Chapter 12
The air was warm and humid, as any other day with the near summer time approaching Lima. In a weird way, she liked it. It was no pleasure sticking to the metal chair below her, but it offered her a sense of comfort. She always was one for the summer time.
She squeezed the red gown in her hands with a death grip, focusing her eyes on the shoes beneath her. At this point, heels were a necessity for important events. She no longer felt the uncomfortable feeling she'd first had when her mother slipped them on her feet. Pain was beauty, a long-time ideal that every mother served to their aspiring daughter.
After months of anticipation, today was finally here. Today would be the last time she walked the premises of McKinley High as a student. As she sat next to Chandler Beckett and Gracie Brooks, the huge audience before them caught her eyes.
Names were being called out now, moving from the lasts names with an A, and onto the ones with a B.
"Rachel Berry," their principal, Mr. Figgins, called out.
Anxious for reasons unknown to her, she slowly stood up and moved down the row. Getting to the front, she smiled brightly at the man and chuckled proudly when he handed her the rolled up paper.
"Congratulations," he smiled sincerely, before preparing to call out the next person in line.
"Thank you," she replied formally, returning to her seat. Getting over the initial nervousness of all eyes being on her, she sighed with relief and returned to her previous position.
That was when she spotted them. Shelby was hard to miss, as she always had been. But somehow, she blended in with the rest of the crowd.
She categorized herself with the younger and more fashionable mothers. She'd always be seen with the wealthier upbringings of Lima; i.e. the women of the founding families. That's exactly where she was now, standing next to Mrs. Evans, holding out her camera and smiling her pearly whites while pointing it at Rachel. As the light flashed, she checked the photo, and then turned to whisper something to the women behind her.
Moving further left, her eyes spotted the two guys. Christopher held out his phone proudly as he waved. Her cheeks reddened as she reached her hand up and waved back.
Her cheeks grew hot when Finn came into her view. Sitting next to Christopher, he flashed his heart-melting grin. She wanted nothing more than to jump off the stage and run over to him. As the Valedictorian gave her appointed speech, Rachel focused on all that had happened since Prom.
They'd sparked into something Rachel never thought was possible for herself. He'd agreed to call it a simple fling in the beginning, knowing that it was new to her and he didn't want to rush into things. So, they agreed to keep things low-key. She knew that they were supposed to be together, so there was no real point of sneaking around. Their parents would praise them for it, if anything. Still, she figured it would help them figure out who they were together without the endless source of media cutting in and making the decision for them. But now, the term was long lost with the wind. It was serious; more serious than she'd ever been about anyone.
Maybe she was spattering nonsense. She thought of this possibility a lot. She'd never been romantically involved with someone before. She sometimes assumed it was the "first-love" effects kicking in.
However, it was the feelings that came along with being together that made her second-guess these assumptions. The way he held her hand, the way they laughed together, the way they would sing at the top of their lungs on the back roads of Lima in Finn's truck at one in the morning; all of these things made her absolutely sure that she'd hit the lottery on the first try.
Most importantly, it was the feelings she'd gotten within herself that made her absolutely sure this was real. She'd developed a certain feeling in her heart whenever he was around. And when he was gone… Well, she didn't want to talk about that.
Despite her previous thoughts of him, he'd come so far. He went from being a jackass who didn't deserve a moment of her time to this perfect gentleman whom she couldn't keep her hands off of. She would have never predicted this big of a transformation from him while she was sitting in her room, mad at the world, a couple of months ago. Now, his change sparked so much hope into her that anything could be possible.
Her chest tightened at the thoughts that seeped into her mind next; New York. Her subconscious had been playing these two words over and over again for a long time. When she went to sleep at night, they were the monsters that jumped out at her from under the bed. In a repetitive motion, her gut wrenched when she involuntarily thought of the two paths her life could take in the near future; that near future being tonight.
She had no idea how, but they'd managed to get everything together. Her and Santana, that was. In New York, they had a very low priced one bedroom apartment waiting for them. With all of the money Rachel had made from her after school job over the years and Santana's combined, they'd invested in this "roach motel" as Santana called it.
If everything went according to plan, their aliases Laurel Calligan and Maria Vasquez would be arriving in New York City sometime tomorrow. The whole thing panned out. It was carefully thought through and not a chance of being traced was presented. Santana had even found a way to pull up the proper identification documents.
From there, they'd desperately search for jobs to support their living. Their applications had already been sent two a couple of diners near their apartment.
Santana would be attending some community college near their apartment in Brooklyn and Rachel would be riding the subway to NYU.
It'd come as a surprise to her when she'd gotten the acceptance letter in the mail. Thankfully, she was the one to get it that day. It was the only other school she'd applied to in New York, in hopes of following her medical dreams. It took some time weighing her options, but in the end, she knew she'd chosen correctly. Sending her letter of decline to NYADA, Rachel accepted the chance to give back to others.
It'd be some very early mornings, considering the distance of NYU and Brooklyn, but it would be worth it and she knew it. If she worked her ass off, medical school would come next and she'd make it. So much promise held itself in front of her. It was perfect. The plan was perfect. It had been, since they came up with it a little before Prom.
Then, Finn kissed her. That's when every bit of confidence she thought she had flew out the window. The way she was feeling, the love they shared; she knew that if she took this path, it could possibly all go away and she didn't know if she wanted to risk that.
That's when thoughts of the other path came into her mind. Months ago, the thought of staying was never an option. Hell, maybe it still wasn't. She didn't know. But, it was worse then. Finn actually gave her a reason to want to get the hell out of dodge. Now, having fallen for him, the thought reoccurred in her head. It wasn't held with as much of a confidence as New York was, but it still sat on her brain.
She'd found herself opening up to consider it. If all her life would consist of was staying behind and leading a simple life with Finn at her side, it was more than okay. If that's all they wanted, seeing Finn and Rachel reside here and start a family, she'd have no problem with it.
She knew that that wasn't all they were asking of her; which lead to the loud screech of the breaks on these thoughts the moment her considerations started to run loose. There was the possibility of being sucked into the stuck-up society of Lima with money controlling anything she ever did and every thought-process she created. There was also the possibility of Shelby venturing into their lives forever, making them her puppets on a string and manipulating them into doing whatever she wanted. Lastly, the thought that scared her most was the possibility that what she was feeling now would soon fade away to nothing.
She couldn't bring herself to truly think of this before, but it was a real possibility. If she'd choose to stay and find out that all her and Finn ever were was a fling, she didn't know what she would do. The regret would probably pool into her every day and she'd feel nothing but resentment for him. She didn't want that.
It was the uncertainty that got to her. She didn't know anything about the future and she had only a short amount of hours before she'd have to make a decision that would alter it majorly. She had to trust her inner self. That was the only way she'd be able to do this correctly.
No doubt, both paths would result in some form of pain. But, her happiness was the most important thing. So, she silenced the feelings of the others around her. As she sat on the crowded stage, she thought of herself, and what she wanted; what would make her truly happy.
"I'd like to ask everyone to please rise." Principle Figgins returned to the microphone when Tammy Davidson finished her Valedictorian speech. Rachel laughed, because the girl had only beaten her by a few points. If some of her grades hadn't suffered earlier in the year, she'd be standing up there and giving her own speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the graduating class of 2016!" Figgins exclaimed. The gym erupted into a fit of cheers and clapping. Along with the students around her, Rachel removed her cap and tossed it into the air.
With joy, she smiled brightly and hugged the two students on the side of her. After four full years of hard work and ambition, she was finally here. She had finally graduated and was now headed onto the next chapter of her life; whatever that may be.
"Congratulations, to all of you," Figgins smiled endearingly, taking in the sight of the students' laughter and tears.
It took a few moments for the students to clear the stage. Whenever it was her turn to get onto the main floor of the gym, her three guests were there to greet her.
"My baby's not in high school anymore," Shelby smiled, fanning away her eyes with the graduation program.
"Yeah," she laughed, hugging her mom. "That may be a good thing. I don't think I could take another day of Mr. Schuester's constant lectures," she called out in a mocking manner. She'd seen him coming their way moments before.
"Don't let her fool you," he laughed. "She was always my most attentive listener. Unlike this one over here who was more devoted to those paper airplanes and… spit balls, were they?" he chuckled, looking over to Finn.
"Hey, it was a way of expressing my creativity." All of the grownups laughed.
"Nah, you two have grown into amazing young adults and I'm confident in your leadership of this town." He smiled. "As the rest of the other citizens, I'm sure. Congratulations, Rachel."
"Thank you," she smiled, pulling him in for a hug.
"Which is why I'm here to get a picture," Emma smiled from behind her now- fiancé.
"Emma!" Rachel exclaimed, moving over to the short-haired ginger. "I was going to find you before the ceremony, but I couldn't."
Shelby became uneasy. Her mother never did approve of the woman. She didn't really understand why. Who couldn't love Emma? The older brunette stared at the younger woman. It made Rachel uncomfortable for a moment, but Emma showed no signs of being bothered. She admired that most of the woman.
"That's my fault. We were running a little late this morning." She admitted. "Hi Finn," she smiled, acknowledging the boy's presence.
"Hey Ms. Pilsbury," he smiled and waved.
"I hope I'm not intruding," Rachel began. "But, is everything okay with your mom after the other day?"
"You're not intruding, Rachel. She's doing okay. That day was just a little harsher than others for her, I guess." Emma explained amidst the confusion of the others around them. Christopher, Finn, and Will jumped into a conversation of their own afterwards.
Emma and Rachel did the same, while Shelby stood idly by and listened.
They were talking about Rachel's pencil sharpening assignments and laughing when Shelby interrupted.
"I'm sorry I don't mean to cut in. But, Rachel mentioned something about your mom?" She faced Emma. "What's that about? "
"Shelby," Rachel scolded at her nonchalance.
"It's not much. My mom gets a little confused at times. She has Alzheimer's. She thought we had a coffee date the other day and she came into the office while Rachel and a couple of other students were there. She mistook her for my deceased sister. I'm terribly sorry, it was all on me."
Shelby looked at her a certain way, in which Rachel couldn't really describe. It was more along the lines of shock and disappointment.
It seemed like she was gritting her teeth when she replied. "It's okay. These things happen. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you for understanding." Emma smiled sincerely.
"Yeah, it's no problem. Actually, do you mind taking a walk with me? I want to find out how Rachel did in student council this year."
"Sure," the woman smiled, patting Rachel on the back as they walked away.
This left Rachel standing alone, next to the three men lost in conversation. She figured she'd go and do a last minute scope of the school she'd be leaving behind. But, before she could, two arms found their way around her waist. Looking up, Finn's grin nearly killed her.
"Hey, hands to yourself, Mister." She laughed. "It's a little too crowded in here, don't you think?"
"Oh right, the secrecy thing," he reminded himself. "I guess I got a little distracted."
"By what?" she wondered.
"By the way my girl looks in that cap and gown," he smirked.
Her face grew hot as she smiled to the ground. When he said things like this, her self-esteem flew to all-time heights. In the beginning, she had to pinch herself a couple of times to make sure it weren't all a dream. She wondered how her acne, glasses, braces, and left over face fat from her chubby days in middle school didn't run him off. The fact that it never did was as big of a mystery to her as any other.
"Well if you think so," she started.
"I know so," he smiled, reluctantly taking her hand.
"What do you say to a final tour of the school with me?" she asked, running her fingers along his.
"I say yes," he chuckled as she led him past all of the other people in the gymnasium. After a minute or two of walking, they were alone in the dark halls of McKinley High.
"It's different than I remember it," he admitted as they strolled past the scenery, hand in hand. "It's weird."
"That's because you've already experienced life outside of these walls." She reminded him. "I bet things seem a lot simpler in here, don't they?"
"Absolutely," he said, running his other hand along the lockers as they continued to walk. "I remember the most important thing being Friday nights. That's the only worry I used to have; football. Now," he trailed off, offering a chuckle.
"Do you think we'll make it?" she asked him out of the blue. She looked to the floor, wishing he could pick up on the fact that she was implying a whole different question than the one she was asking. Of course he didn't. But that didn't mean his answer didn't give her a sense of comfort.
"I think that worrying about the future is pointless because it's pretty inevitable. We should live in the now. Life's too short."
"Thank you," she smiled, stopping them in the middle of the hall. Wrapping his arms around her, she rested her head against his chest. Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Finn asked, "What about you? How do you feel?"
"I feel that you're right. Life's too short." As ironic as it may have sounded, he unknowingly just helped to make her decision. She just wished it didn't have to affect him as much as it would. "Kiss me," she pleaded.
Luckily enough, with all of the storm clouds developing outside, the hallway was dark enough for him to not see her shiny eyes. Her heart melted when their lips met. It'd been that way ever since prom.
But, now, they were no stranger to hers like they were then. If a blindfold were to be placed on her in a room full of people, she'd recognize him within an instant. It was the feeling that came with it. It was the way they danced against each other. All of it was so distinctive; a feeling that only Finn would be able to give her. Every time their lips met, she found her mind falling into a certain frenzy. No matter how much she got, he left her wanting more.
All she wanted was to stay this way forever. She knew she would if she could.
His sudden chuckle interrupted her. Pulling away, she looked up at him. "What?"
"A little aggressive aren't we?" he mocked, motioned to their position. Rachel realized that she was pinning him to the nearest set of lockers.
"I guess it's what happens when you hold these feelings back for so long." She admitted. "It's hard being sneaky with you."
"Hey," he held up his hands in protest. "That was your call, not mine."
"I'm just protecting us from the vulture-like media," she smiled, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck. "Besides, I like it better this way. It's more… quiet."
She shouldn't have said anything. After Finn nodded his head in agreement, the noise broke out. Two familiar voices rang through the empty hallway. Pulling her arm, Finn led them to one of the creases in the lockers; where they couldn't be seen. Resting his index finger against her lips, they stared at each other as they listened on.
"I've worked my ass off for 18 years now to keep all of this at bay," Her mother's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Not to have you and your mother come in and screw everything up."
"I apologize on behalf of my mother, but you have to forgive her. Hell, even I was confused the first time I saw the girl. The resemblance to Taylor is uncanny and you're fooling yourself if you think that that's not going to be the cause of her finding out someday. As for me, this is not my problem. I haven't said a single thing." The voice sounded like Emma's.
"I asked you to be her teacher, her student council representative; not her friend." Shelby reminded her. "If you would've listened to me instead of fooling around, none of this would have happened."
"I'm not going to apologize to you for that. Unlike you, I have a heart. Despite how much you'll try and prevent it, Rachel's going to find out one day. And when that happens, I will make damn sure that I am here for her. Truth be told, I've thought about telling her the moment she walked into my office asking for a spot in the program. She deserves better than all of this." Emma argued with her.
Looking up to Finn, he looked to her with a questioning glance. She shook her head in confusion. Looking to the ground with a spinning head, she wondered if she should try and grasp more of the lingering conversation. She continued to shake her head again, questioning everything they were speaking of.
Shelby's voice echoed through the hall next. "You don't know what you're talking about. I raised her. You don't get to make statements of what you think my daughter deserves."
"I may not, but John does." Emma retorted.
"John is dead." Shelby reminded her.
"Yeah, well so is my sister." Emma screamed. "And you know damn well that if they were both still here, you and James would not get to pull half of the crap that you've already pulled with her. You may have raised her, but she is just as much my responsibility. Fix it, or I swear I will get involved."
"You wouldn't dare." Shelby called out through her teeth.
"The contract stated that I, mom, and Tay would have to stay away until her 18th birthday." Emma reminded her mother. "Last time I checked, that happened back in December and with the way you've treated my family for years, I really don't know why I haven't opened my mouth yet."
"You're going to regret it." Shelby warned her.
"No, you are." She retaliated. "You have a nice day, Mrs. Berry."
The hall silenced after all sounds of heels against the floor were gone. Waiting a second before stepping out, Rachel turned to Finn.
"What the hell was that?" she exclaimed.
"They're hiding something," Finn seemed to be thinking over things.
"Yeah, I got that," Rachel chuckled. "Maybe that's why Christopher and Shelby were looking at me weirdly the night of the Prom. The girl's own mother thought I was her. You should've seen the way she looked at me Finn. And Emma's face the whole entire time… It's all starting to come together now that I really think about it."
"Hey," he took her arms in his hands. "We're going to figure this out, okay?"
She shook her head in acceptance.
"I'll ask my dad. Maybe he knows something."
"Thank you," she whispered although the voices were gone.
"C'mon, let me take you home. The weather seems to be getting bad and I know Shelby's going to need you to prepare for that graduation party tonight."
"Yeah," she laughed, scratching at an itch on her arm. "These heels will literally kill me if I stand here much longer," she admitted.
"Well, lucky for you, my truck has just been cleaned out. There's plenty of room for your heels on the floor." She laughed loudly.
"I'm glad."
"There's that smile," he commented. "You know, my heart almost exploded when I saw it on you earlier on the stage," he laughed. This only widened it.
Walking to his truck, she appreciated it when he spun her around in the middle of the parking lot in a dancing fashion. When she fastened her seatbelt, he turned to her.
"So, what are you going to do now?" he wondered.
"Research Emma's sister all that I can, I guess," she replied.
"No," he pushed the thought away. "I mean, what are you going to do now that you're not in high school anymore?"
"You know, college and stuff," she replied. "Ohio State, baby." She laughed with a bit of edge in her stomach.
"It's not as bad as people think." He told her. "I like it. Plus, with all the business classes that I have to go through, the professors make the time bearable."
"Is that because they're funny and entertaining, or because you can nearly see down their shirts and up their short skirts?" Rachel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Both," he smirked.
"You're a pig," she hit his shoulder.
"I'm joking, Rach," he laughed. "No, from what I've experienced they're very nice and some are even funny as hell. You're going to like it." "You know, I never got the chance to ask you. What are you planning on becoming after college?"
"A doctor, I think." She replied. "Something like that."
"A doctor, wow…" he smiled in amazement. "You sure know how to dream…"
A thought occurred to her, but she didn't know if she should go with it. However, she was tired of feeling hopeless. She was serious about him and she wanted him at her side for as long as he physically could be. She was taking a big risk in asking this question. But, she had to at least try; for them.
"Have you ever thought of New York City?" she wondered, playing with the window button.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Her heart pounded when bits of her plan slowly started to become exposed.
"Like if we weren't in this predicament, wouldn't it be cool to live there?" she opened up her imagination. "You could play for the Giants and I could own my own practice." She smiled at the thought of it all.
"I'd say Los Angeles would be a cool place to live in," he admitted. "But, not New York."
"Well, why not?" she wondered.
"Because, it's really loud and it stinks. I also heard that the people over there are really rude to you, 24/7. Plus, it's all crammed there. There would be no room to breathe. I don't think I'd like that very much."
"Well, I mean, yeah, it has its downsides. But, I'm sure they'd be bearable after getting used to them." She reasoned.
"Why are you trying to push this so hard?" he asked.
Seeing as though her idea was unsuccessful, she decided to drop it before he became more suspicious. "Never mind, "she smiled as they pulled up to her house. "I'll see you at 6." She told him, reaching over and placing a quick peck on his lips.
Walking up to her bedroom, she threw her diploma on her desk and collapsed onto her bed. Without realizing her exhaustion, her eyes began to droop. Before long, she was underneath her covers and fading quickly to the sound of thunder and rain outside her window. The last thought she remembered before falling asleep was hoping that Finn got home safe.
She didn't know how long she was asleep when Shelby busted into her room. She figured it must've not been too long for it was still storming outside. The woman shook her awake, not realizing that the sound of her opening the door was enough for her to toss.
"Rach," she shook her again. The dark room probably hid the fact that her eyes were open. Rachel jumped upwards, pushing her mother's arm back. "I'm up! I'm up... What's wrong?"
"Why are you asleep?" the woman questioned while looking over her figure.
"I'm sorry; I just crashed when I got in. I guess it's the rain or something."
"You didn't even change into the dress I laid out for you," Shelby observed.
"Like I said…" Rachel trailed off; knowing her mother already got the point.
"Well, get up and get ready. We've got plenty to do before the guests arrive," the woman said before getting back on her feet and heading for the door.
Rachel wondered if she should confront her about all of the things she'd heard earlier today. But, seeing the hurried state she was in, she knew it wasn't a good idea. She'd probably get some lame-ass lie or excuse. So, she decided to wait for when the woman couldn't run away from or walk around the matter.
It wasn't until Shelby closed the door behind her that Rachel left her bed. Pulling at the ends of the covers and arranging the pillows perfectly in her opinion, the bed was made. She decided that she would re-freshen up to remove any notification that she was sleeping before.
The hot shower was heaven to her; especially with the weather outside. She let the water run down her back, taking in the sensation if only for a little while. For once, her mind was clear of any controversy. She was able to breathe and relax.
When she got out, she decided to follow the same routine she had this morning. After blow-drying her long and dark locks, she pinned them up and walked over to her stereo. To Shelby's dismay, Rachel blared one of her few rock albums.
When her makeup was fixed and the ends of her hair were curled, she stepped into the cream-colored dress her mother laid out. She took a moment to brush her braced-teeth again, apply deodorant, step into her wooden wedges, and clean off her glasses before returning to her room.
Checking her phone in the down time she had left before Shelby would make her help prepare, she saw four new messages.
I got home safe, just in case you were wondering ;) -Finn
Can't wait to see you tonight –Finn
Tonight's officially a go. I've got most of my things packed into the car. I'll help you finish packing if you need. –Tana
Is 3 am okay or do we need to go later? I don't want your mom to still be up. Let me know. My mom's going to drive us there so no one gets suspicious when my car is missing. –Tana
Walking into her closet, she turned on the light and locked the door behind her. She didn't want to risk her mom walking in unexpectedly. She replied to Finn first.
I was going to make sure but I fell asleep -Rachel
Tonight's going to be fun. I can't wait to see you 3 – Rachel
Now, onto Santana, she thought.
3 is going to be fine. The guests shouldn't stay later than 12. Shelby will crash right after that. With all that wine she usually has, she always does. -Rachel
Are you sure your mom won't say anything? Most of my stuff is packed. But, I've got to finish whenever everyone leaves and my mom goes to sleep. I left a couple of things out so it wouldn't look weird. –Rachel
As fast as she sent the messages she got a respond.
You don't have to worry about my mom. We can trust her. And okay, I will come a little early to help you. Everything's going to be okay. Now, delete these messages before they end up in the wrong hands. –Tana
Taking the instructions, she cleared all conversations shared between Santana and herself. Stepping out of the closet, she plugged her phone into its charger and she headed downstairs.
The weather hadn't given yet. If anything, the thunder had only grown louder. She wondered if the power would give out any time soon. She also wondered if her mother would call off her graduation party.
She'd gotten her answer when she found her frantically moving around the kitchen. About five things were cooking at once. Five women stood in the kitchen with her, sipping on wine and preparing things while sharing conversation.
"Oh good, you're dressed. Would you give these ladies a helping hand with the cooking? I've got to go get ready." Shelby called once she noticed the presence of Rachel.
"Sure," she simply replied, moving over to the women at the island.
She recognized the faces. If not from earlier, standing next to Shelby and snapping pictures of their children on stage, she'd seen them at Spring Meadows earlier in the year. Claire Abrams, Mrs. Puckerman, Tracie Evans, June Motta, and Grace Mitchell, the mother of Madison Mitchell, the girl whom she'd never gotten the chance to keep in touch with.
"Here you go," Grace handed Rachel a rolling pin. "Your mom wanted this cookie dough rolled out and cut out. You'd be a big help." When the woman walked away, Rachel got to work.
She worked on that for the time being, focusing all her attention on the five behind her. They hadn't continued working like they were before Shelby left. If anything, they stood around the counter, poured more wine, and gossiped on.
"Did you girls hear that Ashley isn't attending next month's charity brunch?" Claire asked.
"Not much of a loss," June threw out in a bitter tone.
"She's probably just too embarrassed to step out in public; especially with all that's been happening to her family. Did you hear that her ex and that college student that he started seeing are having a kid together?" The women laughed amongst themselves, causing Rachel to roll her eyes. This was stupid.
"Hey, I warned her not to start anything with him in high school," June replied. "He was always hooked up with them weed smokers. And there ain't nothing different with that son of theirs, I'll tell you that much."
"Or maybe she's still butt-hurt over the fact that Christopher didn't choose her Gabriella to marry Finn," Tracie suggested.
"Oh, you're right." Grace stepped in. "Not that long ago Claire and I visited with her for coffee. You remember that?" she asked the woman standing across from her.
"Let me tell you girls," the blonde woman continued. "She was a mess. Even the place looked like it was in desperate need of a little dusting. She did nothing but curse Shelby the whole morning."
"And the way that little girl spoke to her mother… I have never seen such disrespect. My children know better than to talk to me like that," Claire added in.
"I feel bad for those children, actually. I mean, she tries so hard to show them off… She doesn't even know that they've shaped their own reputation…" June shook her head and sighed.
Rachel bit back a fit of laughter. If only Mrs. Motta took the time to pay attention to her own daughter. She wouldn't be so quick to dish on others. That was for sure.
"And she wonders why Christopher didn't even offer her daughter a second glance," Claire offered her opinionated voice.
"Carol would've rolled over in her grave, that's for sure," Grace told the women.
Rachel couldn't listen to any more. Not after what had just been said. These women probably enjoyed it too. To smile in one's face and call each other dear friends; just to turn around, pour a glass or two of alcohol and spew the biggest crap about one another. She didn't know how they looked at themselves in the mirror at night. She could never do that to Santana or Sam. But then again, this was what you did when you were raised in the elite of Lima, Ohio. Must be the life, Rachel thought. She'd seen exactly what she'd be leaving behind.
As if a sign from a higher power, her mother appeared back into the kitchen then. The woman was dressed to the nines with her dark blue dress and tan heels. The women shut their mouths, acknowledged her presence, and admired her outfit.
"So, what did I miss?" Shelby asked, pouring another glass of wine.
"We were just talking about how Ashley's not coming to the brunch next month. She removed her name from the list and everything…"
Shelby scoffed, taking a sip of the dark red liquid. "That doesn't come as a surprise to me. The bitch is probably too afraid to show her face after all the things she's been saying about me. I mean, did she really think I wouldn't find out that she was dishing to the whole town about me and my daughter?"
Putting the cookie cutter down on the side of the filled sheet, Rachel turned to the women. "I'm finished. I actually forgot I have something in my room that I have to do."
"Sure, sweetheart. But, don't take too long. I need your help decorating inside. It looks like the storm won't be giving way any time soon, so we can't set up outside."
"Yes ma'am," she smiled politely, knowing her mother was showing off for the five women. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason they became the newest gossip of the town. However, she knew that would come in time; whether she tried to avoid it or not.
When she returned to her room, she found nothing to keep her occupied. So, she sat by her window and watched the horrid weather.
The party was pretty average. Nothing she hadn't seen before. The guests had arrived, the food was eaten, and congratulations were offered to Rachel before conversations of their own were shared.
She'd spent most of the night catching up with Madison. It was then that she learned the girl was at the top of her class. But, her school's graduation was a month later than Rachel's. She'd also started things with one of the bust boys at a charity event a couple of months ago, but explained how they were forced to end it due to her mother's conflicting opinion. Rachel was more than amused when the girl proceeded to tell her of their sneaking around behind Grace's back.
"Well, I'm happy that you're happy," Rachel smiled.
"What about you? Are you happy?" the girl raised an eyebrow, as if she could see right through her anterior. Maybe it was just her natural sarcastic manner. Rachel had come to love that about the girl in the short amount of time they'd known each other.
She couldn't lie. She felt the weight on her chest when she thought about the next few hours to come. If she could change the circumstances, she most definitely would. But it was what was best for her and it was what would lead her to be a whole lot happier than over here. And, that was something to look forward to.
"I'm getting there," she answered truthfully.
"Hell, I'd be getting there too if I were you," Madison chuckled.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Rachel answered, confused.
"When you described your fiancé to me earlier in the year, I thought you were being forced to marry some 30 year old toad. You never told me that Finn Hudson was your spouse-to-be," the girl smirked.
Rachel chuckled as she watched Finn at the kitchen table. He was engaged in a deep conversation with a few business men.
"Speaking of toads," the blonde nudged her shoulder.
Steffie Evans, Gabriella Weston, and Mckayla Jones made their way to Finn's side as the three other men exited the room. The flirting coming from Gabriella and Steffie was as obvious as the fake Gucci purses they were sporting. Mckayla, on the other hand, stood and observed.
Rachel only scoffed and turned back to Madison. "Like a swarm of gnats."
"Who do you think they're trying to impress more, themselves or Finn?" the blonde asked.
"Neither," Rachel pointed to the crowd of older women on the other side of the room. "Their brainwashed mothers are whom they're really seeking approval from."
"How… honorable," the girl commented.
"Tell me about it," Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Hey, I volunteer to hold your earrings and glasses…" The girl held her hands up, suggesting the want for a cat fight.
Rachel laughed again. "Nah, I graduated from all that high school drama today. Besides, I know that I can trust him. Look at his face."
Just when she said that, Finn looked in their direction. She only laughed and shook her head, holding up her drink in a toasting manner, making fun of him. When he shook his head and playfully rolled his eyes at her joke, the girls looked in her direction. Three eye rolls and looks of disgust were thrown her way before she smiled, waved at them, and watched them exit the room. Finn made his way to the two girls.
"I leave you alone for not even five minutes," she joked.
"Hey, don't blame me. Blame the title," he laughed. "They're not the only ones excited about this new hot and young mayor."
"Is your head always this big?" Madison asked, causing laughter from the two girls.
Finn looked at Rachel with a questioning look. "Finn, this is Madison Mitchell. Her mom's Grace Mitchell, the head of all the charity events."
"And currently next in line," the blonde used her sarcasm well as she held out her hand to shake Finn's hand. "Don't mind me sounding like a cliché over here, but I've heard a lot about you."
Rachel blushed when Finn looked to her. "You did?"
"Gushing is kind of Rachel's thing if my observations serve me correctly. But, then again, it might just be the title thing…" the girl joked.
"Hey, you said he was hot too." Rachel defended herself.
"Observations," the girl held up her hands in protest. All three of them laughed.
"Well, here's my ride," the girl announced holding up her phone.
"Leaving so soon?" Rachel asked disappointedly.
"There's only a small window of opportunity. Chance is waiting for me outside. Actually, could you cover for me with my mom? You'd be a life saver."
"Yeah, sure," Rachel replied.
"It was nice to meet you, Finn." The girl started with her farewells. "Rachel, feel free to text me the next time you're in the area and want to hang out." Rachel's chest tightened.
"Will do," she smiled at the girl. She left Finn and Rachel standing alone now.
"She seems fun." He commented. "Who's Chance?"
"Her secret boyfriend," Rachel smiled with a thrill in her voice.
"So, like me?" he wondered, moving forward to wrap his arms around her waists, making sure no one was coming.
"Kind of," she smirked. "Except for the fact that he's a bust boy in some diner they attended a couple months back and if her mom finds out about it, I'm pretty sure she'll never be able to see him again."
"Wow," he breathed. "Rebellion is her calling, I guess."
"I guess," Rachel repeated.
"Will you be rebellious with me for the night?" Finn asked.
"That depends," Rachel began. "Will I remember it in the morning?"
"I hope so," he admitted, taking her hands and leading her out the kitchen door.
The wind was starting to pick up and a few storm clouds were still lingering in the night sky. "Are you crazy? It's about to storm again, Finn!" Rachel exclaimed.
"I thought dancing in the rain was sort of our thing?" he raised an eyebrow. "Besides, it was getting a little crowded in there. You know; girls flirting with me who aren't you. I couldn't take it anymore."
Rachel laughed as he spun her around and brought her body close to his. "I wasn't even worried," Rachel assured him.
"Good," he began to trail the side of her neck with angel kisses. She found her neck going back and her eyes rolling back with the feeling. "You never have to be." He smiled proudly when a moan escaped her lips.
When they found themselves up against the backside of the house, things began to really heat up. The wind blew violently through their hair as their hands followed through. The full-on make out session sent Rachel's face close to degrees of a fire.
He left her breathless when his mouth moved back to her neck and then to her exposed shoulders with the dress. It was when he got to the top of her cleavage line that something clicked. She opened her eyes. "Finn…" she whispered.
He sighed before pulling away. "I know, I know; Not before marriage." He repeated a logic she'd warned him of many times before. "Damn, Berry, your resistance kills me sometimes."
"It's called being traditional and having a good head on my shoulders," She reminded him. "Besides, you were there when they explained the rules. My mom would kill me if I cost our family's entire fortune and title, giving away my virtue during some backyard quickie."
He flashed his knee-weakening half smile, taking her hand in his. "You're absolutely right. So, please, forgive me if this sounds weird." He paused a moment before speaking again. "I'm looking forward to our life together, Rachel. I know we haven't really discussed the forever-terms to this relationship, but you make me feel a certain way. Maybe it's your sense of humor, the sarcasm that you never fail to provide me with on the daily, or just the way that you are. I can't really explain it. But, it makes things brighter than they've ever been for me. And, if I get to wake up with that feeling every morning for the rest of my life, I'll be the happiest man."
"What are you saying?" she asked as he led her to the swing on the back porch.
"I know this whole thing started out pretty horribly in the beginning. I mean, we basically ran around like chickens with our heads cut off." She laughed with him. "It may suck how we have to rush so fast into things; like having kids and all. I might also be speaking on my own idiocy right now. But, if there's one thing that I didn't have before, it's confidence. I'm confident that this is going to be something bigger than either of us can imagine. I hope you feel the same way."
She was conflicted. Anything that she could've done or said at this moment would simply serve as leading him on. So, she remained silent and allowed him to continue.
"I'm sorry for being over the top some times," he apologized with a chuckle. "Like with this speech, and the dress and the necklace and the flashy corsage. "
"You don't have to apologize." Rachel assured him. "It means a lot to me."
"It's just that I'm not like you, I guess." He struggled over his wording. "From the moment I was born, I was given everything that I wanted. Money was never an issue and I could never understand the people who struggled with it, because it wasn't my life or problem." "I've always went overboard with everyone in my life. I think for one Christmas I even bought Puck a Wii." He laughed, as they were now away from all of the people inside. The sound of thunder was growing louder, but that didn't interrupt Rachel's mental grasp on the words coming from his mouth. Instead, she took his hand and listened tentatively as he talked further.
"But, I know that that's not what you want." He told her. "So, I'm going to try my best to change it."
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"I saw your face this morning looking at your mom and the women taking pictures. They're bullies towards one another, Rachel. Brody told me just the other day that they haven't let his mother catch a break over the fact that his father left her for a college student." He informed her. "And, I know for a fact that they're going to expect you to join their daughters in the future; that Shelby will expect that of you."
"I mean, I might not be able to help you with skipping the tea parties and charity events that you hate, but I can protect you from all of that crap." "As for Shelby," he began. "She may think that this is her picnic; that this will keep her at the top of everyone else in town. She may thing that she can just come in and collect whatever she wants. But, I will assure you that she's signing over her authority to me. I will not let that happen and I'm not going to let her get to you," he promised, taking her cheeks in his hands. "You're going to be safe with me. This will be our life together. We'll live for ourselves and no one else. And if I could, I'd write that in stone."
Sighing, she rested her head against his shoulder. Just when she thought for sure that she'd be able to shut the door on the other path and not think twice about it, he had to say these things. More than anything, she was back where she started; confused as hell with two paths at her feet, questioning which one to take. Focus, she warned herself.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Wrapping his arm around her, he placed a kiss on the top of her head. Then, he pulled away, causing her to sit up in confusion.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small white box.
"Is that what I think it is?" Rachel asked.
"Technically, I'm not supposed to be giving this to you right now. Actually, you're not supposed to see this until a few years from now." "As much as I love my dad, he's been talking about going and buying this really flashy ring for you. Like, millions in dollars." He informed her. "But, I told him about what I had in mind and he reluctantly agreed."
He slowly opened it. Rachel's breathing altogether stopped. "It's been in our family for years. You can call it a family heirloom, even." He laughed. "My dad's great grandpa bought it for his wife in the early 1920's."
"It's beautiful," Rachel was breathless. The silver ring shone up at them in the darkness. Circled by an array of diamonds, a large white pearl centered the engagement ring. It was rare, which made her love it even more. "I've never seen anything like this before."
"That's my family for you," Finn laughed. "They always want to be different."
"Did your dad give this to you?" she wondered.
"Yeah," he answered. "It belonged to my mom before she died. My dad had it kept in a box of her stuff. I asked if I could give it to you when the time came, and he approved." Taking it out, he slowly slid it onto her left wedding finger. His face lit up when it glided along with no trouble. As it sat perfectly on her hand, they both stared down in admiration. "I was so scared that I was going to have to get it refitted. But, it's perfect." He smiled, looking to her. The way his face lit up made her stomach turn. She knew this was wrong. This whole thing was wrong.
"Finn, I can't take this." Taking the ring off, she placed it back in its slit.
"Consider it my graduation present to you. A symbol of all the promises I just made to you. The start of our life together," he smiled, closing the box.
"But, this was your mom's and your dad should have it to remember her by," she argued. "I'd feel terrible if I wore it only to make him sad."
"Rachel, it's been a long time. I obviously talked to him before deciding to give it to you. He's fine. He agreed that you should have it. Come on, didn't you say that you were traditional?"
"I just don't want to cause any trouble in accepting this ring." She admitted. "It's beautiful and fragile and your mother's. What if I mess it up or something?"
"You won't. Now, I'm not letting you leave without it. So, here," placing the white box in her hand, he closed her fingers around it.
She closed her eyes, realizing the defeat in her argument. They'd been out here for half an hour, while she listened to him pour out his whole heart to her. A speech filled with feelings and promises that she knew she wouldn't hesitate to return to him if she weren't leaving soon. But she was, in a matter of hours, which left her with nothing to offer him. So, she sat there, letting the silence take control and that killed her inside.
You're going to be happy, I promise, she thought to herself. Her assurance that New York was the light at the end of the tunnel was the only thing that kept her sure she wasn't making a huge mistake. He'll get over this. He'll move on and be happy, she thought. The sooner you cut the string and go, the sooner you'll make things better for yourself. Finn will be fine.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Finn asked, running a hand through her hair.
"I love you so much, Finn Hudson," she didn't know where it came from. The three words just flew from her lips and she had to make sure that he knew it. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she felt better feeling the warmth radiate from him and onto her. "I just really need you to know that. No matter what happens in the future, know that I will always love you."
"I do know it, because I love you too," he chuckled before overcoming with emotion as well. "I guess you just beat me to saying it," he laughed. "Oh well, you snooze you loose."
"Never change," she whispered, wrapping him tighter in her arms.
They stayed this way for the remainder of the night, sharing nothing more than kisses and sweet nothings. It was when Sam came in search of his brother that they retreated back into the house. It was indicated that Christopher was ready to go home. He'd simply had a few and couldn't drive himself. That's where Finn came in.
Sam gave him a few minutes to collect his things and say his last minute farewells. He'd retreated back to the car, leaving the two of them alone in the kitchen once again. The remainder of the guests seemed to be gathered into the living room.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" Finn asked, grabbing her hands. "I was thinking we could go see a movie or something."
She nearly choked before saying, "Yeah, sure. That sounds good."
He smiled, gently pressing his lips against hers in a comfortable fashion. The last kiss they'd share; the mere thought nearly caused her to tremble. His hands fell back to his sides again. The last time she'd touch his skin; she tried to compose herself to not give anything away.
"I love you," he smiled.
"I love you too." She meant every word.
"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
She nodded.
The last time Rachel would ever hear him say anything like that to her again; she found herself clinging to it. With one small movement, his back was turned to her and he was walking away.
This was it, she thought. Her heart dropped about an inch lower. Her composure faded along with her smile. What followed was the curling up of her facial expressions and the trembling that she couldn't run from after all. This image would be burned in her memory for a long time if not forever. The last time she would see Finn in this light, if at all; her heart was shattered in pieces on the floor. The only thing she had left? The promise of her new life and happiness waited.
She took a few minutes to collect herself. Then, she grabbed a bag of chips and a piece of bread from the counter before moving past all of the remaining guests and locking herself in her room.
It was almost one when the last guests pulled out of their driveway. Shelby followed not long after that, coming into her room and telling her goodnight.
She sat at her desk and pulled out two sheets of paper and a pen. With everything she had inside of her, she began to write.
She only stopped at 1:30 to use the bathroom and get a glass of water from downstairs. Tiptoeing to her mother's door, she slowly pushed it open and found the woman snoring in her bed. She sighed with relief. Things were going smoothly so far and she wouldn't do anything to jinx it.
A light tapping applied itself to her window at 2:06. It was Santana. The brunette climbed in through her window in a quiet and alert manner. Rachel looked surprised when tears were running down her own eyes.
"What's wrong?" Rachel asked.
"Brittany asked me out tonight," the girl confessed. "And, I told her I would talk to her about it tomorrow, but I left my phone on my bed in my room. It's just really hard, you know?"
"Finn gave me this," Rachel said, moving to her dresser and handing her friend the white box.
"Is this your engagement ring?" Santana asked, wiping her eyes.
"It was his mom's and he told me that it was a promise of our new life together. Then, he told me he loved me." Rachel wiped her own face.
"I don't think either of us really realized how painful this would be," Santana replied, pulling Rachel in a hug. "But, we have to do it. I meant what I said and I'm not changing my mind. You're not trapped, remember?" she reminded her with a tear-filled chuckle.
"Until the both of us die trying," Rachel replied, giggling with the girl.
Santana placed her hands on her hips and looked around. "Okay, let's hurry and finish packing before we get caught. My mom's waiting down the street."
That's exactly what they did. Rachel took down all of her remaining overnight bags and began shoving clothes into them. She paid no mind to what she was taking. She also paid no mind to how much she put into one bag. Grabbing a smaller one, she emptied out her bathroom, filling it with her necessary toiletries. By the time her closet and drawers were emptied, her room looked like a ghost town.
In a separate bag, she placed all of her pictures and safe-keepings in it. These items included all the photos she'd taken with her closest friends and Finn, the necklace he'd given her for her birthday, the corsage she wore at prom, and other important things she didn't want to leave behind.
It was now almost three am and there was only one more thing left to do in her room. Placing the two sheets of paper in two separate envelopes, she labeled one "Shelby" and the other "Finn". She put them on her made bed.
Next to the envelope labeled "Finn", she gently laid down the little white box. Last, she shut off her cell phone and placed it next to the other items. Digging through her desk drawer, she grabbed the enveloped packed with money and began helping Santana with the bags.
They maneuvered them downstairs as quietly and quickly as she had ever done in her lifetime. By the time everything was downstairs, Rachel shut off the alarm system and helped get them outside. Santana's mother met them at the end of the driveway and began packing the car.
"Rachel, I'll help her with the rest of the bags. Go, do what you have to do before we head out." Santana instructed.
Nodding, she crossed her arms and headed back into the house one last time. Moving back upstairs, she peaked back into Shelby's room to see if she was still sleeping. When she didn't see the figure of the woman in her bed, Rachel's heart dropped in panic.
She lingered there for a moment before hearing the flush of a toilet. She must've gotten up for a trip to the bathroom. Rachel was quick to close the door how it had been before. Turning off the light to her room, she closed that door too.
Careful not to trip over her own feet, she rushed downstairs. Once the alarm system was turned back on, she locked the door behind her and sprinted out of the driveway.
Luckily, Santana's mom had moved the suburban a few feet down the street. So, if Shelby happened to look out the window by any chance, she wouldn't see anything.
By the time she got to the packed vehicle, she was breathless. With a hop, she got into the back seat and closed the door behind her. Locking it, she fastened her seatbelt and sighed with all the relief in the world when the car moved forward.
Taking Santana's hand in her own, she watched the figure of her house fade in the distance. This was it. Rachel sat still in the back seat as her life flipped to the next chapter.
Here's Chapter 12. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)