Chapter Six
"No more Barbra, Celine, 'Wicked,' 'Les Mis,' 'Funny Girl,' 'Funny Lady,' 'Hello Dolly' or 'The Way We Were' for the rest of the week and, just to be sure, we'll put all your DVDs in our room. Also, you will not be allowed to sing before dinner for me and your dad."
The words of her papa, Hiram, were the first thing Rachel thought on Friday morning, the day in which her punishment would be over.
As expected, neither of her dads was excited about the trouble that Rachel had started during English class, despite admiring the way she had decided to support Finn for his gesture. They called the Hudson-Hummel house that night, after Rachel had informed them that she and Finn would have to stay at school until 5, to thank Finn for defending their daughter, and to convince Carole to not get angry and not to punish her son. Luckily for Finn, his mother and his stepfather Burt had confiscated nothing from him, but had forced him to accompany Rachel home for the whole week.
It was quite uplifting to know that she wouldn't have to take the bus and especially knowing that this was the last day she was imprisoned in the auditorium. Of course, she loved the auditorium; it was, perhaps, her favorite place in the entire school, but if she had to stand on that stage, it should have been to sing and perform, not to clean.
When she thought Finn was too busy complaining and cleaning to notice, Rachel began to sing and twirl with a broom in her hand. She couldn't sit still to sweep over a stage, even though it was only the school one. Most of the time though, Rachel stopped immediately and resume to "work" when she noted the sharp look Finn gave her. She wasn't the kind of person who was easily embarrassed, but Finn was difficult to decipher. Every time his face didn't let any emotion show, it bothered her because she never knew what he was thinking.
There was about a half hour left before the end of the detention and, as usual, Finn had already finished and was practically lying down with arms and legs outstretched, as if he had just fought a battle in the war. How was it possible that that boy was able to spend hours on the football field to practice or play a game, but wasn't able to spend an hour to clean up?
Rachel didn't even want to imagine how much housework Carole did, knowing that one of her sons was so lazy.
It was unbearable though. It was unbearable as all these Finn's defects seemed to disappear as soon as his eyes rested on hers. She remembered the first evening he had accompanied her. Rachel thought about that kiss. That tiny and innocent kiss she had printed on his cheek. How was it possible to feel so many emotions for a simple kiss on the cheek? If she was so shaken by that little contact with Finn's skin, she didn't dare to think what she would feel if her lips were ever to touch his. His lips was thin, but when he spoke or smiled, Rachel couldn't help but stare at it. Only a fool wouldn't want to kiss the quarterback of the school, and even though Rachel was different from her peers, she had to admit that she wondered frequently whether or not he was a good kisser.
The only person who Finn had ever kissed, apart from his mother, was Becky Jackson, an autistic girl and Coach Sue's assistant. Becky had taken Finn by surprise when, on Valentine's Day during their Junior year, she had asked him to be her Valentine before kissing him in the middle of the hall. It was sweet of Finn not rejected her, who boasted all day to have received the most beautiful kiss of her life. Once again, that had come from Becky, and who knew how many guys had really kissed her? Strangely, Becky's crush vanished the next day when she showed up at school, arm in arm with Jason, an autistic guy.
Rachel tried to focus and not wander down memory lane as she always did when she saw Finn raise his shirt to wipe the sweat on his forehead, leaving his belly uncovered. He wasn't the typical boy full of muscles, but he was still in good… scratch that... very good shape.
Rachel snapped her mouth shut when Finn lowered his shirt, without pulling his back off the floor.
"Another 20 minutes," Finn announced, closing his eyes.
Rachel sighed and finished tidying the auditorium before allowing herself a break. If Finn could finish cleaning before the appointed time, so could she.
She was pleasantly proud of herself when she saw that everything was in its place, except for the huge figure lying in the middle of the stage. Rachel rolled her eyes when she saw that Finn, in all this time, hadn't moved one iota. She was about to approach him and take his own position, because she had to admit that it seemed to be quite comfortable, when her attention fell on something else. Rachel's eyes lit up as she sat down on the stool in front of the piano. She touched the shiny keys with her fingers, smiling to herself. She loved the feeling that she felt when she was in contact with the music. It was, along with acting, her whole life. Before she could stop herself, she began to play simultaneously intoning the lyrics of one of the songs from the musical Les Mis, "On My Own". She drifted from music completely forgetting where she was. She continued to play and sing until the song ended. She put her hands over her legs and retrieved the lost breath. Only afterward did she realize that Finn was no longer sitting on the floor but next to her. His eyes were bright but had a little smile on his face. He was the one to break the silence.
"You will certainly go to Broadway, there's no doubt," Finn said gently, without taking his eyes from her. "You really are amazing. The most talented person I know."
"I know," Rachel joked, making Finn chuckle. His dimples were still more visible and adorable in some way. From this close, she could see the details of his face that she had never even noticed before. The freckles upon his nose, that she secretly adored, had been still there for all these years, as well as the half-smile that all girls went crazy for. Finn's laughter slowly faded and his amber eyes observed Rachel's face, staring first her eyes, then her nose and in the end they stopped on her mouth. She noticed his Adam's apple go up for a second and his lips tighten. It seemed as if he wanted to kiss her, however absurd the thought. Not to kiss her as she had done, but seriously. Her hypothesis was concretized more and more when she noticed their distance decrease and Finn's face approach. For a moment she thought that it was a kind of optical illusion, but it wasn't. Finn's hand was resting on her thigh and she didn't even know for how long it has been there. His touch was different. It was different from that of her fathers, or any of her friends. She couldn't explain how it was different, it just was.
Maybe she was taken by the moment. Maybe it was how tired she was that caused her better judgment to abandon her. She didn't know. Whatever the reason was, though, instead of moving, Rachel slowly closed her eyes, feeling the breath of the boy as he came closer and closer. Barely an inch separated them, but before that distance could disappear completely, the front door of the auditorium opened abruptly, making the two fall down. Rachel was lying on the floor, unable to move from the pain of the fall, and because someone else's body was practically on top of her.
"In my office. Now!" The voice of Coach Sylvester drew their attention, and they shared a worried expression, both praying not to get another detention. Although, to tell the truth, there was no reason for it. They had done nothing... yet.
"I was doing one of my usual inspections when I came across the most gruesome scene of my entire life! Equal only to the nakedness of your classmate, Jacob Ben Israel."
"Coach Sylvester, we weren't doing anything-"
"Shut it, Frankenteen. I know exactly what kind of guy you are. The school's deserted, so you find an empty classroom with a somewhat questionable girl..."
Rachel gasped at the insult without attracting the attention of the woman, who continued to speak as usual.
"...and your hormones are in an uproar over it all. You," Coach Sylvester pointed Finn looking intensively, "Sugar Ray, are no exception. It's disgusting how I am able to smell your arousal for this miniature copy of Streisand. What my poor eyes had to watch a few minutes ago was absolutely disgusting, and I could expel you for having been caught in a position that is only used in wrestling here at school."
"But I won't," spoke the coach after a long and agonizing pause. "I only want to see your dirty teenage faces out of my office! And I hope it is clear that I do not want to see a scene like that again."
Rachel and Finn nodded without hesitation despite not having done anything, at least not yet. They hurried to leave the office and that moment of embarrassment behind.
What the hell had just happened?
Finn had already slipped the car keys to operate the pump. The engine was on, and he was ready to back out of his parking space. Since they had left the coach's office, neither of them had said a word. The silence was ridiculously annoying, and Rachel didn't like the atmosphere that it created at all. They used to talk and joke animatedly, and she wasn't used to the less talkative Finn. She felt the need to defuse the tension. Maybe that was just the problem: they were tense - not because of what had happened in that office, but for what might have happened in the auditorium, had Coach Sylvester not stepped in.
Rachel kept tapping her fingers against the window nervously, noting that Finn kept wiping sweat from his forehead, although it was not hot at all.
"We should celebrate."
Finn stopped at the stop sign before looking at Rachel as if she had two heads.
"You know, our last day of detention," Rachel chuckled when he saw the boy's expression.
Finn nodded, hiding a smile before resuming driving. "Where to?" he asked.
Rachel missed the way Finn's side of the mouth rose happily, as if he knew exactly where to go when she answered, "You choose."
Rachel knew where she was. She didn't come from another world. It's just that she had never been there before. Shoes and balls used by others, and probably full of germs, weren't exactly the kind of thing that she loved. Her idea of "celebrating" consisted of a marathon of classic musicals, or going to a record store or a karaoke night, which was the complete opposite of Finn's choice. Instead, he chose the last place on Rachel's mind: the bowling alley.
A week before, Rachel wouldn't have expected to find herself writing her name on a sheet to play bowling. She deliberately ignored the petty giggle from the fake boobs girl who worked there when Rachel attached a gold star after her name and waited for Finn to write his name as well. She watched as the bowling girl looked at Finn with gentle eyes and fiddled with a lock of her hair flirtatiously, while the boy seemed not to notice either. It was something that happened often. Finn always seemed oblivious to what surround him, and if someone were to flirt with him, he never showed any interest, almost like he felt uncomfortable. As hard as it was for her to admit it, he could have any girl he wanted, and yet, here he was, 18 years old, single and willing to spend his Friday afternoon with her. Strangely, she was glad to be able to have his company; almost all of their friends were in a relationship and she preferred to stay with Finn rather than being the odd girl out.
Both were in front of their track, and Rachel was the first to have to start. Finn looked at her impatiently for her to start, but minutes passed and she was still standing, staring at the balls with fear in her eyes.
"Do I have to put my fingers in the holes?" Rachel asked without looking away from the balls. "What if they're full of germs and bacteria, and I get sick? Or worse, what if my fingers get stuck in those?!" She cried dramatically, turning to Finn.
"Okay, first of all, they clean and disinfect everything. At least I hope so," he whispered the last part hoping that Rachel didn't hear it. "And second, I highly doubt that your little fingers can be trapped," he said with an amused smirk.
Rachel just rolled her eyes and finally grabbed a pink ball before positioning in front of the line where she would have to throw the ball. "And now?" She asked without turning around. Before she knew it, she felt the strong hands of a certain boy resting on her shoulders and his breath in her ear. "Pulls your arm back," whispered Finn, taking Rachel's wrist to move her arm backwards. "Stare straight the pins, think of the thing that infuriates you the most, and throw as hard as you can." Her back was practically attached to his stomach and she felt his heart beat faster. He was breathing quickly and his hands were sweaty, and Rachel could tell that he was nervous, but he didn't want to show it which made her smile involuntarily. With a flick, she threw the ball forward breathing a sigh of relief when her fingers didn't get stuck. The ball spun quickly enough, but instead of following the path straight, it gradually turned to the right falling in one of the two channels. Rachel bit her lip in shame when she heard the guy who had been right behind her two seconds before, now sitting, giggling about the missed shot. "Are you sure this is your first time?"
Finn won.
It wasn't a surprise considering that, apparently, bowling was one of the quarterback's favorite free-time activities.
Rachel hated to lose. She had to be the best in everything she did, but she had to admit that it was fun. She didn't think she would have so much fun, and yet the tiny dances that Finn did whenever he did strike were hilarious. For a moment, Rachel thought she could she bring down all pins with one hit, but unfortunately she could only do one measly spare throughout the game. That might have been the most memorable moment, not for her lucky hit, but for the hug that she and Finn had shared soon after. A moment before she'd been jumping for joy, and in the next, she had been in Finn's arms, and he had smiled cheerfully, as if he were proud of her.
It was the laughter and this complicity that reminded Rachel why she adored having a guy like him as a friend, although he could be a thorn in the side most of the time.
They were about to leave, but not before having brought back their shoes and noticing once again the futile attempt of the same girl from before trying to attract the attention of Finn, when they came upon another person.
"Oh boy..." Rachel murmured when she saw a brunette with blue eyes, wearing her usual red lipstick, come through the door: Harmony.
Harmony was the classic girl who could make you feel inferior and doubt your own potential. She and Rachel had gone to the same singing school when they were thirteen, fourteen and fifteen years old. Luckily for Rachel, Harmony moved to a private singing school believing that her talent was wasted in a public afternoon course. Although they'd been companions for only three years, Rachel could remember how much torture she was subjected to because of her. Harmony always made fun of her for her looks and because she was the only girl who never had a boyfriend. According to Harmony it was because of her big nose, her stature and physique that made her look perpetually like a child and the fact that she wasn't so talented. Obviously whenever Harmony gave her this "constructive criticism," she used a sweet and gentle tone so that she didn't seem like the harpy that she was in reality.
They weren't exactly the best three years of her life; in fact, Rachel acted as if they'd never happened. No one knew who Harmony was because it wasn't exactly the topic of conversation that she preferred. No one except Kurt, who had had the "privilege" of meeting her when they went to look at the auditions for the NYADA that summer. Harmony had wanted to get into that college, too, and her attitude was the same, as well as her very annoying singing ability.
"Rachel!" Harmony said loudly, clearly feigning a contented smile. "I did not think this was the kind of place you would frequent."
"Yeah, it isn't, in fact, but it was Finn's idea," Rachel said nervously placing a hand on Finn's arm when she said his name. "Where are my manners?" she said, waving her hand in the air when she realized she hadn't even introduced them to each other. "Finn, this is Harmony, we attended the same singing school for a couple of years or so. And Harmony, this is Finn, my uhm, my..." Rachel found herself speechless because she didn't know how to define Finn. Sure, they were friends, but maybe even something more. Maybe he could very well be one of her best friends, but still, if she had said that Finn was just a friend of hers, Harmony would immediately bring up the boyfriend topic, and Rachel didn't want to make herself look ridiculous saying that there still wasn't a love story in her life.
"Boyfriend."
Rachel's eyes widened when she heard that word being uttered by Finn who was wearing a crooked smile. Rachel didn't understand what was going on, and her confusion grew when she felt Finn's arm around her waist and their bodies closer.
"Well, finally! I was convinced that you would be left alone for the rest of your life. I mean, who would have thought that this kid would find someone willing to be with her? Also, a really good looking guy, I must say. You got lucky." It was amazing how that girl was able to make an insult look cute, just by the voice's tone.
Rachel continued to keep her head down faking an embarrassed smile. She had always been a terrific actress, but Finn's behavior had puzzled her.
Why was he doing this?
"To be honest, I'm the lucky one," Finn said sweetly before lowering his gaze to her. "She's amazing. Perfect." Those words were spoken so softly and quietly, almost like a whisper, that not even Rachel was sure she had heard correctly. She didn't know if he said it just to impress Harmony or because he actually meant it, and yet he seemed so true and sincere that the first hypothesis seemed to disappear. It was nice to have someone who, apart from your parents and relatives, compliment you and make you feel really good about yourself. Perhaps the only person who had been able to make her feel that way until now was that mysterious boy. That secret admirer whose identity she still couldn't work out. Still, for now, he was just a fantasy, a guy too good to be true and she couldn't be sure he was real, while Finn was.
"So I guess that she's also a good kisser."
"Pardon me?" Rachel turned immediately toward Harmony who smiled mischievously.
"Oh, c'mon, you don't want me to believe that you two have never kissed."
"Well, y-yeah, but-"
"If you really want to know, Rach is the greatest kisser in the world. I mean, have you seen how beautiful her fleshy lips are?" Finn interrupted. Since when Finn had become the Oscar-winning actor and Rachel the novice actress?
"Well let's see," Harmony urged crossing her arms before looking at Finn. Rachel was afraid of the other words that would come out of that red mouth. Two words. Two simple and insignificant words were enough to freeze Rachel. "Kiss her."
The first kiss should be unique, shared with a person for whom you have true feelings and done in a romantic place. A bowling alley wasn't exactly the most romantic place ever. It must be a special time to remember fondly. Of course, it was only the "first kiss" and not the "first time," but that also had its importance, and Rachel wanted to remember it not because she was forced to do it, but because she wanted to do it.
But Harmony was there with her arms folded waiting with a petty smile while Finn instead had an expression that betrayed no emotion of any kind. It was evident that he didn't want to kiss her. He didn't want to refuse openly; that must have been why why he was silent. She couldn't blame him. He had already done so much and she couldn't force him to do what Harmony had asked him to do. His arm was still around her without even realizing it and Rachel broke free from his grasp. She immediately grabbed Finn's hand reassuringly him when she saw his questioning expression.
"I really would love to have another excuse to kiss my boyfriend, but quite frankly, I don't think it's appropriate to show that level of affection in the middle of a bowling alley, and I also don't like this kind of exhibitionism in a public environment where many might disapprove, so we'll wait until another time." Rachel put on one of her best smiles before doing one of her famous storm-outs when she was stopped by Harmony's voice.
"I knew you were lying."
Rachel gulped feeling extremely disappointed by her acting ability, but she continued to keep her face straight and firm determination not to let her win. "Think what you want," she said through gritted teeth. "Finn, let's go."
"Wait!" Rachel turned around and stopped when she saw Finn with his hand still glued to hers. He came up to her looking into her eyes before speaking. "It's not a problem for me."
How could it not be a problem for him?!
Maybe he had just said because he felt compelled to do it as his friend, but he wasn't. He was under no obligation, and Rachel wanted to make sure he was aware of it. "You don't have to do this."
"I know." Finn pulled Rachel gently toward him until their bodies touched. He moved a strand of hair behind her ear without breaking the eye contact and whispered, a breath away from her lips, "But I want to."
They exchanged a look. A look that seemed to last an infinity. It was as if with that look, Finn was trying to get Rachel approval to make the first move and suddenly even those few inches that separated their lips disappeared and Finn's mouth was on Rachel's. He began to kiss her, slowly and gently. It was as if everything ran in slow motion and there were no more external noise. It was as Rachel imagined if not better. She found herself to reciprocate the kiss and, what in principle had to be quick and innocent kiss, had become something more. She could deny it over and over again, but even if they were playing a part, that kiss was true, and she was pretty sure that Finn thought so, too. Rachel raised her arms and then place them on his shoulders and stood on tiptoe to deepen the kiss even more, and neither of them seemed to want to stop. When she felt short of breath, Rachel pulled away slowly, feeling her mouth still dazed from the kiss she had just received. She felt Finn's heavy breathing on her and saw his red cheeks, unable to contain a smile.
"Are you sure that she's the best kisser in the world?" For once, the atmosphere wasn't dampened by Finn but by the voice of blue-eyed girl they had almost forgotten was there. Rachel noticed Finn's eyes squint in frustration but before he could utter a word, she turned to Harmony with her head held high.
"I'm tired of you," Rachel said glaring at her. "Just because you're talented and pretty doesn't mean that you have the right to make others feel inferior to you. Yeah, okay, I may not be as pretty as others, and I might have a personality that's not as easy to manage, but at least I've found an amazing, sweet and hot boyfriend who likes me for me." Rachel pulled Finn's arms around her, emphasizing the adjectives that she had used to describe him, unaware of his flattered smile since she was too focused on Harmony's shocked face. "Now if you'll excuse us, me and my boyfriend have to go," and with that, Rachel was finally able to make her long-awaited storm-out, still holding Finn's hand firmly.
She felt a sense of liberation when the two reached the parking lot. It was as if a huge boulder was removed from her chest, and she could finally breathe safely. Rachel looked down at their hands still intertwined, smiling unwillingly. It was funny how his big hand seemed, even more enormous compared to Rachel's, yet incredibly, they fit together perfectly. They walked slowly to the car, continuing to play the part of the lovers, in the event that Harmony was watching them, before letting go of each other's hands reluctantly.
They stood in silence for a split second until Rachel literally threw herself into Finn's arms muttering an honest, "Thank you." Rachel hugged him one last time before composing herself. "Why did you pretend that we are dating?" was her first question. She was very, very grateful to him, but she still wanted to know why he had made that gesture.
"Kurt told me about Harmony. Well, he didn't actually say her name," Finn added immediately when he saw Rachel's eyes widen. "He had just told me about this girl who tormented you making you feel not good enough and teased you because you've never been in a relationship." Finn continued when Rachel said nothing. "And when I noticed your face when you saw her and you told me that you and she attended the same singing school, I just made one plus one."
Rachel didn't know whether to be surprised by the fact that Kurt had told Finn about Harmony, or the fact that Finn had become so enraptured in his reasoning. Although it was a really noble and gallant gesture, Rachel didn't want someone else to solve the problems for her. She was ashamed at the same time that he, of all people, has witnessed one of the rare occasions where Rachel was embarrassed and she hoped very much that he wouldn't have said a word to anyone, even though she had her doubts.
"Well, thank you again. I mean I can perfectly stand up for myself, but I really appreciated what you did for me."
"It was nothing," Finn replied nonchalantly without looking at her.
He was embarrassed, it was clear as the sun, and Rachel certainly didn't want to make him feel even worse. Also, it was a side of him that she secretly found incredibly sweet and adorable.
"You know, I really had fun bowling, and you're actually a pretty good kisser." It was not a lie. True, Rachel had told him just to see what his reaction would have been, but she wasn't lying. That guy could be annoying many times, but he was also amazing to kiss.
"We should do it more often."
Finally, Finn's eyes suddenly came upon Rachel. His gaze was astonished, to say the least, and his cheeks became the color of the football jersey he had.
Had he heard wrong, or was his hearing working perfectly?
Finn looked at her questioningly, praying that she would explain better. He had never been a very smart guy and she was sending him subliminal messages that he couldn't understand. He was confused. He was confused by Rachel's offer. He was confused because she said it with so much ease. He was confused because she wanted to kiss him again. He was confused because all of a sudden, the same girl was now giggling for no apparent reason.
"I meant that we should play bowling more often."
Oh.
Needless to say, he felt the biggest idiot on the planet in that moment. Have misunderstood a simple request as something much bigger was typical of him. He wanted to collapse, hide or escape, but Rachel's laugh was so contagious that he couldn't help but laugh in return. They stood there laughing like two children for who knows how long until they realized that it was late, and it was better to go home.
Rachel had spent an entertaining afternoon and she really wanted to go bowling with him again, even though deep down, very, very deep down, she meant exactly what he'd thought.
A/N: I am extremely sorry for the long wait! Seriously, there are no excuses. I'm really sorry. As you may have realized by now, school started again, and also horribly, I might add. (One of my classmates came to know what happened to Cory, and finding it funny, he came to me to insult him and laugh about it. I only managed to scream at him and go to the bathroom, trying not to cry. It was the worst first day of my life.)
However, I'm terribly sorry, but I wanted to thank each one of you for your reviews and for reading my story that I'm putting up a huge commitment though it doesn't seem so. I wanted to thank especially my wonderful beta Rebecca Ripple for her continuous help and for writing me to tell me how anxious she was to read this new chapter. I've really appreciated it, so thank you!
I really hope I won't make you wait again so much, but unfortunately I cannot promise anything, but please, please continue to review, because they help me and push me to write more and more. :)
A final and special thanks to the man who in spite of everything will always be my hero and to whom I dedicate this chapter, Cory. Thank you so much for everything.