~Authors Note~ Hi everyone! Here is a new, but unfortunately, short update. I've been absolutely swamped, but as I state every time I update, this story is NOT abandoned. I hope you enjoy chapter 20, even though it's short, it packs a powerful punch. Hope I haven't lost too many readers in my hiatus between updates. Those of you who have stuck around thank you!

Reviews, Favorite Author/Story, Story Alerts, all of it makes me so happy and I thank you! Enjoy this chapter and please review!

Chapter 20

The rain seemed to fall harder the farther Rachel walked from Blaine. The cold bit her face and the thunder that rolled through the clouds resonated through her body. Teardrops and raindrops mixed on the canvas that was her cheek, but Rachel tasted the saltiness of her tears more than the pure water that fell from the sky.

The sheet of rain was cold and Rachel's body felt numb against all of it as she barely registered her damp hair sticking to the back of her neck and her soaked clothes that added 20 pounds to her weight.

Rachel walked faster, wanting to put as much distance between her and Blaine as she possibly could before he could follow her. Not that she turned around to check, Rachel wasn't sure what she wanted to see if she did.

Cars sped past Rachel as she hurried along the sidewalk. No doubt people who wanted to go home and stay dry. "I'm so stupid." Rachel cursed herself, turning the corner that led her deeper into Lima Heights. Her remark was not only in reference to Blaine, but to the fact that Quinn's phone call had made her so angry that she stormed on foot to find Blaine, and she had abandoned her car at Louis's bar.

Rachel clenched her keys deep in her pocket as she entered the bar's parking lot. She kept her head down, and made her way to her car, hoping no one would bother her. Rachel sniffled, and she was happy for the rain, though it chilled her bones. No one would be able to tell she was crying.

There were a few smokers milling around the corner of Louis's sheltered from the rain, and though they definitely took notice to Rachel, none of them looked willing to put out a light to chase after her. Again, Rachel thanked the rain.

Rachel clicked the 'unlock' button on her keys but the latch didn't open. She tried again, and nothing. Frustrated, Rachel fumbled for the key to manually unlock the door, when her fingers slipped and she dropped them, bouncing under her vehicle.

Rachel sobbed audibly, wanting nothing more to just go home and cry in the peace of her shower, not in public rain.

Composing herself, Rachel got done on her knee's peering beneath her car trying to catch sight of her keys. She reached and as her fingers closed around them, she heard a voice say. "You alright?"

Quickly, Rachel stood up, instinctively stepping back and clutching the key between her fingers threateningly as she looked up to who had snuck up on her. Even though it had been dark before, Rachel recognized him. It was the man from earlier.

"You again," He said softly, smiling a little.

"And you," Rachel replied, loosening her grip around her keys.

"Are you alright?" He asked as his eyebrows furrowed.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because I know what an 'attack stance' looks like, and you've been crying." He pointed out.

Rachel forced her body to relax, and she let her keys rest non-threateningly in her palm before addressing his accusation. "It's raining."

The man took a small step forward, "Rain makes your eyes red?"

"I'm fine." Rachel stated before turning to her car to unlock it. "Really."

"If you say so," He said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. Rachel slid her key in the lock as he walked away and as she was about to slip inside, he came back.

"Did you find your boyfriend by the way?" Rachel stiffened at the mention of Blaine. "I don't mean to pry it's just you seemed really upset earlier."

"He's not my boyfriend." Rachel's hand hovered on the handle.

"Oh, I get it now…" He said softly.

"Get what?" Rachel snapped, turning toward him defensively.

"The tears," He said simply. "I can't say I'm a foreigner to seeing heartbroken girls, there are so many these days."

"They are almost as common as liars," Rachel said. "Though I have a deep suspicion that the two coincide… You know what else is funny though? They call it a broken heart… but they're wrong…" Rachel sniffled and looked up at him. "Because it's my heart, my mind, my spirit, my whole fucking body… torn. I gave him everything, and he was shredding it before it was fully set in his palms. And I knew this would happen because when you fall in love, in the end it breaks. That's what happens when you fall right?" Rachel wiped her face, but it did no good. "I should have expected it."

The man pressed his lips together, pondering over Rachel slightly, before quoting. "Expectation is the root of all heartache."

Rachel brushed back a slick strand of hair. "William Shakespeare."

The man smiled. "Come on, you're freezing, why don't we go inside? Now that you're single, I'm hoping you'll allow me to buy you a drink."

"Thank you, but no thank you," Rachel said. "I don't think I'll be stepping into Louis's again anytime soon. Besides, I look like a drowned rat."

"How about my place then? I've got a fantastic heater and hot chocolate mix."

"I thought you were just passing through town?" Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"I'm staying at an old friend's place and they're out of town so they won't mind."

Rachel bit the inside of her lip as she thought this over. She could go home by herself and submit herself to a night of empty tissue boxes and Nicholas Sparks movies, or she could go home with a cute, older guy and snuggle up to him with hot chocolate. A warning bell was ringing in the back of her mind about the last time she went to a boy's home, but Rachel wasn't too worried about this guy trying anything. He was absolutely nothing like Blaine.

"Sorry, but I couldn't possibly accept your offer." Rachel answered with a sly smile that conveyed that that was exactly what she wanted to do.

"Oh yeah?" He asked, catching her hint as he stepped closer. "And why's that?"

A chill settled on Rachel and she shivered slightly. "I don't even know your name."

He laughed softly. "Forgive me, where are my manners. First of all, a gentleman offers a lady his jacket when she's cold." He shed his black NorthFace and placed it on her shoulders. "And second, I should've introduced myself when we first met. Hello," He faked a small bow and Rachel giggled. "I'm Logan Reese."