I wanted to melt in his hug.

That hug.

Like it was natural. Like he was meant to casually squeeze my shoulders, pulling me against his side. Like he planned to always be able to pull me close against him. Like he planned to always stand by me. I returned his proud grin as the warmth of his arm radiated through me. This performance felt different. After every other competition, I had felt a surge of excitement course through me. I had been consumed with pride at the applause, and for so long, that had been enough. Now, I felt something else. Not pride, exactly. Not like before. No, it felt more like relief. Relief that I had finally told the world, told him, how I felt. Relief that he was hugging me, rather than pushing me away.

That hug.

I know I'll cling to that hug for forever. I know I'm not the easiest person to like. I know I have never kept my own self pride a secret. And I know, for those reasons, it isn't easy for people to like me. Finn had liked me. Finn had loved me. I know what we had shared was real. I could read it in his sweet eyes every time he smiled at me, and I could feel it in the tender way he would take my hand in the hall. And in our kisses… I guess it's okay if he didn't see fireworks with me. I saw enough for the both of us.

But then, we were offstage, and she was pulling him away. He glanced back at me, as if he were trying to apologize. I could only watch, my bruised heart sinking just a little lower with every step he took.

"Not bad, Berry!" Noah whooped as he passed me on his way from the green room. I just nodded, pasting my well practiced smile across my face. Before, I would have been glowing. Before, I would have taken all the praise from my team with what I know was irritating conceit. I was just appreciative now, for their support. I followed my friends into the green room, walking through the door with my head held high, that rehearsed smile still in place.

I can't remember what Mr. Schuester said to us. I can't remember what I said, if anything, to them. But I do remember his eyes, those dark pools that somehow held so much light, find mine across the room. In that moment, it had seemed as if everyone else in the room just drifted away. . There was only him. And as the corner of his mouth snuck up into that adorable smirk, I believed in us again. I felt like I could pretend that Quinn wasn't at his side, trying to break into the world we had created for ourselves. This was our moment. I felt my frozen smile melt, and turn into something real, something warm.

His eyes slowly fell from mine, breaking the universe that had put the air back in my lungs. I held my smile, hugging that warmth close in my heart. I had never felt like I had needed anyone before, always believing I could make my own way in the world. The way I stole these little moments with Finn, the little moments that were so miniscule that only I would call them "moments" at all, told me that I needed him.

I had always loved the bus ride back from competitions. I had always felt that those rides were the perfect opportunity for me to perfect the club's skills by organizing impromptu rehearsals, and analyzing our set lists. I wanted to laugh at myself for wasting those moments facing everyone and begging for attention, rather than soaking up each and every one of those moments with Finn. The moments when he would be waiting next to me for the bus, instead of lingering on the sidewalk with Quinn, leaving me alone between two couples. The moments he would hold my hand, and laugh with me. The moments he would let me curl up against his side and sleep for the rest of the ride home…

This time, I was first to climb aboard the school bus, rather than bouncing at the door, insisting of complimenting (well, constructively critiquing) each of my fellow Glee clubbers as they got on. I slid into the first seat, my smile beginning to wear thin. I would force it as everyone passed, hugging me or smiling. Somehow, I kept it shining as Finn passed by, towed by Quinn.

As the bus began to move, I sank lower into my seat, leaning my forehead against the window. I had just given the performance of my life, and for once, I wasn't glowing with the knowledge of how talented I was.

I felt humiliated… had I put it all out there, let Finn know that I wasn't giving up on him, that I hoped that I could finally get it right, for nothing?

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! This is my first glee fic… I hope you like it! I'm obviously VERY much a Finchel fan, and can't wait to see where this fic will lead! Remember, Reviews equal inspiration!