"Hi, uh, Rachel, it's me, Finn, I thought that maybe we could meet up, I mean as friends, you know?", Finn felt stupid. He could never ever tell Rachel what he had just pracitsed. He was sure she would think that he was some kind of weirdo, leaving crazy voice-mails on her phone. But he somehow had to see her again, it was like a need. Talking to her, even though they had only talked for about 10 minutes, had made him feel alive, at least more alive than he had been feeling when he had arrived in New York with that one special aim in mind.
Like he had already remarked, the city's vibe was an individual one. The buildings, the lights, the mentality – everything. And although he hardly knew Rachel (he just knew that Rachel was very beautiful), he knew that she was the perfect symbol for what made the city as special as it was. She seemed like this independant, tough, but at the same time warm-hearted and lovely person. He could sense it by the way that her eyes had shined the night that they had met at the bar. He could feel that she was good. He had to be little bit more confident about himself if he really wanted to meet her again, he knew that, but somehow it was hard for him to really do what seemed best – calling her. At the moment he sat at his kitchen table, nervous as a wreck because of a woman he had only seen once and talked to for about 10 minutes. "What is wrong with you Hudson?". It could be so easy, so, so easy. Knowing that he could either continue sitting there, wasting time, or call the woman that he had thought of for the past two days, he chose the second possibility. It was easy, so, so easy.
An hour later, Finn had set up a date with RachelBerry and the next day they would meet up at a coffee shop near Times Square and Finn felt relieved. Relieved and...happy.
"Oh Frankenteen, you look as if you want to kiss someone. I'm okay with that as long as you don't kiss me since I'm perfectly gay. But it's not that I wouldn't understand, I look smoking hot today, well not just today, always.". Finn looked at Santana because of that unnecessary statement and she looked at him as if there wasn't any doubt. Not that he would have disagreed. Today she wore super tight skinny jeans and a black t-shirt. As usuall during her shift at the bar, she had smokey eyes (more tip, that's what she said). She really did look hot. "San, common, you know that I knowthat you look hot. Who would disagree?" "Good answer Frankenteen, you're getting better day by day.". She acted overdramatically proud and held her heart. "Why do I always get so sentimental so easily?", now she sighed heavily, clearly expressing that she was joking.
Finn looked down to the ground, leaning against the bar. His arms were crossed and he was tired. "And by the way, what about that chick in the corner? When exactly was she here, like two days ago?". Classy. Santana could get really annoying and disrespectful sometimes. Finn raised his head again. "First of all, that chick is called Rachel Berry and she really is a woman and if you really want to know, we're going on a date tomorrow." "Oh, then it's her that you want to kiss. Seriously, I would have felt flattered, but just no. And if you ask me, she is one dwarf of a woman", she looked at him in a serious manner (but Finn knew that she was joking anyway). "Seriously, San, could you maybe be a little nicer and a litlle more respectful? She has been really friendly and sympathetic". Right now, Santana just smirked. "She would have been even friendlier and much more sympathetic, if she would have ordered another drink. And with friendly and sympathetic you mean hot and attractive?" Now Finn really somehow was annoyed. "San-" "What? I'm a bitch, which means I'm not nice and fortunately I don't have to be. This is what I do." She now regarded him easy-goingly and Finn chose to not give too much on what Santana said. At least he knew that she wasn't that serious after all.
His shift for the night passed rather quickly and at last, he now had something to look forward to. He still couldn't exactly describe what made him feel that attracted to Rachel. Sure, Santana wasn't quite wrong, Rachel really was not only beautiful but also hot. But he wasn't that kind of man that met a woman just to sleep with her. He had never understood how some guys could be that respectful and egoistic. No, he wasn't that kind of guy. He really was interested in Rachel, in her person and her character and not her boobs or her ass or whatever. He really wanted to get to know her better.
The next day at 3.00 pm he made his way to the coffee shop that he and Rachel wanted to meet up at. Once he entered the small shop, he could already see her in a corner, sitting on a comfy couch at a small table, already having ordered her drink and something to eat. She looked even more beautiful than she did the night they had first met. This time her hair was styled in a long pony tail and she wore a white summer dress with pink flowers on it. She looked absolutely stunning. Being preoccupied with something that looked like a magazine about musical theatre, she didn't notice him approaching himself to the table that she had chosen before. "Rachel, hi.", Finn smiled from ear to ear. At least he felt as if doing so. Rachel, now having awoken out of her state of complete absorbation shrugged a little perplexed. But as fast as she felt surprised by the sudden start of conversation, the faster a smile spread itself all over her face and God it defenitely was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. "Finn, hi, how are you? It's nice to see you." Her eyes shined bright and made him feel welcome. Yes, she was a warm-hearted and lovely person. Somehow Rachel managed to make him feel complete belief about her being good, she couldn't be a bad and cruel person, she just couldn't. This had to be a serious thing for her. And nobody could make him feel any different. He trusted her. He could see it in her eyes.
After sitting down and ordering a drink and something to eat himself, Finn started the conversation. "You're interested in musical theatre?". He pointed his finger to the magazine in which Rachel had read before and as he arrived at the coffee shop. "Yeah, actually, I love it.", her eyes and her charisma became passionate. And this time not just because of her love for life but also because of her love for musical theatre and singing and performing in general. "I actually go to college here. Do you know NYADA? I'm a junior now, so hopefully, I will have my degree in musical theatre next year.", her enthusiasm was catching and sexy and catching and Finn couldn't quite describe the feeling that he got. But it was obvious that she made him feel much more positive about his situation and his life in general. She even did this cute little thing with her hands while talking.. She was so full of life, so full of joy and Finn felt like she could be exactly what he needed to feel good and to feel, yes just to feel...
For the next two hours, Finn and Rachel talked about everything. Their lifes, where they actually were from, what they wanted to achieve in life, where they actually saw themselves in ten years or so... And Finn got to know Rachel better, just like he had wanted to. He learned that she actually had planned to become a musical theatre actress and to be on Broadway since she was 3 years old. How she loved the moment right before you sing the first words of a song and the mix of excitement, happyness and anxiety is pumping through your veins and you can feel it in every inch of your body. He also learned that she actually had two gay fathers and had been raised in New Jersey. Then about three years ago she moved to New York City to make her dream come true. Her one big idol was Barbra Streisand and her favourite musical of all time was Funny Girl . "You just have to watch it, Finn.".
The most important fact that Finn learned about her was however, that Rachel not only loved life but that she loved musical theatre. It was her life. And she had her aim, she had her perspective. It made her feel so positive about everything that was going on her life. Yes, she was exactly what he needed, he just knew it. He then also told her about his life. That he had been raised in Lima Ohio and that he actually planned on getting a degree in teaching but had to take a break because of unplanned circumstances. He told her how his step-brother Kurt was as obsessed with musical theatre as Rachel was and that he indeed had heard of NYADA because Kurt planned on going there once he graduated from McKinley High. He and Rachel found out that the two of them both had been in Glee Club while being in High School. "That's amazing Finn. Don't you think that it was such great way of letting the day of school end?". Finn couldn't help but watch her with enthusiasm. She had really caught him with her passion and made him feel like there still was hope and like not everything was over. Although he had chosen not to tell her about Puck, she already helped him. He could do nothing but smile and feel good and positive the entire time they were talking. She was good.
Once their date was over Finn chose to accompany Rachel a short way as she had to go to NYADA the second time that day because of having to practise one of the choreographies for her dance class. According to Rachel her dance teacher Cassandra July could be a serious bitch sometimes.
"That was a really lovely afternoon, Finn.". Rachel looked up at him, smiling, her hair now falling down her shoulders in soft curls. "Yeah, I really liked spending time with you. It just felt so natural ,do you know what I mean or what I am trying to say?". The warmth that Rachel made him feel had taken over his entire body that had been so cold and emotionless for the past month. "Yes, actually I feel the same way, which is somehow strange because we basically hardly know each other, but I really like you and I enjoy talking to you. So, do you wanna repeat this soon, maybe?" "I'd love to Rachel.". They looked at each other for a few long moments. Neither Finn nor Rachel felt the need to say anything. It was like their looks took that part from them and expressed exactly how they felt. Then Rachel broke the silence:"Well I think I should go or I won't be able to practise as long as I planned to, so...", she stood up on her tiptoes and hugged him. Finn hugged her back. And as the two of them stood there together, hugging each other, Finn believed to feel how Rachel snuggled her face into his broad chest. After a few more minutes, Rachel ended the hug and started to take the stairs, leading to NYADA's main entrance, but not without glancing over her shoulder one last time before entering.
But the most important fact that Finn learned about that day was, that Rachel made him feel. Not only feel but wanting to feel. As the two of them had been talking, he felt alive. He felt warmth and passion and just so much at the same time. Yes he could feel that he was falling for her. Rachel was special. She made him feel again.