Hi Dear Readers - Thank you for the lovely reviews :)
Just an FYI this is a Finchel story, just thought I would tell everyone that for anyone hoping for Puck/Rachel :)
Happy Reading
Chapter Three
"Why are you guys playing basketball at nine in the morning" Rachel wondered as she walked over to her friends who were all stood around the basketball court. After having her breakfast Rachel realised that all her friends were up but nowhere to be found so she had gone in search of them.
"Quinn and Puck have gone somewhere with his parents and Jake and Marley so we were afraid your mother will coming looking for us with jobs that need doing" Mike answered as he passed the ball to Sam, who then passed it to Finn who took a shot that surprisingly went in.
"So what you're saying is your scared of my mother" Rachel laughed as she walked over to Santana who was leaning against the hoop that they guys were using.
"Absolutely" Mike agreed. Rachel just smiled at her friends. She understood where Mike was coming from, her mom was getting crazier the closer the wedding got.
"You look nice Rachel where you going" Santana wondered looking up from her phone that always seemed to be in her hand.
Rachel had on a leather short skirt, a loose white vest top tucked into it, a patterned thick cardigan and black ankle boots. She always made more of an effect when she was working but she still needed to be comfortable because she was on her feet all day.
"Brittany has arrived with my food truck. She's at the town square now waiting for me" Rachel answered. Brittany had arrived late the night before and had stayed in one of Limas only hotels because the plantation was already full up with guests.
"Oh I forgot she was coming today" Santana cheered lightly as she turned to Rachel. The boys all stopped playing then looked at one another before looking towards Rachel.
"Can we come" Sam asked her.
"Why you've tasted my cooking before" Rachel wondered
"We want to see you in action. See how many fans you have" Mike answered. Rachel realised that was a fair point. Rachel regularly saw her friends but she always went to visit them so none of them had actually seen the food truck except in pictures or seen how Rachel worked.
"Okay I don't see why not" Rachel shrugged. She realised it would be nice for her friends to see her work and if they crowd was big she could probably convince them to help out as well.
"But first go change, some people might take pictures and I can't be seen with you guys in matching basketball shorts" Rachel explained trying not to sound mean. The guys just laughed as they looked down at their chosen workout clothes.
"Yeah how come you all have the same pair" Santana wondered as Rachel and her looked the guys up and down. Each boy was wearing blue basketball shorts and white vests top. Rachel noticed Finn filled his out more than the others but Rachel quickly looked away before he could tell she was checking him out
"You know what they say great minds think alike" Sam boasted Rachel and Santana looked at each other. In their matching shirts the guys looked like over - grown toddlers but Rachel wasn't going to tell them that.
"If you say so" Santana smirked at the guys.
"Anyway come on I have to leave in five minutes" Rachel rushed. They put away the ball then they all began to go back inside the house.
Rachel and Santana started walking behind by the guys as they ran up to the house to change. Rachel gave Santana a look when she noticed her friend check out all the guys bums as they went inside. Santana just shrugged at Rachel.
"What they might be our friends but it's not that bad of a view"
XoXo
Twenty minutes later the group was parking up in the Town Squares small car park and walking over to where the food truck was in the middle of the town square.
The truck was white with orange and green swirls with Real Girls Kitchen sign on the top. The large silver windows opened up over the large counter top and on one side was a chalk board with the specials on it and on the other side was a notice board with a advertisement of Rachel's cook book and different photos of people in different states enjoying Rachel's food. Next to the counter top are bar stools with green and orange cushions. The kitchen was very state of the art and there was camera facing near the counter top to film the customers and what they think of the Van.
Rachel waved at the crowd that had gathered then went to the side of the truck where the door was open to see Brittany busy preparing some of the food.
"Hey Brittany" Rachel greeted her friend. Brittany turned around and jogged down their stairs of the van and hugged Rachel quickly.
"Hey Rachel" Brittany said as she pulled away from Rachel to look at the people behind her.
"So guys this is Brittany she works with me on the van" Rachel introduced as she pointed to Brittany who waved at them "Brittany these are my friends Santana, Mike, Finn and Sam"
"Hey guys I've heard a lot about you all" Brittany enthused before she's looked up at the small clock on the inside of the van "I'm really sorry but I have to get back to prepare this food before there is a stampede, it's happened before"
"You get back to it Britt and we will set up the tables" Rachel instructed. She walked over to the front of the van where seven tables with three chairs each had been scattered around near the van.
"So what do you want us to do Rachel" Finn asked. Rachel looked up and smiled at Finn as she picked up a large box that had been left on one of the tables.
"Oh Finn we didn't really come here to help, we came to watch Rachel work" Santana joked slapping Finn on the back as she smiled at Rachel. Rachel just ignored her friend as she started handing each of them something from the box.
"Thank you Finn" Rachel smiled at Finn again who quickly returned it "these needs putting on every table along with these" Rachel handed Mike some white lace table cloths then gave small pots of flowers in white vases "and you Santana can set up the Photo op card board"
Rachel handed Santana a cardboard cut out of the Real Girls Kitchen sign that she stood next to for people to take photos with.
"She's a slave driver" Sam said only half joking as they all went to work.
Brittany laughed from inside the van "Welcome to my world"
XoXo
After Rachel had shown her friends what she needed them to do, she helped Brittany finish off the prep they needed to do before they officially opened for the day.
The Parks and Recreation department at Lima Town Hall had put up barriers that people had to wait behind before Rachel opened up and there was already a large crowd gathering up behind them. A few of the workers from the department had also come down to help make sure everyone stayed in order.
"So that the author you always go on about" Brittany mused as she worked on the steak that they would need for the fajita flatbreads they were making.
"Yeah I didn't even know it was the same guy until Santana told me"
"He's cute"
Rachel smiled coyly "I think so"
"Wow Rachel Berry actually admits to liking a guy" Brittany laughed shaking her head. In the three years she had known Rachel, she had never shown the slight interest in any boys so Brittany was shocked that her friend had admitted she found someone attractive.
"Shut up and I never said I liked the guy"
"No but your eyes did" Brittany pressed, Rachel gave her friend a confused look "You can't stop staring at him"
Rachel blushed at the fact she had been caught out staring at Finn, she shouldn't have been surprised through. She was doing it more and more.
"Don't worry when you're not looking he's looking at you" Brittany enthused as she looked over at Finn who was watching Rachel while Sam talked to him about something.
Rachel just smiled at the knowledge that Finn was looking at her as she went back to work. The girls worked in silence for a few minutes before Brittany spoke again.
"So how's it been with -" Brittany wondered. She knew all about Rachel history with Puck, and Rachel knew she was probably wondering how Rachel was coping, just like everyone else was.
"It's been fine" Rachel cut off not really wanting to talk about Puck and Quinn at work.
"Okay still in the dismissive stage, that's fine I'll ask later" Brittany stated with a slight smile.
Rachel ignored Brittany and motioned for the parks and recreation worker to open the barriers as they were ready to start.
Brittany and Rachel quickly went to work serving up people's order until Rachel started getting called to have her picture taken. As well as fans of Rachel's that had come down to see her so had the local newspaper that wanted a picture and a small interview to go in Monday's paper.
"Go take the photos, I can handle this" Brittany called go Rachel over the noise of everyone by the van. Rachel looked up where a line was forming for pictures then back at Brittany.
"You sure?" Rachel wondered as she quickly washed her hands. While they prep work had all been done, there were still a lot of customers for one person.
"Yeah just get one of your friends to help with the merchandise" Brittany advised. Rachel could tell that with all the customers Brittany couldn't handle both tills while Rachel was still busy.
"Will do" Rachel called back as she walked over to her friends, who were sat on one of the tables at the back.
Rachel quickly went to ask Santana to watch the merchandise stall she had set up then went over to the cardboard sign to have her picture taken.
Rachel noticed the line getting bigger so jogged back to the van before she started taking pictures again. Rachel also needed to start filming some of the action to go on her YouTube page later.
"Are you sure you don't need any help" Rachel asked as she moved to the front of the van where there was a line a mile long.
Brittany waved her hand away dismissively as she went back to the customer waiting "I'm fine go to your adoring public"
Brittany quickly looked her way and winked at her "and don't worry he's still looking... And he's impressed"
XoXo
Santana looked over at her friend who was still taking pictures with some of the people left around the food truck.
Brittany had run out of food an hour ago but people were still coming over to have their picture taken with Rachel or the truck and to buy Rachel's cookbook or other merchandise with the Real Girls Kitchen logo.
A part of Santana had assumed not many people would show up because Rachel had grown up in Lima and people already knew her but Santana couldn't have been more wrong. Hundreds had come out just for the chance to see Brittany and Rachel cooking and for a glimpse of the van that travelled all over the country.
The group had helped set everything up but once there was nothing else they could do, they all sat on one of the tables at the back eating cheesy green Chile and bacon buttermilk biscuits and Steak fajita flatbreads that Rachel had made them and watching their friend in action.
"Can you believe all this?" Mike awed as they all watched Rachel smiling and laughing with the few people still left.
"I know when I visit Rachel, she always takes the day off so I've never seen her in action" Santana agreed. Santana couldn't believe that this was the first time she'd seen Rachel like that, she was completely in her element.
"She really is something else" Finn said in wonder, he was watching Rachel so intently he hadn't realised all his friends were looking at him with knowing smiles.
"She deserves it" Mike enthused.
"That she does" Santana agreed.
"So where are Puck and Quinn" Sam asked. The last of the people had gone and Brittany and Rachel were now clearing away.
"They have gone somewhere with Pucks parents and brother but we are meeting them back at the plantation later so we can all have lunch together" Santana answered, Mike gave her look asking why. Santana shrugged he shoulders "It was Quinn's idea"
"Probably to show that Puck and her are okay after everything at the Bridal store yesterday" Santana commented as she finished off the cheesy biscuits.
"Which you are not going to mention in front of them" Mike warned pointing a finger at Santana who playfully pretended to bite it.
"Scouts honour" Santana promised giving Mike a three finger salute "We've all become experts at pretending we don't notice what is going on between them"
"Maybe they are just stressed out" Finn reasoned, he was listening to his friends but continued to watch Rachel as she cleaned up the tables around them.
"Oh Finn you're such an optimistic to say that you write such tragic love stories" Santana joked
Finn rolled his eyes "That's not all I write"
"Anyway there's only one person who can say something and we all know she never will" Mike reasoned
"After everything he did, she doesn't owe either of them anything" Santana pointed out
"You know I really wish we knew what you guys are talking about" Sam sighed as he leaned back in his seat.
"It doesn't matter" Finn stated as she saw Rachel walk over to them.
"Hey so what did you guys think" Rachel asked as she walked over to her friends. They all smiled at her like they hadn't just been talking about her.
"So great, really Rachel I can't believe all these people came out to see you" Sam enthused with a giant smile. Rachel smiled back at Sam until she realised what he'd actually said.
"Thank you Sam, I think" Rachel said as she handed Sam a white bag that had her logo on it "oh and this for your girlfriend"
"Oh you've just made me the best boyfriend ever" Sam cheered as he looked through the gift bag Rachel had given him. She had put in a signed cookbook and magnet, key chain and t-shirt that all had the Real Girls Kitchen logo on them.
"How come she's not here with you Sam?" Rachel wondered.
"She couldn't get the whole week off work but she'll be here for the wedding , I'll show you her picture so you know who to hide from" Sam explained. Rachel laughed at Sam's explanation hoping he was at least half exaggerating when he talked about his girlfriend.
"So what are you guys doing now" Rachel asked as she leaned against Santana's chair, absentmindedly playing with her friends hair.
"Well if you don't need us then I want a nap before our lunch with the Stepford pair" Santana mused. The others began to get up from the table agreeing that they just wants to relax. Rachel just shook her head at her friends.
Rachel smiled at her friends as she squeezed Santana's shoulder "Well you could always help clean up"
XoXo
After helping Brittany and Rachel clean up, the group decided to go back to the plantation. Rachel had stayed behind to talk to Brittany about the menu they were going to do for next week's journey but the others had wanted to relax before they had a late lunch with Quinn and Puck.
"That's was more fun than I thought" Mike said as the group walked through the front door "It was cool to see Rachel in her element"
"It does seem like she was born to do it" Finn agreed. The group continued to walk through to the kitchen when they heard clear signs of an argument going on outside. They all walked to the kitchen window to see Puck and his father arguing on the porch.
"I don't know what you think you're playing at Puck but you better buck up your ideas" Frank shouted to his son. The two men were staring at each other so angrily that they didn't realise they had an audience.
"It's just been a stressful few day" Puck argued as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Puck your bride is not happy right now and that needs to change and quickly" Frank pointed out. Santana couldn't help but agree even though she meant in a different way.
"It's just harder than I thought it would be" Puck stated. Mike shook his head at his friends lack of respect for Quinn.
"Then you need to be a better actor because you're not fooling anyone if Quinn has noticed"
"Has she said something"
"She doesn't need to its obvious" Frank retorted giving his son a look of disbelief like he couldn't believe Puck hadn't noticed what they had all see from Quinn.
"We shouldn't be listening to this" Finn pointed out. He went to walk away but Santana pulled him back. She didn't want him making any noise that Puck and Frank might hear.
"It's just Rachel being here makes things more complicated" Puck reasoned with a sigh. Santana noted that's all Puck seemed to have been doing since they arrived.
The four friends crowded together as they continued to listen to Puck and his father, surprised that they hadn't been seen yet.
"Well then un-complicate them Puck because I've seen the way you look at Rachel and trust me it's not the same way she looks at you" Frank pointed out. Santana had to give Frank some small amount of credit, Puck hadn't fooled anyone when it came to Rachel.
"I know that father, it's because of you that she looks at me that way" Puck snapped, his eyes widened as he realised what he had said to his father.
"You best remember boy that everything I did, I did for you" Frank argued pushing his son a little. Puck stumbled a little then straightened up.
"I know that father" Puck stated trying not to show any emotion on his face.
"That girl would have tied you down to a life you didn't want" Frank pressed on. Santana could see the confusion on Finn's and Sam's faces, but all she felt was anger at what Frank had said. She almost ran out there and slapped Frank for what he said about Rachel but Mike's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
Puck rolled his eyes "I know that father"
"You better get over this soon Puck because it will not end well" Frank said pointing at his son before he walked down the porch stairs. Puck walked away in the opposite direction.
As Santana watched Puck and Frank walk away you couldn't help agree with Pucks father, this only had one way of ending and that was badly.
XoXo
An hour after witnessing Puck and Frank's argument, the four friends met up with Rachel, Quinn and Puck in the dining room to have lunch together.
The foursome didn't mention the argument but Santana knew she'd have to tell Rachel but for the moment they were enjoying having lunch together as old friends even Quinn and Puck were in good moods. Mike was detailing the morning they had had with Rachel's food truck while they all ate the small lunch of leftover food from their dinner the night before that Rosa had prepared for them.
"It was so busy, everyone loved Rachel's food and all wanted her picture, you should have seen it" Sam beamed as he wolfed down his third sandwich.
"I wish we had Rachel I'm sorry we couldn't be there" Quinn apologised as she looked towards Rachel.
"Don't worry Quinn, you guys are busy" Rachel shrugged off "You are getting married in four days"
"My god my Twitter and Tumblr are blowing up about you two" Santana mused as she walked into the dining room with her laptop in hand.
"What are you talking about?" Rachel wondered as Santana took a seat next to Rachel. Everyone leaned in to the laptop to get a better look at what Santana was talking about.
"Someone at the square recognised Finn and put a picture on Tumblr about you two knowing each other, your fans are going crazy" Santana explained as she pointed to one of the pictures of Finn watching Rachel as people took her picture from early that day.
"No way let me see" Mike laughed as he pushed forward to look at the computer screen.
"Oh my god how do my favourite blogger and favourite author know each other they are already my number one RLP" Sam read one of the comments using a girly voice as he did.
"What's a RLP" Mike wondered looking to Rachel who just shrugged, she didn't know the answer either.
"A real life pairing" Quinn answered surprising them all.
"Ha look at this one" Santana mused as she pointed to a fan-made picture someone had done of Rachel and Finn on their fake wedding day "Could you imagine the wedding these two would have and what cute babies they would make"
"Wow your fans are invested, there is already something called AU edits of the two of you" Sam laughed as they continued to scroll through the posts about Finn and Rachel "My god that picture looks so real"
"Yeah Finn you look good riding a horse" Santana laughed. Finn rolled his eyes and closed the laptop, Santana stuck her tongue out at Finn but moved the laptop away. The group went back to their lunch when Santana got an idea about how to rid the tension from the group.
"You know we should go out tonight?" Santana beamed as she took out her laptop again.
"What?" Sam asked confused through a mouth full of food.
"Yeah it's our only night free before the wedding it will give us all a chance to loosen up" Santana reasoned as she looked up from her computer screen with a smirk.
"That's not a bad idea" Mike agreed with a nod of the head.
"I don't know guys, I have so much to do" Quinn groaned lightly as she looked away from her pleading friends.
"Stuff that can be done in the morning Quinn" Sam pointed out smiling widely at Quinn who shook her head amused.
"I'm in" Santana affirmed as she continued to look over the Tumblr posts of Rachel and Finn. Rachel nodded her head as she closed the laptop smirking at Santana who moaned dramatically.
Mike smiled "Me too"
Sam raised his hand "Me three"
Puck shrugged his shoulders at Quinn "Well I'm going"
Quinn rolled her eyes playfully at her friends "Yeah okay then"
"Where is there to go in Lima" Finn wondered as he went back to his sandwich.
"There's really only two bars but that's enough" Puck answered, he seemed in a better mood than they had seen earlier. Santana wondered if it was because he was around his friends or because of his father's words.
"Yeah besides I bring the fun" Santana smirked pouting towards herself.
"Didn't you get barred from McLaren's" Mike laughed remembering the last time they had been in Lima. Santana had got so drunk at McLaren's and threw up all over the owner while trying to give him a lap dance.
"So we go to Rusty's instead then Mike" Santana mused then looked at her watch "which opens in an hour"
"Sounds good to me" Sam smiled, everyone quickly nodded their head in agreement.
"I'll go call Marley and Kitty and let them know" Quinn said as she quickly left the room.
"Come on Rachel lets go get our faces on" Santana smiled as she pulled Rachel away from the table and towards the stairs.
As the girls left the dining room, Sam turned to Finn and playfully slapped him on the back
Sam smirked at Finn "It's gonna be a good night"
XoXo
After they decided that they would all go out for about six, Rachel and Santana went up to Rachel's room to get ready together and so that Santana could tell Rachel about Puck and Franks argument.
Santana and the guys hadn't said anything to each other, they were all pretending that they hadn't heard anything and while Santana knew that was for the best, she knew she had to at least tell Rachel. If anything she had to tell her best friend that Sam and Finn now knew a little bit more about what had happened the summer after graduation.
Rachel was sat at the vanity in her room putting on her make up while Santana sat on Rachel's bed painting her toes nails and telling Rachel about the argument.
"Frank was pretty much making it clear to Puck what we all have noticed over the last two days" Santana concluded as she blew on her toes for the paint to dry.
"Frank's just making sure his investment is still intact" Rachel pointed out as she finished off her makeup.
"Doesn't mean he's not right" Santana stated, Rachel turned around to give her friend a confused look "about Pucks behaviour I mean"
"He seemed better at lunch" Rachel mused as she began to finish off her hair. Rachel put some pins in her hair to secure it into a half up do as Santana started on her finger nails.
"Probably because he didn't want to upset his daddy anymore" Santana snipped. Rachel didn't say anything else as she finished off her hair then began to get dressed. Once Santana realised Rachel wasn't going to say anything else about Puck she changed the subject.
"So Finn was pretty impressed today, we all were" Santana smiled proudly up at her friend
Rachel nodded her head "Thank you"
"So what do you think, of Finn I mean" Santana wondered as she waved her hands for the nail vanish to dry while Rachel got dressed.
"I like him, he's nice to talk too" Rachel admitted with a coy smile before pointing at her friend "and don't think I didn't see you watching us last night"
"I just wanted to be able to tell your future children that I was there when their mommy and daddy fell in love" Santana mused with sarcastic smile. She bounced off Rachel's bed and moved to the vanity to do her hair.
"Getting a little ahead of yourself don't you think" Rachel wondered as she moved into the bathroom to check her hair once again in the mirror.
"No I really don't" Santana laughed as she pouted in the mirror checking herself out.
"So what do you think about this?" Rachel asked as she leaned against the bathroom door so Santana could check her outfit.
"Very nice, you wanting to impress someone tonight" Santana smirked as she looked over at Rachel, who suddenly seemed nervous. Santana wanted to tease her friend but a part of her found it very sweet.
"Leave it alone Lopez" Rachel groaned as she moved back into the room. She started putting her keys and purse in her bag as Santana watched her carefully.
"It's only because I love you Berry" Santana grinned.
"I'll meet you downstairs, I need to go ask Finn something - " Rachel started as she grabbed her bag and put on her heels.
"Oh I bet you do" Santana laughed as she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
" - and I'm going to see if he's still in his room" Rachel finished with a shake of her head.
"Okay but push the top down a little let him see the puppies" Santana advised eyeing Rachel's chest. Rachel covered her breasts and shook her head at her friend.
"Shut up" Rachel laughed then turned to her friend "How do I look?"
"Very hot, even I would do you. Finns not gonna know what's hit him" Santana smirked as she checked Rachel up and down. Rachel was wearing a black lace crop top, a high waisted patterned skirt and black block heels.
Rachel ignored her best friend as she made her way to Finn's room.
XoXo
Rachel knocked on Finns door and only had to wait a few seconds before she was greeted with a half naked Finn. Finn was stood in front of Rachel with just a towel wrapped around his hips. Rachel's eyes travelled to Finns six-pack that Rachel couldn't believe was hiding under the polo shirts he had been wearing.
Rachel finally looked up to Finns eyes and felt her own cheeks go red for a change because by the small smile on Finns face , he knew she had been checking him out.
"Sorry Rachel I thought it was Mike telling me to hurry up" Finn said as he covered his chest a little, suddenly aware that he was half naked in the hallway.
"It's okay, I was just hoping to ask you something before we went out" Rachel asked trying her best to look anywhere but at Finn's chest.
"Sure come in" Finn opened the door and they both walked back into his room. Finn's room was decorated exactly like Rachel's but had clothes strewn around with a laptop and loads of papers on his desk.
"I'll just throw my clothes on one second" Finn said as he grabbed the clothes from his bed and walked into the bathroom. Rachel sat down on the desk chair as she waited for him to come back in. A few minutes later Finn walked back into his room dressed in a denim shirt rolled up to his elbow's and skinny dark cream jeans. Rachel discreetly checked him out again as he sat on the bench next to his bed. Rachel was very glad for Finn's brother, he definitely dressed him well.
"So what's up" Finn asked as she bent down to put on his shoes.
"So Santana hadn't been exaggerating when she said people were curious about how we know each other, you should see the comment section on my website" Rachel explained, she had looked through only half of the comments all wondering how her and Finn knew each other before she realised she had to do something.
"Well I'm glad I could help, in a way I guess" Finn laughed as he looked back up to Rachel.
"With that in mind, I have a favour" Rachel cautiously asked. She knew she might have a hard time to get Finn to agree as she realised how shy he was.
"Okay" Finn mused watching Rachel who tried to seem optimistic.
"I was wondering if I could interview you for my YouTube page. I have a playlist of videos where I interview people while we cook their favourite meal and I was hoping I could do it with you" Rachel wondered smiling widely at Finn who's eyes went wide.
"Ummm I'm not sure, I'm not very good with camera interviews" Finn shook his head as he got off the bench to put on his watch that was on top of the chest of drawers.
"We can practice before hand and I'll give you a list of the questions I'll ask you so that you can prepare your answers" Rachel rushed out, she jumped off the desk chair and faced Finn as best she could when he was a foot taller than her. "And you get the chance to have me cook your favourite meal of -"
"Beef Stroganoff" Finn finished with a slight smile. Rachel beamed up at Finn and took his hand in hers.
"Does that mean you'll do it?" Rachel wondered as she squeezed Finn's hand. Finn smiled at Rachel sighing a little as he realised he would do anything for Rachel to smile at him.
"I guess I am intrigued to see if you can cook Beef Stroganoff better than my mom" Finn mused as he brushed a piece of hair away from Rachel's face.
"Thank you Finn, I'll set everything up and we can do it tomorrow morning" Rachel cheered she hugged Finn quickly then pulled away still looking up at him.
"Sounds good to me" Finn agreed "And I'm sorry in advance for how bad I do"
"You'll be great" Rachel promised, already thinking of the questions she was going to ask him for the video "I don't settle for anything else"
"I don't doubt that" Finn laughed
"Nice outfit" Rachel stated changing the subject as she openly checked Finn out, Finn smiled bashfully looking over his own outfit.
"Truthfully when my brother saw where I would be staying the week of the wedding he picked all my clothes just in case we had to go somewhere nice and I didn't wear the right outfit and it got back to him somehow" Finn explained then quickly added "he's crazy"
"I'm sure he means well"
"I'll remember that if you ever complain about Quinn"
"I would never" Rachel faked gasped as she picked up her bag, Finn opened the door for Rachel.
"You ready?" Finn asked before he looked at Rachel intensely "You look beautiful tonight Rachel"
"Thank you Finn" Rachel smiled as she walked out of Finn's room.
Finn closed the door and the pair walked down the stairs, Finns hand traced lightly on the small of Rachel's back.
Rachel and Finn walked down the stairs to see all their friend already by the entrance waiting for them.
"And where have you two been" Santana smirked as Rachel and Finn reached the bottom of the stairs. Rachel and Finn both ignored Santana as Mike playfully pushed her towards the door.
"We all ready to go" Mike asked, everyone grabbed their jackets and walked out of the front door. Rachel and Finn walked in front with Finn's hand still on Rachel's back.
"Do you think they realise how obvious they're being" Santana teased as she watched Finn and Rachel whispering in each other's ears.
"Do you" Mike eyed Santana nudging her side as she continued to watch Finn and Rachel.
Santana shrugged her shoulders "I'm just having a laugh"
"Finn's shy Santana, the more you embarrass him, the less likely he is to make a move and I'm assuming that's what you want" Mike guessed giving Santana a look.
Santana rolled her eyes "It is"
"Then leave them alone" Mike warned pointing his finger at Santana.
Santana mock saluted Mike "Okay dad I promise"
Santana and Mike walked towards Sam leaving Puck and Quinn behind them who were also watching Finn and Rachel who were still ahead of everyone.
"I think Finn likes Rachel" Quinn smiled as she looped her arm through Puck's.
Puck looked away from Rachel and Finn to look down at Quinn "Yeah you've said"
"I think they would make a cute couple"
Puck sighed looking away from Quinn "Yeah you said that too"
"Rachel deserves it. She works so hard she deserves some love in her life" Quinn affirmed.
"Quinn there just talking" Puck sighed looking away from Finn and Rachel, who seemed completely unaware of everyone watching them.
"You know what Puck you've embarrassed me in front of our friends for the last time so pull your face straight and try to have a good night" Quinn snapped glaring at Puck "You know like you're actually excited to marry me"
Quinn stormed away from Puck and walked over to Santana, she hooked her arm through Santana's and shrived away. Mike looked back at Puck shaking his head at him.
Twenty minutes later the group had arrived at Rusty's. Kitty, Marley and their husbands were already there so while Quinn and Puck went to say hello to them, everyone else went to get a drink.
Rusty's was one of the only bars in Lima but it wasn't that bad. It had a band on Friday nights, a bar that served cocktails and a decent dance floor. That's all the group needed for a good night out.
"Okay first round is on me to say thank you for your help today" Rachel praised once the group had ordered their drinks from one of the three bartenders on that night.
"Well in that case I'll have a dirty martini as well" Santana giggled as she leaned over the bar to wave at the bartender making their drinks.
"Thank you Rachel" Finn turned to smile at Rachel who was already looking at him.
"Finn your drinks are on me tonight as a thank you for the interview" Rachel smiled as she squeezed Finn's arm.
"Why don't you thank me after you've seen what I'm like" Finn laughed shaking his head at what he had agreed to.
Rachel smirked slightly at Finn "Oh I will do"
"Hey Finn you up for some pool" Mike asked as he clapped Finn on the back breaking Finn's gaze from Rachel.
"Yeah I'm coming" Finn was still looking at Rachel as Mike pulled Finn towards the pool table at the back of the bar.
"Here get this down you" Santana said as she handed Rachel her cocktail.
Rachel and Santana clicked their cocktail glasses together in a cheers "Here's to an interesting night"
XoXo
While the guys played pool the girls were sat at one of the bar tables next to it enjoying their cocktails.
The girls had talked about Kitty and Marley's families, the wedding and Santana latest conquest back in New York and then got onto Rachel's food truck.
"So I heard that your food truck went really well today" Marley mused as she sipped on her Cosmopolitan.
Rachel looked away from Finn who had been bent over the pool table taking his shot to answer Marley "It did thanks yeah"
"It was great, so many people came out for the food and the person I get all the time" Santana beamed answering for Rachel who she knew didn't like to praise herself even when she had done really well.
"I love you too" Rachel smiled at Santana as she took a drink. Rachel went back to watching Finn ignoring Santana who was smirking at her.
"So you just go from town to town, city to city" Kitty asked
"Pretty much yeah, unless there's a special event that hires the truck like a festival" Rachel answered as she continued to watch the boys. Rachel's seat was facing the pool table so it was so obvious that she was watching Finn.
"Towns ring Rachel begging her to go to their events" Quinn beamed at Rachel who smiled back at her sister.
"You must miss your family"
Rachel shook her head "I still see them"
"It's must get lonely just going from town to town" Marley wondered with concern as she looked at Rachel with what Rachel figured was pity although she wasn't sure why Marley thought she needed it.
Rachel shook her head again "Not really"
"Don't you want more than that" Kitty wondered looking confused at Rachel who was trying her best not to snap at Kitty.
"Rachel's worked hard for her career" Quinn affirmed looking cautiously between Kitty and Rachel.
"I suppose when a woman doesn't have a man in their life, their career becomes more important than it is" Kitty mused as she stirred her drink unaware of Rachel's glaring eyes on her.
Santana sensed the tension radiating off Rachel because of Kitty's comment, so she grabbed her friends hand "Come on Rachel let's dance.
Santana pulled Rachel to the dance floor, a few others were already there dancing but Santana went straight into the middle and span Rachel around like nobody was watching. The girls immediately loosened up as they danced to the latest Katy Perry song. Rachel felt better after her dressing down from Kitty and Marley. Usually talk like that didn't bother her and she wasn't sure why it suddenly did now but Rachel let it leave her mind as she danced around with her best friend.
After a few songs Quinn, Kitty and Marley joined the girls on the dance floor, Kitty and Marley stayed together they had obviously realised they had annoyed Rachel and wanted to keep their distance. Rachel was too busy having fun with Quinn and Santana to notice.
The guys noticed the attention all the girls were getting from the other people in the bar so they quickly stopped their pool game to join the girls dancing just as Salt and Pepper's song Push It came on. It had been the groups favourite song growing up so for four minutes they all forgot the tension surrounding them all and danced their hearts out.
Once Push It finished Faithfully by Journey came on, a much slower song so Marley and Kitty went straight to their husbands, Quinn dragged Puck back to the dance floor to dance, Santana took Mike's hand to dance and Sam ran straight to the bar to get more drinks leaving just Rachel and Finn. Finn slowly held out his hand and Rachel gladly accepted it. Rachel's arms circled around Finn's neck as his circled her waist. They danced on the spot slowly, not really moving or listening to the song as they stared into each other's eyes not noticing anything else around them. Rachel inched closer to Finn as he moved down to reach her lips. Rachel was about to take the next step as her faces was mere inches from Finn when she saw Sam come up behind them and slap Finn on the shoulder. Rachel and Finn jumped apart to look at their blonde friend.
"Here drink this" Sam cheered as he handed them both a shot, Rachel looked away from Finn as she took the shot. Their moment was over.
XoXo
After dancing to three more songs with Santana and Mike, Rachel stepped outside to answer her phone when she noticed she had three missed calls off Brittany. Rachel was sat on the bench on the side walk by the bar talking to her friend.
"Yeah Brittany it's fine, you have the password for the website just change it in the morning" Rachel said as she listened to Brittany down the phone "Okay Brittany see you in the morning bye"
Rachel put her phone back in her bag and looked to the side to see Finn stood behind the bench looking sheepishly at her.
"Oh Finn I didn't see you there" Rachel said as Finn came to sit down next to her on the bench. Rachel felt a little strange now being alone with Finn. She knew what they were about to do on the dance floor and she wondered if it would happen again or if things would just get weird between them.
"I just need some fresh air and I didn't want to interrupt your phone call" Finn explained, Finn wouldn't even look at Rachel as he answered and kept wringing his hands together.
"Brittany, she was panicking about the menu for next week" Rachel explained lamely not sure what else to say, she just wished Finn would look at her.
"You having a good night?" Finn asked still looking ahead of him instead of at her. Rachel turned in her seat to watch Finn carefully as she answered.
"I am yeah it's nice to see everyone loosen up, we've all been a bit stressed out"
"Some more than others" Finn mused, the two remained silent for a few minutes and Rachel was unsure how to break the tension that was building between them.
"Rachel can I ask you something" Finn asked turning to face her. He looked her straight in the eyes and took her hands in his pulling her closer to him.
"Of course Finn"
"I'm sorry if this isn't my place but do you still have feelings for Puck, any feelings at all" Finn asked her, he pulled his hands from her and put them at either side of her neck as he moved closer to her.
"None at all" Rachel affirmed
"Good"
And then Finn pulled her to him and kissed her, his thumbs traced circles on her face as his mouth was hard on hers, unyielding; then Finn put both arms around her and pulled her against him. His lips softened as Rachel responded to his lips. Rachel moved her hands into his hair, as she'd wanted to do since the first time she'd seen him.
"I've wanted to do that since I first saw you" Finn whispered almost breathless once he had pulled away his hands still on her face. Rachel smiled at she moved his hair from his face.
"Me too" Rachel agreed
"Looks like someone's having a good night"
XoXo
Rachel pulled away from Finn slowly to see all of their friends standing outside the bar looking at them, some of them in amusement one of them in clear jealousy.
"Uhm hi"
"Uhm hi, I thought you were an author Finn" Santana laughed as they all walked over to the pair.
"Marley and Kitty threw up in the toilets so we got kicked out. We're going back to the plantation" Puck snipped not bothering to hide his annoyance. Rachel and Finn got up from the bench and the group began to walk down the street.
"They seem to be getting along well"
"Umm"
"I think Finn would be good for Rachel don't you think Noah"
"It was a drunken kiss Quinn don't be buying them China patterns just yet" Puck sneered as he continued to watch Finn and Rachel who were walking ahead Rachel's arm looped through Finn's.
"I don't know Puck with the way you've been behaving they will probably get married before we do" Quinn sneered hitting Puck in the arm before she walked away.
"What is wrong with you" Mike snapped as he walked up to Puck where Quinn had just been.
"Don't start with me Mike" Puck groaned as he watched Quinn storm away from him and over to Sam and Santana. They each put their arm around her as they walked off in front.
"Puck you might want to take a look at how your actions are affecting other people. You're snapping at Finn and Quinn even though it's not them you're angry with" Mike argued, he whispered it but Puck could hear the anger in his voice.
"And who am I angry with them" Puck snapped as he ran his hands through his hair again.
Mike threw his arms up before looking back at Puck "Your parents, yourself, the world. Take your pick"
XoXo
Rachel turned off her bedside light as she climbed into bed. Rachel was glad the group had had a good night out, they had definitely needed to unwind and as Rachel gathered herself into the duvet covers all she could think about was what Finn's lips felt like on hers. Rachel fell asleep with a smile on her face.
XoXo
Quinn walked back into her bedroom from the bathroom to see that Puck still hadn't come back to their room. Quinn got into bed but left the bedside light on for when Puck returned. Quinn leaned back on her pillow as she thought again about Puck's behaviour. She knew seeing Rachel again would be hard for Puck but she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
XoXo
Finn sat at his desk looking over the notes he had made for his next chapter of his new book. Finn had been staring at the same piece of paper for an hour and knew he wasn't going to get much more done as all he could think about was Rachel's lush lips and bright eyes, hoping he got the chance to kiss her again.
XoXo
Puck leaned against the fence that surrounded the patio as he took another drink of his beer. Puck knew Quinn was angry with him so he decided he would stay downstairs until he knew she would be asleep. He knew nobody was buying that he was okay with being around Quinn and Rachel and he had no idea how to fix it to make everyone happy including himself.
Hope You All Enjoyed :) - Let me know what you think Xx
