Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. For some reason it seemed to take me ages to write as well as life getting in the way. Not to mention Finn and Rachel didn't want to cooperate with me. But anyway I got it done. This chapter was suppose to have the concert as well as the party but it was getting extremely long so I decided to split it into two chapters. I included one of my all time favourite songs in this chapter. I actually got the idea to use it by reading a piece of fanfiction by jalex1 called, 'Won't You Let Me?' it's really good so make sure you check it out & his other great stories. Plus if I remember correctly Cory also said that this particular song was one of his favourites as well & he also wanted to do it on Glee. For any SNL fans out there I added an homage to one of their characters who used to be on Weekend Update a lot…so look out for it & tell me what you think. Once again all the legal stuff belongs to Ryan Murphy & FOX except my characters. So please read, review, rewind, then read and review again…enjoy!
Santana was pacing around the loft like a caged lioness. She was waiting for one Kurt Hummel to get home while Rachel and Dani were waiting in the lounge room. If you asked Santana why she wanted this plan of hers to work she would of told you that it was so she wouldn't have to see Brody's sweaty naked ass around the loft all the time. But truthfully she just wanted to see her friends happy and by some weird twist of fate these kids she used to despise in high school were now some of her closest friends. So since they were friends that means they qualified for what Santana called her code. Her code was the same as in all the mafia movies you've seen. The friends and associates of the mafia get protected while the enemies get taken out. The only other person lucky enough to fit the criteria for the Santana mafia was Brittany. So that's why she had to help these losers get back together because for some strange reason they were at their best and happiest when they were together with their significant other.
Santana was broken out of her musings by her roommate Rachel practicing her scales loudly in the living room. "DO RE MI FA SOL LA TI DO TA SI FI! DO RE MI FA SOL LA TI DO TA SI FI!"
"Bloody Hell Berry! Do you have to do that now?" screamed Santana.
"I do if I want to keep my voice in tip top shape for my Broadway debut! Can you believe in just four short weeks, I'll no longer be Rachel Berry stunning young hopeful from Ohio; but be RACHEL BERRY BROADWAY SUPERSTAR!" replied Rachel to Santana, while singing the last bit at the top of her voice.
Dani just looked over at her girlfriend with a look that said, is she always like this? And Santana who had grown accustomed to the over the top theatrics of Rachel Berry over the years; just simply gave her girlfriend a nonchalant shrug as if to say, don't worry you get used to it.
"Yeah well! You'll keep it down unless you have a spare three hundred dollars lying around to pay for another noise violation. Our neighbours have already called the cops here about you three times just this month. Your lucky the cop they keep sending is as much of a Broadway tragic as you and Hummel, otherwise you would've been booked a lot more." Santana tried to tell her roommate in the hopes she could practice somewhat quieter.
"I know…I know! It's just I need to be perfect on opening night, Santana! I've dreamed of this night ever since I was a little girl. I can't afford any mistakes otherwise that Bitch Tamara Clayton will usurp my role and take Funny Girl and Fanny Brice from me. Can you believe I gave her an actual Friend Bear as a welcoming gift, to show her that I wanted to be friends, especially after the drama when Santana was my understudy. She just threw it in the bin and looked me in the eye and said, if I really wanted to give her a present then I could give her my role, because she was just going to take it anyway." Rachel said while beginning her own turn of pacing around the loft.
"Your right she is a bitch! And if she gives you any problems you just call your Anutie Snixx, okay! I'll show her whose boss, I might even have to break out the razor blades hidden in my hair. But enough about bitchy understudies, it seems to me and my never wrong psychic Mexican third eye, that Ms Tamara Clayton isn't the only thing your worried about, so spill." Santana questioned and also reassured her friend.
Rachel just let out an extremely loud sigh and ran her hand through her long brunette locks before slumping down onto the couch. "Finn…" Santana and Dani both visibly flinched at the mention of Rachel's ex-boyfriends name. Had Rachel somehow found out about Santana's plan, she didn't know, but before she could find out Rachel had started talking again.
"Finn's going to be there, opening night. I couldn't care less about Tamara Clayton. With my exceptional talent I could easily blow that usurping bitch out of the water and still have time for a mani and pedi before going back out for my obligatory encore. But what I'm nervous about is Finn being there. I know we've had our problems but he was the first person outside of my dads who ever believed in me. Even when we weren't together he still always believed in me. He sent me here to be a star, Santana, I can't let him see me and for him to realise that sacrifice was in vain." Rachel emotionally told her friends.
"Do you still love him?" Dani dared to ask.
"OF COURSE I STILL LOVE HIM!" Rachel snapped before composing herself and continuing. "But the problem is I want to kiss him senseless and punch him in the face at the same time!"
"I'd pay to see you punch…"
Santana was interrupted from finishing by the loft door flying open and a frantic Kurt appearing in the doorway. Kurt came rushing through the room and into the bathroom. The girls all just looked at each other silently asking if the other knew what was going on. But all they could hear were the loud banging noises of Kurt throwing stuff around in his desperate search for something. Next Kurt came flying out of the bathroom and started his search of the living room. Kurt had finally had enough. After a rather frantic search of the living room revealed nothing he stood in a huff and fixed his dishevelled clothing and turned to Santana.
"ALRIGHT SATAN HAND IT OVER!" screamed Kurt
"Hand what over, Hummel?" a smirking Santana said trying to act innocent.
"Don't start with me Latina Barbie! Because I will end you! Now where's the scarf?" Kurt snappily told Santana clearly not in the mood to be playing these games.
Santana just started laughing and pulled a long silk scarf hidden deep inside her cleavage. "You mean this old thing? Fine if you want it so badly than here take it!" Santana said as she casually threw the scarf over to Kurt.
Kurt caught the scarf and collapsed onto the couch and started hugging the scarf to his chest while muttering to himself. "Now what was so important that you had to text me a picture of you holding a limited edition eight hundred dollar silk scarf over the toilet bowel with the caption; if you don't want me to drop this you better hurry home? Because if you did anything to this scarf Isabelle is going to kill me cause it's on loan from the Vogue Couture Vault."
"Ease up Hummelina! I wasn't really going to drop it into the toilet. I just thought you might want to be here when Dani and I reveal our surprise to you two." Santana replied to Kurt.
"Oh Goody I love Surprises! Are we going to see a Broadway show cause that new one with Andrew Rannells just opened up and I'm dying to see it!" a giddy Rachel said while bouncing up and down on the couch and clapping.
"Ooh! I heard about that! I want to see it too! How did you get tickets…"
"MY GOD! YOU TWO ARE DRIVING ME INSANE! The surprise has nothing to do with a show. Well it does have to do with a show…sort of…well at least not a Broadway show." Santana said trying not to get frustrated at her friends.
"Sorry!" both Kurt and Rachel said at the same time.
"Cheer up Tinker-Jew and Cinderfella because I Santana Lopez your fairy godmother and her insanely beautiful sidekick Dani have got you exclusive VIP tickets to the launch party for HUD-KNIGHT Records held on top of The Standard Hotel in the Boom Boom Room and rooftop."
"NO FUCKING WAY! Isabelle and others at Vogue couldn't even get tickets to that. One because it was by personal invite only and two because it was all booked out! So how did you get tickets?" a still disbelieving Kurt questioned his friend.
"I just so happen to know the band that's playing there as well as one of the creators of the label." A smug Santana replied to Kurt.
"No you don't! Nobody knows who the second founder of the label is. Vogue tried to get an exclusive interview with him and we were declined so was Rolling Stone and the NY Times. We were told his identity would only be revealed after the launch party and there would be no interviews until then" quipped Kurt.
Rachel leaned over to Kurt, "Who is this guy?"
"Well we don't know much, but from what we do know is that apparently he's really young like our age. He's a brilliant musician and a singer/songwriter, and he's already written several major hits for artists ranging from Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake to Nickelback and other rock bands. He's also apparently discovered a slew of exciting new performers everyone's going crazy over to spearhead his new label as well as poaching one of Spectra Records most promising recording artists. Interesting Fact about that the record executive who was in charge of this mysterious starlet, apparently he was fired for mishandling her career and allowing her to transfer over to HUD-KNIGHT Records. Oh! And one more thing the Knight bit of the label's title refers to Eleanor Knight daughter of William and Martha Knight one of the wealthiest families in America." Kurt explained to the room.
"Martha Knight! I loved her music so much! My dads and I would listen to her, 'Romance on Sistine Street album all the time. I wonder who the mystery artist is?" reminisced Rachel.
"You don't need to wonder Berry! Because she's going to be here in an hour to pick us up for the concert and then we'll see her in two nights time at the label party." Santana replied back.
"WHAT! SHE'S COMING HERE WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING SANTANA?" screamed Rachel and Kurt at the same time as they jumped up and started hurriedly tidying the apartment.
"Settle down…settle down! She's not coming up here. She is picking us up in her limo so hurry up and go and get ready."
At that Rachel and Kurt both sprinted off to their respective rooms to go and get ready for the night. Funnily enough cursing and thanking their friend at the same time; cursing her because she only gave them an hour to get ready and thanking her because she just got them an invite to the party of the year.
The gang was still getting ready in the loft when they heard a loud beep from outside. Considering they lived in New York City the traffic noise was as background and inconsequential as any other noise produced in nature. That is why shortly after the blare of the horn, a message was received on Santana's phone telling her that the limo was waiting downstairs.
"Come on! If you're not beautiful by now, you're never going to be beautiful! The limo's here and if you're not in it, in the next ten minutes we're leaving you behind!" shouted Santana as both she and Dani grabbed their stuff and started to head down to the limo.
Rachel and Kurt came flying comically out of their rooms with Rachel still trying to put her other high heel on and Kurt still doing up his belt. When they managed to stabilise themselves they found the loft empty and rushed out the loft door after Santana and Dani, shouting. "Hold on…Hold on! We're coming!"
The pair of Rachel and Kurt finally found their way onto the street outside the loft and saw Santana leaning up against a luxurious black limo.
"Finally we were about to leave your butt's behind!" Santana quipped from her position from leaning against the limo.
"Santana whose limo is this?" asked Kurt
Just as Kurt finished asking his question the very answer to his question popped up like a jack in the box out of the limo's sunroof.
"What up peeps!" Mercedes Jones screamed out towards her two extremely shocked friends.
"Mercedes?" came the unanimous cry from the two shocked former gleeks.
"Better believe it! Now get those tushes in the limo so we can get this show on the road."
"So you're the mystery artist? Do you know what's going on and where Santana's taking us?" queried a still shocked Rachel.
"Just get in and I'll answer your questions on the way. Otherwise were going to be late."
Santana, Dani, Kurt and Rachel all shuffled into the limo before closing the door. Mercedes had to chuckle at her friends because as they hopped into the limo they spread themselves around the car, pressing every button possible and marvelling at the luxury and decadence of the limo. Once everyone was confirmed safely inside, Mercedes signalled to the driver for him to set off down the road.
The limo pulled up outside the front of the club right in front of the growing crowd waiting outside. The excited crowd started to converge on the limo thinking that it may be the band arriving for their gig. They were held back by the club's security and Jamal. Kurt and Rachel just sat there staring out of the tinted windows at the large crowd.
"Wow! I didn't think so many people were interested in a relatively unknown Broadway actress like me! And I haven't even had one performance yet, I feel like a star!" Rachel said almost floating out of her seat; she was so excited at the thought that the crowd was there for her.
Jamal came over and opened the limo door for everyone to pile out, "Ms Jones, Ms Lopez, Dani."
"Thank you Jamal" Mercedes said demurely as she ascended out of the limo in all her glory.
"Yeah thanks, BFG!" added Santana using her own unique brand of humour.
"Anytime, Chica!" quipped Jamal back good-naturedly with a humongous smirk on his face.
The crowd let out an audible groan at the sight of these unknown people exiting the limo. After making their disappointment known, that they saw nobodies rather than the burgeoning celebrities they had hoped for, the deflated crowd shuffled back to their positions in the queue waiting their turn to get in. Just as security was ushering Kurt, Rachel, Mercedes, Dani and Santana through the VIP entrance without having to wait in line, which sent another round of colourful quips from the crowd. Santana turned to Rachel and said with a cheeky grin. "Sorry Berry! I guess those weren't your adoring fans after all"
Rachel just gave her friend a look that could melt the polar icecaps in response, which just made Santana laugh even harder. The group of friends eventually made it into the main area of the club and were surprised by how busy and packed the place already was. As soon as they entered the clubs event manager and assistant met them.
"Hi! My name is Lucy Riles and I'm the event manager here at Sarfati's and this is my assistant, Stefon Zelesky. I've been told that you lovely individuals should be treated like VIP's, by our entertainment guests this evening. So if there's anything I can do to make your experience in our venue a memorable one please feel free to let me, or Stefon know. Now if you'll excuse me I have some other things to attend to, so I'll leave you in Stefon's capable hands." the energetic middle-aged businesswoman said before walking back to her post in the back office.
Stefon guided the group through the crowd towards a specially reserved table; but as they were walking the group couldn't help but think they had seen this man before. As they moved around the table to sit down, Kurt couldn't help it anymore and asked. "Sorry! Stefon is it? Have we met before or have you ever been on TV?"
Stefon just flamboyantly flipped his long fringe back and replied, "No I've never been on TV. Your probably confusing me with that Bill Hader character from Saturday Night Live, I get that quite a lot actually…I don't know why."
"Sorry!" Kurt apologised.
"No need to apologise, cutie! So you guys are here to see the band just like all the other women here. I swear some of these ladies are in heat they may as well just start spraying the place! Not that I blame them, mind you! I heard the lead singer plays for my team. Too bad the others are straight because there's not one of those delicious specimens I wouldn't mind getting my hooks into. Especially that drummer! The things he could do with those talented hands of his. My God! What a tall drink of water, I wouldn't mind taking a sip of that drink of water if you know what I mean. I wouldn't mind getting to know you either, honey" Said Stefon dreamily.
"Thanks…I think?" Kurt wearily replied.
"Think about it. I could show some of New Yorks hottest clubs. Like at the moment New York's hottest club is Taste. Nightlife designer Tranny Griffith is back with an all-new club that answers the question, "Huh?!" Don't look for a bouncer – there isn't one. Instead, ten jacked homeless guys in old-fashioned bathing suits guard the door. This place has everything, ice sculptures, winos, Germfs – German smurfs – a Teddy Ruxpin wearing mascara, an old lady wearing Kid 'N Play hair, and none other than DJ Baby Bok Choy…"
"DJ Baby Bok Choy?" Dani interrupted.
"He's a giant three hundred pound Chinese baby who wears tinted aviator glasses, and he spins records with his little ravioli hands. Anyway like I said, think about it. The show starts in a few moments so I'll let you guys settle in."
As the group watched Stefon walk off they couldn't help but burst into immense bouts of laughter. With poor Kurt hiding his face in his hands in utter embarrassment. Just then the lights dimmed to signal the show was about to start. Rachel leaned over towards Mercedes and Santana, "Are you two still refusing to tell us anything about this band?"
Mercedes and Santana just smirked at each other and also gave their two unsuspecting friends a mischievous grin, "Just sit back and enjoy the show guy's! All will be revealed shortly."
With the lights turned down low, a single spotlight shone down onto the stage and out walked a single person.
"Howdy Folks! I'm Marc and I own this amazing venue for any newbies in the audience tonight. WOW! What a crowd! If this is how many show up for these guys, I may just employ them to play here every night…" which was met by a thunderous response from the extremely packed crowd. "Anyway! These guys need no introductions…so without further ado…Ladies and Gents, I give you…MCKINLEY!"
As the crowd went into hysterics at the MC announcing the band, Kurt and Rachel just looked at each other asking why their friends would take them to see a band named after their old High School. Meanwhile Mercedes just tapped them on the shoulder and pointed towards the stage.
Just then like their previous performances the entire stage lit up revealing an assortment of instruments. Then out walked five of the last people on earth, Rachel and Kurt expected to see. Rachel couldn't believe her eyes, out walked Noah, Blaine, Sam and Rick…or was it, Riley…no wait his name was Ryder. Then of course there was the still stunningly handsome Finn Hudson who strutted out onto the stage like he owned the place. Rachel was still in love with the Finn she knew in High School but the Finn she was seeing now was like giving bourbon to a drunk. She managed to tear her eyes away from Finn for a second and looked over at Kurt who had the very same expression on his face as she did.
Kurt and Rachel were interrupted from their blatant staring by Santana reaching over and handing both of them a tissue and saying. "Here, clean yourselves up, your both drooling!" Before either of Kurt or Rachel could respond to a laughing Santana their attention was reverted back to the stage by Blaine.
"How's everyone going tonight? WOW! What an amazing New York City crowd! We feel so honoured so many of you came out tonight to hear us play, so that's…" just then Blaine noticed a table in back that had Santana and her girlfriend as well as Mercedes and Rachel and Kurt. Blaine quickly took a couple steps back from the microphone and motioned for all the guys that he needed to tell them something.
"What the hell are you doing, Warbler?" Puck said trying not to let on something was going down.
"Finn! Rachel's in the audience with Santana, Dani and Mercedes and also…Kurt!"
"What the Hell!" Finn said as he took a quick look into the audience, and sure enough there she was still looking as beautiful as the day he had first seen her walking the halls of McKinley.
"Okay enough of this shit! Who cares if they're in the audience! We came here to give these guys a show and what better way to show Berry and Hummel what their missing by tearing the roof of this mother with a kickass performance! So Warbler get your ass back to the mike and let's rock this shit out!" Puck tried to encourage his friends.
"Your right let's do this guys!" Finn agreed with his best friend.
Blaine, Sam and Ryder all nodded their agreements as well, before Blaine once again made his way to the microphone.
"Sorry about that, Ladies and Gentleman we just had some technical difficulties. But everything seems to be fine now so where were we…oh that's right! We were going to play some awesome tunes for you wonderful people. So enough of me talking here we go…"
Finn started pounding on the drums, just as Puck started wailing on the guitar…
Another closing time, another cigarette
Feeding a bad jazz habit - and it ain't satisfied yet
Shake it up, break it down, New York City has it's own sound
Shake it up; break it down, danger watching all around
Steam is rising, glimmering from the broken streetlight glass
It's the boulevard where the old priests sold salvation after midnight mass
Shake it up, break it down, New York City has it's own sound
Shake it up; break it down, pleasure waiting all around
Say what? I couldn't quite hear you
You looking for something? Are you talking to me?
You better know what you want, and how to defend it
In New York City
Holy Mother of God! How is it possible that Finn Hudson has somehow gotten hotter since the last time she saw him. That shirt seemed to hug every flexing muscle Finn had, and Rachel just wanted to tear it from his body. Rachel could see women and a few men going crazy over her ex-boyfriend and she wouldn't openly admit it but she was jealous and wanted to claw each and every one of those bitches' eyes out. Rachel wondered if it was possible to have an orgasm without being touched and just from watching someone play the drums. Because in all seriousness in that moment of time, Finn could've asked her to rob a bank and she would've just said, "Yes Finn…whatever you say Finn!"
In the back of her Finn crazed mind she could hear someone trying to get her attention calling out, "Rachel…Rachel!" Seriously who the fuck is this Rachel? She was so absorbed in watching Finn in his element and something about him playing the drums always seemed to make her hot that she temporarily forgot her own name.
Feel and hear the naked fear - after the laughter stops
Take your pleasure where you can, terrorists on every block
Shake it up, break it down, New York City has it's own sound
It ain't over, it don't end, New York City's born again
Say what? I couldn't quite hear you
You looking for something? Are you talking to me?
You better know what you want, and how to defend it
In New York City
The hunger's always palpable, the memories bittersweet
There's endless possibilities, the city seeks fresh meat
Kurt on the other side of Rachel wasn't faring much better. "Holy crap! That's Blaine Anderson up there!" working the crowd like a seasoned pro. Kurt was going through a series of hot flashes from watching Blaine move his body as he sang and briefly wondered if young men can get menopause as well. He had to take his scarf off because for some reason the room felt like it was one hundred degrees. Kurt seriously almost started drooling as he watched Blaine's un-gelled curls bobbing around as he moved around the stage. He had never told anyone but Blaine Anderson without product in his hair just did something for him. Maybe it was because then he could run his hands through it, and grab it whenever they were intimate. Blaine and the rest of the band's performance was so hot that Kurt was seriously regretting not wearing looser pants. If this performance keeps on going the audience wont be the only thing giving McKinley a standing ovation.
Did she fall or was she pushed? Somebody call CSI
Just another dream denied, just another sidewalk chalk line
Desperation, sticky hot, the wrong word starts a fight
Lust and crime in equal measure, it's the concrete jungle on a summer's night
What? I couldn't quite hear you
You looking for something? Are you talking to me?
Say what? I couldn't quite hear you
Nobody saw nothin', are you talking to me?
You better know what you want, and how to defend it
In New York City
As the music from the song faded and the song came to a close the crowd as well as the table hosting the five friends erupted into thunderous applause. The guys up on stage took a moment to really absorb all the love and accolades from the crowd.
"Thank you everybody! That was our song called New York City. Now for a special treat, tonight where going to switch things up a bit and get our resident beatologist Finn Hudson up to the front to take lead on our next song." Blaine yelled through the microphone, to the adoring crowd.
Finn made his way from behind the drums up the microphone at the front. While Ryder took Finn's previous position behind the drums and Blaine picked up a guitar. Finn looked out into the crowd suddenly feeling his nerves intensify a hundred fold. Sitting behind the drums gave him a buffer between himself and the crowd but now standing in front of this massive crowd he felt his nerves start to show. He felt stupid for feeling nervous because he helped lead a national winning show choir that performed in front of huge crowds and he wasn't nervous…but that was because Rachel was always beside him giving him strength. So he looked in the direction of Rachel's table and saw the beautiful brunette diva sitting there with a huge smile on her face as though she were proud of him. He managed to suck up the positive energy Rachel seemed to sending his way and started to interact with the crowd.
"Hi…I'm Finn Hudson" Finn simply stated and the crowd went ballistic and started chanting 'Finn…Finn…Finn!"
"Were going to slow it down a bit now. So if you're here with your girl or your guy hold them close because this goes out to all those people who want to know what love is, hit it Ryder…"
I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older
Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
I through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me
Let's talk about love
I wanna know what love is, the love that you feel inside
I want you to show me, and I'm feeling so much love
I wanna feel what love is, no, you just cannot hide
I know you can show me, yeah
I wanna know what love is, let's talk about love
I want you to show me, I wanna feel it too
I wanna feel what love is, I want to feel it too
And I know and I know, I know you can show me
Show me love is real, yeah
I wanna know what love is...
The crowd erupted in excited applause as the song finished, with Santana, Dani, Kurt, Rachel and Mercedes joining in.
"Thanks! You guys have been great! See you next time!" Blaine shouted as the band was leaving the stage after another night of multiple encores that had been demanded by the crowd.
The house lights came back on temporarily blinding everyone as they made their way towards the exits. Except for the group at the reserved table in the back who all remained motionless in their seats without a word being spoken.
Rachel was the first one to break the silence, "What did we just watch?"
"I believe that was your ex-fiancé and Kurt's ex-boyfriend and Mercedes boy toy along with that new kid absolutely killing up on stage." Santana added casually.
"NO! I mean…how? When? Wait what?" Rachel stuttered in confusion.
Mercedes just put a hand on top of Rachel's to calm her and turned to look at Kurt who was still staring speechless at the stage. "Don't worry! Let's go see the boys and all will be explained then…okay?"
With everyone in agreement they all got up from the table and set off through the crowd. After Santana's theatrics the other night it was agreed that Mercedes should take the lead this time and get them backstage.
They finally made it to the velvet rope that separated the two parts of the club and as usual they found a heavy presence of people trying to get in. As they got to the front they witnessed a hysterical blonde woman screaming at Jamal that she needed to be let in to see the band. She was screaming that she needed to see Finn because he was her long lost husband who had gotten amnesia when he fell off a speedboat on the way to their island wedding. This obviously disturbed person even came with props, she had a picture of Finn and had photo shopped herself into so it looked like her and Finn were kissing. The group couldn't help but laugh at the woman's antics at trying to get backstage, the only one who wasn't laughing was Rachel.
"That insane bitch needs to back off!" Rachel whispered to Santana.
"Why do you care Berry? You've got your very own hairless Ken-doll waiting for you." Santana whispered back, to which she was met with another Rachel Berry death stare.
The blonde psycho had finally been dragged away so Mercedes walked up to the velvet rope to talk to Jamal. "Looks like your earning your paycheque tonight, Jamal!"
At the sound of his name Jamal turned around and spotted his favourite soulful diva, Mercedes Jones. "You know it, Sister girl! It must be the full moon or something because these people be straight up crazy!"
"Are we able to go on back?" Mercedes enquired.
"Yeah sure! They're expecting you guys…have fun." Jamal moved aside and opened the velvet rope so the group could go through which was met with the usual groans and complaints from those who had been denied entry.
Which made Santana turn around and yell out, "WHAT?" which stunned the crowd into a confused silence, prompting the Latina to continue. "Yeah that's what I thought! Later Losers!"
The group followed the same path through the maze of corridors as the previous night and once again ended up at a door with McKinley emblazoned across it. This time Santana took the initiative and pounded on the door to announce their presence.
After only a few seconds of waiting, the door opened to once again reveal Noah Puckerman. "Well if it isn't my favourite New York City crew!"
"Stand aside Puck were coming in!" Santana demanded as she pushed Puck aside and barged in.
The guys all gathered around to welcome their visitors into the luxurious dressing room, except for Finn who seemed to be missing. "Where's Finn?" Rachel nervously asked as she herself made her way into the room.
"He's just getting freshened up. He'll be out in a minute." Blaine answered Rachel without taking his eyes off Kurt.
"What is all this guys?" a still puzzled Kurt spoke to the group.
"How about we all sit down at the table and have a drink and we'll tell you everything you want to know." Sam told the group of visitors as he motioned towards the long table in the corner of the room next to a small bar.
As everyone seated themselves around the table, Puck took it upon himself to play bartender and moved in behind the bar. Puck had just finished handing out the last of the drinks, which was Kurt's Long Island Iced Tea when Finn emerged from the bathroom still drying his hair. Noticing they had company, Finn made his way over to the table where all his friends were sitting.
"Yo, Finn! Heads up brother!" Puck shouted as he threw his best friend a bottle of water, which he caught with ease.
Rachel looked over at Finn and said, "Are you not drinking tonight Finn?"
"Yeah! Just trying to clean out my system." Finn lied, because he didn't want Rachel to know the real reason he wasn't drinking was because he wasn't allowed to mix alcohol with his medication.
"So anyway I believe you boys were going to tell us, what the hell is going on!" Kurt said impatiently as he wanted to know why his former boyfriend and brother and their band were in New York.
"Okay! So after New Directions was disqualified, us guys wanted something to do. So every afternoon after Glee Club practice we would jam out together in either the choir room or the auditorium. Until one day, Puck over there got the brilliant idea that we actually sounded half decent together and entered us into a Battle of the Bands competition without our knowledge. Hence to say we were not very happy especially when we found out it was an original song competition as well. Anyway so off we went and played our little hearts out in Lima, Ohio Battle of the Bands Competition at The Lazy Sombrero Bar and Grill…" Blaine explained.
"Did you win?" Dani interrupted.
"No! Can you believe we got second place behind the owner's son who called himself, Johnny Bravo and sang this extremely weird song about clowns. Anyway that's where we met, or should I say Finn and Puck met our benefactor Eleanor Knight and she and…"
Finn started coughing which interrupted Blaine's retelling of their story. The two boys eyes met with Finn trying to silently tell Blaine not to disclose that he was the creative partner and founder of the label. Blaine seemed to understand what his friend was trying to tell him and started the story again.
"As I was saying, that's where we met the lovely Ms. Knight and she decided to take us on with her label. We also mentioned to Eleanor that we happened to know an extremely talented singer whose talents were being wasted over at her original label. So we convinced Mercedes to come join in the fun and switch over to HUD-KNIGHT Records. Now us guys are playing gigs around the place and acting as opening acts for other artists concerts to build up a following before we release our debut album." Blaine finished and sat back in his seat.
"So all your songs are original material?" asked Kurt.
"Yeah everything is original, we still do some covers of course like Journey and Queen but basically everything's our own." Sam answered from his spot snuggled next to Mercedes.
"So how do you come up with so many great songs, Blaine?" Rachel asked.
"Excuse me? Why do you think I write the songs?" Blaine asked back taking another sip of his drink.
"Well I don't think Ryder does it…no offence Ryder and from what I've seen Puck and Sam don't seem to interested in writing, so that leaves you and Finn. I know Finn has trouble with words some times so that leaves you because you're the only person who could write such beautiful songs." Rachel replied not realizing she had unwittingly disregarded Finn's abilities and why a tense silence now filled the table.
"Actually Rachel, Fi…." Blaine started before being loudly interrupted by Finn.
"BLAINE! Blaine writes the songs. Your correct Rachel the rest of us are too dumb to write a quality song so Blaine does it. Sorry I need some air!" snapped Finn as he quickly stood up from the table and headed out into a side alley through one of the fire exits.
"What did I say?" asked a shocked Rachel
"Nothing! You just did the one thing he expected from everyone else but not from you. I'm going to check on my bro." Puck replied to Rachel as he stood from the table and started to follow Finn. But was stopped by Rachel who said she would go and check on Finn.
Rachel walked out the same way she saw Finn heading and found herself in the loading dock of the club. She did a quick scan around and almost missed the despondent figure of Finn Hudson sitting on an overturned crate in the darkness. As soon as Finn saw Rachel walking over towards him, he got up and started to walk off.
"Finn…Finn…FINN!"
"Just go back inside Rachel…please!" Finn called over his shoulder.
The sound of Finn calling her by her full name felt like getting slapped in the face with a wet fish. Finn hadn't called her Rachel since the very first moment they met, it had always been 'Rach'. Brody had tried to call her Rach once and she nearly slapped him across the face, because there was only one man who had the right to call her that.
"Finn will you just stop and talk to me!" Rachel pleaded.
"There's nothing to talk about" Finn responded.
"Like hell there isn't!" shouted Rachel.
"What do you want me to say, Rachel?"
"Anything at all…but don't just walk away like you always do!"
Finn just stopped and turned around so abruptly he almost made Rachel who was trailing closely behind him run into him. "FINE! You wanna talk! Let's talk!"
"The one constant thing I've heard my entire life is Finn is a good friend, Finn is kind and compassionate, Finn is loyal to a fault. But then they continue on, Finn will never amount to anything, Finn is extremely gullible. Hell he believed he got his girlfriend pregnant from a fucking hot tub for Christ's sake! But not to stop there I find out apparently, Finn Hudson isn't New York City good and Finn Hudson is too much of a country boy. Do I need to go on?" Finn shouted.
"You heard me tell Kurt that?" asked Rachel shyly.
"I didn't need to hear you say that, Rachel the whole damn school knew that. I thought you of all people would know what it's like getting up everyday and having to listen to people tell you over and over again how your not good enough. FUCK Rachel! The football scouts told me I'm not good enough, the actors studio told me I'm not good enough, the army told me I'm not good enough. FUCK! Even the universe told me I would make a shit teacher when under my direction the fucking Glee Club gets disqualified."
"I don't understand Finn, is this because of what I said inside? Rachel asked with teary eyes.
"It's because you don't listen!"
"What are you talking about?" asked a confused Rachel.
"Every word of every song is inspired by you…don't you get it every song we sing is about you!" answered Finn hoping she would understand what he was trying to say.
"What? Your saying Blaine has a crush on me! Finn he loves Kurt not me! Is that why you got upset when I complimented Blaine on his songwriting skills?" reasoned Rachel.
"FOR FUCK SAKE RACHEL! BLAINE DOESN'T WRITE THE BLOODY SONGS I DO!" Finn finally shouted at Rachel.
Rachel was so shocked you could've knocked her over with a feather, "What are you talking about Finn? You don't write songs!"
"I wrote a song for nationals" countered Finn
"Yeah but that was a one time thing…wasn't it?" asked a confused Rachel.
"Do you remember when Burt and my mum first started seeing each other and I didn't like it because I thought she was replacing my dad? And then she later on dropped the bombshell that my dad wasn't a hero he was just a drug addict. Well to deal with those feelings my mum suggested I go see someone you know like a therapist…"
"You've been seeing a therapist? Finn I didn't know." Interrupted a shocked Rachel.
"No one did except for Burt and my mum not even Kurt or Puck know. One of the things he suggested for me to do was to keep a journal everyday of what I was feeling. But as you so eloquently put it when you were talking inside, I've never been so good with words. But I am good with music and I've found I talk a lot better with music than I do with words. So instead of keeping a journal of my feelings I kept a songbook of songs I wrote about different events in my life, and lo and behold I'm actually good at something. For the first time in my life, people are actually saying Finn Hudson is capable, Finn Hudson has talent, Finn isn't the fuck-up we all assumed he was." Finn explained to an emotional Rachel.
"Finn I always believed in you!"
"You know I thought that was the one constant that I could count on even if everything else in my life was turning to shit. I thought it doesn't matter if were together or separate Rachel Berry knows me better than anyone else. And I know I shouldn't be mad at you for not believing in me, when I couldn't even believe in myself but I thought that you were the only thing I got right in my life Rachel Berry." Finn tried to get Rachel to understand.
"What do you want from me Finn?"
"I just want you to be proud of me," Finn said starting to cry.
Rachel moved forward and used her hand to wipe away Finn's tears and used her hand to lovingly cup his face with her hand. Finn just let out a contented sigh and snuggled his face more into Rachel's dainty hand.
"I am proud of you Finn…more than you'll ever know. Don't you dare ever think I was ever embarrassed by you! Far from it actually, everyday that I got to walk down the halls with you on my arm made me feel like a queen. Do you know how happy you made me knowing that you chose the theatre geek who wore animal sweaters and short skirts over the sexy and beautiful cheerleaders?"
Rachel and Finn's faces were only millimeters apart as a light sprinkle of rain started to fall. "I always thought you looked beautiful in those animal sweaters and ESPECIALLY in those short skirts!" Finn joked while giving Rachel a flirty wink.
Rachel just started chuckling and whacked him good-naturedly in the arm and said, "Pervert!"
The sound of Rachel Berry laughing was like the sound of angels singing to Finn. So he stared into those chocolate brown orbs of Rachel's that always proved more of a lure than a sirens song to a bunch of travel weary sailors. Finn's look of longing was matched by an equal look of longing from Rachel.
"You know you can kiss me if you want to?" a nervous Rachel broke the emotion charged silence.
The memory of days gone by sent a bright smile to Finn's face and it didn't take him long to get out a response. "I want to!" and that's exactly what he did. Finn leaned down in the light rain and kissed those lips of Rachel's that held a thousand memories and a million different emotions.
Finn backed Rachel up against a nearby wall and deepened the passionate kiss. He moved his hands down Rachel's little body as the pair continued to kiss as the rain became slightly heavier. My God Finn thought to himself if Rachel's laughter was equivalent to angels singing then hearing Rachel Berry moan his name was like God himself giving him a high five.
As the rain really started to fall and the emotions and actions of Finn and Rachel started to heat up, they managed to separate for lack of oxygen. Rachel just stared at Finn with the top couple of buttons of her shirt undone, her hair tussled and of course her lips delightfully bruised from the passionate kissing. Once her breathing returned to a normal pace she spoke through the haze of two lovers reuniting. "Let's go back to your place."
There was nothing Finn wanted to do more in the world then take Rachel Berry home and ravish her with lovemaking. But he wanted to be sure this is what she really wanted and wouldn't later come to regret.
"Are you sure…I mean what about Brody?" Finn nervously asked
"Brody isn't here and besides we have an agreement. He does his thing an I do mine."
"I just don't want you to regret anything." Finn told Rachel truthfully while slipping a stray hair back behind Rachel's ear.
Rachel once again took Finn's hand and made sure she was looking directly into his eyes. "Finn Hudson, I could never regret doing anything with you. Now take me home and Fuck me, please!"
Finn let out a loud boisterous laugh at Rachel's statement and who was he to deny the needs of a lady. "If you say so," Finn replied tightening his grip of Rachel's hand. Finn took his jacket off and held it over their heads so they wouldn't get any wetter then they already were; and led Rachel down the alley and back onto the street. Where like a man possessed Finn hailed down a cab in record time and the randy pair bundled themselves into the back of the cab. In between more kisses Finn threw what he hoped was his correct address at the cab driver; before going back to satisfying the love of his life as the cab sped off into the New York City night.
Hope everyone enjoyed the latest chapter. The songs used in this chapter were 'New York City' by The Breakers and 'I Want To Know What Love Is' by Foreigner. Next chapter will be hopefully the all-exciting label party and Finn's creative debut to the world. Even though Finchel seems to be getting intimate in this chapter their maybe storm clouds still in their future. Like always see you next time and have a good one and don't do anything I wouldn't do.