~Author's Note: This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction, so forgive me if it isn't perfect. I'm going to begin by posting the prologue and the first chapter, and if anyone is interested, I will continue posting from there. Enjoy, and please review! Thank you!~
Year 2012, Lima, Ohio.
Quinn looked down into her beautiful brown eyes and gave her a weak smile. She was trying her best to seem like she was happy for Rachel, but that's not easy when you're holding back tears. NYADA was a great school, and Quinn knew that Rachel's dreams would all come true for her eventually. No one in their right mind would ever deny Rachel Berry her dream, she was going to be a Broadway star if it killed her. A muffled announcement came on overhead and interrupted Quinn's flow of thought.
"Now boarding train 427A passengers to New York City, Grand Central Station"
Just give me another minute. One more minute, that's all I ask. Quinn thought, but she realized no matter how much longer she had, be it days or weeks or months, it would be just as hard to let Rachel go. No. This is it. She thought. If I don't tell her now, I won't ever get another chance. Quinn's heart was starting to race and she braced herself to say the words that had been on the tip of her tongue for years.
"Rachel, I—" but she choked on them. Her words failed her and Rachel stood there staring, waiting to hear them. But they didn't come.
"— I'm going to miss you." Was what she said. She was already kicking herself internally. Stupid, weak, idiot. Why can't I just tell her? Rachel smiled sadly, and put her hand gently on Quinn's arm.
"I'll miss you too Quinn. So much... I just know you'll have a great time at Yale." Rachel replied. Any other day of the year, Quinn would have agreed with her. Yale was a great school, and Quinn was sure there were plenty of opportunities for her there. But in that moment, Quinn hated Yale. She hated NYADA too. She hated everything that was taking Rachel away from her. After a pause that seemed to drag on forever, Rachel said "I have to go now. I don't want to miss my train."
Quinn panicked. She looked to the ground and felt Rachel's hand leave her arm. You can't leave. I need you. I love you, Rachel. I need you to stay, please don't leave me. I can't say goodbye forever, not to you. She thought. She stood for a moment and let her emotions engulf her like wildfire. Rachel was slipping away, and there was nothing she could do about it. Eyes fixed on the ground, she desperately prayed for the train to break down and stay, stuck in the station. But she heard a whistle, and when she looked up, the wheels were starting to turn. Eyes wide with terror, she looked around, trying to find her home in those familiar brown eyes, but they weren't there. Rachel was on the train, and it was gaining speed.
"No." She said quietly, and her eyes leapt back and forth across the moving train frantically, searching for Rachel. "Please!" She yelled, her voice breaking in a sob. She tried to run toward the train, but her legs wouldn't move. Instead, she stood rooted in place, tears blurring her vision, her whole body trembling with every sob. Her heart was breaking, and she could feel it.
"Please..."