AN: hey hey hey! I've had this plot in my head for a while, and I've been itching to try my hand at it. IT WILL CONTAIN ENDGAME FABERRY, TRANS!QUINN, PANSEXUAL!RACHEL AND AN AU INVOLVING NO BABYGATE AND OUTDOORSY N LIBERAL FABRAY PARENTS AS WELL AS NON-GLEE-SINGER!QUINN. I have experience in both areas, being trans and pan. If you have any questions about gender or sexuality, I will be glad to help. Quinn's gender identity will be explorered in later chapters, but for now, they are referred to in gender neutral pronouns (they/their/them). I apologies for misgendering on Rachel's part, she just doesn't know yet. But trust me, Rach will be fully supportive. If those are not your thing, please do not read on. But without further ado... Into The Wild!
Simply put, Quinn was bored to death. Pre Calc was at the end of the day, and combining the rowdy class, insufferable teacher and end of the day sickness, the course was already doomed for failure. Factoring in Quinn's distaste for the subject, it might as well been an hour and a half nap time or daydreaming session. In fact, Quinn used it as such, along with their many other peers.
Today, Quinn was dreaming about the woods. The chunk of land owned by the town that they refused to bulldoze because it added 'natural charm' and brought in backpackers and backwoods campers. Lima was a small town, and took any income it could get. Quinn can hear and picture the birds singing little call and response tunes between each other, the buzzing of the insects and the trickling of the crystal clear creek; Quinn loved every bit of it. Since Quinn didn't have any appointments to play guitar for the glee clubbers, the blonde could head straight for the woods. Gosh, Quinn couldn't wait to get out of this freaking class and back out to nature, where they belonged.
It wasn't that Quinn was disrespectful, or hated the subject. Quinn fully understood how crucial math was to everyday life, they just didn't grasp it very well. Quinn's foundation came from nature. Quinn knew what to do when something wants to eat you, or how to make a smokeless fire or any edible plant found in Ohio, but Quinn didn't know where math factored in at all. Why would you need math to identify poison oak or to make a shelter out of saplings and ferns? Quinn spoke in survival and in the moment experience whereas the rest of the world spoke in money and possesions and future planning. Those two worlds can never marry. Besides, there was something between the blonde and the wilderness that nobody could deny. Quinn's heart was the pulse of the forest and their arms and legs were extensions of the forest around them. Quinn had a deep seated connection with the earth that could never be broken. But even when they were in the woods, surrounded by hundreds of their best friends, Quinn still longs to share this magic with someone. To share their love with someone.
BRIIIIIIIING
The end-of-the-day bell was music to the blonde's ears. Quinn slung the worn grey Herschel Supply bag that had gone on many a expedition and was sun-bleached and ripped over their shoulder and was out the door before anyone even noticed. No one ever notices Quinn, anyways. Except for a brunette with a penchant for argyle and sweaters and a very, very loud voice.
Rachel
I stared dreamily at Quinn as she left. God, she was gorgeous. With that messy blonde quiff a la Beckham and those hazel eyes, I was in love from the moment I laid my eyes on her freshman year. I was already in my seat on the first day of school in our English class, when she walks in with this incredibly, incredibly attractive haircut and not to mention the absolutely adorable navy blue Christmas-esque sweater under the army green canvas jacket and then the tie and the tan oxfords along with it... The outfit was a masterpiece. Dare I say her sweater rivaled mine, a black knit with white reindeer? She was perfect.
And totally, totally unattainable. Why would a specimin as refined as her go out with the dorky Jewish girl with an abnormally large nose? No reason at all. But as the year wore on I realized my dream date has yet to become popular. Why not? She's pretty, no handsome suits her better, and funny (I think). And then that in turn made me wonder why we hadn't become friends. I mean, yes she's really quiet and all and we don't talk very much, but I always see her around because she plays guitar for glee. But why hadnt we become friends? Another mystery the world fails to tell me, like the turning point for my immenent stardom. But we are sort of... Aquantiances. So it isn't creepy to stare at her. Not at all. Anyways, that's another virtue of Quinn, guitar playing. Her talent is definitely up to par for me to date her. I just hope she can sing. Then we could do love duets and she could serenade me and god it would all be so amazing. Granted, her status on the social food chain would do absolutely nothing for a loser like me, but it would be soooo worth it. Anyone would be lucky to be able to run their fingers through that gorgeous blonde hair and those impossibly deep hazel eyes.
Just when you think Quinn couldn't get any better, she can. Her sense of style stayed impeccable, just as good as the first day of freshman year. Quinn manages to pull of her dapper vintage woodsman explorer look with ease. Quinn can pair bowties with Christmas sweaters and parkas with oxfords and manage to look sexy, refined and worldly all at the same time. Besides, the muted tones and subtle patterns in her clothing definitely won't clash with my extensive argyle and animal sweater collection, which is yet another check in the Rachel Berry Perfect Boy/Girl/Special Friend checklist. And before you ask, yes, I am pansexual. I'm attracted to people, and gender isn't really a factor. I will admit that I have a certain affinity for men, but I would never rule out a relationship with a girl, or a nonbinary person.
Anyways, after realizing that I myself needed to get going home and not stay starstruck at my desk, I stumbled out of the classroom in a haze. I'm always like that after I think about Quinn. And I'll have to be honest, she kind of turns me on. But in the best way possible, of course. Not profane or obscene at all. Not at all.
As I stride down the hallway, I'm really thankful no one slushies at the end of the day, because I would hate for this outfit to be ruined. I made it through today without a corn syrup facial, and I'd like to continue the streak. I wonder if Quinn ever gets slushied. She never attracts attention to herself, but she's always sort of there. Tipping the incoming slushy back into the aggressors face, then darting off before anyone sees who it was or happening to "drop" a small bottle of stain remover into the hands of a victim, Quinn was always thinking of others. That's another thing I love about her. How selfless she seems. I hope she's as selfless as she appears.
Luckily, I made it out to my bike before Karofsky or any other jocks decided it was Pick On Rachel Berry Day. Sweeping my eyes around the bike lot, checking for any hiding jocks, I notice Quinn unlocking a bike of her own. It was a black mountain bike that looked sufficiently mucked up around the chassis and in the spokes. She used it well, much like everything else she owned. It was the sign of a waste conscious person. My daddies will love her.
I gave Quinn a tentative smile, and in return, she blushed and returned the gesture. Okay, I died a little inside. I made Quinn Fabray, of all people, blush! Me! Rachel Berry, resident nerd and Glee club captain made Quinn Fabray, dashingly handsome guitarist blush! Maybe she likes me back. Oh my god, I think she likes me back. Before I can strike up a conversation with my impeccable social skills filled with witty remarks and well hidden flirting, Quinn is already biking away. Shoot. Hopping on my transportation, I ride off, hoping I can catch up to the blonde, already meters ahead. I figure actually talking to her instead of fantasizing about us together will be beneficial to our budding relationship.
AN: First chapter done! We got a glimpse of Quinn's love for nature and seven paragraphs of Rachel fangirling over Quinn. Whaddaya think? Okay? Not okay? Comment your thoughts and ideas, I'd love too hear them. Thank you so much for reading my craziness. I'd like to shoutout to Hal, Tonja, Mikey, MK, Katie, Char and Matt for being awesome people, the inspiration for this story, and helping me connect to nature in a way I've never felt before.
