Lauren's car was being driven by an employee of the wresting company. She explained that it was considered a smart business move. The driver was also a sort of bodyguard. He made sure Lauren was safe and had secure transportation. She introduced him to Rachel. He was nice and polite, but he couldn't help the look in his eye. Rachel smiled sweetly at him and crossed her legs in the back seat. She watched him swallow and smiled a little wider. Lauren rolled her eyes at her.
"We are so getting arrested tonight."
"I hope not! I'm supposed to meet Santana tomorrow for a late lunch."
"Santana? Wow, I haven't thought about her in forever. What's she up to?"
"She followed in her dad's footsteps and became a doctor. She lives with Brittany here in LA. I haven't seen her in four or five years. She came out to see me when there was some kind of symposium on the East Coast."
"Wow," Lauren murmured. Rachel grinned. It was so hard to imagine. It seemed almost surreal, but it was all true.
"So what's the name of this club we're going to?"
"It's called Echelon. It's usually got a live band, but they're always good. It's kind of gritty and edgy, kind of right up my alley. You usually never see famous people here, which is why I totally love it. I hate the clubs that cater to celebrities. They suck." Rachel nodded. She didn't think anyone would consider her a celebrity way out here, but she'd rather be incognito for tonight. It was okay when she was in her own city—she knew everybody anyway. It would feel weird here where everyone was a total stranger.
*glee* *glee* *glee*
Finn was sitting at the end of the bar when she walked in. He was actually turned away from the door talking to the guitarist from their band when the guitarist's eyes widened and he practically drooled on Finn's foot. Finn groaned. It was probably some hot piece of ass he would hit on for the rest of the night and then drag her out to the band's van. He wondered if he could get somebody to come get him from Echelon at 3 a.m. Probably not. Shit.
"Sweet Jesus, I think I've just seen the mother of all my children." That was a new line so Finn turned and stared at the woman who'd just entered the bar. Then he closed his eyes. God, have I been a really bad person or something? Whatever it was, I am so so sorry. Then he opened his eyes. It was still Rachel. What the hell was she even wearing? He wanted to take her somewhere and fuck her until she couldn't see straight and walked funny. Right after he killed everyone in here for thinking the exact same thing. Where the hell was Puck when a guy needed him? Oh, right, somewhere on the East Coast. He turned back to the guitarist.
"I have a favor to ask."
The band was getting ready and Lauren and Rachel had drinks in hand. Lauren was completely impressed with Rachel's turn down technique. It was so polished, she knew Rachel was a pro at telling people no. The lead singer picked up the mic and started talking, so everyone got quiet.
"Hey everybody, I know that we usually do our own original stuff, but our drummer got some kind of bug up his ass and so he's going to sing a song before our regular set begins. He's actually really good—most of you know he writes all of our songs, he just refuses to actually sing them for us. Anyway, here we go."
Rachel was listening with half and ear and sipping at her drink. Then the drummer started singing and she turned and stared at him. Then she started blushing. She blushed all the way down her chest. She knew he was singing about her. She was going to kill him.
I judge by what she's wearing And I wish she'd take the night off They'll go and ask the DJ They think they'll get inside her Is that your hand on my girlfriend? I even fear the ladies Each time she bats an eyelash Is that your hand on my girlfriend? I'm hating what she's wearing Is that your hand on my girlfriend? I wish you'd do it again
Just how many heads I'm tearing
Off of assholes coming on to her
Each night seems like it's getting worse
So I don't have to fight off
Every asshole coming on to her
It happens every night she works
Find out just what would she say
If they all tried coming on to her
Don't they know it's never going to work
With every drink they buy her
As they all try coming on to her
This time somebody's getting hurt
Here comes the next contestant
Is that your hand?
I wish you'd do it again
I'll watch you leave here limping
I wish you'd do it again
I'll watch you leave here limping
There goes the next contestant
They're cool but twice as crazy
Just as bad for coming on to her
Don't they know it's never going to work
Somebody's grabbing her ass
Everyone keeps coming on to her
This time somebody's getting hurt
Here comes the next contestant
Is that your hand?
I wish you'd do it again
I'll watch you leave here limping
I wish you'd do it again
I'll watch you leave here limping
There goes the next contestant
Everybody here keeps staring
Can't wait 'til they get what they deserve
This time somebody's getting hurt
Here comes the next contestant
Is that your hand?
I wish you'd do it again
I'll watch you leave here limping
I wish you'd do it again
I'll watch you leave here limping
Each night seems like it's getting worse
I wish you'd do it again
This time somebody's getting hurt
There goes the next contestant
"Damn. He's good," Lauren listened to Finn sing the lyrics. "Wait a minute, isn't that…"
"I am going to fucking kill him!" Rachel spat out. She sat at the bar glaring at him and fuming. Ironically, all through the song, guys kept coming up to her and hitting on her. She turned them all down without a thought. She was too busy trying to figure out how she was going to kill Finn slowly and painfully.
"I don't think I've ever heard you curse, Rachel. Congratulations, doll face. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he still has a thing for you." Lauren observed wryly.
"What the hell is he thinking?"
"That everyone here wants to get inside you?" Lauren offered with a smile. Rachel rolled her eyes.
"So what? What they want and what they get are two different things."
"Well, technically you are single and he has no claim whatsoever. I can only imagine that's just about killing him right now. Remember high school, Rachel? Every boy in that school knew better than to look cross-eyed at you. I would imagine he's trying to express his feelings. Just like we used to back in glee."
"That's entirely logical. I'll ask him before I kill him." Lauren started laughing. Rachel was not going to admit how much she agreed with what her friend was saying. By senior year, she might as well have worn a sign that said "Don't even try, dude. Love and kisses, Puck and Finn."
"Seriously? He looks damn good, Rachel. I think maybe even better than high school. He sounds damn good, too. I would hold off on killing him. Maybe play with him a little bit first." Lauren gave her an evil smile that reminded Rachel of Santana.
"Fine. I'll talk to him, but I make no promises."
"Good. The song's done. He's coming over."
Finn walked over to her and Rachel thought he moved like a jaguar. He stared at her for minute with those gorgeous eyes of his, they burned her skin—she felt like she was on fire.
"Rach. Can we talk?" She glared at him.
"I think that would be an excellent idea, Finn." He took her elbow and guided her to the back of the bar. She held her tiny body rigid and stalked to the back. The club had a little room they let the bands use to get ready in. It was empty at the moment. The minute the door shut, Rachel slapped Finn.
"What the hell, Rachel?" Shock and surprise registered on his face.
"Exactly! What the hell, Finn? I am not your girlfriend. Where do you get off singing that song? We both know why you did it, but why do think it was okay to do it?" He blushed and looked at the ceiling for a minute.
"I wasn't exactly thinking."
"Excuse me?" God, she could make him feel like he was in high school again with just a look. The only difference was, in high school she was his girl friend and she would have understood how blindingly jealous he was right now.
"Rachel…I took one look at you and I…" He could not finish that sentence. He just looked at her and she knew exactly what he was thinking. She blushed again, all the way down. Finn just stared at the blush going down the deep V of her dress. He swallowed. She closed her eyes. Why was it always like this with them? She grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her. His arms slid around her and pulled her tight against his chest. His hands slid down, cupping her ass, and her hands slid up and around his neck. He was kissing her so hard she was starting to see stars. Maybe that was just a lack of oxygen. He worked his way down her neck, pulled aside the dress and bit her shoulder a little harder than he would have in high school. She moaned loudly and pulled his hair slightly. He growled against her skin and started working his way down the large expanse of skin left exposed by her dress. Someone started pounding on the door.
"Fuck off!" Finn tossed over his shoulder. He turned back to Rachel whose lips were well-kissed and slightly swollen. She looked at him with heavy lidded eyes dark with lust, but then she started to giggle.
"Oh, Finn. Oh, no!" She giggled harder. He frowned at her.
"What?"
"I dusted my chest with glitter." He realized that the wide expanse of skin was kind of sparkly. Then he realized that his face had been pressed against that skin. He looked at himself in the mirror and groaned. Someone started pounding on the door again.
"Finn! C'mon Finn!" He was scrubbing uselessly at his face, trying to get the glitter off. Rachel was still giggling. He cursed under his breath and went and opened the door. His band was standing there staring from Rachel to Finn. Her lips were swollen, her hair was mussed and she was carefully adjusting her dress. Finn had glitter all over his face. It was obvious what they'd been doing. He turned and looked at her.
"Do. Not. Leave. This. Bar. I'm serious, Rachel. This isn't done yet." She looked at him for minute and then nodded.
"I'll stay." The guitarist looked at her mournfully.
"I knew it was too good to be true."
"Shut up, Devon. C'mon, let's go," Finn left the room. A couple of the members of the band looked at her curiously. They'd never seen Finn act like this.
"Wait…did he call her Rachel? Is that the Rachel?"
"Shut up, Devon!"
*glee* *glee* *glee*
Rachel fixed her make-up and her hair and went back out to Lauren who smirked at her.
"Shut up, Lauren."
"I didn't say word, not one word. I mind my own business, but if you ask me…you'd be ten kinds of stupid if you said no. You look like a smart girl, Rachel. Don't disappoint me." Rachel put her head in her hands and moaned. What was she doing? What was she thinking? She pulled out her phone. She couldn't talk in the bar, it was too loud with the band playing. She made her way around the edge and ended up in front of the stage. She knew Finn could see her. She held up her phone and looked at him. He nodded and then focused on his drumming again. She turned and went outside to make her call.
"How's LA, sweetie?"
"I ran into Lauren."
"Wow! I haven't thought about her in forever! How is she doing?"
"She's fine, Kurt. The problem I'm currently having is that she took me clubbing."
"She did not dump you and leave you, did she? I can call Santana and have her come find you." Kurt's voice was worried. Rachel did not know LA at all. He'd been out a few times to visit Finn, but Rachel's schedule was always insane and she hadn't been able to come with him. As a result, she had never been to LA and it was completely unknown to her. He hated the thought of her stranded in some strange bar.
"No, mother hen. My problem is that I am at a club called Echelon." Kurt thought for a second and then he realized why that name sounded familiar.
"Oh."
"I see you understand the problem now? I should probably also tell you that I am wearing a dress similar to the one Lady Fabulous wore to that party you had a month or so ago." Kurt thought about that party. Oh my god. Finn was probably freaking out.
"Oh, Rachel. You didn't."
"I should probably also mention that the drummer of the band tonight decided he needed to sing Nickelback's "The Next Contestant" right after he saw me."
"He did not!"
"He most certainly did."
"Rachel, honey, please don't kill him. He just…well…remember when Puck came to New York for that meeting and he ended up in the same club we were at?" Rachel started blushing again. She'd never been able to use a powder room again without remembering that night.
"Yes, I do."
"You guys just can't help yourselves. It's just the way it is for you three. I don't know what to tell you, sweetie. What were you hoping I'd say?"
"I don't know," Rachel wailed into the phone. "I don't know what I should do. I should leave. I should get a cab and go back to the hotel."
"Rachel! Calm down. You can not freak out over the phone when I am cross country from you. I have no way of getting to you. Please stay there. Please talk to Finn. You haven't seen him in six years. Just talk to him."
"Okay." She really wished he hadn't mentioned the last time she'd seen Finn. It was her graduation from Eastman Musical Conservatory. Puck and Finn had both attended her graduation with her dads. She'd gone to see them in their hotel room and she never left. It had been perfect and wonderful and everything she'd been missing for the four years she'd been at Eastman.
"Rachel, look honey, I have to go. You realize it's around 1 a.m. here?"
"Oh, Kurt! I am so sorry. I'll talk to you later." Rachel took a couple deep breaths and went back into the bar where she bumped into Finn. She looked up at him. Was he taller? How was that even possible?
"I thought you left," he muttered at her.
"I said I would stay. I had to make a phone call." Finn nodded, but his jaw was tight and she knew he was holding himself still with stress and tension. She put her hand on his chest and his muscles started relaxing and unlocking. He closed his eyes and shook his head. She knew he was just as confused and scared as she was. How could they still do this to each other after so long?
"The band's taking a break. It's between sets." He stared at her. She stared back.
"Do you want to talk?"
"No. Yes. Maybe." He closed his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face. "God, why is this so hard?"
"I don't know, Finn. It just is."
"It didn't used to be," he muttered.
"It was hard in a different way," Rachel said softly.
"I suppose it was. It didn't matter though. As long as I knew we were okay, nothing else mattered." Finn stared at her again. She looked different, but she was still Rachel. She still had those eyes that seared his soul. Those eyes were staring at him, they were wide and he felt like he could see inside her. She still loves me. He felt the world tilt around him.
He'd never stopped loving Rachel. Sometimes, he felt like she was a drug or a poison that he just couldn't get out of his system. He'd never tell her that because she would hate being compared to poison. He'd had girlfriends, lovers, one night stands, but none of them were her. He'd tried. He'd actually had one girlfriend for about three years. Shea was sweet and kind. She had been really nice and he'd really cared about her, but he still thought about Rachel. They eventually broke up, but he didn't get drunk and cry about it. His band knew that when he got really blitzed (and melancholy) he'd start going on and on about Rachel. They'd never met her, but they'd heard about her. He refused to talk about her when he was sober. The band learned to not ask. It was safer that way.
He moved closer to her and stroked her jaw with a finger. She turned her face toward his hand and he cupped her cheek. She sighed and he knew it was her contented sigh. He felt the wall around his heart crack just a little bit. She still loves me. It was incredible and crazy, but he knew it was true.
"Finn!"
"My break's over. You promise you won't leave?" His beautiful brown eyes were still burning her making her feel like she couldn't breathe. She shook her head at him.
"I told you I'd stay. I'll stay." He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Her lips felt like they were on fire. He turned and hurried back to the stage. She took a deep breath. This was exactly like the time she'd run into Puck. They'd seen each other and he'd dragged her off to the women's powder room, which was a kind of ladies' lounge antechamber off the actual toilet. He'd taken her right there on the little couch. Then he'd taken her back to his hotel room and not let her go for two days. There hadn't been a whole lot of talking, but she'd been so happy for those two days. She needed another drink.
Lauren turned out to be an awesome club date. She was not the kind of person who would ditch you and run. Good to know. Rachel was an intensely loyal person, and she admired that quality in others. Lauren was also funny as hell. She and Rachel proceeded to get just drunk enough. A really handsome, very buff guy came up to Lauren at one point. He was a wrestling hopeful and he wanted to introduce himself to her. He was charming and polite and he seemed to really enjoy Lauren's biting sense of humor. When the band took a break Lauren got a wicked grin.
"Bet you a dollar…" She didn't finish her thought because Finn materialized at Rachel's side with a possessive arm around her waist and a glare for the wrestling wannabe, Jake. Rachel rolled her eyes at Lauren.
"I will never take that bet. Ever."
"Is it always like this?"
"When they were together, it was worse." Finn wasn't exactly sure what they were talking about so he frowned at both Lauren and Rachel. Lauren smiled sweetly at him.
"Don't hurt yourself, Finn. Rachel and I were just speculating odds on a particular endeavor." Rachel stuck her tongue out at Lauren.
*glee* *glee* *glee*
Lauren dropped Rachel and Finn off at her hotel. The elevator doors were still closing when he pulled her against him and started kissing her. They barely made it to her room, and they left a trail of clothes to her bed. Finn was in too much of a hurry to be sweet, kind, and gentle. He couldn't help but feel that this was just another replay of his favorite fantasy and she was going to vanish at any moment. Rachel didn't care. She wanted him to squeeze her tighter, hold her closer, bite her harder.
She needed this, she needed him, and she wanted it now. He was kissing, licking and thank you, God biting every inch of her he could reach, which was actually slightly more difficult than it sounded because she kept twisting so she could do the same thing to him. His skin tasted of salt and sweat and man. Her teeth nipped lightly and he groaned.
"God, Rach…" Then he was holding her ankles and watching her face while he thrust as deep inside her as he could go. She threw back her head and moaned. She felt so perfect, so right. Had she been this tight back in high school? And then, he didn't care. He was deep inside her, inside this moment and he felt like he was melting into her. Her scream filled his ears and he smiled as he watched her face.
The third time wasn't as frantic. By that time, Finn was gentle, sweet and slow. He kissed his way up her inner thigh, kissed her pubic mound and then went to the other thigh and began kissing up it. She growled at him and wriggled under his hands. He grinned up at her. His long fingers stroked her while his tongue flashed teasingly against her clit. He taunted her until she was begging him to please, please, please come inside her. When he slid inside her, she wrapped her arms and her legs around him and held him against her. She managed to flip him, which surprised him—and then he held on for the ride.
Showers were just as amazing as he remembered. This time, there were no parents to worry about so they took their time, and didn't emerge until they both had pruny fingers and toes.
It was light out when they fell into an exhausted sleep in each other's arms. Rachel was cuddled so close against him it was like she was trying to burrow inside of him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and kept her there. They both slept with a slight curve of their lips.
A/N: Now before there is gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair, do not think for a second that we are leaving Puck behind. He'll be along in just a bit. He wants to make a grand entrance and all that. You know how he is.