A/N: This chapter takes place between the end of season 4 and the beginning of season 5.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 20
Adam really stayed true to his words, there were no hunters harassing the gleeks anymore. "And what if your parents find out what you are doing?", Kurt asked him. They were sitting at the campus of NYADA with their cups of coffee and discussing their future. Adam scoffed and dumped some more sugar into his coffee. "To be honest, they don't even care anymore. They only care about their holidays on the Fiji Islands or which Lamborghini father is going to buy next. I'm more or less running this whole business alone", he laughed bitterly. "That's why I want to return to England. Our main HQ is located there, and I need to be there to manage everything." Kurt nodded slowly. That made sense. "And what about NYADA?", he asked the British student. Adam took a sip of his coffee, thoughtful. "There are so many great arts colleges in England too, so I don't think I have to worry about that. Maybe one day, when I sorted things out, then I will return to the US." "And when are you going to leave the States?", Kurt wanted to know. "Next week, I will be gone.", Adam answered. He looked up from his cup and looked Kurt straight in the eyes. "Look, Kurt, I understand if you will never forgive me, but I hope, I can make up what happened. If you ever need anything, then let me know", he offered and got up. Kurt just nodded. What he did to one of his closest friends was indeed inexcusable. Until now, Rachel still had nightmares, he and even Santana had to soothe her many times at night when she once again woke up, screaming and crying. Until now, she refused to tell them what those people had done to her when she was held captive, but Kurt could imagine how terrible and disturbing it must have been. In addition to that, she was a bit paranoid as well, which was understandable after what happened to her. "You are right, it will take a lot of time to forgive you, if I will ever be able to do that. But I can see that you regret what you have done, and that's something. Goodbye, Adam", Kurt said icily, getting up as well. "Goodbye, Kurt", Adam sighed and walked away.
-Some weeks later-
"Are you sure you want to marry Kurt? You are still in high school, man", Sam grumbled and flicked his turquoise tail. The two friends were in the moonpool were Blaine had hidden the box with the engagement ring. The curly haired boy turned the item in his hands and rolled his eyes, something he did not that often. "You sound just like all the others. 'Don't marry him, you are still too young, you have your whole lives ahead of you, blah blah blah.' But I know for sure that Kurt is the one for me and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Why do I have to wait?" "Because", Sam reasoned. Blaine grinned. "You don't even have a good reason. Look, I will propose to Kurt, whether you will like it or not. I even asked Mr. Hummel, and he was fine with that", Blaine told his friend. Sam frowned. "Actually, he wasn't-" "-I said he was fine with that", Blaine sternly cut him off. The blond boy defensively lifted his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. But don't tell me I didn't warn you or something", he mumbled. Blaine laughed. "I don't think that will be necessary. But I'm flattered you worry about me, that's why you are going to be the perfect best man."
Blaine finally proposed to Kurt while all of their friends and families were present, and he said yes. Rachel had tears in her eyes when the newly engaged people kissed each other passionately. Finn was the only one who was absent because there had been a last-minute emergency in the garage, and he had to take care of that. The brunette looked over to her gay friends. Maybe she and Finn were ready to give their relationship another chance, just like Kurt and Blaine. Since that incident with the mermaid hunters, she had been thinking a lot. She was scared to death when she was trapped in the tank, weakened and injured, but Finn was right there, refusing to leave her. Maybe Finn wasn't aware, but what he had done meant so much more to her than he thought. Rachel retrieved her phone from her purse and texted Finn to meet her at the Lima Bean asap.
Rachel nervously tapped her fingers on the table when Finn burst into the café. "Finn, I…" "Rachel! I have great news! Do you remember the students' exchange program? My professor landed me a place in the exchange program for promising students!", Finn broke the news to the brunette. Ever since Puck gave him the wakeup call, he had started to take his studies more seriously and had been studying hard to get good grades. Surprisingly, it turned out that he was actually an excellent student and he soon became one of the best ones. One of his professors had signed him up for an exchange program for aspiring students, but he thought he would never get a place because freshmen normally never did. "One of the chosen students decided to give up her place because she was pregnant or something, so they gave me the place instead!", Finn beamed. Rachel excitedly hugged her friend. "That's great, Finn! I know how much you wanted to take part at this exchange program. Where is it going to be? And how long?" "Thailand for half a year!", Finn answered, even more excited. Rachel's face fell, but the former quarterback didn't notice. "I will attend their college and after some months, I can help out in schools of the poorer quarters. I never have been the most social person, but that sounds somehow exiting to me, like a new adventure! Finally, I can get out of Lima", he said, thrilled. "That's…that's great…" Rachel tried to smile, but this smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Finn frowned. "Rachel? I know that look, is there a problem?", he asked her, concerned. The brunette sighed. "Before you broke the news to me, I wanted to ask you whether we could try it again. But I think that wouldn't be reasonable if you were that far away." Finn took her hands. "Says who? I mean, Kurt and Blaine also made it work somehow. Look, they are engaged now!", he grinned. "Yes, but Blaine almost cheated on Kurt because of the distance. Besides, New York is only a few hours away. But Thailand…there is an entire ocean between us!", Rachel exclaimed. Finn grimaced. "You know, I can always swim over to you or you to me-" "-Stop it, Finn!", Rachel interrupted him with tears in her eyes. "How can you do this to me? Call me selfish, but you can't just leave me like that! After we went through that whole disaster with Brody and the mermaid hunters, I thought I meant something to you. When I was in the tank back then and I was scared, you were there by my side, promising to never let me down again. I thought we had a future, but maybe, I was wrong!" With that, Rachel got up and stormed out of the Lima Bean. "Rachel! Wait!", Finn shouted. But the brunette was already gone.
That was the last time Rachel talked to Finn before he headed to Thailand. She ignored his phone calls and his messages; she didn't even come when all of his friends and his family went to the airport to say goodbye. There was no need to talk to him anymore, he had decided to leave, and she respected his decision. Something inside her told her that this journey wouldn't be without consequences, but maybe she was just hurt. At that time, Rachel didn't know how right she was…
A/N: And there Finn goes...
