Just had an inspiration to write this fic. My first one so be kind. It depends on the readers whether I continue writing it or not. Reviews are welcome.
P.S. I don't own Glee or any characters or songs mentioned here.
P.P.S. Please don't mind if you come across any mistakes, just tell me about them, English is not my native language.
Of course he caught her eye. How could he not? He caught every girl's eye, even those who had boyfriends secretly dreamed of him, but she was the girl with the fewest chances to get him as a date or even as a friend. He was Finn Hudson, the star quarterback, the most handsome guy at school, with his puppy dog look in his amber screwed-up eyes and crooked smile. He had everything a boy could ever wish – a perfect girlfriend, the Cheerios' captain Quinn Fabray, fame and respect, lots of friends and admirers, a possible future as a highly paid football player
But she, Rachel Berry, was just "a small town girl, living in a lonely world", as the famous song said, however "the midnight train" will not take her anywhere, it will take her straight to NYC, to Broadway, to fame. She knew that she was very very talented and ambitious and that mixture of talent, self-confidence and ambitions was going to make her one of the greatest Broadway actresses of her generation and maybe of all times, she knew that for sure. But no matter how strong her faith in herself was, she couldn't help but feel lonely and miserable at times. For now she was not famous nor rich nor happy – she didn't have a boyfriend, she didn't have friends except for Kurt and Mercedes, but although they had the same passion – music, they had their own lives and couldn't spend all the time with her, and what was the worst for her – she was considered a loser and a freak at school and was used to getting her weekly portion of facial slushies from the high and mighties of McKinley.
She hoped that by the beginning of her second year in high school they would get tired of treating her like that and find other victims, but they dashed her hopes on the very second day when after the second class she all of sudden felt strawberry slushie roughly meet her face. When she rubbed her eyes open she saw (like she expected) that bunch of stupid footballers with their lead Noah Puckerman with an empty glass.
- Hey, you, Hobbit! Sorry, did I just spoil that sexy sweater with a unicorn? – that "joke" earned him laughs and cheers from his friends and so they left in search of other losers and leaving Rachel burning with anger and holding the tears that were ready to slid down her cheeks. She rushed to the bathrooms to clean up her face and hair. Oh, she couldn't express how much she hated these imbeciles! She was usually strong and took all this treatment and mockery with her head held up high, but this time was different somehow – maybe because she didn't expect them to do this right after the beginning of the year or maybe because she just had an amazing summer and was sad she had to return to her harsh school reality. Anyway she could no longer hold back the tears but she didn't want anyone to see her crying so she stormed out and rushed to the parking lot to her car, to stay alone until she felt better.
Finn was whistling some tune as he was walking to his truck. Earlier that day he went to the school nurse pretending he had a toothache and she let him miss the remaining classes and go see a doctor and he was now thinking of how he was going to spend his free time today when suddenly he heard someone singing:
...and I banished every memory you and I had ever made
But when you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me now
Finn froze where he stood two meters away from his car and the keys to it in hand. He knew this song by heart, this was his Mom's favourite one and he'd heard it at least 2 million times, and he could easily tell this was not Celine Dion singing. The voice was different but still deep and wonderful and full of emotions. He went slowly towards the source of the sound wanting to satisfy his curiosity. Finally he saw that the door of one of the cars was open and inside sat a brunette with her eyes closed and singing. He had never seen her before and decided to find a place where she couldn't see him if she opened her eyes so as not to startle her but he was still close enough to hear her. When he heard her sing the last line "I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me no-o-o-o-o-o-ow" he saw her open her eyes and they were swollen and reddened, as if she had been crying. At first he just wanted to leave quietly but then decided against it and made his presence known by clearing his throat and approached her.
Rachel's eyes widened upon seeing Finn walking in her direction. Instinctively she looked at herself in the mirror and realized it was a pitiful sight – no make-up, red eyes, tear-stained cheeks, still wet hair in an awful mess. And had she barely wiped away the tears when Finn came up and leaned on the open door of her car.
- Hi. – He said with a shy and worried smile.
- Hi. – This was their first conversation in two years and she was really nervous. Has he heard me sing?
- I was passing by and heard you sing.
- Oh...erm...I thought there's nobody here at this time. There are 2 classes remaining. – She commented sheepishly, waiting for his verdict about her song.
- I know that song, it's my Mom's favourite. And you know what – you are better than Celine Dion. You have a marvellous voice.
Rachel blushed like a rose to these words. She looked down at the wheel she was holding so tightly that her knuckles went white.
- I'm Finn Hudson by the way. And you are...
- I know you. I'm Rachel. Rachel Berry.
- Nice to meet you. Are you new in this school?
At this question she looked up him raising one eyebrow wondering whether he was kidding or he really thought she was a new student here. By the way he was looking at her she could tell that he was NOT kidding. He didn't even recognize her. Her face fell and she bit her lower lip. One thing was to know that Finn Hudson never laid his eyes on her, but another thing was to hear him actually confirm her thought. It hurt and she couldn't understand why. But she quickly composed herself and answered.
- Well...actually, no - I'm not new, I've been here last year too.
Now it was Finn's turn to feel embarrassed. She is in the same year as he and he had never seen her. He thought that he knew all pretty girls from this school. Yes, she's pretty, even beautiful, he thought while they were talking. Not in the common meaning of the word "beautiful" but in her peculiar way. Quinn had a beauty that everyone saw immediately – slim body, natural blond hair, blue eyes, small nose. But Rachel was special. There was something charming and tantalizing about the way the tip of her nose winced upon hearing his stupid question about her being new here, the way her kind big brown eyes shone when they talked, the way her full and soft lips curled into a smile when he complimented her on the song.
But then he drew his attention back to her eyes. She had been crying, he was sure and he needed to know why.
- Rachel, what's wrong? You've been crying? – This sounded more like a statement than a question.
- I'm ok...- She trailed off, not wanting to tell him about the slushie and Noah. She'd sound like a tattletale.
- Look, I may be not a genius in studies, but I can see when a girl is sad. It's like my sixth sense. And you are sad.
She stubbornly avoided his eyes, not finding a way out of this awkward conversation. Finn understood that she is not giving up but neither is he. Suddenly he got it. The fact that he never saw her meant that she was not popular and he knew what happened to those who do not fit in the so-called "high society" of this school.
- Slushie?
Rachel looked at him in astonishment. Maybe she had left some of the slushie on he face or hair?
- Your wet hair, no make-up, you sitting here all alone. Was that Puck? – Finn said, as if reading her mind. She nodded, with tears starting to gather in her eyes. Finn sighed. Puck was his best friend and was not actually a bad guy but he for some reason got it into his head that he had to bully almost everyone to keep his reputation. Finn didn't mind when he did it to some jerks like Ben Israel or the captain of the hockey team, but he really wanted to kick Noah's ass when he treated some innocent students like this for just being not like him. And imagining him throwing a slushie into Rachel's face really made him enraged. She was so tiny and defenceless! How could Puck do it? Finn failed to find any words that could make her feel better so he just came up closer and hugged her. This was not a very comfortable hug because he had to bend near her car and she was still sitting straight in front of the wheel. Rachel at first was dumbfounded by his actions and could not even move, but then she turned to face him and hugged him back, all the tears flooding his t-shirt.
- Shh...It's ok now. – Was all Finn could utter. He patted her on her back, inhaling the shampoo that smelled of berry and she just clung more tightly to him. When she finally felt that the tears subsided, she slowly pulled away from him.
- You feel better now? – He looked at her with worry in his eyes, but she avoided his gaze once again. She never lets anyone see her cry and now there she was – crying on the shoulder of the Number 1 of McKinley High. What the hell is going on with you, Rach?
- Yeah...th-thanks. I'm sorry...I am usually not such a crybaby, but...well, thank you anyway. I'd better drive home now. Bye, see ya. – Rachel babbled quickly and drove from the parking.
- Bye. – Finn said to the leaving car. He still couldn't analyse what has just happened. So he shrugged off all the confusing thoughts and went to his truck happy that he had helped that cute girl with a marvellous voice.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell, what do you think? Should I continue? Review, please!
