light my candle

chapter six

chapter six

finn pov

"you're not going out with rachel tonight?"

i sat down on the couch next to zac and shook my head.

"nah. i, uh, i dunno if things are gonna work between us," i replied, shrugging.

"what? what're you talking about? a few hours ago you were crazy about her," he said, a little surprised. i nodded.

"mhm. i was crazy. was. she's kind of a diva. she got mad at me for being tired. that's ridiculous, right? like, getting mad at someone for being tired is kind of crazy, correct?"

zac nodded. "if jennifer got mad at me for being tired i'd be pretty upset."

"and then she told me i sucked at rehearsal because of how tired i was," i continued.

"i'm sure she didn't say you sucked," zac said, trying to be uplifting.

"oh no, zac, she did. she looked me in the eyes and said 'you sucked.'"

"that's rough, man," zac said empathetically, putting a hand on my shoulder. i shrugged.

"yeah, i guess. i'm not heartbroken or anything. it's just disappointing. i thought it was, you know...something."

zac sat there for a minute, looking as though he was in thought, then looked up at me.

"we're gonna get you a new girl," he declared, and i raised my eyebrows.

"oh, really?"

he nodded. "mhm. you, me and teddy are going out tonight. and we're not coming home until you've got a girl to come with us." i opened my mouth to say something but he put his hand up to stop me. "no negotiations on this, buddy. you're going. that's final."

•••

the guys took me out to some bar near campus, and i wasn't really enjoying myself until a few drinks in.

"what about her over there? she's pretty hot," zac remarked, pointing to a girl sitting on the other side of the bar. i squinted as i followed his finger until i found the girl he was pointing at, my eyes widening again.

"she is hot. no question about that," i replied with a smile.

"hey! redhead!" teddy called, and she turned to face us, a wide smile across her face. teddy waved her over, and she immediately came, bringing her drink with her. i looked to the guys to say something when she came over, but the looks on their faces told me it was all up to me.

"hey, what's your name?" i asked, knowing that this wouldn't be so hard, considering the amount of girls i had picked up before.

"i'm maria. and you are...?"

"i'm finn. it's nice to meet you, maria," i replied, grinning and sticking out my hand for her to shake. she shook it and took the seat next to mine as zac and teddy went off to try and find girls of their own.

"so, i do believe this is the first time i've ever seen you here," maria said, and i nodded.

"yep. this is my first time."

maria smiled. "and what brings you here for the first time, finn?" she asked, and i jerked my head towards teddy and zac.

"they're actually trying to get me to go home with a girl," i replied rather sheepishly. maria smiled slyly as she ordered us both another drink.

"well, you may just be in luck tonight."

a little while later i was about ready to go home. the drinks were starting to get to my head, which was starting to hurt, and i was feeling a little dizzy.

"you look ready to go home, mr. hudson," maria observed and i nodded. "well...now's your time to pick, my friend. am i coming with you or not?"

i thought for a moment. "do you mind if i make a quick phone call?" i asked, and she shook her head. i made my way over to the corner of the bar. i'm not quite sure what compelled me to do what i did next. i blame the drinks. and disappointment in a relationship that didn't work out. and maybe i was jealous that she might have been with some other guy.

i called rachel's number.

it went straight to voicemail, which wasn't surprising since it was around one o'clock in the morning. and i left a message.

"hey rachel...it's me. it's finn. i'm sooo sorry that i was so tired earlier, and that it made you mad. and i was really sad that you were mad, so i went out with my friends and i met this really really awesome girl named maria, and she's coming home with me tonight. so i guess it's great you got mad at me, cause now i can take mariiiiia home. smoking hot maria! you can call back if you want, but i'll probably be busy. you know. with maria."

and then i hung up the phone and joined maria at the door.

"all ready to go?" she asked, and i nodded. and we left, and we went back to the fraternity house and back to my room.

and that was a huge mistake.

author's note: sorry for another short chapter! just trying to get this updated for you guys (: