A New Direction (Glee and Finchel/Samchel fan fiction)

Chapter 13- Sparks Fly

"Okay guys, sectionals is almost here! We've got exactly five rehearsals left before we have to make the trip to Carmel High and perform our set." Mr Shue exclaimed as he walked into the choir room and set his messenger bag down on the top of the piano. He then wrote 'SECTIONALS' in bold marker across the white board and smiled at us. Sam walked in, late once again and sat in the empty chair next me. He squeezed my hand and I grinned at him. 

"Ready for your solo?" He asked me. 

"I hope so." I replied. The truth was that i had been practising every night for the past two weeks. I knew I was going to kill my solo, but I was nervous about singing the duet with Finn that Mr Shue had assigned us. We hadn't practiced it outside of Glee club, and I knew Finn was trying to avoid it. We hadn't spoken since our locker room encounter, but we needed to rehearse. I felt bad for hurting his feelings, but it was true. I needed to focus on Sam, and not Finn.

"Rach, come on!" Sam laughed pulling my arm, swooping me out of my thoughts of Finn and into the number to do choreography. I smiled back and shook the thoughts out of my mind. I planned to talk to Finn after Glee club was over.

"Where were you?" I asked Sam as he pulled me up, "You've been late all week." 

"You know, I've been handing in assignments, studying, that kind of thing." He replied. We made our way to take our places in the group number as Quinn quickly ran into the room and took her place, apologising to Mr Shue for being late. 

"I'll see you later, I have to do some extra homework." Sam said with uncertainty after Glee club. I nodded and caught Finn as he headed out the door.

"Finn, hey. I don't think that our number was the best just then, did you? We were both a bit pitchy and I don't think you were really putting your soul into the song." I said with a slight smile.

"You know what, Rachel? I don't care." Finn replied with a blank look on his face. He went to head out the door again before I pulled his arm and turned him around.

"You don't care, Finn? Well, I'm pretty sure that you will care when we lose at sectionals to Vocal Adrenaline and that deaf choir!"

"No, I won't, because all I can think about when I sing that song with you is that once the performance is over, you will be back with Sam."

"Seriously, Finn? This is about Sam again?" I replied, shutting the choir room door and sitting at the stool of the piano.

"Well you and him are all I can think about lately, and singing a duet with you only reminds me of how much I wish things were different."

"Finn, this song isn't about you or me, it's about the New Directions, and if all you don't even try when you sing it, you will be disappointing everyone, including me. Please don't disappoint me." Finn sat next to me on the stool and locked his eyes with mine. I saw the pain and hurt behind them and for the first time, I really felt a connection between us. I felt something real and I was suddenly drawn to Finn.

"Okay, but I'm going to need your help." Finn replied. I smiled in return and quickly blinked away the feeling I know we both had just shared. I did love Sam, didn't I? Rachel, I thought to myself, you and Sam are perfect for each other. You and Finn are simply co-workers. 

"Alright," I began, "Well let's practice. Let me know when you need my help, but just remember that you are really talented Finn." I began playing the song on the piano and suddenly noticed that Finn and I were sitting so close that his thigh was touching mine, his breath so close that I could feel it on the side of my neck. I looked up and saw Finn doing his signature-half smirk as he began to sing, and sparks flew.