take me back to the start

Chapter 11: Push the Boundaries

June, 2015. (A week and a half later)

Rachel burst out laughing. All the stress that Roger and the wedding and the balancing schedules had been building up in her was always released while at dance rehearsal with Finn. Their choreographer was a total riot, and his ostentatious personality coupled with Finn's reliably horrific sense of physical rhythm (which so didn't make sense considering he was a drummer and everything) had made for some very comic dance rehearsals.

Pre-production for the movie was beginning splendidly. The cast meet and greet had been the previous week, and Rachel had been pleasantly surprised to find that she didn't have any qualms with any of her fellow cast members. Their voices were all appropriately inferior to hers, and even though the girl who was playing Galinda did have a really small perfect upturned nose and way too long of a broadway resume for being only 24 years old, Rachel hadn't felt threatened by her.. She wasthe main star of the film after all. And being friends with Finn had helped her confidence too, it was as if having an experienced friend by her side made her feel more secure or something.

Sure, that trollop Melissa Holloway had been way too territorial over Finn, but it hadn't bothered Rachel too much. Who wouldn't feel worried if their boyfriend was working with such a stunning and talented young star.

But as far as she was concerned, Melissa had nothing to worry about. Rachel had swept the events that had almost occurred in the alleyway aside, attributing it as one those mere anomalies that the universe sometimes spontaneously threw at you.

Anywho, they were almost finished with the last rehearsal of the week, and everything had thus far gone smoothly. And Rachel, with Finn's help, was actually bonding with some of the co-stars and back-up dancers.

"Alright guys," Josh, their choreographer yelled, "I think that's a wrap for today. Now these routines aren't too difficult so hopefully they'll stay etched in your memories over the weekend. See you Monday!"

And with that they were done. Walking towards the bag cubbies, Rachel couldn't help but watch Finn approach her through her peripheral vision.

"God I had forgotten how grueling dancing can be," he huffed, grabbing her bag before she could reach it to hand it to her.

She smiled at him, "Yeah, it's good to see something things never change. You for one, are still an uncoordinated mess."

"Hey," replied Finn, playfully offended, "My dancing has gotten a lot better."

"That's true," she admitted, giggling again at the memory of some of his quintessentially oafish Finn moments at McKinley.

She watched him demonstrate a couple of overly clumsy dance moves. That boy would do anything for a laugh.

And it worked. She had laughed so much during the past few hours that she seemed to have a permanent stitch in her side.

And while cracking up as he proudly made a total fool of himself, Rachel realized something. When she had first met Finn after their prolonged separation, she had found him almost unrecognizable, he had been so much harder and sadder than the boy she had used to know. But it was moments like these, when he just let loose, that she understood that he hadn't changed irretrievably. Deep down he was still the same adorable teddy bear she had cared so much for.

"So," he started, interrupting her thoughts as they entered the lobby of the dance studio, "You up for a quick bite to eat before your show?"

Rachel looked up into his excited eyes.

"I wish I could, but unfortunately I need to be at the theatre in a half hour."

Finn's face fell, but he covered his disappointment quickly.