The minute Rachel Berry stepped foot onto the plane, she knew it was going to be a rough flight. It wasn't that she was afraid of flying, hell she flew more times then she could count, it was more of who was waiting for her on the other end. She glanced at one of her best friends, Tina Chang. They had been attending NYU with each other for the past 4 years, trying to spark their Broadway careers. She had gotten a few gigs here and there but nothing like she really expected.
She turned her head slightly, glanced out the small plane window and took one last look at New York City, her home. She felt relief fill through her. She loved New York, she really did, but she hadn't been to Ohio in 5 years, and she truly missed it. Ohio had everything, her childhood home, her father's, Quinn...
Today was the start of their glee club reunion. Although the boys weren't going to be there (except Kurt), Rachel was more than excited to see all of the girls. Kurt Hummel , her very gay friend, and Mercedes Jones, who Rachel hated to admit it, was just as talented as she was, had been going to University in L.A. Meanwhile Brittany Pierce, who was more dumb then Finn, and Santana Lopez who threatened you with her mind, even when you thought about her, had been going to University of California.
They were all meeting up and going to be spending the next month of summer at Quinn Fabray's house. Rachel felt her heart beat faster as she thought about Quinn. She knew she shouldn't be thinking about her, seeing as she spent the last 5 years trying to get every memory of Quinn out of her mind. She was in love with Quinn, had been ever since Soft more year, when Quinn stopped torturing Rachel. They actually became good friends for a while before graduation, but once it came time to leave, they rarely talked, other than the odd phone call every couple of months. She was even pretty sure she was over Quinn until she got an unexpected phone call last week.
One week ago: Rachel yawned and looked at her clock. 11:30 PM. She had to be up at 6 for her last day of school but she really wanted to finish the last 10 minutes of the notebook. Her eyes began to drift off until she was suddenly shot out of her thoughts by the sound of her phone ringing.
"Hello?" she answered sounding more annoyed then she meant to.
"Hey rach, is this a bad time?" asked the soft voice on the other end.
Rachel felt her heart flutter. She knew that voice.
"Quinn?" Rachel asked feeling excited now and much more awake.
"Yeah it's me Quinn answered softly.
"Quinn, it's been forever, how are you?" Rachel asked her. She heard Quinn sigh on the other end.
"I know, 3 months. I should have called, and I'm great, how's New York?"Quinn asked sounding genuinely happy.
"New York is fantastic" she lied. Tina got a part in a play 2 weeks ago, she's really excited" Rachel told her.
"That's amazing!" Quinn told her. Rachel sighed and looked down, why did the question have to pop in her head every time?
"How's puck?" She asked trying to sound excited. There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. "pucks alright, he's away with a few friends for the summer" Quinn replied sounding sad.
"Hope shot through Rachel. Are you okay?" She whispered.
"Everything's fine, it's just, Puck and I are on a break right now" Quinn announced and Rachel s heart jumped. "Quinn I m so sorry, but its puck he'll come crawling back" Rachel told her and meant it.
Quinn cleared her throat," Anyways, the reason I called. I already talked to Santana and Brittany about this, I was sort of thinking about having a glee reunion" Quinn gushed but before Rachel could respond she began again. "But no boys, except Kurt of Course, I want you Tina, Brittany, Santana, Kurt and Mercedes down to my house for the summer." Quinn rambled on Rachel took a deep breath. Summer with Quinn? She knew she couldn't do that, she wouldn't be able to last that long.
Before she knew what she was saying the words slipped out of her mouth. "I'm in" she whispered.
Which lead her here. Rachel closed her eyes and felt the plane rumble, they were taking off now and this was her least favourite part.
After 2 hours of Tina talking about her part in her new play, they finally entered the lobby of the Ohio airport. Excitement washed over Rachel as she saw Brittany, Santana, Kurt and Mercedes huddled together in the corner. Before she knew what she was doing she was darting across the crowded room. It was Mercedes who noticed the running brunette first. Mercedes stepped forward just as Rachel jumped into her arms. "Oh my god, it's been forever" Rachel screamed at her friends.
"Shit Berry you grew up" Santana told her looking her up and down. Brittany swatted her arm playfully. Rachel giggled and hugged Brittany Santana and Kurt all at once.
She took a step away from everyone to take in what she was seeing. Kurt looked the same, rosy cheeks, brown hair that was jelled, the only thing that was different was that he had gotten taller. Mercedes on the other hand, had her hair cut into a short bob and she had gotten much skinnier. Rachel's eyes moved over to Santana who had matured the most out of them all. The Latina's long dark hair fell wavily past her shoulders and her dark eyes pierced into you as she talked. Also her legs got longer which Rachel didn't think was possible. Brittany had front bangs that were cut straight across her forehead, and her sleek blond hair fell pin straight barely past her shoulders. Brittany had gotten taller, and seemed less awkward.
Rachel glanced over at Tina who was talking with Kurt and Mercedes. She watched as Kurt pulled out his phone and before he spoke Rachel s breath caught in her throat. "She's here"
They walked out into the parking lot and a very familiar black car pulled up. Quinn stepped out of the car wearing, of course one of her usual dresses. The short white dress clung tightly to her thin body. Quinn had definitely gotten taller and her long blond hair was far longer then she remembered. Quinn walked over to the group and exchanged welcomings. Quinn stepped in front of Rachel and their eyes met. "hey Rach" Quinn whispered before pulling her into a tight embrace. Rachel inhaled deeply as Quinn hugged her, this made up for years of torture. She pulled away and Quinn smiled at her. "Should we get going?" Santana nodded and began walking towards the car.
As they walked Rachel noticed, Brittany and Santana's hands were linked together, informing her that they were in fact a couple. Which didn't surprise her, everyone knew they were a couple. Kurt, Mercedes and Tina climbed into the back, while Santana and Brittany climbed into the 2 middle seats, which left Rachel sitting in the passenger seat, beside Quinn. As they drove the car filled with commotion, as they old friends shared how their lives were going. Rachel closed her eyes, and tried not to look at Quinn. It was so difficult, she knew she couldn't let her feelings return, but truth was did they ever leave?
Rachel looked out the window and her eyes caught site of a big log house hidden inside a deep forest of trees. She gasped. "Quinn this is amazing, I didn t know being a guidance councillor could land you such big bucks" Rachel admitted. Quinn blushed "well it's not all entirely me, my mom helped out, she felt bad for the whole baby situation" Quinn whispered so the other couldn't hear. Rachel nodded and hopped out of the car, as soon as it stopped.
The beautiful house was clearly bigger then her Lima home. She watched as the other gawked in amazement "Q this is huge" Santana practically yelled.
"well it's more of my mom and dad's when they come home from their trips, but I get it in between" Quinn told them.
"Lets get everything inside" Quinn told them smiling and began walking up the gravel path.
Rachel's eyes widened as she entered the home. Everything was dark wood, even the floors, which gave the house a nice warm feeling. Rachel put her hand out and traced her finger tips along the table in the living room and her eyes fell on a certain picture. It was of Quinn and Puck. The brunette frowned and tried to hide her disappointment. She turned away and glanced elsewhere. She walked over to the pictures that were scattered on top of the fireplace, she smiled at Quinn's graduation picture, she looked so young, so innocent.
Quinn smiled at the short brunette who was studying her picture intensely. Rachel had grown up,a lot. She didn't wear Argyle sweaters and plaid skirts that Quinn was used to. Instead Rachel had on short black shorts, and a yellow sweater that had NYU printed on the front. Rachel's dark brown hair was curly and fell just barely past her shoulders. Her face had grown more mature, but it was her chocolate brown eyes that stood out the most to Quinn, they were filled with so much meaning.
Quinn walked behind Rachel and peered over her shoulder, noticing she was looking at an old glee photo, "
you know, it's weird seeing you without your signature outfit" Quinn told her pointing to the picture. Rachel swatted her arm." I miss my animal shirts" Rachel admitted pouting slightly. "then why the change?" Quinn asked curiously.
"a lot changed in New York" Rachel told her and Quinn nodded slightly, understanding.
"So, I know it'd be best if Kurt had his own room, and Tina and Mercedes probably want to bunk together, so I thought it would be convenient if you stayed in my room?" Quinn asked then quickly added "unless you d like to try and work something out with Brittany and Santana, but you probably wouldn't wake up in the morning."
Rachel let out a laugh then tried to pass the information through her head, she was going to be sharing a room with Quinn Fabray, the girl she had been in love with for 5 years. A room that Quinn very likely had gotten undressed in, and also she would be sleeping very close to Quinn. Rachel brushed away the thought and nodded to Quinn.
"Where is everyone?" Rachel asked and Quinn pointed towards the stairs. "I think claiming rooms, want to go get your stuff set up?" Quinn asked.
"Yes, but you have to carry one of my bags, I managed to get them out of the car, but if I have to carry them upstairs, it won't be a pretty sight" Rachel told her smiling.
Quinn let out a chuckle, then grabbed Rachel's biggest bag. Rachel picked up her two carry on's, and fallowed Quinn through the living room. Once they made it upstairs, Rachel peeked in the first room, Kurt was setting up all of his beauty products and had his clothes all perfectly lined up. Rachel smiled sweetly at him and kept walking.
In the next room, Santana and Brittany were giggling nonstop and Santana was tickling the blond. Rachel liked how open they were, If only she could have told Quinn how she felt 5 years ago. She didn't even bother looking in the third room, she knew Tina and Mercedes were probably arguing over the bed, or who ever got which closet. It was a typical Mercedes/Tina thing.
Finally they reached Quinn's room. Rachel stepped inside and expected to see pink walls and pom pom's hanging up, boy was she wrong. The walls were a dark navy colour and she had dark hardwood floors. The room was pretty empty, except for a small couch and TV in the corner. Rachel's eyes fixed on the two beds in the centre of the room, and she let out a sigh of relief. Knowing she that she would be able to sleep at night, and not have to be tortured that Quinn was inches away from her, was going to make her stay here much bearable.
