Hi everyone! Sorry for taking so long... school has started back up and I've got some pretty intense classes, so I'll be updating slower, but I'll try my best to put out a new chapter at least once a week, if not more! Enjoy :)

"I really don't like that Jesse kid. I mean, who does he think he is to just show up at our school!" I fumed as I stood shirtless in front of the mirror in Rachel's bathroom. The door was shut, but I could hear Rachel's exasperated sigh from her room. I didn't care. "Like, seriously, he tried to return a pen? He's totally got a thing for you."

"Finn, you've been complaining about Jesse ever since we got here 20 minutes ago," Rachel said. "Just let it go. It's no big deal."

I scoffed. "No big deal?"

"Not at all. I've told you already that I'm not interested in his kind. He's very, well... self-absorbed."

"Even though he's good looking," I mumbled irritably. I continued to stare at my reflection in the mirror. I ran a hand along my jawline, feeling the barely noticeable amount of stubble and a few spots of acne here and there. Was I as attractive as Jesse?

"That doesn't matter, we've been through this before already; I'm into someone else."

I frowned. I had completely forgotten about my unknown competition. "Oh, right."

"Now c'mon, we need to seriously work on this duet! We're incredibly behind and it's due on Friday. Get out of there, you've been in the bathroom for the past 5 minutes doing god knows what. All I know is you're awfully quiet in there and I'm worried."

I huffed and tossed my shirt back on before heading back out into Rachel's bedroom, joining her. She looked at me with a confused expression.

"What?"

"Your shirt's on inside-out."

I flushed. "I know."

"You know?"

"Uh, yeah. It's um, I'm thinking about making it a new... trend?"

Rachel lifted a brow at my painfully obvious lie but didn't call me out on it. "That'll catch on quick, I'm sure. Now c'mon, let's do this!"

I sat down nervously next to her on the bed, leaving about a foots worth of space between us. I wanted nothing more than to close that gap. "So, songs?"

"No romantic songs," Rachel said with a smirk as she revived the memory of my little outburst in her car the other day when going to Carmel High School. I laughed and gave her a light playful shove. "To be completely serious though, I was thinking that maybe we could do some sort of alternative song? Something slowish. You've heard of Snow Patrol, right?"

I furrowed my brows and let out a breath of air. "I know where you're going with that, but they don't really have any songs with two people singing, and doesn't it have to be a duet?"

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that."

I went to lean back, placing my weight on my arms against the bed, but my left hand accidental brushed against Rachel's. Automatically, I turned my head toward her, our eyes meeting each other instantly. "Sorry, uh... my bad."

"It's-it's no problem. Just an accident, of course." she assured, though her eyes said something differently. She seemed slightly confused and scared, but intrigued. I definitely felt the way she looked at the moment.

I held my breath while also holding her gaze.

Okay, forget everything I've thought before about there not being a chance with Rach and me. Just... just lean in. I can do this. I just gotta lean in, and kiss her, and uh, I don't know. I'll worry about that later. Just. Do it.

Right when it seemed as if I was making progress on the whole leaning-in thing, Rachel's cellphone beeped. She quickly averted her eyes downward, focusing on the flip-phone that sat next to her on the bed. I let out the air I'd been holding in my lungs for what felt like forever.

Well there goes that chance.

"It's my fathers, they'll be home soon." Rachel said as she read what was on her screen. I palmed the back of my neck nervously. Does this mean I had to leave? "You should um, you should probably go."

"I've met your dads before though. They liked me, so-"

"It-it's different. They wouldn't like the fact that I have a boy over when nobody else is home, so you should definitely get going," she spoke quickly as she stood up, collecting my things for me. She shoved them into my arms and practically pushed me out of her room and dragged me down the stairs to the front door. If I hadn't known any better, I'd of said that she was trying to hurry me out for reasons other than the ones she told me.

"So um, I'll call you?" I asked as I stood on her front porch. She nodded, holding the front door open.

"I'm sorry I have to rush you out like this, it's just, you know. Parents."

I nodded, actually not getting it. "I understand."

With a small, nervous smile and a "goodbye", Rachel disappeared behind the closed door. I let out a heavy sigh and headed toward my car, wishing that I'd of just kissed her. Maybe then I wouldn't have had to leave so soon.

I stared at my shelf of video games that stood next to my television. I had to determine which ones I could part with in order to muster up more cash for Quinn and the baby. It was only about four o'clock right now, so that meant that GameStop would most definitely be open.

I haven't really been playing Call of Duty that much lately, and I guess I could get rid of Mafia II even though I haven't even gotten to finish half of it yet... oh, Bioshock can get me at least $15, but I really like that game. Ugh.

In the end, despite my wishes of keeping at least half of my games, I had a good four-fifths of my game collection neatly packed together in a brown box and ready to be sold to GameStop. I was sure I'd get at least $120 for it all, but I knew that wasn't enough.

I looked around my room, my eyes falling on the few well-kept comics that I did have. I could always probably sell them to Sam, but he and his family had just gotten back on his feet. I couldn't take money from him, even if I was giving him comics in return. Besides, he might be the guy that Rachel had a crush on, so I didn't want to do any business with him anyways.

Either way, I added the comics to the "sell" pile that I had constructed on my bed which consisted of the box of video games, a few collectibles of mine and some old CD's of mine that I didn't listen to anymore, thanks to MP3 players and iPod's.

I headed downstairs into the kitchen to get myself a bottle of water from the fridge. As I leaned against the counter to drink, I tried to think of other things that I could sell. I mean, I was an 18 year old boy... I had to have tons of other stuff I could get rid of!

"Hi Finn, how was school today?" my mom asked as she entered the kitchen, setting her purse down on the counter. I didn't hear her even come into the house.

I shrugged. "It was okay. Work?"

"Same stuff different day."

I nodded, not really knowing what else to talk about with her. I hadn't exactly told her about Quinn's pregnancy yet, and I had this horrible nagging in the back of my head that yelled at me for keeping it a secret from her for so long, so it was just easier to avoid speaking to her all together.

Without another word, I left the kitchen, passing the living room on the way back to my bedroom. I stopped in my tracks when my sight fell on a certain piece of furniture, though. I went into the living room.

My fathers recliner.

I winced at the idea of actually selling my dad's chair. I mean, this was all I had left of him. This was my only memory of him, when he sat in that chair and held me. Hell, there even was a picture of it next to the chair on that table! But I really needed that money...

"Hey, Mom?" I called out. "Do you think Dr. Reynolds would still be up for buying Dad's recliner?"

My mother quickly came into view in the hallway, giving me a curious look. "Yes, but when he came to buy it last time, you freaked out."

I chewed on my lip. "I know, it's just, you were right. It's time to move on, and keeping his stuff around the house isn't going to help." I lied. "I was just wondering if you mind if I could maybe keep like, half of the profits? It'd maybe get me a new game to help keep my mind off of everything."

She smiled. "Please, you can keep all of the money. I'm just glad that you're letting it go."

I forced a smile myself, though it didn't look as happy as her own. "Thanks."

She nodded and left the room, allowing me to be alone once more. I took a seat in my fathers recliner, closing my eyes and snuggling up in it for what would be the last time before I would go next door to Dr. Reynolds house and talk to him about buying the chair.

I buried my nose in the seams of the chair, trying as hard as I could to get an idea of what my dad smelled like.

I couldn't.

RACHEL'S POV

"Thanks a lot for the notes, Rachel. I owe you one," Sam said as he folded up and pocked the English notes from yesterday's class. Since he'd been absent due to a cold over the weekend, I took the liberty of making him a copy of my notes for him to study so he'd be prepared for today's small quiz.

I smiled and nodded. "That's what friends are for."

"Well still, thanks a ton. I'll see you in glee!" Sam announced before heading off to his next class. I watched him leave, thinking about how adorable he and Mercedes were together. It was about time they had gotten together.

I heard a sniffle from behind me. Startled, I turned around to be met with a bleary and sleepy-eyed Finn Hudson. "What'd he want?"

"I was just giving him notes, he was out yesterday you know." I said as I closed my locker door. I began to walk slowly, Finn keeping up the pace besides me.

"You never gave me any notes when I was absent."

"We were never exactly friends."

"So you and Sam are friends?"

I stopped. "Before you even get any ideas, Sam and Mercedes are dating. So stop it."

He lifted his brows in amusement. "Really? When did this happen?"

I laughed. "Finn, they've been public for the past week and a half. Have you really not been paying attention?"

He shook his head, seeming relieved for some strange reason. "No, I guess not."

"So what's up with you?"

"What do you mean? I haven't been crying."

Now it my turn to seem amused. "Whoa there, I never said you were! It's just, you're not looking the greatest today."

"Gee, thanks." Finn rolled his eyes. I shook my head with a smile.

"That's not what I meant. I mean that you look really tired today. Did you get any sleep at all last night?" I asked as we rounded a corner and stood outside of our Spanish class. He shook his head.

"No," he yawned. "I've been up all night."

"Why?"

He hesitated. "Just been thinking a lot, and I had to run around yesterday to sell some of my stuff so that I could get some money for Quinn and the baby. I didn't get to drop the money off to her 'til about midnight, and then when I went home I just couldn't sleep. I just sat up, thinking."

I gave him a sad smile. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying, but I didn't call him out on it. "If you need to talk, Finn, I'm here."

He nodded. "I know, thank you."

"Of course."

"I'm definitely never making out in a hot tub again with a girl though, that's for sure."

I furrowed my brows at his strange statement. "Um... what?"

"Hot tub. I'm never making out in one again."

"That's a bit random, don't you think?"

He looked up and down the hall before leaning in and whispering, "It's how Quinn got pregnant. In her hot tub."

My face flushed red. "I didn't need to know you guys did it in her hot tub, really."

Now it was his turn to be confused. "What? No, we didn't-we didn't have sex!"

"Then what are you talking about?"

We stared at each other, both equally confused. Any minute now the bell would ring for class to begin. "I'm saying Quinn got pregnant from us making out in the hot tub! Are you even paying attention to anything I'm saying right now?"

My stomach fell. If he was being serious right now, then that meant that Quinn had been lying to him all along. "Finn, you do know you can't just get pregnant from making out in a hot tub, right?"

He nodded sheepishly, color rising in his cheeks. "Yeah, it's just... I, you know, in the hot tub, and Quinn said that it went through our bathing suits..."

My jaw dropped. "Please tell me you're joking."

He shook his head, more nervous now than ever. "Look, I have this little problem of-"

"Finn, you have to have sex to have gotten Quinn pregnant!" I blurted out. Finn shut his mouth immediately and gave me an unsure look.

"But Quinn said-"

"Quinn lied to you, Finn." I cut him off, feeling my blood boil at the thought of Quinn lying to Finn about her pregnancy and claiming that the baby was his, when in fact, "It's not your baby. She cheated on you."

I could see the fear in Finn's eyes, as well as the rage, resentment and worry. I knew he wanted to cry, but he did his best to keep his tears from flowing. He didn't say anything else to me before angrily slamming his fists into the lockers next to me, causing me to jump.

The bell rang and kids began to pile into class. I saw Quinn making her way toward the classroom, her protruding belly cradled gently by her hands. Finn noticed me staring and turned around, seeing Quinn himself. Without even sparing a second he stomped his way to her, meeting her half way. I watched the drama unfold from the doorway of the classroom.

"Hey Finn, so I know you just dropped off-"

"You've been lying to me." Finn spat, getting straight to the point. Chills ran down my spine as I watched Quinn put on her best confused expression.

"What are you talking about, I have lied to you about anything."

"That's not my baby, Quinn." Finn ignored her statement. "You've been telling me this whole time it was mine, but it's not. You let me think, and worry, and practically throw my chances of a future away just to make me believe that it's mine."

Quinn didn't say anything. Instead, she attempted to stand her ground as she looked him directly in the eyes. I could tell that she was close to breaking, though.

"Who's is it?"

"What?"

"Who's baby is it, Quinn." Finn asked irritably. "Who did you cheat on me with?"

Quinn's mouth formed a straight, tight line as I saw the tears build up in her eyes. Her lack of an answer seemed to be just enough for Finn to know who it was, and the tears that he'd been trying so hard to keep at bay began to slowly fall down his cheeks.

"Finn,"

"It's Pucks, isn't it." Quinn didn't say another word and Finn furrowed his brows, his eyes becoming angry slits. "We're fucking over." Finn growled before turning back around to head up my way, but Quinn grabbed his arm.

"Finn, no! Please, let's talk about this!"

Finn ripped his arm out of her grip. "No, you know what? Fuck you. I don't want to talk about anything with you. I don't even want to see you. You've made my life miserable for the past year with your constant down talking at me, and your hatefulness, and now... and now this!"

"Finn!"

"Fuck you!"

"What the hell's going on over here?" Puck asked as he came around the corner, standing in between the vast amount of space between where Finn and Quinn stood. "What's your friggin deal, Finnessa?"

Finn stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and rushed towards Puck, roughly shoving him up against the lockers. He lifted up a fist, ready to punch Puck square in the face. He didn't go through with it though and instead dropped his ex-best friend back down on the ground. "You're not even worth it," Finn hissed as he stepped back.

"What, scared?" Puck snorted as he fixed his shirt. Finn's chest continued to heavily rise and fall and his expression was stone cold. There was no doubt he'd find great pleasure in pummeling Puck this very second, but he didn't.

"No, I'm just better than you. I'm better than both of you." Finn glanced at Quinn who had began to shed a few tears herself. "That's why I'm not even going to waste any more of my life with this situation. I'm done. You're both dead to me."

Once again, he turned back around and headed towards me. I thought he would end up stopping back at the lockers where I was, but he just continued to hastily walk right past me until he reached the glass doors at the end of the hallway, which didn't stop him either. When he was completely out of sight, I turned to Puck and Quinn. I was furious.

"How dare you two," I belittled them as I slowly walked toward the horrible ex-best friend and now officially ex-girlfriend. "Noah, you were supposed to be his best friend. How could you just sleep with his girlfriend like that? And to think, you were the father of that baby and you didn't even tell him!"

Noah didn't say a word. He just sheepishly looked down at his shoes and shrugged. I heard Quinn sniffle from the other side of the hallway and turned to her next. "And you,"

"I didn't do anything!" Quinn wailed, the tears pouring down her cheeks. "I'm the victim here-I'm pregnant!"

"That's all your fault!" I practically shouted. "You cheated on Finn with his best friend and then let him think it was his baby! Even worse, you actually took money from him... money he was saving for college in order to better himself. Shame on you."

Quinn wiped her eyes, frowning. "Please, the only reason you're worried about him is because you like him, Manhands. What, you don't think I haven't noticed that you've totally had eyes for him the past year and a half?"

I felt my cheeks grow red. "So what if I do? Could you blame me? Finn is an amazing man; he's sweet, caring, talented, trusting, incredibly thoughtful and determined among countless of other things. Things that you obviously have taken for granted or have just plainly failed to notice. You really have no idea what you've just given up, Quinn. You really don't."

"What does it matter? It's not like you could ever have him anyways. He doesn't go for girls like you."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "First and foremost, I'm a friend to him. My feelings toward him aren't important right now. What's important are his feelings, because he's deeply hurt. I can worry about what he thinks about me another time. Unlike you, I actually care about him."

And with those final words, I turned on my heel and followed in Finn's path out the glass doors before Quinn could say anything else, hoping to God that I would find him at his house.