Later that day, Finn and I were sitting on the floor, our backs pressed against my bed, as the music softly played in the background. We both had small smiles on your faces, the both of us enjoying this moment. We were listening to an Oasis live set. Unfortunately it wasn't their Knebworth set, but this concert was phenomenal anyway. Bobbing my head along to the music, the two of us would occasionally start quietly singing along to the songs that were playing. Finn reached out his hand, and he wrote across my thigh: EPIC. I looked at him and I grinned, nodding, and then shivers ran through my whole body, heading the beginning chords for the next song. Finn smiled at me,
"Ah love it when a song has that effect on ya."
I blushed slightly and I smiled bigger at him, listening as Oasis began to sing,
"Is it my imagination,
Or have I finally found something worth living for?
I was looking for some action,
But all I found was cigarettes and alcohol."
"Fuckin' 'ell they're good at this 'un." Finn commented.
I nodded, their lyrics imprinting into my brain,
"Yeah."
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? Finn wrote on my thigh. Looking over at him, I smiled,
"Nothin'. Jus' really lovin' this song."
Finn smiled back at me, leaning over and kissing my lips softly once. He then leaned back, his head resting back against my bed, and then we both jumped, hearing the door close downstairs. We gave each other a look, before we heard footsteps and then my mum opened my bedroom door,
"Rachel-oh, hi, Finn."
My eyes widened slightly, and my head turned to Finn, as he smiled politely at me,
"Hi, Mrs. Bouchtat."
"Oh, please. Call me Linda, darling." Finn nodded, and I looked back at my mum, raising my eyebrows at her. "Is uh, is Finn staying for tea?"
I nodded,
"Yeah." I replied, knowing that he'd be staying all night too. But I wasn't going to and brag about that. Mum'd have a fit.
Mum smiled and nodded,
"Excellent." I rolled my eyes as she turned and then she paused, looking over her shoulder. "Is casserole okay, Finn?"
"Uh, yeah. Casserole's fine, thanks, Mrs-uh, I mean, Linda."
Mum smiled at him and then left, leaving the bedroom door open. I sighed deeply, knowing that it was a sign. A sign that said, "no funny business." I scoffed inwardly. Like we would with you in the house. I thought to myself. I looked at Finn, and I noticed that he was smiling at me. I opened my mouth to speak, but he shook his head and leaned closer, pecking my lips softly,
"Ah finally get t'meet your mum."
I rolled my eyes and smiled at him,
"Ooh, such joys." I replied sarcastically.
Finn rolled his eyes this time, and then he took hold of my hand,
"Hey, you've met me mam an' dad. It's about time ah met your mum and Karim."
"Yeah, well I think it'll be just my mum today, cause Karim has night school. He's wantin' to speak English."
Finn nodded,
"Oh, that's good. Then you can have a conversation with him."
I smiled and nodded,
"That's what I said."
"Rachel Earl! Your dinner is ready! This is the last time I'm going to tell you!" My mum called from the kitchen.
"Chill out, we're right here." I said, walking into the kitchen, Finn walking behind me. Mum set our plates on the table,
"You two eat in here, and I'll eat in the living room, okay?"
"I don't wanna be in the way, Linda. Ah don't mind."
My mum smiled at Finn and then she looked at me,
"We could all sit in the living room?"
I shrugged and nodded,
"Alright cool."
I picked up my plate and Finn did the same, and then mum walked into the living room. Finn kissed my cheek softly, before following her out, and I smiled to myself, following behind Finn. My nerves were beginning to surface, at the thought of my mum and Finn actually having a conversation. What would they talk about? What embarrassing things would my mum say? About me? Mum sat down on the armchair, and I sat down on the sofa next to her, Finn sitting beside me. As we all began to eat, I glanced at Finn, seeing that he had a small, knowing smile on his face. I felt my cheeks blush slightly, as I shifted in my seat, and then I looked down at my plate.
"So, Finn? What year are you in at school?" My mum asked, before putting her fork into her mouth.
"I'm in year 13." He explained.
We all began to eat in silence and then my mum set her fork down,
"What're you planning on doing after school? College? University? A job?"
I gave my mum a look, and instantly returned it back to me, making me sigh and roll my eyes. Finn swallowed his food and then he cleared his throat slightly,
"I'm wantin' to be a radio DJ." Finn explained. "I just-I mean." He paused slightly. "I have this image of how I want my life, and all it's ever been for some time, is being in the radio business."
I glanced at my mum, seeing that she was smiling at Finn,
"Well the radio is a good business."
Finn nodded enthusiastically,
"Yeah. Ah was talkin' to Rae about it the other day. I've thought about setting up my own record shop, and then in the back, I could have a radio booth, where I could broadcast from."
Mum smiled and she gave me a look. Not just any look. A look that showed me that she was impressed.
"Ah told Rae that I'd like to have her working with me. Of course, I'm not gonna make her. I know that Rae is still having trouble deciding on a definite future right now. But the offer still stands."
I smiled at Finn, and he looked at me, smiling back, and then we all began to eat again. After a few silent beats, I licked my lips,
"How was work, mum?" I asked.
Flickering my eyes up at her, I saw her looking at me. Okay, so maybe I didn't ask every single day, but most of the time I try to, she's busy with Karim.
"It was tiring. Got what I needed to do, though. So that's good." She smiled at me, as I nodded.
It had reached the 9:30 mark, and my mum was now giving me the look. Not just any look. A look that told me, if Finn didn't leave in the next five minutes, then she'd embarrass the fuck out of me. Sighing slightly, I placed my finger on Finn's leg. IT'S TIME. I told him. Finn nodded, moving his finger onto my thigh. BEDROOM WINDOW? Finn wrote, and I nodded, looking up and meeting Finn's gaze. I smiled as Finn smiled at me, and then I bit my lip, as he leaned in, kissing my lips softly once,
"I'll see you soon, yeah?" He cooed.
I nodded,
"Definitely."
We both stood up, and Finn picked up his leather jacket from beside him, and he shrugged it on. We both walked over to the front door, and I opened the door. Finn looked at me and he grinned big, before looking at my mum,
"Thanks for having me, Linda."
My mum smiled at him,
"It was no trouble, Finn."
Finn kissed my forehead softly, giving me a wink, before walking out of the front door and down the driveway. I closed the door behind him, and when I turned round, I saw that my mum was still staring a me. I shrugged slightly, shifting on the ground,
"What?" I asked defensively.
"Finn seems nice."
I smiled at the mention of his name,
"He is." I nodded.
"He really cares about you, Rae. Remember that."
I swallowed slowly watching her, and I nodded agin,
"I-I will." I stuttered.
I made my way past her, running upstairs and into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. Finn was climbing through the bedroom window when I came in, and his head shot in my direction, grinning at me as he climbed in. He closed the window, and then I walked over to him, with a smile on my face,
"My mum approves of you."
Finn's grin widened, cupping my face, and he kissed my lips deeply once,
"Well that's good."
I nodded enthusiastically, and then Finn shrugged out of his leather jacket, and he threw it on the floor. As he slid off his converses, I made my way over to my draws, and I got out Finn's hoodie, as well as a pair of pyjama bottoms. Changing out of my clothes and into my pyjama bottoms and Finn's hoodie, I then picked up my clothes, and I made my way out of my bedroom, throwing them into the bathroom laundry basket. I bit my lip, and then I made my way downstairs,
"Mum?" I said softly, walking into the living room, seeing that Karim was now home. She looked up at me. "I'm off to bed. Night."
"Okay, goodnight Rachel."
"Goodnight." Karim said, and I smiled at him, waving slightly, before walking back upstairs and into my bedroom.
Finn was standing beside my bed in just his boxers. I walked past the heap of his clothes on the floor, and then when I reached him, he kissed my shoulder softly, before I climbed under the covers. Climbing in after me, Finn wrapped his arms around my waist, as I snuggled into him,
"Mm, I've missed this." Finn mumbled against the side of my head.
I sighed in contentment, and I nodded,
"Me too." I spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry for what I do to Archie."
I swallowed slowly and then I looked up at him,
"Forget about it." I whispered.
Finn brushed some hair away from my face,
"Did it hurt? When ya-" He cut himself off, quickly clearing his throat and then swallowing slowly.
I looked up at him, my face filled with sympathy as I nodded,
"Yeah. It did. But that was the point at the time."
I noticed that Finn tensed, but he didn't show it in his face. He kissed my forehead softly, and then he nodded, turning his gaze up to the ceiling. I frowned to myself, reaching up and stroking his cheek softly,
"I wouldn't ever do it again, though." I told him.
Finn looked at me, desperation filled in his eyes,
"Promise?" He whispered.
I nodded,
"Promise." I snuggled myself closer to Finn. "I don't wanna sleep yet." I admitted.
"Mmm, me either." Finn murmured, kissing the side of my head softly.
I stared up at Finn, my eyes filled with awe, and it was a wonder to me how I've never noticed him before. We were both from around here, so why had I never noticed him? In a record shop, in the chippy, the cafe, anywhere. It seemed pretty strange that we'd never met before I came home from the mental home. In fact, it almost seemed impossible. We liked the same things, we went to the same places. How did we not meet sooner? But maybe that was a good thing. A blessing in disguise. Because them Finn wouldn't have taken one look at me and took the piss. At least the way he met me, he had to be nice to me, because I was Chloe's best friend. As I felt Finn stroke the bottom of my back softly, I snuggled into him, as we both became lost in our own thoughts. I wondered what Finn was thinking about. Was he thinking similar things to me? I hoped not. Because what if his subconscious starts questioning what he ever saw in me? My chest tightened instantly, and I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. I knew I was getting myself into a state, but I couldn't help it. My mind always won. I rolled my eyes, trying to focus on something. Anything else that wasn't negative thoughts nagging around in my mind.
"Do you think I'm over-protective?" Finn mumbled softly.
I looked up at him and shrugged,
"A little, but I like it. Why?"
Finn shrugged slightly and then he looked down at me,
"Chloe 'ad a massive rant to me on the phone this afternoon. Claims I was bein' a fuckin' over-protective bastard, that needed to give you some space."
I sat up and looked down at him, my face filled with disgust,
"You serious?"
Finn nodded,
"Yeah."
I took a steady breath, running my hands through my hair,
"What gives her the right?" I asked, mainly to myself, as I shook my head.
Finn leaned up on his elbows, sighing slightly,
"Babe, let it go. Please? Ah din't mean to cause ought between you an' Chloe."
I nodded at him, but inside, my blood was boiling. I was so fucking angry. How dare Chloe. How dare she turn around and complain about my relationship. Finn wrapped his arms around me, as he laid back and he laid me back too. Resting my head on my chest, Finn kissed the top of my head softly,
"Let's sleep, Rae-Rae."
I nodded,
"Okay." I murmured.
"I love you."
"I love you too." I replied, and after a few minutes, I glanced up at him, seeing that he was fast asleep. Carefully moving out of his grip, I sat up again, and I placed my head in my hands. I shook my head, as the shock washed over me. I leaned over Finn, turning on my lamp, and picking up my diary. I swallowed slowly, leaning my back against the wall, as I opened my diary to a new clean page:
Dear Diary,
How dare she! How fucking dare she! She
thinks because she's Princess Chloe, that everything
she says is fucking right! Well it isn't! She knows nothing
about Finn's and my relationship! And he is not
over-protective of me! Is he fuck! He cares about me!
I finally have someone that cares about me, that actually
asks me how I'm doing, and she's trying to take that away
from me? It's bad enough that she made me feel like shit
for weeks when I first got out of the hospital, asking me about
my sexual experiences, when she knew full well that
I was a virgin, making me look like a fucking Barbie doll
for my date with Archie, thankfully he didn't show up, and
I didn't have him looking at me and fucking laughing
for looking like a complete twat. She also said I was fat,
and that boys don't like fat girls because they're
scared that their friends will laugh. Well, she was
fucking wrong. Because Finn did love me. In fact, he's
fucking told me that he wants to marry me someday! And
I love him. That's all that matters. He's not over-protective
and he's not anything else. He's my Finn, and I love him.
I'm gonna have to talk to her and set this straight. I am
sick and tired of being in Chloe's shadow. And I think,
honestly, she misses that. She was the girl that everyone
loved and all the boys loved her, talked to her, etc. But
now that I had Finn and Izzy had Chloe, she had no one
to feel superior to. And that wasn't my problem. Ugh, I am
so fucking mad right now.
I closed my diary shut, quickly putting it back and I turned off my lamp. Laying back down onto Finn's chest, I snuggled into his side, and I closed my eyes; feeling like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I slowly fell into a deep slumber, the sound of Finn's heartbeat calming me instantly.
I woke up the next day, seeing that I was alone. There was a small note on the pillow beside me, and I picked it up, reading it:
Heard your mum and Karim wake up around 6, so
I quickly made a dash for it, before they went
downstairs. Miss you already. I love you, and
see you at the pub. Finn. Xo
I smiled to myself, climbing out of bed, and I stuffed Finn's note into my diary, and then I walked over to my wardrobe, getting out a pair of faded blue jeans, a black long-sleeved t-shirt, and then a red t-shirt. I quickly changed into my clothes, and then I got out my red basketball converses, pulling them onto my feet and then fastening them. I got up, tying my hair up into a ponytail, and then I walked into the bathroom, brushing my teeth.
I arrived at Chloe's house twenty minutes. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door, and then I shifted on the ground, moving the bag strap on my shoulder slightly, as I waited impatiently. Chloe opened the door, and her eyes lit up,
"Rae, hi!" She seemed surprised and also worried.
"Can I come in?" I breathed out. "Ah need t'talk to ya."
"Uh—sure." Chloe stuttered, stepping aside and opening the door wider.
I walked inside and then we both made our way upstairs and into Chloe's bedroom. She gestured me to sit down, but I refused, standing up in the middle of her room, folding my arms over my chest, as I stared at her,
"What the fuck are ya playin' at, Chloe?" I asked her.
She was taken back at my outburst, as she stared up at me,
"What do y'mean?" She asked quietly.
I scoffed,
"Y'know exactly what ah mean, Chlo. Why the fuck did ya tell Finn that he's over-protective?"
"Because he is?" She replied, the obvious duh implied in her face.
I rolled my eyes,
"No he isn't, Chloe. He's perfect for me. he makes me feel better, he asks me how my day was, and he actually cares about me."
Chloe scoffed,
"What? and we don't?"
"No." I shook my head. "I'm not sayin' that, Chloe. Ah'm just saying that instead of everyone askin' you how you are, it's nice to have some of the attention on me for a change." I shrugged slightly.
Chloe rolled her eyes,
"It's always on you, Rae. That's what you don't get. The whole gang loves you! and you didn't have to do anything. You were yourself, and they fell in love with you! me? I had to try so hard to get 'em to like me. So don't say that it's all about me, because you're wrong."
I shook my head,
"I'm not just on about the gang. I'm on about all the boys and shit."
"What're you trying to say, Rae?"
