Thank you for all the reviews! I seriously wasn't expecting much but each and every one is appreciates so big hugs to you all!
And I've certainly been encouraged to proceed so here in the next chapter.
Enjoy!
"You could have at least warned me," she argues, "you made me look like an idiot in front of him." Rachel drops her Chanel handbag onto the large couch, casually throwing herself after it with a sigh. The blond rolls her eyes, shaking her head in amusement as she half listens to Rachel's rant, which had been going for a good hour by now, and also works on her schedule for tomorrow. For the diva, who craves every ounce of attention, it is getting on her nerves. She needs to vent! "Quinn!" she snaps her fingers before the girl's face.
Her friend sighs, "sorry, sorry. I'm listening now. What is bothering you, your majesty?"
Alongside a glare, she scoffs, "do you not even feel the least bit sorry for me? I mean, he's like the slimiest guy out there. I have to be his girlfriend for God's sake." Her mind begins to wonder as to what this agreement now entails. They'll have to hold hands, be physically close on countless occasions and, the thing that she is most dreading, kiss. Now, she's not afraid of kissing him because she assumes that he's very good at it – not that she'd ever admit it – but Rachel is more worried that she could actually enjoy the kiss. That maybe, just maybe, she'd want to do it more often.
"What's so bad about being the girlfriend of one of the hottest celebrities of today?" she smiles.
"Also one of the crudest," Rachel adds, "who shows no respect for women or for himself." She raises her eyebrow, "how dreamy – I can really see where you're coming from. He's such a catch."
Quinn laughs, sitting down next to her and grinning, "Rachel, quit complaining. It's not like you actually are his girlfriend." She gives a light shrug, "I don't know why you're so bothered about this."
"Are you freakin' kidding me?" she sends an incredulous stare to Quinn, "there are so many things wrong with this situation. Not just Finn Hudson. I mean, I feel like I'm lying to my fans."
"Listen to yourself," she says, "everything is going to be fine. You're going to be the talking point on everyone's lips."
"I suppose so," she agrees quietly. With a sudden spring to her actions, she spins around to her manager, gasping hold of her arm tightly, "so? Do tell. How is this all going to happen? I don't expect the paparazzi to just believe that we hooked up. I'm much classier than that. I'm a woman that needs to – "
"Be wined and dined. Yeah, I know. I've already heard this lament, Rachel."
Slightly annoyed at being cut off, she folds her arms and flicks her nose in the air, "well, excuse me for wanting to make this realistic."
"No, you want it to seem perfect."
Rachel pouts, "well, yes – even if it is fake, I don't want it to be just some mediocre relationship. I need it to be spectacular, exciting!"
Chuckling, Quinn pats her arm, "perhaps you should confirm this with your boyfriend first." She knows that she's teasing her, but still her face scrunches up at the mention of said boyfriend. It'd only been a few months since her breakup with Jesse. While now they remain friends, she'd been heartbroken and, being her overdramatic self, had refused to do anything for weeks. Eventually, Quinn had to literally drag her out, screaming and struggling in the most undignified manner she'd ever used. She wonders how her ex is going to respond to her new partner, or whether he'll see through her act. She may big a huge Broadway actress, but Jesse St James can always sense when she's lying, much to her chagrin.
Beside her, the blond is on her phone again, texting away. "Who're you talking to?" she asks nosily.
"Kurt," her eyes are fixated on the tiny little screen.
"Is Finn with him?" she asks, starting to take off her shoes – some killer heels that had caused her feet to swell – and pulling her legs up against her side, before hugging a pillow to her chest.
"Hmm," Quinn nods, "he's filling him in now. Apparently you're going on a date tomorrow."
"What? Where?"
"You want me to take her to Sardi's?" Finn groans, throwing himself back on the leather couch. "Couldn't you think of anywhere less…romantic?"
"Finn!" his manager / brother scolds him for being so hopeless. Not many knew that the two were related – they just assumed that, through working together, they'd gained a good friendship. Truth is, Kurt'd been his brother since he was sixteen and now, nine years later, Kurt is probably the only person in which he trusts with everything, including his career. The man finishes pouring himself another glass of wine and offers some toward Finn. "You want any?"
He shakes his head, looking at the item with disgust, "get me some fucking beer."
"A please would be appreciated," he rolls his eyes, "and what have I told you about swearing!" He swats the back of Finn's head, quickly dodging when the man goes to return the gesture.
"Please," he forces out, "if you're making me go on this ridiculous date, I'd like to get drunk tonight."
Kurt places a hand on his hip, eyeing his brother, "you're not getting drunk. Not on my watch." Finn raises his eyebrow as he challenges Kurt, going to stand up but, with shocking strength, the smaller man pushes him back down, "no! You had a hangover today and you're certainly not having one tomorrow at your date."
"Can we please stop calling it a date!" he shouts to thin air.
"You're taking an attractive girl out for dinner alone," Kurt says, "it's a date, Finn. Get over it."
"Not very likely," he mumbles quietly to himself, "how far do we have to go then?"
His head snaps in Finn's direction, "what?"
With a sigh, he explains, "I mean, how couple - like do you want me to act with her? Like, hold her hand or something, or should we kiss?"
"Just do what comes naturally."
Finn groans, "look. I don't date girls. I hump and dump, okay? I have no idea how to do all this romance crap." For the first time in a few years, he's completely helpless. He's so out of his comfort zone that he's getting sweaty palms and a raised heartbeat at the thought of having to go on an actual date and having to spend more than ten minutes with Rachel – just the two of them. Finn looks up at Kurt, trying to pull off the puppy dog look, "help me."
His mouth falls open in shock. "Is this a dream? Is big bad Finn Hudson asking little old Kurt Hummel for help?"
"Don't rub it in," he grumbles.
Kurt takes a sip of his wine, dropping down beside Finn, "this is a rare moment. I'm just basking in it." He smiles, nudging Finn who glares in reply. "Okay, okay, just go easy with it at first. Holding hands is probably right. Don't kiss her just yet. We need suspicions to arise within the media before you make it clear that you're dating. Play the paparazzi a little," he smirks, "deny that you're even dating. It'll make 'em go crazy."
"If I downright deny that we're dating then what's the point?" Rachel throws her hands up in exasperation. She reaches over Quinn to grab her mug of black coffee from the table, all the time glaring at the woman.
She shakes her head, "the media will love it. Kurt and I want to keep them guessing."
Rachel looks thoughtful, her lips pursed together and her eyebrows knotted, "but if we have to go through weeks of denying our "relationship" and then actually spend time together once it's outed, that means that this lie is going to last for a long time…" Quinn is noticeably quieter, pretending to be interested in something on her phone. "How long exactly are you planning for this to go on?" she asks, afraid of the answer.
"Erm…" she bites her lips, "about six…err…"
"Six what?"
Quinn conveniently places her hand near her mouth, mumbling into it, "six months."
The brunette gasps, "no way! I thought about two months – three would be pushing it but six?! Get real, Quinn." She finds herself facing Quinn's pout, the girl almost begging for her to understand. "No," she says, eyes wide, "I'm not going to fall for your trap this time." She bops her on the nose, a smirk on her face, "I'm already paying for the last thing I mindlessly agreed to."
She rolls her eyes, "I had to convince you, Rachel. You fully well knew what you were getting into." Quinn offers an assuring smile, "anyway, Kurt and I have everything planned out. Where you're going for your dates; your first public appearances; the first time you announce that you're a couple. Down to every – little – detail."
"Oh joy!" she mocks.
"You'll thank me lately," she says stiffly, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "But, for now, let me prepare you for the date tomorrow."
"I've been on dates before," she scoffs, "and I hardly think that Finn will make much of an effort. For all we know, he could show up hung over, wearing those stupid sunglasses that he always has on." She sure hopes not because, since she found out the plan, the possible situations have been soaring through her mind and she's beginning to worry that he could embarrass her in public, especially if he shows up with a hangover.
"I know! I just want to make sure that you wear the right dress and heels that aren't going to make your feet swell ten times their size."
Rachel glares, "I can't help it if I'm short and Finn is a giant. It's his fault for having tall genes!"
With a chuckle, Quinn drags Rachel into her room to the walk in closet, determined to blow Mr Finn Hudson away.
Finn straightens out his tie for the hundredth time, feeling like he is suffocating in this room. He looks around at the elegant tables and dressed up diners. This is so not his scene. It's all so wholesome and too much like something out of a movie. He prefers to alter his path from that of predictability and just go with the flow. But right now? He has no idea how to act. It's beyond him how Kurt managed to get him into a tux and to even shave, his scuff now gone to leave a fresh face. And he's doing this all for a girl who can't even stand him.
The table is in the corner, hidden away from most of the public, but he can see the odd few people glancing his way, their eyes confused as they consider if he really is Finn Hudson or just a very close lookalike. He sure hopes that nobody asks for autographs tonight, as he's too nervous to be able to write properly and will just embarrass himself.
He keeps peering at the door, begging her to come for God's sake. Is this payback for being late yesterday?
As he greedily drinks his glass of water, the sound of heels on the ground interrupts him and he slowly peers up, his breath hitching for a moment. She's wearing a sleek black dress, the neckline plunging down to show the small patch of skin between her breasts. It hugs her curves, stopping just before her knees to expose her toned legs, which he finds himself staring at for longer than he should.
He gives her a half-smile as she reaches the table and stands up to greet her. Finn kisses her cheek, smelling her flowery perfume almost instantly. "Hey," he says, getting the chair for her – an instruction by Kurt – and helping her to sit down. She smiles gratefully and tucks her curled hair behind her ear.
Once he's sat down, they find themselves in an awkward silence.
Rachel plays with her necklace, gripping the star between her fingers, "I guess neither Kurt or Quinn really spoke to us about what to do at this part…"
"Yeah," he agrees, "I would've thought that you'd take control though. That is, of course, because you can't handle anyone else running your things." He smirks at the tiny huff that she lets out, crossing her arms,
"I don't always have to be in control," she says as a matter of fact, "for instance, I trust Quinn with everything."
Finn idly runs his finger around his glass, "my point exactly .She's a girl that you've known for years. I bet if someone you didn't know was sorting out your business then you'd freak out."
"I would not!" she retaliates only to disagree with him – he is probably right. How does he know so much about her? She suspects that Kurt has been informing him.
"Right."
"I guess you're the opposite then," she raises her eyebrow, testing him, "I mean, you don't mind people doing things for you, even complete strangers, but if the duty were left for you and you alone, you'd crack."
"I'd crack," he repeats quietly, "when I'm left to do sort out my own affairs, it usually leads to trouble for everyone else. You see, I have this nasty habit of ignoring the consequences –"
"No?" she asks sarcastically, taking a sip of her wine.
He sneers, rolling his eyes. "Anyway," he says loudly, "it led to my worst days, you could say. Rehab being one of them. I'm pretty sure that drugs were a bad idea."
Rachel gapes at him, "pretty sure?! Finn, drugs are never the answer and only destroy the life of the addicted. This is exactly why I don't like you!"
"And why's that, dollface?"
She cringes at the use of that nickname again, though decides to give him verbal warning rather than anything else. "I find you to be careless, unable to grasp what damage you do to others and yourself – yo-you treat women like objects, and you seem to think that the fact that you did drugs, or still are doing them for all I know, to be a joke. Kids look up to you, Finn, and it's your job to lead people. Did you ever stop and wonder what kind of example you're setting?"
He sits there in a stunned silence, staring wide eyed at the woman. Her jaw is set firmly, eyes wild with emotion. She actually looks kind of beautiful when she's so passionate about something, but then that's her middle name, isn't it? That woman lives for passion. She sleeps and breathes it. It's something which he finds very attractive about her.
"I-I…"
Seeing him speechless almost shocks her as she's always known him to have some sort of comeback, crude as it may be. Maybe her words had really hit home.
"The rock and roll lifestyle is what it is, baby," he shrugs and she nearly screams from frustration, but she can't. Why? Because for some absurd reason she's agreed to be his girlfriend and she has to act that way. Rachel will just pretend that she's in a play, her own play, and it's her character that dates him –perhaps it would make things more bearable.
So, through clenched teeth, she continues to make light chatter, "so, are you and the Ohio Boys going on tour any time soon?"
"At the start of June," he grins, "why? Are you going to miss me?"
When he winks, she closes her eyes and sighs. "I'm just curious," she replies, "I mean, Quinn said that they've planned this thing to last for six months."
"Thing?" he says as though the word is foreign, "I don't appreciate our relationship being called a thing, honey."
"Will you stop with the pet names and be more shocked that we have to keep this up for half a year!"
"But darling," he smirks, "I thought that you'd be thrilled to have me as your boyfriend. Not many people get that privilege. "
She pulls a face, staring at the pictures on the wall rather than at him, "yeah, well, I'd be happy to give said privilege to another girl, but unfortunately I need you." She's honest enough to admit that, even if it irks her to no end and does no good in deflating his rather large go.
"Need me? Oh, I'm blushing."
Rachel rolls her eyes, wondering how she's going to get through this dinner without her frustration gaining an all new high. Thankfully, the waiter comes over just as he's about to speak again and she spends five minutes hidden behind the menu while she decides what to have, despite the fact that she already knew before she even received the menu.
While she just has plain soup, he orders a rare steak, just to annoy her she supposes. She watches as he savagely tears into the meat, knowing it's going to be a long night.
He leads her outside, wearing his jacket that he'd given her to stay warm in the icy wind, but he's just positive that she's trying to make their relationship look more realistic. His hand is holding onto hers loosely and he knows that it probably looks fake, so he pulls her closer and slides his hand around her waist.
"What're you doing?" she seems appalled at the very thought that he'd bring her so near to his body, but doesn't struggle seeing as that wouldn't look good in public sight.
"Shh," he says, "I think that there's a paparazzi across the street. Just act natural."
As soon as he says that, her eyes snap over to the man and Finn wants to facepalm. What part of that did he say stare at the man in? Suddenly, he peers down at her, a sly smirk growing on his face, "you know what we should do? We should put a little show on for our friend?"
Her brows furrow in confusion, "what do you mean?" They're already so close and she's pretty sure that anyone can make assumptions from that.
Finn groans at her naïve this girl is and he guesses that he'll just have to catch her by surprise. Kurt's going to kill him, but what the hell. He's never been one for the rules anyway. Grinning, he places his hands on either shoulder, his eyes catching hers before he joins their lips together in a deep kiss.
Hmm, so Finn completely ignored Kurt's advice... And how is Rachel going to react?
I'll try and get the next chapter up soon!
Please review :)