The Punk and the Princess
Chapter 1: Duets
Admit it, you're in love. You rise each morning with that uncertain ache in your breast. You choose that necklace, that skirt, those shoes with her in mind. You attempt not to scurry early to the choir room, practising the phrase that will please her, the gesture she will notice. When you first see her in the corridor each day … you can't help it. The knees go. She's adorable. Rachel Berry could not be more adorable if she tried to be more clueless than she already is.
"Right," said Mr Schuester clapping his hands together, "this week we're going to look at duets again! Who can remember what a duet is?"
"A blanket." stated Brittany.
"No… anyone else?"
Rachel Berry waved her hand in the air frantically, as if she was about to pop with the answer ready to spill out of her. Although Mr Schue tried to encourage anyone else to think of an answer, Rachel was the only one that was forthcoming. The remainder of the time was spent by her elaborately explain the entire history of the duet with several examples. Just as everyone was about to leave Mr Schue told them the homework for next week was to grab a partner and work on a duet together. This was it. The perfect chance.
Quinn intercepted Rachel just before she left the choir room to chase after Finn. She had already practiced exactly what she was going to say in her head.
"So Berry, you're going to duet with me." There was less chance of her being turned down if it sounded like a command.
"Well, I was going to sing with Finn but there are many strong female duets, it would be an excellent chance to add one to my repertoire."
A breath of relief.
"You can pick the song. When are we going to rehearse?"
"Tomorrow, at my house?"
This was all going better than Quinn could have hoped. A duet and going to Rachel Berry's house! This was like all holidays rolled in to one.
Quinn never really thought she had a chance with Rachel, what with their styles being so different. After her voyage of self-discovery over the summer, Quinn had learnt a lot and changed even more. Her once blonde hair was now pink and her style had gone from preppy to punk. She also found out she didn't hate Rachel Berry, Rachel hadn't ruined her life, she'd made it better and Quinn was in love with her.
The next day Quinn spent an hour picking her outfit, then another hour on her make-up and half an hour on her hair. She'd had an entire packet of cigarettes between 3 and 6 because she was so nervous. It wasn't like her to be like this but where Rachel was concerned Quinn was slowly turning in to a quivering wreck.
Quinn spent 10 minutes outside Rachel's house, too nervous to go in. Finally, she knocked on the door. Rachel answered and Quinn's heart skipped a beat.
"Come in. My dads are out at a conference so we have the house to ourselves tonight, is that okay?" said Rachel leading the way to her basement so they had a proper stage to rehearse on.
"Fine." choked Quinn, who was slightly off-footed by the circumstances. She knew that if Rachel's dads were there then nothing could happen but knowing that they weren't, would she be able to control herself? The basement was exactly like it was the last time she'd been here. It had been a party and it'd been pretty wild but it was before Quinn knew herself so nothing happened, and anyway, everyone was there and they would have seen. Now the basement was empty apart from the two of them.
"I had a few choices for duets," chimed Rachel, "but I think my favourite is Take me or Leave Me from Rent. Now, I know I did it with Mercedes a while back but I think it'll work with our voices just as well, if not better." She smiled triumphantly.
"Isn't that sung by lesbians?" queried Quinn, wondering if Rachel was trying to suggest something.
"Is that a problem?" said Rachel, biting down on her lip in worry. Quinn had never wanted to kiss her so much.
"No. Can't I ask without you thinking it's a problem?" Quinn didn't mean to be defensive and aggressive but she couldn't let anyone, especially Rachel, know how she really felt. She was behaving just like a little kid, unable to deal with their feelings so the hurt the people they want to be with once. She'd done it before and now it was happening again, it was her defence mechanism. Rachel looked a bit hurt by this sudden brashness from her partner. Oh God, better deal with this quick.
"Sorry, didn't mean that to sound harsh" mumbled Quinn, suddenly ashamed at having snapped at Rachel even if she did look cute when she was upset. "Shall we start singing?"
Rachel brightened immediately.
The song went well, Quinn knew it would, Rachel could make anything sound amazing. They both sat on the sofa after running it a couple more times, well, Rachel sat – Quinn collapsed. It was then that Rachel suggested reading the script so Quinn could understand the musical more. It didn't seem like a bad idea, at least it would get her some more alone time with Rachel. It was settled that Quinn would read Maureen and Rachel would be Joanne as Rachel knew both parts but Quinn, who didn't know either, suited Maureen more.
Who knew reading those scenes would be so much fun? The girls didn't stay on the sofa for long, soon they were acting them out properly on the mini stage in the basement. There was only one thing that bothered Quinn, every time the script got to kissing or anything remotely sexual between the two girls, Rachel would get embarrassed and move on. It got to the song 'Contact' and Rachel was about to turn the page when Quinn put her hand on Rachel's copy, preventing her from moving on.
"Berry, why do you skip bits? I know that, as an actor, I prefer to do everything start to finish; skipping bits just makes me confused. Let's do this bit." Quinn tried not to let the nervous waver in to her voice.
"But it's about…" said Rachel, trailing off.
"I can read Berry. What's wrong? Scared you might like it?" Lord knows that this whole experience had made Quinn want Rachel more than ever and this may be her only chance ever to get what she wants. She had to seize it.
"No, it's just that…" mumbled Rachel. She looked up at Quinn and knew that the girl would tease her mercilessly if she didn't go through with it. "Okay. Fine. Then we better go to the proper place to do this then." Rachel, being assertive around Quinn for once, grabbed her by the wrist and led her up to her bedroom.
Quinn couldn't believe this was going to happen.
