Rachel couldn't get to sleep that night, she didn't know for sure why although she could probably guess the reason. Kurt had promised to see her tomorrow and so she knew that she should get some rest or he would comment on the fact that her eyes were bloodshot but it didn't matter to her now.
Suddenly, her phone started vibrating on the chest of draws beside her bed. Finn's name flashed in bright blue lettering with a picture of Finn cuddling with Rachel, a photo that Kurt had taken when they were talking at the wedding only a few months ago, the last time they had been truly happy. Why was he calling? She didn't want to answer and so she left the phone to rattle away.
Unfortunately, she had diverted her cell phone to her room phone so it went straight to an audible voicemail. "Leave a message after the beep." the monotonous voice droned. "BEEP!"
Rachel hoped that Finn would hang up; he hated voice mails because he always felt awkward about hanging up but it looked as if luck really wasn't on her side tonight.
"Rach, are you there? Of course not, or you would have picked up." Rachel felt partially bad; he wanted desperately to speak to her that was clear in his voice. She knew that prom had turned out badly for him too but not on the same level, of course she thought that she had it harder, at least he could go back into school on Monday and forget about it happening but it now looked that Rachel would have to dig out some stage makeup to clear up the mark but she wasn't that desperate about making an appearance anyway. "I am just ringing up to see how you are." he stated, she could almost envision him scowling at himself for being such a fool as he spoke. "I didn't say sorry and I know that I should have, I don't have any right to hit Jesse but he just got to me that is all."
"And you don't think me seeing you and Quinn dancing together got to me?" she whispered to nobody in particular. Her dress was creasing and she decided to take it off.
Finn coughed, he most definitely didn't want to be apologizing over a machine. "Kurt won't tell me what's wrong," Good, Rachel thought, she knew that she could trust him, "which is why I'm waiting for you in your drive." What? Rachel's hands stopped fiddling with the hook and eye and she focussed on his voice. "Your light is on and so I know that you're up."
Quickly, Rachel flicked the light switch off as if it would help disguise that she was in there.
"And now you just turned it off. This is silly Rach; I just want to talk to you. Can't you come down? I need to apologize." Finn's voice was hoarse, he really did sound worried. Foolishly, Rachel forgot about the red swelling on her cheek and went downstairs to welcome him on the drive.
He was there, a dark looming figure on the drive still in his blue tux that was co-ordinated to match Quinn's dress, it stung seeing him in that outfit but she didn't suppose that there was any point in him changing into anything other than pyjamas. She turned the key in the lock and his head whipped round. His growing smile at her appearance was visible as he slid his phone down into his pocket.
"Rach," he said, running up to hug her. Luckily, it was too dark for him to see anything. She stopped him in his course; hugging Finn was a bad idea. He stopped but complied. "Are you okay?"
She wondered whether or not to be honest. "I am fine." she whispered, willing herself to believe it.
"You don't sound it." Finn frowned, picking up on her sad tone of voice. "What are you doing up at this time?"
"Prom only finished an hour or so ago." she stated.
He shrugged, "Yeah but I heard you left early so I was worrying."
"Worrying?" she asked, her arms had goosebumps.
He nodded. "Yeah, I stayed up waiting for you to be home. Coach wouldn't let me back in at all so I left." He noticed her shivering and pulled his tux jacket off.
"No Finn, keep it." she said but she couldn't deny how good it felt to have the warmth of Finn wrapped around her.
He laughed, "You don't have to protest at everything I do Rach."
Yes but it would sure make your girlfriend happy. Rachel thought, realising that tears were pricking in her eyes, she would not do this here, she would try and hold all the dignity that she had left.
"Have you spoken to Quinn?" asked Rachel trying to find out if he knew about what had happened, Quinn wouldn't tell him anyway.
As if anyone could get hold of Quinn on a night like this? "No, I haven't tried." he admitted.
"Maybe you should." she advised him, walking back to the house.
He called after her: "Rachel we need to talk!" but Rachel was already holding back the tears in the restraint at not telling him.