Chapter Ten: I Don't Like Your Girlfriend

Author's Note: So, I decided to do another time jump again, so this chapter takes place around the middle of April, when baseball season starts. Finn and Rachel's reunion will most likely happen in the next chapter or the chapter after that. In this chapter, we get to see a little bit of jealous Rachel, which is one of my favorite sides of Rachel's personality. And for future reference, Edward's is a diner in New York and has amazing food, so check it out if you go to New York (it's in Tribeca). As always, I don't own Glee. The chapter title comes from Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne.

"Okay, team, gather around." Chief Schuester said on the day of the annual McKinley versus St. John's softball game. "Now, some of you may not know this, but we have not lost to St. John's in fifteen years. This year, if we win, it will be our sweet sixteen." Schuester looked around at all of the team members. "Now, I realize that one of our team members is dating someone from St. John's, but we can't let that fact stop us from winning our game. Understand that, Hudson?"

Everyone turned around to give Finn a dirty glare. Everyone except for Rachel. She just grimaced and felt like she was going to throw up.

"Trust me, Chief, Liz and I have only been dating for like a month. I'm not going to throw the game. I'll be giving my best efforts today." Finn said, trying to appease his teammates.

"That's all we can ask for, Finn. Now let's get out there and kick some St. John ass!"

The team started cheering as they took their places. Rachel and Kurt started walking out to the outfield, where Schuester told them to play.

"You know, I'm not a big fan of baseball." Kurt said. "I really just went because it would give me time to bond with my dad. Except after a while, he got tired of telling me about every little detail that we stopped going." Kurt looked over to see Rachel trying to avoid eye contact with Jesse and flat out staring at Finn on the pitcher's mound. "Earth to Rachel. Are you even paying attention to the game? Or better yet, are you paying attention to me?"

"What? Sorry, Kurt. I got a little…distracted. This is like my worst nightmare. Finn and Jesse in the same place at the same time? This isn't going to end well." She took a deep breath. "Why did I have to be such a fool? Why didn't I just stay at Radio City Music Hall and—"

"Where is this coming from? Rachel, you know I wanted you and Finn to be together, but I have to say, you and Zach make a pretty good couple."

"You are just saying that because Zach is from the Anthony family. And the Anthony family just happens to give away one of the most prestigious awards in medicine to promising interns. And I don't know about Zach. He's nice and all, but…I don't know…there's something…missing about him."

"Could it be that he's not a sexy six-three intern at McKinley Hospital? While I think that five-ten blondes are nice, he's just not Finn. I'll always secretly root for you and Finn, because you're Finchel and that means something to me.

"What the hell is Finchel?" Rachel asked, crinkling her eyebrows.

"It's Finn and Rachel put together. How do you not know what that is?"

"Probably because I don't think about couple names for a couple that isn't even together anymore."

"Okay, well then, does Zachel mean anything to you?"

"Let me guess, that's my couple name with Zach." Rachel said.

"Exactly. You catch on quick. Watch out!" Kurt screeched as the baseball came flying towards them. Thankfully, the head of plastic surgery caught the ball before it could land on Kurt and Rachel.

"Hey, Finn, let's make this interesting." Liz said, stepping up to bat. "The loser of the game has to buy the winner dinner tonight."

Rachel pursed her lips. Finn shouldn't be making deals like that with the enemy. She should be making plans with Finn because he's her boyfriend and she wants to celebrate their win.

"You've got yourself a deal." Finn said. He waited for the catcher to get into place, then threw the ball. Strike one.

"What's so great about her anyway?" Rachel asked, squinting her eyes at Liz. "I mean, sure, she's pretty. But she's not spectacular. Like, anyone can meet someone like Liz."

"It probably takes awhile to get over a Rachel Berry." Kurt said, giving Rachel a knowing look. "So he has to settle for someone to help him get over her."

"It's my fault he has to get over me." Rachel muttered.

"Well, when you really think about it, it's Kitty and her stupid flirtation's fault." Kurt said, making Rachel give a slight smile.

"Thanks for that, Kurt. Even though it's not really true."

Kurt and Rachel both looked up in time to see the baseball that Liz hit flying straight towards them.

"I've got it!" Rachel yelled, an idea starting to form in her head. The ball landed in her glove and she immediately threw it to first base. But instead of the ball landing in Puck's glove, the ball hit Liz right in the nose.

Exactly what Rachel had planned.

She put a shocked look on her face. "Oh my God. I can't believe I just did that." She looked over at Kurt who was cracking up laughing.

"That…was…priceless!" He doubled over and started laughing even harder. "You nailed her right in the nose. Hilarious!"

"Kurt, it's not funny." Rachel said, even though all she wanted to do was start laughing too. "I could have really hurt her."

Puck came jogging over to where Kurt and Rachel were standing. "Whoa, Rachel Berry, fucking badass. That was a great shot at her face!"

"I didn't try to, Noah. It was a complete accident." Rachel said.

"Say whatever you want, Berry, but I know the real truth." He winked at her and jogged back to his spot at first base.

"Finn, I'm so sorry!" Rachel said when he walked in the door after the baseball game. "I didn't mean for that to happen at all, I swear to God, I tried to get it into Puck's glove but I guess my aim was off and I'm just really, really sorry. Is she okay?"

"Her nose is broken but Dr. Sweeney got it set. Now it's just a little harder to kiss her."

"Okay. Good. Because it really was an accident. I promise. No matter what Noah says."

"I believe you. And Puck is still hung up on thinking that you and I should be together."

"That's crazy." Rachel said, trying to laugh it off. "Because you and me…best friends for life."

Finn smiled at her. "That's right. See, it doesn't matter what other people think. As long as the two of us know the limits of our relationship, we're going to be fine."

"Right. You're exactly right, Finn." Rachel saw headlights flash in the driveway. "Well, there's my date for the night. Again, I'm really sorry for hitting Liz in the nose. Completely unintentional." She smiled at him. "So, I'll see you later tonight."

"Oh, actually, you won't. I have my first night shift tonight. I'm actually on my way out for the night."

"Really? Wow. Good luck. The night shifts always suck because there's really not much to do. When I had one a few nights ago, I ended up down in the cafeteria eating chips until I got paged. And it was a good forty five minutes until I got paged. Then they didn't even need me."

"So, you're saying I should bring something to entertain myself?"

Rachel grabbed her purse off of the arm of the couch. "Yes. Exactly. Well, I'll see you again at some point."

"So, tell me about your biggest hopes and dreams." Zach said, walking around Central Park with Rachel after their date at Edward's.

"I want to be an attending general surgeon. And I want to get married and have kids. I want four. Two boys, two girls. I want to live in New York until I retire, then I'll probably live in Florida because I've always loved the sun."

"And when you get married, who do you see yourself marrying?"

Finn Hudson. "Not really. It's still a little blurry about who it's going to be. And I still have a little time before I'm ready to get married. And I really haven't met anyone who can handle me. Sometimes I'm a little diva."

Zach chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I haven't seen the diva side of you."

"I don't have them as much as I used to. You should have seen me in high school. I was terrible."

They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"So, what's up with you and that Finn guy?" Zach asked, breaking the silence with the most painful question in the entire world. "Should I be worried about competition?"

Rachel stopped walking and turned to face Zach. "I wish I could tell you that you don't have anything to worry about. But that's not the case."

"So then, what is the case? Because I really don't like to waste my time."

"Finn and I used to date each other a few months back. And we broke up. We're friends now, and he thinks that's all we are."

"That's not exactly what you want, is it?"

"Look, Zach, you're a great guy, but I don't want to lead you on when I'm hopelessly in love with someone else."

"Well, thank you for being honest with me, Rachel." He smiled at her and started to walk away, then turned around again. "If you decide to be just friends with Finn, give me a call."

"I will, Zach. See you around the hospital world." Rachel smiled at him as he started walking towards the exit of the park.