DISCLAIMER: I am not Ryan Murphy. Seriously do I look like the kind of person who would not give us only minor Finchel kissage in the finale?
Ch7…
3FINCHEL3
Miss Pillsbury was cleaning her office when Rachel slipped in during her free period. She waited for the guidance counsellor to finish wiping down the pencils in the jar and the brochures before she cleared her throat.
"Rachel! What brings you by?" She asked in a squeaky voice.
Fidgeting in her seat, Rachel picked imaginary lint from her skirt. "I need your advice."
"Well that is what I'm here for." Emma told her trying to relax.
"I wasn't sure if it was okay given your fight with Mr. Schuester, you haven't been by to watch us rehearse in a while and I-"
"First and foremost I am here for the students regardless of my relationship with Will." She interrupted blushing scarlet. "Is this about Glee club?"
"Sort of." She hedged. "I'm sure you know all about the Jesse debacle." She rolled her eyes, she hated to bring up her temporary lapse in sanity. "And Finn informed me that you know about what happened with everyone shortly after that."
"Yes hmm." Emma nodded, part of being a guidance counsellor was just letting the kids talk, it was actually the thing she was best at. Apparently she had expressive eyes that made people want to tell her their life story.
"I just don't know how I'm supposed to react. On one hand I want to scream and shout at them and then on the other hand I feel like just shrugging it off, I wasn't totally surprised that they didn't care. They only ever care when it affects them." Rachel played with her hands. "I don't want to be a bitter person who hates everyone but I feel like if I just let it go I'm saying that its okay for them to treat me like dirt."
"Why do you think this is so hard for you?" Emma asked resisting the urge to reach across and take Rachel's hand.
"I thought we were friends." She answered quietly. "I didn't think they would be so callous. It was like a metaphorical slushie only this time it was thrown by someone who mattered."
"I think you need to tell them that." She told Rachel gently patting her shoulder.
"They didn't even apologize." She exclaimed anger of course seeping back in. it was a defence mechanism she had seen a hundred times, emotions equal vulnerability. Anger is a safer choice.
"They might surprise you." Emma said looking out her window at Mr. Schuester who was frantically signalling her. Sadly she didn't understand frantic Spanish teacher.
"Rachel! Didn't anyone tell you? Emergency Glee rehearsal in the auditorium now." Will winked at Emma careful to make sure Rachel missed it.
"I'm sorry ." She apologized quickly. "I haven't seen anyone from Glee all day and my phone is flat."
"That's okay Rachel." He assured her. "Just go meet the others I have to talk to Miss Pillsbury for a minute."
She looked between the two and left without another word, the will they wont they relationship of Miss Pillsbury and Mr Schuester was a favourite topic of conversation amongst the glee clubbers, everyone was for it happening and no one wanted to get in the way if it did. Rushing as fast as her Mary Janes allowed her Rachel ran to the auditorium fuming silently at being late to a glee session.
"Rachel." Finn greeted loitering outside the door, he wasn't exactly James Bond at the signal to the others that she was there, a neon sign would have been subtler but Rachel chose to ignore it.
"Hi Finn, sorry I'm late I had a meeting with Miss Pillsbury." She explained in a rush. "You guys haven't started without me have you? I already told text Puck last night that Do You Think I'm Sexy is definitely not an appropriate song!"
"Rachel, relax!" He order laughing and shaking her shoulders slightly. "I'm pretty sure Kurt would shot that idea down even if you were there." He could just imagine the boys face if Puck ever uttered the words in front of him. "We're just getting started now, come on."
The lights were dimmed down low with only spot lights on the stage, there were seats set up and all the self proclaimed Gleeks were seated, Miss Pillsbury was sitting next to Mr Schuester at the directors podium and every eye in the place was on her.
"We've been in this club for nearly eight months." Quinn began rubbing her stomach. "Believe me I know it's been that long."
Rachel hiccupped with laughter and took a seat keeping a death grip on Finn's hand.
"It's been a pretty crazy time." Tina added. "I lost my stutter."
"I kissed a girl." Artie said smiling at his girlfriend.
"I knocked up a girl." Puck as always breaking the mood, Quinn being too far away had to be satisfied with the punches in the arm that Matt and Mike gave him.
"What we're trying to say is." Mercedes spoke over them rolling her eyes. "Things have changed, we've changed."
"And that's at least partly because of you." Kurt continued, he hated to admit it but it was true. "You pushed us even when we wanted to kill you."
"So we just wanted to thank you." Mike said bowing his head slightly.
"We may not always show it." Mercedes took over again biting on her lip. "But you are our friend Rachel, and sometimes we forget how fragile you are."
Santana and Brittany stood up and pulled out a banner that said We're Sorry! The little sad face was what did it for Rachel, and she started to cry.
Brad walked out and started to play a sweet melody on the piano, he really always was around.
"I like the way you're not afraid.
You got the world planned in your mind"
Puck started singing out clearly winking at Rachel who couldn't help but blush.
"People say you cannot do it.
Well they don't know a friend like you"
Quinn sang next her eyes giving the apology Rachel had always wanted.
"The boy you love has gone away
Still too young to know his heart"
Kurt sang taking over and making no qualms of pointing out Finn who was now blushing as red as Rachel had been earlier, she smiled, something that was shared by the group.
"He'll return his love renewed
Cause he'll never find a friend like you"
Mercedes grabbed Kurt's hand and finished the verse nodding again at Finn, now even the tips of his ears were red.
"When I had no one to call
all the world had shut me down"
Tina sang softly her eyes searching Rachel's, she would know why she had wanted to sing that lyrics. Nudging Artie her boyfriend picked up from her and sang his part.
"I showed up at your door so blue
thank god I had a friend like you"
Matt and Mike had started a soft beat box to accompany the piano but paused to sing the next two lines their voices mixing together well.
"Many times I've gone without
a home, a meal, a pair of shoes"
Banner still between them Santana and Brittany sang the last two lines while the rest of the group stood up and joined them.
"If you had three, you'd give me two
there aint no other friend like you"
Finn had long since lost feeling in his hand, he wasn't even worrying about if he would ever feel it again, he was too focussed on Rachel's face. Tears streaked her cheeks and her eyes, usually so bright and shining were searching the faces of the gleeks on the stage. He was still unsure as to how exactly they had managed to talk Santana into this, he suspected a scary amount of blackmail, threatening and bribery; he felt safer not knowing.
Standing slowly Rachel pulled Finn up with her and walked purposefully up to the stage, starting with Artie she hugged each person whispering something to them so softly that it was inaudible to anyone but the two. Finn just stood back and watched as she made her way around the stage her tears mingling with Mercedes and Tina's. Even Kurt had a few creeping out of his eye though he would deny it vehemently later when called on it.
Rachel laughed freely when instead of accepting her hug Matt and Mike picked her up between them and sandwiched her in a massive three-way bear hug. Even Puck hugged her without a trace of awkwardness that was left for the Cheerios. Brittany hugged parking metres so there was no drama there, Santana hugged back stiffly and pushed away within five seconds; Quinn was last.
Rachel had never disliked Quinn, wondered why she hated her, felt the need to belittle her but never hated her. Since her weekly meetings with Miss Pillsbury; school ordered due to her 'situation' she had come to accept her feelings toward Rachel. The usual reason for bullying; jealousy, resentment etc.
Rolling her eyes Quinn stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Rachel, which was difficult with a baby bump in between them. Blonde hair shielding her face she leant down close to Rachel's ear.
"Do you think we could start over now?"
Rachel pulled out of the hug and nodded, that was enough. She'd always wished her life was a movie, some fabulous Broadway play. Having your High School Glee Club serenade you with an apology was definitely a befitting chapter of either of those wishes. She'd never dreamed it would happen, who really expects those kinds of things in real life? But when you're dealing with an intense, diva-esque and dramatic girl like Rachel Berry everything you do should be as such.
3FINCHEL3
Glee club was obviously a very different place that afternoon, for once everyone was there on time and everyone was smiling. Artie was as always in his usual spot with Tina next to him and Kurt and Mercedes right behind. Quinn was on the other side of Mercedes joining in on their conversation and laughing. Santana and Brittany were comparing iPods with Matt and Mike and giggling over the more embarrassing additions to their playlists. The only people who were quiet were Finn and Rachel, she was standing in front of the piano and just watching, a smile pulling at her face. Finn was watching her, that same smile pulling on his own face. The other person who was silent? Puck he was sitting in his chair and staring at the door obviously waiting for something or someone.
Mr. Schuester walked in a few moments later clapping once to quiet the club, he held as usual a stack of papers but these were important papers. They contained all the suggestions they had given him about their regionals set.
"Okay guys! Now that we are back." He looked sideways at Rachel who blushed slightly and took her seat next to Finn not even noticing his arm around the back of the chair. "I think you can all agree that we should focus all our energy on smoking the competition out of the water!"
The group cheered at that, winning that trophy was like validation that they were special, that they were a part of something special.
"I've collected all your suggestions and I've narrowed it down a bit, any last minute additions?" He asked hoping there wouldn't be, he'd spent a good portion of his lunch sifting through lyrics. "Great, so here's what we have so far."
Turning around he wrote the songs he thought would work best on the white board.
"He took our suggestion!" Rachel whispered to Finn clutching his arm in excitement. His skin tingled and smiled back linking their fingers, he cheered inwardly when she didn't pull away.
Art of Love – Guy Sebastian and Jordin Sparks
When You're Gone – Bryan Adams and Melanie C
I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
Just My Imagination – Babyface ad Gwenyth Paltrow
Remember The Days Of The Old School Yard – Cat Stevens
Times Like These – Foo Fighters
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
Smooth – Santana and Rob Thomas
Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader
Drops of Jupiter – Train
"Now guys, these are just the ones that I thought would work best. Here's your assignment. Working in groups or pairs put together a routine using one of these songs, we'll perform at the end of next week."
Rachel's eyes sparkled and she reached for Finn's hand, they'd be partners she didn't even need to ask, it was just assumed. The next few days would definitely be gruelling, he felt a little sorry for Rachel, she'd have bruised toes for sure.
3FINCHEL3
Hey guys, as you can probably expect the end is nigh for this story, but how shall it end? Well you'll see.