Chapter One
It was coming up to late autumn, around late September/early October. Rachel had settled in New York as well as settling in at college. Summer had been and gone just like graduation months before. She was where she always dreamed she'd be, in the city she always dreamed she would be. Getting over Finn took some time, but throwing herself into college certainly helped that and focused her mind.
It was just as expected, the bright lights shone in Times Square and there were people everywhere. A million miles away from life at home in Ohio; she could see life going 24/7 just about a mile or so away from her dorm room window.
On her counter were photos of her 2 dads with her, photos of her and friends from McKinley, and the metro pass given to her by Quinn Fabray on the last day of school, just before graduation. It had been used a few times, as they spent time together during the summer. Seeing Quinn outside of high school felt different, they were best friends now and were no longer divided by cheerleading or popularity.
There had always been tensions between the two, for good or worse. Sometimes, Rachel could see in the corner of her eye, despite when Quinn was supposedly angry at her, a smile would appear for a split second and then disappear. Like it was known she shouldn't be feeling like this. They hated each other right? It was said to Quinn that her greatest achievement in high school was being her friend, over everything else in school she achieved, the nationals win being the most prominent. One girl she wanted to be, one girl she just wanted to be friends with.
One thing was different however, the way they looked at each other. There was always this loving gaze that you don't get normally. Rachel tended to zone out of the world in this gaze, which one of her room mates had worked out from seeing before she went to after.
"Hey Berry! Can we get to class?" said one of her roommates as Rachel just stood in like a trance state just looking up at what seemed to be the stars. "Oh, oh sorry" she remarked hastily trying to come to her senses once again. It would have gone unnoticed the reason why to many, but this was one of the few people who knew about the situation. "It's her again isn't it? Maybe try when you won't get in trouble for being late again."
The person in question happened to be Quinn, of course. They had visited each other a few times during the summer and things were beginning to heat up. It all happened when Rachel took the train to be there for Quinn's 18th birthday back in August. They had their first kiss this night, after Rachel surprised Quinn with plans for dinner at a small Italian restaurant. "Have you seen over there? Looks like the cutest couple out for a birthday or a date" remarked a waiter nearby to his colleague causing both of them to blush.
They didn't feel the need to correct it, nor denied it, just going along with what was an amazing night. It never came up the word before, nor had they thought about it. This was the first time they'd officially showed affection to each other, a date as such, but not a couple. It was a new feeling for both of them, Quinn couldn't have been happier with how the night went, and it had been her best birthday in a while. Rachel had always wondered what it was like to kiss her and now she knew. For her, it was magical.
Quinn suggested to Rachel she should stay at her place for the night; she wanted to spent the rest of her birthday with her best friend. They walked the 10 minutes from the restaurant hand in hand with loving gazes at each other, like no one else was around. Both of their eyes shone nearly as bright as the city lights in Times Square, maybe to them they looked brighter. Eventually they got to Quinn's dorm building and took the lift up to the 2nd floor where she was based. Her room mates were out so it was just the two of them for the moment. Rachel took a seat in the communal lounge taking the biggest and by the looks of it most comfortable sofa and kicked off her shoes, putting her feet up as she relaxed. Quinn had disappeared into her bedroom temporarily to put some things away she had in her hands.
"Nice place you've got here! And very nice sofa" said Rachel looking around. "You should see it when it's busy" remarked Quinn, just about audible from the bedroom. "Kitchen is just behind you if you want to fix up something to drink".
Quinn came out of the bedroom about 5 minutes later, heading for the sofa that Rachel was also sitting on. "Budge up, how about some TV?" she asked as Rachel swung her legs around so Quinn could sit down.
In fashion of how they were with each other now, Rachel was lying nearly in Quinn's arms her feet hanging off the other side of the sofa with Quinn sat at the end her arm wrapped just around the waist of Rachel.
"Very comfy huh?" she remarked noticing how Rachel's eye began to light up again and her smile growing bigger and bigger. All that was going through her mind right now was how happy she was to be with Quinn and all the anguish and tension was in the past, now she was just in the arms of her love.
A few hours passed as they watched some TV, going through episodes of Modern Family, Friends and the Big Bang Theory.
By now it had gone 11pm, and Rachel was getting noticeably tired, it had been a long day for her, ever since the early trip from New York to arrive in plenty of time to spend the whole day. "Getting tired sweetie?" asked Quinn, noticing Rachel was beginning to drift in and out of sleep. "Let me take you to bed, you can have mine for the night". For a few minutes she doesn't think to wake her, Quinn just admires how beautiful Rachel looks sleeping. This girl she's been in love with. It takes a good few minutes to process that thought just looking lovingly into Rachel's lovely brown eyes.
Quinn walks into the bedroom to get changed while Rachel wakes up, although still feeling quite dopey. She doesn't have much to sleep in but one change of clothes she brought with her, so takes the chance to change as well when Quinn goes to pick up Rachel's shoes left by the sofa.
"Thank you" says Quinn making her way back into the bedroom as Rachel gets comfortable in the bed. "Thank you for tonight and how special you've made me feel"
"Don't mention it, you know I love you and you're my best friend. I just wanted to do something nice" replied Rachel. "Now getting into bed or what?"
Quinn drops off her shoes at the side of the bed alongside the other clothes Rachel had just changed from. They end up lying in almost the same position as on the sofa, she has Rachel lying in her arms, her left arm wrapped snugly. "Good night" they whisper to each other.
Quinn is the first one up in the morning around 10am shortly followed by Rachel about 30 minutes later. "Morning" mutters Rachel, still half asleep.
"Sleep well?" replies Quinn, pouring herself some coffee from the kitchen
"Really well thanks. Probably a lot better than the sofa, however comfortable it looks" answers Rachel as she stumbles from the bed putting her shoes on.
"Shall we get dressed and I'll drive you to the train station? I imagine you need to prepare for the start of college as I do" remarked Quinn as she moved toward the communal lounge.
"Just on it" shouted Rachel obviously half way through changing anyway.
About 10 minutes later, they make their way down the path toward the student car park where Quinn is parked. It's a short drive to the train station, no longer than 10 min, 15 in traffic.
"So, what do you say we make a deal eh? If we're both doing well in college come the end of October, we can spend Halloween together? Put the passes to good use" said Quinn coming up with an idea as she pulled into the train station.
"That sounds like a great deal, certainly motivation when classes get hard" replied Rachel as she headed toward the train. Quinn parked the car and gave Rachel a tight hug good bye showing her appreciation for what an amazing birthday she ended up having.
