Chapter II.

Rachel couldn't believe in what had happened to her that day. It was like in a dream. She could still smell Finn's perfume on her clothes. Rachel couldn't stop thinking about him although she realized that nothing could ever happen between №1 Star and №1 loser. But there was a quiet voice in her head that kept telling her that it was the start of something new in her life, though she wasn't sure of what exactly. So she decided not to rack her brains about this anymore and concentrate on rehearsing some songs and dialogues, no matter how hard it was not to think about Finn.

The next day was the first day in 2 years when Rachel was really eager to go to school. She was excited and couldn't wait to see Finn again. She understood that in fact nothing special happened yesterday – he just comforted a crying girl because he was kind and not like his friends, and Rachel wasn't expecting him to greet her in the hall or talk to her, maybe he already forgot her, but again that stubborn voice in her head told her not to be a complete pessimist. And that voice gave her a false hope – in reality Rachel only caught a few glimpses of Finn, and he only passed by once but didn't even look at her, or so she thought.

Almost a week passed and nothing changed, well, only that she somehow managed to escape slushies all that time. Finn still paid no attention to her and she finally labelled herself as "naïve little girl" and stopped dreaming about him. But by some quirk of fate as soon as she did it, he came into her life again. One day she was walking along the hall towards her locker deep in her thoughts, with a music book in her hands, and suddenly was pushed fiercely towards the lockers, hitting it with her shoulder and falling down. When she got over the pain and looked up she saw (Guess who?) Puckerman and the football team bursting out laughing. Her shoulder hurt a lot, but what hurt the most was that Finn was among them. Although he wasn't laughing either did he try to help her get up or say something in her defence. He's just standing here looking at her. Oh, maybe she called him a kind person way too early. Then all the dumbasses left still laughing but Finn says he had forgotten something and stays behind. When the team is nowhere to be seen, he hunkers down and tries to help Rachel collect the scattered sheets of paper from her notebook but she refuses his help and abruptly stands up wincing in pain.

- Rachel, I... – Finn started picking the words but she cut him off.

- Oh, you remember my name? Wow, I'm pleased. Finn, don't say anything. I understand. They're your friends and I'm...just an ordinary girl.

- Rach, you don't get it...

- I GET IT! You didn't stand up for me because you care for your reputation and popularity and you're afraid that anyone will see you talking to a loser like me. And by the way you are looking around nervously I see that I'm right. I don't care. I'm used to it. And I don't need a protector. I'm only sad because I thought I saw something good in you, but I was wrong. Forget me and don't mess up my life.

With that she turned on her heels and left not noticing a piece of paper that she forgot to pick up. Finn picked it up but had no time to read it as he was already late for the training so he stuck it into his pocket planning to read it later. In the evening at home he unfolded the paper and saw that it was a song titled "Get it right". It was an unfamiliar song so he searched the text in Google but there were no results found. It turned out that Rachel not only had a beautiful voice but was also a songwriter. His admiration for her grew as he himself liked to sing (though he would never admit it to anyone) and he could guess how hard it is to write a song. Then he remembered that Rachel was angry with him and it made him feel bad. He always felt that he didn't belong with this group of students who behaved like douches to keep their reputation but he had to pretend he was one of them because he was a star at school and he did care for his popularity and reputation. Rachel was totally right, she was on to him at once, but Finn came to like her and wanted to be her friend but he couldn't show it at school. It was like a vicious circle. Finn went to bed that night but couldn't fall asleep thinking about how he could get it right with Rachel because she was an extraordinary person.

All next day Finn was looking for Rachel to talk to her but he couldn't find her anywhere. He even went to the parking, but she wasn't in her car. After classes he ran to the parking again and saw Rachel drive away. Finn got into his car as quickly as he could and followed Rachel. It crossed his mind that he was like a stalker or a detective now, but he didn't care. In 20 minutes Rachel parked near a two-storey house and came in. Finn assumed it was her home and memorized the number of the house and the street and hurried to Quinn's house where he had to pick her up for a date. At seven o'clock he walked his girlfriend home and drove to a store and bought a box of chocolates with the taste of blueberries. Finn smiled as he remembered Rachel's last name and the smell of her hair; she probably really liked all types of berries.

Thirty minutes later he was sitting in his car outside her house being extremely nervous to get out and knock on her door. Having spent about 5 minutes inside, Finn finally got up the nerve and knocked. He shifted from foot to foot waiting for the door to open and when it finally does, he is at a loss for words – in front of him there stood Rachel with her hair in a ponytail, wearing grey knickers and a blue tube top that exposed part of her breasts. She was so lovely and pretty in these simply but homely clothes that Finn immediately forgot the apologetic speech that he had prepared. But then he noticed that Rachel was pressing a packet with ice onto her shoulder and it brought him back to reality.

- Finn? – Rachel obviously looked bewildered.

- Erm...I...Rachel, can we talk?

- S-sure. Wanna come in?

Rachel led him to the living-room. It was a rather spacious room, with a piano near the window, a sofa, a TV that Rachel was watching before he came, armchairs, a bookcase, a coffee table with some magazines on it and a few other things that made this room very comfortable. Finn was looking curiously at the pictures on the wall and on the bookcase – there were photos of little Rachel in a ballet class, Rachel singing, Rachel with her dads and also of Rachel with Kurt and Mercedes. Finn couldn't help but smile upon seeing all these pictures – Rachel seemed so happy on them.

- Do you want tea or coffee or coca-cola? – Rachel asked trying to hide her bewilderment behind hospitality.

- Coke, thanks.

Rachel fetched a bottle of coke for Finn and a bottle of water for herself and invited Finn to sit with her on the sofa.

- You wanted to talk...

- Yeah...but, please, don't interrupt me, or I'll forget what I wanted to say and say something stupid. (Rachel nodded, intrigued). I wanted to apologize for being such an ass yesterday. You were right about me, I didn't stand up for you because the guys were there and they would have started making fun of me if I helped you. But don't think I'm such a bad person, I wanted to help you and kick their asses for pushing you but...I hate it when they offend other students to have fun, especially girls, especially you. You are not an ordinary girl for sure and I like you and I want to be your friend but they wouldn't understand it. I don't know what to do. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me? That's important for me.

- Finn...I understand...this stupid "class division" in this school makes me sick but we cannot do anything about it. I'm sorry too for being so harsh with you and saying those things to you I was angry and...Of course I forgive you. I like y...I'd like to be your friend you too.

- Great! Oh, you took a load off my mind. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about the look on your face when I didn't help you. So we are now sort of secret friends?

- I guess so.

- Shit, I forgot something. This is for you. – Finn took out a parcel and handed it to Rachel.

- For me? Thank you! – She unfolded it and saw the box of chocolates and a sheet of paper that was attached to it. It was her song.

- You forgot it yesterday on the floor...

- Did you read it?

Finn scratched his head and made a guilty look.

- You wrote it, didn't you?

- Well...yes, but it's not finished and I haven't practiced it a lot.

- You can practice it now...

- WHAT?

- I love your voice and this song is amazing and I'd like to ask you to sing it now...to me.

- Finn, I'm not ready and it's very raw...

-Oh, Rachel, please! Do I have to beg you on one knee to sing? – And he was about to stand on one knee but Rachel stopped him.

- All right, all right! But don't throw tomatoes in me!

Rachel did sing and Finn started admiring her even more than he did previously. She was a genius. When she finished, he applauded loudly and asked her to sing one more time but this time she refused and she stood her ground. Then they talked a lot, well, she talked most of the time and he just listened, about music, her dreams, Barbra Streisand, Broadway and so on. Overnight they became close friends and this surprised both of them.

- Does it hurt? – Finn asked pointing to the spot on her shoulder, to which she was pressing ice.

- No...Well, yes, just a little.

- Show me.

Rachel unwillingly took the ice away and Finn froze – there was a dark-blue 3,5-inch bruise there. She has such a strong character, he thought, of course it hurts like hell, but she doesn't want to tell me. He felt so many emotions at once – hurt, anger, pity, guilt...

- I know a method to take the pain away. When I was a little boy, my Mom used to resort to it whenever I got hurt.

- What's it?

Finn didn't answer but leaned down and kissed the bruise lightly.

- Still hurts?

Rachel nodded. Then Finn started kissing the bruise again, now covering every smallest part of it with his lips.

- Better?

- Much better...

They were looking at each other and Finn felt that he was lost in Rachel's eyes and all he wanted was to kiss her right now. But once he leaned down and his lips were just a few inches away from hers, Rachel's mobile rang. "Noooooooooo!" she thought but answered.

- Yes, Dad. All right. No. Ok. See you. – Rachel hung up and turned to Finn. The moment was gone.

- Well, I'd better go. It's late and I have an important match tomorrow. Will you come to see me there?

- Not likely...I have to practice a lot and I don't know anything about football.

- It's OK. But if you feel like coming, you're welcome.

An awkward silence fell between them.

- Rach, I almost forgot – I don't have your number. – They exchanged numbers.

- Do I put it down under the name "Barbra Streisand № 2"? – Rachel smiled - she liked it when he complimented her on her voice.

- See you someday after school. Good night.

- Text me anytime. Sleep tight, Rachel. – Finn bent down and kissed her. On the cheek. Rachel's heart filled with joy. Finn got in the car and waved to Rachel who was still standing on the doorstep. She kept standing there for some time after he left and then came in with a sigh.

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