Chapter Nine

Downpour Proposals

The pain was beginning to become too much.

It was February the thirteenth and the whole school was filled with puppy love fever.

February fourteenth; Valentines Day.

Will walked the halls, trying to get to his office, surrounded by loved up teenagers. He kept his eyes on the floor to stop himself from snapping at them all and giving them detentions for displaying too much public affection. He only looked up when he knew where he was.

The teacher knew he shouldn't have done what he did, but he couldn't help himself; he just loved her too much.

Rachel was at her locker, getting out her books. As she opened it, a little letter fell out. She didn't think anything of it; it must have just been from a teacher and she had forgotten to put it in her backpack. She sighed and picked it up. Frowning when she saw the name. Well, the handwriting and the language anyway considering there wasn't a name as such;

"A mi pequeña mariposa preciosa..."

At the end of the ellipsis, there was a sticker of a butterfly. She knew instantly who is was from and her eyes filled with tears. She sniffled turning to face her locker and smiling a quick smile. Her little hands ripped open the envelope, carefully of course, and took out the letter. It was a lot sweeter and more romantic than a card, and she loved it instantly.

"Rachel, my very own Madame Butterfly, La señorita mariposa;

I know I shouldn't be writing this letter. I know that it goes against everything we told each other. We're teacher and student now, and teachers aren't supposed to be sending their students Valentines Day letters. But Rachel, mi hermosa, I love you. I will always love you. My heart and soul is in pain because of the choice we made and I count down the days to when you graduate and you can finally be mine and we no longer need to hide ourselves away.

Mi corazón te pertenece a ti, forever and always.

Will x"

The tears didn't flow as freely as she thought they would. In fact she only manage to cry a few, they landed on the paper like raindrops and she quickly wiped them away to stop them from smudging Will's words.

"Happy Valentines Day, Rachel." She jumped when she heard his voice. She composed herself and looked at him. His face mirrored hers; heartbroken. She managed to smile at him before closing her locker, "Happy Valentines Day, Mr Shuester."

He longed to hear her say his name. Just once. He could see it in her eyes that she had wanted to. He had to watch her walk away into the see of kissing teenagers, alone and heartbroken. Will made own way through the halls, not being able to stop himself from shouting at them all to get a move on and get to class.

Rachel had been in the dance room of the school for the past two hours. Her fathers had told her that they were going to be going out for their Valentines meal and that they might be late. She was happy for them, and had given them her own Valentines Day cards. It had been a little tradition; they would each give her a card and she would give them a card.

She just couldn't bring herself to go home to an empty house, instead she thought she would work out. It was the best way to release herself of energy. She danced none stop for two hours, trying to forget everything. The music and her movements were helping but only just; she just wished she could have had something to drink. Forgetting everything.

Will was in his office grading papers. He had thought, since he was spending the evening alone he might as well do something productive before getting ridiculously drunk. Forgetting everything.

The rain was coming down hard. Like a monsoon. There were a few rumbles of thunder making ground feel like it was shaking and few flashes of lightening.

He didn't care. He got up and walked out of his office, not bothering to take his umbrella with him. She didn't care. The cooling rain would feel nice against her hot skin. She dashed out of the school and began to make her way to her car. Will had seen her and ran after her.

"Rachel!" Will called out from the school's entrance. Rachel turned around and saw him standing there like a God; his hands balled into fists and his legs open, his stance strong and powerful. He rushed to her, jumping the steps.

"Will! What are you-" He grabbed hold of her soaking shoulders.

"I can't. I can't do this, it's too hard!" He cried, shouting above the noise of the pelting rain.

"Will what are you talking about?" Rachel sniffled, the rain mixing with her own tears.

"You. Me. Us. I can't stand it. I love you! I need you with me and not having you wake up beside me every morning is killing me." Rachel was holding onto his shoulders now and she bent her head, closing her eyes tightly. "Will I love you too but we can't be together."

"Yes we can!" He shouted, taking her face in one of his hands, forcing her to look at him.

"No we can't, it's too hard!"

"But Rachel I love you." He still spoke loud, but now softer and with more feeling. "With all my heart and with all my soul I love you and I..I can't, I can't live everyday without you. Without your beautiful eyes, your sweet smile, your soft hair, your long legs, your velvet lips. I can't. I can't go on pretending that I can because it's killing me."

"Will I love you, and not being with you is killing me too."

"Then let's be together! Please Rachel." He held onto her harder, almost digging his trim nails into her arm. Rachel shook her head, water falling off her like a dog. "We can't." She sighed and looked at him again. "This was the deal; the club or us."

"I don't care about the club!" He shouted, trying to make her understand.

"What?"

"I mean I do care about the club, of course I do but Rachel I love you. You are my life."

"Then what do you suggest we do? Will, we can't be openly together there's too much at risk."

"I don't care. I love you Rachel! I love you! And...and I'm going to prove to you that I want to be with you forever."

Will fell to his knees, sliding his hands down Rachel's arms and sides. "Will get up you'll get your knees dirty and wet and that's not good-"

"I don't care about my knees getting dirty." Rachel said, looking up at her. His eyes scrunching because of the rain falling into his eyes. He took hold of her little hands in his. "Rachel, please, will you do me the honour of marrying me? Of being my wife?" Rachel opened her mouth with shock and crashed to her knees in front of him. "Yes. Will yes, of course I will!"

She took his soggy face in her hands and kissed him. She kissed him as hard as she could, never wanting to let her go. Will moved his hands down to her thighs and picked her up off the ground. He held her in his arms, still kissing her. She broke away finally and then rested her head on his shoulder. "I'll never leave you again." Will told her quietly, as he carried her to his car. "I promise, I'll never leave you again for anyone."