Disclaimer:I own nothing. Glee and it's characters belong to Fox and whoever else owns the rights to it.
Summary: Quinn and Rachel run into each other in New York City three years after graduating from university.
Rating:M for later chapters.
Author's Note: As much as I enjoyed writing the two Quinntana stories I guess it was only a matter of time before I ended up writing some Faberry. And I hope that you guys enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Any and all comments are not only welcomed but appreciated.
We Used To Be Friends (A Long Time Ago, We Used To Be Friends)
Chapter 1
"...we used to be friends. A long time ago, we used to be friends..."
Quinn couldn't help think it appropriate that this song was playing the next time she saw her again. Fitting somehow. For a moment she felt like they were back in high school, with music playing as a soundtrack to their lives. Only they definitely weren't in high school any longer, she mused as she let her eyes roam the other girl's body from across the room.
Time had definitely been kind to Rachel Berry. She was still small and lithe, the firm definition of her muscles evident in her shoulders and arms as she spoke animatedly with her hands. Even from across the dimly lit bar Quinn could see the sparkle in her eyes and the quick, easy grin that had been so characteristic of the diminutive singer back in their teen years. Age had apparently done nothing to temper the other woman's intensity, that was clear even from a distance. It had, however tempered her taste in fashions. Gone were the too short shorts and the low cut tops that she had taken to wearing in the early years of university, replaced instead by a pair of fitted, low slung, ripped in all the right places jeans and a form fitting t-shirt paired with a pair of black flats. An outfit that that said she was comfortable and confident without trying too hard. Her hair was long, longer than Quinn could ever remember seeing it, with a touch of honey highlights that no doubt brought out the amber flecks in her eyes.
She looked beautiful. Stunning. And Quinn wasn't sure if the breathless feeling clawing at her lungs was from unexpectedly seeing her again after so many years or if was a base attraction to her beauty.
"...right, Quinn? Hey, Earth to Quinn? Where'd you go?"
Quinn's eyes snapped back to her friends just as they seemed to figure out that her attention had been elsewhere and zeroed in on the direction that her eyes had been.
"Oh, she's pretty," Lara cooed, forgetting whatever it was that she'd been trying to get Quinn's attention for and eyed Rachel.
"My, God Quinn, she's gorgeous," Olivia agreed, elbowing the blond lightly.
Quinn felt her cheeks heat up in a blush as they began clamoring over one another, telling her that she should make a move, encouraging her to go for it.
"Guys, I'm not...it's not..." she cut off her own protests when their waitress appeared to sweep up their empties and check in to see if they were ready for another round. "Yes, we'll each have another," she said. "And, one of whatever that brunette over there at the bar is drinking," she added, tuning out her friends, who were no doubt staring at her.
She could feel the heat of their gazes on her but she faced forward, watching intently as the waitress made her way back to the bar. She bit her lip, feeling a nervous flutter of butterflies in her stomach a the waitress bellied up to the bar and yelled into the ear of the guy tending behind it then shifted her attention to him as he nodded and slid away, moving deftly as he grabbed a glass and bottles and quickly made the mixed drink. Her breath caught in her throat as he approached Rachel and her group of friends and slid the glass across the surface towards her.
She watched, amused as Rachel first slid the drink back towards him, no doubt reminding him that she hadn't ordered another and he slid it gently back towards her. His lips moved and Quinn knew without hearing that he was telling her that the drink had been ordered for her. She tensed, waiting to see if Rachel would refuse the drink once again or accept it. Slowly Rachel's hand slid out to close around the drink and then she turned fully on her stool, drink in hand as her eyes scanned the bar's patron. Quinn worried her lip between her teeth, waiting. She knew the moment that Rachel's gaze landed on her. The other woman's eyes widened in recognition and Quinn was dazzled by the smile that lit up her face.
She was up out of her seat in an instant and even though Quinn stood to greet her she barely had enough time to push herself to her feet before the force of Rachel falling into her arms had her stumbling back a step until her the edge of the table was pressing against the backs of her leg and she was more or less sitting on top of it. But she barely registered the awkward positioning or the jabbing pain that would no doubt leave a bruise as her senses were overwhelmed by the feeling of Rachel Berry practically draped against her.
"Oh, my God, Quinn. I can't believe it. It's so good to see you again," Rachel gushed, her words somewhat muffled as her face was buried in Quinn's neck. Her lips ghosted against Quinn's skin, each word sending a shiver down her spine. As did the tickle of her warm breath and the feel of her hands pressing tightly against Quinn's back and side.
"It's good to see you again too, Rachel," Quinn said, fighting to keep her voice steady and even as she tightened her own grip around Rachel's waist, squeezing her gently before loosening her hold. And then tightened it again when Rachel showed no sign of stepping out of her personal space but rather seemed quite content to let this hug linger.
"You two know each other?"
Lara's question broke into their moment and Rachel pulled back. Quinn reluctantly let her, loosening her arms so Rachel could step from her embrace.
Rachel didn't go far however, she half turned, leaving one arm slung around Quinn's side and leaned into her lightly as she positioned herself to face the others at the table.
"Should've known that Quinn wouldn't have the stones to actually try and pick up a girl." Olivia shook her head in dissapointment.
"Hey, Quinn's got plenty of, stones, as you put it. She's one of the most courageous people I've ever known-"
"Easy, Rach," Quinn murmured, squeezing the other girl's hip lightly in an attempt to cut off her appreciated but unneccesary defence. "They're just teasing."
Rachel cut herself off and relaxed slightly, her cheeks darkening in a faint blush as she gave the two girls seated at the table an apologetic smile.
"Yeah. Mostly. Well, not really," Olivia said. "You're too pretty to be such a prude, Quinn."
"I'm not a prude" Quinn countered with a roll of her eyes. "I'm selective. I don't feel the need to pounce on every skirt that walks by." It was an old, familiar argument. They had it every time they went out. As irritating as it was having her friends constantly on her case for being single she knew they were just looking out for her.
Rachel's eyes darted back and forth during the exchange, widening slowly with every word until she finally turned her head and focused her gaze on Quinn.
"Really, Quinn?" she asked softly. "You..you're gay?"
There was no judgement in her question, just curiosity and surprise.
"Yeah," Quinn said with a nod.
Rachel cocked her head, studying her for a long moment and Quinn struggled not to fidget under the scrutiny.
"We've definitely got a lot of catching up to do," she finally said.
"So, what's the deal with you two then?" Lara asked, once again breaking up the moment. The impatience in her voice was audible but Quinn didn't feel even a little bit bad about leaving her friends in the dark while they whispered amongst themselves. She did have some manners, however.
"Guys, this is Rachel Berry, a friend from high school. Rach, this is Lara, and Olivia. They're friends of mine from Boston. We're in the city for a work thing."
"A work thing? Really, Quinn?" Olivia rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Rachel. "We're here workshopping Quinn's new play. It's off Broadway but we got some good buzz in Boston so here we are."
Rachel's eyes were on Quinn, widened in surprise once again. "Your play? That's great, Quinn. I always knew you were meant for more than Lima."
"Actually, I'm not in the play. I wrote the play."
"You're a playwright?" Rachel's eyes grew wider, if that was even possible and Quinn had to hold back a chuckle as she suddenly flashed back to all of the times her mother had told her that her eyes were going to stay that way every time she rolled them.
Quinn nodded. "Yeah. It was a required class at Yale and I just..." she trailed off with a shrug. She'd taken the class because it had been part of the curriculum but she'd never expected to enjoy it so much. Or to excel at it. Though she supposed that it was just the sort of outlet she had needed to deal with everything that she had gone through.
"You know it makes sense," Rachel said with a nod, as if Quinn had actually completed her thought.
Before Quinn could comment, however she was jostled aside as Olivia shuffled out of the booth. "Why don't you two, y'know, actually sit and have a conversation," she suggested, gesturing to the now vacant bench behind them. "Lara and I will leave you to catch up."
"Lara will what, now?" Lara asked, raising an eyebrow before slowly sliding out of the booth with a huff when Olivia just crossed her arm, tilted her head and waited.
"C'mon, let's go get those guys hanging by the bar to buy us some drinks." Olivia nudged the other girl ahead of her.
Quinn watched her friends go with a fond smile on her face and then turned her attention back to find Rachel's eyes on her. She felt her cheeks heat up in a blush under the attention and hoped that it was dark enough to hide it.
"So, shall we sit?" Rachel nodded vaguely in the direction of the booth behind them and it was then that Quinn realized that they were still practically wrapped around each other, leaning awkwardly against the table.
"Yes, let's." Quinn nodded emphatically and gestured Rachel into a seat before sliding in across from her.
"So, catch me up," Rachel said as soon as they had settled.
Quinn took a deep breath and tried to order her thoughts. "Where do I start?" she asked with a smile and a chuckle. "Okay, so like I said, script and screen writing were required classes and I enjoyed them more than I thought that I would. I loved them, actually." Maybe she shouldn't have been so surprised by that, she'd always loved books and movies as a kid but when she'd transformed into Quinn she'd left all of Lucy's hobbies and passions behind.
Rachel was listening with rapt attention, nodding along as Quinn described how she'd slowly started taking more and more writing and literature classes, gradually shifting the focus of her major away from acting as a whole world of creativity and expression had opened up for her in form of words on paper. She went on to describe how exciting it had been hearing her words spoken aloud as her first play was produced in her junior year. How she'd gotten offered a job the summer before her senior year working at a little community theatre just outside of New Haven and how, eventually, she'd ended up in her current job, working at a play house in Boston.
Rachel squeezed her hand and offered her congratulations as Quinn told her about how their current play had been picked up during a fall festival showcase, hand picked by some New York money guy to workshop off Broadway and how, if things went well she might, someday in the very near future have her very own Broadway show.
They talked about NYADA and the auditions Rachel had been on and the roles that she had won. From student plays to basement theatres, from starring roles in off-Broadway plays to minor characters in Broadway plays.
They talked about life in their perspective cities, their "starving artist" years full of sketchy neighbourhoods, dodgy apartments and roomate antics. From there they got onto the topic of the people that they knew.
Quinn was pleased to hear that Rachel had kept up with everyone from their high school days, to varying degrees, be it Christmas cards and the occasional facebook comment from Sugar and Artie to sporatic emails from Mercedes and Sam to regular get togethers with Tina and weekly lunches with Santana and Britney. That surprised her, just a little. Although she wasn't quite sure why it did, seeing as how Rachel and Santana had lived together for six years. She wasn't surprised to learn that Rachel and Kurt were still thick as thieves, no longer sharing an apartment now that both of them were garnering enough acting jobs to afford places of their own but still inseprable.
It was clear, from listening to Rachel talk, that she was flourishing here in New York. She was living the dream, a breadth away from achieving the Broadway stardom she'd been dreaming of for so long and surrounded by people who loved and appreciated her. Quinn could see it in the glimmer in her eyes, the brightness of her smile, the confident way in which she carried herself, Rachel was happy. Rachel was content. It warmed Quinn's heart to see that. To see that all of the struggles that Rachel had gone through had paid off and that rather than be beated down by the challenges of her chosen career, she seemed to thrive in it.
"I'm so proud of you," she blurted out, right in the middle of Rachel's story about opening night of the play she was currently doing. Her words caught the brunette up short and she stumbled in her description of the beligerent heckler, who'd apparently mistaken the play as some kind of interactive theatre, her words slowing to a halt as she sat there and just stared.
Quinn blushed under the intense scrutiny and ducked her head, letting her hair fall forward in a curtain that shielded her face, beyond embarrased that she'd just let the words slip out like that. After a prolonged silence she peeked back up and bit back a smile and a laugh at the dumbfounded expression on Rachel's face and in that moment her embarasment faded and she decided that, no, she wouldn't feel shamed by that fact. What Rachel had done, what she was working to achieve was amazing and Quinn should be able to tell her just that.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to just pour out like that," she said after another beat of silence. "But I am. What you've accomplished is nothing short of amazing. And I'm proud of you."
Rachel's eyes were wide and shiny, whether that was just the reflection of the bar lights or with emotion, Quinn wasn't quite sure.
"Thank you, Quinn. That means a lot to me," she said, reaching out and squeezing Quinn's hand. For a moment, Quinn's mind went blank, overcome with the feeling of Rachel's fingers brushing gently across her knuckles.
With a subtle shake of her head she was able to push the sensation aside and return her attention back to the conversation.
"You're going to make it," she continued, hoping that the other woman could hear the sincerity in her voice. "Name in lights. All that." She turned her palm over, lacing her fingers through Rachel's and returned the pressure.
Rachel nodded, grinning proudly. "I know. It's so close. It's gonna happen soon. And it's going to be amazing. And what about you? Miss playwright extraordinare"
Again, Quinn ducked her head, blushing. While she had worked hard and loved what she was doing, she had sort of fallen into her career. It wasn't the same for her as it was for Rachel, who had been striving for this dream since childhood.
"Not too bad for a couple of kids from Lima, Ohio is it?" Quinn deflected with a shrug,
"Nope. Not to bad at all," Rachel agreed, raising her class with her free hand. Quinn brought her beer bottle up and gently touched them together in toast.
Quinn felt like she could sit here all night, talking, getting caught up with Rachel, watching the other woman's face light up in laughter, feeling her own cheeks ache from grinning so much and her sides cramping from laughing so hard. Maybe she would have too, if not for jarring intrusion of a bell ringing through the bar.
They both jumped at the sound, Quinn letting out a startled squeak as the reverbations rippled through her body.
"What, the..." she turned a glare back towards the bar before turning to Rachel for an explanation.
"Last call," Rachel said with a shrug. "They have an old ship bell that they use."
"Last call?" Surely they hadn't been talking for that long. Quinn peeked at her watch and was surprised to find that it was nearly 2 a.m.
"Time flies," Rachel said with a shrug.
"Apparently," Quinn said, feeling more than a little disapointed at the thought of her time with Rachel coming to a close. Which was absurd, really because up until about eleven o'clock that evening she hadn't given the other girl more than a passing thought in years. Surely she should feel satisfied with the three hours they'd spent talking. But, it wasn't enough.
"I wonder if my..." Rachel trailed off as her gaze went past Quinn and skimmed the bar behind her. "Yeah, they're gone. Didn't even say goodbye." She turned her attention back to Quinn with a shrug. "I guess it's my own fault. I did sort of ditch them."
Quinn gave her a one shouldered shrug in return. "If it makes you feel any better, Lara and Olivia didn't come say goodbye when they left either. And they ditched me."
Rachel's lips quirked up in a smile. "It does, actually," she teased lightly as she downed the last sips of her drink and idylly slid the glass across the table away from her. "You ready to get out of here?"
Quinn nodded reluctantly and slid slowly from the booth, wishing that the night wasn't coming to an end but maybe they could share a cab. Or, maybe she could walk Rachel back to her apartment. She was going to be in the city for awhile, perhaps the two of them could get together sometime soon.
"So, I'm starving," Rachel said as she looped her arm through Quinn's and began to lead her out of the bar. "Want to get something to eat?"
Quinn stared down at her for a moment, dumbfounded. Not only did Rachel apparently want to continue this time spent together but she'd found a way to seamlessly suggest it while Quinn had been moping and bargaining for more time.
"I'd like that. Uh, my friends and I have this tradition of going out for breakfast after a night of drinking. Pancakes, waffles, light, fluffy stuff to soak up all the alcohol. I don't know if you can eat that kinda stuff...is there a such thing as vegan pancakes?"
Rachel's eyes snapped up to hers, a bemused smile on her face. "You remembered that I was vegan?"
Quinn just shrugged. It was kinda hard to forget, she'd shoved it down their throats when they were in high school but she had a feeling that wouldn't be a welcomed comment.
"In this neighbourhood, it's not too hard to find a restaurant that uses egg substitute and soy milk," Rachel said. "So, if breakfast is what you're in the mood for, I know just the place."