May, 2015. (2 and a half years later).
Finn chuckled bitterly as he passed the giant billboard picturing his and Melissa's fake smiles selling My School Musical 2. He was pretty sure right before that had been taken Melissa had been yelling at him for 'flirting' with the make-up artist. They had been on and off for about two years and were a tabloid sensation. Most of the time she just aggravated him and reminded him of pre-baby (and thus pre-humanized) Quinn Fabray. But he was too apathetic and afraid of confrontation to end the relationship.
Why not waste away in the dull pattern that my life is already comfortable with? He rationalized, What's the point in adding unnecessary stress when everything would just end up sucking either way.
Over two years had passed since his decision to quit Rachel Berry, and 22 year old Finn Hudson's career had skyrocketed, but personally, he had become seriously jaded.
He had lost his identity. Hollywood and the Disney company had transformed him into this sickeningly packaged product, and he was being sold to every hormonally-charged tween girl in the country. And he hated it, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Finn gave a sigh of relief as he entered his new condo in Santa Monica. It was almost 3 am and he had only just been released from an agonizing press party celebrating the upcoming release of the My School Musical sequel. He poured himself a large glass of whiskey before reclining on his leather arm-chair.
His phone wouldn't stop ringing, and he was not in the mood to listen to Melissa yell at him for a half hour about ditching her at the party.
He knew it had been rude, but she was really driving him crazy lately, and she could always call a cab. He just couldn't handle her and her superficiality, jealousy, and insufferable vanity anymore. Finn considered breaking up with her almost every single day, but in the end he always decided it wasn't worth the drama. And when she was acting tolerable, her warm body, pretty face, and total devotion to him were a comfort to him when he wanted to forget about his troubled past.
Roaming his eyes around the living room, he tried to find something to distract him from the terrifying inanity that was always threatening to overwhelm him. They finally settled on the day's newspaper. He lazily stomped towards it and picked it up.
He scanned the major articles of the day, and began flipping through the pages searching for anything interesting.
He almost choked on his drink when he opened up the gossip section and came face to photo with the girl he had been spending the last 30 months trying not to remember.
BROADWAY POWER COUPLE LIGHT UP NYC!
The musical genius of the 21st century and the beauty behind this year's brand new smash Broadway hit, the modern revival of West Side Story, have recently announced their engagement to the public. The stunning 22 year old Rachel Berry (and this year's Tony front runner) has sparked some controversy in the theatre world by dating the brilliant but 39 year old composer, Roger Breckelstein, almost old enough to be her father. However, it is easy to tell from these pictures that these two lovebirds are clearly perfect for each other.
Finn momentarily forgot the circumstances and the last four years, and instinctively growled at the thought of anyone touching Rachel Berry but him. She was his and his only.
Moments later, he mentally slapped himself.
Snap out of it! You lost the right to claim Rachel Berry as yours when you lied to her to protect her from herself. It doesn't matter that you let her go out of love, she doesn't belong to you anymore.
YOU ARE READING
take me back to the start
Teen FictionRachel and Finn try to begin new lives as they leave both Lima and each other after graduating high school. But their attempts to move on are futile, and certain relationships just can't be avoided when they're meant to be.
