"We need to talk."
Quinn Fabray stood facing her boyfriend in the hallway.
"About what?"
Quinn sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. Not only did she have to swallow every bit of pride she had, but she also knew that Finn would not take this well. Just because they didn't really love each other didn't mean that they weren't committed to pretending they were, if only for their own sake.
"This isn't working," she told him softly, cringing as she saw his face contort into confusion.
"What?" he whispered.
"You heard me, Finn. This isn't working. This was a fantasy. We both just wanted to try and regain our post-Glee lives, because it was simpler then. But we can't do that. You love her, don't you? I'm not stupid Finn, I can see that you never wanted to break up with her. You did it to punish her. That doesn't mean that the feelings went away. We can't pretend that any of this is real. And the fact that you're letting me say all of this without interrupting me just shows me that everything I just said was one hundred percent true, and you know it."
Finn just stared at her, but the look of confusion was replaced with that of understanding. Every word spoken was already in his mind. He had even admitted to them, only to suppress them once more.
"We both wanted to find love again. So now that's what we'll do. You need to go back to Rachel. And I need to finally move on with my life. I'm tired of being the bitch."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away. Suddenly Finn remembered a different Quinn. The Quinn who looked at him with his arm around Rachel and smiled. And he knew what he had to do.
Regionals was amazing. For the first time in months, Finn put his arm around Rachel and hugged her, just like old times. It didn't even matter how much it hurt when he heard her sing that song. All that mattered was his plan.
"Hey Rach, can I talk to you for a sec?" he asked her once they got back to McKinley. Rachel glanced back at Mercedes and Tina hesitantly.
"Why?" she asked him cautiously, like she expected him to hurt her.
"I just really need to talk to you," Finn pleaded, knowing she could never resist him. Eventually she nodded awkwardly and followed him into the auditorium.
Once they were on stage, Finn turned to his ex. "We need to talk."
"About what?" Rachel asked quietly, looking up at him through her eyelashes like a lost puppy. Had he really scarred her this much?
"Everything. Our relationship, Santana, Puck, Quinn, Sam, the breakup, just...everything."
"Why now?" Rachel asked, still uncharacteristically timid.
"Because I can't lie anymore. I love you, and I want to be with you again. But we have to talk about it," he blurted out. Rachel lifted her head, her usual fire blazing in her eyes.
"You love me? Then why would you do everything that you did?" Her voice was choked with tears that made Finn's heart hurt.
"Why did you do everything you did?" he repeated to her.
Silence fell between them.
"Because I wanted to hurt you," they both whispered at the same time.
"Why did you get back together with Quinn?" Rachel asked
"Because I wanted to hurt you for being with Sam, and for making me feel like this. Why did you make out with Puck?"
"Because I wanted to hurt you for sleeping with Santana and lying about it. Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to make you jealous because of Jesse. Why did you get together with Jesse?"
"Because I liked him," Rachel said. "But...initially, I was also pleased because I thought it would hurt you. But I wasn't using him. Why would you break up with me so cruelly?"
"Because I was confused and an idiot and still hurt really bad from Quinn. I didn't want to hurt you, Rach."
They finally looked at each other. Memories flooded back, laughter and smiles and lazy summer days clouded their minds.
"But I just don't get it. How could you forgive Quinn but not me?" Rachel whispered.
"Because it hurt so much more with you!" Finn exploded. "Don't you get it Rachel? With Quinn, I lost a child, and I lost my girlfriend, and I lost my best friend, and it hurt more than you could imagine. But you were supposed to fix that. You were the one who's shoulder I could cry on. The one who understood me and listened to me. I really, honestly loved you, and you..." The rest of the sentence fell away.
"I didn't want to hurt you. That's why I told you. After I did it, I felt terrible. I couldn't lie to you like you lied to me. That's why I broke your heart. Because I wanted you to hear it from me, not from Puckerman a year later."
For a moment Finn's face softened and guilt embraced him.
"But I should have lied. Because dealing with all that guilt would have hurt a lot less than having to see you be so happy, walking down the hallways around Valentine's Day, seeing you be such a leader at that football game, staring at you as you chased after Quinn with so much confidence...I guess Santana was right. I do hold you back."
Finally Finn just couldn't take it. In two quick strides he closed the distance between them and kissed Rachel for the first time in what seemed like eternity.
After a moment of hesitation Rachel returned the kiss, feeling just as desperate as Finn did. Nothing else mattered except for Finn.
That was, until they heard the click of a camera from behind the curtain.
They broke apart abruptly, only to see Jewfro running away as fast as he could. A small smile crossed Finn's face.
Rachel stared up at him, for once in her life at a loss for words. "Um...that was..."
"Amazing," Finn finished for her.
"And now the whole school will know," Rachel whispered.
"Good."
"But-" Rachel started
"Let me finish," Finn interrupted her. "Rach, we don't really make a good couple. I'm kind of an idiot and I do stupid things, we both go kind of insane, and this always seems to end in tears. But I'm the best guy for you, because no matter how much smarter, or better-looking, or chivalrous, whatever that means, anybody else is, I'm always gonna love you the most. I've never been happier than when I'm with you. And I know you feel the same way."
"Rationally, we shouldn't be together," Rachel protested.
"Who cares? Are you happiest when you're with me or without me?"
"With you," Rachel said so quietly he barely heard her.
Finn bent down so that his lips were right at her ear.
"Then take a chance on me."
A few days later, on Jacob Ben Isreal's blog...
Well, devoted readers, do I have a treat for you today. Yesterday, while I was totally not stalking Rachel and was just coincidentally in the auditorium, I saw and overheard a certain ex-couple having a rather serious conversation. That's right, McKinley High quarterback Finn Hudson and resident Barbra Streisand wannabe Rachel Berry were in the McKinley High School auditorium Saturday, March 15th, talking about their previously passionate relationship. After Rachel heard of Finn's sexual encounter with the Ms. Santana Lopez and his lying about it, she cheated on him with his best friend, and the relationship ended. Afterward Finn reconciled with his ex-girlfriend Quinn Fabray, leaving Rachel heartbroken. That relationship has evidently ended, as Finn was trying to convince Rachel to get back together with him. They then shared a passionate kiss, which I caught on camera.
[picture of kiss]
Since the event, the couple has been seen holding hands and laughing in the hallways, walking to every class together, even kissing by their lockers. Wanting more information, I took the time to interview some of their fellow Glee club members.
Me: What do you have to say about the reconciliation of Finchel?
Hot Latina: Whatevs. As long as they stop moaning and causing all this drama. If they stay out of my hair, Iz be coolz wit it
Me: Do you have anything to say about this news?
Those Asian Kids: It's not really new. I mean, c'mon, it's obvious that they'll always go back to each other in the end. Just as long as they stop with all the drama
Me: You're the stepbrother of Finn and a close friend of Rachel. This relationship must affect you an awful lot.
Gay Kid: Well, I no longer have to deal with Rachel's insanity and Finn singing ballads about heartbreak loudly every night. They make each other happy. I'm just glad I didn't throw away the plans for their wedding after they broke up. Imagine if I had had to start from scratch!
Me: What about you? You were the previous girlfriend of Mr. Hudson. What do you have to say about this?
Pregnant Cheerleader Obsessed With Prom: I'm happy for them. Finn and I need to move on with our lives. I'm ready to find someone new, start a healthy relationship, and maybe try and repair some old friendships. Wallowing in the past has made me bitter. You're talking to a brand new Quinn Fabray.
Yes, it seems evident that McKinley High's most mismatched couple is back on. Sorry ladies, Finn Hudson seems very much in love with Ms. Berry. I do however hold my hopes that one day Ms. Berry will realize her mistake and end the relationship. For now though, they seem to be sticking together. Good luck to the happy couple, but remember Finn, I'm waiting in the shadows...
A/N: So, I think this will be the last real chapter. I'll be doing and epilogue, though. I just wanted to thank all of you guys, my devoted readers, it's been wonderful, and I love all of you. This has been the best first fanfic anyone could ever ask for. I'm sorry for all of those weird chapters added in there, all the plot holes, all of those strings left hanging, this story hasn't gone the way I was planning at all. I just hope that in the end, you all enjoyed it nonetheless. Au revoir...almost