FINN

Finn did not want to be in school today. His mom had already told him that he could have the day off if he wanted and he would've gladly taken her up on the offer if it hadn't been for one thing: Rachel. He was still reeling from the kiss that she had given him last night. It hadn't lasted very long because he had burst into tears once again. His emotions had been all over the place, still crushed by his discovery that he wasn't the father of Quinn's baby but deliriously happy with what had happened with Rachel. His tears were full of both sadness and joy and the entire evening had begun to completely overwhelm him. Her fathers had come in shortly after that to check everything was okay and they'd given him a lift home. His mom had been ready to tear him a new one for not telling her where he'd been for so long but she listened patiently as he told her the whole story. She cursed a bit and teared up towards the end, angry with Quinn for what she had done to her son but happy that he'd finally found someone special and worthy of his attention. He'd probably only slept for about three hours but he knew he'd drag himself to school if it killed him.

He skipped all of his morning classes because those were the ones he had with either Quinn or Puck. He wasn't ready to face them yet although he wasn't sure if they had come in today at all. He roamed about the halls searching for Rachel, knowing she had to be there somewhere, but was getting frustrated by the group of freshmen who had decided to follow him around. The story of what had happened the day before had spread like wildfire and the entire school seemed to be getting up in his business. Some people looked at him with pity and others with awe. Finn had always had a temper but he'd never really beaten someone up before and he assumed this had impressed some of the younger kids who were fascinated by fights. He also noticed some people seemed scared of him now and he wondered what Rachel would think when she heard about what he did. He hadn't told her that part of the story and it was only in thinking about her reaction that he began to feel ashamed.

Lunch came and went and he still hadn't found her. He knew she'd be in biology but Quinn would be there too. His desire to see her was greater than his fear of seeing Quinn, and what that might do to him, so he decided to go and promised himself that he'd look at no one but Rachel.

He took his seat in the back of class and tried not to watch the door. He was ten minutes early and he didn't have any of his books but learning was the last thing on his mind. As his classmates began to filter into the room they all stopped to stare at him, probably wondering why he'd chosen this lesson to actually attend today. He looked down at his hands trying to focus on them and avoid seeing who exactly was walking into the room. He was sure if he caught Quinn's eye that he'd either start crying like a girl or feel an urge to punch someone again. He could feel his eyes drooping as the lack of sleep he'd gotten last night began to take it's toll.

"Finn?" He looked up as Rachel sat down beside him. "I didn't think you'd be in school today, I would've come to find you sooner if I'd known."

She looked concerned. He didn't want her to be concerned, he wanted her to be happy. He only ever wanted Rachel to be happy.

"You really thought I'd miss your big moment? Nothing could keep me from seeing you win that solo, you deserve it." He smiled his first genuine smile of the day as the feeling of uneasiness that had been brewing all morning started to dissipate now that he'd found her.

"Oh god. The diva off. I completely forgot! I haven't even prepared for it, I was going to do that last night..." Her voice trailed off as if she was afraid to mention it.

"Yeah, sorry about that. But I'm sure you'll be great Rachel. You're always great." He saw a flash of blonde hair in his peripheral vision and willed himself not to turn and see who'd just come in. He heard Mrs Hancock come in a few moments later and Rachel opened her pad ready to take notes, throwing him a grateful smile in the process.

Biology flew by quicker than he wanted. He spent the entire lesson just staring at Rachel as she wrote furiously, making sure to take down every word spoken. A few times he was tempted to pass her a note and start up a conversation but he was enjoying just watching her. Now that he understood all the feelings he felt when he looked at her he didn't feel any shame in staring. As he gazed at her he wondered how he'd gone so long thinking they were just friends. He knew he was attracted to her, as any person with eyes should be, but he had thought it was just his crazy teenage hormones doing all the talking. He used to focus on her lips or boobs or butt, marvelling at just how incredible her body really was but now he looked at her face, taking it all in. Had her eyelashes always been that long? He had an urge to kiss them but decided that might go down better later when they were alone instead of in a classroom full of students, who he was sure were still watching him. He noticed a slight scar she had on her forehead and reached out to stroke it, wanting to ask where she got it. She grabbed his hand before it touched her face and just held it on the table as she continued taking notes. He found the look of deep concentration on her face both amusing and strangely sexy. She obviously didn't want to be disturbed while she was working.

The bell rang and shook him out of the daze he'd found himself in. For the past hour he hadn't thought of anything but Rachel and it was absolutely blissful. Now everyone was moving and making noise around him and all the thoughts he'd pushed out of his mind came tumbling back in. He looked towards the front of the room for the first time since he'd come in and instantly wished he hadn't. Quinn was seated a few rows in front of him with her head on Brittany's shoulder. She was crying. He felt an urge to scream at her, something about not having the right to cry when it was all her fault, but Rachel pulled him up from his seat at that moment and dragged him from the room.

"What lesson have you got now?" She stopped in front of her locker to put her biology books away.

"Umm, gym I think. I'm not gonna go though." Puck would be there. If he could even move his legs this morning.

"You can help me then. I have English but we're reading Hamlet and I know it back to front so I think now would be a perfect time to rehearse. I need to be ready this afternoon, if I'm not absolutely perfect then there's no way I'll get a majority vote and I don't think I could stand to see everyone vote against me." She brushed her hair behind her ear and folded her arms across her chest, pouting slightly.

"Well you've already got my vote." He unfolded her arms and took her hand in his, leading her towards the auditorium.


RACHEL

Rachel spent twenty minutes warming up her vocal chords as Finn sat at the piano playing random notes. She was finding it hard to concentrate as she stared at the back of his head. She'd been on her guard with him all afternoon, absolutely terrified that at any moment he would realise that last night had been a mistake and he didn't really want to be with her. She was trying not to get her hopes up but he was making it difficult. He had such love in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

He just sat mesmerized as she went through Defying Gravity three times before the bell rang.

She walked over to the piano and sat down beside him. They had a few minutes before they had to be at glee club and she was growing tired of resisting him. She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. He turned to smile at her and touched her forehead.

"Where did you get this scar?" He was running his finger up and down the small indentation.

"Oh, that. I fell off the junior training beam when I was 7 and hit my head on someone's shoe. Very embarrassing." She moved her hand down and rested it on the back of his neck.

"I think it's sexy." He leaned over and kissed her where his fingers had been moments ago.

The closeness lit a fire inside her and she pulled his head down to kiss him frantically. She tangled her fingers up his hair and felt his hands reaching around her back, pulling her closer. She felt something wet on her face and realised he was crying again. She started to pull away but he held her close to him.

"It's okay Rachel, I'm just happy. You make me happy." He smiled at her and she felt her heart beating furiously in her chest.

"We have to get to glee anyway. I know it'll be hard but I won't leave you. I promise." She kissed his tear stained cheek and they got up, wrapping their arms around each other as they walked out of the auditorium.


AN: Next chapter, the diva off! Quinn & Puck will be there, but no more tears I promise. I don't like making Finn cry, it makes my heart hurt XD