Roommates

16. Number 5

Previously...
She puts her arm around me and we start walking to catch up with the others. I lean on her arm, feeling mad at myself for not thinking. "Hey, it's ok. Remember you're not the bad person here." Santana comforts me once more as we reach the sidelines where the others are sitting.

***

Rachel's POV
We've been at the tryouts for about 15 minutes now. All the boys went out onto the pitch and were told by the coach to go into the locker room and change into some football kits that were in there, as well as writing down the part on the team they were trying out for, so that's where they are now. Me and Santana are over at a drink machine buying a couple of Pepsi's before we go back onto the sidelines and wait for the boys to come back out. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I see a couple of girls walk into the locker room from across the hallway where the boys are meant to be changing.
I think Santana notices that I saw. "Hey, if you want go in there and wish Finn good luck. I'll come with you." She smiles, and I smile back and nod. She picks up our drinks from the dispenser of the machine and we walk over to the locker room. As I open the door the smell of sweat and feet fills my nose, and as much as I try to ignore it, it's gross. I suddenly notice Finn, Puck and Sam all standing together getting ready. Sam is getting changed while Puck is already writing his name on the board, and... Finn hasn't even started changing yet. I walk over to them, and Sam sees me and makes his way towards me before I reach Finn.
"Hey, Rachel, can you talk to Finn? He's totally freaking out over here."
I smile. "Sure, I got this."
"Thanks, I just don't want him to blow this, you know?" Sam sighs with relief and I pat him on the shoulder to reassure him. I move past him and over to Finn, who's sitting on the bench with his head in his hands. I kneel down in front of him on the floor.
"Hey, Finn. It's Rachel." He looks up and smiles.
"Hey babe." He takes a deep breath, and I can tell he's stressed so I just hug him tightly. After a couple of seconds he lets loose and hugs me back tighter. Eventually he pulls away.
"I don't know what I'm doing, Rach." He tells me. "I mean, what if I'm not good enough to be the quarterback anymore?"
Puck walks over and sits down beside him. "Dude, you're the best quarterback I've ever seen. You can't just not risk it. Take the chance bro."
"But for me to just sign up for the part makes me look like I'm full of myself. I mean, it's a big part and--"
"It's a big part for a big, strong, handsome football player like you." I interrupt him. He looks up at me and does his adorable half-smile.
"You really believe in me that much?"
I kiss him gently. "No, more." He hugs me tightly again and lets out a relieved heavy breath.
"Thank you Rach. I really don't know what I'd do without you."
"Hey, its fine." I say as I pull away from the hug. "Come on, you need to get changed."
We both stand up and I help Finn take off his shirt. As much as I love seeing him topless, I know the right and wrong times to be getting turned on by it, and this is a wrong time. Besides, I'll probably see more again later.
I walk with Finn over to where there's a bunch of the football kit stuff. I don't know what all of the things are called so I just try my best.
"Hey," I say, noticing a football shirt with the number 5. "Didnt you say this was your number back in high school?"
He sees me pointing at it, and smiles. "Yeah, yeah it was." He looks slightly disappointed. It's worrying me, I thought he'd be more excited about being on a team again. He starts looking in other directions and I decide that I need to take charge if he won't. I push the shirt into him.
"Well, go try it on then. See if it fits." I smile at him. He looks down at it again and smirks, before kissing me on the cheek and walking away to where he was changing before. I smile to myself as I feel happy that I'm helping him. I just want him to do his best. Even if he doesn't get the role of Quarterback, I'll still love him all the same, and who knows, maybe from smaller parts he can work his way up back to his rightful place as the leader.

Finn's POV
I feel so nervous trying out as the Quarterback again. I mean, I don't even know the coach, and by putting my name down for quarterback that's taking a big step. I don't want to look too cocky. But like Rachel told me, I feel like I deserve this part. And with her on my side reassuring me, I feel like I can really do this. Not just this, but like I can do anything.
I put on the football shirt to find that it actually does fit, which is crazy for how freakishly tall I am. It's like it was meant for me. I put on a pair of trousers I picked up earlier, and find myself a helmet that fits too. I'm completely changed into what could be my new permanent football kit for the team, if I get on. I walk over to a mirror in the locker room and stare at myself in my football shirt, numbered 5. It brings back so many memories of being the Quarterback in high school. How every cheerleader wanted to date me, and how all the football guys wanted to be me. If I get this part, that could all come back. I turn around and see Rachel sitting patiently talking to Santana, drinking a Pepsi. I can't help but smile at her. Even if I do get this part, a thousand cheerleaders all wanting to date me will never add up to what I have with Rachel. There's something so special about her, something that tells me I've made a right choice choosing this girl to be mine. I just hope it can stay like that. I walk over to the board and write my name under the "name" column of the table. I take a deep breath as I write in the "position" column.