DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE OR ITS CHARACTERS! THAT'S ALL FOR RYAN MURPHY!

A/N: Okay, so things didn't go as planned. Last night I couldn't log onto fanfiction, so that's why it didn't update until today. So, as promised, I will still give you two chapters. I plan on posting again tomorrow. Enjoy!

8. A Couple More Days Couldn't Hurt

After going to see Annie at the community theater with her dads', they dropped her back off at the apartment. Hiram and Leroy finally asked their daughter what she was doing hanging around Finn to learn the two were just building up a friendship again, nothing more and that was what they both wanted.

Rachel bounds into the open apartment, knowing that Finn was going to be home until five before he had to go to campus and get everything ready for the game. She would leave with him then, too.

But right now it was only four, so they had a good hour of time to get themselves ready. Well, correction, Rachel had time to get herself ready. Finn had dropped off a whole bunch of Buckeye merchandise in her room so she wouldn't be freaking out by not wearing the right outfit. Obviously Kurt rubbed off on her. To be honest he kind of missed those sequins leg warmers and animal sweaters. It's just who she is.

He doesn't mention anything to her, because honestly it's none of his business. But whatever, she still looks extremely hot with what she wears now. All fashionable things and such.

Rachel hops in the shower and cleans herself before toweling off and going to the room where she saw a pile of clothing. She slips on a fresh pair of panties and bra before putting a shirt that has the mascot on it. It fits her perfectly.

After putting on the knee high 'Go OSU' socks, she puts on a pair of jeans and her Nike gym shoes. The last thing is the sweatshirt which has some kid's number on the back and his last name. The front just has 'Ohio State Department of Athletics'.

She goes to the bathroom and brushes her hair out, placing a thick black headband on her head, her natural curls cascading around. She walks out of the bathroom and spins around for Finn.

"How do I look," She smiles.

"Like a true OSU football fan," He assures her.

He's wearing a specialized track suit for coaches and he looks really fit and nice.

"Well, are you ready to go?" He asks her.

She jumps up and down in excitement, "I am definitely ready! Let's go!"

-glee-

Finn's actually kind of nervous right now. If the team you're pretty much responsible for could possibly suck it up majorly and tarnish your rep, possibly ruining your chances at making it big in the future would be playing right now too, you'd be nervous as well. He walks very fast over to the field and notices that Rachel has to basically run to keep up with his strides.

But he can't slow down; he needs to make sure his guys are ready. They get to the locker room door and Finn looks at Rachel to see if she was going to hesitate upon entering. This is a boy's locker room…

However the determined petite girl quickly follows in behind, not phased at all by the half-naked men all around. The guys though all eye her up, some intrigued and some just completely confused.

Rachel offers a smile to all of them and keeps following Finn all the way to the coach's office. Inside are three older men. Finn's the only young one out of the bunch. They all greet each other and Finn introduces Rachel to the guys.

"Coach Jenson," A man that is very short and stout with a salt and pepper beard is pointed out by Finn.

"Coach Rodgers," A middle aged looking guy with dark brown hair that is thick on his head. He's about the same height as Finn and has these scary looking eyes.

"And Coach Abbit," He points to the last guy who has no hair at all and a happy face settled in. He's strong and would be very intimidating if it weren't for his chubby cheeks and bright smile.

"This is Rachel Berry, my… friend," Finn explains, not exactly quite what the term is to describe their current relationship status.

"Hi Rachel," They all say back.

"It's nice to meet you all," She politely says.

"Rachel is offering to be our new water-boy. I mean, water-girl," He tells them.

"You sure she's able to do that?" Rodgers asks with an arched eyebrow.

Rachel looks at him, offended, "I can most definitely do it."

Rodgers puts his hands up in defense and shrugs.

"Alright, if you're willing to do so, then you can do it."

She smiles super brightly, "Thank you guys so much!"

They ask her to step out and the coaches have a private meeting. Rachel stands by the white board in the locker room unsure of what to do.

"Little lady, what are you doing in our locker room?" Someone asks.

"I'm Rachel Berry, not a 'Little Lady', and I'm the new water-girl," She says with a smile.

"You sure look little to me. And you're a lady. So you're a little lady," Some other footballer laughs.

She can't help but giggle, "Okay, I'll give you that much."

"It just doesn't seem like someone like you would be a water-girl," Another guy, with a deep voice, says.

She can't really tell who is speaking at any time since there's just a sea of big, strong, tall men.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know, some pretty little girl coming in to be a water-boy, but calling it a water-girl because she's female just doesn't seem right."

"Well it is, because I'm going to do this job justice and you guys will be begging to have me be your water-girl for all your other games," She says with determination. "I'm not exactly meant to be doing this, but I wanted to see the first game and this is the way Finn got me in. You see my actual career is as an actress on Broadway in New York."

"Oh, that makes sense, Hudson got some hot chick to do the shitty work for our team," One chuckles. "He's the man."

"That's so offensive! Finn most definitely did not just give me this job because I'm hot. If you must know, we used to be a strong couple back in high school. Then we broke up and things were rough for a while… But now we're friends again and, like I said earlier, got me into the first game by having me be the water-girl."

They all start laughing at her again and she just shakes her head.

"So you're a Broadway girl. That's music plays and stuff, right?"

"Um, a musical," She corrects. "Yes, it is musicals and other plays."

"How does someone get excited for that boring stuff?"

"It's the same as someone gets excited about football."

"Well I guess I don't understand why singing and dancing is so amazing."

"It's amazing because it showcases the best kind of talent there is. If you're able to sing, dance, and act, you're a triple threat. Being on stage for me is the most exhilarating thing I've ever experienced. That spotlight shining down on me," She sighs happily. "It's my home."

That last statement sort of threw her off. That's what she's torn about. Is Broadway really her home? Before she can further delve into thought, the coaches come out and start talking about plays and stuff to the guys. Rachel tries to pay attention as much as she can, but it's kind of hard. She imagines what Finn would have been like amongst these players.

He probably took it so seriously, as serious as she took her stage directions. He probably got that adorable concentrated face on. She wishes she would have been able to see one of his games. Maybe she will when he gets into the NFL.

"Alright guys, let's roadhouse!" Finn yells, making Rachel giggle.

The guys circle up and do some manly cheers, as Finn puts it, before the coaches and Rachel head out to the field.

It's packed and cameras are flashing and it's being videotaped. She can't help but smile as she walks right next to Finn.

"Wow, Finn, I never knew it was like this," She says.

"Like what?"

"You have an audience and fans, cameras and everything," She lists. "When you played football, you were as much as a performer as me. You still are."

He shrugs, "Yeah, I suppose. Of course I didn't really have to remember new lines and stuff."

"Yeah, but you had to remember plays," She points out. "You're a star, Finn."

He smiles at the compliment and puts his headset on.

"Alright, Berry, are you ready for this?" He asks.

She nods and quickly starts filling up a whole bunch of water bottles. She does about twenty in a minute, which is quite impressive. She even fills up some paper cups with the Gatorade and neatly arranges them.

The game starts and progresses on. OSU ends up winning, and Finn feels a rush of adrenaline and he starts to cheer loudly. Rachel roots for them and jumps up and down. Somewhere along the line Finn lifts her up and hugs her close in a celebratory hug. She's giggling and did she just kiss his cheek?

Was that real? Finn can't really think right; it's as if he's chemically induced at the moment. This must be his natural high. He sets Rachel down and everyone heads to the locker rooms, all cheerful and sweaty.

Rachel doesn't even mind that it smells like unwashed feet at the moment. If you'd see the look on Finn's face you wouldn't care either. He has this big smile that shows his dimples and million-watt smile. She smiles equally as bright and they share a long gaze with one another. Both blush and look away.

When they get home for the night, Rachel thanks him for taking her to the game and makes plans with him tomorrow night to go out to a bar or club.

She decides she'll go back to New York next week.

A couple more days couldn't kill her.