Neither one of us could be sure the first day it had happened. I guess one night she had just decided that she needed someone. I still sometimes question why it was me, not one of her best friends, me the underdog, the annoyingly loud one, and not someone she didn't supposedly hate. I still remember her exact words on the first call.
"Rachel...?" She said, voice cracking at the end of the word. Her voice made it so obvious she was crying, I felt immediate concern for her rise up in my chest. The voice that tormented me to no end at school. Quinn Fabray, the ice queen; her cold outer shell was cracking and melting.
"Yes, that's me." I replied. "Are you alright?" Unconsciously, I was diving head first into her with little realization that she could be trying to trick me.
"No. I-I... Can I see you? I need to... Just, ugh... I can't-" I heard her suck in a deep breath, choking into the receiver of her phone.
"...Yes," I manage, for once almost at a loss for words. "Yes, of course, Quinn... I'll be over... Quickly." The phone line beeped, and I knew she'd hung up. I knew I'd go, it was something I had to do.
I knew where she lived; in a small town like Lima, everyone does. It was such a short drive, and I remember getting out and meeting her at the door. I remember how no one else was home; it was just Quinn and I.
I remember her face, the tears.
"Rachel..." Quinn spoke, her voice hoarse. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up the stairs, and I barely managed to shut the door.
When she got to her room, she pulled me inside, and shut the door behind us. We both went over to her bed, and she stared into her lap. Her hand still gripped my arm, and she began to speak.
"I know, you don't like me, and I know I'm a bitch, but please... I need someone to listen." Her eyes were closed, and a few more tears streamed down her pale cheeks. When I only nodded, she continued. "I... I don't even know what's going on. I just feel so fucking depressed all the time. I know, when your mom dies that's expected. I know when your father turns into a fucking drunk ass idiot who wants nothing to do with you..." She trailed off.
I could only bite my lip, hand reaching up to brush her hair from her face. "I... I'm sorry." I had known her mother, Judy, had died; big news traveled quickly in Lima. "And I know; everyone says that, 'I'm sorry' must make you sick. But... I really am. I know you must have-"
"I know, Berry, I miss her so fucking much. I don't even know what's going on. I just..." Her voice broke again, and she sobbed, her hand dropping off of me and gripping her shoulders. I wrapped my own arm around her tentatively. She looked up, her hazel eyes searching mine, and quickly she looked back at her legs. "I'm so stupid. I never took the chance to care for her; we always fought. I wish I could have said 'I love you' one more time."
I closed my eyes, nodding slightly. Her pain was so real and in front of me that I felt my chest aching. "She was... your mother, and I know she must have meant so much to you, and I know I myself don't have a mother, but... A they say, I feel for you..." I murmured, turning to pull her into a tight embrace. She didn't fight, instead falling slightly limp in my arms. I felt her take a shuddering breath, and she relaxed into me.
"Maybe everything will be ok..." She said under her breath, and I barely caught the words, although I smiled into the crook of her neck.
"I hope so, Quinn." I told her quietly. She nodded, moving again to face me.
"I don't know why I ever thought I hated you," She half-muttered to herself. I couldn't quite hear her, but she was wiping her eyes. "Thanks... You an go, though, Berry. My parents will be home soon. I'm... fine, now."
I could tell she wasn't 'fine' but she was a lot more calm than before. I wouldn't stay if she wanted me gone, so I nodded and got off her bed, slipping out of her house quietly.
When I started my car, I couldn't stop thinking about how she had relied on me. Me, Rachel Berry, the loud-mouthed 'man hands'. She knew I could have hurt her, yet I wasn't at all thinking of that when I helped her.
I began to drive. Eventually I pulled into my house, and I got out of my car and opened the door with my key. When I opened the door, I was greeted by two dads; one who looked like he was pretty upset (Hiram), the other looking relieved.
"Rachel, where have you been?" Hiram asked her, coming forward to hug her. "We tried to call you and you didn't answer!"
I looked at the floorboards over his shoulder, face red. "I was helping... a friend." I replied. When he stepped back hi brows were still pinched. "Ok, but why didn't you answer?" I shrugged, feeling for my phone in my coat pocket. I checked it, noticing it had gone off and I hadn't felt it vibrate. "Oh... I guess I didn't feel it, I'm sorry, Dad..."
Leroy stepped in, putting a hand on Hiram's shoulder. "Calm down, Hiram... Rachel, you say you were helping a friend; sometimes that takes up time, yeah?" I nodded.
"It's alright, but next time please tell us before you leave, ok?" He continued, stooping to hug me as well.
"I promise," I answered truthfully. I had forgotten to tell them in my mad rush to go, and I guess they had failed to notice I had left until later. I shuffled my feet along the floorboards, turning to shut the door.
"Well, Rach, it's nine," Hiram said, "We'll be downstairs." He was referring to their bedroom.
Again, I nodded. I trooped up the stairs to my own room and placed my car keys on my bedside table. Without changing into pajamas, I jumped into my bed and pulled my covers to my chin.
I closed my eyes. Good night, then, Dads... Quinn, too, I suppose. I smiled to myself, feeling sleep pull me under.
Author's note: Hey, guys! This is chapter one of I'm not sure how many. I'd appreciate reviews. At the moment I have someone pending to be my beta; if for whatever reason it doesn't go through, I'll let you guys know.