It was a beautiful September evening, the orange glow of sunset lingering on the horizon as Finn and Rachel sat peacefully beside the lake. She leaned back, resting her head against his chest as she stared across the water, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Though the air grew colder in the deepening twilight, neither had any thought of disrupting the tranquility of their embrace.
Tomorrow was the first day of school, and the year would begin. There would be books and classes, friends and rivals, football practice and glee rehearsal. There would be exams and studying, victories and disappointments, dreams and college applications. There would be competitions and playoffs, teachers and coaches, goals and plans. And then one day it would be over, as quickly as it began.
But tonight it was just Finn and Rachel, and Finn holding her body close to his, keeping her warm enough to want to stay just a little longer. It was Rachel and Finn, and Rachel turning to look into his soulful eyes as she placed a gentle hand on his cheek. It was Rachel suddenly dropping her gaze, and Finn lifting her chin and searching her crestfallen expression for an explanation.
It was Rachel who spoke, her voice a mere whisper, trembling slightly.
"I can't bear it, Finn," she murmured, looking away, "I can't bear to think that it's all going to go by so quickly, and then one day I'll just be some girl you dated in high school."
It was Finn who replied, taking her face firmly in his hands and holding her gaze, his eyes on fire with passion.
"You will never just be some girl I dated in high school, Rachel," he breathed, and captured her lips in a kiss that proved the strength of his conviction.
It was Finn and Rachel, holding onto each other in the dark, unwilling to let go of this tender moment beneath the flickering gaze of stars.
