May, 2015. (20 minutes later).
"Alright," Artie announced to the group, "And now I think we should reach the climax of the night by inviting our very own Broadway star and soon to be Tony winner up here to to grace us with her 'voice you'd expect to hear when arising into heaven' as I believe the New York Times article wrote."
Rachel smiled in an appropriately modest manner before walking up to relieve Artie of the mike. Musing over the selection, she finally settled on a song she felt oddly compelled to sing. It wasn't something that was typically in her wheelhouse, but for some reason it was begging to be sung.
The music started and she opened her mouth to do what she did best.
Finn walked into the overcrowded apartment and scanned the heads of all the people looking for a familiar face. His eyes finally settled on his pale step-brother (the sweater dress was kind of a dead giveaway).
Kurt blanched when he saw the large man approach.
"Wh- What are you doing here. I thought we said we'd meet for brunch tomorrow?"
"Yeah, we were. Until Puck informed me about this little impromptu gathering which I seemed to have been purposefully not invited to."
Kurt became even paler, before admitting to the exclusion.
"Fine. I didn't invite you because Rachel's here. Which is why you should go. Like now."
"I don't want to go. I want to congratulate Mercedes on her record deal, I want to talk to Puck about his chances on taking football all the way in person for once, I want to give Artie a high five because I haven't seen him in a really really long time, and I want to.."
"Enough I get the picture okay? But just set up dates with them at another time, why do you have to be here now? I mean, I thought this whole avoiding Rachel thing was working out."
"Maybe it's working out for her but it's not for me. If you haven't noticed I'm going through something of an identity crisis. I have all these people in my life constantly telling me what to do and how to do it and now I'm at the point where I have no notion of who I am anymore. And maybe if I can get closure with Rachel I'd be able to find myself again because I'm tired of being lost."
Kurt's expression changed to one of brotherly sympathy.
"Why didn't you tell me things have been so tough on you?"
"Because I didn't want you to think I was being ungrateful or acting like a cliche poor little famous celebrity."
Kurt gave him another look before consenting.
"Well I guess it'd be okay for you to stay. Maybe Rachel wants some closure too, and so much time has passed I'm almost positive she's moved on."
"I'd hope so considering she's engaged."
"You saw that huh?"
"Mhmmm," Finn replied, pursing his lips.
But right as he was about to ask Kurt where Rachel was, a honey-smooth voice answered the question for him.
Turning his head he practically raced through the hallway into the living room to listen to his favorite sound in the entire world.
"It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe If you don't know by now An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe It'll never do somehow When your rooster crows at the break of dawn Look out your window and I'll be gone You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on Don't think twice, it's all right"
Finn hid himself in a dark corner as he watched her. Everytime she sung it literally sounded as if she imbued every fiber of her being into the performance. How did she do that?
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.
