Thanks for the great response to Chapter 1! Here goes Chapter 2! Thanks for my stand in proofreader AllieFinchel I don't own Glee but I do own the plot! Enjoy!
The crowd was still buzzing from excitement after Rachel's final bid. Cameras were flashing from various parts of the room. Finn stood awkwardly on the stage, unsure of what to do. He glanced down towards the woman who won. Number 5. The lights shined brightly in his eyes so he couldn't quite make out what she looked like. He could see a bright blue blob moving back and forth, arms flailing like she was talking very passionately about something. Finn glanced off stage to see his fireman buddies pointing and him as they screamed "GO HUDDY! Rack those dollars in!" What the hell had just happened?
The emcee announced that all of the winners needed to come up for a photo op with their chosen firefighter. Finn stood frozen, waiting for his girl to come up. He had never done anything like this before. Finn had been a last minute replacement for a guy on the squad who had a girlfriend flip out that he was participating.
This didn't mean anything though. He knows it's for charity and he will never see this woman again. Finn felt butterflies as he waited for Number 5 to emerge from the shadows.
Rachel felt faint. What had she just done?
"Holy Shit Rachel! You bought yourself a date to the Tony's? Am I dreaming? This is the best thing you could have ever done! My job just got a whole lot easier." Santana kept typing feverishly into her phone as the events unfolded. Rachel had come out of left field with this one and she would be up all night making sure it got out.
Rachel heard the emcee announce that it was time to go up on stage for a photo. She glanced back at her prize, who stood there like a lonely school boy waiting to be asked to dance. "Santana, I made a mistake. I think I should just write the check and leave." Rachel clasped her hands together, hoping that Santana would agree.
"Oh hell no Berry! You did this all on your own! Now march your ass up there and smile like you've never been happier a day in your life!" Santana turned Rachel around towards the stage and gave her a good shove. No way in hell she would let her screw this one up.
Finn could see Number 5 being pushed towards the stage. What was that about? Was she embarrassed? She seemed pretty gung ho when she was battling with Number 13.
Soon she emerged from the glare of the light and he couldn't stop staring. There she was, dressed in a tight blue number with dark hair flowing down her back. She looked up at him as she made her way up onto the stage. He reached out to grab her hand as she made hurried up the last two steps. She was much smaller than he anticipated. His hand completely covered hers as she stepped up next to him.
When they first made eye contact, neither of them spoke. Number 5 smiled and let out a small giggle. This girl was adorable. Finn opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted when they started telling the group where to stand for the photo. He and Number 5 were ushered to the middle since she was the highest bidder. When they were told to move closer together to make room for the others, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder to pull her closer. She was possibly the tiniest woman he'd ever seen. Even with heels on, she barely reached his shoulders. He had the urge to pick her up bridal style for the photo figuring it would provide some comedy relief, but her dress was way too short for that.
Rachel looked up at Finn as soon as their bodies made contact. His right arm was wrapped around her body, pulling her close to him so more people could fit on the stage. Rachel couldn't help but notice how nicely she fit right into his side. This guy was huge and he smelled wonderful. Her mind started to wander and she wondered what other parts of him might be huge. She closed her eyes tightly to try and get her mind back into a healthy place.
She was shook from her thoughts as the photographer yelled, "Okay everyone smile on 3! 1…..2…3!" Rachel made sure to provide her biggest smile possible, even glancing down at Julia who was gawking from the audience. Normally for photos, Rachel would do her famous poses she knew made her look the best. However, right now she was tucked so tightly into Mr. Hudson's side she couldn't move. Maybe this picture will never been seen since it's for charity, she thought to herself.
The crowd started to disperse and they both realized they were going to have to say something to each other. Rachel grabbed Mr. Hudson's hand and led him off stage towards her table. No need for this awkward interaction to take place on stage for everyone to see.
Once near her seat she realized Santana had moved to the corner of the room and was chatting away on her phone, most likely to the tabloids no doubt. She turned towards Mr. Hudson and figured she should introduce herself.
She shoved her hand out inviting him for a handshake. "Hi I'm-"
"Number 5 right?" Finn answered, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm Finn Hudson and I'll have you know that 5 is my lucky number." He winked at Rachel and she was speechless.
"Um, yeah, I'm Number 5." Rachel giggled nervously. Why was this so hard for her? She just did a full red carpet full of interviews, but this conversation was a struggle. "Actually my name is Rachel Berry and I'll have you know that I have never ever bought someone in an auction before. I mean it's for a good cause and all but I really find this all a great disgrace" Why was she rambling?
Finn just stared back at her, making sure she was done before he spoke. "Well I would hope you don't buy people in auction's very often. That's sort of illegal these days right?"
Rachel nodded in reply and continued to laugh nervously. She twirled her hair around her finger like a 12 year old school girl mooning over a boy. In the back of her mind she really just wanted to get the hell out of here.
"Well Number 5, I believe I owe you a night out right? That's what this auction was all about right?"
Rachel's heart began to race. During the bidding she hadn't really been focused on the ramifications of what would happen after. She figured no one really followed through on that. In fact, as she looked around the room, none of the other fireman were talking with their bidders.
"Oh did they tell you that you had to?" Rachel asked.
"Well no we don't HAVE to do anything. I mean if that old lady over there had bought me instead I'm sure I would have settled for a nice lunch out." Finn looked over in the direction of one of the other bidders and then back at Rachel. "I mean, why not right? Wait, you have a boyfriend is that it? Or a husband? Oh man I'm so sorry I said something."
"No! No that's not it. I don't have one. A boyfriend I mean. I just…I guess I just didn't think it felt right to actually make you go somewhere with me because I paid a lot of money for a charity thing."
Just then Santana came running up to them, practically pushing Rachel out of the way. "Hi there! I'm Santana, Rachel's publicist. Why don't you two get together and I can snap some pics to send out to the press ok?" Santana grabbed Rachel's arm and shoved her next to Finn. Finn once again put his arm around her and pulled her tight, having no reservations whatsoever. Sadly it was the most contact Rachel's had with the opposite sex in a very long time.
Once the photography session via Santana was over, Rachel once again found herself awkwardly standing in front of Finn, having to look up to make eye contact with him
"So Mr. Finn Hudson, did Rachel find out if you are available for the Tony's? I need to know if you can go ASAP for ticket and PR purposes."
Rachel looked over at Santana, drawing her eyes wide hoping she would notice and shut the hell up.
"What?" Finn answered. "What are the Tony's?"
Santana turned to Rachel. "Is this guy for real?" Santana turned back to Finn. "The Tony's is a very prestigious awards show for Broadway shows and stars. Wait a minute, do you not know who Rachel is? You live in NY right?"
Finn's face became red as he realized he was missing some critical part of this conversation. "Uhhh yeah. Why?"
Rachel felt the need to chime in before this got even worse. "Santana, leave him alone. It's fine. I told him we don't have to do anything so no, we hadn't even gotten that far yet. I think we should let this poor guy go."
"Finn can you excuse us for just one second please?" Santana pulled Rachel off to the side of the room. Finn was left standing at the table making small talk with some of the other patrons.
"Rachel what the hell is wrong with you? That guy is hot and seems to be interested in you for god knows why, seeing as you are being so standoffish right now. Live a little. Go out with this guy and take him to the Tony's if you want. You can't live in that big ass fancy apartment alone forever. Watching you bid in that auction was the most alive I've seen you in almost a year. You can pretend to be someone else every night on stage, but when you go home, it's all you and only you."
Rachel knew she was right. This situation was just so uncomfortable. "Okay Santana. Geez. If we exchange numbers will you leave me alone about this?"
Santana rolled her eyes. "I suppose, but you better USE the number for Christ's sake. I know you Berry and you are the Queen of taking guy's numbers and deleting them the second you get home. Now March your ass over there and be nice to this guy. I mean look how innocent he is. He doesn't even know what the Tony's are. Bless him." Santana put her hand over her chest as she glanced at Finn with a cheesy grin. Finn waved back, although was doing a great job at pretending to listen to the others at the table.
As Rachel approached the table, Finn rose from his seat.
"Give me your phone Number 5." He held his hand out in front of him.
"Excuse me? I will certainly not give you my phone." Rachel grabbed her purse, feeling the need to flee.
"Rachel" Santana muttered under her breath.
Finn continued to stand there. "Listen, give me your phone and I'll put my number in it. That way you can use it if YOU want to. I can tell you are trying to get out of here and I don't want to overstep my boundaries, but I meant what I said. You paid a lot of money and I'd love to take you out some night. I mean apparently you are some famous Broadway girl right? You need to fill me in. Obviously you know what I do for a living." Finn pulled his suspenders and let go, causing them to snap against his chest.
"Um, okay." Rachel couldn't believe how forward he was being. She handed over her phone to him and he typed in his number and handed it back without reservation.
"Oh and I work at Station 86 if you are ever in the neighborhood." Finn could now see his buddies waving over to him, signaling they were leaving.
"It was lovely meeting the two of you. I have to go as my shift starts in an hour and I'm on dinner duty tonight. I hope to hear from you Ms. Berry." Finn winked at her and started off towards his friends, never looking back again.
Santana grabbed Rachel's hand and began dragging her towards the exit. "Rachel Berry I swear you better not fuck this up! That guy is amazing."
"Well I think he's a little full of himself." Rachel didn't want to admit that she found Finn attractive and nice. That would mean that she really did BUY a nice guy. It was easier if it was just going to fall apart before it ever began.
"What are you talking about Rachel?" Santana asked as they made it outside to stand in the pick-up line. "He's super nice and was totally flirting with you. Did you forget what flirting is like? "
"NO!" Rachel knew she had been pretty much celibate for two years, having only casually dated, but she still knew how to flirt. At least she thought she did.
"You were so awkward Rachel. I mean bad. I could read your body language from across the room."
"Santana, the night is over. I really don't need this right now." Rachel sighed loudly to be sure Santana got the point.
The two of them climbed into their waiting car and headed towards Rachel's apartment. Little was said because Santana was feverishly fielding emails and sending out photos. Sometimes Rachel wished this wasn't part of the gig. Santana was good at her job, no doubt about it. However, Rachel sometimes wanted Santana just as a friend and not someone who was plotting her every public move for her image.
Santana's phone rang as Rachel was getting out at her building. Rachel considered it a blessing seeing as Santana was unable to lecture her about anything else. Once upstairs, she quickly peeled off her dress and washed her face. Rachel was relieved that she didn't have to do the matinee show tomorrow so she didn't have to be at work until later in the evening.
Rachel climbed into her bed, underneath the large white duvet cover. She had a King size bed which was laughable because she barely took up a quarter of it. Her mind started replaying the events of the night. She had set out to do a small charity fundraiser and ended up spending $10K because she got caught up in some rivalry with stupid Julia.
She continued to toss and turn for the better part of an hour. It was now 12:30 am. Rachel was still wide awake, wanting to wish the nights events away. She reached over to her nightstand to grab the TV remote, but ended up grabbing her phone instead.
A thought entered her mind as she gripped her phone against her chest. Should she text him? What if he put the wrong number in there just to mess with her? She wasn't the most responsive to his flirting tonight and he probably thought she was a huge bitch.
"Oh what the hell" Rachel said out loud to the empty room. She scrolled through her contacts. First she went to letter H for Hudson. He wasn't there. Then she went to F for Finn. Not there either. Had he not even put his number in? Rachel's heart started racing wondering if he had just been playing her the entire time. She scrolled back to the top of her contacts when she saw it. 10K.
At first she giggled. Then she got angry, wondering if he was mocking her. No, he seemed too nice for that.
She decided to go for it. What was the worst that could happen?
Hi there! Very funny contact name you gave yourself LOL.
She hit send before she could change her mind. Her text seemed innocent enough. She stared back at her phone, expecting him to respond right away.
First five minutes passed, then ten. The next thing Rachel knew it was 6 am. She must have passed out around 1 am. That was the last time she remembered checking her phone. HER PHONE.
Rachel scrambled up onto her knees throwing the covers everywhere to find her phone. Once she located it she unlocked the screen. No messages.
She threw herself back on the bed, her head slamming into the pillow. Why did she care if he texted her back? Last night she was mortified about how things had transpired. She did something spontaneous and out of character. Cool and calculated Rachel went off the rails in the most public place possible. It thrilled Santana, but all she felt was regret. She let jealously and excitement take over and now here she was, waiting for a text back from some random firefighter she paid $10,000 for.
Rachel placed her phone back on the nightstand and decided to start her day. No sense in wasting any more time with her mind wrapped up on last night. Since she didn't have to be at the theater until this evening, she could take the time to get her errands run and probably drop off her massive check with Santana to give to the head of the charity.
Once ready to go, Rachel grabbed her list and headed downstairs. When she got to the lobby the doorman waved to her. She found this odd since he never really speaks to anyone for more than a minute at a time. "Oh hi Miss Berry! They've been waiting for you!"
Rachel had no idea what he was talking about. She never had people over to her apartment except for Santana and a few theater friends occasionally. "Oh I think you have me mixed up with someone else," she replied.
The second she hit the pavement outside she realized what he had meant. Paparazzi were everywhere. This had never happened to her before. The only time she was snapped was when she was at an event where someone more famous than her was in attendance. They were all shouting at her at once.
"Miss Berry tell us about your new man!"
"How does it feel to buy a hottie?!"
"Did he sleep over last night? Where is he now?"
Rachel smiled politely and ran into the nearest waiting cab. She quickly called Santana but her phone went straight to voicemail. It was still early on a Sunday after all. She was in a mild panic. Why did the paparazzi know about this? It was a charity event that probably won't even make the papers. She shot Santana a text saying 911 HELP. That should get her attention when she wakes up.
A few blocks up the cab stopped at a red light. She heard a siren out of her right window on the block ahead. A fire truck was leaving the station, with cameras snapping away. Soon she saw the paparazzi chasing the truck as it went down the street. The light turned green and as they passed she was able to read the numbers on the outside of the station.
Station 86.
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