Disclaimer: I don't own anything.


Chapter 18

The party was a success. It was even better than Rachel expected.

The decoration Tina and Kitty had found looked awesome.
Everywhere, there were thin spider webs and more than fifty candles. They decided not to switch on the chandelier but to use candleholders on each table to make the atmosphere spookier and more mysterious.

The hall was filled with a lot of people, every table was occupied. Right now, Principal Figgins was greeting the guests in a speech, Rachel, Mercedes and the rest of the event management team were watching him from the side of the stage. When he praised them for the organization, Kitty stepped forwards and waved at the audience like the queen.

Mercedes tried to bite back her laughter and Rachel also needed to grin.

But honestly, the all looked like kings and queens. Rachel was wearing the dress of the archive of the Hummel-Hudson's, Kitty wore an apricot gown which went perfect with her blond hair, Mercedes' was turquoise, and Tina wore a dark red one.
The boys also looked fabulous. Matt wore a grey suit which looked similar to Finn's, Ryder looked like he was from the nineteenth century with his hat, the black suit and the beige scarf.

"Don't worry, Finn's coming", Mercedes whispered into her ear. "I have no idea what you are talking about.", Rachel answered. That was a lie. Finn didn't show up until now, neither did his friends or Kurt. But she thought he had seen his grandparents because they were part of the managing-committee of the parents.

After Figgins' speech, everyone applauded, and Rachel went over to the buffet with Mercedes.

Suddenly, doors flew open and everyone turned their heads, Rachel included. Her heart skipped a beat. Finn and his clique entered the hall with their more than perfect outfits.

Finn was wearing the suit, but the others were good-looking as well.
Kurt wore a suit similar to Finn's, but with a silver jacket.
All the others wore expensive looking designer clothes, one more stunning than the next.

However, they didn't seem to like the party, and they were not trying to hide it. Quinn who walked around with her beautiful silver gown like a true queen, looked unimpressed.

Santana, who wore a tight black dress with killer heels, wrinkled her nose in distaste. When she spotted Rachel, her eyes narrowed. She grabbed Brittany's hand, who wore a glittery gown, and wanted to go to the other direction.

"But Santana, I want to eat those chocolate covered strawberries!", she pouted.

"Later Britt, I promise", Santana answered softly and dragged her away.

Finn walked over to Rachel. His outfit took her breath away- again. "How is it going?", he asked casually, pretending he didn't just come one hour too late.

"Perfect.", Mercedes answered for her. Apparently, Rachel had stared at him too long.

Finn nodded. "That's great."

"I hope it will be better than the last party or else we will leave", Sam next to him mumbled.

"Don't pretend you're not good enough for our parties", Mercedes hissed with gritted teeth. Surprised, Rachel looked at her.

"I don't just pretend.", Sam shrugged.

Mercedes next to her seemed to be fuming. She balled her fists. "You're such a jer…"

"Guys! Chill, okay?", Finn ordered. He threw Sam a warning glance and the blond boy turned away from Mercedes. The black girl snorted. "If you excuse me, I will perform in a few minutes." She turned on her heel and stomped to the stage.

Rachel confusedly looked after her. What was that?

Is if that never happened, Finn turned to the buffet, looking at the appetizers. He took one of them and tasted it.

"So much better than last time"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "You recommended that caterer yourself."

He smirked at her and eyed her outfit. Suddenly, he started smiling earnestly. "You look beautiful in that dress", he said.

Dammit, there were those butterflies in her stomach again...

"You have already seen me in that dress, Finn."

"That doesn't change the fact that you look stunning."

"Thank you. You also look stunning."

Suddenly, Finn took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. The orchestra just started playing "Skyfall" by Adele with Mercedes singing. Rachel looked over to his friends, but they were all busy dumping some alcohol of their hip flasks into their glasses.

Only Kurt was looking at them with a weird face expression.

Rachel turned to Finn again. "May I ask you for a dance?" Rachel bit back her laughter. "Come on. I even took lessons from Kurt", Finn whined a bit.

Rachel then nodded earnestly. "Of course, I would like to."

Finn took her hand and laid his other hand on her back. They started slowly dancing to the music.

"Wow, you really took lessons", Rachel said, impressed. "But you need to relax a bit", she added softly.

Finn grimaced. "It's not as easy at it looks", he explained, but his face expressions softened anyway.

Rachel, on the other hand, had a pained face expression all of a sudden. "Rachel, what is it?", Finn asked, concerned.

"I have thought about what you have said on my birthday. And then…" She cleared her throat, feeling that Finn tensed up a bit. "…I talked to Principal Figgins. We think that you should return to the football team."

Finn halted in his tracks, but then, he continued dancing as if she never said anything. "What?", he croaked.

"You were wonderful for our team, and Figgins needs to reward that." With her soft tone, she wanted Finn to calm down, but it was the opposite, actually.

Finn just stared at her. And then, he pulled her closer to him. Rachel forgot how to breathe. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice what happened between the two of them.

"You…" Finn trailed off after the chains of lights suddenly went out. Mercedes looked shocked after her microphone didn't work anymore. The only light source were the candles.

"Finn, I swear, if it is one of your tricks, I will…"

"It isn't", Finn cut her off. He really seemed to be surprised, just like Rachel. "We have to go to the power-distribution. The orchestra can't perform like that. The mood among the guests will be bad in a few minutes."

Rachel nodded and Finn took her hand, leading her to the basement of the school. To be honest, she enjoyed that feeling while he was holding her hand and was more than disappointed when he let go of her.

In the basement, it was even darker. Finn retrieved his phone, opening the torch app.

Rachel frowned. "Should I be alarmed that you know where the power-distribution is?", she asked jokingly.

Finn just smiled venturesomely. He opened the fuse box and did something; Rachel had no idea what exactly.

Suddenly, the lights went on again. Rachel sighed, relieved and Finn closed the fuse box again. They both went up the stairs, but when they where almost out of the basement, Finn grabbed her hand, making her turn around.

"Wait.", he said. "You really thought it was one of my tricks?" He sounded really surprised. But to be honest, Rachel did.

Even if they were no enemies anymore, she still didn't quite trust him. And she also remembered what Kurt said at Sam's party back then.
Besides, she had promised Mercedes to be careful.

"Maybe for one millisecond", she admitted sheepishly.

Finn looked her deep in the eyes. "I would never to that again, especially now that I know how hard you worked on that event."

Rachel looked down. "I'm sorry", she said quietly. "I was just…scared. That it would be like on the Back-To-School party."

Finn immediately shook his head. "No." He took a step towards her.

His face was so close now. Rachel couldn't imagine how it would be to not see him anymore at the club meetings. Would there still be a reason to spend time with him? He would train with his bros all the time. Would he spend the evenings with his friends, partying and drinking instead of texting with her about Broadway, music or other things?

Would he realize that their worlds were too different?

Rachel enjoyed those weeks with him so much and she didn't want to lose him that fast. It was clear which world Finn would eventually choose, and it hurt so much right now.

"Well, that was our last task as colleagues.", Rachel croaked and looked him deep in the eyes.

"That's right", Finn said quietly.

For a while, they were just looking at each other. Then, Rachel decided to break the silence. She gave Finn her hand. "It was nice to work with you", she said as formal as possible.

At first, Finn seemed surprised. But then, she could see another emotion in his eyes: longing. He took her hand, holding it tight. "It sounds like you say goodbye."

Rachel realized that he was right. And also that she didn't want it. She wanted him close to her. She wanted to know everything about him.

Rachel didn't know what happened to her. She was craving his closeness for a reason. She didn't want their shared time to end. She wanted him to touch her.

Everywhere.

"Finn…", she murmured.

"Yes…", he answered, sounding as confused as he looked. In the next moment, he pulled her close to him.

And then, he pressed his lips on hers.

Rachel couldn't think anymore. Her whole body was feeling like she was on fire. She pulled him closer to her.

Finn kissed her like he had never did anything else. Her knees would give in any moment, but it didn't matter because he would be there to catch her.

Rachel wanted more of him. More.

She moaned quietly into his lips. She wanted to undress him, right there on the stairs of the basement. She didn't care whether someone saw her.

She wanted him to leave marks on her body, everywhere. She wanted a proof that she didn't imagine things.

"Rachel…" She thought she knew each tone of Finn's voice, but that one was new. He touched her face, each touch felt so fragile, he caressed her cheekbones. "Rachel.", he whispered.

Rachel leaned forward and kissed him again. She wanted him so bad. She wanted to shout his name. Finn, Finn. Again, and again and again Finn.

"Finn", another, stern voice called out.

Both of them jumped apart. Rachel almost tripped over her dress, but Finn caught her in time.

They looked up. James Hudson was standing there on the top of the stairs. Rachel's heart skipped a beat.

"Your grandmother searches for you."

Finn nodded. "I will be there in a second."

Mr. Hudson cocked his eyebrows. "She doesn't want to see you in a second, she wants to see you now."

Finn stiffened. Rachel could hear how he sighed quietly. Then, he lifted her hand and kissed its back. "I'm sorry", he whispered and went up the stairs to his grandfather who was waiting for him with a cold glance.

Rachel stayed behind, wondering for what he just apologized.


"I told you, you have to stay away from that girl."

Finn was staring out of the window. He felt sick, but actually, he should feel great now. He wanted to return to Rachel, to her beautiful mouth and the feeling he had around her.

If they hadn't been interrupted, he would have done more than just kissing.

"I'm talking to you", James Hudson said sternly. Finn was sure he would throw the glass of Cider at him at any moment. Telling Andy he would drive home with his grandparents was the dumbest idea he ever had.

"Finn, love, we only want your best.", Elaine Hummel added, more diplomatic.

Finn wasn't able to look at any of them. If he did, he could do horrible things to them. Why did it happen today? Why did his grandfather catch them when he kissed Rachel?

"We don't think a scholarship holder from the middle class with two homosexual fathers is the right one for you.", Elaine went on. Finn looked up. How the hell did they know so much about Rachel?

But actually, nothing surprised him in this family anymore.

"You deserve someone better. Someone like Quinn Fabray. I have heard you two get along very well, why don't you invite her for dinner?", his grandmother asked softly. Obviously, she wanted to lighten up the mood, but it was too late for that.

"Quinn and I- that doesn't have a future, grandmother." Only because Quinn was the daughter of wealthy hoteliers, that didn't make her better than Rachel.

Rachel was working harder than any other person he knew. She was intelligent and beautiful and a good listener. And an even better kisser.

He wished they had more time. Those few minutes definitely weren't enough for him.

"You are embarrassing our family if you start something with that gold digger", grandfather hissed. "I can't believe you are doing this. Your parents and we raised you better than that."

Finn tried to ignore him, he really tried. But he could no longer do that. Not if he talked about Rachel like that.

Angry, he looked at his grandfather. "Shut up."

Grandmother next to him gasped, Kurt stiffened. He threw him a pleading glance, but Finn ignored it.

Kurt was allowed to sleep with his teacher, but he wasn't allowed to spend time with the people he liked? How was that fair?

The car stopped and they unfastened their seatbelts. After they got out, grandfather took Finn's shoulder and turned him around.

"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?", he growled. He lifted his hand and punched Finn straight in the face. Finn fell down, he could feel the pain immediately and some stars were dancing in front of his face.

Anyway, he somehow got up and wanted to leap at grandfather. But someone held him back. Finn tried to break away from the grip, but Kurt was stronger than he looked.

"Was that really necessary, grandfather?", Kurt shouted angrily.

Elaine lead her husband away. "Yes. I know you don't like violence, son, but sometimes, I have no other choice. That happens if your brother hangs out with white trash.", James hissed.

With that, he went inside. Finn wiped away the blood from his face with his back of his hand. Kurt next to him put his hands on his hips.

"Finn. Is she really worth all the trouble?" Finn looked at him, too churned to think about that question.

"Mind your own shit", Finn growled and turned around, leaving their estate. While running, he dialed the number of Puck.

He really needed some distraction.


Finn needed three drinks to calm down. He was leaning against the wall of the parlor of Puck's parents, drinking Scotch out of a crystal glass.

"Well, look at that, whom do we have here? The prodigal son reappeared", Sam behind him said. Finn turned around and looked at his grinning friend. He already put off his costume like all of them and only wore jeans and a white shirt.

"Why are you even here?", Sam asked, but then he spotted the bruise on his face. "That looks nasty, man", he commented, eyebrows cocked.

Finn didn't answer, instead, he downed the rest of his drink. Although he was used to alcohol, his cheeks already felt numb.

"Leave him alone, Sam", Puck, who was sitting on the sofa, said. On his lap, Finn spotted a girl, caressing his thigh. She seemed familiar to Finn, and when he lifted his head, he knew why.

Kitty Wilde.

Last time Finn saw her with a guy, she was making out with Artie, but it was not unusual something like that happened in their clique.

"What's wrong with you, Hudson?", Sam asked, leading him to one of the sofas. Finn sat down, accepting the other glass of a cocktail his friend was giving to him.

"The Finn I grew up with would've beaten the crap out of the guy who did that. He never would've accepted he had been thrown out of the football team. And he never would've done the dirty work for others."

The event management work was dirty work? How dared he saying that? But Finn didn't want to get angry again.

Finn just wanted to get drunk until he didn't feel anything anymore. "I had no other choice, you know that."

"Bullshit.", Puck said, amused. "You're just crushing on Berry." Instead of answering, Finn took another sip of his glass. His throat and his stomach were burning now, but he didn't care.

"Are you serious? You're doing all that crap just because of Rachel Berry?", Mike, who was sitting next to him, asked, surprised.

"That's why he changed.", Puck mumbled, caressing Kitty's face.

"He had been kissing her ass constantly. You should've seen him at the last meeting, guys", Kitty added, looking over at Finn compassionately. "Or did you just do that to play football again?"

Finn stared at her. "How do you know that?"

"Rachel told us before the party started."

Frowning, Finn looked over to Puck. Did he just make out with her because he wanted to ask her questions about that?

"And I didn't change." His words were quiet.

"Yeah you did", Artie, who just rolled in, said. His hair was a mess. Maybe he just made out or slept with…okay, Finn definitely lost the overview of Artie's love life.

"Where did I change?", Finn asked his friends, trying to sound calm.

Puck started counting on his fingers. "Firstly, you don't come to our parties or you leave before sunrise. The old Finn Hudson never did that.
Secondly, you voluntarily spend time with the losers of the event management team – no offence, Kitty." She flipped him the bird and got off his lap.
"Thirdly, you give a shit about our pact."

"I didn't come here to listen to that bullshit."

Mike cocked an eyebrow. "It isn't, you know that."

"Mike is right. We wanted to enjoy our last year together and to whoop it up.", Artie added. "That was our pact. Yolo, man. Every day as long as we are together. But it seemed that you somehow lost that Finn, the troublemaker, on your way."

Finn leaned back, taking another sip, his stomach was burning, but not just because of the alcohol.

They were right.

They wanted to make the best out of their last year together in school. His bros were like a second family to him.

He didn't plan to fall for someone with whom he never had a chance of a happy end.

He could still feel Rachel's lips on his, and how sweet they tasted.

Well, that meant that he was still too sober. Rachel made him feel like he had never felt before. She gave him the feeling that everything was possible.

A wonderful, horrible lie. In reality, not everything was possible. He was not free, not like her.

Maybe that was the reason he felt drawn to her. While she took matters into her own hands, he was treated like a puppet on a string.

While she lived her life with arms wide open, he merely existed.

They didn't fit to each other.

Finn wished he would've known that before he had kissed her.


A/N: Please don't hate me now, guys :/

But it will get better, I promise...