A/N:Hi, This is my first Glee story and of course that means it's also my first Faberry tale as well. This idea came to me at random today and I just couldn't stop thinking about it. So I just wanted to warn you dear readers that that means I don't have a full plotline developed. I have chapter 1 and maybe chapter 2 ready, then I have details for storylines that will come up later on if I don't do a time skip.
I have been doing a lot of research today on what I want to write so you won't (hopefully) have to scream at you're monitors in confusion over what's happening in the story.
In this chapter there is an song preformed by Finchel that I thought worked really well in the content I have so far, but songs will only show up in important moments and I will try and make it happen in an realistic way (No randomly breaking out into songs like Blaine.) that will further the plot or enhance the emotional moment. You know just like Glee used to do.
Oh, I also wanted to point out that yes Finchel have a duet in this chapter, but their romantic relationship will end along with this chapter. Finn and Rachel will however start rebuilding a friendship over time, but of course this is Faberry through and through (with lots of Brittana!) but no one is going to jump into any love songs and declare "I'll love you forever! I always have!"
Luck Be a Lady Tonight!
She was beginning to wonder if finding an 6th pair of Mary Jane's classified her an official "Hoarder". If not the shoes, then it would defiantly be by the countless pairs of skirts that have piled up in the back of her closet.
Rachel blew out an annoyed huff as she tossed the out grown pair of shoes across the room to join it's fallen sisters. More clothing and assorted items soon followed as she continued to dig deeper into the surprising large space of her bedroom closet.
"Where are you?" She hissed under her breath as she began taking down old shoe boxes from the top shelf.
An knock on her bedroom door distracted her from investigating the shoe box labeled "Future plans" in what looked like either yellow color pencil or crayon that she used to favor throughout the third grade.
"Sweetheart! Can you please come down to the kitchen and answer you're phone? I can't hear Anderson Cooper's poetic voice over the constant replay of 'Any Way You Want It.'." Hiram said with an slight annoyed tone as he adjusted his glasses.
Rachel set the shoe box down on her nightstand as she quickly kicked a path way towards her door and followed her Dad to the kitchen.
"Sorry Dad. I forgot to bring my cell phone with me after breakfast." she said giving him a quick sideways hug as she passed by him and picked up her phone off the breakfast counter.
"Hi honey I-" she began before getting cut off by Finn's excited voice.
"Rach finally! Listen I've got big news so come over right away okay? See you in a bit, Bye!"
"Finn wait I. .hello?" she asked as she pulled the phone away from her ear and looked down on the screen only to receive an "call ended:10 seconds" window.
She pocketed her phone and went to grab her car keys off the hook by the front door.
"Everything alright there Rachel?" her Dad question as she glance back before walking out.
"I think so. Finn just has some exciting news to share. Oh, and don't worry about the mess in my bedroom I'll clean it up before dinner. " she offered with a wave of her hand.
She heard her Dad shout out "Don't worry about it! it's not like we'll going to spank you or worse take away you're Barbra CDs!" she grin just an little as she hit the button to start the engine.
She spotted Puck's car in the drive way first before noticing Finn and the owner of said car sitting in two plastic chairs looking through two large trash bags while glancing over to puck's phone from time to time.
She parked on the side street and quicken her pace as she heard mutter curses coming from each boy as they tossed small pieces of paper into yet another trash bag (this one white).
"What are you two doing?" she question as she eyed one of the now 'Lotto' papers in Finn's hands.
"Losing that's what princess." Puck said as he toss two more tickets into the white bag.
"Rachel, I know this looks bad- " She could feel her face tighten up and Finn quicken his response at the sight of it.
"But! So far we got an couple $7 dollar winners and an $80 dollar winner right here!" he jester to the small pile of tickets on a cooler between the two chairs.
She took a deep breath and began reciting the musical numbers in "Funny Girl" an claming technique she developed while in high school. She rolled her shoulders and tried to clam her shaky voice before asking her next question.
"Finn, How many tickets did you and Noah buy?" she asked trying to put on an show worthy smile.
Finn and Puck both seemed to sense her mood and gave her their full attention.
"It was all his idea hot stuff! I was just lure in by the promise of free beer." Puck swore as he gave her one of his puppy dog faces. It was not working this time around he quickly notice.
Finn punched him in the arm before standing up and giving her one of his side grins.
"It's okay Rachel, I got one of my "Lucky" feelings again last night as I was driving pass the 7/11 down the street. So I stopped by and saw that the Powerball was $135 Million! " he began as he showed her one of the black trash bags. It was almost full and Rachel felt a chill run down her spine as Finn continued on.
"So I grabbed the bank envelope from the grove box and got an thousands tickets for last night drawing! When we win you and I won't ever have to worry about college again." he finished with the biggest smile Rachel had ever seen him produce.
Her world went silent, and by the Wizard not even Barbra could calm the rage she was feeling at this moment. She moved pass Finn and grabbed the two black bags. Puck yelping in surprise as she yanked the other one out of his hands.
"Rachel wait what are you-" Finn voice called out after her. She could hear him and Puck start to follow her so she turned sharply back towards the two boys. The look on her face must have been terrifying as they both paled and stopped any motion to try and stop her.
"I can't believe you Finn Hudson! After everything we have been through this has got to be the most idiotic idea I have ever heard you voice!" she screamed back. Finn flinch at her words. She felt a pang of remorse at the sight, but it didn't drown out the fire raging inside of her.
"Again, not even an week after you go behind my back and gamble our joint savings on some foolish bet with one of you're jock buddies you then decide to do it again, without an single word of input from me! ME! you're would be wife!." She can feel the tears form in her eyes now.
She turns towards her car not wanting to show them her complete breakdown. Throwing open her backseat door she tosses the two bags into the back and gets into the front seat.
The tires scream their protest as she races down the street towards the 7/11.
Her pocket rotates between "Any Way You Want It." and "Sexy and I know it." (Puck's idea of course.) but she ignores them. No matter what she's feeling or who it might be she and everyone else in the Glee club took a pledge of "No cell phones/texting while driving." and signed their names on an contract that's hung up in the choir room.
Quinn had paid the consequences for that life lesson.
She loosen her foot some and slowed her speed down to an more acceptable number. She begun taking deep breaths as she tried to calm down before pulling into the small shopping complex that housed the only 7/11 in all of Lima.
She put her phone on vibrate, ignoring the miss calls and text messages and gather up the two black trash bags and began her march towards the connivance store. She struggle with the doors for an moment trying to wedge her way in with her right foot.
Who knew two bags filled with paper could be so heavy? She ignore the little voice in the back of her head that said "It's because one is labeled 'My hopes and dreams.' and the other 'Broadway.' " she pushed her way through.
The store was mostly empty, save for the 70 something year old man hunch over an small trash bin scratching furiously over what looked like a roll of scratch off tickets. The woman at the counter eyed her curiously.
"Sorry Missy, but the laundry mat's across the street." she said with an nod back towards the front door.
Rachel dropped the two bags on the counter in silence.
"Umm. . .the hell?" the woman "Nancy" Rachel read on the small name tag clipped to her shirt.
"I would like to return these please." she said calmly and as confidently as she could. After all she didn't know if the receipt was also in one of these bags.
Probably not. Given Nancy's confused look as she began looking through one of the trash bags filled with lotto tickets.
Nancy then burst out laughing. The old man yelled out "Jesus Christ Nans! Don't startle an old timer like myself. I don't got too many years left after all." he grumble before continuing back to his tickets.
Rachel felt her left eye twitch in annoyance.
"Sorry Fred." Nancy apologized before turning her attention back to Rachel. "Oh god that's a good one kid. What did you do pick all these up off the parking lot? " she question as she began looking through the second bag. Nancy began laughing under her breath again.
Rachel willed both of her legs to stay still at the accusation. She had already picked up too many habits from high school. She could at least try and cut back on some of her old ones.
"No I did not." she said tightly "My boyfriend purchase all of these tickets here at this store last night and I would like a refund on the remaining tickets please. "
Nancy looked like she might start laughing again, but bit her lower lip once she saw that Rachel was being serious.
"I'm sorry Miss-" Nancy started to say before Rachel cut her off.
"Rachel, Rachel Berry please not 'Miss' thank you."
"I'm sorry Rachel but once an ticket or in this case shit load of tickets have been purchased then you can't receive an refund. There isn't any return policy when it comes to the lottery." Nancy informed her. She at least had the good manners to look somewhat apologetic to Rachel's situation.
It felt like another cold weight was about to settle into Rachel's stomach as she heard Nancy's explanation. She hated this feeling more then anything. She clenched her hands and tried to keep them still upon the counter, but it was no good they were shaking a little.
Rachel knew it was coming and no new claming tricks or time outs were going to stop it this time. After all it seemed like this moment had been building up since the beginning of the school year.
She let the tears come and her voice flow.
"Please, Please Nancy." she begged "Isn't there anything I can do to get the money back?."
"I'm sorry Rachel but like I just said there isn't anything I can do once the purchase had been made. " She step away from the back counter and place the two bags at Rachel's feet.
Rachel slumped down against the counter next to them. Now it really felt like she was in the gutter.
"Did you know that this is my life savings here?" she patted both bags as she continued on "No, scratch that only half of these tickets are my share since my boyfriend turned fiancé decided to -yet- again gamble away our money with out even a single word to me."
She accepted the rag Nancy handed her and dried her eyes.
"I graduate high school in a few days and I have no plans, no future! I don't even have my best friend anymore. He'll be in New York making his dreams come true as I stay here fighting stay at home moms for roles at the community theater! "
"Better toughing up girl! Those ladies will run you over if they can get the chance at a few hours away from the house'" Fred said as he toss his last ticket into the trash.
"Fred hush! Can't you see the poor girl having a break down." Nancy scolded.
Rachel laughed shapely. She pulled her self to her feet and handed Nancy back the rag.
"I'm sorry thank you anyways." she went and picked up the two bags. They felt even heavier now.
"Hold up!" the old man said walking pass her and towards Nancy who had moved back behind the counter. "Nans give me one of those Rolling Cash 5s." he walked back to Rachel and put the ticket into the pocket that housed her cell phone.
"Even an kicked dog needs a little luck here and there." he gave her a toothy smile and Rachel returned one of her own weakly as she mutter an 'thanks' back to him as she made her way to her car.
The nights were getting warmer in Ohio. Another sign that Summer would soon be here and all that held were bitter(sweet) goodbyes to friends and then part time job hunting at the mall as she waited to enroll at the community college and theater.
Rachel took an deep breath as she watch Finn's truck park on the side street. She got up from her seat on the front porch to hand him the bags filled with tickets.
"Rach, Thank god I thought you might have ran off and burned them." he whispered gratefully as he hugged her.
She dropped the bags at their feet but didn't hug back.
He pulled away and licked his lips. "Look I know I messed up and -"
"Finn. . ."
"Please let me finish, let me explain!" he begged. She looked down at her feet and nodded 'OK'.
"I know we agreed to put the money in the Bank, but Rachel there's something I need to tell you. . ." he cracked his knuckles. A move she witness him always make when he wasn't quite sure if he would be able to actually tackle another player on the football field or make the next touchdown to win the game.
"I sent in my application to the actor's studio" he looked around her front yard and clicked his tongue.
She bit her own bottom lip. She knew what was coming. She had always known.
Ever since her summer fantasy with Kurt about Julliard was crushed by she had dive head first into researching performing art schools around New York. She had felt alive for those few days before life started to chip her down piece by piece.
First bringing back Shelby into her life only to have to watch as one of her best friends (and ex-boyfriend) drool after her in the hallways. Then to try and stop another (kinda) friend from ruining that woman's life and that of an innocent baby's. All the while battling her best friend for some extra lines in an application for an school they had only heard about a few weeks before.
It was during that time where her life turned from 'Broadway' and 'Future Dreams' to 'NYADA' and 'Finn'. Now she wasn't going to have either.
One of those choices would at least be by her own decision.
Finn coughed and brought Rachel's attention back to him.
"I got an rejection email the next day." he tried to smile his trademark grin, but even Finn couldn't manage that trait this time. "Turns out it's an Masters degree program. You can't even apply without an Bachelor degree."
She offer him an small smile and squeezed his left hand to silently tell him to keep going.
"So. . .so I thought that since all of us have been having a pretty kick ass week when it came to things. . .you know Nationals, Prom, Puck getting another chance at his finals. That maybe that luck would work for us one more time. I really wanted it for us Rach. If we had that kind of money then you could go to any school you wanted and neither of us would be stuck here another year."
He wiped at his eyes quickly. Rachel sent a silent prayer that he hadn't started yelling.
Yet.
"I'm sorry." he said hoarsely
"I know you're sorry, and I know you thought you were doing the right thing. ." she started twisting the engagement ring lose on her left finger.
Finn watched her silently as the ring came off and she held it out between them.
"No." he stated.
She blinked an few times and then stood straighter.
"Finn we have to sto-" he took her hand with the ring in it and gently loosen her fingers open so that the ring fell into his palm. He put it in his pants pocket and shook his head.
"I'm sorry about a lot of things Rachel. Not just about how our relationship played out this year or about today. " He kicked one of the trash bag lightly. "I do love you, but I own a lot of other people apologizes and. .and I know that no amount of money will fix those things."
She hugged her arms around her body and nodded. Tears were forming in her own eyes.
"I promise I'm going to make this up to you. I'm going to find a way to repay you the thousand dollars, but it might take a while. I got a lot of other people I have grovel to first." he swore.
He sounded like the boy she remember taking charge of a small group of misfits and showed them how to sing "Don't stop believing.". She felt real hope for him for the first time in an long time.
He picked up the bags and before he stood up fully she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered "You and I will always be friends." he nodded.
"I think that's when we were at our best." he whispered back.
She watch him drive off and went back inside. She waved off her dads as they question if she was alright. She thought about calling Kurt, but remember that he and Blaine were at dinner over at the Anderson's.
She place her phone and the lotto ticket Fred had given to her next to her computer. She sat down at her computer desk and turned on her Ipod and let it shuffle.
(Rachel)
On a warm summer's eveOn a train bound for nowhereI met up with the gamblerWe were both too tired to sleepSo we took turns a-starin'Out the window at the darknessThe boredom overtook us, and he began to speak
Finn hit the on switch to the radio and let the dial stop at an random station.
(Finn)
He said, "Son, I've made my lifeOut of readin' people's facesKnowin' what the cards wereBy the way they held their eyesSo if you don't mind my sayin'I can see you're out of acesFor a taste of your whiskeyI'll give you some advice"
So I handed him my bottleAnd he drank down my last swallowThen he bummed a cigaretteAnd asked me for a lightAnd the night got deathly quietAnd his faced lost all expressionHe said, "If you're gonna play the game, boyYou gotta learn to play it right
(Together)
You've got to know when to hold 'emKnow when to fold 'emKnow when to walk awayKnow when to runYou never count your moneyWhen you're sittin' at the tableThere'll be time enough for countin'When the dealin's done
(Rachel)
Now every gambler knows the secret to survivin'Is knowin' what to throw awayAnd knowin' what to keep'Cause every hand's a winnerAnd every hand's a loserAnd the best that you can hope forIs to die in your sleep"
So when he finished speakin'He turned back for the windowCrushed out his cigaretteAnd faded off to sleep then somewhere in the darknessThe gambler he broke even,but in his final wordsI found an ace that I could keep
She glace at the single lotto ticket and signed "It's not like I have anything to lose." she mutter as she punch up the Ohio lottery website.
(Together)
You've got to know when to hold 'emKnow when to fold 'emKnow when to walk awayknow when to runYou never count your moneyWhen you're sittin' at the tableThere'll be time enough for countin'When the dealin's doneYou've got to know when to hold 'em(When to hold 'em)Know when to fold 'em(When to fold 'em)Know when to walk awayknow when to runYou never count your moneyWhen you're sittin' at the tableThere'll be time enough for countin'When the dealin's done
You've got to know when to hold 'emKnow when to fold 'emKnow when to walk awayknow when to runYou never count your moneyWhen you're sittin' at the tableThere'll be time enough for countin'When the dealin's done
Finn parked his truck in the drive way and quickly grab the two trash bags from the seat.
He made his way to his room and threw them beside the his bed. When Kurt got him he was going to ask for any advice he could offer on how to start (or at least try to) apologizing to Santana and Brittany.
Rachel typed in her five numbers and waited for the webpage to load. It took a few moments but what she saw made her choke on her own breath.
~WINNER~
$350,745.38
Lima, Ohio.
A/N : Well that's the first chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. This story takes place after nationals but before the final. Some elements will be different from how they played out in Season 3. Quinn for instance still got into her accident, but it wasn't as bad as they showed on 'OMW' because lets be honest, she would have been killed if that type of accident had actually happened.
Oh, one more thing if you are or know a beta and would be interested in helping me with this story I would be very grateful. I must warn you though my grammar is horrible! So it will be an hard job to take on.
