Only The Good Die Young

Chapter 12

Oh god, I've just been out to get Finn and I a coffee before we went to see my dad's and I saw the papers. The front page is either 'Finn Hudson- The Abuser of Broadway' or, 'Broadway Star Rachel Berry Given Months To Live'.

This. Cannot. Be. Happening.

Sure, a lot of people saw Finn punch that guy, but he was doing it out of protection for me, why would someone say he's evil- Finn Hudson is the least evil person I've ever known! And as for me, the only people who could have told the papers about my diagnosis are Quinn and Puck, James, Finn or the rest of the cast.

I know that Quinn and Puck would never do that, I'm pretty sure James wouldn't because it might jeaopardise the show and Finn definitely wouldn't! I can't believe someone in the cast would do that! We've all been together for so long and I thought we were friends. I can't let Finn find out about this.

I need to go home and call Quinn, I hope my dads don't find out either, I need to tell them myself. If they've seen then there's nothing I can do but I just hope they haven't.

Later At Home

"Okay Finn, I've spoken to my dads and they said that we can go round now, I can't believe this has happened, I'm really sorry." I showed Finn the papers before I called, I knew I couldn't keep anymore secrets so I just told him. He was shocked but said that we just had to get over it.

"Its alright Rachel, I know its not your fault, I just don't know why someone would do this, are you sure we have time to go to your dads, we need to be at the hospital by 3?"

"It will be fine, we won't stay long and my bag is ready for hospital. Are you ready?"

"Yep, lets go!"

We're in the car on the way to my dads house, Finn and I are in silence as we are for most car journeys, Finn and I are always talking during the day but for some reason, car journeys are always silent, its like we're trapped in the car with nothing to distract us from the truth of our situation. The radio is on quietly in the background but neither of us are really paying any attention.

We get to my dads and they are waiting outside, they look like they've seen a ghost. Finn has stopped the car and I run over. "Dad, daddy, what's wrong, are you okay?!"

My dad answers "Is it true?"

Finn is next to me now. "Er, I-Is what true?" I hope they don't know, that's the worst way to find out!

"Do you have cancer?"

Great, they know. Finn is holding my hand and gives it a little squeeze. Before I can speak he asks if we can go inside to talk seeing as we're still standing by the front door. I'm suddenly really nervous to talk, Finn is giving me encouraging looks so I go ahead.

"Yes, its true, I found out a while ago but I wanted to wait to tell you, I'm sorry you didn't find out from me but I didn't know it would be in the papers."

"Its in the papers!?"

"What? Well, yes, isn't that how you found out?"

"No, James your director called to send his condolences, we had no idea what he was talking about!? How could you tell him before us?"

"I-I'm erm, I..." I've got no idea what to say, firstly I didn't even know James knows my dads and secondly, I've just told them I have cancer, they could be a bit more caring instead of being mad?! Finn has realised and begins to talk.

"Look, I know you're in shock but Rachel has been worried to tell you, she never wanted you to find out like this and she would have told you before but she didn't know how to. We understand you're upset but she needs your support at the minute."

Finn is incredible. He always knows exactly how I'm feeling. I put my arm round him. My dads look like they don't know what to say, daddy starts:

"I'm sorry Rachel, we love you but we are in shock, James said something about an operation but I think he got it wrong!"

Before I can speak Dad interrupts "Yes Rachel, now you know that doctors can get things wrong so we want you to go to our doctor and we also want you to stay with us for a while."

"Okay, well daddy first, James wasn't wrong, I'm actually going to the hospital in about 2 and a half hours to have a partial gastrectomy, the doctors can't see everything in my stomach so they're going to see what they can remove. And Dad, my doctors are wonderful, I have every faith in them. Why would I stay with you, Finn and I have our own house?"

"Oh, well, we didn't want to say anything but we heard about Finn's little outburst with the paparazzi and we think it's best if you stay apart for a while."

Finn is in shock, who do they think they are to say something like that? They've always loved Finn from when they first saw him, how have their opinions changed so fast?!

Neither Finn nor I are saying anything so my dads are continuing on about how Finn could be dangerous for me and that the army has affected him, they 'just want to keep me safe?'

"Excuse me, I have to leave, I'll wait for you in the car Rachel." Finn left.

I don't really know what to say? "Well, I'm leaving now because I need to get to the hospital, I'll text you how it goes and... you know what to be honest I'm at a loss for words, you of all people know what the papers make up, they twist everything to their advantage, so for you to not only believe what they say about Finn but to actually confront him on it is horrific of you. He is my fiancée, I love him and he will support me so there is no need for me to stay here."

My dads are silent again so I take this opportunity to leave, they aren't even going to say good luck for the operation, they didn't even hug me?!

I can see Finn in the car; he looks like he's crying but when he sees me he quickly covers it up. I get in the car and the silent journey starts again.