Well, I actually am proud of myself and got this chapter done a lot faster then I thought that I would. I'm particularly happy with this chapter, because it sets up a lot of things for the rest of the story. Hopefully updates will be a lot faster because I'm currently on Spring Break, so you might get another one out of me before school starts back up again. I just want to thank you all for sticking with this story and liking it because it truly means a lot to me! :) So without further ado, Chapter Fourteen.

Rachel didn't know what to do as she walked the unknown streets of Lima. She didn't really know where she was going, or what she was going to do, but she knew she had to leave. She couldn't believe that Finn had lied to her. That he had known Noah all along, and that he only came up to her in the club last night because Noah wanted to get it in. How could he? How could he lie to her, did he even want to be with her? Was it all just pretend? She wiped her tear stained face with her sleeve, wanting nothing more than Finn to hold her and comfort her… but no. Finn was the reason she was like this in the first place, there would be no more of him.

Luckily, Rachel had Carole's phone number in her cell. She had given it to her the first time they spoke, when her and Finn had just started dating. She and Carole hit it off one day when she called Finn's apartment looking for him. He was at work, but Rachel was there cooking dinner, so she answered. Two hours later, Rachel received Carole's number, with a "Call me whenever you want to talk, Rachel. It's nice to have such a lovely girl to talk to." Finn had loved that they hit it off so well. She shook her head, trying to clear all thoughts of Finn and dialed Carole's number. "Carole," she sniffed, "I was wondering if you could pick me up…"

Carole was there in an instant. Rachel could tell that she was concerned, but she knew well enough not to ask where Finn was. Rachel assumed her motherly instincts were on hyperdrive. "Are you alright, Sweetie?" Carole asked as they pulled away from the curb. Rachel didn't really know where she was going. It was cold, and unfamiliar in Lima, so she just headed in a direction she thought was best. She had ended up ironically enough in a pet store. As she looked at the fish, her thoughts immediately went to Finn, and how he loved that she wanted to be a mermaid. Tears rose to her eyes again as she pulled out her phone.

"No, I'm gonna go home. I don't really think I should be here anymore." Rachel cried, leaning her head on the window.

"Rachel, honey, what did Finn do?" Rachel couldn't help but to smile at Carole's words. It was funny how she automatically assumed that it was indeed Finn's fault.

She wasn't exactly sure if she should be telling Carole all of this, but at this point, maybe she could get some insight about what really happened, and why Finn lied to her in the first place. "Finn… Finn…" Rachel sobbed, trying to say anything to tell Carole, but instead, a new set of sobs rose in her chest, preventing her from saying anything.

"Shh, Rachel, it's okay, it's okay." Carole consoled, rubbing Rachel's arm gently as she drove.

They arrived back at Carole's house in about ten minutes with Rachel still crying. Carole went around to Rachel's door and led her to the house, soothing her as they walked up the driveway. When they were inside, Carole sat Rachel on the couch trying to make sense of some of the noises that had been coming from Rachel's throat. By that time, thankfully, Rachel had calmed down a bit, so Carole took this as her opportunity to investigate what had happened. "Now Rachel," she breathed, sitting on the couch next to a teary eyed Rachel, grabbing her hand. "What happened?"

Rachel took a deep breath before she began. "When me and Finn met, we met in a nightclub." Rachel swallowed. "He came up to me out of no where and helped me bring a drunken Kurt home from the bar. But before that, I went to go find Quinn, who's my other best friend, to tell her I was leaving." Carole nodded her head as Rachel spoke. "When I found her, she was… indisposed with this vile guy, a guy that I later learned name was Puck." Carole's eyes widened.

"Don't tell me that Finn lied about knowing Noah this whole time to you." Rachel nodded sadly at Carole's words and started to tear again.

"As far as I know, Finn could be lying about other things. I mean, he said… Never mind. But that was a big lie… I know that I shouldn't be this upset over that, but.."

"Rachel, you listen to me. My Finny has only been in love one other time in his life, and that love was nothing compared to the love I see he has for you." Carole said, wiping away one of Rachel's stray tears.

"I don't know about that Carole, I just don't. That's why I have to leave here, I need time. Not just because he lied, because I need to know that he didn't lie to me about anything else." Rachel rose from her seat as she spoke, walking towards the stairs. "I'm sorry Carole, I'm sorry that I'm ruining your Christmas."

"You didn't Rachel, just, before you leave, just…" Carole sighed. "Come back, I know that Finny will be lost without you." Rachel nodded as she headed up the stairs to pack, not being able to think about Finn any longer.

New York City, Rachel's Apartment:

A strange buzzing noise woke Rachel up from her sleep. She didn't know what it could possibly be, seeing Finn didn't have any alarm clocks in his house. She remembered him specifically saying that he doesn't rely on anything that is plugged into the wall to tell him to get up. Instead, he uses his phone. "Rachel, what happens if there's a blackout and the clock doesn't go off? Then I'm gonna be late and in a lot of trouble, just like you're gonna be in if you don't stop that incessant buzzing" She remembered him saying one morning when her clock woke them both up. She frowned when she realized that she wasn't at Finn's anymore, and the noise she was hearing was actually an alarm clock. Her alarm clock. Because she was home. And not with Finn. Tears sprang into her eyes as she remembered the events of the prior day. She couldn't believe what had happened with Finn.

She heard a knock on her door, and a familiar voice from behind it. "Rachel? Are you home already?" Quinn asked, opening the door a crack. "You're not naked are you? Because Kurt said that you and Finn don't usually get dressed after…" Quinn stopped mid sentence as she saw her best friend in tears. "Rachel? What happened? Where's Finn?" she questioned.

"He's not here. You should know why, Quinn." Rachel cried, putting her head in her hands.

"What? Rachel, why would I know?"

"Because you're a liar Quinn, that's why. You lied to me." Rachel said angrily, facing away from her friend.

"What? What are you talking about? Where is Finn?" Quinn asked sitting next to Rachel on the bed.

"As if you don't already know? I mean, you're so cozy with his best friend since high school I'm sure he knows all about it!" Quinn's eyes widened at Rachel's words.

"Finn told you?" Quinn gulped.

"No, actually, he didn't tell me, his mother told me. She told me about how glad she was that Puck sent him over to me at the nightclub that night. You know, the night that you were making out with Puck against a wall…?"

"Rachel, you don't honestly believe that he was only with you because we brought him there to meet you did you?"

"What?" Rachel gasped. "You planned it?"

"Uh, yeah." Quinn smiled. "What?" She asked at a frowning Rachel.

"So you forced him to come there…?"

"Rachel…" Quinn started.

"No, no, you don't get to speak to me Quinn, you lied to me. You already knew Finn. What did you do? Send him over to me like all the other guys that night? Did you tell him to help me walk Kurt home? Tell him to hang out with me out of pity? Because I was moping around all day? Did you tell him to make me fall in love with him too? To play me like I didn't mean anything?" Rachel was sobbing as she spoke grasping onto the edge of the bed for balance. "Did you?"

Quinn pulled a shaking Rachel into her arms. "No Rachel, he did that on his own. Do you really believe that he lied to you about all of that? So what if I knew him longer, or that we sent him over to you? You're the reason he stayed, not me or Puck. Granted, we did have to get him to call you." Rachel stiffened. "No, it was only because he was so nervous and he liked you a lot."

"He lied to me." Rachel sniffled into Quinn's chest. "He lied."

"He lied about knowing Puck, because we asked him to. Rachel," Quinn sighed. "Puck and I have been dating for a while, he's the guy that I was always out with, and the guy that I always spent the night with. I just didn't want to tell you because you were having such a hard time with you losing your job." She heard Rachel sniffle again, her sobs slowing down. "He lied because he was being a good friend to me and Puck. He was going to tell you, but you guys were already together for so long and it was just gonna get worse when you found out that he thought it would be better to just leave it alone."

"But how do I know that was the only thing he was lying about? How do I know?"

"Rachel, have you seen the way that boy looks at you?" Rachel shook her head. "He loves you so much Rachel. I know it, Kurt knows it, even Puck, his best friend since high school knows it. Puck said he has never Finn happier then when he's with you."

Rachel sat up from Quinn's grasp. "I just…"

"Rachel Barbara Berry. Listen to me, and listen good. This boy is the best thing that has ever happened to you, and you know it. He loves you more than anything in the entire world. And I know you're scared, I see it in you right now, and every single day before this. But Finn is different, and he is not going to hurt you at all." Rachel glared at her. "Okay, fine he lied. But that doesn't mean you break up with him for it. He made a mistake, we all make mistakes Rachel, do you love him? Truly and whole heartedly?"

Rachel nodded at Quinn's words, not able to say anything fearing the tears might start again if she did. "Then call him. Right now, because he needs to hear that from you. He could have lied about a lot of things Rachel, but him loving you, that's not something he lied about." Quinn said, handing Rachel her cellphone. "Call him, now."

New York City, Finn's office:

Finn spun around mindlessly on the chair in his office. He decided to come home early after Rachel left, hoping maybe she would be home and she would forgive her. Except, he hadn't exactly gotten the courage to actually go to her apartment yet. So instead, Finn went to his office. It was empty except for the few people who wanted to extra holiday pay, which was the perfect place for a brokenhearted Finn to be, somewhere with little to no people.

He kept replaying the events of the tree lot in his head. The look of hurt and disappointment that flashed across Rachel's eyes as he told her the truth, the pain in his hearts as Rachel said she was breaking up with him. How heavy the engagement ring felt in his pocket as she walked away from him, tears in her eyes. He didn't want that to happen the way he did. In fact, he didn't want any of that to happen at all, but it did, and he knew he needed to fix it.

A knock on his door broke him from his thoughts. "Hey, boss" said Santana Lopez. "What are you doing here on Christmas? You're usually with you're mom."

"Uh, long story." Finn sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Figured since I'm back maybe I can get some work done before the New Year, you know?"

"Well, do you need any help? I might as well do work for my boss instead of being someone else's bitch." Santana smiled.

"Actually, yeah, that would be good." Finn said, grabbing some papers from his desk. "Here," he held some of them out for her. "Can you make copies of these for me? I need to send them out overnight so they get there by the third."

"Righty-O, boss." She said, taking the papers from him. "If you wanna talk about what happened, I'm here, you know that. Even though I'm technically your secretary, I like to consider myself your friend."

"Thanks, well, make the copies and we'll see what happens when you come back."

"Okay, be right back." She said, and Finn could swear she added an extra sway to her hips as she walked out of his office.

A dozen forms filled out, and forty copies later, Santana was completely filled in on the details of what happened on Finn's winter break and basically every day before then. "Wow." She said, leaning back in her chair. "She seems like a real drama queen if she's overreacting that much to a stupid little lie." Finn rolled his eyes.

"I don't think it's just that. He ex was a big jerk and screwed her up big time, my guess is that now she thinks I lied about more then that. And knowing Rachel, unless someone really convinces her otherwise, I don't think she'll ever believe me." Finn said sadly.

"Well, you know," Santana said, standing from her chair "The best way to get over someone, is to get under someone else." She leaned over Finn's desk, her cleavage right at Finn's eye level. "And you know, I like to help my friends."

"Um, Santana" Finn said, rolling his chair back slightly. "I don't really think that's professional… I mean, I'm your boss. And I don't wanna get over Rachel, I wanna be with her. Forever. That's why I was gonna propose to her… remember? I told you about that like an hour ago."

"So what? The little hobbit doesn't need to know about it." Santana smirked, placing one of her well manicured hands on Finn's face. "It can be our little secret." She whispered her face inches from his, lips puckered.

"No Santana." Finn said, rising from his chair. "We cannot do that. I will not do that. I love Rachel, more than anyone in the world. I already screwed everything up by lying, I'm not gonna make it worse by fucking another chick." He walked around her, heading towards the door. "I'm gonna go get some coffee for us, and you can compose yourself for a few minutes." With that he left the room, trying to figure out what had just happened.

Santana scoffed at the scene that just happened. Nobody says no to Santana Lopez. She was going to get Finn Hudson to sleep with her. She has never broken her "I've slept with every boss I've ever had" record, and she didn't intend to break it now. Finn was vulnerable and pathetic, and that was going to make it much easier for her. He was like a wounded Zebra, and she was the lioness going in for the kill. Ew did I really just compare myself to wild animals? She thought to herself. Maybe if I corner him in the break room, I'll have more of a chance to get him to kiss me. And well, once he kisses me, it's over for him. Santana smirked at her own brilliance.

Just as she turned to leave, she heard something vibrate on Finn's desk. She looked to see Finn's phone. Walking over to it, she noticed Rachel's picture pop up on the screen. A sinister smile crossed the brunette's features as she snatched the phone up and answered it. "Hello, Finn Hudson's phone, how can I help you?" Santana asked sweetly. "No, I'm sorry he's in the shower right now, who can I ask is calling?"

New York City, Rachel's Apartment:

Rachel hung up the phone with a scream, startling Quinn and the now awake Kurt. Granted, Quinn had gone and woken him up when she handed the phone to Rachel, wanting him to hear this just as much as she did. New tears sprung from her eyes as she looked at her two best friends.

"Rachel?" Kurt asked, his voice full of concern. "What just happened?"

Rachel shook her head repeatedly. "A girl answered his phone." She sobbed, falling back onto her pillow, tears rolling down her cheeks. "His new girlfriend."

"What?" Quinn and Kurt screeched at the same time.

"Yup, some sleazy sounding girl said he was in the shower, and she called him Finny. That's my nickname for him, mine. How does he have a new girlfriend already?" She cried, grasping her pillow tightly. "I thought he loved me."

"Shhh, Rachel, it's okay." Kurt said lying next to her. "It's all going to be okay."

"What?" Kurt mouthed to Quinn, who just shrugged her shoulders and returned with an "I have no idea."

"Rachel, I'm gonna go call Puck and see what happened, okay?" Quinn said, squeezing Rachel's leg before she left the room.

She quickly dialed Puck's number on her phone and waited until he answered. "Hey babe, it's me. Listen, we need to talk."

Credits to Taylor Swift for her lyrics from "Never Grow Up"
Glee is not mine, and has never been, but it FINALLY comes back Tuesday!3
As always, to my love Finchelislove for helping me whenever I need it.
To everyone who reads this, thank you.
Rate/review/hate/subscribe, whatever you wanna do!