Author's Note: I've just realised I've never left a disclaimer. I don't own anything but the plot and a couple of characters here and there. Thanks a bunch for the reviews, they are motivation! I'd love more though, so keep on posting! And I've planned this whole story out, right down to the very detailey parts, I'm just wondering how many chappys to do...

SO: Would you rather have long/possibly less chapters, or shorter/possibly more chapters? It's up to you :)

Chapter 9

Finn POV

After trying all morning to find her, I finally cornered Rachel by the fountain, alone.

"Erm, hi." I mumbled, seating myself next to her. Awkward. "Look, about last night..." I began hesitantly. I don't know why I feel so nervous around her. Normal guys wouldn't care, it was just a kiss, nothing major. She was back to wearing her short skirts and I couldn't help my eyes drifting across her exposed thighs.

"Look Finn. Last night... That shouldn't have happened. Jesse... He's been really nice to me. He's asked me on a date and I said yes." I felt something similar to my insides drooping when she said that.

"Oh. Look I know you've made friends with him and everything, but-"

"Look, I'm sorry Finn. You seem like a nice enough guy but you need to stop with the flirting or whatever." She got up, leaving me to dwell on what had just passed. I don't know how many moments passed, but someone eventually took her place.

"Finn..." It was Puck.

"What do you want?" I asked shortly. He breathed out loudly.

"I heard you talking to Berry."

"Yeah... Bet you heard that she blew me off for that pussy Jesse." I snorted derisively. Stupid Jesse. He actually looks like a fucking girl.

"I don't trust her Finn, I think she's up to something." I shot around, and glared at him.

"Why? Why can't you just accept she might actually be a nice girl. Not everyone is a manipulative cow like Quinn." I stood up and Puck copied.

"Look man, I'm sorry ok? I don't know what more I can say to you now. You know, Quinn aborted the baby yesterday?" I wondered why I wasn't more shocked, or at least, more affected by the revelation. But something inside just wouldn't click, or switch on or whatever. I simply don't care about Quinn anymore, I guess.

"Is that supposed to make any difference? I'm sorry about the baby. But it's not my business. This is nothing to do with me anymore, got it?" Puck cursed under his breath.

"You know what, Finn? I've tried. But you're acting like a royal dick, you know?"

"You are one to talk, Puckerman." I stormed at him and he lost balance, dropping the bucket he had in his arms. It crashed into the fountain, drenching us both, as we both froze, staring. The water was turning red, the deepest shade by the bucket.

"Oh well done, you prize twat." Puck yelled, punching my arm aggressively.

"You know what, I'm done. Don't ever talk to me again." I roared in reply and stormed off.

I managed to finally recreate my Glee performance. Jesse looked at me oddly when I stood. I felt like saying "Watch out punk, you've got some serious competition." But I didn't. I don't know why, but I seemed to stare at Rachel the whole time. And she eyeballed me back just as defensively.

"Somebody told me, that you had a boyfriend, who looked like a girlfriend..."

Finally, school ended. As I headed to the locker to grab my stuff before leaving (thanking God Wednesdays are only half days), I spotted Rachel talking to the Jesse kid.

"Well, I'm actually going shopping." I heard her say. Jesse was leaning against my locker, looking at her, so I just lugged behind, waiting for them to clear out so I could grab my stuff.

"Well great. I'll come with you!" He replied eagerly. Did I spot a flicker of annoyance cross her face?

"Er, no. I'm going with Kurt. It won't be your sort of thing." She tried to put him off.

"With you there, it's definitely my thing." Is that what chicks think is smooth? I'm losing a hopeless battle.

"Jesse..." He paused. "I haven't really had time to really catch up with Kurt in a few days. I kind of promised an 'us' say, you know... Just me and Kurt."

"Ah, I get it. He's probably missing spending time with such an amazing girl." He kissed her cheek before heading out. Eventually, I got to the locker.

"Nice save there." She almost jumped out her skin and turned around, crossly.

"Finn! You shouldn't have been earwigging." She scolded before Kurt turned up, sunglasses on and clutching his head.

"I have had the worst headache all morning." He grumbled.

"Don't mix drinks next time." I smiled. He just looked at me. They linked arms and headed outdoors together.

The intercom sounded. "The school fountain area has been closed off for the rest of the day. He or she who spilt red dye into the fountain have until the end of the day to confess to the principle. I suggest you do it immediately, you little oafs. If I so much as catch a snippet of information regarding who did it, be warned. Miss Sylvester does not play by lax punishment."

...

Rachel POV

As we walked, arms linked, into town, Kurt took the bull by the horn and began the interrogation.

"So, Missy. I might be currently handicapped in the brain area due to the excessive alcohol I consumed last night, but I'm no idiot. Are you going to tell me about Finn or what?" I rolled my eyes.

"I think it's easier than I thought it would be. He kissed me last night!" I exclaimed. Kurt gasped dramatically.

"What, before or after you joined my side?" He teased as I poked him.

"After, when he walked me home. And he made fun of Jesse too. Something tells me he's not so keen on him."

"Well, I don't blame him. When Rachel Berry is on a mission, she usually gets what she wants." Kurt smirked. "So, how was it?" He asked, intrigued. I smiled secretively and tapped my nose. "Ooh, Princess don't make me beg!"

"Don't make me yell in your ear." I warned, laughing internally at how sore his head appeared.

"You're mean." He whined.

"It was... amazing." Kurt raised a brow. "I mean, for a first kiss. Not too slobbery, and he was really gentle. I need to find a guy like that, whose not really pushy but at the same time, not too clingy either..." Kurt poked my gut.

"Don't go all mushy and forget the plan, Missy!" He warned playfully. "But seriously though, what are you going to do about Jesse? Because he seems pretty keen on you, I must say."

"Ah. Now there's the only flaw. I mean, obviously we want him to be into me so that Finn really sees what he's missing out on. But Jesse seems REALLY into me, you know? And as much as he seems into me, so does Finn now. And..." I stopped short. The plan was to make Finn jealous by making him think I was desirable by someone whose dated a lot of girls, so that Finn could see what he's missing out on and realise that he cares about me and then BAM, break his heart when he realises there is no way in hell I would ever consider dating such a low life, who accepts dares to try and seduce a virgin.

"And that's a problem because?" Kurt frowned.

"Kurt, we only started this to make Finn stay in Glee. But now it's like we have double-motives. I'm thinking that if we break his heart again, he'll leave the club for good, because he won't be able to bear being around Jesse and me." I neglected to tell him it was also because despite what Puck said, Finn hasn't been pushy at all. And he talks to me, and asks me questions, and seems to want to, well, get to know me. That doesn't sound like such a heartless womanizer to me...

"Ah yes, that may cause a few problems." Kurt nodded as we entered the nearest makeup and pharmacy store.

"You do realise I don't really wear that much makeup, right?" I reminded Kurt, who headed straight over to the lipgloss aisle.

"I know. But you haven't tried the scented lipglosses. They are divine." I giggled.

"Well, you would know. Hey Kurt..." I began, picking up a tropical flavoured one. "Have you opened up at school...? You know about...?" Kurt cleared his throat.

"To a couple of the Glee club members... But not really publically to anyone else no." I took that as meaning his dad.

"I see." I tried on the tropical one and licked my lips. It tasted good. But there was also a strawberry one, which came in a much nicer looking tube. Wiping off the remainders of the first, I tried on the second. "Hey Kurt? Which do you think would taste the best?" I asked absent mindedly.

"Why, who are you trying to impress?" He teased. I blushed a little.

"Well, you know, Jesse might like one but not the other..." I'm hoping we don't actually get that far though. I looked up and my breath hitched. Finn, Artie and Mike Chang had just entered the store. Finn caught my gaze almost immediately as they drifted closer, so I immediately struck up conversation with Kurt again.

"Well, which would you pick? Jesse might like the tropical one, because it's tangy and unpredictable. Or the strawberry one because it's sweet, like a guilty pleasure..." The boys had disappeared now.

"Why do you care so much?" Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Well... I-I've never made out with anyone before... I don't know what to do, or what he'll think and... Jesse's so experienced..." I felt strangely exposed as I revealed my fears to Kurt. The thing is, I'm not sure I really want my first ever proper make-out to be with a guy I'm just... well using.

"Oh hi Finn." Kurt ignored me. Finn was stood right behind me now. My heart dropped into my stomach. I hoped he hadn't heard that.

"Oh, Finn. What are you doing here?" I asked calmly, though inside I was going crazy. I have no idea why.

"Artie needs some oil or something for his legs." He explained.

"Ooh, Mercedes!" Kurt declared suddenly. What is this, Glee club reunion? I looked up and spotted Finn staring at me. I looked away and continued looking at the lip glosses as Kurt skipped over to the next aisle to talk to Mercedes. The other guys seemed to have disappeared but Finn edged closer to me.

"So Finn, I was just-" I couldn't finish however. Because he dragged me around the corner, near the plasters and pregnant women products (basically the area that's almost always empty) and pushed me against the shelf and kissed me. His lips felt as warm and soft as last night, and the perfect moisture. His hands were clutching my waist, his tongue once or twice grazing my own. I have no idea when I even opened my mouth. But then his lips were at my jaw and I clasped his hair tightly with my hands, almost gasping aloud. I felt him sucking a little on my neck.

I really did gasp once he'd pulled away and it took me several seconds to compose myself. He leaned forward and rested his foreheard against my own. With his mouth against my own, he breathed,

"Strawberry, definitely." He drawled in my ear before turning and catching up with the other guys.

"So..." Kurt smirked knowingly as we paid and headed out onto the street.

"What?" I replied a little jumpily, rubbing my hand across my lips and neck, almost feverishly.

"What did Finn want?" He asked casually, still grinning.

"Oh er, he was just, you know, helping me with something..."

Kurt nodded. "Oh, I bet he was."

...

"What's that?" Jesse asked, eyeing my neck. I cleared my throat. I should have known there'd be no way I'd be able to disguise it.

"Oh erm, birth mark." He seriously bought it though. How dim can you get...

"Cool. You know, I have one-"

"Look, I'm really tired, ok? I think I'm just going to go home and sleep. It's been a pretty intense few days for me." Jesse shrugged.

"Ok, sure. I'll catch you tomorrow though, yeah?" I kind of felt bad. I had promised to show him around town some more once my shopping 'date' with Kurt had ended. But after what happened with Finn... As I walked back from under the clock in the centre of town, I heard someone creeping up behind me. It gets dark fairly early-ish these days and I felt my stomach turn. A hand suddenly grabbed my arm and I squeaked.

"Fucking hell, woman, shut up. Anyone would think I'm about to rape you or something." Ugh. It was Puck.

"What do you want, Puckerman?" I asked coldly. He strolled along, my pace, his arm brushing mine. It made me feel weird, and not in a good way. How can Finn have ever been friends with him? He's such a creep.

He tutted at me. "I told you to call me Puck."

I snorted. "Whatever. Is there something you wanted, or do you make a habit of creeping around streets during the sunset and scaring girls?"

"Look, I know you're up to something with Finn. Whatever it is, I'm warning you now to stop. Finn's my best buddy and-"

"I'm sure you were thinking the same thing when you slept with his supposedly celibate girlfriend." Puck grabbed my arm, but not tightly enough to really scare me.

"Listen, I'm warning you Rachel."

"What? You really think after what you told me, I was just going to let it go that easily? What you both planned... That was almost rape. You don't trick someone into sleeping with you, especially when they are a virgin, as you both well know. It's sick." I protested, yanking my arm out of his grip. We were almost at the top of my street by this time.

"So you are up to something then."

"It's got nothing to do with you."

Puck let out a stream of dirty words before replying. "Rachel, he's falling for you, can't you see that? He can't stop looking at you when you're around, or thinking about your legs in those slutty skirts you wear. He already told me today before we made the fucking fountain look like the red sea that he couldn't go through with the dare anymore. What you're doing... It's just mean, leading him on or whatever you think you're doing." And boy does he not need to tell me that. After a moment, I muttered,

"You do care about him, don't you." My voice was quiet, soft.

"He's my boy, he always has been. I've let him down and I know that, but I sure as hell am not about to let him get hurt again. He's softer than you think, Berry. He can't take constant heartache."

"Woah. You're starting to sound like you actually own a shred of compassion, Puck." We were almost at my door.

"Please don't hurt him, Rachel."

...

"Kurt, I think I'm going crazy." I moaned, falling backwards on my bed. It's turning into a habit, Kurt dropping around in the evenings. My dad's had sent up a couple of trays of food (cookies and milk) and we munched through it as we discussed what seems to be an increasing flaw in the plan - that maybe we're going too far after all.

"Yes, Princess, I don't doubt. Now are you going to explain exactly what happened with Finn back there? Or am I just going to have to guess?" I felt like kicking him but I have far too much class for that. I kneed him instead.

"Nothing! Honestly, he was just helping me with something."

"So you're telling me there wasn't any lip-on-lip action then?" He raised a brow. I swallowed.

"Er, no..."

"Well he's left a mark on your neck so that clearly means there was..." Kurt whistled. Do I sense a little smugness about him? I groaned.

"Well boys like sex. He's clearly not going to fall in love with me for my big nose is he?" I replied sharply. "At least if he's busy with my neck, it takes away the focus from my nose. He'll be head over heels if I let him proceed to the chest..." Kurt raised his brows.

"A little forward don't you think? I mean... Before last night you hadn't even pecked a boy on the lips before and now..."

"He enticed me into it! He's so much more experienced, what could I do?" I tried to defend myself, hopelessly. Kurt patted my foot.

"I've been thinking about this Rachel. It was just a little game before, you know, to get him back for what he was trying to do. But didn't Puck say he wasn't going through with it anymore? I think you're going too far. And also, I think you're a little bit in love with him."

"Don't be so ridiculous, Kurt. I barely know the guy."

He laughed. "You're definitely attracted to him though..." I let that one pass because truthfully, I think he's kind of right.

...

Finn POV

Mike Chang's mom makes the best food ever. We scoffed through the Chow Main as we lay back on his sofa, feet propped on the coffee table, watching some crap on TV. When it got to ten, I sighed and got up.

"I better go, man. I'm practically grounded after the firework incident." I groaned. "Besides, my mom had a 'hot date' tonight, she'll be dying to talk to someone about it. At least if she thinks I'm interested it might make her rethink the grounding." Chang chuckled.

"Dude, we've gotta do it better next time. I'm thinking blowing up the whole lab. It'll be wack." I like to think he's not serious.

"Er, sure." Feel like I've eaten a whole cow but it's so worth it. My mom is brill but she's a dreadful cook. Can't even begin to recall all the times I've been poisoned by her cooking. There's a reason I no longer eat fish anymore.

Chang got off his lazy ass and showed me to the door. As he opened it, Puck stood before him, his arm half raised, clearly about to ring the bell.

"Sup, man?" Chang asked, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"I was looking for Finn. His mom said he'd be here..." I frowned.

"Thought I made it pretty clear earlier that I've got nothing to say to you." There was something weird going on with Puck though. He was bouncing about on the balls of his feet, looking really uncomfortable.

"Look man, I really need to talk to you." He sounded really sincere, I couldn't refuse.

"I'll see you tomorrow, man." I knocked fists with Chang before nodding at Puck.

"Finn, I don't know how to tell you this..." Puck began nervously. It's a weird sound for Puck. He's never sounded nervous in his life, he's hard as steel most the time.

"Just get on with it, yeah?"

"It's about Berry."

I stopped him short. "If this is some crap thing you were on about earlier, save it. I'm confused enough already."

He took a deep breath and licked his lips. "Finn, she's playing you."

Author's Note: If this is going too slow/fast for anyone let me know! I just feel like we need to get all the stuff out in the open before the plot can continue to develop :) REVIEW PLEASE!