My Favorite Song

Chapter 20

Finn

I can’t help but smile at the song Rachel was singing. They have played a few more since then but I know I deserved it.

You see the thing is I did send those flowers to Rachel. I arranged it weeks ago because if I didn’t get in and order them I knew I wouldn’t get garden tulips  but with everything going on with Quinn and Rachel and I not talking much this week I completely forgot. And as I told my brother and Santana I’ve also had Rachel's present for a few weeks too, I just saw it and knew I wanted it for her but I’m just not sure she’s going to accept it. 

The band stops playing for a while so that Rachel can enjoy the party and mingle with her guests. She tries to stay away from me but eventually she runs out of people to greet and I am able to pull her away. 

‘Hi’ I smile shyly. 

‘Hi. What are you doing here? I though you had a date for the movies’ she snaps. 

I sigh I knew this wasn’t going to be easy but I never expected such a cool reception. 

‘I’m so sorry Rachel. The flowers they were from me I organised them a few weeks ago to make sure you got your favorite. I know that I’m the worst boyfriend in the world and I feel like scum for what I’ve put you through.’ I tell her. 

She nods her head as if accepting my apology. I try to pull her closer to me and she comes eventually but she’s very stiff in my arms. 

‘Happy birthday beautiful’ I whisper before I start to move our bodies in a slow dance. She doesn’t pull away so I take that as a good sign but she also doesn’t give in to me either, she remains stiff and tense. 

‘Can we go somewhere so I can talk to you and give you your present in private?’ I ask her then and I can tell by the look on her face that’s she surprised I have a gift for her. 

‘I may have forgotten your birthday was today this week but I’ve actually been planning for this day since my birthday. Too bad I ruined everything’ I tell her. 

She takes my offered hand and lets me lead her into the house and up the stairs. Our parents see us go and I assume they don’t say anything because my mum has informed them what’s going on. 

When we enter the room she notices the big box on her bed with a huge bow and turns questioning eyes at me. 

‘That’s your first present I’d hoped that we would get the chance to enjoy it tonight ’ I shrug and then shift nervously 

She sits down then and carefully opens the box and pulls apart the tissue paper revealing the black lace teddy that I picked from Victoria’s Secret. I was completely embarrassed when I first entered the shop but luckily I didn’t run into anyone I knew and the sales lady was very helpful. 

‘It’s beautiful’ she tells me with a small smile. 

‘Well we both know that you like your lacy underwear and you certainly have me hooked now too’ I grin at her before moving to take a seat next to her on the bed. 

‘Thanks’ she smiles genuinely then. 

I pull the box out of my pocket and hand it to her. It’s a small square box and she slowly unwraps it. 

She gasps when she opens the lid revealing the gold ring with the topaz stone. I already have the matching earrings and necklace ready for Christmas. I take the box out of her hand and remove the ring from it. 

‘This isn’t what I had planned or how I wanted to give this to you but the reasoning behind it hasn’t changed. I love you Rachel and I bought this for you to show you how much and so that everyone else would also know how much I love you. The lady at the jeweller called it a promise ring’ I smile. 

‘Finn’ she interrupts. I look up at her and I can see she has tears in her eyes. 

‘I can’t accept it’ she tells me then. 

‘What?’ I asked confused. I realise that I’m a long way from being forgiven but I never dreamt she wouldn’t want my present. 

‘I can’t accept it’ she says again and by now there are tears flowing down her face. 

‘Why?’ I ask her. 

‘Because right now a promise wont mean anything. The fact that Quinn was able to come between us so easily means that what we have wasn’t very secure or real and I don’t think I can go through a week like this again.’ she tells me. 

‘Rachel I know I made a terrible mistake trusting Quinn and I know I stuffed up but it wasn’t about us. I just didn’t want to be one of those people who dropped their friends when they got a girlfriend and I just got so caught up in things that your birthday slipped my mind. I’m so sorry I don’t know what else to say’ I plead. I can’t believe she doesn’t want my present. 

‘I don’t think you can say anything else’ she cries ‘Let’s just try to be friends again’ she tells me. 

Rachel

Oh god what am I doing. The man I love is sitting here almost in tears because I wont accept his beautiful present and I’m just sitting here. Then to make it worse I tell him I want to be friends, did I just break up with the guy I’ve been in love with since I don’t know? Forever. 

‘I’m sorry’ I start to cry. I’m not sure if I’m apologising for breaking his heart or for breaking my own. But all I can think about is that something that I thought was so perfect and that was true love turned out so wrong and hurt me so badly. 

He doesn’t reply though he sits up and places the ring back in its box and shoves it into his pocket as he stands up. He turns his back to me and I see him wipe the tears away from his eyes before he turns back around. 

‘Um no I’m sorry’ he says before leaning down and pressing a kiss against my forehead ‘Happy birthday Rach’ he tells me before walking towards the door. 

‘I should just go and let you enjoy the rest of your night’ he says then. 

‘No!’ I cry out ‘you don’t have to go I mean we’re still friends’ I say and I see him physically pale at my words. 

‘I don’t want to be your friend Rachel’ he tells me quietly ‘I want so much more than that and I don’t think I can settle for just friends’ 

‘Please don’t just leave’ I beg him then and eventually he nods his head before turning and making his way down to the party. I’m about to follow when my dad knocks on the door. 

‘Hey, you ok?’ he asks and I shake my head. 

‘I just saw Finn and he didn’t look ok either’ he says then. 

‘You know I realise that he hurt you this week forgetting your birthday but don’t you think by doing this that your hurting yourself and him a whole lot more’ he tells me. 

‘Think about it Rachel but don’t be too long people are wondering where you are and we’ll have your cake soon’ he says before giving me a kiss on the cheek and exiting. 

Next Update Rachel has a new song to sing for someone. Who will it be? and how will it effect Finn?