High School Sweethearts – Chapter 4
(I do not own Glee or any of the characters.)
The McKinley High School Gym was decorated with red and pink balloons and streamers. The Valentine's Dance was well underway with Artie as the resident DJ.
Rachel and Finn had been dancing most of the night in the corner or hanging out with their friends. She was in her red bride's maid dress and Finn was in a black suit with a red bow tie. Jacob Ben Israel had tried to cut-in once, but thought better of it when he saw the angry look Finn gave him.
Finn had decided that the Army was the way to go for him, and Rachel was trying her best to accept it and make the most of their last months in Lima together.
"Is your Mom still not talking to you?" Rachel asked as they slow danced.
"She's talking to me again. I don't know what Burt said to her, but she told me that she thought my Dad would be proud of me. She said that she and Burt were proud of me too."
"I'm glad," Rachel smiled. "I don't like the idea of you being in danger either, but I don't want you and your mom to be fighting. The two of you mean too much to each other."
"I know, it's been just the two of us until Burt and Kurt came along, but Rachel. I want you to be okay with my decision too. It affects you too."
"Finn, I'm trying. Leaving you to go to New York was going to be tough, but you were going to be safe and sound here in Lima. Now you're going to be half a world away with people shooting at you. It's hard, but I'll support you no matter what you do."
"Thanks Rachel. I didn't want my two best girls to be basket cases over this. I'll be busy, and the time will fly by. I'll be discharged before you know it, and then we can plan a future."
"I certainly hope so," Rachel whispered to herself as the song ended.
"Would you like some water or punch?" Finn asked. "Coach Sylvester has been guarding the punch bowl like a hawk so I know Puck hasn't had a chance to spike it yet."
"Sure," Rachel said as she led Finn in the direction of the refreshments table.
"Well if it isn't the newest Jarhead," Rick the Stick snickered as he and his friends walked up behind Rachel and Finn. "I heard that you and Puck will be joining the Army after graduation. Is that where washed up football players go?"
"You idiot," Rachel turned on the mullet headed boy. "Jarheads are Marines! And what exactly are you going to be doing after graduation? Hustling the middle schoolers our of their lunch money at the video arcade? I don't see you risking you life, or doing anything productive! And that ridiculous hair cut of yours was out of style before you were ever born!"
"Whoa Princess, back off. Finn you need to keep your girlfriend in check," Rick said backing away.
"My girlfriend isn't the one that needs to be kept in check," Finn snarled at the surprised hockey player.
"Yeah, Buddy. Leave them alone or I'm going to go all Lima Heights on your ass," Santana sneered as she approached the group.
Rick the Stick and his friends soon disappeared into the crowd of slow dancers on the gym floor.
"Finn, I know that we haven't always been friends, but I want you know that I'm proud of you. It takes guts to do what you and Puck are doing" Santana said as she placed a hand on Finn's arm. "My brother has made a career in the Marines."
"Has he ever been in combat?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, but that's when you rely on your buddies. They protect you and you protect them. No man left behind. It's as simple as that."
"Has he ever been wounded?" Rachel asked Santana.
"No, but he's a long range sniper. He's usually half a mile away from the target. He and his spotter take care of each other. You and Puck take care of each other and you'll be okay."
"Thanks Santana," Finn smiled as Santana turned and walked away.
The couple returned to their little corner of the gym. They were swaying back and forth lost in each other's eyes. Rachel tangled her fingers in Finn's hair and sighed. "I just wish that you didn't have to have your hair shaved off."
"It'll grow back and maybe a stash too," Finn laughed softly in her ear.
"Finn?" Rachel asked. "Did you go to last year's Valentine's Dance?"
"No I was too busy licking my hurt pride. We both made mistakes, but I was the biggest idiot. When I think of all the hurt that I caused you, and all of the time that we wasted, I could kick myself," Finn half smiled at Rachel. "Forgive me?"
"Only if you forgive me. We were both wrong."
"Deal! You know that prom is coming up in May and I was wondering if you wanted to run for prom king and queen," Finn asked.
"I thought that you hated that stuff," Rachel asked.
"I do, but you didn't get the chance to run last year, and I think you're the most beautiful girl at this school," Finn offered kissing her on the forehead.
"No, I think you and I have grown beyond plastic crowns and campaign buttons. I do want to go to the prom, but just so I can slow dance with you and have an excuse to get you into a tux. I don't need a crown as long as I have you," Rachel blushed.
"Then you have a deal. No campaigning, no crowns just slow dancing in the corner," Finn smiled.
On the way back to Rachel's house, Rachel was fiddling with the radio in Finn's truck when Finn heard a few words of a song on a golden oldies radio station.
"Wait!" I know that song, go back to that station." Finn asked as he stopped at the red light. "It's Bob Seger."
As the song hit the second verse, Finn began to sing along with the radio.
If I were a carpenter, and you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
If I worked my hands in the wood,
Would you still love me?
Answer me Babe, yes I would.
I'd put you above me.
Save my love through loneliness.
Save my love for sorrow.
I've given you my only-ness.
Come give me your tomorrow.
Rachel had unbuckled her seat belt and was kissing Finn when the red light turned green and the cars behind them began blowing their horns.
Blushing, Rachel returned to her seat and refastened her seatbelt as Finn took his foot off of the brake and back onto the accelerator.
"I'm sorry," Rachel said shyly.
"I'm not, Finn nodded. Rachel. I want to ask you to marry me, but not now. I want to give you a ring and a future. I don't want to tie you down to a long term commitment if you should fall out of love with me while we're apart."
"Finn, that's not going to happen, I have found the man of my dreams and he's right here beside me. You go off to where ever the Army sends you, and I'll go off to school and I'll wait for you. You just have to promise me that you'll come back to me. That's all that I ask," Rachel said seriously.
"That's a promise," Finn said as he entwined his fingers with hers.
The two were making their way up the steps at Rachel's house and Rachel already had Finn's tie in her hand. He was working on the pins in her hair. Rachel was scrambling to find her door key while trying not to break their fierce kisses. All of a sudden the porch light came on and the front door opened.
"Surprise, Happy Valentine's Day!" Leroy cheered as he and Hiram welcome the embarrassed couple into the living room.
"Dad, Daddy, what are you doing home?" Rachel asked as a crimson blush covered her cheeks.
"We finished our business trip to Cleveland early, and we wanted to hear about the dance and Finn's plans for the Army. Leroy was in the Army, but that was a long time ago," Hiram rattled on and on as Finn and Rachel came in and sat down on the couch to answer twenty questions.
After their interrogation, Rachel walked Finn to the door and stuffed his tie back into Finn's pocket unnoticed.
"So much for peeling that dress off of you," Finn whispered as he kissed her good-bye.
"Don't worry, we still have the prom," Rachel whispered back.
-/-
The song If I Were A Carpenter was written by Tim Hardin
Thank you so much for all of the reviews! I appreciate every one of them. It is nice to know that so many people are interested in this story. It is a different direction for me. Things are a bit fluffy now, but this story will take a turn when the two are separated by school and basic training.
The next update may be a few days away. I have thirteen people coming to my house for the long weekend to go snowboarding. Thank you again, Whistler Nights.
