AN: Hiiii! I'm stunned at the response I've had for this story so far. You guys are awesome! You've motivated me to write another chapter, so here's Chapter 2 of In Five Years Time! It was inspired by the lyric 'now my baby's dancing with another man' from Bruno Mars's 'When I Was Your Man'. Enjoy!3
"So, I have to be your fake boyfriend?" Jesse asked.
"Only when Finn's around. Tell Jacob he has nothing to worry about!" replied Rachel. The two had met at her apartment the day after Finn's appearance for a coffee. The dark circles under Rachel's eyes told Jesse that his best friend was worried.
"Wait, I thought Finn was only in town for last night?"
"Well, I called Kurt this morning and he let slip that Finn's new teaching job after the summer is in New York. So, he's sticking around."
Jesse sighed. "Okay. But, if you want him back, why are we in a fake relationship?" he was confused to say the least.
"Because, Jesse, he broke my heart! I can't let him think I've been pining for him all these years-"
"But you have-"
"Not the point!" Rachel hissed.
She was exhausted. Rachel had been up almost all night crying and tossing back and forth uneasily. Her plan was completely insane, of course, and Rachel knew that. But, if she was going to make Finn realize that he still wanted to be with her, she had to be hard to get. In the past, Finn had always realized how much he loved her when she was with another person. The other person was usually Jesse, which is how she came up with her plan.
"Okay, well have you heard from Finn at all?" Jesse inquired.
"No, he hasn't called or anything. But Kurt did tell me that he's working at this club or bar over the summer." Rachel suddenly gave him a puppy dog look.
"No, Rachel. We're not going." But he couldn't resist. "Ugh, fine. But, I'm not kissing you."
"Ooh, your eighteen year old self would kill you for saying that." she teased. "Thank you. Now, come and help me choose what to wear, I want Finn's mind blown!" she giggled.
Due to the fact she was a Tony-winning Broadway star, Rachel was able to afford beautiful designer clothes. She had a walk-in closet that was pretty huge.
"So, which kind of look are you gonna go for? Girl next door? Glamorous?" Jesse asked, flicking through the numerous dresses.
"I was thinking short to be casual, but something a little sparkly." Rachel grinned.
"I know just what you need."
-Finchel-
It was ten o'clock. Finn had been working behind the bar of 66, a Manhattan nightclub for a couple of hours. It was a Saturday night, and there were already tons of people at the club. Finn enjoyed it, though it could be tiring; there was great music, girls and alcohol (of course, he couldn't drink until his shift ended). He was just serving a very tall blonde woman her third vodka tonic of the night when he saw it. He blinked. Was that...? No, it couldn't have been. There were so many clubs in New York, and she'd chosen this one? He thought he'd been hallucinating, but sure enough, he saw her again, at the other side of the bar. Rachel. She looked stunning. Finn couldn't stop staring at her in her little dark blue dress. The little sequins on it sparkled in the disco lights, and he was mesmerized.
Snapping out of it, he accepted the customer's money. She seemed noticeably less pretty as Rachel arrived, as if his interest in the blonde had suddenly vanished. He tried to avoid eye contact with Rachel, but soon enough, she appeared in front of him.
"Finn? You work here?" her voice was full of surprise.
"Yeah, since like a week! What can I get you?" he smiled.
"Uh, one gin and tonic and a Corona, please!"
"You here with a friend?"
Right on time, Jesse appeared next to his 'girlfriend'.
"Finn, what's up, dude?" said Jesse, trying to be the very embodiment of masculinity.
"Not much, just working, you know... Here's your beer." Finn's disappointed was noticeable.
"Thanks, bro." Rachel shot Jesse a look. He was over-doing it.
"Well, we should probably let you get back to your work," said Rachel. "Talk to you later, maybe?"
"Yeah, sure, have a nice night, guys."
They walked away from Finn, and Rachel swatted Jesse's arm. "'Bro?' Jesse, I know you're pretending to be straight, but 'bro'? C'mon..." Rachel laughed.
"Whatever, can I have my drink now?"
Rachel swapped the Corona in his hands for the gin and tonic in hers. "I hate beer." he commented. "So, what does being your boyfriend entail tonight?"
"Well, as you've refused to kiss me, how about just some close-up dancing?"
"That I can do." he tugged Rachel's arm and led her out into the dance floor. They held hands and moved back and forth, Rachel laughing loudly. She glanced over towards Finn, who wasn't watching, or so it seemed. "Want to get his attention?" teased Jesse. Rachel nodded. The beat of the music pulsed loudly as if pumping adrenaline through their veins. Suddenly, Jesse swept Rachel off her feet and held her up in the air, their bodies touching. She shrieked adorably as she slid back down slowly, Jesse pulling her back down, their bodies gliding against each other. "Lucky I'm not straight, or I'd be seriously turned on right now."
"Even if you were, you're lucky I'm turned off by douchebags, or so would I." she grinned. Jessie twirled her around quickly as to keep up the romantic façade.
-Finchel-
Finn was speechless. He'd just glanced in Rachel's direction only to see her having the time of her life with her boyfriend. Their bodies were all close together, which admittedly, made him jealous. The fact that Jesse could dance so well made him angry too. They would never be able to dance like that, as Finn was hardly a dancer. He was filled with jealousy and couldn't stand looking at them anymore. The next thing he was filled with was regret. Why did I leave her without saying goodbye all those years ago? Why didn't I let her know sooner that I still loved her? Why did I ever let her go?
Deciding he couldn't concentrate, Finn took his break to sit on the other side of the bar. He contemplated making Rachel jealous with another girl, but then realized she wouldn't get jealous. She didn't love him anymore. She loved Jesse. It was his own fault; he should've held onto the girl he'd loved since he was sixteen years old.
But if she wasn't interested, why had she given him her phone number? He decided that he'd make good use of her number and send her a text. He typed 'you look gorgeous.' before tapping the 'send' button. He watched as she took her phone out of her bag and read his message. She blushed. Hmm, he thought, maybe he hadn't lost her as much as he'd thought. He smiled at her, and a thought struck his head. He had to get Rachel to want to fall in love with him again, whatever it took.