Thanks so much for all your reviews on the last chapter. I was so excited for this one since New York is my favorite Season 2 episode! There were so many great Finchel moments, and so many great friendship moments for both Finn and Rachel! It was definitely a treat to get to rewatch it, and like I did after the chapter from the Season 1 finale, my next chapter will be about the summer between Season 2 and Season 3! Hope you enjoy and review if you want me to continue!
Chapter 45: New York
The glee club sat around at the Columbus airport, waiting for the boarding call for their flight to New York. Quinn was giving Finn nasty looks. Kurt, Mercedes and Tina were reading a fashion magazine, Brittany and Santana were sharing earphones on Brittany's iPod, Puck and Lauren were watching something on Puck's DVD player, and Sam, Mike and Artie were playing video games on one of the airport's xboxes. And then Finn saw Rachel, with a notebook out, looking like she was deep in thought.
Finn crept up and tapped Rachel's shoulder. "Boo!"
Rachel giggled. "Finn!"
"What are you up to?" Finn asked.
"I'm trying to write a song for Nationals," Rachel said. "Everything I've come up with doesn't seem right."
"I'm sure you'll come up with something," Finn said. He would suggest that they write a song together, but what if she really was with Jesse now? Jesse was certainly acting like they were together.
"I just really want to win," Rachel sighed.
"I know," Finn said. "I do, too."
"Well, I guess since we're doing original songs, that puts all my duet ideas for you and me on the backburner," Rachel said.
She still wanted to do a duet with Finn? Even though she was with Jesse? "You still want to do a duet?"
Rachel gave Finn a big smile. "Of course! Our voices sound perfect together!"
"Well, I'm up for that," Finn said.
"Flight 77 to New York boarding," the announcement came over the loudspeaker.
"Well, we're going to New York!" Rachel said.
"Yes we are," Finn said.
x
The glee club arrived in New York before the hotel's check-in time, so they dropped their luggage off at the hotel and then went to Times Square to hang out and have some lunch. "A year and a half ago, the New Directions were nothing but a group of six misfits, stumbling their way through a horrific rendition of Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat," Kurt said. "Now here we are, at the top of the show choir heap: Nationals!"
"I want to hit up Central Park, get my frolic on," Tina explained.
"I want to throw stuff off the Brooklyn Bridge," Puck declared.
"You guys, hold on. I mean, we still have two songs to write," Finn reminded the group.
"Okay, Mr. Bossy Pants. But I think we might have some time for a tune before we leave," Kurt said, before starting to sing New York New York with the glee club joining in.
Then Rachel came over. "Guys, I have news. To celebrate our impending win at Nationals, I got us all 13 tickets to Broadway's longest-running show ever, Cats!"
A Broadway show? Finn knew that would be Rachel's dream come true. "Yeah, you did!" Brittany cheered.
"You might want to check the dates on those tickets, Rachel, because Cats closed about 11 years ago," Quinn snapped.
Rachel made a face. "He did seem crazy. Charged my credit card by swiping it through his butt-crack."
x
Shortly after, the glee club went to the hotel, and Finn managed to get some one-on-one time with Rachel. He had to wonder: how did Rachel not know that Cats had closed? Wasn't Rachel an expert on all things Broadway? "Hi," Finn said to Rachel.
"Hi," Rachel said to Finn. "I'm surprised at how well Quinn is taking the breakup. I guess I was wrong about her being a vindictive harpy."
Finn knew that wasn't true, but Rachel didn't need any stress. "I guess she just accepted the inevitable."
"Or maybe she's just distracted by the awesomeness of New York," Rachel said, making one of her cute excited faces. "I know I am. Hey, do you know why it smells like it's wet here all the time?"
Finn hadn't noticed that. "No. So, what's going on with you and Jesse?"
"I don't know," Rachel admitted. "He keeps texting me. But I told him I don't want to talk till I get back. No boys, no distractions until we win that trophy."
Well, if they weren't officially together, that was something. But no distractions? Well, Finn was on the team with her, so he wasn't a distraction, right? Before he had a chance to say anything, Mr. Schue came over? "Hey, Finn, where the hell is Puckerman?"
Finn looked and saw Puck and Lauren at the hotel's bar. "There." He wasn't surprised. Still, he had a feeling New York bartenders would be less gullible than Lima ones. Mr. Schue got Puck and Lauren and then gathered the glee club in the hotel lobby. "Okay. Boys, you're in Room 1820. Girls, you're in Room 1821. I'll be in Room 1822."
"I want to share with the girls," Kurt said.
"Fine," Mr. Schue said. "The point is, pick a room and go write your songs."
x
Writing the songs wasn't going well. Brittany and Artie just finished singing a song they'd come up with, and it didn't make much sense.
"Hold on. Are you singing about a cup?" Tina asked.
"Yeah, totally," Brittany said.
Quinn grabbed her coat. "We got to get out of here."
"Wait. No, no, no. Mr. Shue gave us explicit instructions..." Rachel began.
"To write a song, and our problem is, is that our only inspiration are mattresses and bathroom cups," Quinn said.
"Quinn's right," Puck agreed. "We're in the artists capital of the world. Poets, musicians, actors, playwrights. Every dreamer that's ever lived has passed through this city. And if we want our dreams to come true, we need to be out there with them, not stuck in here."
"Guys, I don't think this is a good idea," Finn said. "I mean, we still got those songs to write. If we don't write them, we're going to lose."
"No," Lauren protested. "They're right. Can't you hear the city calling to you?"
"We don't need to write songs for Nationals," Quinn said. "New York's going to write them for us."
"Okay," Rachel agreed. "How about we get a sense of what it's like to perform in New York?"
"What do you mean?" Mercedes asked.
"Let's perform some of our songs from our fundraiser in Times Square," Rachel said. Now that she thought about it, why didn't they just use some of those songs as their setlist? They were cutting it a little close...
"That way we can get a feel of what it's like to sing in New York," Finn said, giving Rachel a half smile.
"Okay, let's go!" Rachel said. The group went to Times Square to sing.
Finn: I don't like cities
But I like New York
Santana: The famous places to visit are so many
Finn: Other places
Make me feel like a dork
Santana: I told my grandpa I wouldn't miss on any
Artie: Los Angeles is for People who sleep
Mercedes: Got to see the whole town right from Yonkers on down to the Bay
Artie: Paris and London
Oh baby you can keep
Santana: Baby you can keep
Mercedes: Baby you can keep
New Directions: Other cities always make me mad
Other places always make me sad
No other city ever made me glad
Except New York, New York
It's a wonderful town (New York)
I love New York
Artie and Mercedes: I love New York (New Directions: New York, New York)
I love New York (New Directions: New York, New York)
New York, New York
Finn: If you don't like my attitude
Then you can get lost
Santana: Manhattan women are dressed in silk and satin
Finn: Just go to Texas isn't that where they golf
Santana: There's just one thing that's important in Manhattan
Artie: New York is not for little wussies who scream
Mercedes: Pick up a date
Maybe seven Or eight
Artie: Paris and London
Oh baby you can keep
Mercedes and Santana: Baby you can keep
New Directions: Baby you can keep!
Other cities always make me mad (Mercedes: Make me mad)
Other places always make me sad (Mercedes: Make me sad)
No other city ever made me glad
Except New York, New York
It's a wonderful town (New York)
I love New York
I love New York
I love New York
Brittany, Rachel, Lauren, Tina and Quinn: We've sailed the seas
And we've been the world over
Made the Mandalay
We've seen the Sphinx
And we've seen the Cliffs of Dover
And we can safely say
Rachel: New York!
New Directions: Other cities always make me mad (Mercedes: Ooow!)
Other places always make me sad (Mercedes: New York!)
No other city ever made me glad except New York, New York
It's a wonderful townNew York!
I love New York
I love New York
I love New York
I love New York
New York, New York
New York, New York
New York now, New York now
New York, New York!
x
Back in the boys' hotel room, Finn couldn't get Rachel out of his mind. "Hey, can I try somethingout on you guys? I think that one of our songs should be a duet with me and Rachel." He hoped the guys would understand. Though she was kind of with Jesse, and people hadn't been impressed during the whole motel thing...
"I just want to win," Mike said. "We all know that you two doing a duet is our best shot at that."
That had gone easier than Finn had dreaded. "Awesome."
"Okay, can we just talk about the Jewish elephant in the room?" Puck asked. "Ask her out, dude."
"Who? Rachel? But she's totally into Jesse right now," Finn said.
"You're in New York, the city of love," Puck said.
"I thought that was Paris," Sam said.
"Anything's possible here," Puck continued. "You need to ask her out tonight. Take her on one of those big, awful dates you see in those unwatchable romantic comedies that you grow a vagina if you watch all the way through."
"This is your shot, dude," Sam added. "If I was in love with a girl, and I wasn't homeless, I'd totally go for it."
"You guys think it'll work?" Finn asked.
"Can't you see how crazy she is about you?" Artie asked. "She spent all semester staring at you."
"But she's kind of with Jesse," Finn said.
"Please, we know he's just a placeholder," Sam said. "Finn, you've got to do this."
"We can even help out," Artie offered.
"Really?" Finn asked.
"Yeah," Mike said. "We can sing a love song to you guys."
"Thanks," Finn said. Maybe this could work. He got out his phone and sent a text message to Rachel. "Meet me at Bow Bridge in Central Park. Dress up." Then he turned to the guys. "Okay, here's what I'm thinking."
x
About an hour later, Finn stood on Bow Bridge in Central Park in a suit and tie, holding a bouquet of flowers he'd bought for Rachel.
There she was. She was walking toward him in a blue dress, with her hair up. She looked so beautiful. Rachel came up to Finn and smiled softly. "Hi."
"Hi," Finn said.
"What's so important?" Rachel asked.
Finn handed Rachel the flowers. "These are for you. I thought since, uh, we're both captains and all, we should write a duet for Nationals." He tried to cover up what he was really doing.
Rachel smelled the flowers. "Tie, flowers, Central Park?"
"Oh, it's a... a work date," Finn stuttered. "Uh, totally professional."
"I see," Rachel said. She linked her arm in Finn's. "So, how do you like New York so far?"
Finn smiled at having Rachel's arm linked in his. "I like it. Are you having fun?"
"Of course," Rachel said. "I do wish we could go to a Broadway show."
"It's too bad that Cats thing was just a prank."
"I know, right?" Finn said. "So, Central Park is pretty nice."
"It's so pretty," Rachel said.
"We do have dinner reservations," Finn told Rachel.
Rachel's face lit up. "Where?"
"You'll see," Finn said.
"I'm intrigued," Rachel said.
Finn had a feeling Rachel would like the restaurant he picked out. He led Rachel to Sardi's, and Rachel's jaw dropped when they arrived.
"You like the place I picked?" Finn asked.
"I love it!" Rachel said. "I've always wanted to go here."
"Well, we're going to," Finn said. He told the host their names and they were seated at the table.
"Oh, my God, I can't believe we're at Sardi's," Rachel exclaimed. "Sardi's! The birthplace of the Tony Award."
Finn looked at the menu. "What's a salad nicose?"
Rachel shrugged. "One day they're gonna put a cartoon likeness of me on these walls."
Finn smiled at Rachel. "I like the way you dream so big. I don't know how to do that. You look so pretty tonight. Rachel, I... I have something to say to you."
Rachel looked ready to listen, but then she noticed something. "Oh, my God! That's Patti LuPone!" Finn gave Rachel a look, telling her to go talk to Patti LuPone. "Oh, no, oh, my God, I can't do this," Rachel said in her cute excited voice. "No. No, I have to... I mean, if not for me, then for Kurt. I mean, he'd kill me if I didn't." She went up to Patti LuPone. "Okay. Excuse me, uh, Miss LuPone? I have to say that you're my idol."
"Well, thank you. That's very sweet of you. Are you an actress?" Patti asked.
"Yes. I'm in high school," Rachel said.
"We're in town for the National Show Choir Championship," Finn said.
"I was in choir in high school. It was my favorite class. What's your name?" Patti asked.
"Rachel Berry," Rachel said.
"Well, Rachel Berry, promise me one thing: you'll never give up," Patti said.
Rachel looked starstruck. "Yes, Ms. LuPone, I promise."
Patti shook hands with Rachel. "Good luck." She shook hands with Finn. "Good luck."
"Thank you," Finn said.
Then Finn heard Patti whisper something to Rachel. "He's cute."
Rachel sat down and giggled. "So, what did you want to tell me earlier?" Rachel asked.
Finn tried to think of the right way to say it. "I'm so sorry."
"No, I am," Rachel said. "I shouldn't have kissed Puck, and I feel horrible. If I could take back any five minutes of my life, that would be it."
"I should have been honest with you," Finn said.
"I can see why you didn't tell me," Rachel said. "You didn't want to hurt me."
"I feel awful about everything that happened," Finn said.
"We can't change the past," Rachel said. "We both learned from it."
"Yeah, we did," Finn said. "So, you forgive me?"
"I forgave you a long time ago," Rachel said. "I think the more important question is you forgive me?"
"Of course," Finn said. "How could I stay mad at you?"
Rachel smiled and came around the table to hug Finn. Finn put his arms around Rachel. He missed her hugs.
The waiter came over. "Are you ready to order?"
Rachel pointed at one of the salads on the menu. "I'll have this."
Finn didn't get most of the food descriptions, so he decided to just go with what Rachel was getting. "Make that two."
"Excellent choices," the waiter said before going away.
"Wait until my dads find out you and I went here," Rachel said.
"So, this is a famous place?" Finn said. "The hotel brochure recommended it."
"Yeah," Rachel said. "So, any plans for the summer? I feel like we haven't really gotten to talk in forever."
"I know," Finn admitted. "Well, I know my family's going to the beach, and I'll be working at a sports day camp."
"That sounds like fun," Rachel said. "You and I should hang out."
"Of course we will!" Finn said, remembering all the fun they had last summer. "What about you? Any plans?"
"Well, my dads and I are coming back here," Rachel said. "I'm also doing a music camp."
"I'm going to be visiting colleges, too," Finn said. "To be honest, I'm terrified."
"Me too," Rachel said.
Rachel? Afraid? "I wouldn't expect you to be afraid," Finn said.
"Of course I am," Rachel said. "Here I'm a big fish in a small pond. There's millions of talented girls out there. And here I have you, and Kurt, and Mercedes. I probably won't know anyone at college."
"It is kind of a scary thought," Finn said. He liked that Rachel was willing to confide in him. That was definitely something.
x
The rest of the evening was beyond perfect. Dinner had been the best Finn and Rachel had ever had, and they went back to Central Park for a walk and then to Times Square. As they walked back to the hotel, Rachel squeezed Finn's arm. "Being in New York is like... falling in love over and over again every minute. Tonight felt like one of those awesome nights you see in all those amazing romantic comedies. All we need now is just a group of street singers to serenade us, and it would be perfect."
Then Rachel heard some singing. She turned and saw Puck, Sam, Mike and Artie.
Puck: Oh this is the night
It's a beautiful night
And we call it Bella Notte
Artie: Look at the skies
They have stars in their eyes
On this lovely Bella Notte
Sam: Side by side
With your loved one
You'll find enchantment here
Artie: The night will weave its magic spell
Sam: When the one you love is near
Ooh
Artie, Puck, Mike and Sam:
This is the night and the heavens are right
On this lovely Bella Notte
This is the night, it's a beautiful night
And they call it Bella Notte
Look at the skies
They have stars in their eyes
On this lovely Bella Notte
Side by side with your loved one
You'll find enchantment here
The night will weave its magic spell
When the one you love is near
Oh this is the night and the heavens are right
On this lovely Bella Notte
Finn smiled and looked at Rachel. "This is the moment in those romantic comedies where... I kiss you."
"I thought this was just a work date," Rachel said.
"Really?" Finn asked.
"No," Rachel said, shaking her head. They hadn't done any work.
Finn smiled and leaned in to kiss Rachel. Then Rachel remembered, she and Jesse had kind of gotten back together. She hadn't thought about him all evening, but she was kind of with him. "I can't," Rachel said.
"Take a chance on me," Finn whispered.
"I'm sorry, Finn. I can't," Rachel said, walking away.
When Rachel was gone, Finn turned to the boys. "She was having such a great time. I thought she was going to get back with me..."
"You'll have to move on to step two," Puck said.
"Step two?" Finn asked.
"We need a song for Nationals for the duet still," Sam said. "Write a song for Rachel, about how much you love her. She won't be able to resist."
This was worth a shot. Finn definitely had some things in mind.
x
By the time Rachel got back to the hotel room, Kurt and the girls were already asleep. She'd wanted to kiss Finn so badly, but she was sort of with someone else. She fell asleep, thinking about the great night she'd had with Finn, worried she'd ruined it. The next morning, Rachel felt Kurt leaning over her. "Rachel, wake up!"
"Why?" Rachel asked.
"We're going to breakfast at Tiffany's," Kurt said.
Rachel had always wanted to do that. As she and Kurt left the hotel, she told him all about her night with Finn, and then they bought some bagels. "We're gonna get into so much trouble for this," Rachel admitted.
Kurt didn't seem to care. "How awesome are these bagels?!"
"It's the water," Rachel said. "Ah, you're the only one besides me who understands how amazing this place is. Which is why I have a secret to tell you. When we graduate I'm coming back here and I'm going to college here. This is where I belong."
"I am so coming, too," Kurt said.
"Really?" Rachel asked. At least if Kurt was in the city, it wouldn't be too scary.
"And I talked to Blaine; he's on board as well," Kurt said.
Rachel liked the idea of having Blaine there. "Good. What am I gonna do about Finn? I mean, I think he wants to get back together, and I really do, too, but I can't have anything keep me from my Manhattan destiny."
"Bring him along," Kurt said. "He'll be great if we need to move anything heavy."
But what if Finn didn't want to come? "No. Finn won't come... he's too much of a country boy."
"Ah, the age-old dilemma: Love or career?" Kurt said. "You're gonna have to make a choice."
"I don't know how," Rachel admitted. She hoped she wouldn't have to choose. She loved Finn so much.
"I do. Follow me," Kurt said, leading Rachel to the Gershwin Theatre, where Wicked played.
"I love this show, but it's not helping me make up my mind," Rachel said.
"We have to go in," Kurt said. "Strike that. We have to break in."
Kurt opened the theatre and led Rachel in. "No, we can't be in here," Rachel whispered. "They say that if you get arrested in a theater, you're blackballed for life!"
"It's 9 a.m.," Kurt whispered back.
A security guard came up to them. "Hey! You're not supposed to be in here."
"We're extras. They told us to come early," Kurt lied.
"We're, um, being... being fitted for our munchkin costumes," Rachel added, hoping the security guard would buy it.
"You're from Indiana, right?" the guard asked.
"Ohio, actually," Rachel admitted.
"And you got some big Broadway dream about singing a song on a real Broadway stage," the guard said.
"Look, we're really sorry..." Kurt began.
"You got 15 minutes," the guard said, walking away.
Kurt led Rachel on to the stage. "If you have to choose, you have to visualize both of the options."
"How?" Rachel asked.
"Sing," Kurt said. "Picture yourself standing in front of a full audience, belting out the final song of one of the greatest musicals of all time."
"There's no orchestra," Rachel pointed out.
"Make one. In your mind," Kurt said as they began to sing the closing number from Wicked.
Rachel: I'm limited,
Just look at me,
I'm limited, and just look at you,
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda.
So now it's up to you, for both of us
Now it's up, to you...
Kurt: I've heard it said,
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn,
And we are led, to those who help us most to grow
If we let them, and we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true,
But I know I'm who I am today, because I knew you.
Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood,
Who can say, if I've been changed for the better?
Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.
Rachel: It well may be that we will never meet again
In this lifetime,
So let me say before we part,
So much of me is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart,
And now, whatever way our stories end,
I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.
Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea,
Like a seed dropped by a skybird in a distant wood,
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But, because I knew you...
Kurt: Because I knew you
Kurt and Rachel: I have been changed for good
Rachel: And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for
Kurt: But then, I guess we know there's blame to share
Kurt and Rachel: And none of it seems to matter anymore
Kurt (Rachel): Like a comet pulled from orbit (Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun (By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder (Like a seed dropped by a bird)
Halfway through the wood (In the wood)
Kurt and Rachel: Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better.
Kurt: And because I knew you..
Rachel: Because I knew you..
Kurt and Rachel: Because I knew you,
I have been changed for good
At the end of the song, Rachel went over to hug Kurt. She'd just sang on a Broadway stage. And one day, she had to come back and sing on one of these stages for a sold out crowd.
x
Finn had written an amazing song for Nationals.
Rachel couldn't help, as they practiced it, to think about how much she loved Finn. It expressed her thoughts perfectly, and she couldn't wait to share that with everyone. The other groups that had performed had been pretty amazing, and to say that Rachel was worried was an understatement. She had apologized to Sunshine Corazon earlier today, and now she and Finn were backstage. She went up to Finn. "You wrote an amazing song, Finn. I didn't know you had it in you."
"Who cares about the song?" Finn asked. "What I don't understand is, all you've ever wanted is for us to be together, and I'm basically standing here begging for you, and suddenly you're not interested."
"I am interested," Rachel said. "More than interested. This is my dream. Being here in New York. I'm not gonna let anyone or anything keep me from it. I'm sorry, Finn. I love you. But... there's nothing you can say or do that's gonna change my mind about it."
"And now, from William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio, the New Directions!" the MC said as Finn and Rachel took the stage for their duet.
Finn and Rachel: Face to face and heart to heart
We're so close yet so far apart
I close my eyes I look away
That's just because I'm not OK
Rachel: But I hold on
Finn and Rachel: I stay strong
Wondering if we still belong
Will we ever say the words we're feeling?
Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls
Will we ever have a happy ending?
Or will we forever only be pretending?
Will we al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always be pretending?
How long do I fantasize?
Make believe that it's still alive
Imagine that I am good enough
And we can choose the ones we love
Finn: But I hold on
Finn and Rachel: I stay strong
Wondering if we still belong
Will we ever say the words we're feeling?
Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls
Will we ever have a happy ending?
Or will we forever only be pretending?
Will we al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always be
Keeping secrets safe
Every move we make
Seems like no one's letting go
And it's such a shame
'Cause if you feel the same
How am I supposed to know?
Finn and Rachel: Will we ever say the words we're feeling? (Rachel: Oh, oh!)
Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls (Rachel: Tear down all the walls)
Will we ever have a happy ending?
Or will we forever only be pretending? (Finn: Only be pretending)
Will we al-al-al-al (-ways)
(al-al-al-al) -ways, (Finn: al-al) al-al-al-always be
Rachel: Pretending? oh! (Finn: Pretending?)
Finn and Rachel: Will we al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always, al-al-al-al (-ways be) (Finn: al-al)
Rachel: Pretending? (Finn: Pretending?)
Finn and Rachel: Will we al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always, al-al-al-always be pretending?
At the end of the song, Rachel just couldn't hold it in anymore. She was just overwhelmed by everything, but she knew she wanted to get back with Finn. They could figure out what to do after high school. Right now, all she wanted to do was kiss him.
And she did.
And he kissed her back.
For several moments.
And it felt better than any kiss they'd ever had.
Finn and Rachel stared at each other for a few moments before they realized the group number was about to begin. They took their places as the music began.
Santana: Hey-hey-hey, you and me
Keep on dancing in the dark
It's been tearing me apart
Never knowing what we are
Hey-hey-hey, you and me
Keep on tryin' to play it cool
Now it's time to make a move
And that's what I'm gonna do
Artie: Lay it all down (New Directions: All down)
Brittany: Got something to say
Artie: Lay it all down (New Directions: All down)
Brittany: Throw your doubt away
Artie: Do or die now (New Directions: Die now)
Brittany: Step on to the plate
Artie and Brittany: Blow the door wide open like
Up, up and away
New Directions: Let's light up the world toni-i-ight
You gotta give up the bark and bi-i-ite
I know that we got the love alri-i-ight
Come on and li-li-light it up
Light it up tonight
Let's light up the world toni-i-ight
You gotta give up the bark and bi-i-ite
I know that we got the love alri-i-ight
Come on and li-li-light it up
Light it up tonight
Finn: Hey-hey-hey you and me
Turn it up ten thousand watts
Tell me why we've gotta stop
I just want to let it rock
Artie: Hey-hey-hey you and me
Artie and Tina: Keep on staring at the road
Like we don't know where to go
Step back, let me take control
Artie: Lay it all down (New Directions: All down)
Brittany: Got something to say
Artie: Lay it all down (New Directions: All down)
Brittany: Throw your doubt away
Artie: Do or die now (New Directions: Die now)
Brittany: Step on to the plate
Artie and Brittany: Blow the door wide open like
Up, up and away
New Directions: Let's light up the world toni-i-ight
You gotta give up the bark and bi-i-ite
I know that we got the love alri-i-ight
Come on and li-li-light it up
Light it up tonight
Let's light up the world toni-i-ight
You gotta give up the bark and bi-i-ite
I know that we got the love alri-i-ight
Come on and li-li-light it up
Light it up tonight
No matter what happened, they'd given it their all, and whatever came out of the competition was what was meant to be.
x
When the performances were over, Rachel went up to Finn in the lobby. "I think we were good."
"Good?" Finn asked. "We were amazing."
"The kiss was... interesting," Rachel said, smiling at the memory.
"Yeah, I'm calling it The Kiss of the Century," Finn declared.
Jesse came over. "You're wrong, Finn. That kiss was unprofessional. It was too personal and intense. The judges won't like it. They'll consider it common and vulgar, and it cost you Nationals. Hi, Rachel. You look amazing, and you sounded great. Just shouldn't have kissed him."
"Why are you here, Jesse?" Rachel asked. She just wanted to be with Finn now.
"For you," Jesse said.
Finn stepped toward Jesse. "Dude, back off. You're just jealous. Jealous of what we have, and what we shared with the entire audience, because it was shared between two people who love each other. It was the Superman of kisses. It-It came with its own cape, right, Rachel?"
Rachel nodded as she watched people head toward one of the bulletin boards. "What's happening?"
Kurt came over to Finn and Rachel. "They just posted the top ten for showcase. Everybody, gather around! It's a moment two years in the making."
"Okay, what should we do?" Rachel asked.
"Let's go look at it... together," Mr. Schue said, rounding up the glee club as they all walked over together.
"Oh, I'm too nervous to look," Rachel said.
"I'll go," Mr. Schue said, going up to the board.
"What did we place? Well, Mr. Shue? Say it. What did we rank?" Finn asked.
"We didn't," Mr. Schue said. "I'm so sorry, you guys. We aren't in the top ten."
Rachel's heart dropped. She expected to at least be in the top ten - but to not make it at all, it hurt. Especially after all their hard work.
x
The days after Nationals weren't easy. The New Directions had placed 12th and the glee club was blaming Finn and Rachel for kissing. Jesse had lectured Rachel for kissing Finn, and Rachel had ended things. And Finn was nowhere to be found. Rachel wanted to tell him that it didn't matter to her that they lost, that she was just glad to have him back. But he left almost as soon as they got to the airport, and she couldn't find him all over the school. Finally, she found him in the library. "Where have you been?" Rachel asked.
Finn looked ready to cry. "Hiding out. Everyone hates me."
"No, they don't," Rachel said softly. "It doesn't explain why you haven't said a word to me since we've been back."
"Cause you should be more pissed at me than anyone else," Finn rambled. "I screwed up! I'm humiliated. We worked so hard for everything, and I was supposed to be this big shot leader, holding everyone together, and... I blew it. Cost us the championship."
Rachel sat next to Finn. "Look, being an artist is about expressing your true feelings, in the moment, no matter what the consequences. What were you feeling in that moment?"
"That I loved you," Finn said. "And that I would have done or given anything to kiss you one more time."
"So you did. You know, you gave it all up for one kiss. Was it worth it?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Finn said. "What about you? Was it worth it for you?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "Cause I know in my heart we'll have another shot at Nationals." As far as she was concerned, she and Finn had won. They'd won each other once again. But she might as well tell him about the issue that was on her mind. "You have to know that I... I'm leaving, Finn. I'm going to New York, and I'm never coming back."
"Graduation's a year away. You got any plans till then?" Finn asked as they leaned in and kissed again.
They had a year still. They had a year to enjoy each other and figure out what to do. And right now, Rachel just wanted to make the most of the time with Finn she'd missed so much.
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