A/N: Here's chapter 4! It more of a build-up than anything else. Once again, thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows! I didn't expect to get such positive feedback from my first story! Also, sorry if a few parts seem sluggish, I had a little difficulty writing this part. I apologize for any mistakes/typos/grammar/tense/repetitive words! Well, I hope you enjoy! Reviews, favs, and follows are greatly appreciated!

I Do Not Own Glee.

Finn felt a rough hand shaking his shoulder vigorously.

"Finn! C'mon, man! Wake up! It's already eleven! And PLEASE stop drooling on my couch cushion!"

Slowly, Finn opened his eyes to see a very annoyed looking Puck standing over him, his hand still on his shoulder.

Confused, Finn tried to ask him what was going on. No words escaped his mouth though, and he realized that it was probably because his throat felt like the Sahara Desert. He tried to sit up, but abruptly stopped when he felt a brain-racking throb ricochet though his head. Immediately, Finn collapsed back onto the couch with a groan and placed a hand over each side of his head.

A sympathetic look crossed over Puck's features. "Looks like you have a killer hangover. One second." He then turned on his heels and quickly headed towards the kitchen.

It was hard for Finn to think about much. Each time he would even attempt to figure out the events that led to his hangover, his head would respond with a painful ache. However, he was able to form one coherent thought. 'What the hell happened last night?'

Seconds later, Puck was hovering over Finn with a cup in his hand. Seeing the look of doubt on his face, he sighed. "Finn, relax. It's just water. It'll help a lot."

Finn gingerly grabbed the cup and took a sip. As soon as the water hit his parched throat, a feeling of relief washed through him. He then gulped the rest of the water hungrily. After handing the now empty cup back to Puck, Finn managed to slowly pull himself into a sitting position.

"Thanks" he rasped.

Puck gave him a small nod before he returned to the kitchen and refilled the cup.

Four cups later, Finn was finally able to tolerate his headache and speak.

"What happened last night?"

With a grin growing on his face, Puck said happily, "Well, I don't know about you, but I made myself some new… friends."

Finn just looked at him.

Sensing his strange attitude, Puck decided to change the topic. "So, what happened to the whole 'I'm not going to get drunk' thing?" Seeing Finn's eyebrow arch, Puck added apologetically, "I kind of overheard you talking to Rachel."

'Crap… Rachel.' Finn thought to himself guiltily as he recalled the promise he made to her about staying sober. Glancing at Puck, he simply said, "I don't know."

Puck furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean that you don't know?"

"I mean exactly that. I can barely remember a thing about last night." Finn's voice held a hint of dread as he buried his face in his hands.

Puck felt sorry for his best friend. He knew it had to be eating at him to forget an entire night. In an attempt to help, he decided to tell him what he knew. "Well, you got here a little after eight and watched over the liquor for me. After that, I didn't see you again until about ten. You were walking out of the kitchen with Quinn, which left all of my precious merchandise to be consumed by anybody, by the way." Puck paused and gave Finn a hard look before continuing in a slightly cocky tone, "That's the last time I saw you… I was a little preoccupied for the rest of the night."

While Puck started to talk about his night, Finn got lost in his thoughts. 'I was with Quinn? As in, we actually hung out? That's great! Maybe something good actually happened last night! Wait… then why did I wake up with a pain-in-the-ass hangover? Did something happen? I don't usually get drunk…'

Pondering what could've possibly happened, Finn started to look around the living room for any possible clues. There were empty cups, beer cans, and bottles everywhere. When his thoughts began to drift to thinking about how he'd probably have to help Puck clean the mess up, his gaze drifted to a corner of the room. And that's when the memories of last night started to hit him, one right after another.

Seeing Quinn and thinking how beautiful she looked. Their friendly game of Quarters. The heated kiss they shared while playing spin the bottle. Looking into Quinn's eyes and seeing the unmistakable pain within them as she told him to let her go. The immense heart-break he felt as he watched her walk away. Then, finally, him taking the first sip of the intoxicating liquor.

"Shit!" Finn exclaimed, interrupting Puck's detailed explanation of a make-out session he had.

Puck was taken aback, but when he saw the look of misery on Finn's face, he immediately became concerned. "What's wrong, Hudson?"

Finn looked at the floor before replying. "I kissed Quinn… and I'm pretty sure I felt something." His voice sounded like a monotone.

Shock became the dominant feature on Puck's face, but he tried his best to conceal it. "That's uh… I guess that… Maybe you should talk to her?"

"That's the thing. I did talk to her. And she told me that she wanted me to, more or less, leave her alone for good." There was obvious distress in Finn's voice.

Usually, Puck wasn't the type of guy who discussed feelings. However, this situation was different. He had been best friends with Finn ever since they were kids, and he'd never once seen him look so distraught. After giving him a comforting pat on the shoulder, Puck said, "Hey, she probably didn't mean it! But before you try to talk to her again, or even Rachel, maybe it'd be best if you sorted out your feelings and figured out what your heart wants."

Finn looked up at that. He was surprised by Puck's intellectual words, but he knew that he was right. For the past two years, he had been bouncing back and forth between Quinn and Rachel. It was time for him to choose between them once and for all. But he didn't have it in him to decide right now. "Thanks, Puck, I know you're right, but can we please just chill for the next few hours?"

Puck was about to protest, but decided against it and simply shrugged. Finn had to discover what he wanted on his own. "Sure. Are you up for some Halo?"

For the next few hours, Finn and Puck were engrossed with the Xbox. No mention of Finn's current predicament came up, and he was glad to simply forget everything, without alcohol, and hang out with his best friend. It wasn't until he got a text message from Rachel that he was forced back down to reality.

Hey, Finn! You haven't called or text me at all today. Is something wrong? –Rachel

Finn let out a frustrated breath. "I think it's time for me to do that thinking."

Puck set down his controller. "Alright, bro. Take your time. Let me know if you need anything." He then held his fist out to Finn.

A small smile crossed Finn's face as he bumped his fist with Puck's. "Thanks for everything, man. I'll see you later." He then got off the couch cautiously, still feeling a minor headache, and headed out the door with a wave of his hand.

Thirty minutes later, at 7:15, Finn found himself lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was pure luck that nobody was home to question where he'd been all day.

Taking a deep breath, Finn began to let his thoughts consume him.

When he first dated Quinn, he truly believed that he had found the one. Everything seemed so perfect when he was with her. But then he met Rachel. Rachel made him feel like he was the only person in the world. Sure, maybe the feelings weren't immediately mutual, but, eventually, they were. It was as if he and Rachel shared a deep connection that he just didn't have with Quinn.

When he found out that Quinn cheated on him, Finn felt his heart break. Once he could withstand the hurt, he figured that her betrayal was a sign. A sign that he was meant to be with Rachel.

Things with Rachel were great, although she did tend to be a little clingy or annoying at times. However, he was in love with her. The thing is, when he discovered that she cheated on him, he felt a lot of pain. But that's all he felt. His heart didn't break. 'Finding out that Rachel cheated on me didn't affect me like it did when I found out that Quinn had… but what does that mean?'

After his break up with Rachel, Finn couldn't help but be attracted to Quinn once more. Since this was honesty hour, he had to admit that he always had been attracted to her. When she started dating Sam, it bothered him. Not that he didn't like Sam, because he did, but he could tell that Quinn deserved more than him. She deserved the absolute best.

When Quinn kissed him the day after the game, he felt those same sparks. The sparks he felt when they used to kiss while they were together. 'The sparks I felt just last night…'

Their second shot at a relationship seemed better than their first. Sure, they still had a few trust issues, but he felt that familiar bliss when he was around her. When he was with Quinn, everything felt right. But then he started to notice Rachel more and more again. After the funeral and hearing Sue's words, he knew exactly what type of connection she meant. He had that connection with Rachel. Therefore, he didn't even question himself when he broke things off with Quinn.

'Maybe I made a mistake that day by not putting enough thought into my decision… Coach Sylvester had said that when you love somebody deeply, you feel tethered to them. Maybe that's it. I do love Rachel a lot… but…is it possible that I'm confusing loving her with being in love with her? For some reason, I've always felt a pull towards Quinn… Even though we've broken up twice, we somehow found our way back to each other. And when she told me to let her go last night, it shattered my heart. Each time I lose her, I have to get her back. I… I can't lose Quinn. I need her. I'm nothing without her. Which means…'

"I'm in love with Quinn Fabray." He whispered to himself. After a second, he ran a hand through his hair. "I can't believe I've been so stupid."

What he wanted to do was simply jump into his car, drive to her house, and proclaim his love to her, but he couldn't do that for two reasons. First, he needed to end things with Rachel. Secondly, he knew that what he had unintentionally done had broken Quinn. She had said as much last night. No, he couldn't tell her how he felt right away. That would be selfish.

"Did you ever consider what I wanted?" Those seven words echoed through his mind. Suddenly, he knew what he had to do.

'From now on, I'm going to put Quinn's needs first. I've been selfish for too damn long. On Monday, I'll let her decide what should happen between us. Whatever she chooses, I won't argue with it. I want the best for her… whatever makes her happy. Even if it kills me on the inside. Hell, I've hurt her so many times that I deserve to be in pain.'

Feeling lighter because he finally came to terms with himself, Finn glanced at his clock. 8:45 P.M.

Suddenly, he remembered that Rachel had text him earlier. 'First thing's first.'

Pulling out his phone, Finn quickly typed a hasty reply to her previous message.

Sorry, Rachel, I've been pretty busy today. Do you think you could meet me at the Lima Bean tomorrow morning at ten? –Finn

Not more than thirty seconds later, he got a reply.

Sure, no problem! I love you! Goodnight. Xoxo –Rachel

He didn't even bother to send a reply.

After setting his phone on the nightstand, he made himself comfortable. He then closed his eyes and felt a smile growing on his face. For the first time in weeks, Finn fell asleep without difficulty and with one familiar thought on his mind. Quinn.

Finn walked into the Lima Bean with a smile on his face. The ten hours of sleep he had gotten did wonders for him. When he spotted a cheerful looking Rachel waving to him from a table near the back, he started to feel nervous. She might not be the one for him, but he still cared about her and he knew that this would hurt her.

Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the table and sat across from her.

"Hey. I already got your coffee." she said with a smile on her face as she gestured towards the drink in front of him.

Finn smiled back at her. "Thanks."

A few seconds passed before Rachel spoke. "So, what's with the sudden date? I thought we had agreed on dinner tonight?"

Finn slowly reached out and held one of hands. "Rachel, there's something that I have to tell you."

A questioning look came across her face.

'This is the right thing to do.' He thought to himself. After looking into her eyes, he took another quick breath and said quietly, "Rachel, I'm breaking up with you."

He felt a flash of pain in his chest when he saw her face fall and tears begin to form in her eyes. "Why are you doing this, Finn? We're perfect for each other… We belong together!"

Finn became slightly annoyed by her response, but said in an apologetic and gentle voice, "I'm sorry, Rachel, but I think we're better off as friends. In fact, I'm positive that we're meant to be friends."

Tears started to fall down Rachel's face. "But Finn… I love you! Don't you love me? Was all that happened between us some kind of meaningless joke to you?"

A soft sigh escaped Finn's lips. "Of course I love you, Rachel! Everything that's happened between us was incredible, and I'll always cherish the memories we made… But I'm not in love with you. I'm sorry."

Pulling her hand out of his, Rachel looked down at the table and asked quietly, "Is there someone else?"

Finn felt a feeling of warmth bubble up within him as he thought of Quinn. He couldn't keep the soft smile off of his face when he simply said, "Yes."

Rachel looked up at him and felt as if heart had been stabbed when she saw the look on his face. The tears began to blur her vision. "Okay, Finn." She choked out as she started to get out of her chair.

Quickly getting out of his own seat, Finn gently grabbed Rachel and wiped away some of her tears with his thumb. He then turned her head towards his and asked softly, "Can we please be friends, Rachel? I do care about you, you know."

Appalled, Rachel just stared at him. Finally, she firmly shook her head and whispered, "No."

Finn gave her a sad smile before giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I hope you change your mind." He then moved out of her way and she swiftly walked past him and headed out the door.

With a sigh, Finn sat back down in his chair. He felt bad that he had hurt such a sweet girl like Rachel. However, he knew that he couldn't pretend to be in love with someone. Not when he knew he was in love with someone else. Even if that person despised him right now.

Grabbing his coffee and taking a sip, Finn couldn't help but feel anxious about tomorrow. One way or another, things would change. For the better or for the worse, he didn't know.

What'd you think? R&R Are much appreciated! If there's anything you'd like to see in future chapters, let me know!