A/N: As promised, here is the next chapter so yay for me ! :)

Thanks once again for the great reviews.

Sorry for the errors if there was any.

Song is by Taylor Swift. The Story of Us. One of the reason why I decided to write this. I imagined Rachel singing it to Finn in front of the whole glee club.

Disclaimer: do not own glee. don't ask why.

So, it's been a week since I sort of asked Marley to spend time together and it's going well actually. Even the people around us seemed to notice it too and all we can just say is that we're close friends, nothing more going on between her and me.

I've been kind of jerk to her to be totally honest because every time we were together and I spotted Rachel, I can't help but watched her every move and tuned out with whatever Marley is saying. When Rachel glanced at my way, I would just tore my eyes from her and returned my gazes to Marley, who seem to always catch me doing the exact same thing whenever Rachel was around. Yeah, I know total jerk move. I don't know. I tell myself everyday that I'm over Rachel and it's true. I mean, I don't always think about her now whenever I'm with Marley but every time that I sense her presence everywhere, my feelings seems to take U-turn back to her, again and again.

So I did an honorable thing and confessed to Marley. What surprises me is that she just smiled at me and says that it was okay with her. She also admits that she had a crush on me since she saw me last year on Science Fair. She never actually thought that we would be close like this so she never let her hopes up. And then a guy came into her life who she never really like at first because of his bad boy attitude but now growing on her every time he pursued her on going out with him.

I exhaled the breath I didn't know I was holding because I thought I just ruined the friendship I made with Marley that time. She still agrees to hang out with me whenever we want to. She has this little plan of hers to make Jake, the guy she's talking about, to see us together and see if he's really into her or not. I agreed to her plan although I'm not actually sure if it will really work or I would get a shiner from Jake sooner or later.

And now here we are, talking animatedly at her locker and facing each other. She signaled me earlier that Jake is on sight and I should step a little closer to her, just to make the act more believable. That's when Rachel came walking down the hallways and stopped abruptly when she spotted me and Marley. Marley's back is facing hers and she's a few distance away from us but I can still see her reaction. And I almost feel guilty. But then I remembered that I shouldn't, because we can never be together. And I can let myself be hurt by Rachel anymore. So I did what my stupid self wants to do and catch the stray lock of hair from her face and wound it back behind her ear, smiling at something she said that I honestly don't know what because I was not listening.

Marley was surprised by the move but then she smiled suddenly because of it. I think her plan on Jake is working, and I guess mine is working too, even though I don't even have any plans at all. Or maybe I did. I looked back to where Rachel is standing and found out that she's not there anymore.

"So, do you think I should try out for glee club later?" Marley asked me. "I was afraid before in joining because I don't know if anyone wants me there so," she trailed off, biting her lip.

"Of course you should," I urged her. "And come on, all the people in there will be glad to have you."

"Okay," she smiled. "I already had a chosen song to sing and I just hope that I will get in."

I'm kind of hoping too that Marley will get in. Not that so we can get closer or something, it's just that glee club is almost out for competing and we still need a lot of people before we can qualify. And although I haven't heard Marley sang before, I am still hoping that somehow she has a voice that can make her get in.

And so I was right. Marley just sang in front of the choir room and everybody loves her already. I myself can't believe that she has that voice in her. She smiled giddily and almost jumped when Mr. Schuester welcomed her to the club before sitting down next to me.

Mr. Schue faces us once again and I thought he will start a discussion about our new lesson for the week but he has some news for us instead.

"Okay, so we all know we only need 1 more person before we can compete but a few people came by to me earlier and wanted to try out and I can't help but feel delighted that they wanted to audition."

Okay so we have more people to audition, that's great news, I guess.

"So, I would like to welcome to the stage Ms. Rachel Berry."

No, it can't be.

Rachel enters the room with Santana, Quinn and Jake. Wait, why is Quinn in here? I looked at her for some explanation and she just smiled at me and winked. I can't help but narrowed my eyes at her. Quinn, Santana and Jake sat down first and left Rachel in front.

"Wait, are we sure about this, Mr. Schue?" Tina asked. "I'm glad that we have a lot of popular kids signing up but I don't think we can handle a lot of people in the group."

"Maybe you should quit then." Santana said, making almost everyone snort.

"Okay," Mr. Schue cuts in. "Tina, if they want to audition, we should welcome them and please Santana, I don't want any fights around here."

Santana just holds up her hands.

I looked at Rachel and she seems very deep in thought. I glanced at her now and then because I still can't looked at her longer because I can still feel hurt and I'm done being a masochist, just so you know. But still I can sense that she's not actually okay, she's like nervous or something and it's the first time I see her like that.

"Hi," she speaks when everyone settled down. I can't believe it's been too long since I heard that voice and God, I missed it so much. Okay, focus, Hudson. You shouldn't feel like this anymore, right?

"I just want to say that I picked this song because it reminds me of a certain situation in my life, and I really hope that the message will come across somehow. Especially to that guy I hurt."

I felt everyone that knows about me and Rachel looks at my way very discreetly, except for Santana who is kind of like leering at me. I ignored all of them of course and just looked down to the floor because I don't know if I can control myself not look at the girl who's in front right now.

I heard whispers started to form from the group and I can hear them saying the words 'who's that guy?', 'is the guy here?', 'I never thought she's a drama queen' and my personal favorite, 'Mr. Schue and her have an affair?' That's from Brittany of course.

She then went to the band, talked to them a little and went back to the front of us. She took a deep breath and signaled the band to begin.

"I never know she liked Taylor Swift songs," Tina said, which earned a glared from Santana.

I know the song of course. I think I heard a few times from Kurt and some of my friends. I just don't know what she's trying to do in here. But I still pretend to be not affected at all although I really am on the inside. I think the other half of my body wants to take her lips right now and hold her close but the other half is actually restraining him from doing so. Take deep breaths, Finn. You can do this. No, of course I can't. Yes, I'm going nuts once again.

I feel her eyes were on me and I don't know why I did but I looked up and our gazes met. But it didn't last long because she closes her eyes before she started to open her lips and sing.

I used to think one day we'd tell the story of us,

How we met and the sparks flew instantly,

People would say, "They're the lucky ones."

Wow. I didn't know she has a great voice. I never heard her sing and I don't know if it's me or my heart just started to beat rapidly right now. Marley's voice is great and all but Rachel's is very different. She's like touching my heart while she sings. And I never felt that feeling before. And it's a weirs but interesting feeling.

She held the mic stand and licked her lips, and I can't tear my eyes away from her. And I didn't want to. Not right now.

I used to know my place was a spot next to you,

Now I'm searching the room for an empty seat,

'Cause lately I don't even know what page you're on.

She opens her eyes then but she doesn't look at me. She kept her eyes straight to the others but she never glanced at my way again.

Oh, a simple complication,

Miscommunications lead to fall-out.

So many things that I wish you knew,

So many walls that I can't break through.

And that when she stares at me. Like every words she's singing is all for me, and I still can't turn away.

Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking,

And I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me, yeah?

I don't know what to say, since the twist of fate when it all broke down,

And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now.

Next chapter.

How'd we end up this way?

See me nervously pulling at my clothes and trying to look busy,

And you're doing your best to avoid me.

I'm starting to think one day I'll tell the story of us,

How I was losing my mind when I saw you here,

But you held your pride like you should've held me.

She stared at Marley for a minute, and the hate that I saw makes me want to think that she's jealous over her. But it can't be, right? Maybe I'm just imagining things.

Oh, I'm scared to see the ending,

Why are we pretending this is nothing?

I'd tell you I miss you but I don't know how,

I've never heard silence quite this loud.

Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking,

And I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me, yeah?

I don't know what to say, since the twist of fate when it all broke down,

And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now.

This time I did tore my eyes away and look around. I found everyone's eyes were on me and Rachel while they were wearing confused faces. Oh yeah, I guess everyone knew now. That's just great.

This is looking like a contest,

Of who can act like they care less,

But I liked it better when you were on my side.

The battle's in your hands now,

But I would lay my armor down

If you said you'd rather love than fight.

So many things that you wished I knew,

But the story of us might be ending soon.

I bent my head down, feeling embarrass for some reason. Okay, I didn't think that Rachel will let everyone know about us and I was caught off guard because the way everyone is looking at me is making me feel flushed.

I felt her steps closer and then I saw her black leather boots coming closer and stopping in front of me. I pulled my head upward slowly and found her staring rightly at me. Oh crap.

Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking,

And I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me, yeah?

I don't know what to say, since the twist of fate when it all broke down,

And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now, now, now.

No, you can't do this to me, Rachel. You can't keep on making me feel like this anymore. I tore my eyes away from once more when all I can see in her eyes is that she's being sorry and all of that feelings. But I can't. I don't want to do this anymore. So I looked at Marley and she smiling sympathetically at me and I smiled at her too, before picking up her hand and clasping my hand to hers. Just like that.

I turn back to Rachel and she saw that whole exchange between us. She blinked a few times and almost didn't sing the other parts. She bit her lip and looked down for a minute before walking back in front and looks down as she sang.

And we're not speaking,

And I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me, yeah?

I don't know what to say, since the twist of fate 'cause we're going down,

And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now.

She looks up once again and meets my gaze. Her eyes looked defeated and yes, it made me feel guilty once again.

The end.

And with that, she dropped the microphone on the floor and left, not turning back as she stride her way out of the choir room.

Everyone was silent after that. Not a single one of them speaks or even move, I think. The only thing that I could hear was the students passing outside the choir room. Aside from that, nothing.

"Do I even have to say it?" Tina, of course, finally speaks. I heard someone groans from what she said. I saw Santana stood from her seat, shaking her head as she walks out of the choir room as well, obviously following Rachel.

"Okay," Mr. Schue claps his hand. "I think the auditions are done for the day. We're just going to have to postpone it until tomorrow, then. To the new additions, you're welcome to stay. Why don't we just all move on and get to the lesson."

Everybody nodded but I know they are all dying to know what really had just happen. I turn my head and look around and found all of them wearing curious faces while starting at me. I went back to stare at the front quickly and sighed. I know they will eventually ask me about it, but for now, I'm just glad that Mr. Schue started already with his lesson.

After the glee club meeting, I immediately left the choir room, wanting to get out of school as fast as I can, away from the questioning looks from my glee club members. But I'm not fast enough because I felt someone's hand grabbed my shoulder and turned me.

"What's the rush, man?" Sam asked. He and Mike crossed their arms as they looks at me.

I sighed. "I don't want to talk about it right now, Sam."

"We know." Mike shrugged. "We just want to ask if you're alright."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "What happened back there was really surprising. It really got me confused with everything."

"That makes the two of us," I muttered. "Look, I really appreciate you guys for the concern but I really want to be alone right now. If you don't mind."

The two just gave me sympathetic smile and nodded.

"We're here always, you know that, right?" Sam asked.

I nodded. They both gave me a pat in the back before turning around to leave.

I turned and continued walking down the path that I don't know where it will lead me. Just being a few meters away from Rachel gets me all riled up again. It made my head start to think about her continuously and I hate it. Because I'm not supposed to feel like this anymore but my heart just won't stop getting back to her over and over again. It's actually very tiring but I don't know, somehow it makes me feel alive. It makes me feel like I'm actually living my life than before.

I looked up and found myself at the football field. At least I can think in here alone with my thoughts. I made my way up the bleachers but stopped abruptly when I found the one that's been on my mind non-stop since earlier. Is this really a coincidence? I think not. Because we can't keep on crossing paths without really knowing it every time. Maybe it's fate. Or maybe I'm just a stalker. Whatever.

"Hey," she stood up when she spotted me standing a few feet from her. Her smile was sad and also forced. I think we're thinking the same things right now. Yeah, we're practically destined to be together.

"Why'd you do it?" I asked bluntly. It's been my head ever since I got out of the choir room and I just really need to know the answer right away.

She sighed and sat down again. I thought about sitting too but it got me thinking more to whether sit next to her or maybe just few feet away so I just stood.

"I don't know," she shrugs. "I've got desperate, I guess. You won't text me back or answer my calls and I tried talking to you in person but you always avoid so I did it. So you can just listen."

"You said we can never be together, Rach," I bit out, not hiding the bitterness in my voice. I'm still pissed about it, you know. You can't just forget words like that. "Then when I tried my damn best just to move on and forget about you, you came striding through the choir room and singing that song. What are you trying to do to me? What do you want from me?" I almost yelled but think the otherwise because even though I'm mad at her, I can't see her hurt because of me.

"I want you," she said, staring at me.

I blinked for a few times, trying to process in my head what she just said. It just made me more confused than ever. Is she a bipolar or something? I think she's nuts.

"I was wrong," she looks down at her lap and played with her fingers, the mannerism she always do when she's nervous or something. "I thought that I can have this relationship with you without feeling anything. And then you told a lot of times that you have feelings for me and I panicked. You mean so much to me that I can't lose you as well in my life."

That got me furrowing my eyebrows. "Rachel, I've been trying to be with you for a long time and you're the one who's pushing me away. Maybe if you could just say yes to me then there will not gonna be a time that you will lose me."

"Look, I just, " she sighed. "I don't want to hurt you, Finn. And I don't want you also to hurt me."

I chuckled sadly. "Well, I think you're doing a pretty bad job on that, Rachel." With that, I turned and left her. I could have just pushed her to tell me but I think I'm already than with that.

I heard her calling my name but I didn't stop walking, ignoring it makes me feel like I'm standing up for myself. I'll just go home and nurture my wounds myself. I need to think about other things too and it's going to be damn hard because Rachel keeps on popping inside my head every time. Damn her and my undying love for her.

I'd manage to get through the day and woke up the next morning trying to convince myself that I'm okay. I'm fine with everything else involving Rachel. Yeah, the pain was still there but I don't know what I will do if I saw her again today. Maybe the feelings will crawl back inside, I don't know. But for now, I just really want to get through the day without feeling like this.

I still dodged every question about yesterday from every glee club member that asked me until I made the whole day without any signs of Rachel. I guess I'd better get used of not seeing her right now, but I don't know why I keep on wondering where she is.

I made my way to the choir room, still ignoring all of them except for my best friends of course. I sat once again in front and just focus on the white board which contain our assignment for the week. Redemption. It means making something better or kind of fixing something for good, something like that. I don't know how that is related to the competition but Mr. Schue decided that it would be a good lesson for us, because we're not a team right now, as he said it. But by the looks of it, I think he's got a lot of going on in his life as well that is needed fixing. And I think I kind of need it right now in my life.

Marley arrived shortly and made her way to sit next to me. She doesn't talk for a while but she'd been glancing in my way a few times ever since she saw me and sat next to me.

"Hey," she finally uttered. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, not looking back at her. "I'm fine."

"Don't worry. I'm not here to ask about what happened yesterday though I'm still curious about it." that made me smile a little.

"Thank you." I looked at her this time.

"You know, what happened yesterday really made me realize something." She looks down at her lap. "What I'm doing to Jake is not right. What Rachel did made me think about the things that I'm doing and I need to make it right. Not just for me, but also for Jake. I really like him, a lot, and I guess I'm just scared that he will hurt me. But not anymore, I guess."

"I think that's great, Marley." I smiled at her. "I really think that Jake likes you."

She smiled back at me. "I really hope that you and Rachel can fix whatever it is that's going on with you both. And from what I see from her yesterday, she really likes you, Finn. I think she's even falling in love with you."

Jake, Quinn and Mr. Schue arrived before I can say anything. I caught Jake gave Marley a longing look but it was immediately vanished from his eyes. Quinn sat to the chair on my right, smiles at me and puts her bag on the floor. I still haven't asked her why she did join glee club and it made me really curious. She never got interested on it before so I wonder what made her do it. I don't think it's because of Rachel because I don't think she really likes her.

"Hey, what's up?" she said.

I arched my eyebrow. "You wanna tell me why you joined glee club?" I turned to glance at Mr. Schue who is kind of busy at the moment reading something.

Quinn just shrugs. "I heard it's good and I kind of crushing on someone in here." She giggles and I can't help but to roll my eyes. Yeah, she's still the Quinn I know. "Everything's good with you and Rachel?"

"I thought you hated her?" I asked her.

"I did but after yesterday, I kind of think that she's really, really into you. I think we're both wrong about that, Chris."

I huffed. "Whatever. I don't care anymore."

"You really are a good liar, Finn Hudson." She chuckled. "Look, if a girl sang a damn song for you in front of a bunch of strangers, it would make you want to consider your decisions you know. There's a reason why she's like the way you said. You just need to make her trust you and I think she's almost there."

"Okay," Mr. Schue says, arranging the papers in his hands. "Um, where's Rachel and Santana?" he asked, looking around the room.

"I don't think they're coming anymore, Mr. Schue, especially Rachel." Mercedes answered. "And I think we all know why."

I kept my mouth shut, like I always do. Quinn looked around and stared daggers at the people who are looking at me but I shook my head at her and held her hand, making her stop.

"We don't need to blame others, Mercedes. And besides, even if they don't come anymore, we still have two new additions that will complete our group." Mr. Schue said.

Mr. Schue made Quinn and Jake to audition. Quinn sang something about someone having a bubbly face and Jake sang a song that I knew. And it even reminded me of Rachel, which I regretted after. I mean come on, Finn. Really? You can't even not think of her for a day? Seriously, dude. Get a grip.

Obviously, the two made it and after hearing Tina and Artie sing again, which is actually related to the assignment at least, the glee club meeting was dismissed and I once again left without talking to anyone.

Quinn and Marley just gave me a pep talk I never thought that I would hear from them and it made me think. They were right of course. Yes, I admit that I was hurt but Rachel just sang a song to me. She would never do that to anyone. I know she wouldn't.

And as I got inside my car, I already know what I will do about everything. I am done pretending. I am done acting that I don't care. It was a hard thing to do anyway. I need to man up and face everything, just like she does. And I don't care what will happen after it. As long as I can get to make her fall in love with me. And I know I'm almost there.

A/N: Tell me what you think :)

One chapter left then an epilogue.

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to leave a review. Thanks ! :D