Chapter Two
It was still cold. But Rachel didn't mind so much. Of course Finn gave her a hard time about her snuggie, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
"I brought over a scary movie. Figured you wouldn't have anything else to do…" Finn always explained himself, even if an explanation wasn't needed. Rachel found the quirk endearing.
Rachel Berry wouldn't admit to weakness, but the truth was actually the opposite of the image she portrayed. Shadows often made her jittery and unexplained sounds tended to freak her out. Being alone hadn't helped, but Finn was there with her now. She smiled as she took the DVD from the gawky teen.
"So… What made you decide to come over?" She hedged, pushing for more information. She turned her back to Finn as she asked embarrassed by her own abrasive obtrusiveness.
"The movie's called What Lies Beneath. It's kind of old, but my mom told me it's some kind of classic." Finn rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, avoiding the question as he sat down on the couch.
'So like Finn…' Rachel thought.
Her heart was beating erratically in her chest. It made her want to sing, or squeal. Neither seemed appropriate so she just bit the inside of her cheek, gnawing at the tissue there. Her fingers twitched restlessly as she stared at the screen.
She kept to her position standing in front of the television. In part because their DVD remote had gone missing last week. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was also too nervous to sit down.
"Rachel…" Finn startled her out of her reverie.
She blinked, staring at the blue television screen. For some reason, the previews wouldn't start; it was as if the video was frozen. She feigned contemplation and used the moment to regain her composure. Blush tinged her cheeks and despite its usually warming effect, drove her to a shiver. She swallowed and turned to face him.
"I know me being here might seem a little weird." He hedged, glazing the true mood of the atmosphere over with simplicity. "It's just…" He paused.
Rachel's brow furrowed. This was the part of the conversation where Finn usually told her she was acting like a creeper, or that he needed some advice about how to deal with being around Quinn or Puck. It was also usually the moment her hopes drooped back into the puddle that seemed to be collecting in the bottom of her stomach. She hated this part.
So she stepped in.
"I don't know why you're here…" She strode to his side in true Rachel Berry fashion and sat gracefully on the cushion beside him. "But it's New Years. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're all I've got right now." She paused, swallowing her pride and weighing her many assumptions.
"I'm sure you have better things to do and you'd probably rather be with one of the guys on the team or girls on the squad who still talk to you… But let's just watch the movie."
With a definitive air, she stood and walked over to the DVD player again, trying earnestly to make the movie work. The silence was heavy and she could just envision Finn with a foot out the door, frightened away again by her abrupt derision.
She pressed the play button for a third time, the click resounding off of the walls. Finn's silence made her want to cringe and she looked down at herself, snuggie hanging loosely from the crooks of her arms, and fought the urge to cry.
She pressed the button again, more forcefully. The blue screen mocked her and she wished that she had at least turned on a lamp. The darkness was creeping in around her.
Her left cheek muscle twitched and she tried again to press the play button. In anger, she jabbed her finger repeatedly on the button, moving to others like stop and fast-forward after a while.
"Stupid thing," She grunted. "won't work."
The clicking churned in her ears.
"Rachel…" Finn tried from the couch. The uncertainty in his voice made her want to hurl. She was making a fool of herself. Again.
She just didn't want to be alone.
"I think I've almost got it." She tried, silently urging him to stay on her couch. To stay with her. She pressed the eject button, growing panicky.
"Rachel," Finn quietly soothed in her ear, laying a hand over hers and stilling it's movement. She looked up at him in suprise, her lip involuntarily quivering.
"I came because I didn't want to be alone." He said, moving her hand down to her side and placing a calming one on her neck. "I was too embarrassed to admit it." He shrugged.
And, in true Rachel Berry fashion, Rachel stood on her tiptoes, blue TV light outlining her silhouette, and placed a kiss on Finn's cheek.
"I just want you to stay…" She admitted, looking up at him.
"Good." He smiled down at her, brushing the hair off of her shoulder. "Because this is kind of where I want to be."
Well, this is the last chapter. I will be posting an epilogue, though, very shortly. I've really gotten into those lately.
If you like this story feel free to check out my others. I've also written a Kurt/Puck story and am planning a few involving Quinn, Quinn/Puck, Puck/Rachel, and probably another Puck/Kurt.
Review if you liked it or if you didn't like it. Thank's so much for reading!
Simplybofa