Disclaimer: I do not have any relation to Glee or any of the writers on Fox. Purely fictional.
Finn felt an electric jolt fizzle through his veins when Jesse St James took his hand. The two men were looking at each other, smiling with their teeth but shooting arrows with their eyes. They nodded, as though there was a mutual understanding that they weren't particularly the most favorite people on each other's list.
"So you're not from right here?" Jesse asked folding his arms in front of his chest and Finn raised his eyebrows. He never really liked the action from anyone, not just Jesse (although, that might make his dislike for the Broadway actor to ascend). Finn just didn't think it was particularly polite for anyone to cross his or her arms when making a polite conversation. It made people seem standoffish, which never is a good thing.
"I'm from Ohio."
"I see. That's interesting."
"I don't see how, but if you say so." Finn replied bluntly. He really didn't see a point to be nice to Rachel's friend. He just hoped that Jesse would leave as soon as possible, so that Rachel could return to her usual self.
"You're funny Finn."
This comment had Rachel raise her eyebrows too. She turned to look at Finn, and in a split second, he turned to look at her too. He pursed his lips and the left tip of his lips turned up into a smirk. "At least that's something that I've got and you haven't."
"Rachel, are all of your friends like this?" Jesse pointed accusingly at the tall man by the counter.
"Mr. St James, that wasn't very nice."
"That's okay, Rach. I've got a lifetime of experience dealing with people like him." Straightening his back, Finn Hudson tried to look tough by puffing out his chest. Truth be told, there wasn't any need for that, seeing that similar to the day they've first met, Finn generally looked intimidating with his height in comparison to anyone else. But with Jesse St James, it was different. There was a superior aura that trailed after him, as though he knew he had the upper hand. And in this case, he did; with the secrets of Rachel Berry's past.
So when Jesse smirked in reciprocation, tapping his foot to see what 'game' Finn Hudson could bring, the taller man sighed and decided to be the bigger man. When he failed to give a smart answer, Jesse took his cue.
"Rachel, let me know when you're tired of your friend squabbling with his nonsense, I'll be happy to take you away."
Sighing, the girl who had watched the whole thing decided to break the tension. "Jesse, why don't you head back, and I'll join you in a bit."
Assuming that Rachel Berry would hold a higher level of respect for the man if he left there and then, Jesse St James gave Finn Hudson one last arrogant nod before retreating to his table. After doing so, Rachel sighed again with relief that the two loggerheads were no longer within the same area anymore. Taking a sip from Finn's drink, she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment to regain her composure. Thereafter, Finn looked at her.
"You think you're gonna be okay?"
Nodding, she looked at the direction she was supposed to go. "I'm the tiger aren't I?"
And for the first time that night, as though Jesse's presence wasn't significant, the two smiled, comforted by the attendance of each other.
Rachel Berry let out a determined breath and started towards Jesse St James, the man who claimed knew about her previous life. She knew deep down, that if she kept pushing away the existence of her past, she'd live a life afraid of the unknown. Truth is, there will never be a right time for anyone to face his or her fears. What happened in her previous life would always be haunting the tiny girl in her sleep every night. Now that there was one who could show her a way out, she just had to be brave enough to take that leap of faith that it wouldn't be as scary as she thought it would be.
"You've got yourself a real friend there, Rachel." Jesse St James had remarked the second she took her seat at the table.
"That wasn't very nice of you."
"He wasn't nice to me either." The man had retorted.
Crossing her arms, Rachel leaned back in her chair. Sensing the displeasure for him, Jesse St James made an effort to get back into Rachel Berry's good books. After all, if he couldn't complete the first mission on hand, which was to gain her trust, he wouldn't be able to have her right back by his side. Just like how it was intended.
"Okay, look. I'm sorry. I just tend to get a little over protective of you. I've always been like that. It's not easy for me to tone it down even though you're no longer the same person anymore."
This definitely got her attention. "But I don't even know you."
"That's what you think Rachel. But you do. You do know me, you just haven't remembered anything yet."
Confusion splattered her face, and Jesse knew he might have jumped too fast in his story telling.
"We worked together. Back in the days when you were nobody, we worked together. We weren't anything at all in the Broadway world. But your perseverance got us through. You were the one that pushed us for that bright shining goal, and that was the dream for us. You kept me rooted but determined."
"I did?"
Nodding his head, Jesse took a sip of his drink before continuing. "Mistakes were made in our past Rachel, but that got us through. We were each other's best friends; you got my back and I got yours. It was amazing, what we had together."
"So you're the one?" She whispered her thoughts aloud, switching a light bulb in Jesse's head on. His eyes widened, at how she seemed as though her condition had improved, with the hint of remembrance.
"You…"
Shaking her head, Rachel backed herself up. "I've been told that there was a man, he was with me in that accident, but that's all the police could offer me. I've tried countless sessions of therapy to gain a faint memory, but nothing."
"So you knew about him then?" He asked excited about with a glimmer of hope that Rachel Berry didn't forget entirely.
"Could I be honest with you Mr. St James?"
"Please, call me Jesse."
"Okay, Jesse. Could I be honest with you Jesse?"
"Of course Rach."
She shifted slightly in her seat, hoping that she wouldn't offend him with what she was about to say.
"I think, what you've told me tonight has been very sweet. Perhaps, you really might be the one that I'm supposed to be looking for since the accident happened. But whether it's the truth or not, I don't want to know. At least not right now. What you just said to me, it was a little overwhelming. I mean I know I shouldn't be running away from the truth. And I'm not doing that."
She paused to catch her breath. Then, seeing his eyes looking more forlorn by the minute, she tried weaving him into a better place.
"The accident happened for a reason Jesse. When you told me you wanted to talk about my past, I thought I was ready. But as you started talking, about how we used to be real close, it got me thinking. What if life wanted me to restart everything again? These things don't just happen out of the blue. Maybe what happened to us in the past was special, but right now, when I do not have any recollection of you, I suggest that we take things a little slow."
"I have to say that I am a little disappointed. I had this big dream that you'd remember everything and we could go back to being us. But I guess you're right. These things take time. I wouldn't want to push you into anything."
"I'm glad to see that you're understanding where I'm coming from."
"But Rachel, can I just say one last thing?"
"Sure."
Jesse inched his hand, the one that was already resting on the table, closer to Rachel's fingers that were at the edge of the furniture. Finn, who had been trying so discretely to stop looking their way, caught sight of their fingers coming together in contact. He swallowed, an unknown fear already brewing inside of him.
"I've missed you. You may not remember any of the stories; you may not remember any of the incidents. But one thing doesn't change, and it's the fact that I've missed you. I hope that as we work together again with this new musical, you'll get to see that. And eventually remember everything else. I'll always be here; ready to help you with that if you need it. Just ask, and I shall tell."
"Thank you Jesse. You really have been very sweet. I guess I might be able to remember everything one day. You could be the one, but I also need you to remember. Like what you said, I'm no longer the same person anymore. If you claim that you've missed me, I hope you'll be okay with the new me before any of that happens."
"I'll always be okay with you. Any type of you."
Finn Hudson, away in a distance couldn't bear himself to watch it any longer. He knew that the wellbeing of Rachel Berry shouldn't be his top priority. After all, who were they to each other? Jesse St James didn't have any ulterior motive if he pretended that he was from her past. So maybe, he really might have been the man that Rachel told him about. If so, Finn Hudson was in no position to interject with her life.
"You all right there, buddy?" Mike Chang asked with concern, a skill that came naturally after years of experience working in a bar.
"Never better." Finn answered, hoping that his forced grin could convince himself better than his answer did.
"Knock it off. Being a bartender pretty much means that I'm a mind reader by default. I know what being okay looks like. If it's about that dude with Rachel over there, don't sweat it. It isn't the first time."
"You mean he's been here before?" Finn asked, forgetting that Rachel had mentioned this was the first time she had a meeting with Mr. St James.
"No. Not him particularly, but the many type of him."
"I don't get it."
"Rachel's what you call a gem. People like to be around her because she's just so positive all the time. Even when Sue gets on her butt sometimes, Rachel still smiles as though tomorrow's going to be a better day. Most of the people that come in here are people trying to drown their sorrows with alcohol. Rachel isn't alcohol, but her positivity might as well have been a drug. When people come in here, they get to see, from her, that this world we live in might not be such a horrible place after all. She gives them hope."
"Oh." Finn replied, looking down after realizing that he wasn't the only one whom she had impacted.
"People feel better when they hear her sing. Seeing that there were more regulars after she started singing, Sue decided to promote her to our permanent entertainer. When she accepted the offer, people started to come in more often than before, and we sort of figured out, through some of the especially crazy ones, that they've developed a mindless crush on her."
"Oh." Finn had said again, now his head sinking lower than before. "So you think Jesse and I belong in the same group of people? That group whom she'd just turn down eventually because she's seen enough of our kind?"
"I'm not saying anything. I can tell that you're a straight up guy Finn, so in my opinion, you're already better than the rest of the competition. It helps that she seems to be a little happier whenever you're around. But all I'm saying is just, be careful of what you're getting yourself into. You don't want to leave heartbroken in case of the worst."
"I understand."
A random customer had yelled out for Mike, so the bartender took his leave, allowing Finn to think for himself, now that he was alone. He considered Mike's words and how truthful it was. Who was he kidding? He came into the place because of Rachel's voice, and he's been coming back for the same reason again. Was he just another one of those guys? Perhaps she was nice to everyone, not just him in particular.
He watched Rachel and Jesse again. The pair was now on their feet, and Finn observed Rachel's face. She didn't seem any different, probably a little less fearful when he had first walked in that evening. A smile started to break between her cheeks and he felt a pang. What Mike said, might have been true. He didn't know if Rachel treated him any different, after all, how could he ever figure out what goes on in a woman's head? But when he saw the way Rachel was grinning at Jesse, he realized that he, perhaps was just another one of those guys after all.
So, with this new assumption, Finn downed the remaining bits of his new drink that Mike had placed before him. When he finished every drop of it, he took one last look and left before he could see Rachel looking at his direction.
Furrowing her brows at his exit, Rachel Berry shook her head. She must have seen it wrong. It wasn't possible that Finn was upset with her when she didn't do anything wrong. She would ask Mike when his shift was over. The brunette had observed the bartender with her friend, and hopefully she could find out his reason for the sudden departure.
"So I'll see you at rehearsal tomorrow Rach?" Jesse asked, interrupting her with her thoughts about Finn Hudson. She nodded in reply and shook his hand.
Jesse St James, who hoped for a friendly embrace instead of a courteous handshake, smiled politely before leaving as well. Her eyes didn't shadow his body the way it did when Finn left.
"You okay there, kiddo?" Mike asked as Rachel arrived at his section. Pulling herself up unto a bar stool, she allowed herself to hunch her back, thinking that she had enough of being proper for the night.
"Where's Finn?" She asked, ignoring his question of concern.
Looking around for the man, the bartender then realized the tall man's leaving. "I hadn't noticed." He said under his breath, and Rachel Berry sighed.
"I hope it wasn't because of Jesse."
A knowing snort escaped, and Rachel perched up. "Mike, is there something you know that I should?"
"I think you know well enough."
Tonight had been a weird one. There were so many things she didn't understand. First, it was everything Jesse. Then, it was Finn's roller coaster of emotion. Now, even Mike was talking in riddles. Maybe if she blinked, she'd realize that she was in a trance or something. Pursing her lips, she just stared blankly at her colleague.
"Rach, you've had encounters with men like Finn all the time. I thought you'd be able to smell it when it's obvious by now. Looks like you're still a little daft about things. It must have been the accident."
"Mike, I honestly do not get what you're trying to say. English please."
"Oh! Just because I'm Asian, you assume I'm don't speak well enough, that's racism Rach." He replied, trying to put on a stern look but Rachel Berry knew well enough. Sighing, he said it blatantly like it was the most obvious fact.
"He likes you."
Her eyes widened at the comment, receiving a shrug from him. "You told me you wanted to understand in English."
"Did he tell you –"
"I didn't need to ask, and he didn't need to say. It was written all over his face. The same way all the other guys look at you as though you've casted an enchantment spell over them."
"You're jumping to conclusions Mike. It's not possible."
"Maybe I am. But if I'm not, let him down easy okay? He's the most decent one I've seen yet."
"So papa Chang wants to be all fatherly now huh?" She asked, brushing away the untruth.
"Kid, I just want you to be safe."
"Mike, I know how to take care of myself alright. I should be the one telling you to stop assuming that every guy has a thing for me. They don't. Because I'm just a regular girl next door. People like Finn Hudson wouldn't be the least interested in me because I'm just a nobody."
"I thought the amount of suitors you had for the past couple of months were enough to make you see that you aren't ordinary."
"Hey! You and Tina taught me to stay grounded!"
"Glad to know that you're a fast learner then."
Rachel smiled and shook her head at her friend. Mike Chang was a funny sort of person. He was smart, and really smart, not just the ordinary smart. Because of his job, he got to know about people from different walks of life. Despite that their age gap wasn't very huge, he tend to talk to Rachel about life and people as though he had been a soldier in the war who had seen everything. Perhaps, he had been a wise old monk in his previous life. He'd tell her that the world isn't a safe place, a given that she knew when she was thrown into her surroundings. But he'd also tell her that despite everything, she must have faith in herself.
Rachel often told Tina that she was lucky. Mike had an unbelievable amount of faith in his girl. And for anyone who has a partner like that, should cherish the blessing. It's easy to give up on something, so when Tina got herself a wonderful supporter, Rachel was happy for her. She adored spending time with Tina and Mike whenever they got the chance. They hosted the warmest parties, only involving a small group of friends, which Rachel was a big fan of.
"I think I'm going to head back now." She announced as she bounced off the stool. She loved these sorts of chairs; it made her feel really tall whenever she sat on one. However, the descending part was a bother when her feet had to dangle for the floor.
"I've got rehearsals early tomorrow."
Finn Hudson scrunched his jacket up into a ball before throwing it across the room. He didn't know what annoyed him. Or maybe he knew exactly what did.
You see, Finn Hudson had this high school hero, life zero thing written all over him. Being the popular jock in high school didn't mean he was going to be successful for the rest of his life. So when he knew that working in Burt's shop was going to be good enough, he settled for that. Seeing Rachel Berry sing woke up that sleeping dinosaur in him. It made him think about how hopeful he had been in the past and for a while there, because she was so infectious, he thought that he might stand a chance to be that different from the crowd person that he used to be.
After hearing how Mike had classified him under that category of being just like the rest of the people, it crushed him. It wasn't Mike's fault. He didn't know. Perhaps, Finn thought, it was his own fault for believing that he could have something special, means something.
He allowed the fear to be ordinary weigh him down on his bed. Hiding his face behind his palms, he thought about Rachel again. How lovely she was when she smiled. How beautiful her voice was when she sang. How everything wonderful she was whenever she did anything. She had this sweetness that possessed a kind of bravery, making it seem powerful yet approachable at the same time.
Saved by the phone before he could allow the thoughts to drown him in self-pity, Finn Hudson coughed a sound, allowing Kurt to know that his brother was there.
"Where are you?"
"Room."
"I was there five minutes ago."
"Sucks for you."
"What's up with you?"
"Nothing."
"Finn!"
"What?"
"Jeez Finn, with the way your emotions work, you might as well be a woman. I swear you have a higher frequency of mood swings than I do."
"Yay."
Kurt Elizabeth Hummel sighed, and chose to speak at a gentler tone. "Finn, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Hey Kurt, do you have any errands to run for the wedding tomorrow?"
"I'm anal and have been planning this for years. Of course I have errands to run for my perfect wedding."
"Is it okay if I come along?"
Kurt Hummel knew his brother. He had seen everything. He knew everything. People can't really change even if they had some hiccups in their life before because at the end of the day, you were meant to be the way you are. Finn Hudson volunteering his services for the wedding plans was not something anyone could have prepared Kurt for.
"Finn, what's wrong?"
"I want to."
"Why?"
"Now, when I'm all for being a good brother, you're questioning my motives?"
"Because this is very unlike of you."
"No. Mom said we're supposed to help each other out. And I'm helping you out right now. Isn't that why you called me to come in earlier than they did?"
"Finn, you wanted to come New York early. Don't blame it on Mom."
Sighing, Finn pushed further. "Do you want me to help or not?" He needed something to distract himself from thinking about Rachel. He knew that assisting Kurt wasn't going to help much, but at least it gave him something to do.
"Fine, if you insist on being the good big brother you claim to be, I'll come round the hotel at 9 tomorrow morning. You better get some sleep tonight, you're going to need it."
A breath of air escaped his mouth after the line got cut. Shutting his eyes, Finn Hudson thought about what he was doing. It was always like this, as long as he could remember. He always chose the easiest way out of things. All through high school, everything he got was handed to him, and he'd take it, no questions asked. He once read somewhere that it was important to go after things one wanted, not expected. So when he thought that Rachel could finally be the thing he went after for himself, it really began to seem like he was finally doing something for himself.
Keeping mute about her just made him work even harder. But his family could smell a rat within a stone's throwaway. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep up being quiet about her to Kurt the next day. The only way was to make things different. He'd have to change how he'd always behave. Sulking about how being in New York was no different from the way people looked at him in Ohio, Finn needed to man up and accept so.
He looked up into the ceiling and thought about the one other time he felt as though he could be something special. It was the one thing that his mom and Kurt often talked about. They didn't mean to bring it up to make things worse for him. It was just that Finn tended to be a dreamer sometimes. Reminding him about the one time when he wanted to chase after something, or someone in this case, who was beyond his reach kept him grounded.
Her face fizzled into the memory and there went his emotions again.
Nobody believed in him. Nobody ever did. Carole and Kurt may have been his family, and they were a good support system. But sometimes, because of how innocent and naïve he can get, Finn Hudson tended to do things without thinking sometimes.
So let's divert a little and talk about Carole Hudson-Hummel now, shall we? Carole was a contradictory parent, just like all mothers tend to be sometimes. She especially wanted the best for her son. And yet, she was afraid of him getting hurt. So despite the encouragements she gave to Finn, there were instances when she'd resented how he act towards things. She did do a relatively good job as a mom though, didn't she? Finn felt as though he had the best upbringing any child could ever ask for. Burt and Kurt seemed to agree, so no matter how she may seem, she really was doing the best job she could.
But let's get back to the topic. So, whenever Finn failed in something, people told him that maybe reaching for the skies would be too much for him.
But not when he was in New York City. Everywhere you go, any street you turn into, dreamers flocked the space. It made Finn learn that he wasn't alone in this world. Or at least, he wasn't the only stupid person to believe that someday, things would get better. With what Mike Chang has just told him, it hit him hard. If a stranger could tell that he was bound to be an ordinary person, maybe that's what he was destined to be.
He smacked his face hard, hoping that the impact would be loud enough to wake him up from the world of dreams. They aren't many who'd stay hopeful anymore, and oh he yearned to be in the minority group. But it's not easy when things said bring you down.
The sky was starting to get a little darker, if possible, and the lights from Finn Hudson's hotel room were the only things that caught any passer-by eyes. His sigh echoed into the wind, carrying it for a mile before dispersing into the cold air. It had been a long night for him.
Rachel Berry, a couple of streets down the road, looked up at the buildings. Because the sky was foggy, there weren't any stars tonight. So she looked up at this particular window, which seemed to be shining brighter than any of the others. She had opted to take a walk instead of heading back home like she told Mike. She definitely needed to clear her head. Her life was beginning with a promising new future. She might have had that life before the accident, but did it matter if she couldn't remember what it felt like? What was important was right here and right now.
Have you ever had a breaking point? Or at least when you were thrown into something that made you realize that it was time to grow up. Or possibly, something that made you realize that you could no longer be the person you were a day ago. People tend to get that feeling when it's the first day of the New Year, or maybe during a birthday. One of the most common situations when one experiences this is when you're no longer in high school, but starting a new experience in college or something.
Maybe this isn't explaining it very well. But if you've ever watched Home Alone, you'd get what I mean. Like some form of survival skill that came to you naturally because it's something that you have to do before whining and complains can get the better of your situation. Adaptation, yes! That was it. It was time to suck it up and know that there are things you have to do to get your life moving.
Rachel Berry felt like that as she strolled down the pavement. It was time to alter her mindset and fit it to her new schedule. She was going to be a lot busier, juggling her shifts at the bar and the musical. She couldn't spend her days dreaming about Broadway anymore because it had finally turned into a reality. Right now, it was time to understand that for her to keep that dream alive, she had to work doubly hard. This meant no distractions.
A yawn slipped past her lips, and her eyes started to get misty from the tiredness. It really has been a long day for her. So before she returned her gaze to the street before her, she whispered,
"I showed them huh."
She wasn't exactly sure who was she really talking to at that moment. It could have been Finn Hudson, the one who had so much faith in her; she found it a little scary because even she didn't trust herself that much. It could have been the mystery man, who seemed to be Jesse St James. Or, it might have been to her old self. The old Rachel Berry, which no longer existed in the real world, but the same dream made her very much alive in her soul.
The air was crisp, with breezes that carried the scent of an upcoming new season. New York, the daily hustle and bustle city that never ceases to amaze. Whether you're a tourist or citizen of the state, you get awestruck by how crazily beautiful the place can get. The mornings fill you with hope for a new day, while the nights leave you craving for the excitement of a wild adventure.
It has been about 3 days since Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson last saw each other. Life was starting to get back to their feet, as it carried them around their reasons for being in this lovely city. So when one morning, when coincidence brought about their collision, literally, it startled both leading characters.
"Oh I'm so sorry!"
"Aw crap! You okay lady?"
He hadn't looked at who had he bumped into because it was usual for a man like Finn Hudson. Being a gawky man, he was prone to accidents around little people. So when he held his victim to prevent from falling, he hadn't really bothered about himself; more so, it was the safety of her that worried him.
As though a mirage had appeared in his vision when he wanted something to quench his thirst, her dark pools of brown shined back at him. And suddenly, he was brought back to the last time he had seen her. It wasn't very long, if you think about it. Finn had successfully managed to push her out of his mind, faster than he thought it would take, making it more so that whatever they had before probably wasn't anything special. But when he laid eyes on her again, it did seem like it had been a while.
"Finn!" She squealed, of course never forgetting the name of her encouragement.
"Hey." He greeted, a little uncertain of how he should act before her, now that he was trying his best to avoid eye contact.
"I haven't seen you around at the bar. I guess your brother's wedding has been keeping you pretty busy huh?" She asked, carefree and blatantly ignoring how there was a slight change in attitude on his part.
"Yeah, been pretty busy."
"I hope it's not tiring you out though. Your dark circles are beginning to show."
You need to stop being so nice, he thought to himself sadly. Sighing, he remained quiet, only offering a small smile, the kind that meant the owner didn't want to talk anymore.
"Finn, are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know, you just seem, different. A little out of sorts?"
"I'm fine."
Rachel Berry knew there was something up. It wasn't because of the fact that she knew him well enough. After all, they only met about a week ago. What gave him away was the Finn wasn't a very good actor. Of course, you'd have to question if it was just he being a lousy actor in general, or that he couldn't handle his emotions well enough in front of Rachel Berry. Still, she brushed it off, already running late for her rehearsal. She didn't want to 'release' him soon though. There was so much she wished she could tell him.
"Hey listen, I'm getting off work early tonight at the bar. If you're not too busy, you could drop by. I'd love to –"
"Listen Rachel." His tone turned cold, and she furrowed her brows with confusion. "I'd appreciate you being nice to me. But I think I can take care of myself. So it would be good if you could stop asking me to come look for you anymore. I am in New York for a reason, and that's to help my brother out with his wedding plans. I don't have the time to come to a bar and watch you sing. I have my priorities."
Her eyes widened with shock.
"Oh well, I'm sorry Mr. big shot. I didn't think that I was being pushy by asking you to come. All I wanted was to talk to someone about what I've been doing for the past couple of days. I thought that since he believed in me so much, it's only fair that I share with him the details of my life because after meeting that night, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him. It blew my mind about how much faith he had in me, that I began to believe in myself again. I don't even know what I can do to repay him, so all I hope for, is that he listens to my songs because that's the best way I can express my gratitude. So I'm sorry if I seemed to be bothering him."
With that, she gave one last stare at Finn Hudson, which he was sure he would never forget. It was angry, full of disappointment, and hurt, embarrassed with shame. He felt a pinch, suddenly seeing that Mike hadn't been right.
When she ran for the door, the angry tears shot her eyes, and she wiped them away fearlessly. This was supposed to be a good day. She was on her way to work, a job that she loved. Nothing was supposed to ruin it for her. That is just it with her though; she could be pretty emotional sometimes. So she wondered if her past self was a lot braver than the current one, if she ever had problems dealing with her emotions.
Lately, she had been doing that a lot, wondering about her previous life. She found herself comparing situations, and asking herself, 'what would the old Rachel Berry do?' She couldn't ask Tina or Mercedes because as mentioned, they either didn't know her, or not well enough. Nobody could answer that question for her, even Jesse, whom she had gotten quite close to. Because when someone is thinking, you're really just all by yourself. I mean, nobody can enter your mind and write down your thoughts and opinions. It didn't matter if you wanted to find out about something from the past or present, because how you really feel towards something, would only be understood by yourself, isn't it?
She wasn't exactly in the most pleasant state of mind when she arrived. Throwing her bag down on the seat, she let out an angry breath, and grumbled quietly to herself.
"Like a breath of sunshine eh?" Jesse asked, grinning widely as he made his way towards her.
"What are you so happy about?" She snapped, not really with the intention of being rude towards her co-star.
He leaned in, still keeping that smile between his cheeks, and said softly. "The choreographer asked for a look so optimistic, it could cure cancer."
She looked at him, and a snort escaped. The beam had gotten to him, so he started to relax and massage the cheeks, that had started to sore. "So what made happened? You wouldn't storm into the room. In fact, you'd prance, announcing your arrival as you do."
Sighing, an action that she had been doing all morning, Rachel looked at him. "Just a rough start. But it'll get better, wouldn't it?"
"Now that's the Rachel Berry I know and love." Putting on the stage smile from before, he widened his eyes and turned back to what he was doing. She smiled; blessed by the fact the she had a good friend to count on in times of need.
Nobody could say the same for Finn Hudson though, who was still a little dazed by what Rachel Berry had told him. He stood there, in the same place where she had left him for a good five minutes, reeling in her words and what she meant by them. The sour feeling of dawning, drowned him, and he never felt guiltier about jumping to conclusions. He ought to know by now, that there are more than meets eye about things in life.
The brother of his tapped the shoulders, shaking the heavy-hearted man out of him. "You ready to go?"
He nodded, making his mind up about how he should fix things with her. At the end of the day, he knew he should never leave someone like Rachel Berry, who had been so dear, without a word of explanation for his behavior. Finn Hudson was one to treasure his friends. He didn't have a great amount, seeing that nobody would really stay in Ohio after they were done with high school. And when you get a stranger, as kind as Miss Berry, you'd want to hold on to her. He would drop by the bar tonight. He most certainly would.
That night, the one in which Rachel Berry assumed would be long and dreary because it reminded her of her conversation with Finn that morning, went surprisingly fast for her. There were three more hours before midnight struck, just about the amount of time Cinderella had for a couple of dances with the prince before she had to head back to reality. In he walked, taking her by surprise.
He hadn't looked her way, which she found it odd. It was obvious, his reasons for coming in here tonight to see her. Or maybe, he just wanted to prove something. He hadn't stopped at the counter too, but made a beeline for the bathroom doors, leading her to assume that he probably came in due to nature's call. Swallowing hard, she scolded herself mentally, but also making a decision to hang around despite the early morning call she had for tomorrow.
Finn Hudson rubbed his hands under the dryer, feeling nervous again. He hadn't planned on what he would tell her. He tried many ways of apologizing, practicing in front of the mirror, like you see those anxious guys on romantic comedies before they ask out a girl for the first time. The scared little boy in him came out, explaining his trip to the bathroom.
Karate-chopping his reflection, he saw how ridiculous he looked but continued so nevertheless. Throwing in an "HA!" by the end of it, seemed to do the trick. Letting himself out of the men's room, he returned to the crowd.
He didn't want to stop by the counter, fearing that whatever Mike might say to him would bring him back to his bitter place. So he chose to lean on the wall, wishing that he could turn into a chameleon so that he would fade in to the background. To no avail, his broad shoulders and tall body frame gave him away. So all he could was to stretch his neck, which actually didn't make any sense why he was doing so.
She was done with her shift. He knew about it, and when they locked their eyes on each other, both parties refuse to budge, because she wasn't sure why he was here and him, not knowing where to begin. In the end, it was Finn who made the brave step.
"Hey." He started softly when he was beside her, and she just looked at him.
"What do you want Finn? Because I think you explained yourself pretty clear this morning that I was being a nuisance to your time here." She wouldn't have anymore of his rudeness if he were here to treat her like she was an annoyance to him. So she refused to look at him in the eye and walked away.
He held her elbow, like how Sue Sylvester did when she wanted Rachel Berry's attention except that his grip was much gentler, seeing as how Finn Hudson could never hurt her. Her eyes were thin slits when she faced him, and he gulped; the words coming out of his mouth went a mile, as he rushed through the sentence.
"My name is Finn Hudson and I'm an asshole for treating you like you weren't important."
"If you're trying to turn this around by re-introducing yourself, it's not going to work."
"You deserve an explanation."
She breathed deeply, and audibly, which meant that he heard her. He wasn't sure what her next step was, but at least she didn't move. So he waited, until she spoke again.
"Well, if you want to play it that way. My name is Rachel Berry and I'm still a little pissed by how the way you spoke about me this morning."
"Finn Hudson is terribly sorry for making you feel like that. It wasn't nice of him, at all. And nobody should ever talk to you like that, no matter what. So he is sorry, really."
"Well good."
His grip tightened. "Finn Hudson came by tonight, hoping that you could accept his apology. I mean, he didn't think that you might actually forgive him but he was betting that you would because Rachel Berry really is too special for him to forget."
This definitely made her smile, despite how she was biting it back to keep it to herself.
"Finn Hudson was stupid, for reasons that even he couldn't understand. But you have to understand that despite how dumb he can be, he likes you. I mean, uh, he likes being with you. Okay, no wait rewind. He likes spending time with you because you make him feel special."
She finally looked at him, and the corner of her lips gave in to the temptations of a smile. "So Rachel Berry made you feel special huh?"
He nodded excitedly when she showed a hint of interest in his apology. "Finn Hudson most certainly liked that about her."
"Well, I hope Finn cleared his schedule for the night because he has a whole lot of explaining to do. Rachel Berry's very particular for details, so he had better not leave anything out."
"Oh, for Rachel Berry? Anything. I mean he'd give up the world if she'd forgive him."
A half smile was faint before she bit her lips. "Now you're not playing fair if you say something like that. Every girl's gonna want to forgive you for anything."
He rubbed his neck nervously, now that they had finally been brought back to that peaceful place they started out with. The feeling was nice, being on good terms with her again. He wasn't sure if she might actually talk to him again, after he poured out his reasons for being a douche. He just hoped that she'd see where he was coming from.
He was going to have to be vulnerable for that though, and nobody could ever seem to be on the same wavelength as he was, if you get what I'm trying to say. It's not really a personal issue per se; just that sometimes when you're around crowds, you tend to hide behind a shell. Rachel was a stranger, but she was a special stranger. She made him feel things he never knew existed in him before. And finally, he thought, he had found someone who could be in that same place as him.
The tiny brunette led him out of the bar, much to his surprise because he had assumed they were going into her dressing room like how they did before. Instead, she brought him to an indoor dodgy stairwell, pretty much the same one she had climbed up after their first wild rendezvous. This stairwell, was dark, and not in the cool horror movie kind of way. It was more like a rundown, nails protruding at its ends sort. It creaked with every step he made; making him afraid that he caused a dent in every bit he made contact with. Her light steps on each one made her breeze through the climb though, making him wish that he could be as small as she was. Maybe then, he wouldn't come off as a gorilla.
"Rach," He started to call out after they passed the second floor. "This isn't the part where you kill me right?"
He heard a giggle, which was in a way, a good thing? "No silly, now come on!"
"Where are we going though?"
"Aw Finn, come on, quit questioning. We're nearly there."
Now you would think that Rachel Berry was going to bring him up to her apartment now, would you? But no, that was not it. Rachel Berry wasn't that kind of girl who would open up her place so readily, although it did cross her mind. Besides, she hadn't expected him over, so there was in no way she'd show him how untidy it was even if she wanted to.
She brought him up, until they hit the roof. Because the best places for the extravagant night view are from buildings you'd hardly get to go up on. Sure, the Empire State Building would be a real prize, but the view from her apartment building could offer the same amount of satisfaction. And let's not forget one important bit. They could be alone when they were up there.
As though the scene before him captivated his voice, all that could be heard was a gasp. It is sort of weird, coming from the man who was pretty big. But it did. He was tired out from all that climbing, which made him rethink his diet, but the night view that he had before him was worth every pant.
"Now this is New York." She said proudly as she gestured grandly for him to take a step forward. This was the special place that she'd come to think. In her opinion, everyone should have his or her own special place, some place that they could call their own; belongs to them entirely. Not many people hold the luxury of having that, but fortunately for Rachel Berry, this was hers. And now, she was sharing it with her dear friend, Finn Hudson.
"I'd say." He whispered into the quiet darkness. New York would never have that description, quiet, even if it were in the night. But that's what he felt. His eyes never left the black blanket of stars, and the momentarily peacefulness brought serenity. The taxi horns down below, completed with the uncouth yelling faded out, as his eyes refused to give in to the strain in his neck. This was certainly the New York he loved. And as the lights from the buildings started to go off by the seconds, it just emphasized the beauty of the night. At this moment, he knew that this was where he was meant to be, right there in that dingy rooftop with her.
"Kurt! Come on!" Finn Hudson pulled his brother as they weaved through the crowd.
"What has gotten him so riled up?" Blaine whispered to his partner as he too, tried to keep up with his soon to be brother-in-law.
"I'd like to know too." Kurt Hummel replied exasperatedly.
Ever since the night before, Finn Hudson had been a whole different person from a couple of days back. Kurt and Blaine were intrigued by his sudden change in attitude. Finn didn't explain much, saying that they should see it to understand better. That left them even more puzzled than before, but Finn never had a way with explaining himself. So, with no questions asked, even though a million bubbled in their heads, they did what they were asked.
You're probably a little confused about what Finn Hudson planned for them. So I shall back up a little, and explain that Finn Hudson had every intention of finally introducing the woman whom had been the cause for his roller coaster ride of emotions. It wasn't really a matter of whether he was ready or not, more likely that impatient bubble waiting to be popped that held this introduction of her to his family.
Finn pushed the doors open, when he brought them up to the roof. And there the party was, not exactly filled with energy because Rachel didn't really have a whole lot of friends. But nevertheless, it was a celebration. The reality of her being in a musical had finally sunk in, and the congratulatory bash was held in her honor. Mercedes Jones, Tina Cohen-Chang, Mike Chang, plus a couple more of people that played with her occasionally at the bar, even Sue Sylvester was present.
"Finn, who are all these people?" Blaine had asked after taking one look around.
"Is this supposed to be some sort of party? Oh god, the streamers are a depressing thing, and don't even get me started on –" Kurt Hummel had trailed off, inspecting every bit of the celebration, scrutinizing the details.
"Seriously Kurt, do you have to have an opinion on everything?"
"I'm just being honest!" And he walked off after another detail caught his eye.
"How do you even keep up with him?" And Blaine Anderson turned at the question from Finn.
"Love." He had replied kindly. "You would know wouldn't you?"
"I guess." He whispered under his breath as Blaine ran off to catch up with his partner, seeing that alcohol was present and he wanted be keeping a watchful eye over the porcelain man.
Finn Hudson shook his head, not really surprised that Kurt wouldn't be used to the scene. He was after all, very particular when it came to throwing parties. In his opinion, if there were less than 10 guests, it wasn't a party, merely a gathering. The more the merrier, he would snarl. In the meantime, with his brother probably checking off the list for this being the worst celebration ever, Finn would be on a lookout for the host, his main reason for coming up here. She had invited him of course, saying that it was necessary for him to be present.
A breath of evening air came in a whiff, and he turned as the metal doors revealed her in a pretty pink dress. Her brown eyes looked much bigger than usual and he knew that it was the help of makeup, though he'd always doubted if she'd ever need it. Licking his lips, a small line began to form before it turned upwards as she made her step towards him.
"Hey stranger." She greeted, a balance of shyness and tease in her voice.
"Hey tiger."
"So you made it."
"Guess I did. It's okay if I brought my brother and his date along though right? We can leave if it's going to be a bother."
"The more the merrier." She perked, and he cringed at how she reflected his brother even before they met. In that passing second, there was a moment of regret; because he knew how 'friendly' Kurt could get with a new pal. Still, it was a little too late for things like that.
The sky darkened, but the live of the celebration grew by a spark. People started to mingle, now that alcohol had come to the rescue and things didn't seem as dry and cliquish as before. Finn basically faded into the background, with his red cup in the hand. He was beginning to master the art of being invisible if it was possible. Watching his brother by the sidelines, it was a quarter to midnight before he knew it was time to meet the host.
Thankfully, Blaine ensured that the alcohol intake for the porcelain man was kept to a minimum, making him sober towards the 'meeting' they were planned for.
Again, you might wonder why Finn took a while to have this introduction. You see, he was still very cautious about this, if you hadn't gotten the idea yet. Besides, tonight belonged to Rachel, and he saw the priority of her having a good time. She did mention she was a little nervous about this, seeing that it was important for her to leave a good first impression on his family. Frankly, he really wasn't bothered. Sure, Kurt could be a little skeptical over his choice of friends, but it was one aspect nobody in his family could really interfere.
So with that, he beckoned for Blaine, who had Kurt in tow. They couldn't make out the girl Finn raved about, and it was only until they were about five steps ahead of the couple before they had a clear view. There she was. Kurt and Blaine froze in their steps, and they wondered if it was the music that started to make them giddy.
Kurt Hummel gulped and squeezed the hand of his partner's. Blaine, who was usually the more levelheaded person in situations like these, had been equally stupefied.
"Rach, I'd like you to meet my stepbrother Kurt Hummel and his fiancé, Blaine Anderson."
The brunette loved the way he called her. Not as though he was pronouncing it in any special way, but the way it rolled off his tongue, as though her name became a precious gem. Or maybe it was the softness in his tone, as though her name could be spelt out in marshmallows. She really did love the way he called her.
"Kurt, Blaine. I'd like you to meet Rac –"
Blaine held up his hand. "We know who she is."
Okay, I am really crossing my fingers for this Chapter 4 here! Because if you guys have read my previous fics, I'm changing the way it's being written! It's evidently a whole lot longer! And the way in which the story is being told as well! I hope nobody isn't too disappointed by the way it's written, because in a way I'm intrigued by the way writers sort of interact with their readers in the storylines, so I'm trying that out! But anyway, do tell if it's not to your liking, feedback's forever welcome!
Noro, Finnchell, MudbloodGleek, honoursarah, sammystump, YAY! You guys loved the previous chapter! I honestly can not express my love for you in words because it's just simply too much! Your support has been incredible, and I genuinely love each and every one of you for the encouragement. I hope that this new one would be up to your standards though! Never stop the glee lovin' :')
Finchel21, HAI! HAI! HAI! It was never really revealed yet if Jesse or Finn was the one in the accident. But in a way, it was already pretty evident from some of the clues who it might be :')
RachelGleek, AHHH! Thank you for loving Stay Beautiful! I definitely enjoyed myself in that too! (I might go back to read that one soon!) But I hope this chapter makes you want to stay with me though! Stay Beautiful, and no pun intended because I know you are awesomely beautiful from how supportive you are already.
Jellybean9792, bananappancakes AHH! Finchel is endgame eh! Do stay tune though, because Finchel interaction will always be in every chapter!
CarCarBeepBroom, honey, my dear, I love you! For constantly re-reading the stuff that I've done. I honestly do not know how you find the time to do that, but because of your crazy ways, I love you! Is that okay? ;) C'mere! And let me give you a HUGE HUG! I hope you'll enjoy this chapter too! Sending you lots of virtual love darling!
PaochiCute, sweetheart, allow me to give you a million and one kisses for being so dedicated in your reviews. I love them to death, because of how much you invest in every long one. You are just so wonderful, so lovely, so special in my life that I honestly do not know how someone as precious as you exists. You are the one who made my weeks every time your reviews pop up. So don't stop. Because you have no idea just how much I appreciate you. I hope this chapter makes up a little of how I can repay you.