A/N: I'm so sorry that updates don't happen so quickly on this story; I keep getting writer's block! I do apologize again that these chapters are so short, and I do intend to work harder on the next few upcoming chapters! Thanks to those who are helping me out by pointing out what I could expand on! It truly does help me!
Disclaimer: Again, nothing is mine except my own thoughts!
Rachel turned over her shoulder, "Finn?"
"What's wrong with you?" he knelt down next to her, rubbing her shoulder for comfort.
"Oh, um…it doesn't matter," she turned her head away from him, wiping the tears and forcing a smile onto her face.
"Come on, Rach. I dated you, I know exactly when something is wrong. You can tell me, ya know."
Rachel shook her head, "This time, I can't. I'm sorry!"
Finn shook his head, seeing Rachel crying again, "You don't have to apologize. Just know that I'm here for you, ok?"
She nodded, "Thanks Finn, that truly means a lot to me. I did love you, and I think a piece of me always will. To know that you're still here for me, well, it means a lot."
Finn let a smile play against his lips, but not wanting to seem to overjoyed for the moment, held back, "Anyways, can I walk you back to your place?"
Rachel almost answered yes, but remembered who exactly was at her place, answered, "No. I think I can make it." She did, however, take his offered hand, and stood with his help. She leaned in and hugged him, "Finn, thanks for being so amazing."
"Don't worry about it," he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, "Remember, I'm always here for you."
Rachel wanted to let herself sink into the moment, to go back when times weren't so rough and confusing, before all the negative things had happened to her, but Finn pulling away from her brought her back to her sad reality.
"Well, I've got to get back to my mom. She needed some help with things today. But get home, get some rest away from everything." Finn took one last glance at the girl he knew he'd always love and walked away from her.
Rachel nodded him off and headed away from the direction of which she had come. She couldn't go back and face her reality, face what she did with her teacher.
'Of all people, my freaking teacher?' she shunned herself.
Rounding the corner, she froze in her tracks. Words fumbled in her mouth before she finally spoke, "Mr. Schue…I…."
"Rachel, why the hell did you take off like that?" he huffed, trying to catch his breath.
"Were you running around here trying to find me?" a glimmer of hope fluttered inside her.
"Yes, but that's not the point," he moved closer to her, "Why did you run out like that?"
"It doesn't matter," her voice whispered.
Will shook his head, his voice rising with anger, "Damnit, Rachel!" He took a breath and let himself calm down, "Yes, it does matter."
Anger crossed her face, "What are you talking about? It does not matter? You're the one that said you can't do this. So why does it matter where I do or what I do?" She turned her back to him, letting tears of frustration flow down her cheeks.
"Because…." He frowned, his voice becoming quiet, "It….it just does."
"Give me one good reason why I should stand here and explain to you why I ran!" she faced him again, stepping closer in anger, wanting to prove to him that she could stand up to and not run away like an immature child.
"I can't…" he tried to speak but she cut him off.
"Of course you can't. Because I'm the student and you're the teacher. No need to remind me of something I already know!"
"No, Rachel. Just stop talking for one damn second!" his tone was filled with hushed frustration.
Rachel looked at him, holding back fresh tears. She remained quiet, though, not knowing what to do or say.
When Will had finally calmed down for the second time in one conversation, he pulled her in the direction of her house.
"What are you doing?" she tried to remove herself from his grip.
"We can't talk about this out here," he continued walking.
"Can't talk about what out here?" Rachel pleaded, trying to get something out of him.
Sadly, she failed. Will remained quiet the rest of the walk back to Rachel's house. Once inside, Will took Rachel and sat her down on the couch.
"You have to promise that what we say here, in this house, stays in this house!" Will stared into her eyes, pleading with all that he had.
"I promise," she whispered, breaking the eye contact and looking away from him.
Will pulled her chin back to face him, "Rachel, you have to know that I didn't mean to hurt you earlier."
Her eyes went back to his. She heard sincerity in his tone, and his eyes only confirmed it. "I know."
"I didn't want to….to…." he tried to continue.
"Didn't want to what?" she questioned.
Will took a deep breath and let it out slowly before continuing, "I didn't want to pull away from that kiss, Rach, but you have to understand why I did."
Rachel's heart fluttered, but she remained calm, "I do understand. But this whole teacher/student rule is pretty bogus."
"It is, but they have it there for a reason." He leaned back against the cushions.
"What reason? If people have feelings for each other, they should be allowed to express them!"
"They should, you're right. I'm not the one disagreeing with you here," Will smiled at Rachel's frustration. 'God, she is so cute when she's all worked up!'
Rachel let out a grunt and leaned back into the cushions, "So," she looked up to him, "We'll never have our chance?"
"No, at least, not while you're still my student," Will sighed.
Rachel sighed with him, "I never lost my feelings for you, Mr. Schuester."
"Can I be honest with you, Rachel?" Will grabbed her hand in his and intertwined their fingers.
Rachel felt at a loss for words and only nodded her head in response.
"When we were singing that duet…the moment I realized you were looking at me different, I freaked out. I mean, I had more than several girl students looking at me, I'm not blind, but it was different with you. Do you know what made it so different?"
"No, what?" Rachel glanced down to their hands but refocused her attention back to his eyes.
"What made it so different with you was that I actually felt that I could have feelings for you too. Knowing that, and knowing that the rule was in place, I knew I couldn't let myself have any sort of romantic feelings for you, no matter how much I wanted to."
Will's words left Rachel speechless. All she could do was stare into his eyes, awestruck.
"But I do have feelings for you, and I've realized now, within the last hour, that I can't stop those feelings from happening. I can stop a relationship from forming, though."
"But why? Why hold back on something you want so bad?"
"Rachel, we've already been over this."
"But, Mr. Schuester…Will…we don't have to tell anyone."
"Rachel, why are you rushing this? I mean, it was only a day ago that some idiot assaulted you at a party, and now all of a sudden you're ready to rush into a relationship. Why?" Will felt confusion filling his mind.
Rachel turned away from him, "I just am, ok?"
"No, not ok. You didn't want anyone touching you, talking to you, nothing. What changed?"
"The more I thought about it, the more I realized someone finally wanted me for my body. For my looks. For me!" Rachel's voice rose, "It made me feel special. Yes, the situation sucked, but I felt wanted!"
"Rachel, that's not the way you should look at that. That guy should be put in jail for what he did to you! You shouldn't twist those feelings. You need to let some time pass. This is just your mixed feelings talking."
"How do you know what the hell I want or what I'm feeling? Yeah, you don't!" she shouted at him.
"Rachel, I'm only trying to show you what's happening, why you may be feeling what you're feeling."
"Whatever, Mr. Shue!" she got up and headed for the stairs, "Talk to me when you're ready to fess up just how much you care for me."
Will sunk back into the couch again, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. 'Oh, Rachel. If only you'd realize just how confused you truly are right now!' He took a deep breath and tried to settle his mind from the past few minutes.
A/N: So, was this any better than the past? The ending got a little confusing for me, but I hope you get what I am trying to get across. REVIEW! Let me know what you think!
