Chapter Two

Senior year of high school should be full of changes, right? Boys stop behaving like the idiots they usually are, and girls put aside the superficial and think about their future.

Well, that's what Rachel thought, but unfortunately, her hopes went up in smoke from day one.

"It will be my year, my last year, and I'm not going to let some Neanderthal perish my purpose," the little voice in Rachel's head reiterated to her as a moral support. Unfortunately, it wasn't comforting enough when it came to having to deal with that particular boy.

"Can this day get any worse?" Rachel wondered when she heard the boy that she absolutely couldn't stand - the guy who, for years, had always tormented her, though his reasoning was still unclear - the tall guy with the red leather jacket who, from what people say, made every single girl drop at his feet just by being the quarterback of the football team.

Finn.

She and Finn had known each other practically since they were born, and even if he didn't want to admit it, he was a mama's boy. This didn't surprise Rachel, Carole was one of the kindest women she had ever met, and it was obvious why she and Rachel's dads were such good friends. Anyway, two years ago, Carole's had married Burt, Kurt's father.
Kurt had established a great friendship with Rachel and they also had decided to go to New York, live together in an apartment and attend NYADA. Although at first, they were only able to fight for solos for school plays, he was gentle and kind to her.

It was too bad she could not say the same for his stepbrother.

"I don't want to start arguing, so could you please help me? Or do you not even know what 'help' means?" Rachel said, putting on a smile.

"I thought you didn't want to start to argue," Finn answered with the same smirk on his face.

Damn. Why did he always have to have an answer ready?

Rachel opened her mouth, trying to find something to say, but Finn's smirk didn't let her speak nor think. She pursed her lips, grabbed her books and stood up, thinking it was the most mature thing to do.

"Wow," Finn whispered, checking Rachel out slowly, as if he were admiring her figure.

Why did he seemed so amazed and charmed all of a sudden? Perhaps over the past few months, he was actually able to mature just a little. Or maybe he was trying to apologize, saying she looked fine. Rachel gave him a nervous smile, which was quickly replaced by an offended look as soon as the boy opened his mouth.

"Your stature hasn't changed one iota. You're still the usual gnome," Finn said, giving her a small pat on the head.

"You know what?" Rachel shifted abruptly Finn's hand, "I don't have the time for your banter, the bell rang at least—" (she glanced at the clock over Finn's head) "5 minutes ago, and if I'm late, it will be all your fault," she said, poking his chest before going to class with her usual dramatic exit, listening, annoyed, to Finn's smug chuckle.

She hoped she wouldn't have to see him again for the rest of the day, but of course, luck had never been on her side, because Quinn and Puck had different classes while, strangely enough, Finn shared most of hers.

However, Rachel entered the classroom just in time and so did Finn. Seriously, how fast was that guy?

English class began and, as usual, many of the students were busy, minding their own business. It almost seemed that Rachel was the only one who appeared interested and focused, at least when she wasn't disturbed by a six-foot-three boy who liked to throw paper balls at her from behind. She pretended not to feel anything, but as soon as the sixth paper ball hit her head, she lost her patience. Didn't he have anything better to do than harass her?

Rachel was about to give up and yell at him. She had slammed the pencil on the desk and turned to the guy sitting behind her, glaring at him with one of her more terrifying looks, or so she called it. Evidently, Finn didn't feel the same way, because instead of looking scared, he just seemed pleased. She would seriously have wanted to wipe that satisfied smile away with all her strength. She was about to open her mouth when someone knocked on the door bringing back the silence.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Ryan," said a boy from another class. "I have a bunch of flowers for a girl named Rachel Berry."

The teacher nodded as she wasn't even interested and pointed toward the direction of the girl in question. The boy put the flowers right in front of her desk and, after apologizing again for the disruption, he left the classroom.

Rachel was shocked and embarrassed at the same time, hoping no one would notice these two emotions on her face. When Mrs. Ryan turned her back to the class to write on the blackboard, Rachel took that opportunity to read the small, enclosed letter.

"Love, your secret admirer," it said simply.

She smelled the beautiful daisies, smiling. The arrangement was simple, nothing fancy, and perhaps because of that, she appreciated them even more.

She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't even notice that someone from behind was watching her with an unreadable expression.

The rest of the other lessons passed quickly, and without Rachel even realizing it, it was already lunch time.

They were all gathered at the same table, even though most of them were busy exchanging effusions. Tina and Mike did nothing but rub their noses to each other. Santana and Brittany were smiling at one another while they intertwined their little finger. Sam was intent on making Mercedes laugh with his "impressions," while Kurt and Blaine just exchanged sweet kisses as soon as they could. Don't get her wrong, she was happy to see all her friends so in love. She found them all adorable and very tender but, being the only one in the group, along with Artie and Finn, not to be in a relationship depressed her a little. Sometimes, she was ashamed to say that she was almost 18 and had never even kissed a boy, not that this was her aspiration.

Rachel continued to let her mind wander and, thinking back to what had happened during first period, she couldn't suppress a smile.

"What're you grinning for, Berry?" Santana asked.

"Uhm, nothing, just..."

"I know what it is," Quinn interrupted her, smiling. "I believe that, by now, the entire school already knows that your infamous admirer gave you some flowers this morning."

Rachel wanted to bury herself at that moment. She knew that Quinn's intentions were good, but why couldn't she understand that talking about certain things made her uncomfortable?

The stares of her gang didn't go unnoticed. Almost everyone had stopped doing what they were doing to watch Rachel curiously, as if waiting for her to continue.

"Can we not talk about this right now?"

Rachel's eyes widened when she heard Finn talking. Was he trying to help her?

"Oh, c'mon, we all know that Finnocence here doesn't want to talk about it because he's jealous to see RuPaul drooling over Prince Charming," Santana said smoothly. She has never had any problems with the words.

"Please," Finn continued while he ate his lunch. "It's just that I still cannot believe that there's a guy crazy enough to have a crush on this runt. I mean, did you see her? Even a toddler would be more attractive than her."

Soon after the words came out of his mouth, Finn realized that, perhaps, he had exaggerated a bit too much. He kept his eyes glued to the plate waiting for one of Rachel's outbursts. Everyone was surprised when it didn't happen.

"I... I have to go. I forgot to put my book in the locker and I'd better to take it now before the next class starts." Rachel stood up from the table and smiled bitterly to the rest of her friends before running away. "See you later."

Silence conquered the group, and no one had the courage to say anything. Suddenly, a noise startled everyone, and they turned to Finn, who was rubbing his head in pain. "What the hell was that for, San?!"

"I'm sorry, but my hand likes to slap jerks like you," Santana said as she began to file her nails.

"Hate to admit it, Finn, but Santana has a point," Artie said in a low tone.

Finn looked up and turned toward the door.

Yeah, okay maybe they were right. Obviously he didn't seriously think about what he had said; no one in their right mind would think such a thing. But it wasn't Finn's fault Rachel's presence unnerved him... right?

It had been only a day since that little incident in the cafeteria, and Rachel's friends seemed not to want to talk about it anymore. Finn had even apologized, saying he didn't have to cross the line.

Rachel wanted to start the year in the best way, so she forgave him without many problems. It was Finn and she knew very well that his impulsiveness never let him think before speaking.

Once again, it was lunchtime, and before going to join her friends, Rachel stood at her locker to put down her books, when she noticed a small white envelope inside of it.

"Aren't you gonna read it?"

For a moment, Rachel forgot that Finn was next to her. Sometimes, he almost seemed like a ninja. He was there even when people thought he was not around, even though it seemed impossible not to notice him, considering his size.

Dear Rachel,
I'm not very good with words and, to be honest, I don't have so much to say, but I just need to thank you. Thank you for giving me the strength to get up every morning and walk through the halls of this stupid school just to see you. Soon - I don't know exactly when - I'll tell you all this face to face.
Love,
Your secret admirer

Rachel read the letter mentally and giggled merrily. It was really cheesy but couldn't help but find it sweet.

She continued to admire how carefully noting the letter was written. Apparently, the guy didn't have perfect penmanship, because it seemed as though he had spent an hour just to write the first sentence. Also, this characteristic brought a smile to her face, and only then did she realize that Finn was still there, watching her.

"What?" asked Rachel.

"Nothing," Finn answered, shaking his head. "C'mon let's go to lunch before Mercedes eats all the tater tots."

Rachel tried to hold back a chuckle. Though it was hard to admit, Finn was always able to make her laugh, even unintentionally.

It was times like these that his company wasn't so terrible. Once again, however, her laugh was pale when she noticed the look Finn was giving her.

"Can you please tell why you keep looking at me?"

Just then, Finn looked away and kept walking. "It doesn't matter; you wouldn't understand, anyway."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Rachel bewildered.

"That you're so stupid, that you wouldn't understand, even if I explained it to you." Finn answered smirking.

Rachel gasped incredulous. "You know it's really ridiculous told by a meathead like you, who can't even get a C and doesn't know what to do with the rest of his life!"

Finn's face fell. Rachel opened and closed her mouth, trying to apologize, but no sound came out. Finn turned his gaze straight ahead while Rachel kept her head down, feeling a lump in her stomach.

The cafeteria had never seemed so distant.

"You settle for mediocrity," Rachel said after a moment of total silence. "But you're better than that." She hoped to have attracted his attention, and to have somehow remedied what she had said before. She knew that it was out of place and tried in every way to feel less guilty.

"What does mediocrity mean?"

Seriously?

Rachel decided to give up. It was useless to try to be gentle with someone like him.

"If you won't even thank me for the compliment, could you at least tell me why you keep staring at me?"

"What makes you think that I keep looking at you. Narcissist much?" He said turning to her.

Finn was expecting another of Rachel Berry's answers and was greatly surprised when no sound came out from the girl's mouth, and her eyes were speaking for her. It was as if Rachel was inviting him with just a look to give her an answer. But he couldn't give her one. Or at least not right now.

"I promise you that I'll tell you another time. Now, I just want to eat. I'm starving," said Finn touching the small rolls of flab that he had on his stomach.

Rachel wanted to keep a straight face but how could she with a guy like that? She started walking again and turned around only when she noticed that Finn was still motionless.

"Why are you still standing there? I thought you were hungry, giant." She didn't miss the small smile that popped up on the boy's face before he shoved her friendly.

"Let's go, dwarf."

A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait and for the boring chapter. I know that nothing much happen but I promise that the next one will be better. Anyway, thank you all so much for the kind reviews, for adding my story to your story alert and favorite stories, and most of all, for your support. It means the world to me.

Also I want to give a huge thanks to my beta Rebecca Ripple for helping me. I cannot thank you enough!

As always, this chapter is dedicated to the most wonderful angel in heaven, Cory.