Everything Happens For a Reason: Chapter 4
A big thanks to my awesome beta, Kelly (BellaRose55).
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any of the characters mentioned in this story.
Finn POV
I turn onto the busy streets of New York, the heavy traffic pulling me to a stop. I scan the area, allowing myself to take in the sights of the place that will, from now on, be my home. I'm surrounded by a sea of sky-high buildings that are seemingly endless. All around me are people; people hurrying down the sidewalks, oblivious to everything and everyone around them, pushing their way through the crowds, each determined to get to their destination. The traffic goes on for miles. Numerous horns are honking, the impatience of the drivers manifesting to create a loud symphony of noise.
Yeah, I am definitely not in Ohio anymore.
I'm from Lima, which is a small town about two hours away from Cincinnati. Back in Lima, everybody knows everybody and nothing really ever happens. I mean the biggest thing that I can recall happening is when Mrs. Jenkins took too much of her glaucoma medication rendering her in a state of confusion. She ended up walking around the local supermarket in nothing but her pajamas, claiming her husband had been kidnapped by government agents and that her house had been "bugged." Yeah, I wasn't exaggerating when I said not a lot happens.
Growing up in Lima was cool - for the most part - but people don't tend to get out. Instead, they spend the rest of their lives stuck in a dead end job with three kids that they didn't even want. So if I said that I was completely sad about leaving Lima behind, I'd be branded a liar.
However, life in Lima wasn't so bad. In fact, if it wasn't for the small town, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. My high school career was pretty much every guys dream. I was popular, the quarterback of the football team, and idolized by all of the underclassmen. I loved every second of it. I continued playing football throughout high school and was spotted by a recruiter in my senior year. He took interest in me and my best friend, Puck, and granted us both a full football scholarship to Ohio State University.
During my last game at OSU, the Ohio State football coach was there looking for some guys to sign. He approached me and Puck after the game and after talking to him for a while, he decided to sign us both; me as the quarterback and Puck as the linebacker. To say I was excited would be a colossal understatement. We were introduced to the rest of the team and started practice right away. The other guys on the team were cool, however they had a few more years experience than we did, so we knew right away that we had to give them our respect.
Training was intense, the plays difficult to get my head around but I powered through. Before I knew it, we were playing our first game against the Kansas Jayhawks, a real life, big time game that was televised and everything. This was my moment, my time to shine. I was going to show everyone that I was not a Lima loser, but that I was living my dream. And I did just that. We were tied at 13-13 and there were twenty seconds left on the clock. The ball was in my hands and I knew that I just had to go for it. I threw the ball, putting the full force of my arm into it, and watched. Time seemed to halt, the ball moving at an agonizingly slow pace, until finally, finally, it landed in the arms of our wide receiver.
The crowd went wild, the screams completely invading my thoughts. We won! I scored the winning touchdown! I was numb; adrenaline was pumping throughout my body at a rapid pace. I felt myself being lifted into the air, before being set down on a couple of the players' shoulders. They were cheering, yelling words of praise and giving me pats on the back. It was incredible. The feeling, the excitement, my life at that moment was perfect.
I continued playing games for the next two years, some of them we won, others we didn't. Either way, I was living the dream. A couple of months ago the annual draft was held and it was announced that both Puck and I had been drafted to the New York Giants. It was a bittersweet moment. I mean I was sad leaving all my teammates, my friends, behind but on the other hand, I was going to be playing for such an amazing, iconic team. And Puck being drafted with me was just the icing on the cake. Life is definitely sweet.
The sound of a blaring horn pulls me out of my thoughts and I realize that traffic is once again moving. I look through my rearview mirror only to see the guy in the car behind me giving me the finger. Geez, I knew New Yorkers had a reputation for being rude and abrasive, but wow! This takes things to a whole new level.
I turn right onto 54th street, remembering the address Kurt told me. Before I know it, I'm outside his apartment complex, my black Honda Civic screeching to a stop. I get out of the car quickly, the urge to stretch my legs spurring me into movement. Driving for nearly nine hours when you're as tall as me is definitely not advisable. I feel like my legs have been trapped in a vice grip for days on end.
Grabbing my luggage out of the car, I make my way inside the apartment building. Stepping into the elevator I push the button for the third floor, patiently waiting for the ding. The elevator opens to reveal a long, narrow hallway, doors adorning both sides. I trek down the hallway, glancing at each door until I come to the one I'm searching for. Apartment 312.
I'm about to knock when I hear voices coming from inside, a high-pitched voice which I easily recognize as Kurt's and a soft feminine one. I'm about to resume knocking when something catches my attention.
"He just got drafted to the New York Giants." Wait, is he talking about me? "He's their new quarterback. So Finn and his friend Puck, who got drafted alongside him, now have to relocate here."
Well I guess that answers that question. I decide to try the door handle, grinning when it opens. Pushing the door open slightly, I decide to listen in. Yeah I know it's not polite to eavesdrop but come on, you can't blame a guy for being curious.
Peering round the edge of the door, I see Kurt sitting primly on the couch, his legs crossed, and sat by him is the occupant of the unidentified voice. She's sitting with her back to me so I can only see a curtain of long, shiny brown hair; however I'm quickly drawn to the fact that her voice sounds so pure and angelic.
"So it's the two of them but only your brother is staying here?"
"Yep, Puck's moving into a one bedroom apartment with his girlfriend Quinn, while Finn moves in with me. He says it's cause he couldn't find an apartment he likes but really I think he's scared."
WHAT!? I am not scared!
"Scared?"
"Well yeah, New York is different from Ohio. For one thing it's bigger, much bigger. I think he's intimidated by it."
Deciding that I've heard enough, I open the door fully, intent on stopping this before Kurt can tarnish my reputation further. "Hey, who are you calling scared and intimidated?"
Their heads turn abruptly, their eyes wide and mouths slightly open. Recognition crosses Kurt's face, his shocked expression giving way to a more annoyed one. I don't have time to dwell on that though, as I am immediately drawn to the other person on the couch who's scrutinizing me under a pretty intense gaze.
She's gorgeous. Her long, brown hair cascades past her shoulders, framing her slender face and her clothes hug her body in just the right way, accentuating her curves. I notice how small she is, giving her a sense of fragility but making her seemingly adorable too. Her big, chocolate eyes are mesmerizing and I can feel myself getting lost in them. Our gazes connect, locking us into a deep stare, and I feel as if I'm slowly being pulled into a hypnotizing trance, the rest of the world gradually fading away.
"Hello, Finn? Finn? For God's sake, FINN!"
I'm pulled out of my reverie by the sound of Kurt's shrill voice. "What? Oh, hey Kurt."
"Hey Kurt?" Okay, he looks mad. "I've been trying to get your attention for two minutes, and all you have to say is hey Kurt?! You really need to work on focusing your attention on something other than girls!"
"Okay, dude relax. I'm sorry alright?" I blush at being caught and I notice the brunette duck her head, a shy smile painting her features. Really? Could she get any cuter?
Kurt rolls his eyes and motions to the girl standing next to him. "Anyway, Finn this Rachel St James, Rachel, this is my idiot of a step brother, Finn Hudson."
Rachel waves before stretching out her hand to shake mine. "It's very nice to meet you Finn," she says, a small smile plastered on her face.
"You too," I reply bashfully. Damn, gotta stay cool.
"My brother, always the charmer," Kurt scoffs, causing Rachel to retract her hand, her eyes downcast on the floor.
My eyes follow hers, but quickly come to a stop as soon as they spot a hint of cleavage peeking out of her shirt. Her boobs definitely aren't the biggest, but they still look pretty awesome. I take the opportunity to look over the rest of her body, my tongue inadvertently darting out to lick my lips at the sight of her legs. Man, those things go on for miles. Her head shoots back up and I quickly avert my gaze, trying my best to pretend that I wasn't just ogling her body.
"Well I best be getting home. It was lovely meeting you Finn."
"Wait." She freezes, hesitantly turning back around. "Kurt and I were going to go out to dinner with our friends, Puck and Quinn, as a sort of welcome to New York. Would you like to join us?"
She opens her mouth to protest but Kurt quickly cuts her off. "Yes, you should join us. I would love for you to get to know everyone better."
She nibbles on her lower lip and damn it if it's not the cutest thing I've ever seen. "I don't know, I really should be getting home."
"Come on, Rach, you owe yourself a night out," Kurt pleads.
"It'll be fun. I'd really like to get to know you better." She blushes furiously at this, her cheeks tingeing a bright pink, and I can see her defenses faltering. "Plus, I'd love your input on all the best places to go in the city.
Finally, her resolve fades. "Okay… sure. You're right, a night out sounds like just what I need. Let me run home and change and Kurt can text me the details."
"Awesome," I say, a huge grin on my face. "I guess I'll see you later."
She nods her head in confirmation, before giving Kurt a hug and me a small wave. I wave back, sending her my "famous" crooked grin. The ladies love it. With that, she turns and leaves the apartment and yeah, I totally just checked out her ass. And let me tell you, it is perfect. I know I shouldn't objectify girls or judge them solely on looks, and believe me, I don't. For me to be attracted to a girl they have to at least be interesting. When I was at OSU, I went on a date with a girl from one of my classes and sure she was super hot, you know blonde hair, tall, skinny, but man was she dumb. She spent the entire date discussing how important the Kardashians "contribution" to society was and how we live in a much better world because of them. It was the worst date I have ever been on. And I've been on a lot! So yeah, a girl definitely has to have personality for me to be interested; and it doesn't hurt if they look good too.
It takes me a while to realize that I'm just staring at the door that Rachel walked out of, and once again Kurt is frantically trying to get my attention. "Finn, seriously what are you staring at?"
I look at him sheepishly. "Um…"
Kurt's eyes widen; his mouth opening in shock. "No! Oh my God! You were totally checking out Rachel weren't you?" I don't get time to answer as he carries on his rant. "Do you seriously have to check out every girl you see? I don't appreciate you ogling my best friend Finn. And anyway, you'd be wasting your time. She's unavailable."
Ah, well that's a disappointment. But then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Of course she's not available.
"I wasn't checking her out!" I lie unconvincingly. Kurt gives me a knowing look and I decide that I need to change the subject, fast. "So, when do I get to meet this guy you have been gushing about for months?"
His face instantly lights up, his eyes sparkling. I may sound like a total pansy for saying this but I love seeing him so happy. If anyone deserves it, it's him. Especially after all the crap he was put through in High School. "Tonight. His parents are in town for the weekend so he's been spending time with them. But he'll be back soon."
"He lives with you?"
Kurt nods. "Yeah, he has done for a few months now." A shy smile creeps onto his face. "He truly is amazing."
"Well, that's great. I'm really glad you're happy," I say sincerely, and his eyes well up. He leans in and gives me the biggest hug he can muster, despite the vast difference in our sizes. After a few seconds, he pulls away, swiping at his eyes to stop the tears that threaten to leak out. "I'm going to go unpack my things."
"Need any help?"
"Nah, I can handle it. I didn't bring much anyways."
"Okay, well in that case I'm going to get ready for dinner tonight."
"Dude, dinner isn't for another two hours. Do you really need that much time to get ready?"
"Just because you don't have an appreciation for my skin regime and can throw on any old thing and be ready in less than ten minutes, doesn't mean we all can. I, unlike you, put a lot of work into my appearance. Do you have any idea how long it takes to look this good?" Kurt rants, his hands planted firmly on his hips. I bite back a sarcastic response, I have a feeling he wasn't expecting me to answer anyway. "Hours. It is somewhat of a chore, but I do believe that the finished product is well worth the extra effort. So, if we're done here…" he trails off; gesturing to the door behind me which I'm guessing is my room.
He stalks off into what I'm assuming is the bathroom so I decide to start the tedious chore of unpacking. Picking up my luggage, I enter the room Kurt pointed out and start putting away my belongings.
Once I'm finished, I take a moment to really look around the room. It's a fairly good size with a big window that overlooks the city. There's a huge king-sized bed, perfect for my 6'3 frame, leaning against the wall and a dresser adjacent to it. The walls are white and thankfully not pink like I feared they would be and the carpet is a navy blue. Looking out of the window, I can see the New York City skyline and I now understand why people make a big fuss over New York. It is pretty amazing. Don't get me wrong, I'm always going to be a country boy at heart but I could definitely get used to the Big Apple.
Going back out into the living room, I notice a man with black hair sitting on the couch watching TV. I'm guessing this is Blaine. Either that or the thieves around here are really bold.
Clearing my throat to get his attention, his head shoots up in alarm, a mask of panic etched onto his face. He reaches out for the lamp on the side table, never once taking his eyes off me, and holds it out in front of him in a protective stance, his form rigid. "Look man, I-I'm not afraid to use this thing," he stutters out, clearly not knowing who I am.
I raise my hands in defense. "Whoa dude; just put the lamp down. I'm Finn, Kurt's step-brother?" Surely Kurt must have told him I'm staying?
"Oh, right. Of course," he says, placing the lamp back onto the table. "Sorry about that. You never can be too careful in New York."
"So your plan was to take me out with a lamp?"
"Well it works in the movies," he mumbles, his eyes downcast. "I'm Blaine."
He holds out his hand to shake and I reciprocate the gesture. "Yeah I know; Kurt only talks about you all the time."
He blushes, his hand going to rub the back of his neck nervously. "Well it's nice to meet you."
"Yeah, same here. So… are you coming to dinner with me and Kurt?" I ask, trying to make small talk.
"Of course. Who else is going?"
"Just me, Kurt, my friends, Puck and Quinn, and Rachel."
"You've met Rachel?" I nod my head in confirmation. "She was actually the one who introduced me to Kurt. I pretty much owe her big time for that."
"That's awesome," I reply, my interest suddenly piqued. "How did you meet Rachel?"
"Funny Girl." I just raise an eyebrow, not having a clue what that meant. Who the hell is "Funny Girl?" Is he calling me that? He seems to notice my confusion and carries on. "Rachel was cast as Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl on Broadway, and I play opposite her as Nick."
Oh, well that makes more sense. "Broadway huh? That's pretty impressive. I can't say that I've ever seen a show but I know enough from living with Kurt. And I know that Broadway only accepts the best."
"Yep, and Rachel definitely is the best."
Before I get a chance to respond, Kurt comes into the room, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his boyfriend. "Are you guys ready to go… are you seriously going to wear that, Finn?" He questions, motioning to my clothes.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing," I retort, slightly offended by Kurt's remarks.
"You look like you've just finished work on the farm. No offense."
I go to protest but quickly stop myself realizing Kurt will, in the end, get his way. It's quicker to just agree with him. "Fine, I'll go change," I huff, stomping back to my room.
Changing into a blue button down and black jeans, I deem myself ready and go out to get Kurt's approval.
"See, that wasn't so hard now, was it?"
I roll my eyes, not having the energy to argue back. "Let's just go."
"Are we meeting Puck and Quinn at the restaurant?" Kurt asks, locking the door of the apartment.
"Yeah, is Rachel meeting us there or does she need a ride?"
"She text me before, she's gonna meet us there. She says she's still getting ready."
Leaving the apartment complex and piling into my car, we head on off to the restaurant. The whole time that I'm driving, I just can't seem to get Rachel off my mind, which is crazy seeing as I only met her a couple of hours ago and our meeting was brief. But there's just something about her that seems special, something that draws me too her. Talking to her earlier, I kind of felt this magnetic pull, like even though we barely know each other, we were destined to meet. The thought of getting to know her better during dinner brings a smile to my face.
Pulling up to the curb outside of Virgil's BBQ, we get out of the car and make our way inside. We're quickly shown to our seats where Puck and Quinn are already sat waiting.
"Hey guys, sorry we're late," I apologize, taking my seat at the table.
"Its fine, we haven't been here long," Quinn says, shrugging her shoulders. "Hey Kurt, long time no see."
"Yeah, it's been far too long," Kurt replies, going over to Quinn and embracing her in a hug and then awkwardly fist bumping Puck.
Quinn turns her attention to Blaine. "So, you must be Kurt's new beau. We've heard a lot about you," Quinn smirks, causing both Blaine and Kurt to shift uncomfortably.
"Yeah, Kurt's told me a lot about you guys too. So much in fact I feel as if I already know you."
We all immerse in small talk, the conversation flowing easily between the five of us. In my peripheral, I notice Rachel walking through the door and man, does she look smoking.
She's wearing a white summer dress that stops just above her knees and a pale blue sweater. Her hair is arranged in soft curls which hang loosely on her shoulders and on her feet are a pair of white heels that make her legs look like they go on for miles. If I thought her legs looked good in jeans, it is nothing compared to how they look now.
I motion her over to the table, the eagerness to speak to her again consuming me. She waves shyly to everyone before taking her seat, which conveniently is next to mine. Kurt immediately introduces her to Puck and Quinn and they quickly exchange pleasantries before absorbing themselves back into conversation.
I lean over to whisper in her ear. "You look really pretty." Her cheeks flush pink, a small smile adorning her features and I can't help but think just how beautiful she looks when she smiles.
The waiter comes over to take our orders, and soon we're all enjoying our meals, talking animatedly amongst ourselves. I glance over to Rachel only to notice her deep in thought and pushing her food lazily around her plate. I have to admit I was slightly surprised when she only ordered a salad but once she told me that she was a vegan, I mentally scolded myself for not ensuring the restaurant had more variety and made note of this for future reference. I am slightly concerned however, when I realize just how little Rachel has actually eaten. But then again, she wasn't exactly planning on eating out tonight, so maybe she had a big lunch.
"So Rachel, how long have you lived in New York?" Quinn asks, finishing off the remains of her BBQ shrimp.
"Oh, my whole life. My dad's moved here a year before I was born so it's all I've ever known."
"Dad's?" Puck questions, his mouth full of chicken.
Rachel shoots him a disgusted look before continuing. "Yeah, I have two gay dads. They put an ad in the local newspaper looking for a surrogate and interviewed the candidates themselves. After several interviews, they found someone they really liked."
Puck just nods, turning his attention back to his chicken.
"Kurt tells us you and Blaine are on Broadway?" Rachel nods, her face instantly lighting up. "What's that like?"
"It's phenomenal. The feeling of performing in front of a crowd is just indescribable. When I'm on stage it's like the whole world just goes away, and it's just me in this little bubble and nothing else matters. It's my second home."
Blaine shakes his head in agreement. "Yeah, you guys should totally come check out the show. It's awesome if I do say so myself."
"Yeah, we'll definitely do that," I say taking another bite of my steak.
"Hey Rach, who's watching Ava tonight." I look at Kurt, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Who's Ava?
"My dad is. I told him that he didn't have to, that I wouldn't mind cancelling but he insisted, said that I don't get out enough."
"Who's Ava?" I inquire, wiping my mouth with a napkin.
"My daughter," she says simply.
Well I did not expect that.
"Do you have pictures?" Quinn asks eagerly. Rachel murmurs in confirmation, digging her phone out from her purse and showing it to Quinn. "Oh, she is gorgeous. How old is she?"
"She turned two a couple of months ago," Rachel smiles, complete adoration decorating her face. She turns the phone towards me, and I can't help but grin at the little girl beaming at the camera. There is no doubt that she is Rachel's daughter, she is the spitting image of her.
"She's beautiful," I say sincerely, although I can't help feeling a pang of disappointment. If she has a daughter, then that means she's obviously very involved with someone.
I should not be feeling like this. I have only just met her.
"Are you married?" Puck asks. My ears perk up at this, very interested to find out the answer.
"Yeah," she answers shortly, her gaze averting to the wall behind Puck.
I have a feeling it's not something she wants to talk about; especially with people she met only a couple of hours ago so I quickly decide to change the subject. "Well I think I'm gonna head off, it's been a long day and I'm pretty tired from the drive up here." I stand up from my chair, turning my attention to Kurt and Blaine. "Are you guys coming with me?"
"No, I think we're gonna stay a little longer, catch up and everything," Kurt says, tossing me the keys to the apartment. "We'll just get a ride with Puck and Quinn, if that's alright with you two?"
"Yeah, no worries dude."
"I should be going too. I really need to get back to Ava," Rachel says, standing up and grabbing her purse.
"How about I give you a ride?" I offer, jumping at the chance to get to spend more time with her.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. I'll just get a cab."
"Okay, first, you didn't ask, I offered. And second, I'm not taking no for an answer."
She sighs in defeat. "Are you sure it's not too much trouble?"
"Not at all," I assure, handing some money to Kurt for the bill.
"Alright then. Thank you," she smiles gratefully, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
After saying our goodbyes to the others, and a promise from Rachel to show Quinn all the best places to shop, we exit the restaurant, the cool New York air assaulting our senses.
Hopping into my car, Rachel tells me her address and we pull away from the curb, turning left at the intersection. I turn the radio on, the music playing lowly in the background.
"Thanks for this. The ride I mean."
"No worries, couldn't very well let you take a cab by yourself at this time of night now could I?"
She glares at me in mock offence, a smile threatening the corners of her mouth. "I'll have you know that as a strong, empowered female in the twenty first century, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
I can't help but snort at that. "Come on! Now I have no doubt that you can be extremely feisty when you want to be, but face it. You're tiny. There is no way you could defend yourself against some big, beefy guy."
"Okay, I am offended by that notion. Just because I'm small doesn't mean I'm not tough."
"Right, so if some 6'0 guy came and attacked you, you'd be able to get away unharmed?" I smirk, raising an eyebrow. Her demeanor instantly changes, a flash of panic crossing her features. I frown, concern seeping over me. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all. I'm just tired." She smiles tightly, shifting her gaze to the window.
I nod, turning my attention back onto the road, extremely aware of the thick tension that has now inhabited the car. The rest of the journey is spent in silence, with only the radio humming away in the background. Rachel doesn't remove her attention away from the window, seemingly lost in her own world. I keep my eyes trained on the road, casting the occasional glance to my right just to make sure she's okay.
Sooner than I'd like, I pull up outside Rachel's apartment complex. "Here ya go, home sweet home."
"Thanks for the ride, Finn, I really appreciate it. I owe you big time."
"Stop thanking me, it really was no big deal. And you don't owe me anything," I reassure gently.
"Okay, I guess I'll see you around then?"
"Yeah, definitely. Maybe you could show me the sights sometime?"
"Yeah, maybe," she agrees, but I can't help but feel a little disheartened at her less than enthusiastic tone. "Goodbye, Finn."
"Bye," I wave, watching her walk up the steps to the apartment building.
Once I'm sure she's safely inside, I pull away, my thoughts consumed with nothing but her. There's something that just seems a little off with her, something not quite right. I know I've only known her for a few short hours but I can just somehow tell. Is that strange? Maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions, allowing my attraction to her cloud my judgment and concoct unlikely scenarios in my head. But whatever the case, I'm going to find out one way or another.
Just so you know, I know nothing about American football, or sports in general, so if there are any glaringly obvious mistakes, then feel free to let me know.
Review! xoxoxoxo