"Explain to me again why I'm going on a date with Santana?" Finn asked, sliding into Puck's car.
"Because Rachel doesn't like her." Puck said gunning his engine.
"But I don't want to make her mad. I . . .I still. . ."
"Look. Quit being such a chick. Chick's don't dig that touchy feely I'm so emotional vibe. She's in New York, cuddled up next to Jesse singing show tunes. Santana is here, single-ish, and loves going to Breadstix."
Finn shook his head.
Puck smiled, and playful punched Finn's arm. "It'll be ok. Besides how am I gonna get my Puck on with Quinn with Santana hanging around?"
Quinn , Brittany, and Santana were sitting in a booth already when they got there.
"Thank god!" Quinn whispered "Santana was going to get us kicked out."
"Shut it tubbers. I love me some breadstix." Santana said dumping the basket of breadsticks into her purse.
"What is Brittany doing here?" Puck asked glancing at the tall blond squished between Finn and Santana.
Santana snorted. "She's here to meet her internet boyfriend."
"Ooh! There he is!" Brittany cried out, trying to climb over Finn.
"Brittany!" Quinn hissed, "He's like twelve years old! That can't be him!"
"David?" Brittany called.
The freckle faced kid smiled. "Brittany?"
Xxx
The awkward dinner was winding to an end. "I love gum too!" Brittany said, leaning in toward David. He flashed her a giddy smile, revealing a mouth full of shiny metal braces. Quinn and Puck were cuddled together in one end of the booth, giggling and whispering softly.
Santana sat staring at Finn."Ok Finnessa, pay for my dinner so I can make out with you and get this over with."
Finn did a double take. " No, Actually I should be going. I didn't want to. . ."
Puck shot Finn an evil look.
"We could go hang out in the car?" Finn suggested awkwardly throwing down the money to cover his and Santana's bill.
"Hudson I didn't think you had it in you!" Santana winked.
XXX
"This was not what I was thinking of when you asked me to hang out in the car." Santana said crossing her arms. "You know you didn't have to sit in the back seat."
Finn laid back on the seat. "It's cool this way. I like the way the radio sounds back here."
The car was silent except for the radio. "It's Berry isn't it. I can't believe I'm being snubbed because of her." Santana rolled her eyes.
Just then Brittany appeared at the window, crying. "Santana! Walk me home? David broke my heart."
Santana opened the car door. "What?"
Brittany and her linked pinky fingers and walked away, Brittany sobbing about being too old. Finn closed his eyes, imaging the night if Rachel had been there.
XXX
"Hey Finn how'd it go?" his mom asked as he walked in the door.
"Who'd Puck set you up with?" Burt called from the other room.
Finn walked into the den. "Santana Lopez."
"She's. . .. Pretty." His mom said biting her tongue.
"Go ahead and say it. She's not Rachel. Her hair doesn't smell like apples. She doesn't wear adorkable knee socks. She doesn't send me cookie bouquets every Thursday."
"I do miss those cookies." Burt said nodding.
"I miss her."
"Why don't you tell her?" his mom said, sitting on the arm of Burt's chair.
"She's with Jesse! Jesse !" Finn said flopping himself down on the old beat up recliner chair that used to be his dad's.
"Well Finn honey you broke up with her. She's free to do what she wants."
"But why would she want Jesse? When he broke her heart who was there to pick up the pieces? ME. I loved her. I. . . I still love her."
Carol Hummel smiled. "Took you long enough. We all knew you did."
Finn put his head in his hands. "But how do I get her back?"
Burt and Carol smiled. "I heard Blaine's taking a little trip up there to see Kurt on opening night."
Finn smiled.