Hey guys, sorry it took so long for this to go up. This chapter is really long, so i hope that makes up for the time it took for me to get this up. I wanted to show the difference between Finn and Jesse using the elements a little, that's why Hindi Sad Diamonds has two parts.
This is one of my favorite chapters because it shows Rachel's support system greatly, and the effect Finn really has on her. Anyway... Please enjoy :).
Chapter 4 – Hindi Sad Diamonds – Part Two
A smile dazzled Rachel's face as she walked up the last flight of stairs to her floor. During her shift, Rachel received hourly text message reminders from Quinn about Santana and Brittney's engagement party that evening. With O'Leary's being more crowded than usual, and the bad weather conditions, Rachel thought she would not be able to leave the restaurant, let alone attend the party. It made her a nervous wreck thinking that she would not be able to see her friends. The last thing Rachel wanted was for them to assume her support was not with them, but lucky for her, fate was on her side.
As she walked down the hallway towards her apartment, Rachel still had plenty of time to get ready for a night out with her friends and that was enough to clean out most of her remaining unhappiness. Rachel felt more refreshed than ever. It was as if she allowed her past confidence to be reignited with the downpour, finally letting loose of some of those memories which still haunted her nights. The walk in through the pouring rain was exactly what she needed and the cherry on top of the sundae was the party. A night to finally relax and let loose, but Rachel still had one more item to deal with before it could fully begin.
Tonight was something Rachel had been looking forward to all week, a night with the girls, but her footsteps hesitated momentarily as she shakily reached out to grab the doorknob. Rachel knew the discussion that awaited her on the other side of the threshold. The lingering darkness or doubt, which seemed so insignificant before, grew within her belly, burning through her like wildfire. It tore through her knees like a red hot iron blade, causing the bounce in her step to drag. That doubt was Finn Hudson.
Her hand dropped to her side as she reconsidered entering. If she turned around now, she could easily borrow an outfit from Quinn, but after taking a calming breath, hoping the fire would subside slightly, Rachel allowed her mind to snap back to what was important. She forced all her attention onto the waiting conversation, pushing every other thought away. It was such a crucial moment and Rachel needed all the concentration she had. She had asked Finn to wait for her after work so she can discuss the audition with him and since the audition was tomorrow, Rachel was left with very little time to convince Finn that acting was not a complete waste.
It's now or never she thought as turned the handle and felt the waves of lava wash over her.
"Hey Finn," she called out, but received no answer. "Finn," her voice echoed again through the empty war zone which silently crackled with burning embers. She shrugged off her wet coat, hanging it on the hook before unzipping her boots, "where are you?"
"Rachel," A muffled reply drifted down the hallway, blending with the falling ash of her imagination, and she let out a sigh of relief. The idea of Finn skipping out on this conversation scared her, mostly because she believed it would happen. Whenever she had something important to discuss with him, Finn always seemed to forget, or was too busy to hear what Rachel had to say; she had expected today to be no different.
"Where are you?" She heard the clattering of trays and film canisters as she traced the noise down the hallway to the darkroom, avoiding the scars from past arguments that still burnt the hardwood.
"I'm developing." She tapped her nails lightly on the heavy black door, feeling the heat radiate from the other side, and another clang came thundering through the silence.
"Can I come in?" She asked hesitantly, "I really need to—"
"No!" He yelled before she could finish, and she felt the smoke starting to fill her lungs, silencing her. "No, the light will ruin the negatives." His voice was breathless, almost as if he was panting when he spoke. Rachel rarely heard Finn so out of breath. It only became that breathy when he was working out or extremely busy, and his manner caught her off guard.
"Alright, I don't want to ruin your work," Her brows furrowed while her mind helplessly tried to decipher what her next move should be. "I just really need to talk to you. It's important so please hurry." She waited patiently for a moment, hoping he would appear from behind the door, before giving up and heading towards the bedroom to pick out her clothes.
Rachel was debating between her green silk V-neck dress and her red empire waist sweater dress when she heard Finn come out of the darkroom, muttering under his breath. She glanced towards the doorway, hoping he would emerge, but when she heard the front door being closed Rachel's stomach instantly began to twist.
"Hey," he said quietly, a few moments later.
"Was there someone at the door?" The question cut through the air and a confused look smothered Finn's smouldering features for a fleeting moment.
"I thought I heard someone knock," His answer came without hesitation and Rachel accepted it with a nod, keeping her eyes trained on her two outfits. An awkward silence filled the surrounding air, thickening it with black clouds of ash, suffocating any thought before someone could voice it. It took everything Rachel had to speak again and even then she was just dancing around the edge of the fire.
"Did you get a lot of work done?"
"Yup," She watched as Finn stuffed his hands in his jean pockets; his lack of interest evident. Her tongue darted out to moisten her dry lips before she stepped closer to him. With a small smile slid, she stood up on her toes to press a kiss onto his cheek, but as her lips inched closer to his skin, Finn turned his head. He gripped her shoulders, successfully steadying her body away from him and Rachel felt her flesh sear under his fingers. It was as if his anger and apathy was channelled into his hands, burning her with even the lightest touch. "You wanted to ask me something." He asked as he moved himself further away.
"Right," Rachel was sure Finn would never cause her any physically pain, but his actions sent a powerful emotional hurt right through her. Her mind recovered quickly, automatically defending him and his actions. She blamed her wet clothes and dripping brown hair as the reason he pushed her away again. "I just I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Well, talk." His voice remained stoic as he stood before her, his eyes ignoring the turmoil that turned within her brown orbs.
"Can we sit down first?" She gestured towards the bed, but Finn remained still.
"What is it Rachel," With his hand in her grasp, Rachel gently guided him through the bedroom, "I don't have much time. I've got to hang the photos which are still in the water being rinsed from the fix and—"
"You remember Rylie right?" She cut him off, jumping right into the topic.
"That bratty girl from your college?" At this, Rachel rolled her eyes. She and Rylie spoke almost every day and Finn wanted nothing to do with Rachel's best friend. The relationship between Rylie and Finn was extremely tense. Anytime Finn opened his mouth to speak, Rylie rolled her eyes, and argued his point of view until she was blue in the face. Rylie always successfully proved him wrong, which annoyed Finn to no end. Rylie's dislike for Finn in general was just as evident as Finn's hatred for Rylie's abrasive attitude.
It was as if their negative opinions on one another were mirrored. Rylie found Finn moronic and unfitting of Rachel's affections while Finn had once referred to Rachel's best friend as 'a devil bitch with no control of her mouth'. Needless to say, the two did not get along, at all. "I thought you guys weren't close anymore?"
"No, we are." She hoped her cheery response would help lighten his sour mood. "We see each other quite frequently actually. You were there last time we went to dinner remember?"
"What about her?" Obviously, Rachel failed.
"Well," A soft sigh left her lips, giving her a moment to choose her next words wisely. "She is working with Arthur Hammel."
"Who?" Finn just stared at her with a dumbfounded disinterest.
"This very talented director, he did a few shows on Broadway actually—"
"That's great for her, but I don't see why we need to talk about this Arthur Hamwell." His voice rose slightly, overpowering Rachel's and she began to fidget with the hem of her shirt. She could see the fire raging within his eyes, growing with each passing second of silence, and slowly taking over his reason.
"Hammel." The correction was hushed but enough for Finn to narrow his gaze, "Finn, please just listen to me until the end ok?" Her words trailed off slightly as she kept her eyes cast downwards, avoiding his smouldering stare.
"Is this about acting again?" Rachel watched as Finn's fingers clenched into a fist, gripping the bed sheet slightly, and she attempted to gulp down her nerves.
"Finn, please promise me a chance to speak." The tone that left her lips even surprised her. It took on a sudden firm demand, and her face pulled into a mask of a powerful woman; the one she longed to be again. She watched stoically as the bed sheet twisted within his grasp.
"Fine," He hissed through clenched teeth.
"Arthur Hammel is working on an off-Broadway revival of Moulin Rouge!" She began slowly, and ran a hand through her locks. "They're in desperate need of a female lead for, one which has never seen the stage before. He wants a fresh talent." She paused for a moment, allowing the information to set in, but with each passing second, the current, broken version of herself, began to sweep through the facade. Still, she pressed on. "Remember the movie? We went to see it together when they played it in the old Lima theatre."
"Yeah, I remember it, the one where Nicole Kidman is a slut right?" His question fell from his lips peacefully, but the words physically hurt Rachel causing her to flinch slightly as another wave of fire singed her skin. She knew she lost him, but still she continued.
"U-uh, right," she stammered. "Anyway, Rylie suggested to Arthur that I play the role of Satine."
"No."
"You promised. Please let me finish." Her whisper was broken, and the trembling breath she took in was full of the thick fog which always seemed to silence her.
"What is there to finish, you are not going to audition." His voice boomed off the walls, and the ash 'tornado-ed' around them.
"Just let me finish, please. It's just an audition, he asked for me to come in tomorrow, my day off. I won't be missing work for it, and you will be out with Puck for that Yankees game anyway." Rachel begged, but Finn just scoffed.
"He asked you to come?" The sarcasm dripped off his tongue, and another slash ripped into her. "I doubt that since you haven't acted in two years." And another. "You really think someone who has never been in a production will be cast as lead?" And another.
"Finn, Rylie recommended me to him," She hesitantly placed a hand on his forearm, and he shot her a look filled with a silent burning anger. "He is desperate for a leading lady. I could finally be a leading lady. I really want this Finn, please."
"You are not playing the part of a whore Rachel." He sizzled, and stood abruptly but her hand remained on his arm, halting his movements.
"I played that part before. I played it in Tisch, and you. You came." Rachel struggled to keep her tears from falling as Finn yanked his arm away from her grasp. "You saw it, and you said I was beautiful, meant for the role. You said I was amazing. Don't you remember any of that?"
"What I remember was that college guy being all over my girlfriend. God damn it, Rachel!" Finn hollered, his words bouncing off the walls of the bedroom, echoing and smothering Rachel. "Another man kissing, and practically fucking you on stage in front of a giant audience, that's what I remember. Plus you have the bar." Letting out a frustrated sigh, Finn glanced at his girlfriend and changed his tone to the gentle one that soothed the sting. "Your boss won't give you that much time off. We need the money Rachel and I need this job at the Post." Rachel immediately remembered the Post and felt the wave guilt wash over her, "This play will cost it for me 'cause I will need to get another job to support your dream, sweetheart."
"Finn this is my dream." She whispered, a stray tear rolling down her cheek.
"I supported you while you were trying to go after your dreams, sweetie." His words were condescending and demeaning, making her wonder why he walked back to wipe the tear away from her face, "After a year, you got nowhere remember? I picked up the pieces of your stardom when they rejected you time after time. This isn't gonna be any different."
His hand came to rest on her shoulder, and she felt the lingering heat through her clothes. She sniffled, giving him a small nod of understanding; his dreams won out again. "You're just gonna get hurt again. I don't want that. I don't like seeing you like this Rach, but you are risking my dreams now too." Rachel was full on sobbing now, and Finn frowned, as she shook her head. His grip on her shoulder tightening before he made his way out of the bedroom. "I can't talk about this anymore Rachel. I have to go to work; just like you will have to if we want to live in this place."
Rachel could not believe what she was hearing. His arguments would have sounded fair to anyone, except her. Rachel's father purchased her and Finn that apartment during her college years. The only money that had to be put in was towards utilities, and working twice a week at O'Leary's was more than enough of an income to afford the bill along with food.
"Finn," she followed him into the dark room, her voice timid and small but enough to make him stop before the heavy black door. "Why should I have to give up on my dreams for yours to succeed? Why can't we both make it?"
"Rachel, just stop," The anger was back in full force as he whipped around to face her. "This," he gestured to photos around them, "What I am doing is called work. My photographs are bringing money into the house." With each word he said, he stepped closer to her, until she was backed up against the wall. The drywall felt ice cold against her bare forearms, but Finn was seething with anger, his rage bubbling out his mouth and swallowing her whole within the inferno. "Once the post takes me full time, we will be set and you can stay home all you want. Acting is just not practical and we both need to work or we won't have money to feed ourselves. Don't you get that?"
"Please listen." She tried again, hoping to get somewhere with him this time.
"I'm done listening" He snapped, and Rachel flinched when his fist hit the wall behind her, "I don't want my girl friend dancing around stage playing the part of a whore. You've done it once in your life, isn't that enough?"
"This could be my big break. This play already has the potential to go to Broadway and—"
"Enough!" A soft gasp escaped Rachel's lips as Finn shouted louder than she had ever heard before. She knew better than speak any further, "I have to get to the game. Tipoff is in 30 minutes." With that he turned around, hung the wet pictures to dry and left the room, leaving Rachel alone to gaze at the sports stars she loathed. They not only had their dreams, but they held hers captive too.
Jesse was a complete wreck by the end of rehearsal on Wednesday. Tomorrow he was going to see her. The only woman he ever loved. The woman he compared every other one too. Rachel freaking Berry was coming to audition, to be a part of his play. The more he thought about her potential part in the play, the more amazed he became. She was going to act with him, share the stage with him, sing to him, and kiss him. Rachel Berry was going to kiss him again.
He was so excited that he was terrified. Jesse prayed that this was not some hallucination his mind has conjured up in his delirium. He feared that his guilt was creating another world amongst his own; that his insomnia crossed the line to schizophrenia.
"Jesse, you've walked up to that signup sheet six times today." A smug voice sang softly behind him, and he smiled. "I'm sure you've memorized the time by now."
"I just need to make sure that this is real." Jesse felt like he was entering 'Stage Three' of his sleep cycle much earlier than scheduled. Although his delusions were never this real, he felt he was imagining everything. Fate was never his friend before, why would it suddenly change that pattern? He glanced at Rylie before taking in the name one more time.
He knew that Rachel did not sign herself up; the infamous gold star was lacking from its place at the end of her name. She had always said that metaphors were important, and that star was a metaphor. A metaphor for the bright shining star he had no doubtingly knew she became. He was shocked when he had found out she was in New York with him and not in the acting community. She went to college with Rylie, and yet he only found out yesterday morning.
Two mornings before the morning he would see her.
"I'm sure it's real, trust me." Rylie let a soft laugh escape as she spoke. Jesse just nodded, as he continued to stare the sheet. He always told Arthur that there was a better leading lady out there somewhere. Now the best was coming. Rachel Berry is coming he reminded himself.
"I'm not sure if I can trust you." He said finally taking his eyes off the white paper. "You know how horrible I was to her. Maybe this is some sick vengeful joke you're playing on me. You can be very malicious when you want to be." Although he winked at her, the insecurity still lingered within his voice. It was an undercurrent he was sure Rylie sensed.
"I may be a bitch when I get hurt, but you and I both know Rachel is not one to seek revenge, and she would never let me do that on her behalf."
"She is too good to seek that low." He nodded before dropping into a seat outside the auditorium with a sigh. Rylie eyed him as he ran a hand through his curls nervously while his foot tapped a steady rhythm against the hardwood.
"She's really eating you up inside isn't she?" She took the seat next to him, and patted his leg reassuringly.
"Graham. She was," He turned to meet her gaze, "No, she is everything to me." Rylie's eyes widened at his words. "I hurt her, lost her, and now I am going to see her. I think I'd rather it have been a surprise, because now that I know she's going to be here tomorrow, I can't stop freaking out. My stomach is turning and tying itself into all these knots when I think of all the different reactions she could have when she sees me." He let out a small burp, before continuing. "I think I actually might be getting an ulcer from the stress."
"You're such a drama queen, pizza boy. No wonder theatre is your calling." Rylie's laughter filled the surrounding air as she pointed to small table in the lobby which was littered with pizza boxes for the cast, and Jesse shoved her playfully.
"And your harsh bluntness is what makes you a writer."
"Oh stop, flattery will get you everywhere." She forced a modest tone, and Jesse's anxiety was settled slightly. He still could not help but think that Rylie was trying to play a sort of revenge, but he just had to take her word. He was amazed that his friendship with the woman had not changed at the mention of the teenage actions he regretted the most.
"Why are you in such a good mood today?" Jesse's voice spoke out his inner musings before his brain could filter it. "I would think that knowing my history with your friend would immediately turn you off from being remotely nice to me."
"First, I have and will never be nice to you. You annoy me far too much for me to have an ounce of kindness in my body set towards you." Rylie said with a wink, and Jesse let out a laugh when he saw the wicked smile plastered on Rylie's face.
"Good to know."
"Second, as much as I should hate you for what you did to her. I think you are genuinely guilty about it. I can see it actually eats you up, and I have this feeling that these black marks," she ran her thumb across the dark circles under his eyes gently, "Are proof of that guilt. Plus, I think that you actually loved her, still do. So, I feel bad for you." Her eyes softened with a foreign kindness as she spoke.
"Don't pity me Rylie, that's the last thing I need." His pride got the better of him as always. He did not want someone to look down on him for messing up the only thing in his life that gave him joy, especially someone whom he respected.
"Pity is the first thing you need, but do not mistake my compassion for pity." Rylie's voice was filled with a strong determination, and Jesse was taken back. She was the last person he would ever expect to believe pity, in any form, was a needed emotion. Rylie was strong and independent, refusing any form of mercy to come her way.
If she was a warrior, she would be the one who would die gracefully in battle, refusing to beg for life or death. She would be the one to fight until her very last breath. So, why would she willingly give the emotion to him of all people? It seemed that she read his thoughts, as his face scrunched in confusion, "You need someone to sympathize with you. You may be a devil, but even he needs sympathy."
"Rewording a Stones' song to show support? I'm kind of impressed actually." Jesse smirked, and Rylie mimicked the action. "Jagger would be proud."
"You think?" She patted his knee again before getting up. "See you tomorrow Jesse, I know you'll be here." The parting words she called over her shoulder echoed through the empty lobby as she disappeared into the New York street.
A moment later Jesse got up, gathering his script, jacket and umbrella, before exiting the theatre and merging with the street traffic. Despite the water splattering on the pavement and the nervous gut wrenching feeling that further engulfed his stomach, Jesse left the theatre with a wide smile gracing his features as he remembered Rylie's parting words.
I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Despite the argument Rachel and Finn had only an hour before Rachel managed to arrive at Quinn's apartment with a large smile placed firmly on her lips. This night was something she needed, and not even Finn's crude words could make this night any less special. The two women got dressed as fast as humanly possible and were out the door to meet their friends at the jazz bar within the hour of Rachel's arrival. The cab ride there was torturously long. They spent their time trying to contain their giggles and muffle their disgust at the flirtatious driver praying the traffic would let up.
When they arrived at the bar, Santana was already there, her arm draped around Britney's shoulders while the diamonds on their matching engagement rings sparkled in the soft candle light. Quinn and Rachel were almost instantly at the table, congratulating the couple and ordering their drinks. The women already had two drinks and two shots when the rest of the invited guests arrived. Mercedes and Tina entered before a fashionably late Kurt, and the evening had officially started.
They danced and drank far more than they should have, laughing and sharing stories that the others may have missed. Kurt and Quinn were at the bar ordering another drink, while Tina and Mercedes were still on the dance floor. The two girls had not let the dance floor all night, and Rachel could not help but smile as she looked out from her seat. Her two friends were having the time of their lives with two boys they had only just met. She twirled the olive in her glass, watching as it released an air bubble into the martini she was drinking and she could not help but long for the same kind of excitement. Glancing over at Santana and Brittney as they all over each other on the other end of the table Rachel could not stop the little sting of jealousy.
Rachel loved spending time with her friends, but as she watched all her friends' happiness within their own lives, all she could think about was her conversation with Finn. Why is he so against me pursuing my dreams? She thought. It was a concept she was still unable to grasp. Santana and Brittney were always so supportive of each other, just like Quinn and Noah. Why Rachel was denied that right was a complete mystery. When Brittney wanted to be a choreographer Santana was the first to push her into job interviews, and when Santana wanted to go to Yale Law, Brittney took over the household finances for them both. Finn told her she was not allowed to audition for her dreams only hours before the engagement party, effectively ruining her good time.
Most her friends had some sort of support from their significant other. Kurt had Blaine pushing him to design clothes, and Quinn had Noah pushing her to become a reporter. Mercedes and Tina had an independence that once embodied their beings. They were able to push themselves, not caring about other people's doubts. It was an independence that once described Rachel as well, something she regretted letting go of. Maybe it was the immense amount of alcohol she ingested, but Rachel was starting to get upset.
"Rachel, I know you are pissed because the spotlight isn't on you but could you try and be happy for us?" Santana spoke up snapping her out of her musings. "I'm getting married and you are ruining it diva." The instant the words left Santana's mouth, Rachel regretted the thoughts that crossed her mind. It was a happy day, a day of celebration, and Santana was right, she was ruining it. Not just for herself, but for everyone.
"Rachel, what's wrong?" Britney asks softly as Kurt and Quinn sat down at the table. "You aren't... well, you." Kurt's eyes widened, obviously surprised by Brittney's sudden perception.
"I'm fine," Rachel tried to brush the conversation off. "I'm so sorry, I was just thinking of a conversation I had with Finn."
"Normally," Santana's tone softened as a small smirk crossed her lips, "Conversations with your significant other should make you blush at the thought, what happened?" Quinn nodded in agreement, and the four friends urged Rachel to unload.
"Rylie," Rachel gulped down a breath along with a sip of her drink, "She got me an audition at the Cannon Theatre. She signed me up to audition for the female lead of Moulin rouge! I was actually looking forward to it," She started and all her friends' faces lit up with huge smiles.
"Rachel, that's great news," Santana clapped loudly and whipped her head around the bar, "We should have ten more drinks for that!" The music was loud, but Santana's yells signalled a waiter and another round of cocktails were instantly placed before them.
"Santana that's not necessary, I said no." Rachel spoke quickly, and Kurt lowered the cup he was holding up in toast before his jaw literally dropped. It was as if a silence took over the entire bar. Everyone at the table just sat stunned, and it was making Rachel extremely uncomfortable. "I-I am not going tomorrow. I just can't." She sputtered out, and Quinn's jaw joined Kurt's.
"What!" Kurt screeched, placing a hand dramatically over his mouth in shock. "Why on earth would you ever say no to an audition? Especially one of this magnitude!" Rachel shrugged, unsure of what to say, which was not sufficient for her friends.
"I am not comfortable playing the role of a harlot on stage." Her voice was cool, but hardly convincing, lacking the acting technique she had mastered. "I think it doesn't send a good message to the other plays I want to audition for."
"What the hell are you talking about Rachel? You can always say no to other offers after this play?" Santana asked, the horror that Kurt experienced slowly passing on to her. She was so horrified that a curse escaped her lips before downing another shot.
"You've played that part before too," Quinn added, "I think you should go, it's a great opportunity, and Rylie went to the trouble of talking to the director for you." Rachel immediately felt a bang of guilt. "Not going would look bad on her too, not just you."
"Finn and I already discussed it; we agreed it isn't a good time." Brittney literally choked a little on her drink as Rachel spoke. Britney, like Rylie, never liked the way that Finn treated Rachel; Britney was just not as vocal about it. "This play would give me no time for work and I need to work. Can we just not talk about this? It's supposed to be a happy time."
"Rachel—" They all said in unison.
"No, please just drop it. Santana have you and Brit decided on a date?"
The topic was officially dropped after Rachel asked Santana about herself, just as expected, but Quinn was still worried about what Rachel had said. The remainder of the night was spent with everyone, except Quinn, ingesting more cocktails and wine. Rachel was officially inebriated by the end of the night, but Quinn never left her friend's side even as they sat at the table alone watching the rest of their friends dance. It was nearing three in the morning when Rachel's face was blanketed with distress; it was obvious that she had started to think about Finn and the audition once more.
It was all so unfair to Quinn. And she was sure it was unfair for Rachel too. Why was she not allowed to audition? That was the only thing both women could think of. What was so wrong with the idea of Rachel on stage? It was at that question when Quinn noticed the tears in Rachel's eyes.
"Rachel, can we talk about the audition?" Quinn asked gently as she sat next to her, but Rachel could not speak. Her tears were unable to be contained any longer. A single soft sob escaped her lips, and the rest of Rachel's body crumbled into Quinn's side. "Aw, sweetie, I know you want to go tomorrow. I can see it, so why don't you?"
"Finn is r-right," She cried out against her shoulder and Quinn immediately dragged her towards the washroom. "I-I shouldn't be p-playing a wh-whore. And this p-part will interfere with my j-job at O'Leary's. My big b-break could interfere with our life. We would be poor!" She was full on bawling when Quinn pushed through the washroom door with Rachel in tow.
"You were so great at Tisch, remember?" Quinn tried to reassure Rachel as she wiped the tears from her face. "I still have the DVD that your dad's made me of that performance. It's better that the movie y'know?"
"He just left," she choked out, her words barely audible any more. Her answer confused Quinn. She still did not understand what had really happened between Finn and Rachel. The music from outside the washroom drowned out most of Rachel's admission, and Quinn was worried about this controlling side of Finn that had shown up more and more recently.
"Finn?" Rachel was not sure how to answer that. She was not sure who she was thinking about anymore.
"He walked out after everything." Rachel's memories began to blur into one another the more she tried to make sense of it. Jesse's face danced in her mind as she remembered the times they had acted plays out in his garage before mixing with Finn's rage at the male lead from Tisch being all over her. She felt Jesse's touch washing over her face, as the damp cloth wiped her tears while the searing pain of Finn's angry grasp still burned her arms. The memories caused her stomach to turn. "He just l-left."
Conversations with a significant other should make you blush at the thought. Rachel pictured being intimate with Finn as Santana's words flashed through her mind. The memory of being pushed away by him at the doorway just a few hours earlier sent another pang of emotion to her stomach. Rachel felt Quinn's hand rub reassuring circles along her back as she embraced him but as she closed her eyes, Rachel pictured Jesse's hands roaming her body.
His fingers burning and imprinting onto her skin with a passion than was never painful; it still ignited her body by thought. The feel of his kiss against her lips awakened her senses. She felt Finn stoic emotions slapping against her cheek, as he denied her a kiss, and his words breaking her dreams against her forehead. She felt her tears drip of her chin as she cried harder. I loved you. Both of their voices drifted into her mind, blending together before she felt the sharp shells cut her forehead, and the yolk began to pour down her face. Her stomach did one final flip which caused her head to spin, and she ran for the toilet.
Quinn ran to her side, grasping Rachel's hair in one hand while rubbing circles on her back with the other. She sat silently with Rachel until her stomach was empty and her tears dried onto her cheeks.
"Let's get you home ok?" Quinn whispered. She handed her some paper towel and a bottle of water from her purse.
"No, please no." A choked out sob rasped out as Rachel's head fell back against the wall of the bathroom stall.
"You want to stay at my house Rach?" Rachel just nodded in response before Quinn helped her up and carried her out the bar and into a cab. She texted Santana an apology and typed out a warning to Noah when they slipped into the cab. As she wrapped her jacket around Rachel, who had fallen asleep, and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, a sudden determination came over her. Rachel was going to go to that audition tomorrow, and Quinn was going to make sure of it.
Reaching into Rachel's purse, she grabbed her friend's phone, and scrolled down the contacts. Quinn copied the number she was looking for into her own phone and called. It took a few rings before the line connected and a confused voice came through the other end.
"Hello?"
"It's me, Quinn." Quinn kept her voice low in case Rachel awoke.
"Quinn? Why are you calling at, three thirty in the morning?"
"When is Rachel's audition tomorrow?" Quinn asked getting right to the point.
"One Thirty." The voice replied and a sigh came through the line, "What happened?"
"Finn and her argued about it, I think. It was very confusing. She slurred most of it." Her explanation was obviously insufficient but was all that Quinn could offer. Thankfully it was enough.
"She isn't coming?" The disappointment cut through the phone line and further fuelled Quinn's determination.
"She said she wasn't going to, but I'll get her there." Quinn nodded triumphantly before ending the call. Glancing down at her best friend, who was currently nuzzled into her lap, Quinn sighed and she ran a hand through her hair. Rachel was going to be a star and that was something almost everyone around her was sure of, Quinn just needed to give Rachel a little push in the right direction first.
DISCLAIMER:
I DO NOT OWN GLEE OR THE CHARACTERS FROM GLEE, IF I DID THE SEASON TWO FINALE WOULD NOT HAVE ENDED THE WAY IT DID.
Author's note/rant:
I strongly believe that Finn literally sets back the women's rights movement by 100 years. the way he treats Rachel and places this moronic claim over her is absolutely disgusting, and he should just stop toying with her emotions. He constantly jumps back from Quinn, to her, to his inter rockstar, to her, and then back to quinn, only to go back to her again. He may have the mentality of a 5 year old boy, but Rachel is definitely not a toy, so he has no right in casting her a side like a used teddy bear only to fight over ownership when another person is interested. It is absolutely disgusting, and he represents everything i hate.
I know it isn't the fault of the actor, or even the character, it is all Ryan Murphy and the writers, who should seriously revamp their plot lines instead of reusing past season material. YOU ARE ONLY ON THE SECOND SEASON WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEED TO REUSE USELESS PLOTLINES FROM SEASON ONE? they could have at least brought up Rachel and her mom, or Quinn and Puck's baby Beth. That story line just left when new love interests came in; it was story line that is slightly unresolved, and needing more clarification since teen pregnancy is not something someone could get over as quickly as the show protrayed.
alright, enough of my rant, I am just honestly upset about this. I really can't believe they would end another season with a Finn/Rachel reunion. It is so stupid to because it makes Rachel look desperate and pathetic, and she is neither. She is a star.
All your reviews have been so amazing, and nice. I want to thank you all because they really helps me write. This chapter means a lot to me, so i would really like as much feedback as you can give. Feel free to give me plot line ideas, i would love to see what you guys think, and hopefully try to incorperate your input. Hope you guys liked it!
as for upcoming chapter spoilers, all i can say is the next chapter is really great too, and it will involve a song or two along with a lot of emotion. ;)