If you had told Finn at 16, that he was going to spend the rest of his life in a classroom, he would have laughed at you. But 20 year old Finn is a very different person. He's spent a few days observing classrooms for his major this year, and he can not wait to be the one in charge of the class. He's always loved being a leader and having people look up to him, he doesn't know why it took so long to figure out what he wanted to do. This year has been a great one for him, seeing Rachel in 'Annie Get Your Gun' and their conversation afterwards has left him feeling positive about their future, and he's so confident he's making the right decision about his career. He is looking forward to this summer, because Tina told him Rachel would be home. Tina also told him that Rachel's head was a mess and that he needed to be careful with her, but no matter how much he begs, she won't tell him more. He doesn't tell Rachel he'll be home for the summer, so he won't scare her into staying away.
His first steps into William McKinley High School that summer bring a wave of nostalgia. He is flooded with memories, bad ones of throwing slushies and crying Quinn, but a lot of good ones of a laughing brunette and twirling her around on the stage. He's here to meet Mr. Schuester, well, Will now, because he's going to be helping out with summer school for his summer job. At the end of their meeting, he's excited, even though his job is mainly making copies and tutoring some of the students who need extra help. When he walks out the front door, he sees her on the sidewalk and for a minute, he thinks he's imagining things, but then he can tell she's real by her shocked expression. Play it cool. He thinks to himself and he walks towards her slowly and waves. She asks what he's doing here and seems pretty surprised when he tells her he's teaching (it's only a little stretch). She says she's in town for the summer and is just dropping by to say hi to Mr. Schue. He asks if they can hang out sometime, just for old times sake.
"I'd like that." She says carefully. And he smiles at her and says he'll call. As he watches her walk away, he wonders how many days he should wait, his fingers itching to text her right now. He manages to wait a whole week and then asks if she'd like to go see a movie. He figures that will be the easiest, since they won't have to talk much. He's happy when she says yes, and more nervous than the day they performed at Nationals when he goes to pick her up. She laughs because he's still borrowing his mom's car and for a minute it feels like nothing has changed. He thinks that even if he doesn't see her the rest of the summer, the feel of her head on his shoulder and her fingers twined with his during the movie could be enough to last him a long time. When he drops her off, he just hugs her and says he hopes he'll see her soon. The rest of the summer is kind of the same. They go see a movie every weekend and text during the week about 'his kids' and the movie they saw or will see. He keeps things light and casual. He wants so much more, but he's trying to remember Tina's warning. The summer flies by and it's their last weekend together much too quickly. Instead of a movie, he asks her to pack a picnic and he takes her to the park.
There are about a million things he wants to tell her, but he's trying to choose his words carefully.
"Rach, where do we go from here?" He asks quietly. He's leaning against a tree and she's nestled beside him. She gets very still and he can feel the answering nudge when she shrugs her shoulders.
"It's been so nice this summer. I haven't had to think or worry. I wish it didn't have to change. When I go back, I'll finally be a Senior. I should get some great parts for my resume. It's just one more year and I'll be really auditioning for Broadway. All my dreams will come true." She tries to say it confidently, but her can hear the waver in her voice.
"What if...what if I call you sometimes? I could use someone to talk to, I start student teaching after Christmas and I'm nervous." He asks, holding back and trying not to ask for more.
"I think that would be ok." She says. She looks up at him, he can see the moon reflected in her eyes and wants to kiss her more than anything, but he doesn't want to risk it. He's being so so careful.
"You can kiss me if you want to." She says softly, he almost didn't hear her. But his eyes widen, and he whispers. "I want to." And closes the gap. Her lips are so soft and he's missed them so much. It ends much too quickly and their eyes meet.
"Rachel, I know you have dreams and more than anything, I want you to shine. I want you to be a star doing whatever makes you happy. I don't want to be the one that stands in the way. I'm not going to ask you to give up your dreams for me." He says it all fast, in one breath and she starts to speak, but he pushes on. "Can you just promise you'll wait for me? I've got it all figured out, I can come to New York after I graduate. I can work and you can audition and do plays and we can be happy. I know we can. Please."
He looks so hopeful and she can feel her resolve slipping away. "Ok." she says. "Let me get through this year alone. I can't have any distractions. But I promise I won't be with anyone else this year and we'll figure out next year together." He kisses her again, gently, and takes her home.
Her dads think her trip home must have been good for her. When they drop her at the airport, she looks happier than she has in a long time.