Hello everyone! Here I am with another kinda short chapter! I hope you guys still stick with me after this chapter, because don't worry, I've got lots planned! Anyways, hope you guys like this chapter and please review and tell me how you feel about it:)
Chapter Two:
Starting Over
Running, running
Blood smears against the walls, handprints pressed along the wood. Finn stalls at the graphic scene, afraid to open the door covered in the red substance. He steps forward, his hand gripping the handle.
He swings the door open.
Finn wakes up with a yell, springing forward on the bed. His chest heaves at the fearful memory, sweat dripping endlessly down his forehead. He closes his eyes, remembering what Ms. Sylvester said when these kinds of nightmares occurred, "just know that it was in the past, the only reason you're having them is because you haven't let go of the pain."
Finn lets out a choked sigh, breathing in and out desperately. Clatters of footsteps could be heard from down the hall, and he stiffens, gripping the end of the comforter tightly. The door to his bedroom squeaked open, revealing a worried and concern Emma Schuester.
"Finn?" she whispers out, the darkness swallowing her normally sweet voice. "Are you alright? I heard you calling your parents names."
He swallows thickly, shielding his eyes as the light above him suddenly turns on. Emma lets out a soft apology at the unexpected brightness. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asks, her tone hopeful. Without looking at her, Finn shakes his head, looking at the bright digits of '7:09' on the bedside clock. "I really need to get ready for school anyways."
He gets up from the mattress, rubbing at his swollen eyes. The sound of the door closing shut signals Emma's departure, and he feels the sense of loneliness creep on him again, just like last night. He sighs heavily to himself, grabbing his suitcase and bringing it to the bathroom to clean up.
Finn leaves his bedroom half an hour later, his hair slightly messy, his eyes still tired. He hasn't been to any school in almost a year, he seriously doesn't know what to expect. He almost smiles at the awaiting breakfast on the kitchen table before him, pancakes and bacon overflowing the plates.
"Good morning Finn," Will says from his spot on a chair, prying his eyes from the newspaper in his hands to look at him, "you've got a big day today don't you?"
Finn offers him a small grin, it's the least he can do to this accepting couple. "Yeah, I guess so." He sets his empty backpack on the tiled floor, sitting down on a chair between Will and Emma. "Thanks for the breakfast."
"Oh it's no problem honey, you're very welcome." Emma smiles softly at him, patting his back lightly. Just as he begins to cut up his pancakes, she speaks up again. "We have the directions for you," she hands him a paper written with instructions and a pair of his car keys, "and your truck is just outside. We'll pay for the gas and such until you get a part-time job."
Finn smiles. "Thanks, I really appreciate that." It's the most truthful statement he said all year.
He finishes breakfast shortly after, attempting to help clear the table for their gratitude, though Emma insists that she'll do it herself. He says a quiet goodbye to the pair before setting outside with the paper and car keys swinging in his hands.
He starts his truck with a frown, it's the only thing he has as a reminder of his actual good times in New York with his mom and father. Shaking the despairing thought from his head, he pulls out of the driveway, following the directions to his new high school, William McKinley High.
The instructions were fairly easy, all he really had to do was a couple left turns and he was already pulling into the parking lot full of students. He stares at the surrounding cars, surprised to see old vans and station wagons. At least his old, pick up truck fit in at this school. Girls and boys were already approaching the school as the ten-minute warning bell rang, and he quickly follows the rest of the student body making their way to the entrance.
Friends were socializing near their lockers when he enters, and he walks by himself subconsciously. Sure, he had lots of friends back home in New York, but it's not like they actually cared about them. They were just an excuse to get drunk and high every weekend. And after one incident, he now tries to keep himself away from friends all together.
Finn follows the signs pointing to the main office of the school, giving his backpack a light squeeze. Entering the office, a secretary at the front desk smiles at him contently, and signals from him to come over. He obliges.
"Good morning sir, I'm guessing you're Finn Hudson?" He nods as the sweet lady adjusts the glasses at the brim of her nose. She hands him a paper, his class schedule printed neatly on it. "The bottom shows where you're rooms are. It's a small school so you don't really need to worry about getting lost. Also, you're locker is on this side of the interior, just turn left and you'll be right there."
"Thanks." He grins politely at the secretary once more before turning sharply on his heel. Retreating towards the doors of the main office, he looks down at his schedule as he reaches the handle. He walks out knowingly, keeping the paper tightly in his hands.
And that's when he felt water splash against his shirt.
"Oh my gosh."
He looks down at the unexpected voice, ready to stare them down and walk away in annoyance, until he was met with a pair of chocolate, brown eyes . . .
He stays frozen in place, ignoring the chills from the water sipping through his material. The young girl gapes at him in shock, her empty water bottle clenching between her fingers in embarrassment. "I am so sorry," she squeaks. She hesitates, reaching out to pat his chest dry. "I-I wasn't paying attention, I'm s-sorry."
His lips twitch into a lopsided grin at the worried girl. She is really pretty, with dark hair flowing around the shape of her olive-skinned face. Her lips are plump and full, matching the size of her nose. It suits her.
After a minute of her padding her hands along his shirt, he finally finds his voice. "It's fine," he mumbles, fanning his clothing a little to get rid of the water sweeping to his skin. "Its just water."
She shakes his head as if she didn't even hear him. "I was j-just paying attention to my book and . . . and I-I." She groans, her face falling into the pile of her hands. "This is so humiliating."
He chuckles, and he freezes for a second at the unfamiliar sound. She looks up at him, smiling slightly through her pink face. "Seriously – "
"Rachel," she interrupts, setting her hands to her side, "Rachel Berry."
"Right. Rachel, you have nothing to worry about, I've been through much more embarrassing things," he tells her honestly. She giggles and nods her head in gratitude. "Thanks – "
"Finn Hudson."
She smiles. "Finn Hudson." He likes the way it sounds when she says it. "If it were anyone else, they would make me pay for it," she explains, rolling her eyes at the ignorance this school has a reputation for.
The last warning bell rings above them, and the surrounding people start to make their way to their known classes. He grips his schedule quickly, looking down to see that gym was his first period. He scrunches his eyebrows together, and Rachel seems to notice.
"You okay?" she wonders, her voice low and gentle. He looks up at her, sending her a reassuring grin. "Yeah, uhm, just do you know where the gym is?" he asks.
She nods slightly, pointing to the hallway before them. "Just keep going straight and then turn left at the end. It's hard to miss." He smiles at her in appreciation, whispering a small thank you.
"I guess I'll see you around," she mumbles as she starts to back away from him. He nods, his smile widening at the mutual feeling. "Yeah," he tells her, waving, "bye."
He turns around in the direction of the gymnasium, chuckling at the loud, "sorry again for the shirt," that echoes down the hallway.
First period goes by torturously slow, with Finn practically begging Coach Beiste to allow him to stay on the bench for the basketball game in gym class. He hates it, hates the game, and hates the way he used to smash basketballs against innocent teens in New York. Too many memories flood his brain when he plays it, and he's trying to run away from them, desperately trying to forget everything that happened in the past; but he can't do that when he keeps getting reminders of it.
The rest of the day goes by even slower. Second period has himself in English class with a trouty mouth punk and a touchy blonde, Quinn he thinks, trying to get his number every five minutes. He knows he should be accepting her offer; it would help him move on right? But part of him, the fun and adventurous part, the real Finn, died in New York a long time ago.
He wants that back, he really does, but he doesn't know how to get it.
He walks into Biology class; his last period and his stare automatically fall on the familiar depths of the brown eyes he stared into earlier today. She's sitting in the back corner, her focus content on the binder unfolded before her. Other students continue to socialize around him as he makes his way over to the only empty seat left in the class.
The seat right beside little Miss. Rachel Berry.
She looks up at the sound of him settling in the stool, smiling in the earnest. "You look dry," she says, her eyes sparkling. He grins, nodding his head as he slips a hand down his dried shirt. "Yeah, took about five hours but whatever," he teases.
It's weird; he hasn't heard himself joke about anything in a while. Her small grasp fills the clattering room, putting a hand to her mouth in mock offense. "Are you trying to make me feel bad?"
"Maybe."
The teacher chooses a really crappy time to enter the classroom at that very moment, interrupting any conversation from the surrounding students. She turns away from him with a shy smile, resting her folded hands on the edge of the lab table. He sinks into his seat, trying to pay attention to what the teacher is writing on the chalkboard; but it's really hard to focus when his eyes are irresistibly drawing to the girl beside him.
He knows he should be worried about the teacher saying something about mitosis when he has no idea what that is. He knows he shouldn't be thinking about the girl beside him, her dark luscious hair pushed back to show the nape of her slender neck.
He wants to start over.
So why can't Rachel Berry help with that?
Finchel is on bitches hahaa! Anyways did anyone see the SAG awards last night? How beautiful were Dianna, Naya and Lea? So pretty. Didn't see any Cory though on the red carpet:( Here are some spoilers for the next chapter -
- Quinn tries to get some Finn action ouuu.
- Finn and Rachel are assigned partners for an assignment!
Well that's it for spoilers! As you can see i'm only doing two spoilers at the end of each chapter, not three this time because I don't want to give away too much. Alright now have a pleasant day my lovelies! Love you and please review!
P.S. FINCHEL DUET TOMORROW WEO! 3