A/N: Hello! Sorry for the loooong hiatus! Over the past two years I have graduated with my bachelor's degree, gotten married, bought a house, and been searching for a teaching job. Recently I have been seeing some activity on this story and it has been hanging over me. I really hope it turns out to be worth the wait. Keep reading and please review! (Be kind! I have no beta :P)

Jar of Hearts – Chapter 7

This day could just go to hell. Seriously, first Finn shoots me down before I can sing the song I have specially prepared and dedicated to him, then I forget my homework at school, then I go back to get it only to find Finn making out with Santana in the doorway, then to top it all off I get into a car accident! Life sucks…

I finally became somewhat aware of what was happening as the paramedics were pulling me from the car. Slowly I opened my eyes and looked around me. I could see Finn standing not too far away just sort of staring at me, looking like someone had punched him in the stomach, and his eyes didn't really seem to be focused on anything. What was he even doing here?

I suddenly realized that someone was saying my name, and I turned my head to look at the paramedic who had been loading me onto a stretcher. "Miss Berry, can you hear me?"

I nodded my head a little and tried to regain some focus.

"Can you remember what happened?" he asked.

"I was crying, and I ran a red light," I said. "Then I got hit by a truck and my car spun into the telephone pole." It was then that I noticed the throbbing in my head. "I guess I must have hit my head on the steering wheel." I raised my hand up to touch the spot where it hurt only to find it was warm and wet. I winced and sucked in a sharp breath at the stinging sensation I got when my finger touched the open wound. I really hope this doesn't leave a scar. I thought to myself.

The paramedic didn't have time to get out his next question before Finn came rushing over, looking like he had just seen a ghost and whispering my name like he hadn't seen my in years and couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Rachel?" He asked tentatively, and when I looked over at him and made eye contact he smiled so big I thought his face might just split in half. "Rachel!" He called out and he took my face in both of his hands pulling me into a frantic kiss. I could sense every electric emotion in that kiss from fear and stress to passion and . . .love? For a moment I allowed myself to drown in that kiss and let him breathe life back into me. I could feel the air fill my lungs and the blood pulse through my veins. I could feel myself flying, my heart soaring. And then I pictured him passionately kissing Santana in the school earlier, and I tore myself away looking at him with confusion and hurt. Why was he here? Why was he kissing me?

His expression almost made me sorry to have pulled away. He looked so hurt and confused. Like a puppy who had just been abandoned by his beloved owner.

Before either of us could speak, the paramedic cleared his throat, breaking the trance Finn and I had been in. "Well, I'll catch up with you later, Rach. I have something I wanna say." He smiled that lopsided smile of his, looking so hopeful I was left feeling a little guilty and a lot confused.

After answering some more questions from the paramedics and getting my head wound treated, my dads took me home for my lecture on safe driving and my grounding; I would be riding the school bus for the rest of the year! Right about that time the doorbell rang and I let out a little sigh of relief. I understood why they were so mad, but it's still not fun to hear.

When I heard Finn's voice greeting my dad my eyes shot to the door to see him coming through the door, looking a little nervous and very concerned. I wonder what he wanted to talk to me about?

"Hey, Rach, how're ya feeling?" He asked when he saw me sitting on the couch and began to walk over. I thought I saw him cringe a little when he caught sight of my bandages… Probably just my imagination.

"Oh, you know, about like I've been hit by a truck," I sighed. Funny how sometimes clichés are literally the truth. "My dads grounded me from my car for the rest of the year, so I'll be riding the school bus from now on it seems. I am so not looking forward to the additional "quality time" with Jacob Ben Israel." I shuddered at the thought of having to fight off Jacob every day again.

"I could drive you to school." Finn said tentatively and – I thought – a little bit hopefully? I must be mistaken. I wanted to jump at the offer, but I reminded myself of him kissing Santana, and of him lying about his first time with her. How many more times had they been together?

"That might be awkward. You know know, since we are supposed to be giving each other space for a while." I wasn't sure I could handle being so close to him for 15 minutes twice a day for the next five months and sustain even more heartbreak.

"That's actually kinda what I wanted to talk to you about." Finn started. I must have done more damage to my brain in that car wreck than I thought, because I could have sworn he was really nervous. Was he getting ready to say he wanted us back together? I must be out of my mind…

"See, I knew for a while now that things were all wrong between us, I just didn't want to admit it." My heart skipped a beat a little when he looked at me then. "I knew when we broke up that there would never be another girl for me. That you were the only one I wanted. But I was hurt and thought that we would have time to sort all of this out. I thought we would have time to forgive and forget and move on together later." He paused again and looked deep into my eyes. This was what I had wanted to hear for weeks now, but a tiny part of me was screaming inside, reminding me of all the heartbreak this relationship had caused. All I could do was stare back into his eyes as he continued to talk. "Today, when I saw your car all smashed up and the paramedics were putting you on a stretcher, I realized that we don't have unlimited time. Something bad could happen at any time and I would never have gotten to tell you I'm sorry." He took both of my hands in his then and said, "I still love you, Rachel, and I don't want to waste any more time without you."

At this point my heart was jumping for joy and my insides were filled with little dancing butterflies. My smile slowly grew until I must have looked crazy because Finn's smile got bigger too. Then his cell phone rang.

The ringtone alone turned my blood to ice and reminded me why I should be cautious before jumping back into Finn's arms again. As Madonna belted out the chorus to "Like a Virgin" and Finn scrambled to shut it off, I knew it was Santana calling, and I knew I needed time to think. I needed Finn to leave.

"Well, it sounds like you have a call. We can talk about this later-" I began, but Finn finally got his phone to be quiet and he cut me off.

"Sorry! I'm sorry! I-" Finn stammered, but I didn't want to hear his excuses. I needed him to go. Now I was the one who needed space.

I held up my hands in a defensive gesture, "I'm not being polite, Finn. I need to process all of this. Today has been really... never mind. The point is I have a lot to process and think about and you being here is not helping." I looked at him, pleading with my eyes for him to understand and just go. His face fell and I knew he got the message.

"Yeah...Yeah you're right." He said standing up and brushing his hands against his jeans. "I just hope you feel better, and I want you to know that I love you. Nothing has ever changed that...Nothing could ever change that."

I watched silently as he lowered his head with a sad smile and walked to the door. Halfway out he turned around and said, "See you in Glee tomorrow," and left. As the door closed with a gently "click," the tears began to roll down my cheek. I covered my mouth to try and stifle the small sobs escaping my mouth. I had some serious thinking to do. And tomorrow was going to be even harder than today.