Ch. 7
After glee club practice, Finn walked to his truck. He opened the driver's side door and stepped in. He immediately banged his head against the steering wheel. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Finn thought. I am such a complete idiot. Suddenly, a hand knocked against the window. Finn looked up to see Puck, and rolled down the window.
"What do you want?" Finn angrily asked.
"Dude, calm down. I just came to see if you were okay. I mean, you looked like a kicked puppy after Berry left," Puck answered. Finn just nodded and turned his gaze away from Puck.
"Do you want me to talk to her? I mean, I'm already going to Berry's house, so it won't be out of my way," Puck offered.
"Would you, man?" Finn hopefully asked.
"Of course, dude. You're my best friend, I'll help you any way I can." Puck smiled, and Finn returned a small one in return.
"I'll text you when she calmed down some, which might take a little while. When those Berry girls are emotional, they stay emotional for a long time." Puck and Finn chuckled. Puck finally walked away to his car and drove in the direction of the Berry house. Finn slowly pulled out of the parking lot and drove home.
Puck walked up to the Berry's door, and slowly knocked. Since him and Rachel have been spending more time together, he was over quite often. Rachel answered the door and immediately smiled.
"Hello, Noah. Would you like to come in?" Rachel greeted him perkily.
"'Sup Berry," Puck said as he walked in. "'Sup other Berry," he said when he noticed Alison sitting on the couch. When Puck walked closer, he realized that she was eating a carton of chocolate ice cream and surrounded by tissues. She had changed out of her Cheerios uniform into sweatpants and a cami, and she wiped all of her makeup off. Her eyes were puffy and her nose was red and swollen. To put it nicely, she looked like a hot mess.
"You okay, Berry?" Puck hesitantly asked. Alison finally turned to look at him.
"Hello, Noah. I'm actually not doing well, but thank you for asking," Alison replied. She then blew her nose and took another bite of ice cream.
"Are you actually eating Rachel's gross vegan ice cream?" Puck asked.
"Yes, I am. And, it really is gross. But it's the only ice cream in the house, so….." Alison trailed off, only to eat another bite of the ice cream.
"You need real ice cream. Not that fake tofu shit,"
"Noah! Language!" Rachel interrupted.
"Fine, that fake tofu stuff. Better?"
"Yes," Rachel said as she kissed his cheek. Puck took out his phone to text Finn.
she is so out of it dude. u really screwed it up this time.
shit, dude. what am i gonna do? Finn replied. Puck suddenly got an idea.
come over in 10 min with chocolate ice cream.
why?
just do it frankenteen. Puck put his phone away and looked to Rachel.
"Rachel, I need to talk to you alone. Do you think we can go for a walk?" Puck asked. Surprise flashed over Rachel's face.
"Sure, Noah. Let me just say goodbye to Al and we can go." Rachel walked over to Alison and gave her a hug.
"You need anything, just call me okay, Al?"
"Okay, Rae." Alison then took another bite of the ice cream. Rachel just nodded her head and walked to the door. Puck and her walked out and then walked down the porch.
"You texted Finn didn't you?" Rachel asked as soon as they were out the door.
"Yeah. He's coming over in like, 5 minutes. They need some alone time, just like us."
"I actually agree with you this time Noah. Let's take a walk in the park. It will be so romantic."
"Sure Berry. Whatever you want." Puck grabbed Rachel's hand and they walked away from the house.
2 minutes later, Finn pulled up to the Berry house, chocolate ice cream in hand. He didn't know why he needed the ice cream, but he figured that it was important. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, expecting Rachel or Puck. What he didn't expect was for Alison to open the door, wearing sweatpants and her hair in a messy bun.
"Finn! What-what are you doing here?" Alison stuttered.
"Puck texted me saying I should come over with chocolate ice cream," Finn nervously said while looking at the ground.
"Is it real ice cream? Not the vegan stuff Rachel has?"
"No, it's the real stuff. Rachel's ice cream sucks. It's so gross." Alison invited Finn into the living room.
"I've been eating it for the past 20 minutes. I need the real stuff. This vegan crap is just not doing it for me," Alison said laughing. Finn froze, and Alison realized what she just said.
"I swear, you know? I'm not exactly like Rachel. I swear like a normal teenager too," Alison explained. Finn nodded his head and sat on the couch. Alison sat next to him and picked up the tissues. Finn opened the ice cream and grabbed the spoon from the other carton. He took a bite from the ice cream and hummed in approval.
"Don't hog the ice cream, Finn. I want some too," Alison said while taking the spoon from his hand and taking a bite for herself. She too hummed in approval.
"Thank you sooo much. I don't know how much longer I could have eaten Rachel's weird tofu milk ice cream," Alison said to Finn after a few minutes of eating.
"S'cool. But," Finn began as he turned to face Alison in the eyes, "why did you run out after I sang? Did I not sound good or something?" Finn then took the spoon from her hand and put the carton on the table. There was a silence before Alison answered.
"No, you sounded wonderful, perfect even. It's just….I never had anyone sing to me that way before."
"What way?"
"In a romantic way," Alison said while blushing, Finn blushing as well.
"I like you Finn, probably more than I should. But, I can't help it."
"I like you way a lot too Ali. Like, I really, really, really like you."
"But-but I have a boyfriend, Finn. And Ben is usually really nice."
"But you told me you don't even like him."
"I know, but-"
"But what? Is your reputation more important than you being happy?" Finn yelled.
"Don't you dare try to criticize me, Finn Hudson. Rachel told me what you did last year to her. Did you ever wonder that the reason I didn't go out with you is because of her?" Finn stared into Alison's eyes and saw tears brimming in them.
"But Rachel likes Puck now. Her and me are friends now."
"Not her feelings, but what you did to her. I'm-I'm afraid that-" Alison trailed off looking down. Finn lifted her chin up with his hand.
"Afraid that what?" Finn softly asked.
"I'm afraid that you'll break my heart," Alison whispered. Tears began rolling down her cheeks. Finn wiped them away, one by one.
"I'm not going to break your heart, Ali. I didn't mean to hurt Rachel last year, but she forgave me," Finn said moving closer, Alison's face still cradled in his hands.
"Promise?" Alison whispered against his lips.
"Promise," Finn whispered back before his lips crashed against hers. Alison moved her hands to the back of Finn's neck, intertwining her fingers. Finn lifted Alison into his lap. Alison, surprised by this move, automatically moved her body closer to Finn's. Their lips continued pressing against each other's when Alison opened her mouth, Finn's tongue meeting hers in the middle. Her tongue caressed his, causing Finn to moan. Alison disconnected her lips from Finn's and looked straight into his eyes. His warm cinnamon eyes were clouded with lust. Finn looked deeper into her eyes and got momentarily lost in her blue-green orbs. They looked like the ocean, well what he remembers from the book he read in 5th grade about ocean animals.
Alison and Finn were still staring into each others' eyes. Panting heavily, when Alison's phone blared "E.T." by Katy Perry. Alison reached over for her phone and opened it while still in Finn's lap.
"Hi Ben," Alison greeted. Finn heard a voice on the other line that sounded angry.
"Ben-Ben. Stop. Can I say something? It's really important," Alison said after the other voice talked very loudly for a few minutes.
"I think we need to break up," Alison said. Finn's face broke out into a grin.
"We just aren't working. I'm sorry but, we're over. Bye now," Alison said with a smile. She hung up and threw the phone over her shoulder.
"Where were we?" Alison seductively asked.
"We were at the part when I asked you to Breadsticks tonight," Finn flirted back. Alison's smile just got wider.
"We can leave after I get changed. It'll take me 10 minutes, 20 minutes top." Alison got off Finn and ran up the stairs. 15 minutes later, she came down wearing a yellow knee length dress with white flats and a white cardigan. Her hair was now lightly curled and she had put on light makeup.
"You look beautiful," Finn said. Alison broke out into a deep blush and mumbled thank you. They left for Breadsticks.
When they arrived at Breadsticks, Finn pulled Alison's chair out for her.
"Thank you, Finn. So chivalrous," Alison said. Now it was Finn's turn to blush.
"They have a never ending supply of Breadsticks here," Finn nervously said.
"I know, Finn. I've been here before."
"Oh, alright. So, what looks good to you?" Finn asked as he looked down at the menu.
"I think I might order the chicken parmesan. What would you like?"
"I want the lasagna," Finn answered. A waitress came and took their orders. While they were waiting for their food to arrive, Finn and Alison talked about their favorite movie to favorite color to favorite style of music. Their food finally arrived and Finn immediately dug in, spreading spaghetti sauce all over his face. Alison started laughing uncontrollably.
"What?" Finn asked mid-chew, though it sounded more like "Wah?"
"Nothing. You just eat like a 4 year old," Alison replied while wiping Finn's face clean with a napkin. Finn finished chewing and swallowed.
"So, why did you move to Lima?" Finn asked.
"Well, as you know, my father received a job promotion to France. I didn't want to attend a new school with nobody I knew, so I suggested I move in with Rachel, Uncle Leroy, and Uncle Hiram. Of course, my uncles said yes. So, here I am."
"But, why didn't your mom stay in Connecticut with you?"
"Well, my parents and I don't have the best relationship. We love each other, of course, but we don't really talk. When I used to visit Rachel in the summer, Uncle Leroy and Uncle Hiram felt more like my parents. My mom and dad wanted me to stay in Connecticut by myself but, I'm just a kid. I can't take care of myself right now."
"So, you and Rachel are close?"
"I think of Rachel like a sister. We have the same views, enjoy the same things. We're best friends." Finn and Alison finished eating, and they soon left the restaurant. The ride back to the Berry house was quiet, with only the radio for noise. Finn walked Alison to the door.
"Tonight was really fun," Finn said.
"Yes, it was," Alison agreed.
"I know we only went on one date, but I was wondering if-"
"If what Finn?
"If you could be my girlfriend?" Finn nervously asked. Alison wrapped her arms around Finn's neck and kissed him.
"Does that answer your question?" Alison asked. Finn only nodded before wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her again. They pulled away when the porch lights flashed, meaning it was time for Alison to come into the house and say goodnight.
"Goodnight, Finn."
"Goodnight, Ali." Finn kissed Alison one more time before leaving. Alison reluctantly opened the door and went inside. She was greeted with the faces of her Uncle Leroy and Uncle Hiram. They both had stern looks on their face.
"Do you know what time it is, young lady?" Uncle Leroy asked.
"It's 8:30. I'm not breaking my curfew," Alison answered back. Both of her uncles faces relaxed and they all started laughing.
"We know, Al. We were just playing with you," Uncle Hiram said. Alison kissed both of her uncles goodnight before walking up the stairs. She went into Rachel's room, the room next to hers and sat on the bed. Rachel was at her computer desk, updating her My Space videos. Alison sighed dreamily.
"Nice date?" Rachel playfully asked.
"The best date of my life. Finn was just so sweet, and so charming, and so adorable. He even asked me to be his girlfriend!" Alison replied excitedly.
"But, what about Ben?"
"I broke up with him. It just wasn't working out."
"Are you sure you want to jump right into another relationship?" Alison looked up at Rachel.
"Yes, I am sure. Mine and Ben's relationship was purely for reputation purposes on both parts. We didn't really like each other. Finn, on the other hand, really likes me, and I really like him."
"I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't. And if I do, it's my fault, not yours." Alison walked over to Rachel and hugged her.
"You're my best friend, you know that?" Alison asked.
"Yeah, I know that. You're my best friend too." Rachel pulled away from her.
"So? Is he a really good kisser?" Rachel asked. Alison laughed and jumped back on the bed. The rest of the night was spent gossiping about kids from school to talking about their boyfriends (Puck asked Rachel out on their walk together). They both fell asleep on Rachel's bed after hours of talking.