About a week later, Archie decided to put his plan regarding Rae and Finn into action. He'd been careful to observe them together the last week and knew he wasn't off the mark thinking they had feelings for one another.
The biggest clue, that Archie couldn't help wondering if anybody else noticed, was that Finn often initiated conversations between himself and Rae, which was rare, if one could get him to talk at all. But Archie noted how often Finn would lean into Rae's side and speak to her in hushed tones, Rae only needing to nod, smile or give him a 'what the hell?' type of look in response. Any combination of them usually produced a lightning quick grin to fall over his expression.
"Hey ya Rae!"
Archie jogged up to her in the park, slowing to walk beside her. "What you are up to?"
Tucking a lock of raven hair behind her ear, Archie noted a slight flush run across her cheeks.
"Izzy and I came to watch Finn's footie game. Chop was suppose to play, but had to work."
"How was it?"
"Good. Finn and Barney almost had it out over a shit call though. Barney got fouled 'cause it looked like he tried to trip Finn. Looked to me like they just got tangled for a sec."
Archie's ears perked at the mention of Barney, but that thought was for another time. "You didn't side with Finn?"
"Why would I? He was wrong." Arch laughed at Rae's bluntness. Oh yes, she was exactly what Finn needed. She had the gumption to knock Finn down a peg or two when the need arose, something most people were afraid to do with him.
Archie cut to the chase. "So, you wanna meet tomorrow at the cafe outside the cinema, 'round 8:30? There's something I want to talk with you about." He saw Rae wince, remembering Finn's recitation of events the night he stood her up. This would be worth it, he vowed, if they didn't kill him for the setup. It'd be a shame to become part of the history he loved so dearly, at such a young age.
"Uhm, yeah sure. 'Course."
Smiling he leaned over kissing her cheek, "Great! Please don't say anything to the gang, I want it to be just you and me. See ya tonight."
"I thought you said tomorrow?" Rae asked.
"Yeah, but tonight's open mic at The Swann. Finn and I put a little something together." With that Archie jogged off in search of the man himself.
Glancing up from his crate of albums, Finn was surprised to see Archie standing in the doorway."What ya doing here? Thought you were performing t'night."
"I am. That is to say, there's been a change in plans. You're doin' it with me."
Archie held his breath for a moment, despite what most people thought about Finn, he wasn't that self confident so getting up in a roomful of people wasn't his thing. Still Archie felt this was important. He wasn't daft, after their talk last week, Finn's song choice made all kinds of sense and open mic night was the perfect platform to showcase his admiration, however unknowingly.
"I don't think so." Dusting off his jeans, Finn stood up pacing to his recorder.
"Why not? We did a damn good job. It's the song I want to perform."
"You do it then."
"It wouldn't be the same without the switch up between us. It makes all the difference." Little did Finn know Archie also had a new arrangement in mind for the tune, with just enough time left to do a run through.
"Ya know I don't like doin' that sorta thing."
Time to pull out the big guns. "Rae's coming, as well as the rest of the gang."
Finn shrugged, scratching at the nape of his neck, "S'pose, I could; just this once mind."Glancing with a smirk at Archie he added, "I 'spect at least a month of no history lectures for this."
Nodding emphatically Archie said, "Tops." That was too easy.
Despite Finn's resistance with the new version, he went along with it. They got there at the last minute possible, as designed by Archie, so they didn't have time to hang with the gang first. He knew Finn's nerves would get the better of him if he had too much time to think.
Stepping onto the tiny stage, the boys nodded an acknowledgment to the riotous applause and catcalls coming from the back table. Archie sat down on a stool as Finn took his and moved it slightly back and to the right.
Strumming the beginning chords of F.N.T., Archie grinned as the girls followed by Chop made their way to the front of the crowd.
Archie sang the opening lines and glanced back to Finn who closed his eyes timidly crooning,
Fascinating new thing
Get beside me
I want you to love me
Arch noted the huskiness in Finn's voice on the last notes, as he picked up the next lines. Winking at the girls, he thumped his foot in time singing:
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're lovely and you're perfect
and that somebody wants you
Quickening the pace, Archie and Finn shared a smirk as Finn took over, looking directly at Rae as he sang out:
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're priceless and you're precious
Even when you are not new.
Harmonizing, the boys belted out the final refrain:
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're lovely and you're perfect
and that somebody wants you
Soaking up the clapping appreciation. Archie noticed the happiness radiating from Rae a few moments ago faded into disillusionment. Stepping down from the stage, Archie gave Rae a kiss on the cheek whispering in her ear, "That was for you. From Finn." She furrowed her brows, clearly not believing it. He wished she could see herself the way they all did. He knew Finn was the right one to show her just how beautiful and precious she was. If he had to pick anyone for her, it'd be him because underneath the gruff exterior Finn was the best sort.
Finn had went right for a pint after packing away his guitar. Shaking his head at the bar's surface, he felt all kinds of fool for not being able to control his emotion during the love line. But that's all he wanted, for Rae to love him, like he was beginning to love her.
He was startled out of his thoughts by a clap on his shoulder, "Well done." Chop said. "You's been holding out on us. We could take this group on the road. Imagine all the chippies."
Shaking his head in amusement, Finn asked, "Is that all you can think about?"
"Most o' the time." With a cheeky leer, Chop walked off with Barney yammering about chicks and instruments.
Looking back at their table, Finn found it empty, searching the room he saw the girls at the jukebox and what looked like Rae lecturing Izzy and Chloe on their musical choice. Likely it was being directed more toward Chloe, who didn't seem to have any preference other than a good beat to dance to. Izzy was a tad more discerning, but not by much.
"Hey, thanks for doing this with me." Archie leaned his back against the bar to eye both his friends.
"No problem."
The rest of the night was spent at their usual table with plenty of laughs, jibes and awkward glances and smiles traded between Rae and Finn as caught by Archie. Everyone else seemed oblivious to the obvious tension, he didn't understand it.
The next afternoon Archie rang Finn. "Hiya, I'm getting ready to leave for work, but I wanted to know if you'd meet me at the cinema cafe later, I need to talk to ya about somethin'. Say 8:15?"
"Yeah, sure."
Archie hoped this worked. If nothing else once they realized he set the whole thing up, they'd bond over ways to punish him. Archie shuddered over the possibilities those two could come up with. Probably something involving crap music like Boyzone.