A/N: Definitely not Klaine…but I don't want to write breakups for them. Lol. So, I'm experimenting again. Song used: 'After The Lights Go Out' by Ricky Van Shelton. Pairing: Finchel
Tonight I'm out with the crowd
I'm out where the music's playing loud
And I'm hiding all the memories we knew
But it won't be long till I'm missing you
They say that college is the time where you're supposed to live it up. And I mean, I guess I am. But there's one thing missing. And I know it's missing. I know she's missing. She's in New York, doing her own thing. And I'm in Ohio, trying to do mine. But it's difficult, you know? It's funny, because we're on this slope. I know her career is important to her, and I'll always be her number one fan. Even when people hate on her, I'll always be there to hold her up. When I let her go, I only did it because it was best for her, or so I thought. I didn't realize I'd miss her as much as I do. When she called me for advice the night before her audition, I remembered how nervous she sounded.
"Finn! Come on man! You're up!"
Puck yelled at me. It was still amazing to me just how much I truly enjoyed Puck being here with me. Once he'd buckled down and actually started studying, like I did, then you could tell he was preparing for something…just what exactly, nobody knew. But whatever he was, when he became an actual student, he was happier. I stood up and went to the stage. I liked performing, I did. I did still get nervous, but I'd gotten out of those nerves once the music hit. But every time closed my eyes, she was there. The almond colored hair, and those eyes. Those eyes that haunt my dreams every night. The one that got away.
Rachel.
I thought back to that day that I let her go. I still felt the knife in my chest even then, knowing that the whole 'Brody' situation was, I still couldn't bear to see her with someone else. But I knew what I needed to do. Sing it out. It was the only way I knew to deal with any situation I was in.
Cos after the lights go out
Your pillow starts talking
All I can hear in my ears
Are the words I love you
I'll jump to my feet
And slowly start walking
Memories in the dark
Tear at my heart
After the lights go out
I had fun tonight, and sure, it sucks going home alone…but it's what I prefer. There's nobody for me but Rachel. Always has been, always will be. Living back in Ohio has it's advantages. I never have to run into her for sure. I mean, except for those days when she comes home, but other than that…it's easy. I rounded the corner to my apartment and saw a woman standing there. It was weird, because she looked exactly like Rachel. And then she opened her mouth to speak.
"Hi Finn."
It was Rachel. Holy crap, I didn't know what to do. I knew that she was going to be visiting her dads here in Ohio for the week, because of summer break, but when we'd spoke last, she was going to be doing Funny Girl over the summer. He hadn't expected her home until the end of July.
"Rachel?"
"It's me."
I stepped forward to make sure that it truly was her. And I smiled warmly when I'd deduced that it was indeed her. I pulled her into a hug, not caring if she was tense. Rachel was here, and that's what I needed. She smiled warmly as she hugged me back.
"How are you, Finn?"
"I'm good. I'm a little tired. Long shifts at the shop and summer classes. But I'm good. How about you?"
"I'm doing okay. Umm…are we going to go inside?"
I chuckled, because I needed to lead her inside. I wasn't drunk, and I knew she couldn't be a figment to my imagination. I unlocked the door and led her upstairs to the second floor where my tiny apartment was. She smiled at the place and sat down on the sofa. I sat down across from her and looked her in the eye.
"So, what brings you back to Ohio? Is Kurt with you?"
"Kurt is actually. He and Blaine have been discussing a possible reconciliation, and he came back so they could talk. That was yesterday though, and I haven't heard from him. So I take it that maybe they're back together."
"You didn't answer my first question."
"I don't know, Finn. All I knew was that I needed to be back here in Lima. I didn't know how or why, just that I needed to be."
I looked at Rachel and I knew. I knew that I wasn't going to let her leave without an explanation, and I waited patiently. I knew Rachel would tell me what was bothering her in her own time. What I hadn't been anticipating was her getting up from the other side of the sofa and throwing herself into my arms and kissing me.
The day break finally comes
I'm feeling better
For the sun helps to dry the tears away
And pretty soon now
I'll get all my thoughts together
In the busy and worries of the day
The next morning I look over in the bed and Rachel is still there next to me. The same thing happened at Will's wedding to Emma. We hadn't really discussed what had happened at the wedding, and we realized that we'd needed to. I looked at her and watched as she slept peacefully, probably dreaming about nothing. I knew that I had a shift at the shop today, and I didn't want her to think that I was leaving her. So, I shrugged myself gently out of the bed and into my tiny kitchen to make coffee. I was surprised a few minutes later, when Rachel came into the kitchen. She was wearing my shirt from last night, and her hair was a mess, and she looked exactly the way she did when we'd made love for the very first time.
"Is that coffee?"
"Yeah. Want some?"
"Absolutely, I do."
Rachel said. She smiled as I handed her a cup. She sat down at the table next to me and she looked at me in the eye. And now I knew that this was where we needed to work things out. We were going to talk about this, once and for all. She mixed her sweetener in it, and started to speak, and I knew it was now or never.
"Finn, I don't know what I'm doing here. I knew Kurt was coming back to Lima to talk to Blaine. So, I just packed a bag and invited myself. I knew that I'd been thinking about what happened at Will and Emma's wedding. I don't know what I want in my life….but I do know that my life is useless without you."
I gasped loudly. I'd wanted this for so long. It felt like things were coming together…so why did I suddenly get afraid?
Cos after the lights go out
Your pillow starts talking
All I can hear in my ears
Are the words I love you
I'll jump to my feet
And slowly start walking
Memories in the dark
Tear at my heart
After the lights go out
A/N2: I KNOW! I'm such a bitch. I'm addressing Finn and Rachel again in another chapter. And trust me…it'll be awesome. I promise.
