Hey guys. This is my first attempt at a Quitt/Fierce story. It's an Au hope you like it. Leave feedback.
People always tell you that time heals all wounds. But what they forget to mention is how easy it is to be hurt to begin with. And how painful it feels in the period between the moment it happens and when it is finally healed for good. It's been hard ever since Rachel and I broke up so she could follow her dreams in New York and I stayed at home left behind. Left with nothing but memories and an emptiness inside me. I seriously thought I would never love another. That was until I met her. Brittany S. Pierce. That summer changed everything I knew about love and how I felt about life.
"Quinn? Did you hear me?" I heard my mom say during the short pause of silence between songs. I took my headphones off and looked at her eyes through the rear view mirror questioningly.
"I'm sorry, What were you saying?"
"I said Grandma Norma told me we could stay at her beach house while we visited instead of having to crowd up at her place. Isn't that wonderful?" I gave my mom a halfhearted smile. I knew she was just trying to make me feel better.
"Yeah, that's great."
"It's a semi-private beach too. So you won't have to worry much about being bothered."
I couldn't help but give her a questioning look.
"Semi-private?"
"Yeah, there is another family that has a vacation home there. Your Grandmother say's they are nice people. Oh and they have a couple of kids around your age. Isn't that nice? You'll probably have someone to talk to if they vacation there this summer."
I couldn't help but sigh as I put my head phones back on. I hated visiting my Grandma's house. She always had something to say about how I looked or what I did. But since my dad left, my mom was now free to see her mom whenever she pleased. She even seemed happier now that she could visit more often. I liked seeing my mom happy. So I put up with these annoying trips and the judgment. It was good for her, and when he left we also became closer. She became more understanding. She even accepted me liking girls. A lot of things changed for the better. But that still didn't mean I like visiting Grandma Norma. I rolled my eyes at the thought of this visit. Looking out the window I could see short glimpses of sand and water beyond the trees. I hated being inside. Maybe being by the beach won't be that bad. Still I wish Rachel were here with me. I kept my gaze on the blurred horizon. Somehow seeing the blur of brown, green, grey, and white seemed to reach into me and pull out memories I wish I never had.
"Quinn, Come on we have to hurry." Rachel ran off ahead of me giggling. I couldn't help but smile at the sound of her laugh.
"Hold up. They are not going to leave us. Just relax." I called after her.
"How do you know?" She slowed her pace so I could catch up.
"Trust me. There is no way they can forget you. You're the star of the show."
Rachel laughed again as we got closer to the bus.
"I still want to get a good seat. Aren't you excited? This is Nationals. We have the best advantage. We are in our senior year. And I have you." Rachel reached for my hand and held it tight.
"Everything is perfect. For once everything is right."
'She's right. Everything is perfect. But things wouldn't stay that way. I am going to have to tell her eventually. And when I do she'll probably hate me.' I followed her into the bus and sat next to her in the third role from the front.
"I'm feeling really confident about this line up. We are going to win, the scout is going to see my amazing performance, and then we are going to both go to New York together. Isn't this great?"
"Yeah, great." I gave her a tight lip smile as I turned away from her gaze. Thankfully she was lost in her own world.
'I can't tell her yet. But I am going to have to soon. She has to know I can't go with her to New York. That I can't afford to go to Yale now that my parents are split. Still how can I possibly tell her that? She'll either hate me or suggest staying here with me. And would that be so bad? I could live with her here right? No I shouldn't think that. I couldn't let her ruin her life for selfish reasons. No, she'll go to New York, and I'll be here watching her from afar as she becomes a Broadway star.'
"Quinn, are you okay?" I looked over at Rachel who was giving me a worried look.
"Yeah, just nervous." I said with a reassuring smile. She grabbed my hand in that noisy bus as it pulled off onto the main road. I looked across her out the window and watched in silence as the trees quickly passed by.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I snapped out of my daze and realized we were no longer moving. My mom got out of the car and I followed. It really was beautiful. We were some ways from the water but still you could hear the waves crashing and seem the deep blue glimmer in the distance.
"Yeah, I guess it is." I smiled at my mom who was still waiting for my response.
"Come on, let's get settled in. Your Grandma said she would stop by tonight to see how the drive was."
"Great." I let out sarcastically as I followed my her up the stairs onto the large wooden deck.
"What about our bags?"
"Leave them there. We'll get them later. Let's just take in the fresh air. This will be fun. Give it a chance." I followed her through the house and took a look around. It was pretty empty. Besides simple furniture and a hung painting here and there. It seemed kind of stuff though. As if no one had been here in years. That being said it wasn't dirty. Surprisingly there was hardly any dust.
"Honey could you help me open up some of these window? Let some air in?" I turned at the sound of my mom's voice calling for me from the front of the house.
"I'll be right there." I walked in a white room that contained a window seat. I always wanted a window seat. Why not enjoy this one. I placed my hand bag on the neat bed and headed to the living room. My mom was already tying up the curtains and opening a the many windows to the right of me. I went straight to the ones on the left and did the same. As I was tying up one of the my eye caught a peak at something blonde moving on the ground next to the deck. Curious I opened the window and leaned out to try and get a better look but whatever it was it was now gone. I turned my head as the front door suddenly opened.
"Hello? Where is my beautiful daughter?"
"Mother!" I watched as my mother rushed to the door to hug Grandma Norma.
"Where is Quinny? I have someone I want her to meet." I just waved as I approached her cautiously.
"Hey Grandma." I let out in an unenthusiastic tone.
"Oh There you are. I want you to meet Sam. Sam this is my lovely single granddaughter Quinn." A tall blonde boy with a huge mouth step in to the house with his hand out. I took it and shook it awkwardly.
"Hey."
"Um.. Hi."
I looked away uninterested hoping he'd get the hint. Thankfully he did. He frowned for a moment then went back to smiling when my Grandma continued.
"He's family owns the other beach house about half a mile down. They are staying there for the summer so I'm sure you two will get very acquainted." My Grandma winked at me. I rolled my eyes annoyed as I walked passed them out the door.
"Quinn? What are you doing?"
"Relax mom. I'm getting my bags." I continued down the many steps and walked to the car.
"Oh Sam, sweetie. Be a dear and help her will you."
'She cannot be serious. Why must she always try to hook me up with her friend's sons. Mom told her I liked girls. Yet still she ignores it completely.'
I grabbed a suitcase in each hand out of the trunk.
"Hey, here let me help." Sam annoyingly offered his hand out.
"Fine. Here." I shoved them into his arms violently and grabbed the last one from the trunk before shutting it.
"You're friendly." He laughed.
"Are you seriously trying to flirt with me? Because let me save you and I a whole lot of time. Don't. I am not interested. I don't know what my Grandma told you but I don't need or want a boyfriend."
I let out in a strong voice to make sure it went through his head.
"Whoa, relax. I am not flirting. I have a girl and am not looking for another one. So how about we start over? We can be friends right?" I narrowed my eyes at him unsure.
"I still haven't made up my mind about you yet. When I do I'll let you know." I pushed passed him and back up the steps.
"Fair enough." I heard from behind me followed by fast footsteps. I felt a brush against my side before I even saw him run pass me. I followed him to the back of the house towards the rooms. He was standing in the wide hallway a huge toothy grin on his face.
"You're really fast." I stated of pure observation. He just shrugged before giving me a questioning look and bringing up the bags in his hands.
"Oh um, those are my mom's. Just put them in that room over there." I said as I pointed to the room farthest away from mine. When he was out of sight I went into the room I chose and dropped my bag at the foot of the bed. I opened my window and felt a nice warm breeze. I couldn't help but feel relaxed. But that relaxation was quickly replaced with annoyance when I heard footsteps and chattering voices approach. I went out in the hall and ran into the others.
"Quinn dear, I wondered where you went. I'm going to make some tea. Why don't you come join us so we can talk."
I froze with fear. No way would I be able to just talk with my Grandma. So I decided to escape.
"You know what. I would love to but.. Um.. Sam and I were going to walk down on the beach. Right Sam?" I glared at him hoping he wouldn't mess it up.
"Yeah, Right. I was going to show her around. I hope that's okay."
I went back in the room and grabbed my hand bag before moving passed them grabbing Sam on the way.
"Well I'll see you, got to go, Love you. Bye." I let out all at once trying to hurry out the door. I ran down the steps and could here Sam was close behind me.
"What?" I asked as he gave me a strange look.
"So I'm guessing you don't like your Grandmother that much. But you know I don't like being used by people who aren't sure if they are my friends." He smiled his toothy smile.
"I just feel so vulnerable with what you just did. I feel unsafe." He made a dramatic face as if he were actually scared and hurt.
"Very funny. Look sorry about that. I just can't be in there talking with her right now."
I turned and began to walk off. He jogged to catch up and walk next to me.
"I'm over it. So what are we doing?"
I stopped in place and turned to him with the best smile I could force on.
"Listen, You seem like loads of fun. And I would just love to hang out with you sometime. Honestly I would. But the thing is I actually just want to be alone right now if you don't mind."
He nodded his head.
"I get it. But if you change your mind, Just walked further that way to find me." He pointed off into the direction behind him.
"My sister and I are having a couple of friends over for a beginning of summer beach bash. Feel free to come."
I couldn't believe I just heard that right.
"A beginning of the summer beach bash? Seriously? Like what they do in those cheesy romantic comedy movies? You have got to be kidding me."
He shook his head and laughed.
"I'm serious. Besides what's wrong with cheesy movies?"
I tilted my head trying to see if he was messing with me. My eyes went wide when I realized he was dead serious.
"Wow, okay. Well message received. If I want to I'll go look for you. So bye." I waited for him to leave but he just stood there.
"What?"
"Why are you so determined to be alone?"
"It's complicated, and annoying, and none of your business okay." He looked down kicking at the sand. I just wanted him to go.
"Feeling hurt? Let me guess, a break up?"
I looked away not wanting to show him he was right.
"Took it hard did you?"
I kept my gaze from him not wanting to talk about it and wishing he'd just leave.
"Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can't get any better, it can."
"What?" I looked up surprised. That was actually pretty deep.
"It's from the notebook."
I suddenly felt like slapping him. Right when I thought maybe he might actually understand he says that.
"Seriously? You remembered that from The notebook? What are you a seventeen year old girl?"
He just shrugged.
"What? I liked the movie. I saw it like twenty two times. It's really moving."
I rolled my eyes in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you're one of those dorky movie fanatics."
"Guilty." He said with a smile.
"But I was serious about it. Anyway I have to get going. Don't be a stranger Quinny."
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT!" I yelled after him as he turned around and ran away laughing.
When he was out of sight I walked further down the beach towards some chairs and umbrellas. When I saw the name on them was my Grandma's I sat in one and pulled a book out of my bag. I opened it to the last page I was on and put on my headphones before reading. This was going to be one very long summer.