Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Finn followed his mother and stepfather into the auditorium with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He tried not to look bored, but he couldn't help it. He could think of so many other things he'd rather be doing on his Saturday night than sitting through a showcase at NYADA.
True, they were going to support his stepbrother Kurt. Apparently, it was quite a big deal for a sophomore to be featured in the end of the year showcase. So that was cool, but it didn't mean that Finn wanted to sit through hours of listening to other NYADA students sing songs that he knew nothing about.
"Finn, can you try not to look so miserable?"
Finn sighed as he looked at his mother. "Come on. Do you really want to listen to this for the next five hours?"
"We're here to support Kurt," Carole said. "So in you go." She pointed down the row of seats near the front and waited for her son and husband to go by her. "Burt, you can try to look a little more excited as well, you know."
"Finn has a point," Burt said as he sat down. "Of course I can't wait to hear Kurt, but I could probably do without everyone else."
Carole looked at Finn and Burt, trying her hardest not to laugh. She didn't succeed very well, and she ended up relenting. "You're right. I think Kurt is in the beginning of the showcase, too. We'll be here for a while."
Carole turned out to be right. Kurt's slot was in the very beginning of the showcase, and they had to sit through hours of the other students performing. Burt was practically asleep, and Finn was well on his way there when the last performer was called to the stage.
"And our final performance of the night is Miss Rachel Berry!"
All boredom left Finn as he sat up straight in order to get a better look at the stage. Rachel walked across, wearing a pretty purple floor-length gown. Her smile was bright as she took her spot in the center of the stage, waiting for her cue from the orchestra.
Finn couldn't believe that it was Rachel Berry up on that stage. He hadn't really seen her since he and Puck had stopped at her graduation party the summer before the year began. Even so, she had always been in the back of his mind.
And then Rachel opened her mouth and began to sing. Finn leaned forward, entranced. He didn't think he had ever heard a more beautiful voice in his entire life. He was completely captivated throughout her entire song, and was only pulled from it when the crowd's thunderous applause reached his ears. Finn was clapping just as hard as everyone else. He even went as far as to let out a whistle, causing Rachel to look at him and catch his eye. Her smile grew even brighter when she saw him.
They had to wait another few moments before the winner was announced. Finn wasn't surprised when Rachel was declared the winner of the showcase (though he was sure that Kurt wouldn't be very happy about it). After that, the families were allowed to join the performers backstage.
Finn waited off to the side while Carole and Burt searched for Kurt. Finn kept an eye out for his stepbrother as well, but he couldn't deny that he was also looking for Rachel. In the end, though, it was Rachel that ended up finding him.
"Finn!" Her eyes bright, Rachel stopped in front of him. She reached forward like she was going to greet him with a hug, but hesitated at the last moment. Finn solved that problem for her by wrapping his arms around Rachel and pulling her into an embrace anyway. Stretching up on her tiptoes, Rachel slid her arms around his neck to return it.
"You were amazing," Finn said when he pulled away. His hand was still on her hip, and it took him a moment to realize it before he moved it. Rachel didn't seem to mind, her cheeks flushing prettily.
"Thank you," she said. "I had no idea that you would be here! Do you know someone that was in the showcase?"
Finn nodded his head. "I do, actually. Kurt Hummel is my stepbrother."
"Oh! He was so good today. Kurt really has a lot of talent," Rachel said sincerely.
"You were amazing," Finn repeated.
Rachel gave him a bright smile and reached forward, taking one of Finn's hands and squeezing it. They stood there like that, smiling at one another until someone called Rachel's name.
"That's my father," she said as she looked over her shoulder. "I have to go. It was nice seeing you." Suddenly growing shy, she said, "Maybe we could catch up soon?"
Finn squeezed Rachel's hand in return. "That sounds nice."
With one last smile, Rachel left to go and find her family. Finn only had a moment to think about his exchange with her when he heard his brother's voice.
"Finn Hudson! Did I just see you talking to Rachel Berry?"
Finn sighed. He should have known that Kurt would be mad. "Yes, I was talking to Rachel Berry."
"How do you know her?" Kurt demanded.
"She's Puck little cousin. We've met before." Finn didn't think that it would be a very good idea to mention that he had a thing for Rachel, as well.
Kurt huffed. "I can't believe that a freshman won the showcase. Freshmen aren't normally even invited to the showcase!"
"Kurt, you did great tonight," Burt said. "You should be very proud of yourself."
"You should," Finn said. "You really were great."
Kurt let out a dramatic sigh, leading Finn to believe that he had done most of his complaining in the dressing room. "I know. I was, wasn't I? And I suppose that Rachel Berry is very talented, too. I'll just have to win next year."
"That's the spirit, Kurt!" Burt said. Carole fussed over Kurt, talking about how she would make all of his favorite food and they could watch a marathon of his favorite television show to make him feel a little bit better.
"You should know that Rachel thinks you're talented," Finn said.
"Really?" Kurt asked.
Finn nodded his head. "Really. She told me so herself."
Kurt looked thoughtful before he said, "I guess she's not so bad, then. Finn, I approve of you dating her."
"What?" Finn's eyes went wide. He hadn't realized that he had been that obvious about it. "I… uh…"
"Please, Finn," Kurt said with a smirk. "Don't try and deny it. It's completely obvious that you want to date her."
Author's Note: Thanks for reading!