I know, it's been a really long time. But this one is long. Enjoy :)
Charlie stood with his back against the wall tapping his foot loudly. He was waiting for Finn to emerge from his bedroom so that they could just hurry up and go out already. Charlie, with the help of Quinn, had deviously devised a plan to get Finn back with Rachel. Charlie could pick two people in love from a mile away and he knew that Rachel loved Finn more than anything. The cover story for their plan was that Finn and Charlie were going out for so much needed "male bonding time" while Quinn would take Rachel out for some "diva time" together. Unfortunately for Charlie, Finn was taking his time getting ready for their male bonding time.
"So why are we doing this again, dude?" Finn called from behind the door of his bedroom.
"Quinn is driving me insane! I need some dude time!" In actual fact it was true. He loved Quinn and everything but she could be a real bitch sometimes and she'd spent a lot of time bitching about how Finn was a dumbass for leaving Rachel behind and how Rachel was a dumbass for leaving Finn for New York in the first place. He really did need some male bonding time.
"That's understandable. You should've seen her in high school. Wow, you're lucky you're not dating that Quinn. Quinn had a personal vendetta against Rachel the entire high school period,"
"Why?"
"I don't know...well, actually I do," Finn said emerging from his bedroom. He was dressed in a semi-casual outfit. His hair looked like it hadn't even been touched but Charlie didn't mind. It wasn't as though Charlie was the one spending the day with him. He was Rachel's problem.
"Yeah? And why was that?"
"Quinn hated Rachel because Rach was either dating me or trying to win me back or date me. They were both kinda obsessed with me, but they mellowed out during senior year though. So that was cool," Finn explained, oblivious to the look on Charlie's face. Charlie clenched his fist and tried to hide the frown the crossed his face but Finn caught the look that screamed jealousy and looked down apologetically.
"Oh, sorry man. I forgot. History issues, aye? Don't worry; Quinn and I are so not going back. We learnt that we just don't work in that way. We're friends. Only friends,"
"Yeah. Come on, let's go!" Charlie prodded Finn down the stairs and out the door. Things we're finally starting to swing into action.
Quinn was on the other side of town tapping her foot and leaning against a wall waiting for Rachel to get ready for their "diva time" and it was driving her insane. No doubt Rachel would come out of the room wearing one of her ridiculous animal sweaters from high school. Quinn did give her a little credit though; Rachel's style had matured a lot since high school.
"Quinn!" Rachel screamed. Quinn could tell from the tone of Rachel's voice that she wasn't particularly pleased about some things and quite clearly she was about to find them out.
"What?" she yelled back.
"I want to know the real reason of why we're doing this!"
Quinn rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You know the reason Rach! I need some girl time,"
"Yeah, I'm sure," Rachel said sarcastically as she burst through her bedroom door. She was dressed in a plain black high-waisted skirt with a matching red singlet top that sat perfectly over the edge of the skirt so that they complimented each other perfectly.
"I'm telling the truth, Rach! You look nice. Are you ready?"
"Yeah. Let's go,"
They met each other in the park. Rachel was off in the bathroom while Finn and Charlie stood at the picnic sight. Quinn came wandering over and exchanged a nervous glance with Charlie.
"Hey guys! Fancy seeing you here," she tried to cover up the coincidence. Thankfully, Finn was as oblivious as ever.
"Hey Quinny! What're you doing here babe?" Charlie asked in a half suspicious tone that Finn managed to pick up. He may have picked it up but he brushed it off as a coincidence.
"Rachel and I were just out for a bit of catch up time,"
"Oh, yeah. I remember you saying something about that. Anyway, I've gotta go to the loo. I'll see you in a bit, Finn?"
"Yeah dude," Finn replied nonchalantly. It still hadn't clicked that this entire thing was planned.
Rachel wandered over to where Quinn was standing and stopped a few feet away from Finn. She looked him over and then made a mental note of how attractive he looked. She scolded herself for thinking such thoughts and her eyes trailed back up to his face. She was unaware that Finn Hudson was having the same thoughts about her.
"H-hi," Rachel stammered at the sight of Finn.
"Hi Rach," Finn replied all the while wishing that he was alone with her and that Quinn would just disappear and Charlie wouldn't come back. These little wishes had to stop.
"Umm, Rach?" Quinn asked quietly, dragging Rachel a little bit away from Finn. "I need to go to the loo. Can you stay here and keep Finn company until I get back?"
"Quinn" Rachel screeched in the quietest possible voice so that Finn wouldn't hear.
"What?" Quinn mimicked her voice.
"You can't leave me here with him!"
"Shh! You can't just leave him here alone!"
"But Quinn," Rachel whinged. "He makes me...nervous,"
"He does not! Stop making excuses and stay here!"
"Fine!"
Quinn slapped Rachel on the arm and then trudged down the path towards the toilet block. Rachel was left standing on her own looking at Finn's face and moving her feet about the ground nervously. Finn mimicked her actions with his hands held behind his back. They were both thrown out of their comfort zones so suddenly. As much as Finn wanted this, he was scared about it.
"So, you wanna sit down?" he offered Rachel who obliged it with protest.
"You don't think this is a little sussed?" Rachel asked after Finn had poured her a drink.
"What?"
"Well, they both led us to the park on a nice day and coincidentally ran into each other and they've both been at the toilet for an extra long time. I don't think they're coming back,"
"Is that such a bad thing?" Finn asked. Rachel had barely finished her sentence when he asked.
"I'm... Honestly? I don't know,"
"I don't think it is, Rach. When was the last time we hung out, just the two of us?"
"A while ago, I guess,"
"Exactly."
"You're right. This is nice," Rachel smiled. Finn smiled back at her and then started to serve out the food for their lunch. He pulled out a completely vegan dish for Rachel and frowned at it. This was definitely sussed. Rachel took the food mumbling a small "thank you" and then poured herself another glass of raspberry Fanta.
Their picnic passed by in silence. They ate, they drank and they sat. They didn't talk. It was awkward. Finn tried his very best not to reach over and take Rachel in his arms because it was hardly very appropriate. Rachel tried her hardest not to wish that Finn would reach over and take her in his arms because it was hardly very appropriate. They both avoided awkward eye contact.
"So, I better go. It's getting late and I've gotta walk home," Rachel said after the silence became too much.
"You walked?" Finn asked. This was his last chance and he knew it.
"No. Well, yes. Kind of. Quinn drove me,"
"I'll walk you home?" It came out as more of a statement than a question.
"No, it's okay. Thank you anyway,"
"Come on, Rachel. I want to,"
"Really, Finn. I'm fine. I promise,"
"Please?" Finn pleaded. How could Rachel refuse those big brown eyes and that smile? Damn!That smile always made her weak at the knees.
"Alright then," Rachel agreed and Finn let out a sigh of relief. Score!
They both packed up the picnic and left it there knowing full well that Quinn and Charlie were probably hiding behind a bush spying on them. True to form, they both scurried out from their positions after Finn and Rachel had left.
Soon enough they were at Rachel's door. She unlocked the door, knowing her fathers were out on a business trip and would be for a couple of days. Her holiday in Lima was still indefinite and she could go back to New York any time she wanted. Finn stood outside the door awkwardly. Rachel felt obliged to ask him to come in. He nodded and stepped inside before taking up his awkward standing position. Rachel beckoned for him to follow her and sit on the lounge.
"Tea? Coffee?" she yelled from the kitchen.
"No thanks, Rach!" Finn yelled back. Rachel came trudging back in, biscuit packet in hand and coffee in the other. Rachel sat down beside him and offered him the packet. Finn shook them off. It was now or never.
"We need to talk,"
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