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When Finn met Rachel at her locker the next morning (she drove herself—in her much nicer car on days that he had basketball practice), her smile at him seemed a little sheepish. He leaned down and kissed her before asking, "So did Jesse call you?"

Rachel looked at her feet. "Umm...no."

Finn didn't have a vocabulary as large as Rachel's, but he wasn't stupid. "Why do you look so uncomfortable?"

"He actually came over to my house instead," she replied in a small voice.

Finn knew that his irritation would be visible on his face. "He didn't try anything did he?"

"No, Finn. I told you, he wouldn't attempt anything when he's going to be leaving the state so soon."

Finn doubted that. "So, what happened when he came over, then?" He tried to keep his voice under control. After all, it wasn't her fault Jesse was being his usual jerkish self.

"Oh, he just came over to talk. And...he might have brought me a pink stuffed Care Bear, too."

Finn clenched his teeth. Jesse was catering to Rachel's well-known weakness for stuffed animals. That was hitting below the belt. "What did you two talk about?" It was all he could do to not run over to Rachel's house and rip the head off that stupid teddy bear right that second.

"Oh, just life. He asked me how things were going with you, how my dads are, and if I had any plans for college yet."

"Wait, he asked how things were between us?" St. James, the little homewrecker. Trying to get some ammo to break them up. "What did you say?"

"I just said that things were going great. We have our differences, but we can always resolve them in a very constructive manner."

"What 'differences' do we have?"

She hesitated. "Well, I know we don't really have the same tastes in entertainment. I enjoy artistic cinema and musicals, while you enjoy sports and tasteless and violent video games and cliché action films—and while you used to watch lots of musicals with me, lately it seems like you spend more time thinking of college basketball than of your girlfriend. For another thing, sometimes I feel like you're not really listening to what I'm saying. Also, while you've never forced me to stray from my vegan principles, you don't always truly respect them. Not to mention that you often don't answer your phone when I call you nowadays. Granted, most of the time I'm calling just to see how you are doing, but what if I really needed your help for something?" She glanced around to see if anyone was listening and lowered her voice. "And of course, there's the whole you-not-wanting-to-wait-to-have-sex issue."

Finn was stunned. He never realized any of those things bothered her—or that she even noticed he sometimes didn't listen to her. He thought he'd become a pretty good fake listener. She'd listed so many things that he didn't even know where to start defending himself.

Then he realized that maybe he shouldn't defend himself. Because what she said was true.

But that didn't mean she should be telling her ex-boyfriend all about her current boyfriend's inattentiveness. "And you told Jesse all of this?"

Rachel looked affronted. "No, of course not. As I said, I only told him that we had some differences, but we work through them. I mean, Jesse and I were very similar, but they say 'opposites attract,' right? You're an opposite to me in most ways, but I'm still extremely attracted to you."

This time, Rachel's assurances didn't make him feel any better.

When he thought back to last year, the time he wished he could forget, when Rachel and Jesse were together, he remembered the type of boyfriend Jesse had been—even if he had been a fake. Before he left to return to Vocal Adrenaline, before he egged Rachel. He was considerate, thoughtful, caring. He gave Rachel little gifts and took her to shows she wanted to see, and actually engaged in conversation with her. He would sing impromptu duets with her all the time. He held her in his arms any chance he got for all the world to see. Rachel had been happy with him before she found out he'd been lying.

And Finn cringed when he remembered that one time when he had been going into the men's room at school just as Jesse had been coming out. "Hello" by Lionel Ritchie had started playing on Jesse's phone, and Jesse had, like lightening, reached into his pocket and put the phone to his ear before the song's introduction had even finished. "Hey Rachel," he had said, smiling, as he walked away down the hall, leaving Finn seething with jealousy.

Jesse answered Rachel's phone calls right away.

Finn felt a sudden depression weighing on him. Jesse was a better boyfriend than him in every way. The only advantage Finn had was that Jesse had betrayed her—and even that seemed no longer an advantage at all, as Rachel seemed to have forgiven him.

"Finn, what's wrong? I told you I didn't tell him any specifics. Any relationship has occasional problems."

They had reached the door for English Lit. He thought about responding, but couldn't think of anything to say. So, he just shrugged and shuffled into class. He slumped in his seat, wondering if he had just blown it with Rachel...again.

The only two classes Finn and Rachel had together were English Lit in first period, and Spanish right after lunch. In between seeing her, Finn was racking his brain to think up a way to show Rachel that he cared about her more than Jesse ever did. What did Jesse have that Finn didn't?

The answer came when he saw Mr. Schue offering to carry the pile of books Miss Pillsbury was laden with as she came down the hall. Mr. Schue was being a gentleman, chivalrous.

Jesse had been a gentleman.

So, what could he do to show Rachel that he was a gentleman, too?

In second period he told his History teacher just before class started that he needed to see the guidance counsellor. The teacher, Mr. Yates, looked a little surprised by the request, but gave Finn a hall pass nonetheless.

If Mr. Yates had been surprised, it was nothing to the shock on Miss Pillsbury's face when Finn entered her office.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"Uh," she started, but then seemed to regain her bearings. "Yes, Finn, what's on your mind?"

He hesitated with how to begin. "Well, girls like guys being gentlemanly, don't they?" He stumbled over the word.

She smiled. "Yes, girls like to feel appreciated. Those acts commonly thought of as gentlemanly help girls to feel that way."

"So, what are some of those...you know, gentlemanly acts?"

She thought for a moment. "Many girls like it when a boy holds a door for them, or offers her his coat when she's cold. Although it's a little old-fashioned, perhaps, when a girl gets up at a table first, you could stand up, too, even if you're not leaving. If she doesn't have a seat, you can either offer her your own or find one for her. If you are picking her up to go somewhere or dropping her off, go to her door—don't just sit in your car. Don't use crude language in front of her if you can help it. And above all, just pay attention to her!"

"Thanks, Miss Pillsbury! I wish I'd written all of that down."

"Don't worry, Finn. Rachel will appreciate any effort you make, I'm sure."

Finn went back to class, hoping that Miss Pillsbury was right.

Next chapter is definitely my favourite—Finn puts a few of Emma's tips into practice. I sincerely hope you are all enjoying this. Again, I would appreciate every little review you wonderful people can spare for me!