light my candle

chapter four

chapter four

finn pov

rachel had been driving my truck around for at least forty five minutes, and i had no idea where she was going. i don't if she had any idea where she was going. but she wasn't telling me either way.

"are we almost there?" i asked.

"sh, finn, i need to concentrate oh my driving," she replied, smiling widely.

"you know, normally the only people who take someone out somewhere without telling them where are kidnappers and serial killers," i pointed out.

"well, luckily for you, i'm neither. i promise."

i smiled a little as she kept driving. i looked out the window, trying to figure out if it looked familiar. it didn't. i was about to open my mouth and ask her where we were going again when she finally stopped.

"we're here," she announced, getting out of the truck as i followed.

"we're in the middle of nowhere," i observed, very confused.

"i know, silly," she replied, climbing into the bed of the truck.

"what are you doing?" i asked, watching her mess around with some stuff that i couldn't see.

"well, i was planning to come to the party and take you away the whole time, so i came prepared. i've got a bunch of blankets and pillows back here with some cookies and juice boxes," she explained, smiling brightly as i watched her lay out the blankets and pillows.

"and we're in the middle of nowhere because...?"

"because, finn, this is one of the few places around the city that's close to campus where you can actually see the sky and it's not being blocked by buildings or trees or smoke. you can see the stars."

she pointed upwards, and we both looked up. i smiled, then climbed into the bed of the truck with her. i laid down on top of the blankets, resting my head on a pillow, looking up at the sky.

"i never realized how you never really get to see the sky in new york," i remarked, and rachel nodded, lying down beside me.

"which is exactly why i took you here. do you want a juice box?" she offered. i looked at her, my eyebrows raised.

"a juice box?" i asked, and she nodded, smiling.

"this is a g-rated outing, mr. hudson, juice boxes only," she replied, still smiling as she handed me one. i stuck the straw in the little hole at the top, having a few sips.

"this was a really good idea, rachel. we should make this, like, a thing," i said, and she lied back down.

"a thing?" she asked, and i nodded.

"yeah, a thing. like, something we do all the time and stuff," i explained.

"sounds wonderful to me," she replied.

we lied there for a few hours, watching the stars and drinking juice boxes and ate cookies. and it was so nice. we were getting along (really really well, i might add) and everything in the world just seemed so right. so perfect.

"it's almost one in the morning and i feel like i should be responsible and drive you back to your dorm," i said after a while. she sighed, but nodded.

"i suppose so. unless you want to be irresponsible."

"i wish i could, but we do have 'rent' rehearsal tomorrow morning," i pointed out. she sighed.

"good point. and i'm not one to miss rehearsal," rachel answered, and i nodded.

"then let's be responsible for a moment and pack up and drive back," i said as we sat up and began packing up the food and blankets and pillows. we finished after a few minutes, and we climbed back into the truck.

"you tired?" i asked rachel as i drove.

"i guess i am a bit tired, yeah. are you?" she asked, and i nodded.

"i'm pretty tired. you can take a nap until we get back if you want," i replied.

"are you sure?" she asked.

"of course."

when we arrived back at her dorm, she was asleep. i didn't really want to wake her up, so i parked the car and got out, then walked over to the passenger side, opened the door, undid her seatbelt and carefully lifted her up into my arms. i looked down at her to make sure she wasn't awake. she wasn't, but she did stir a little bit, but only to get comfortable in my arms and rest her head on my chest. i carried her up to her room, knocking on her door, knowing her roommate would be awake. moments later the door opened, and her roommate was standing on the other side, smiling.

"aww," she said quietly, and i smiled.

"i'm just dropping her off, do you mind if i come in and just put her to bed? i don't want to wake her up," i said softly, and she nodded, opening the door for me as i stepped in.

"her room's all the way down and on the left," she instructed me, and i thanked her and walked with rachel in my arms down to her room. it was really neat, a huge contrast to my bedroom. i carefully put her down on her bed, covering her up with the blankets. i smiled at her before leaning down and giving her a kiss on her forehead. i turned off the lamp next to her bed and walked back out towards the door. her roommate was sitting on the couch and stood up when i walked in, going over to me.

"i'm macy," she said, holding out her hand, which i shook.

"finn," i replied.

"oh, i know who you are," she answered casually. "everyone knows you. and rachel talks about you all the time. you make her really happy, you know." i smiled.

"she makes me really happy, too."

"just don't do anything to hurt her, okay? that's all i need you to do," macy requested.

"i won't. well, i won't on purpose," i replied. she laughed a little, shaking her head.

"that's all i ask."

we shared a smile before saying our goodbyes, and i went out to my truck and drove back to the fraternity house. all of the guys were still awake and watching tv.

"hudson! how was the date?" one of them, zac, asked.

"wait...hudson had a date? this isn't some joke?" jack said in disbelief, laughing.

"ha ha ha, very funny," i said flatly, rolling my eyes and taking a seat on the couch.

"who was this girl you were out with all night?" teddy asked.

"she's in rent with me. her name's rachel."

"and you like her? a lot?" mark asked, and i nodded, smiling.

"oh, yeah. i really, really like her," i replied. they bugged me with questions for a long while after that. but to be honest, i wasn't really paying attention to what they were saying. i was thinking about rachel, and how i had to wait until rehearsal to see her. i stole a glance at the clock. one forty-five.

ten hours and fifteen minutes until rehearsal.

ten hours and fifteen minutes until rachel.

author's note: hey guys! i'm sorry this took so long to update. i try to write these as quickly as i can, but i do have a pretty busy schedule and i want the chapters to be good, so please try and understand if it takes me a few days to update (: but i'm so glad you're enjoying!!