You readers are all lovely people and I appreciate all your support whether it be follows, reviews, or favorites. We got a few familiar faces popping up in this chapter to stir some things up so here we go!
Disclaimer: Do not own any of the characters from Glee or anything else that is mentioned in this story, this is simply for fun!
When he was a little kid he used to love the book Where's Waldo.
The book with the dude with the glasses, funny hat, and white and red stripped shirt? Yeah, he loved it. In fact, every time he went to the dentist and had to wait in their office for his turn to see the doctor, he pulled that book off the office shelf and looked at it.
It was so entertaining to try to find the guy in the mess of things. How many times had he stared at that book trying to make sense of the picture and find the little character? It was too many times probably, but Where's Waldo was awesome.
He just didn't realize that trying to play that game in real life would be so much more difficult.
It was especially hard when his house was crowded with so many people. Trying to find the girl with the pretty pink dress and wonderful eyes was proving to be a challenge. A challenge that so far had been going on for longer than an hour and he was beginning to think that she might have left all together.
There was no sight of her in the sea of people.
"Marley!" Finn shouts when he finally recognizes someone in the large crowd. The tall, brunette girl looks at him with bright eyes and a smile when she hears her name.
"Hey stranger," she greets holding up her drink with one hand while she gives him a hug. "Your party is so amazing! I can't believe you pulled all this off."
He gazes around the room with a self-satisfied smile before he remembers his mission. "Thanks but I need your help with something."
"If you're looking for Jake, I think he went somewhere that way," she directs pointing towards the yard. She shrugs, frowning. "I don't know exactly where he went."
He raises his brow. "What's wrong?"
Marley rolls her eyes at him, sighing. "Do you think he really likes me?" She asks doubtfully. "Because I'm not so sure about this, Finn."
Finn puts a comforting hand on her shoulder and smiles. "I'm positive, Marley," he reassures her. "How could he not like you? You're pretty, nice, smart..."
He watches as hope rises within her. "And to be honest I probably wouldn't have passed my science class without you tutoring me last year. So that makes you like, two hundred times better."
She chuckles at his praise. "Ah, yes. My knowledge on acids and bases is totally my most attractive quality," she says sarcastically.
Finn laughs. "Exactly!" Then he lowers his voice and leans towards her. "Don't worry, Jake likes you. He asks about you all the time. You just make him nervous."
Marley's grin grows impossibly larger. "I make him nervous?"
"Yeah, but don't tell him I told you that," he winks. "He'd kick my ass."
"As a junior in high school like me, he'd never hurt Mr. Popularity. He likes hanging out with you too much," Marley dismisses, smiling. "I think he thinks it gives him street credit."
Finn puffs out his chest in pride. "Damn right it does."
She rolls her eyes at him as she takes a sip of the drink in her hand. "Okay. Well, what'd you need help with Finn?" She asks. "You seemed like you were in a rush or something before."
He nods his head at her, now completely refocused. "Right. Look, I need your help. It's about a girl."
Marley's face crinkles in confusion. "What do I have to do with it?"
"I need help finding her," he explains. "This girl, Marley, is something else. She's just really cool and funny and nice and pretty-"
Finn's cut off mid-ramble by a soft hand grabbing onto his shirt from behind. He notices Marley's eyes widen for a second before he's dragged down by the stranger and a mouth smashes onto his own.
Momentarily caught off guard, Finn lets the stranger kiss him. It's only for a second before he pulls away really disoriented. It's not the girl from earlier like he wishes it was. It's actually someone he doesn't want to see.
"Don't worry Marley," Quinn says, smirking directly at him. She still holds onto his shirt tightly. "He found me. He doesn't need you."
Marley glances between the pair uneasily as Finn tries to pry Quinn's fingers off of him. He looks at his friend with pleading eyes, begging her to not leave him here alone.
He watches as Marley musters up all the confidence she can to confront the Cheerio. "Actually Quinn I don't think-"
It doesn't work.
"You can leave now," Quinn orders, an icy glare directed right at the poor girl and leaving no room for argument.
Finn shakes his head at Marley, again begging her not to go. But it's obvious she doesn't want to stay in the blonde's presence any longer than necessary. He doesn't want to either.
"Sorry Finn," Marley mouths quickly before immediately walking off.
Quinn smiles wickedly in satisfaction as she looks back up at him once Marley is gone. "I heard you talking about me," she tells him. "Are you going to ask me to take you back? If so you have some serious groveling to do."
Well fuck.
He can't seem to shake Quinn for anything. Like at all.
He's tried explaining to her how it wasn't her that he wanted to see. He keeps trying to avoid her as much as he can. Somehow though, much to his dismay, she keeps finding him.
"Look Finn, I'm willing to get back together with you," Quinn says once again. "But only if we go to homecoming together this year, okay? We'd be a shoo-in for king and queen this year! I just know it."
"How many times do I have to say no Quinn?" He asks annoyed. "I don't want to go to homecoming and I don't want to get back together."
The blonde huffs angrily as she follows him. "Why not?"
Finn's still trying to search for the girl with the long brown hair and shiny, playful eyes, but with Quinn around it's so much harder. He walks into the backyard to look when Quinn hits his arm trying to get his attention. "Why not, Finn? Answer me!"
He whirls around to come face to face with Quinn, surprising her for a second before she collects herself. "Did you forget that you were the one that cheated on me," Finn spits out. "Or am I just making that up in my head?"
Quinn reaches for his arm but he steps back. "How many times do I have to tell you that it was a mistake?" She pleads. "I was drunk and I felt fat that day. It was stupid and I'm sorry-"
Finn rolls his eyes, turning away from her. "Just save it Quinn. I'm not interested in hearing that same old excuse."
He tries to ignore the small crowd that has slowly crept near them. People were so eager to see the drama unfold between the two of the most popular kids in school. He ignores their stares and Quinn's shriek of frustration as he walks away. He grabs a beer from the cooler and looks around noticing that everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
He wishes he could do the same.
Puck jogs over to him from where he was standing with their other football friends and grabs another beer for himself. "Hey Captain, the Ice Queen trying to reign you in again?"
Finn shrugs, frowning. "It's not happening again. She can beg all she wants. We aren't getting back together."
Puck nods sympathetically. He knows better than anyone the kind of shit Quinn had put him through. "Hey I'm sorry man."
Finn grimaces not wanting to see the pity on his friend's face. "It's not your fault."
Puck nods, trying to think of how to make this better for Finn. Deciding on a distraction, he grins, "You'll never guess who's at this party tonight."
"Who?" Finn asks, grateful that his friend understands his need to think about anything other than his ex.
Puck laughs hysterically then. "Fucking Jacob Ben Jewfro! Can you believe it?"
Of course he knew Jacob was here. He'd heard that from the gorgeous girl earlier. Jacob was the reason she had even showed up at his bedroom door in the first place.
"You don't say?" He smiles.
"I know dude," Puck says, drinking his beer. "The guys saw him hanging around Lady Hummel and his gal pals over there. We were gonna throw him out for you."
Taking a sip of his own drink, Finn glances at his brother and his friends on the grass. He sees Mercedes, Tina, and Blaine, all of who he knew would be there already.
His eyes widen and he chokes on his drink, however, when he notices a familiar flash of pink. Wait a second. It's her!
Puck instantly starts to slap him hard on the back trying to help. "Dude, what the hell is your problem?" He asks.
It isn't lost on Finn that this is the second time within a few hours that he's coughed his brains out because of this girl. "Puck, who is that," He chokes out, pointing at the girl in pink.
Puck, confused by the question, looks over to where Finn's pointing, "Who? The shrimp in pink?"
Finn nods finally able to breathe again. "Yeah, who is she?"
Puck rolls his eyes. "That's just Berry. She makes me want to light my hair on fire."
"Berry?" Finn asks curiously. "How do you know her?"
"It's actually Rachel Berry. Her and her dads go to my temple for church," Puck explains. "She just moved here from Carmel like a month ago or something."
Okay, Finn's never been like religious or anything. He swears he once saw Jesus in his grilled cheese sandwich, and that's about as much religion as he's ever had.
But to say he's never wished he went to church with Puck, or was Jewish, more in his life than right now would be the understatement of the century.
"She went to Carmel?" Finn asks watching the girl, Rachel. She's laughing at something Blaine said, which is no doubt a corny joke. She looks even prettier than he thinks should be allowed. He watches as Kurt puts his arm around her shoulder and laughs too. "Wait a minute she's Kurt's friend, Rachel? How is that possible?"
"Hell if I should know bro, he's your stepbrother," Puck argues, frowning. "What's with the twenty questions anyway? Who cares?"
Ignoring Puck, Finn asks, "is she going to go to McKinley this year?"
"From what my mom says she is," Puck shrugs. He narrows his eyes at Finn, scrutinizing him carefully. "What's with you Huddy and asking questions about Berry? You like her or something?"
Finn watches as Rachel starts telling a story to her friends, animatedly waving her hands around and smiling excitedly. He unconsciously smiles softly as he watches her. Then Puck snorts next to him.
"Oh shit!" Puck roars with laughter. "You like Berry?"
Finn, slightly embarrassed at this revelation, immediately goes on the defense. "What? Like her? I barely know her."
"And yet you look like some lovesick fool whose got his ass whipped by his lady," Puck taunts with a knowing smile. "Don't think I don't see that shit eating grin Hudson. You're blushing like a girl! You like her!"
Finn wants to deny it but he can't wipe the smile off the face that's giving him away. "So what? She's cute."
Puck follows Finn's gaze and watches Rachel flip her long hair over her shoulder and link arms with Tina as they walk over by the pool. Her backside is to them so Finn gets a perfect view of that amazing ass of hers. Much to his annoyance, he knows Puck is looking too.
"Yeah, she's kinda sneaky hot I guess if you're not into boobs," Puck assesses. "She has a nice ass that's for sure."
"Yeah she does," Finn mumbles in agreement, thinking of just how nice it felt under his hands a few hours ago.
"I always knew you were an ass kind of man, Captain," Puck chuckles.
Finn shrugs, grinning when Rachel bends over to pick up whatever Mercedes just dropped at their feet. Her legs go on for miles in that short pink dress of hers and Finn just drinks in the sight. Oh sweet cheesus.
"Why don't you try to tap that?" Puck asks gesturing to Rachel. "I already tried, but you might have better luck."
Finn's eyebrows shoot straight up in surprise. "You did what?"
Puck tips his head back to gulp down the rest of his beer and burps loudly. "She's Jewish, I'm Jewish, and with an ass like that I figured why not," he explains. "Berry wasn't having it though. She wasn't ready for the Puckasaurus anyway."
"Or she just has better taste than you," Finn jokes. He dodges the hand that comes up to slap him in the back of the head and laughs when Puck flips him off.
"Either way," Puck stresses, throwing his bottle away in the garbage. "Go for it Huddy. It's worth a shot."
Finn smiles, "Are you going soft on me dude? You turning into Puckerella?"
Again, he gets the finger. "No Finnessa. I just want you to do something for yourself just this once."
He doesn't really get why he's expressing so much concern for him. Finn has never known Puck to be anything other than arrogant, obnoxious, or rude. He had his moments sure, but this was different.
"Why do you care Puck?"
Puck sighs, clapping a hand on Finn's shoulder. "Look man, Quinn put you through the ringer last year. I know that and everyone else in school knows that," he says softly. "You deserve to move past that. And if Rachel Berry, or whoever else, can help with that then I say go for it."
Finn holds out his fist gratefully and Puck pounds his own against his. "Thanks man."
Puck shrugs. "We're a team the two of us," he insists. "You pick me up when I need it and I pick you up when you need it. It's how this thing works."
He clears his throat a second later and looks around. Then says lowly, "just don't fuck it up alright. I didn't just do all this emotional shit just now for you to be a pansy and flake out on me."
Finn rolls his eyes but smiles nonetheless at his friend. "That's the Puckerman I know."
Puck smiles widely as he grabs another beer and a bag of ice from the cooler nearby. "Yeah, well, I gotta go. Me and the fellas were about to shove this ice down Jewfro's pants and throw him in the dumpster across the street in front of your neighbor's house," he confesses. "And then I'm gonna go find Santana and see if we can break into Kurt's room upstairs."
"Good luck with that," Finn chuckles as the shorter man starts to retreat.
"Same to you Captain," Puck yells back as he gestures in Rachel's direction. "By the way someone's got their eye on you. Make a move dumbass."
Finn's eyes immediately find hers when he looks over at Kurt and his group of friends near the pool. She blushes and looks away when she realizes she's been caught staring though it's not a second later when she looks back again. Finn can't keep his eyes off Rachel as she smiles softly in his direction and bites her lip nervously when she looks down.
He tips back his head as he gulps down the rest of his beer and finishes it. Some girl he doesn't recognize passes by with a couple of shot glasses in her hands and he snatches one from her grasp despite the protest she gives. When Finn looks at her, and she realizes who he is, the girl just smiles and walks off, her hips swaying teasingly as she goes. He's not taking that bait though.
No, he throws back the shot and hopes that it gives him enough liquid courage to do what he's about to do. Finn Hudson is going to go talk to the incredibly beautiful Rachel Berry, and hopefully, just maybe, he can kiss her again.
That is if he plays his cards right.
Rachel totally keeps checking him out and he knows. He's checked over his shoulder to sneak a peek at her about two times a minute at least. Every time there's a timeout in the game he locks eyes with her and her cheeks flush beautifully.
But this wasn't the plan.
"Hey Finn heads up!" Brittany S. Pierce announces. As he turns his head in her direction he's thumped hard in the side of the head.
"Geez, Potato Head I thought you were supposed to be good at sports. Britts and I are creaming you and the Asian," Santana snickers as the volleyball bounces away from him.
"Well maybe if you weren't aiming it at our heads the entire time we could play the fucking game the right way!" He says annoyed, rubbing his hand against the spot he got hit.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize we were playing with little girls here," Santana taunts. "Did you know that Britt?"
Her blonde friend's face scrunches up, confused. "Wait, Finn and Mike are girls?" She asks. "Does that make us guys?"
Santana just shakes her head and smiles. "No Britts. I was joking. We're girls with boobs and vaginas." She looks distastefully at the boys. "They're boys since they clearly have pea-sized brains and dicks."
Both Mike and Finn give an indignant "Hey!" only to be ignored by the other two. Finn looks over his shoulder again at Rachel and her friends. She's watching his interaction with Santana with a raised eyebrow and a suppressed smile. He's thoroughly embarrassed as her shoulders shake a little like she's trying to hold back a laugh.
Turning back to his opponents with a deep sigh, he hears Mike ask, "Why are we even bothering to play with either of you?"
"Mike has a point," Finn agrees instantly. "How'd we even get roped in to playing this?"
Santana shrugs. "Look you two weren't exactly our first choices anyway, believe me." Then she adds, "but I thought we were all friends here, so why not?"
"All you do is insult us," Mike frowns. "How does that constitute friendship?"
"Well, the constitution was created back when dinosaurs were still around, and the founding dads wanted everyone to get along," Brittany explains seriously. "So it's illegal for you to not be friends with us. Otherwise the dads and the dinosaurs would be unhappy."
"Plus we're just being honest," Santana smirks. "If I think you suck I'm going to tell you that you suck."
Finn exchanges a disbelieving look with Mike. "So glad we got that all cleared up," he mumbles sarcastically.
"Now let's go Frankenteen!" orders Santana. "We don't have all day here and I want to crush you like the bugs that you are."
"Yeah, hurry up and get the ball!" Brittany exclaims.
He really doesn't want to. All he wants is for the stupid game to be over with so he could go talk to Rachel.
In fact, that's what he had been on his way to do when he was grabbed by Santana and dragged, along with Mike, to the volleyball net. The choice was clearly not left up to them on whether they played or not.
"Where'd it even go?" He wonders aloud as his eyes scan the surrounding area.
"I think over by the pool," Mike shrugs. "It might be in it actually. I thought I saw that hot girl kick it away."
Immediately looking in Rachel's direction, Finn asks hopefully, "Who? The little one in the pink dress?"
Maybe this was his chance to go talk to Rachel. It was a reason to go over without looking like a doofus.
"Pink dress?" Mike scoffs. "No dude, the girl with the blue and black dress. Look at her! She's incredible."
The only girl in a blue and black dress he sees is Tina. Finn grins at the thought that both Tina and Mike share the last name Chang as he walks over to the pool. Maybe they could hit it off and then double date with him and Rachel.
Well, maybe. He still had to grow a pair and talk to her first.
His thoughts of Rachel bring his eyes back to her as he starts to unintentionally walk in her direction. He notices that she's looking at something in the pool and then her big, brown eyes are looking at him.
With a smile, she asks, "Is that what you need?"
God, her voice was so pretty. It sounded like music. He's never had such a big crush on a girl before, but this must be what it's like, right?
He's standing there, staring at her from a few feet away, and he realizes that he hasn't answered her. Rachel giggles at his inability to form a coherent thought.
"Hello? Earth to Finn!" She teases.
His cheeks feel like they're on fire but he laughs, "Um, yeah. Sorry. Rachel Berry, right?"
Rachel's eyes widen in surprise but she grins. "You've been asking about me."
"And you've been hiding from me," he quips, smirking. "I found you."
"I wouldn't say I was hiding," Rachel argues. "I said I had to go find my friends and I did."
Finn raises his eyebrows. "I see how it is."
Rachel crosses her arms and narrows her eyes playfully. "See how what is?"
"You ditched me," he states matter-o-factly. "You got me right where you wanted me, you made me crazy about you in a matter of seconds, and then... you ditched me."
She shakes her head. "I did no such thing."
Finn takes a step closer to her and says lowly, "well, just know that I'm always ready for a chase, Rachel. If that's how you want to play then that's how it'll be."
Her brown eyes darken at his words and Finn watches as she wets her lip unconsciously. "You're willing to go to all sorts of trouble for me?" She asks doubtfully.
"If that's what it takes," he declares.
Rachel sucks in a sharp breath as Finn smirks. His eyes zero in on her lips again. "If you don't mind, I think I'd like to kiss you now."
"Go for it," she whispers breathless.
And so he inches closer to her, leaning further and further in until...
"Finn! My brother!" Blaine slurs loudly in his ear. "What's up?"
He pulls back and away from Rachel, a tight smile in place. "Perfect timing, Blaine."
"You, my friend, are awesome!" Blaine declares, swaying a little on his feet. "Best party I have EVER been to, hands down!"
Finn chuckles, looking at Rachel who's smiling at her obviously drunk friend, "Blaine, I think you need to take it easy for the rest of the night," Rachel suggests. "Do you know where Kurt went? He was just here a couple minutes ago."
Blaine wobbles on his feet, deep in thought trying to remember. "Kurt's awesome," he suddenly beams much to their amusement. "Don't you think he's awesome?"
Blaine's eyes are foggy and unfocused as he looks up at Finn. "Yeah Kurt's awesome."
"Kurt's awesome, you're awesome, this PARTY," Blaine shouts with a laugh, "is awesome!"
Rachel giggles, watching as Blaine assesses Finn. He throws an arm around Finn's shoulders and says, "You and Kurt are brothers! How awesome is that? That is soooo cool." Finn laughs at him, nodding while Blaine adds, "And you're tall."
Blaine hangs onto Finn and leans towards Rachel. "Rae isn't he really tall? I mean, seriously he's like a freakin' tree."
"A tree?" Finn laughs.
"You just grow, man," Blaine explains, swaying again. "You grow and grow and grow and grow..."
"Yes, Blaine," Rachel smiles, "Finn is very tall. We know."
"But he just keeps growing like-"
"A tree, okay? You made that analogy already," Rachel tells him gently. "Why don't you sit down for a little bit, you're making me nervous. You might fall in the pool drunk with all that swaying you're doing and Kurt would kill me if that happened."
"Yeah, me too," Finn says, trying to guide Blaine's arm from around his shoulder. "Maybe you can compare me to a tree another time. How's that sound?"
"Oh don't try to fool me," Blaine dismisses. "I know you're not a tree, Finn."
"I didn't say that. You said it," Finn argues.
Blaine shakes his head quickly. "I think I would know what I said. Right Rae?"
Rachel puts a hand delicately on his shoulder. "Blaine you need to-"
"Wow, you're short," Blaine interrupts. "I'm short too but wow, you're tiny."
Finn laughs at the way Rachel's eyes roll at Blaine. "I prefer petite. Now it doesn't matter if I'm small or Finn is tall. You-"
"Tall, small, ball, hall, wall..." Blaine slurs, chuckling. "How awesome is rhyming? Right Finn?"
"Sure dude," he shakes his head, trying to move him to a safer spot. "Totally awesome."
"You could make a song out of those words!" Blaine declares, finally walking alongside them towards a chair on the grass.
"Oh yeah, dude? Like what?"
Blaine thinks for a second before he smiles in delight. "Well it could be about you two," he suggests.
Rachel glances at Finn and he sees the sparkle in her eye, dancing with amusement, "The two of us? Finn and I?"
"Well he's tall, you're small," Blaine reasons, tripping over his feet slightly. "It makes sense."
"Okay, Mr. Music Man," Rachel laughs, grabbing on to his arm to steady him. "Let's hear it. Sing us something."
Blaine grins, "Challenge accepted."
He's curious because he knows Blaine and the dude can sing extremely well when he's not totally wasted. But what's more pressing is the fact that he's going to sing about him and Rachel.
They say a drunken man's words are a sober man's thoughts. Does that apply to singing too? Finn wonders what he'll say about the two of them together.
Eagerly, Finn waits for Blaine to start singing, but what comes out is nothing short of surprising.
"Bang against the wall, kissing in the hall, Finn is so tall, Rachel's so small, love will make you fall. Do you hear that call? Love will make you fall! So small, so tall, banging against the wall-"
"Okay I think that's enough," Rachel cuts him off, blushing furiously. He's sure his own cheeks are red as well. "Very, um, interesting lyrics Blaine..."
"Does he know something about earlier?" Finn asks quietly. He's got to. Blaine couldn't just make that up on the spot.
"I didn't tell him anything."
"You haven't told anyone?"
"No, I don't like to divulge private information like that with others. Why? Did you tell someone?" Rachel accuses.
"No. But there's no way Blaine could make that up."
"He's drunk, Finn. People say the most random things that come to mind when they've had too much."
"It's gotta come from somewhere though-"
Blaine snaps his fingers, or at least tries to, in order to get their attention. "Hey, don't blame each other," he says, smiling widely. "I've just been watching you two."
Rachel raises an eyebrow, "what's that supposed to mean?"
"You two were totally- what do they call it," he stops to think, smiling brightly when he remembers. "Eye-fucking!"
Finn looks at Blaine disbelievingly, never having guessed that his brother's boyfriend was unrefined as a drunk. He just said whatever he wanted to.
"Excuse me?" Rachel asks, her own shock having registered.
"Eye-fucking," Blaine grins, pointing between the two. "Something's going on here. I can see it."
"We weren't doing that," Rachel protests, though her words fall on deaf ears.
Finn doesn't bother to disagree because, well, he sort of was doing that. But who can blame him? Rachel is hot.
"No need to lie Rae," Blaine slurs, with a knowing smile. "If you want to climb him like the tree he is go for it."
Rachel's cheeks darken to a deep shade of red. "Blaine!"
"What? I'm just encouraging you to-"
"Please stop!" She exclaims. Finn has no idea what to say.
Blaine chuckles, leaning over onto Finn who almost drops him because he's so distracted. Rachel is clearly flustered and he's kind of in shock too. He knows Blaine, he likes Blaine, but he doesn't know him well enough.
"I think I embarrassed her," Blaine whispers to him, although from the glare he gets from a mortified Rachel, he wasn't that quiet.
"Blaine Devon Anderson!" Kurt yells, storming over to the trio. "What happened to you?"
"This party is awesome Kurt!" Blaine smiles, "Awesome! Tell him Finn. Isn't it awesome?"
"He's been drinking," Finn murmurs handing him over to Kurt to handle.
Kurt gets a whiff of the alcohol on his boyfriend's breath and wrinkles his nose. "Good God, yes he has. I leave for a minute to handle a decor crisis and this is what I get!"
"We've taken care of him," Finn says.
"We," Kurt asks, trying to hold Blaine up on own. "Who's 'we'?"
"Rachel and I," Finn answers, gesturing to the blushing girl beside him, "I did most of the carrying but she helped calm him down."
"You two know each other?" Kurt asks.
"We just met," Finn lies. No way was he going to tell Kurt of all people what happened between them before.
"Rachel and Finn like each other," Blaine mumbles unhelpfully into Kurt's shoulder. "They've been watching each other practically all night. I think they're gonna hook up."
Kurt's wide eyes immediately dart towards his brother and friend. "What?!"
Both of them are like deer in headlights. They don't have a clue what to say or do.
"Explain! Now please," Kurt panics, getting no immediate response, "Oh my Versace, somebody speak!"
"Kurt, Blaine is intoxicated. He doesn't know what he's saying," Rachel reasons.
"Yeah," Finn agrees quickly. "And we just met."
"But you're hooking up?" Kurt demands.
"No!"
"I don't know!"
Two wide pair of eyes look over in shock at Rachel. She seems surprised by her own confession too.
"I knew you wanted Finn," Blaine says smugly. "I called it."
"Wha-huh? You-you don't know?!" Kurt sputters incredulously. "Rachel!"
"You told me a week ago that I should move on from Jesse, Kurt!" Rachel blames.
"I never meant with my brother!"
"Okay! I think this being blown way out of proportion here," Finn insists, trying to stop whatever argument was about to start.
"So you don't want to hook up with her?" Kurt asks. "Rachel's the only one that's going insane here right?"
"Now I didn't say that," Finn backtracks quickly seeing Rachel's frown. "I never said I didn't want to."
"Called that one too."
"Blaine shut up!" Kurt says.
"So you do like me?" Rachel smiles at Finn, ignoring Kurt's ramblings.
Finn rubs the back of his neck nervously and nods his head. "I thought it was kind of clear," he says. "You know from earlier..."
Bewildered, Kurt says, "What happened earlier?"
"But what about Quinn Fabray," Rachel asks. "I heard she was your ex-girlfriend. I heard you kissed her."
Finn chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. "Word gets around fast doesn't it?"
"You kissed Quinn!" Kurt gasps, shrinking back when Finn glares at him.
"She kissed me, actually," Finn corrects. "She ambushed me when I was talking to Marley."
"Who's Marley?" Rachel asks.
"Oh, you don't need to worry about her, Rachel," Kurt interjects. "She's a junior and completely plain Jane status."
"Kurt-"
"What? She's no competition, Finn," Kurt shrugs. "Do you want me to be okay with this or not? Because I can still protest."
"Babe, I'm not feeling so great," Blaine mumbles against Kurt. "Can we go sit down or something?"
Kurt huffs. "Fine," then points directly at Finn and Rachel. "Don't think I'm done with either of you!"
Finn shakes his head, watching the pair leave, "wouldn't dream of it, bro!"
When he and Blaine are gone, Rachel looks back up to Finn. Biting her lower lip nervously she starts to speak, "so Marley's..."
"Just a friend," Finn clarifies. "And Quinn is my ex, who I swear to you, is no one that I'm involved with."
"You're sure?"
"Promise, Rach," he swears. She smiles softly as the nickname falls easily from his mouth. "How did you even hear about that?"
"From the two biggest gossips I know," she says, laughing lightly.
Finn smiles at her giggles. Just like her voice, it's beautiful. "So let me guess that's Mercedes and..."
"Jacob," Rachel shudders. "He tried telling me that my 'boyfriend' was cheating on me with his ex-girlfriend while he was stalking me in the kitchen earlier."
Jacob's such a creep, he thinks. But then he realizes something about what she said. "Boyfriend huh?" He smirks playfully.
She giggles, a faint blush tainting her cheeks. "Yes, boyfriend, and I told him that's impossible. You would never cheat on me."
"Oh yeah?" He asks. "Did he ask why?"
She shrugs nonchalantly. "He may have. And I may have given him a few reasons why you wouldn't."
Finn inches closer to her, deciding to be daring, and puts his hands on her waist. He pulls her closer and Rachel goes willingly. "What'd you say?"
Her eyes darken as she looks at his lips and relishes in the feeling of his hands on her. "I said because you love me," she whispers.
Finn's heart feels like its racing, picking up speed and about to explode in his chest. He squeezes her hips. "And did he buy it?" he asks huskily.
Rachel rolls her eyes. "Of course not, so I told him that you wouldn't dare cheat either because," she stretches up onto her toes, putting her lips to his ear. "I don't have a gag reflex, and we have the best fucking sex ever."
Rachel leaves a lingering kiss on the side of his neck before she pulls away, and he swears right then he's going to die. She's smirking at his dumbfounded face.
"Holy shit," he whispers. This girl is going to be death of him. He's sure of it.
She hooks her fingers in his belt loops and looks down somehow suddenly insecure despite the fact that she melted his brain to goo less than a minute ago. "I appreciate honesty Finn… and I realize that Quinn is a very pretty girl."
His brain is still fogged so he just nods along, not quite agreeing exactly but not knowing what else to say. "And?"
Rachel gulps, nervously. "So if, you know, you still like her… I- I understand. I can't compete with her."
He shakes his head finally registering his brain cells and realizing what she's saying. "What?"
"I like you Finn," she confesses quietly. "Despite everything in my head telling me that this is a mistake..."
He frowns, "Why would this be a mistake?"
Rachel's smile is more like a grimace. "Because I've never been the coolest kid and you're you. Mr. Finn Hudson, quarterback extraordinaire. You're the one I've heard so much about already even though I have yet to step foot into McKinley High."
He sighs. "Rachel..."
"You're used to being with people of your social status, and if I'm being honest, you and I are nowhere near on the same level," she says, sadly. "If you want to be with Quinn or somebody else- I get it."
He shakes his head at the absurd idea. "Rachel I don't think you understand how much I like the fact that you aren't like Quinn. Like at all."
She chances a look into his eyes. "Really?"
"Yeah," he says brushing away hair behind her ear. "It's the best."
She smiles a little and it's then that he realizes he can't last much longer. He's got to kiss her. So he does.
Unlike his kiss with Quinn, this one is actually welcomed. And it's even better than earlier when they were up in his room. How is that even possible, he wonders.
Their lips fuse together softly and eagerly. Finn wraps his arms around Rachel's small frame, lifting her gently so it's easier to kiss because, even though she's stretching on her toes and he's craning his neck down, it's not the most comfortable position.
Every single one of his nerves feels like it's on fire as Rachel wraps her arms around his neck, trying to bring him impossibly closer to her. She sighs as he deepens the kiss, threading a hand through the hair at the back of his neck.
"You don't know how much you drive me crazy," Finn admits against her lips breathlessly. He kisses her softly again, tasting the strawberry chapstick that's on her lips.
Rachel grins as she pulls back, attempting to catch her breath and hiding her face in his chest. "This is crazy," she mumbles.
Finn lifts her chin so he can see into her eyes. "A good crazy?"
She nods shyly. "Yeah... Yeah, definitely a good kind of crazy."
"Good," he says squeezing her body tightly to his. "Now I got to ask. Who's this Jesse guy you're moving on from?"
She shrugs. "My ex-boyfriend. We broke up a few months ago."
"Kurt knew him? I don't think I know any Jesse," Finn says thoughtfully.
"Well he went to Carmel with me," Rachel points out. "And he was into theatre and glee club just like I am. He was very talented but he never cared about me."
"I take it the break up wasn't good," he guesses.
She shakes her head. "Most definitely not. But it's high time I forget how bad of a boyfriend Jesse was and have fun."
He quirks an eyebrow slyly, "does this fun include me?"
Rachel slides her hands down his chest as she smiles. "It might."
"Might?" He gasps playfully.
Rachel giggles, reaching up again and kissing him quickly. "You'll just have to find out."
He groans at her teasing, sneaking one of his hands slowly down towards her backside. "You, Rachel Berry, are-"
Whack!
"Ow! What the fuck?" He says angrily, rubbing the back of his head.
The wet, volleyball bounces away as he lets go of Rachel to turn around. He keeps a hand around her waist as he sees Santana standing a few feet away.
"Recognize that Frankenteen?" Santana sneers, pointing at the ball. "Yeah, that was the ball you were supposed to get so we could end our game. Instead you're with this dwarf sucking face."
Rachel, frowning, tries to break away from his grip, but Finn doesn't let her budge. "Hey back off Santana."
"Whose your friend?" She asks, eyes sweeping over Rachel, judging her. "I haven't seen you around here before."
Rachel shifts uncomfortably and Finn can't actually believe this is the same girl who, just minutes ago, was teasing him about sex. How could someone so unbelievable be intimidated by Santana?
"This is Rachel," Finn introduces proudly squeezing her side. "She's from Carmel."
"Oh yeah?" Santana asks looking at Rachel. "Carmel?"
Rachel looks at Finn unsure but then nods at Santana. "That's right. I'm transferring to McKinley for the upcoming year."
"Cool," Santana says picking up the volleyball. She holds it up then points to it. "Well I don't know how's you does it in Carmel, but here in Lima our games play from start to finish."
Then she glares at Finn, "so hurry up Fetus face and don't makes me go all Lima Heights on your sorry ass in front of your new girlfriend. Auntie Snixx will comes out if needs be."
"Santana can't you just play without me?" Finn pleads, hoping he can just stay with Rachel.
The Latina crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. Rachel, quickly sensing that the answer is no, kisses his cheek and pushes him away.
"Don't be silly Finn. Santana wants to hang out with you. I can wait," she smiles.
Finn pouts. "But Rach, I thought-"
"You know I like this one," Santana grins putting her hand on Finn's shoulder. "What's your name again short stuff?"
"Rachel Berry."
Santana smirks. "Cute. Now let's go Hudson, you heard Berry. She ain't going nowhere. Just like you boys us girls gots to get our mack on too."
Finn stays behind a second as Santana walks off again, but he stays alert because she took the ball with her. He wouldn't put it past her to aim it at his head again.
"You just gave me away to the devil herself," he jokes.
Rachel smiles, "Oh come on. Santana seems sweet."
"Did you miss her throwing the ball at my head?" Finn asks incredulously. Then he smirks. "Oh, wait. You must have been distracted."
"Distracted?"
He grabs her by the hand and pulls her close to him, "Uh huh, distracted."
Rachel narrows her eyes playfully, gripping the hem of his shirt. "And what could I possibly be so distracted by?"
Finn, grinning madly, swoops down kissing her unexpectedly. When he pulls away her eyes are dazed and she's breathless. "I think you know," he winks.
"Oh, you play unfairly Finn Hudson," she sighs against him.
"I think it's worked in my favor," he says, leaning in towards her again.
"Hudson! Snixx is not happy! Get your potato head and giant ass over here!"
Rachel laughs, ducking her head before he can kiss her. "Snixx?" She asks, releasing him from her grasp.
Finn, rolling his eyes, kisses the top of her head and steps away. "Santana's supposed altered ego," he explains. "Apparently she comes out when she's really mad and impatient."
Rachel giggles, a glowing smile on her face, "Oh really?"
Finn shrugs, slowly backing away. "It's completely ridiculous if you ask me."
"Either way, I don't think we should anger Snixx anymore than necessary," Rachel responds cheekily. "I don't want her ruining that cute face of yours."
Finn laughs. "You're probably right, but I think I can handle myself."
"Hudson you have till the count of ten-"
Finn's eyes widen in panic and Rachel laughs harder. "Hurry, go!" She tells him. "Find me later, okay?"
"You won't leave?" He asks, just to make sure. It's the last thing he wants her to do, but he can't make her stay if she doesn't want to.
Walking up to him, Rachel grabs onto the sides of his face and gives him a kiss that causes his heart to beat loudly in his chest.
"I'll be here," she promises with a grin.
Then she releases him from her grasp and starts to walk away herself. It's probably the best idea she goes because he doesn't think he could tear himself away from her if he tried. Finn watches Rachel walk away, throwing him a sexy smirk and a wink when she looks over her shoulder back at him. He groans.
"-five, six, SEVEN-" Santana counts impatiently.
Finn reluctantly takes his eyes off of Rachel and hurries back over to the volleyball net where an annoyed Santana, a clueless Brittany, and an amused Mike await.
"I take it you want to get this game over with as soon as possible huh, Captain," Mike jokes knowingly.
"Hell yeah," Finn replies, more determined and in a rush than before.
After all, he's got this amazing, sexy girl to get back to.
A/N: So I don't know about any of you but I've always liked drunk Blaine. I thought he was hilarious in Blame It on the Alcohol back in season 2 and I think he just makes this chapter awkwardly funny! Anyway hope you all enjoyed, I'd like to hear what you think!