Chapter 11: Just Give Me a Reason

Finn and Rachel heard a door slam behind them. A very angry Brody stormed past them, purposefully shoving into Finn on his way down the hall. Rachel sighed, he wasn't taking it well. Seeing her eyes start to water, Finn reached out to her.

"Hey, don't be sad," he said, stroking her hair. "It isn't so bad."

"I just hate that I hurt him." She admitted.

"I know." And he did. He could understand why she had fallen for Brody. He was more attractive, a better singer, and he understood her in ways Finn could never dream of. Brody had similar goals, similar dreams. It would make sense for them to be together.

It never made sense for Rachel and him to be together. He had been quarterback of the football team. She had been about as unpopular and disliked as she could be. But somehow it had worked. It worked that is, until they graduated. Their lives were headed in different directions and try as they might to deny it, it wasn't right for them to be together at the time.

Rachel reached in her bag and pulled a tissue out. After using it to wipe her eyes and blow her nose, she put it back into her bag. Grabbing Finn's hand, she pulled him down the hall. "Come to class with me," she insisted. He wanted to protest, that's where it had started to go wrong the last time he was in town, but he could never say no to Rachel. Maybe Brody didn't deserve a second chance, but New York did.

After her dance class, Finn and Rachel got lunch from the food court at NYADA. Rachel wanted to take him somewhere else, but they didn't have enough time before her next class. She insisted he come to that one as well.

"You'll feel more at home there," she told him. "It's a singing class."

He couldn't argue with that so he agreed to go.

There was no doubt Rachel was liked in that class. A girl came up to her as soon as they walked in, no hesitation. "Rachel thanks so much for your help last week, my vocal teacher said I improved so much!" Then noticing Finn, she asked. "Who's this? What happened to Brody?" Her eyes widening and searching Finn's body from head to toe. Rachel felt a twinge of jealousy. She grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to her.

"This is Finn," she explained, but dropped her hand. "My… good friend from high school."

"You're not… together?"

Rachel hesitated. "Not exactly."

The girl looked puzzled.

"It's complicated," Finn explained, though it wasn't really an explanation.

The girl pulled a small piece of paper out of her bag. "Call me," she told Finn, handing him the paper. Out of politeness, Finn took the paper and put it in his pocket, though he had no intention of calling her.

Two other girls came up to Rachel as they entered the room before class started. Just like the first girl after thanking Rachel, they asked about Finn and gave him their number. Finn didn't even look at the girls. He looked at Rachel the whole time. He felt a sense of pride every time she frowned slightly; unsuccessfully trying to hide that she was jealous.

The class started then. It was a small class, so the teacher, Dr. Bennet, instantly noticed Finn didn't belong. "We have a visitor."

"This is Finn." Rachel explained, once again. "We've been good friends since high school. He was in town visiting his brother so I convinced him to visit me too."

"Thinking about Broadway, son?" Dr. Bennet asked Finn.

"No sir, I don't think it's for me," he admitted cautiously, not wanting to hurt Dr. Bennet's feelings.

"Well not everyone is meant for the stage. Have you done any singing?"

Finn nodded. "Rachel and I were co-captains of our glee club in high school. That's how we met actually. Rachel's sure got some talent. I fell in love with her the instant she started singing." He smiled, looking at her as he finished speaking.

"You two sing together a lot?"

Rachel smiled and nodded. She hardly ever sang with anyone else. They were the lead singers after all.

Finn smiled too. "You could say that."

"You have to do a duet!" One of the girls who had approached Rachel before class insisted.

Rachel looked at Finn questioningly. He shrugged pretending he didn't care. Truth is he really wanted to sing with her.

They stood in the front of the room, facing the class. It reminded Rachel of the glee club. It was like they were in high school again. She started singing.

Rachel:
Right from the start
You were a thief
You stole my heart
And I your willing victim
I let you see the parts of me
That weren't all that pretty
And with every touch you fixed them

Finn:
Now you've been talking in your sleep, oh, oh
Things you never say to me, oh, oh
Tell me that you've had enough
Of our love, our love

Just give me a reason
Rachel:
Just a little bit's enough
Finn:
Just a second we're not broken just bent
Rachel:
And we can learn to love again
Both:
It's in the stars
It's been written in the scars on our hearts
We're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again

Finn:
I'm sorry I don't understand
Where all of this is coming from
I thought that we were fine
Rachel:
(Oh, we had everything)
Finn:
Your head is running wild again
My dear we still have everythin'
And it's all in your mind
Rachel:
(Yeah but this is happenin')

Finn:
You've been havin' real bad dreams, oh, oh
You used to lie so close to me, oh, oh
Rachel:
There's nothing more than empty sheets
Between our love, our love
Oh, our love, our love

Finn:
Just give me a reason
Rachel:
Just a little bit's enough
Finn:
Just a second we're not broken just bent
Rachel:
And we can learn to love again
Finn:
I never stopped.
You're still written in the scars on my heart
You're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again

Both:
Just give me a reason
Just a little bit's enough
Just a second we're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again
Finn:
I never stopped
Both:
And we can learn to love again

As they finished singing, Rachel surprised Finn by lifting her face and pressing her lips to his. It was a kiss filled with passion and desire. He deepened the kiss instantly. It had been too long since this had last happened. He missed her.

He was glad she had started wearing such tall heels; it made this a whole lot easier. No longer did she have to stand on her toes or he crane his neck to kiss her.

Finn thought she would stop but she didn't. Not that he didn't like it, but some of the class members started coughing suggestively, showing their discomfort. He pulled back. She smiled sheepishly, but kept his arms around his neck and gave him a hug.

"That was fun, thanks so much Finn!" She said, loud enough for everyone to hear. Then just to him she said, "Can't wait for later." She said pulling back with a meaningful look on her face.

His eyes were wide with excitement as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "You won't be disappointed." He whispered.