There may be a break in quick updating after this, the rest of the week is going to be pretty busy for me. But don't worry, I didn't leave it on a cliffhanger. And the next one should be good and long... not to mention citrusy ;)

Rachel noticed something upon removing her wig for her date with Finn, long hair made her nose look smaller. It had been so long since she'd primped for anything, let alone a date with the boy of her dreams that she couldn't help but relish it a little, paying a hairdresser 100 dollars to make her look as fabulous as possible seemed beyond worth it for Finn, not to mention the fact that she could hardly use the communal bathroom at McKinley prep for that purpose. But the favorite part of her glammed-up date look was the pink dress, she didn't bring any girl clothes with her so she had to buy a new one with high-heeled sandals to match. She liked the way the lacy bodice subtly accented her boobs and the short skirt swung around her shapely legs, she blushed at the thought of Finn seeing her that way. They had agreed to meet at the restaurant, thinking the fact that they lived together would ruin the element of surprise a bit, not to mention the fact that there weren't supposed to be girls in the dorm. Luckily the bathroom at Macy's proved to be a rather functional dressing room. She took one last look in the mirror, smiled and grabbed her backpack, growing more excited by the second.

"Where are you going all dressed up?" Puck said as he crossed paths with Finn in the grand foyer.

"I have a date," he said simply.

"With a girl?" Puck said dickishly.

"Yes, with a girl. God are you guys ever going to let the lake house thing go?" Finn said.

"I'm sorry it's just I didn't think you would forget your true love that fast."

"Look, we both had a little too much to drink, and what happened happened, could you just try to be mature about it?"

"Have you met me?" Puck said.

"Goodbye Puck," Finn said, stalking out of there without another word.

All along the six block walk to the restaurant his heart and mind raced a mile a minute. There were so many questions, what would she look like? Would things be too awkward at that point for them to have any fun? Would anybody see them? Would they recognize her? He tried to get his wandering thoughts in check. In spite of everything he really liked this girl, she was the first girl he had a real connection with in as long as he could remember, and once he kissed her all he could think about was how much he wanted to do it again, he couldn't even manage to stay mad at her for lying. Finally he reached the restaurant. He knew that she would meet him there, but he had no idea what to expect, he didn't even know if he would recognize her all dolled up.

"Finn?" at the sound of her voice he turned around, his breath hitching in his throat at the sight of her. He had a feeling that she'd be attractive but this was almost too much, it was amazing just how little that sweater vest did for her body, or how much that wig did for her stunning dark hair, curled to perfection and flowing down her shoulders.

"Wow… you're… pretty," he said stupidly.

"You sound shocked," she said, blushing.

"No I mean you make a good looking guy and everything but this, you're kind of seriously hot."

"Well, it's been awhile since I've done the girl thing, I have to say I missed it."

"Oh, I brought you a thing," he said opening his coat and reaching into the pocket of it.

"What is this?" she said taking the thin silver whistle from him. "You brought me a rape whistle?"

"Trust me you're going to need it," he said.

Rachel backed away a little, not entirely sure what he meant by that.

"Oh no, don't misunderstand me," he said frantically. "You'll see what I'm talking about later."

"Oh okay," she said, putting the silver chain around her neck. "Shall we?" she said, taking his arm.

"Everything looks so good," Rachel said sipping her cucumber lemonade.

"The grilled shrimp is awesome here," Finn said

"Oh," Rachel said blushing a little. "I'm actually a vegan," she said sheepishly.

"Really?" he said. "Is that why you never eat the cafeteria food?"

"I didn't say anything because I didn't think veganism was very manly."

"Well, that guy from Zombieland is a vegan and he's kind of a badass," Finn said. "Besides, it's nice that you care about animals."

Rachel smiled and reached for her hair, tucking it behind her ear flirtatiously, happy to have something there to tuck.

"So, are you sure you're not still mad at me for lying, I mean I feel like I should make it up to you somehow," she said.

"You'll make it up to me when you tell everybody the truth in May, until then I'm just going to have to deal with the gay cracks from Puck."

"Sorry about that," she said.

"It's okay, he kind of did that a lot before anyway."

"Still, I think it's only fair that I pay for dinner, whatever you want is on me," she said.

"If I say no are you going to keep pushing it until I crack?" Finn said.

"That is my way," she admitted.

"Okay then in that case I accept," Finn said. "But I'm paying for the next place."

"What's the next place?" Rachel said.

"You'll see," he said.

"Are you ready to order?" said the waiter coming by.

"That depends," Rachel said. "Is the sweet potato soup make with chicken stock or vegetable broth?"

"Vegetable broth," the waiter said.

"Well I'll have that with a side of zucchini fritters please," Rachel said.

"I'll have the Portobello burger with steak fries," Finn said.

"Very good choices, I'll be right back to refill your drinks" The waiter said before taking their menus.

"I was thinking about something you said," Finn started. "About wanting to go method for the role."

"What about it?" Rachel said.

"Well, is that the only reason you wanted to come here?" Finn asked carefully. "For the play?"

Her face grew a little warm at the question, she never thought she would have to talk about that with anyone.

"Well, no," she admitted.

"Why?"

"The truth is I kind of wanted to see what it was like," she said.

"Being a boy?" Finn said confusedly.

"No, coming to a real school, being around kids my own age, having friends."

"You don't have any friends?"

"I have competition," Rachel said. "The girls I meet at the theatre school and on auditions are always competing for the same parts and working toward the same goals, and when you're the most talented person and happen to know it things can get difficult, friendwise."

"How so?"

"Well when I got the part of Margot in the Diary of Anne Frank last year this girl Stacey shaved one of my eyebrows off when I dozed off during lunch. Luckily most of it grew back."

"That sucks," Finn said.

"It will all be worth it though, when I win my first Tony at the age of twenty-one with my stunning run as the title character in Stephen Sondheim's 'Barbra.'"

"Is that a real play?"

"Well no, but if he got any of my letters I'm sure it will be before long," she said, making Finn laugh.

"This is nice," Finn said. "Getting to know the real you."

"Yeah," she agreed. "Definitely."

She was surprised by how easy it was, walking hand and hand with Finn toward some mysterious destination, the streetlights casting a romantic glow. It was pushing nine and their curfew was at eleven, making Rachel wish she had more time with him, especially as they got closer to the place. As she began to hear music in the distance she had an idea of what Finn's plan was. Finally as they turned the corner she saw it.

"You're taking me to a karaoke bar?" She said.

"Well it's not really a bar, more like a crowded coffee shop with singing," He said "But, I got to see the real Rachel, now I want to hear her."

Rachel didn't respond with words, instead she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He hadn't expected her to kiss him until the end of the night, but now that she was he made a mental note to take her to many karaoke places in the future as he kissed her, finally touching her thick, long flow of hair and thinking god was it soft.

"Come on Finn," she said excitedly, taking his hand and leading him through the front door.

"Okay, this place is sort of chaotic so if you want to get on stage you have to get their attention," Finn said.

"Don't these places usually have sign-up sheets?" Rachel said.

"Where's the fun in that?" Finn said. "Now when this guy finishes and they call for the next performer you blow the whistle as hard as you can."

"Okay she said," Reaching for the whistle.

"That was Robbie D with Love Hurts!" said the Emcee. "Let's give it up for her!" The crowd clapped enthusiastically even though he was frankly sort of awful. "Now do we have any other superstars in the audience who want to come up here and show us what you got?" With that Rachel blew the whistle four times fast and loud. "Whoa, looks like we've got a winner!" The emcee said pointing to Rachel.

"Yay, they called me Finn!" She said excitedly.

"Well get up there," Finn said.

She got up from her chair and shoved through the crowd to get to the stage, taking her place next to the emcee.

"What's your name beautiful?" The Emcee said.

"My name is Rachel Barbra Berry," She said confidently into the mic.

"And what will you be singing for us tonight?"

"I will be singing Modern Love by David Bowie," she said.

"Awesome, awesome choice, Kind of a hard song though, do you think you can handle it?" The emcee said.

"Believe me, I can handle it," she said.

"Okay, take it away Rachel!" He said.

As the music began to play Rachel moved her hips to the beat and winked at Finn once before she began to sing.

I know when to go out
And when to stay in
Get things done

I catch a paper boy
But things don't really change
I'm standing in the wind
But I never wave bye-bye

But I try
I try

There's no sign of life
It's just the power to charm
I'm lying in the rain
But I never wave bye-bye

But I try
I try

Never gonna fall for
Modern Love walks beside me
Modern Love walks on by
Modern Love gets me to the Church on Time
Church on Time terrifies me
Church on Time makes me party
Church on Time puts my trust in God and Man
God and Man no confessions
God and Man no religion
God and Man don't believe
In Modern Love

As she finished the applause was thunderous, it almost seemed louder and more enthusiastic than the applause that the average Broadway audience provided and as she looked at Finn, who looked positively in awe, she couldn't help but think it almost felt just as good.

"Okay, I think I'm going to close up early, because I don't think anybody wants to follow that," The emcee said as Rachel proudly descended the stage.

"Okay, let me get this straight," Finn said as he met her offstage. "I have been giving you singing lessons."

"And you've been doing a wonderful job," she said.

"That was so awesome!" He said, pulling her in for a hug. "Did you hear yourself? I mean my god," he said still dumbstruck.

"That was fun," Rachel said giddily. "Let's do it again!"

They managed to keep their hands off each other after Rachel changed back into her boy clothes and walked back to the dorm with Finn. They didn't need anyone to catch them together that way again. Which was why they took separate entrances and Rachel made sure to go to the room three minutes before Finn, but he couldn't deny it, he wanted to maul her the entire time and the feeling was definitely mutual, that couldn't have been clearer than the moment Rachel attacked him at the door, grabbing him by the collar and smashing her greedy lips into his. It wasn't the traditional first date kiss, it was filled with so much passion and need that they were both kind of afraid that they would dissovle into each other.

"Oh, Daniel," Finn sighed between kisses. "I mean Rachel, sorry, Rachel." he corrected frantically.

"That's okay," she giggled. "Thank you for a lovely evening," she continued, panting as she reluctantly pulled her mouth from his.

"We should do it again sometime," he said, his voice muffled as he kissed her neck.

"So you're going to call right?" she said before pressing her lips to his again.

"Yeah, whatever," he joked going in for one more long, scorching kiss.

"Goodnight Finn."

"Goodnight Rachel."

Finn has met the real Rachel and he seems to rather like her, if only it could stay that simple. Keep reading and reviewing folks.