Finn was pissed. Like, really p.o'd. Was this the worlds idea of screwing with him? He barged into the cafe, rage blinding him. Like a hungry bear, he swung his head around, searching for his petite prey. Zeroing in on her, he charged.

"What the fuck, Rachel?"

"Finn, I have no idea what you are talking about." Color seeped into Rachel's checks as customers and baristas turned to stare at her.

"I'm talking about you making me look like an asshole in front of my girlfriend."

"Your being irrational. At least lower your voice; we're in public. We can talk through this in a more conducive location, and hopefully come to a reasonable explanation for your ridiculous outburst. And please, stop with the profanities."

"Cut the crap. Why would you call Quinn? Seriously, we talked for two seconds! What's your problem? So I wanted to hang out! That's not some kind of undercover… booty call!"

"Finn, I just felt that your conduct the other day was inappropriate and that your fiancee deserved to know. That's all; really. I understand that you both may be smarting from a petty quarrel, but I'd really just like to see you two settled down in an honest relationship, so two people very close to my heart can be happy-"

"BS! You keep saying that, like you know everyone in the world! Maybe Quinn isn't what makes me happy! All those things I thought I needed her for… Colleges didn't give a crap! Prom king of Lima meant shit to the rest of the world, and… What they cared about was you; they just kept asking 'What's Rachel doing?' in these obnoxious voices, and I'm just not wanted, Rach! You are. And that's what really showed me what matters, and why I screwed up lying to you. You just wanted the truth! Quinn wanted a front row seat to a football game, and a pretty crown. And all that first love stuff… Yeah, it sounds adorable and perfect, but Quinn wasn't a love… More a… a… infactation." Rachel giggled softly. "What?"

"Infatuation was the word you were looking for." She timidly brushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

"What's the matter? You look scared."

"For a minute there, you just sounded like the old Finn, you know? The one I fell in love with in tenth grade." Her eyes ventured up into his, and for a moment there was silence. "Look, Finn, I know I've seemed a little dismissive, or harsh the past few days, but I really, finally thought I'd escaped the ghosts of my past! But maybe you're just a Casper."

"Is that a gay ghost? 'Cause, I know, I don't have a problem with gays, but I don't play for that team…"

"No, no Finn! It's the friendly ghost, the one that helps Wendy! In all those old Halloween cartoons, remember? It was stupid, anyways. Just mixed up nostalgia coming through." The Rachel Berry beam really broke through her face: not just a smile, but a 1-million wattage chain of Christmas lights. That's what they reminded Finn of, anyways.

"Yeah. My mom would always put that on when I was screaming and she had to work. Something about other kid's happiness being… therapeutic. I thought it was kinda dumb, but it stopped me crying. Like your water thing. Just was a stupid substitute."

"Well, substitute or not, I'm glad you didn't spend your childhood unhappy. You know, your mom is great. Water helped, but if she really played that cartoon for you to see others' happiness, that was a stroke of genius. I think that was what I missed all along! My dads were sure to support me in personal endeavors, but never instilled in me an appreciation for other's work!" Rachel's face scrunched into her excited, discovery look. "Bye, Finn. I'm glad we got to talk! We should do it again, sometime. I'd love to see you, so feel free to call. And don't take that invitation lightly. I was considering blocking you from my phone for harassment." Finn looked wary for a moment, confused for a millisecond, and content for a flash. It was really Rachel. Gently, she leaned close to his face, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "It's just crazy this all happened so fast! Don't forget to call, Finn."

He stood there for a moment, processing the events. Wasn't she just murdering him for implying anything date-like? Was this a trick investigation thing for real harassment charges? Was that even legal? The spot on his cheek seared through his skin. A kiss! On the cheek, but still. Wait, did that mean he wanted to kiss Rachel? Yeah, now she was really awesome, and desirable or whatever, but he was gonna marry Quinn. No, wait, he just said he didn't like Quinn. That's what he thought he meant, at least. Maybe it was reverse psychology, or something. He could almost hear Rachel telling him that was a misused term.

"Can I help you?," a chipper barista smiled. She wore a little, oval shaped hat, like a military officer. Her apron hung snugly over the front of her body.

"No, I mean, not coffee wise. That's supposed to like, stimulate your brain and make you think a lot, right? I can't think anymore. Because I'm really screwed right now. I'm engaged, but we're kind of on a break, kind of not, and I also might be in love with my high school girlfriend, who's here, and I just can't handle this! I'm not cut out for complicated relationships!" Finn felt sweat trickling down his forehead, and seized fistfuls of his hair. The gentle touch of a hand on his forearm cooled him off.

"I think you might need a distraction. That girl said your name was Finn, right? Well, I'm Kelly. And if I can't get you coffee, maybe I can get something else for you. I'd love to come over, and see your place. I'm a part time massage therapist, so I also know a lot about balance. Clutter stresses you out, you know. Especially too many clothes. We can get rid of some of those." Finn jerked his head up; he knew where this was going. Something inside him screamed to run away, but he didn't protest as Kelly slipped a tiny card in his pocket. "Call me. We can hang out."

"Yeah." Finn's brain nearly ceased from exhaustion as he weighed the pros and cons of the girl in front of him. "Hey, actually, do you wanna just come over now? I can wait 'til your shift is over." His body tingled with remorse as she untied her apron, revealing a skin tight t-shirt.

"It's over now. Let's go."

It sucks to wake up to a slut. Really, it does. She tries to be all sexy, but it's like 10 AM, and really, you just want food.

"Can you just, like, leave? I screwed up by doing this. Sorry." Finn shrugged indifferently at Kelly.

"You serious? I don't get anything?"

"Well, you're not a prostate, so no. Take a soda out of the fridge if you want." As she barged out of his tiny apartment, his phone buzzed. Rachel flashed across the screen. Did he really still have her programmed in.

Early morning today. In the mood for breakfast? Finn scanned the text, words jumbling together. Rachel! This was the second time he'd slept with someone else while he wanted her and she was dating someone else. But he had to come clean about it. He wasn't gonna fuck up again.

Meet u at the cafe in trn. His fingers wiggled over the keyboard, missing letters. Immediately after getting a smiley face in reply, he dashed on some clothes. His system was broken. What else did he do when he got up? Food. He was going to see Rachel for that, though. Stupidly, he ran a toothbrush through his mouth and pulled his fingers through his hair. Done.

The morning air was brisk, and a light stream of water drizzled out of his building's gutter. Water! Did he need to shower? Nah. It was alright. The cafe loomed before him and he took the steps in twos, strangely excited for his confession to Rachel. And there she was, smiling at the corner table, gazing at the morning paper. At his entrance, she perked up.

"Finn! I'm so excited for this, really. The chance to rekindle our friendship is superb on so many levels. We can write together, and I can help you write some more colege applications out… Not that you need to go to a different college, I just know that you have such great potential! And-what's wrong?" Tears welled in Finn's eyes as he spilled out about Kelly. Rachel's mouth stayed glued shut throughout the narrative, and Finn's heart pumped with fear.

"Is your silence a new mad signal? Because I already know I screwed up, so…"

"No, Finn, I'm just torn. Part of me knows that I have my own boyfriend, and who you have sexual intercourse with has nothing to do with me anymore, but another part of me is disappointed. You seemed so mature, and real yesterday. You were truly honest with me. And sleeping with that girl-Kelly, was her name?-wasn't honest to her, Quinn, or you. I just wish you would have learned something from high school. Cheating isn't acceptable, I've learned that from you, and don't tell me you and Quinn are on a break. I spoke with her, and she is very much under the impression that this is a necessary retreat for you, and there is no question that you two will be married upon your return to Lima. But I'm glad you were honest with me Finn." Her hand covered his. "It's a good start. But I think the hard part is going to be working out your feelings for Quinn, and telling her the whole truth. It will be scary, but somethings you just have to do. We both know it will end badly if you hide this excursion."

"Thanks, Rachel. That makes sense. It just sucks so much, though. She sent me here. She got me pissed. I wish I could just turn back time to tenth grade! Where the fuck did tenth grade go?"

"FInn, if it helps, I'm not feeling great either. I haven't been completely honest… to James. He tries to deny it, but I know he doesn't like you. I h haven't told him where I am right now. Can we make a pact? We tell our significant others the full extent of our doings and feelings by the end of the day. No matter how jumbled we are, we need to face this." Finn nodded.

"Okay. Yeah. Can you… help me?"

"I might need help for myself."