that- someone who knew what he was saying and understood it, too. He always felt like he had to explain why he did or felt certain things to people over and over, even to the people he loved most, like his mom or best friend, Puck. It was easier most of the time to not tell people anything- less hassle. But he didn't have to do that with Rachel- she just got him.
They sat at the counter, exchanging stories over multiple cups of coffee and a few slices of pie. He learned about her dreams of being on Broadway one day, and the roles she was destined to play. She told him what it was like being raised by two gay dads, who made up for the constant teasing in school by being wonderful. He learned all about her experience of moving to New York, and how humbling it was for a spoiled only child.
Over what had to have been his 5th cup of coffee, Finn almost choked on laughter as Rachel imitated what the dean of NYADA looked like, (she did an impression of an older man who wore bright pink suits really well, actually).
"I know, I couldn't believe it either!" Rachel had the best laugh, and Finn thanked whoever was listening for making her comfortable around him, finally. She had let her hair down, literally- the brown curls were now around her shoulders. She was grinning and had this bright twinkle in her eye, which showed how beautiful she really was.
Glancing at the clock, Finn couldn't believe it had been 4 hours since he'd walked into Finer Diner. His backpack was lying forgotten on the ground, papers still ungraded, but he couldn't bring himself to care. All he was really thinking about was making sure the night never ended.
Rachel stood up, gathering the empty plates and mugs. Unfortunately, the night was ending, and as the sun started to rise outside, Finn grew nervous.
"Rachel?"
Storing the dining ware in the kitchen, she came back out smiling ear to ear, untying her apron as she did. "Yeah?"
He cleared his throat, "Do you work this shift every night?"
Propped behind the counter, she nodded. "Every Monday through Thursday."
"Is it always this quiet?"
"More so- usually the only person I have to talk to is Lucy, and she is better at insulting me more than anything else." A grunt rang out from the kitchen, making Rachel giggle again. She quickly softened. "It was nice to have someone to talk to, though. Working here can be a little lonely sometimes."
Finn wanted to grab her hand again. Oh, did he want to. But he'd almost freaked her out by his invasiveness a few times that night, so instead he sat up, running his hand over the slight stubble on his jaw. Reaching for his wallet, he tried to sound casual.
"Well, maybe I can come by again sometime. I'd hate to think of you being lonely."
Eyes trained down, he didn't catch the blinding smile that popped onto her face before she nonchalantly started wiping down the counter, averting her eyes.
"That would be nice. I mean, if you could manage it. This schedule is killer on anyone who enjoys sleeping."
Grinning, Finn sobered, matching her indifferent tone. "Well since I don't sleep much, I guess that won't be such a big problem." He purposefully ignored her questioning gaze. "I mean, I'll come by, if I can swing it."
Before she could inquire further about why he didn't sleep, the door dinged, causing them both to jump. A tall blonde walked in, her uniform unbuttoned at the top to reveal more of her than anyone should be seeing at 7 in the morning.
"Oh, it's 7 already?" Rachel twirled around, looking for her things as she gathered her stuff together. Finn looked down at the bill she'd given him earlier, (she had tried to let it slide, but he'd insisted,) and chuckled again at the sight of Rachel's scrawled handwriting at the bottom, saying her name with a large star drawn next to it.
Standing up, Finn handed the money to the new waitress. He made sure to ignore her flirty glances, paying his bill and walking back towards Rachel, who was buttoning her pink coat over her uniform.
"I'll walk you out."
Offering his arm, his heart rate increased again at the sight of her biting her lip, pausing before she eventually took it. Waving cheerfully at the blonde, Rachel either didn't notice or didn't care about the dirty look she was sending her way.
Man, some girls just tried way too hard.
Looking down, Finn had to give it up to her- Rachel didn't have to be anything but herself to make his palms clammy and his chest ache.
Walking outside, the pair stopped, both headed for opposite directions.
"Thanks again. You saved me tonight."
Grinning, Finn grabbed her hand and bent over, lightly kissing her knuckles. He murmured against her skin, "Just call me your knight in shining armor."
Finn was deeply satisfied when he saw her shiver, a timid smile playing on her lips. Regretfully, he let go of her hand, watching as she walked away from him, bobbing through the already crowded streets of New York. Finn stood there watching till the tiny pink dot disappeared, wishing the night would come back so she could belong just to him again.
Smirking, he hitched his backpack up and walked away, feeling more energized than he had in a long time.
xxxxxxx
Did that really just happen? To her?
Rachel couldn't believe it. Nothing like that ever just happened- this wasn't a movie, or one of those books she kept stuffed under her mattress. This was reality, and tall, handsome, sweet men with dimples that make her swoon didn't just walk into where she worked and stay the entire night. It just wasn't plausible.
But it was.
Rachel shivered again at the memory of his hand on hers, looking into his eyes as he told her she was the most talented person he'd ever known. That moment was so- so real. She felt this connection that went straight through her, squeezing right at her heart. But how could that be? She just met this guy.
Not some guy- Finn. Finn Hudson. Rachel smiled, seeing him smile over his mug when she asked him, this half smirk causing her heart to beat faster.
Dodging the other people on the sidewalk, Rachel pulled her coat tighter around her as she made the two block trek back to her apartment, hoping to catch some sleep before her first class.
That is, if she could sleep. She hadn't felt this alert in a long time- it was as though she had slept the whole night instead of trading life stories with a complete stranger.
But it had been lovely, she knew, sighing as she imagined his face again. Would he actually come back and see her? Shaking her head, her hair blowing slightly in the morning wing, she doubted his words. It's not like he promised or anything. What's one night compared to anything? He really didn't owe her any favors.
Letting herself remember the way his lips grazed her skin, leaving this invisible burn that left her hand tingling, Rachel almost stopped walking.
Maybe he would come by. Maybe.
Finally at her building, Rachel silently let herself hope that this stranger, Finn, would somehow make his way back into her life for another night.
A giggle escaping her lips, Rachel skipped up the stairs, ignoring the elevator completely as she rushed to tell her roommate and best friend Santana about her late night adventure.