Hey everyone, I'm back with a new story...again inspired by the Glee soundtrack...Just like last time, the pairing is the under appreciated Finchel...but this time around, Finn's run out of "second chances" and has to earn his chance with Rachel...cause I believe she deserves to have HIM after HER more! xD...Let's just hope he CAN earn another chance...hehe..x3 (Hopefully this remains the plot, my idea has changed 10x now) Also, it's gonna be a chapter story (not sure how long it will be, or where this will go, I'm not great at this) and as a fun twist to amuse myself further, the chapter titles will be taken from the lyrics in the Glee soundtrack songs...or very closely related to the lyrics..
~Now, onto the story!~
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Chapter 1: A Way to Make You Understand
It's been a hard week for her; really hard. What with being torn between feeling guilty because she told Finn the truth, causing him to leave Glee, and feeling proud (not to mention astonished) of the fact that she was the only one brave enough to release the poor Jock of a burden that was never his. Then there's the fact that everybody in Glee pretty much hates her for spilling the beans, can't forget that...not that she blames them for it, with how selfish her motives were...and nothing even happened between them, making the outcome of her telling him even worse.
Just thinking about it all makes her tired, and she really just wants to crawl back into bed and cry (even professionals cry at times, and this is one of those times she wishes she could., but she can't. She knows she has to be strong, and face life with a smile, even as the walls of trust in her Glee club family are slowly but surely crumbling. She's the only one who can remain even close to optimistic in the group, and she believes without her encouragement, the club could easily fall apart. Even so, she can't help but feel a little discouraged.
Despite how bad she messed up before, she'd really, really hoped that things would change, after her performance of Don't Rain On My Parade. She had hoped that doing so well, and saving the day for them would cause a better understanding between her and her fellow glee clubbers...however, sadly, things haven't changed that much. Not at all.
Mercedes still snaps at her when she asks for a solo (the girl's such a diva, she obviously wants it for herself), Kurt still chooses to judge her by the way she dresses and talks rather than by her talent. Quinn is just as mean as ever (if not nastier, but she blames a lot of this on the girl's pregnancy hormones). Artie and Tina...well they never really had too much of a problem with her, and Artie, if nobody else gives her a small smile and a nod these days whenever she really nails a solo, which she appreciates.
Puck is...Puck. He obviously meant it when he said they were never friends; she still gets her daily facial slushy from the jerk, no matter how many times she's appealed to him with the fact that they're both on the same team now. Oh well. That's just Puck for you. He only cares for a girl if they "give it up to him", which she never will, so she finds his behavior sadly understandable. Not that she condones it. She just understands it. It's people like Puck that make her grateful that she brings spare clothing every day. After all, it is always a good thing to be prepared.
One of the things she cannot stand is the fact that despite the fact that she bailed them out at Sectionals, everyone in Glee is still questioning her song choices (well, not everybody...if you count Finn..but he doesn't say much lately when it comes to rehearsal, so he doesn't really count.)
She groans as she brushes through her long, dark locks of hair, staring at herself in her mirror while smoothing out any wrinkles in her plaid skirt. No...honestly...Finn is the real problem lately, she thinks, remembering the previous day's events.
--
Mr. Schuester had (despite Mercedes' protests) given her and Finn another duet to work on, and so they had agreed to meet in the auditorium later after school and rehearse.
Everything had been fine until their fifth run through of the song, when Finn had asked if they could be done for the day, claiming he was tired (though he had really just seemed bored). She had heaved a heavy sigh, put out by his obvious lack of enthusiasm for the song, but nodded. Secretly, she'd felt relieved as she gathered her things together and gave a wave, turning to leave. She'd barely taken one step when he'd suddenly grabbed her arm gently, spinning her around and pulling her into a tight hug, causing her to drop her things.
"Finn...?" She'd stammered, tilting her head back to look at him, confused. "What are you doing..?"
Finn hadn't answered her, finding it easier to silence her by pressing his mouth to hers, and lifted her off the ground so he wouldn't have to bend over as much.
Shock, as well as panic had flooded into Rachel's mind, all of her emotions and thoughts immediately going to war. Of course she'd wanted to kiss him back, but she knew he had just left Quinn fairly recently...he could be using her for all she knew. It's not like it hadn't happened before. Whatever the case, her emotions had won over her common sense, and Rachel had found herself kissing the boy back like her very existence depended on it.
She had been unaware of him moving, too engrossed in their embrace, and so it had come as a surprise when he'd put her down, pushing her back against the shiny, black piano as he hovered over her, his hands sliding down to grip her waist tightly once more. His kiss had become more urgent than before if possible, more demanding...more...desperate. She had been vaguely aware that one of his hands was sliding down further than her waist, but it wasn't until he tried to slide his tongue past her lips that she had pushed him away, panting hard.
"...Rach...?" He'd staggered back slightly, looking extremely confused.
"I know, you're hurting...over Quinn...over...her.." Rachel hadn't wanted to say "baby", for fear of the tall boy in front of her breaking down, and she couldn't handle that- not when she herself had already been fighting back tears. "...I know you need somebody right now, while you piece your life back together...and I know I'm one of the only people you feel you can trust...but..." She'd paused, blinking rapidly as the tears she'd been fighting had streamed down her face, her emotions betraying her. "...I can't do this, Finn. You know how much I care about you, but I will not be Quinn's rebound..."
"What? Rebou--Rach, you've got it all wrong-" Finn had tried defending himself, but she'd brushed it off with a wave of her hand, silencing him.
"I understand it clearly...You're so desperate to erase...or rather, forget the pain she caused you, that you're willing to come after me, somehow believing that you're attracted to me now....Finn, you're not...You may think you are, but really what you're doing is acting out, hoping it will make you forget the fact that..." she'd paused, this part hurting the most, "You were betrayed by the one you love." There had been another pause as she'd sighed. "I'm sorry, Finn...I want to be there for you, and help you through this...but...I can't..I will not be a rebound. I will not be a mistake.'
Her point as clear as she could get it across, Rachel had picked up the stuff she'd dropped, and turned to leave. However, she'd barely opened her mouth to say good bye when Finn's lips had crashed down onto hers again (when had he gotten in front of her?!), his arms circling tightly around her waist and pulling her against him snugly! Smirking to himself, he had deepened the kiss, drowning out her startled gasp.
It had surprised them both, equally, when the palm of her hand had connected with the side of his face, the sound of the slap echoing throughout the empty auditorium. Stunned, Finn had let his hold on her waist go slack, and she'd jerked away, and brushed past him, moving away as fast as she could. Away from his kiss, from his open arms...from his bewildered face.
"Rach, why?!" Finn had stammered after opening and closing his mouth a few times, his hand on his cheek where she'd slapped him.
"I may care deeply about you, but...." Rachel had stopped, frozen in her tracks, her back still to him. "I can't sit by idly and just let you play with my feelings, not again." A sigh had escaped her yet again, she sure seemed to do that a lot lately. Especially in HIS presence. "I'm not saying I intend to give up on whatever this is between us...I am merely cutting you off for awhile, so as to speak."
"..Cutting me off...?" Finn had stared at her blankly, and even though she'd had her back to him, Rachel had known he was confused. "What I mean, is aside from school, you no longer exist in my mind."
"...That's harsh, Rach.." His tone, sounding so sad, so let down, it had almost been too much for her to bear, but she hadn't let it show how much she was affected.
"I'm sorry, Finn Hudson, but that is how things have to be for now."
"But why?!" His tone had changed drastically, going from one of hurt and sorrow, to one of annoyance, and possibly anger.
"Because!" She had lost her patience here, and thrown her hands up in the air, turning to face him. "I can't be around you while you're like this. You may think you know what you want, but you're so confused, after all this has happened...you can't be positive about anything you want right now, and that includes wanting me...I can't stick around and play these games with you anymore, opening my vulnerable heart to you, only to be shot down as you realize for the umpteenth time that I'm not the girl you want."
"W-wait!" Finn grabbed her shoulders now, and a dark look had crossed over his face for a split second. "I may not be sure about much right now, Rachel, but I AM positive about one thing, and that's how I feel about YOU! I know you still like me, too...and I promise, I haven't come after you to use you...I have been falling for you for a long time...but I couldn't do anything about it until now...and I plan to...if you'll only give me a chance!"
A ghost of a smirk had been on Rachel's lips (she just felt too amused by the fact that he was honestly coming after her now to take him seriously) as she'd responded bitterly, "I think I've given you enough chances..if you want another, you're going to have to earn it."
"Fine..if that's how it has to be..then...fine."
Rachel had heaved a relieved sigh- he was going to be a gentleman and step back from her until he was completely recovered. He'd leave what was left of her heart alone. She was going to be ok.
"...I'll just have to work hard to show you I mean what I say."
..Wait. What?
"...You can't be serious, Finn." She'd all but whined. Not that she didn't want to be with him (sometimes she thought she wanted that more than to be a successful star)...she just wanted to be with him when the time was right. Which meant not now. Or anytime soon. Maybe someday, in the future...but certainly NOT now.
"Oh, I'm serious." Finn had smirked, seeing the shock on her face. "I'm as serious about this as you are about being on broad way. You'll see tomorrow. Later, Rach." Then, without giving her any chance to protest, he'd kissed her softly on the cheek and walked out the auditorium doors, living her to stare in bewilderment at his retreating form..
--
A heavy sigh escapes Rachel's lips (she's really got to stop appearing so put out, it's not an attractive thing in an upcoming star) as she finishes brushing her hair, and she goes downstairs for breakfast, which is a plate of steaming chocolate chip smiley faced pancakes left by her two fathers. The whole time she's eating, she's mulling the previous day's encounter over in her head, wondering if she can possibly avoid Finn today.
While she really likes him, she doesn't want anymore drama from him; unfortunately she has a feeling that is exactly what she's going to be dealt, because she highly doubts she can avoid him ALL day. After all, he's Finn Hudson. Finn Hudson whose locker is like, practically right next to hers. There's no way she won't run into him at some point, with all the trips she makes to her locker for stuff. Still, there has to be a way to avoid conversing with him. She just has to think.
She still hasn't thought of anything several minutes later, as she's washing her breakfast dishes, nor has she come up with a plan of action five minutes later, when she's finished brushing her teeth, and flossing. Oh well. She shakes her head at herself- why is she worrying about this so much? It's probably much less of a problem than her mind is making it out to be. She probably won't even see him that much today, except for Glee club.
Glee club...she sighs. It's almost unbearable there lately. What with the awkwardness between Quinn, Puck and Finn, and then everyone else glaring at her, the CAUSE of the awkwardness between said threesome. She can't believe she's doing this, but she thinks she's going to skip rehearsals today...She'll just go straight home after her last period, and rehearse on her own...and then she'll record her daily MySpace video..With the time she's lost to Glee returned for this one day, she'll have time to pick a truly fantastic number, even more so than her normal selections, and she will EXCEL at the song, she's already sure.
A small smile crosses her features as she picks up her stuff (making sure she has the bag containing her spare outfit for the day as well as shampoo and conditioner), and heads to the door. She's just reaching for the doorknob when the doorbell rings, and she blinks curiously. Whomever this visitor is, they have some...interesting timing. She flings the door open wide and quickly belts out the speech like greeting just like she hears it in her head.
"Hello, this is Rachel Berry, how may I help you?" Then, without missing a beat, she continues on, "As you can see, I'm on my way out the door, headed to school, prepared for another fine day of education, both subjects taught in class, such as mathematics, science, Spanish, as well as education in the halls, or cafeteria, such as how to wash a slushy properly out of your hair, as well as to clean the graffiti off of one's locker....so I must politely ask that you please make your business with me as brief as possible."
She's answered with a simple "Hey, Rachel," and a chuckle.
Suddenly, all the confidence she had loaded her mind with that morning vanishes, leaving her like the air out of a deflating balloon. "...Finn....what a pleasant surprise." she says, smiling tightly as she takes in the appearance of the 6'3" boy on her front porch. She gulps involuntarily at the smirk on his face. "What?"
"...Nothing...just..." Finn can't help sounding amused, "Do you greet ALL your early morning visitors that way?"
She nods, then scowls as he breaks into a slight fit of laughter. "What? I think it's important everyone I greet knows that while I appreciate them stopping by, I really am busy, off to school to be educated in-" She is forced to break off as the football player places a finger on her lips.
"I know, you already told me.." He says quietly, an amused twinkle in his eyes, removing his finger from her lips after a minute.
She nods, then takes a deep breath, summoning all the courage she can possibly muster before blurting out the thought that's been on her mind ever since she realized it was him at her door. "So..what brings you here, Finn? I know this isn't on the way to school, from where you live." She folds her arms across her chest and takes a step back, waiting for him to answer, all the while maintaining eye contact with him.
"...Actually, it is...you don't know where I live, do you?" He smiles, countering her question with one of his own.
"Ok, fine, you have me there." She mumbles after a moment's contemplating. "I don't know where you live...I guess I was wrong to assume it wouldn't be around here, forgive me." She sighs. "Now, are you going to answer my question?"
"Uhhh........" Finn stares at her for a few minutes, apparently caught off guard. "What question..?"
"What are you doing here?" She forces herself to say calmly, though on the inside, she's rather annoyed at his forgetfulness.
"Oh, yeah..." He pauses again, resuming his staring at her. "Well, I was wondering, if..uhh....you'd like to....maybe.....uhhh.........you know...."
"No, I don't know," She sighs heavily (mentally smacking herself for allowing yet another sigh in Finn's presence) and shakes her head at him, "However, I am sure that whatever it is you were hoping to inquire about, it can wait until later. I'll see you at school, Finn." She steps outside and closes the front door, locking it, and is about to leave when Finn holds out a hand, stopping her.
"That's it! I remember now!" He takes a deep breath, appearing more determined than she's seen him before (well, unless you count yesterday in the auditorium) as he takes her hand, forbidding her anymore movement. "Rach, can I drive you to school?"
That's it? THAT'S why he came all the way here? To offer her a ride to school? To a school she usually just walks to? She frowns and chews on her lower lip. She can't let him drive her...that might give him the wrong idea!
With a hasty shake of her head, she declines as politely as she possibly can, carefully pulling her small hand free from his larger one. "Well, Finn, that is very sweet of you, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline your offer this time." she says softly. "Thank you anyways."
"So...no...?" He looks frustrated, she notices, but decides not to let him know she acknowledges that as she takes a step forward.
"I'm afraid not, Finn...see, I have my morning routine, and walking to school is how I get my daily exercise. It's an important part of being a star, to be in good shape, and that's what walking does for me. So, thanks, but no thanks."
"Hey, wait a minute!" She wants to growl in frustration, but decides it's too unladylike, and refrains from it as he lunges forward and catches her arm. "What is it, now, Finn? You're going to make me late, and I can't have that...I have to be on time. My attendance record must be spotless."
He's just frowning, and she doesn't like it at all. "What?!"
"I know you might think I'm pretty gullible, you know, after the whole Quinn and the baby thing...but..." He gives her another determined look, this one somehow scarier than the last. "I remember what you say. Well, not all the stuff about the musicals and stuff like that, but I DO remember the other things..and I remember when we had that boys vs. girls thing, you said you get up and work out on the ellipt—uhh...thing-a-ma-jig...everyday. As soon as you're up. THAT'S your exercise, you just want to walk because it's me offering you a ride, isn't it?"
She stares at him in undisguised wonder, amazed at how easily he saw through her excuse. "There's no such thing as too much exercise, Finn..." she says weakly, aware, painfully aware that her voice just cracked. She can't help it. This whole thing is really stressing her out more than it should.
"I know...but..." Finn breaks off for a minute before going on. "Look, I know you like to be in shape and all that stuff, but...can't I just drive you today? If it makes up for it, I'll walk with you tomorrow, and we can both get that exercise you're so fond of..."
"But, Finn!-" Rachel stammers, searching desperately for an excuse.
However, Finn doesn't allow her the time required to think of another ingenious reason he can't take her. He pulls his gaze away from the sky and smirks at her. "Besides, it's going to pour any minute...you can't walk in this. What if you get sick, and you can't sing because of it? Wouldn't that...you know...let everyone in Glee club down?"
It DOES look rather cloudy this particular morning, and she doesn't have a jacket in case it should rain. She frowns and chews her lip again, almost making it bleed from the pressure she puts on it. That's just like Finn to bring Glee club into all this. Because, even if she HAD planned on skipping it today, she still can't bear the thought of being too sick to perform when she DOES come...Curse him and his clever mindedness! She's beginning to think that being around her and the others in Glee is having too much of a positive effect on his thinking pattern!
She sighs (again, smacking and scolding herself mentally for the umpteenth time), knowing she has no choice but to accept, given the circumstances. "Ok...I guess you win..." she says weakly. "But if I'm late you are never driving me again." she adds, just because she can.
He seems to take her serious enough as he nods and pulls out his keys, leading her over to a red pick up truck parked on her sidewalk.
Rachel can't help smiling. It's scratched and the paint is either faded or chipped in places, but it's so Finn.
"Well, let's get going then." He opens the door for her and helps her into the passenger seat, (which gets her thinking again about how chivalrous he can be when he wants to be), closing the door once she's secured, and climbing into the driver's seat next to her. He puts the key into the ignition and starts the car, and she wants to kick herself because as hard as she's trying not to give in to him, there is no denying just how sexy he looks in his brown and blue striped long sleeve and jeans, hands firmly on the wheel, with a very deep, concentrating look on his face as he stares ahead.
"Alright then." He says after a moment to break the somewhat awkward silence that's fallen between the two of them. "Next stop, McKinley High...Oh, and if you're not late to school, I'm going to start driving you in the mornings, cause it really is on the way for me, and well....I want to...so....there's no talking me out of it, so you can like, not resist it, cause I'm sure your dads would appreciate you getting a ride over walking and if I HAVE to meet them to like, get you to give in about this, I will..."
The heavy silence between them returns, and it doesn't stop, so he taps her on the shoulder. "Rach?" he prods.
It seems like forever before she replies, but she finally does, and he can't help but feel satisfied with her answer.
"....Fine....but only if I make my first class on time." She all but growls, and upon hearing she glances at him, suddenly wanting to scream.
He has that same stupid, antagonizingly sexy smirk on his face. The one that not only makes her want to kiss him senseless, but also, at this very moment, it's making her want to punch his face in...if she weren't so petite in size comparison, she probably would (Ok, so maybe she's just short, but she chooses not to judge her appearance with such words). Just so he'd shut up, and stop grinning at her like the cat that got the canary.
...For once, (she can't BELIEVE she's saying--err--thinking this) she's hoping she'll be late to school.
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So....can anybody guess which song THIS particular chapter's title was derived from?! C'mon, Gleeks, it should be easy!~
c: Please, leave me a review if you want this continued...and tell me any ideas you may have, both for the story plot AND for the title! Because "Untitled For Now" is the lamest thing ever but it's 1:30 AM so what do you expect? XD; I appreciate any and all the suggestions I can get! Thank you!