Prompt: Basically putting Rachel and Quinn in dangerous yet exciting circumstances that push them closer and closer together. I did not hurt anyone so there's no need to fear angst. Neither have boyfriends.
Season 3. Second semester. February.
...
"OH MY GOD WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" Rachel screamed as the car slid out of control on a patch of ice, moving quickly forward but slightly sideways.
"Will you stop yelling? I'm trying to get us out of this." Quinn snapped as she regained control of the car.
It was snowing. It was snowing hard. Quinn focused on what parts of the road she could see as the blizzard raged on all around them. The wind was causing the car to shake and Quinn felt like she could barely control the wheel beneath her hands. She very much wanted to pull over but she was afraid that if she did some other car would slip on one of the endless number of ice patches and be forced to veer off the road and into them.
They were both breathing heavily, their chests quickly taking and releasing oxygen to fuel their hyped up systems. Pounding. Beating. Drumming. The whistling of the wind sent shivers through the girls as they both tried to remain calm and think of a solution. At this speed they were at least 4 hours away from getting to the performance they were heading to. Going back home would take at least 2 hours. That is, if they could survive 2 hours in this storm.
"Okay. Why don't we take the first exit to a rest area of any type that we see? From there we can decide our next move. But we need to get out of this blizzard. It's not that I don't trust your driving skills Quinn. I do. It's everyone else that I don't." Rachel tried to sound reassuring and in control but her voice shook and there was an undeniable tone of dread in every syllable she pronounced.
Quinn, not trusting her own voice, simply nodded in response.
Quinn was performing admirably. They would slip on a patch of ice and Quinn would slowly remove her foot from the accelerator, until she felt the wheels regain traction control. She didn't attempt to break. As the vehicle's tires grabbed the road, she slowly turned the steering wheel to lead the front wheels back onto the straight path of the road.
Rachel was focusing on giving Quinn words of affirmation and encouraging the blonde with assurances and soft tones of, "Everything will be fine. You're doing great. Just remember when driving on slick roads it is most important that we travel, steer and brake more slowly than usual. The distance needed to stop on ice is twice as long as that we would need to break under normal driving circumstances. This means we should keep at least a three car distance from the vehicle directly in front of us. That's it. You're doing wonderfully…"
Quinn was scared. She questioned to herself, "Is this it? Am I really going to die?" Quinn wasn't ready to die. She hadn't lived yet. She had been waiting. She thought about how she's been so cold and shut off to everyone and everything around her. How she never got close to people and never let anyone get close to her. She thought of her parents, how she had let her love for them cross barriers she should never have permitted; she was allowing them to choose what sort of life she would lead and was doing all she could to please them, in the process never giving herself the opportunity to explore who she is and what she wants.
The storm was getting worse by the minute causing Quinn to lose visibility. The snow was dense and coming down quickly, she could barely make out the road through it. She felt completely loss and powerless. She thought of the last few years of her life. How she'd felt like the world was against her and all she had was herself. She looked back and saw how she perceived everyone throughout her entire life as wanting something from her. She thought of all she'd done to answer to this. Consequently, she allowed the world to shape her into whom the world seemed to tell her she was. Between her parents and society she had spent her life pining for approval and acceptance which she knew had turned her into a detached and selfish person.
Quinn felt the storm continue to rampage, causing the car to shake and swerve out of control at times. Quinn heard the howling and sound of the pellets of ice hitting the car. But she also heard Rachel's voice. She told herself to concentrate on it. As she listened to the comforting and soothing words of Rachel's, she told herself that they were not going to die. They would live. And Quinn would take the reins of her life. She is going to stop living to please other people and start living for her. She's going to let people in and connect with others. She knows this will not be easy but she is going to do everything in her power to see it through. She wants love in her life and she is going to get it. She'd start by making friends. As she listened to Rachel's calming voice and words of support she decided she'd begin with Rachel.
"Rachel," Quinn gently uttered, interrupting her. Rachel stopped and waited to hear what Quinn had to say.
"Rachel, will you sing?" Quinn asked bashfully.
Rachel was somewhat surprised but quickly answered, "Sure Quinn, what would you like me to sing?"
"A lullaby would be nice." Quinn wanted to listen to Rachel's amazing voice singing for her. She knew it would get her to focus on getting them out of this alive as well as help keep her as calm as she can be while driving in an ice and snow storm. Rachel's singing always did provide comfort at times when she thought there was none.
Rachel softly began to sing. She forced herself to forget about everything else and to focus only on Quinn, on comforting Quinn, on providing for Quinn the reassurance she needed to get them to safety. She sang "My favorite things" from The Sound of Music. As she sang she felt herself connect with Quinn.
"Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things…"
They were a team, going through the storm, and working together to get out of it. She saw Quinn become less tense and felt herself relax a little as well. She sang every lullaby she could think of, and then some. As she began "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" she began to feel more confident that they were going to make it.
"Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are…"
As she sang she thought about how much she enjoyed being connected to Quinn; this is a fact which she found rather ironic considering Quinn had played the part of her tormentor and nemesis for years. But as she got to know Quinn, spend time with her, see her when her walls were down, she quite enjoyed her company and wanted to continue to get to know her. She wanted more of this connection. More of this closeness. More of Quinn. And she tried to put all of what she was feeling for Quinn into her songs. Lullabies, yes. But also something else. Something resembling… an offering. She offered friendship and all the wonderful things that came with it.
"Count on me through thick and thin
A friendship that will never end
When you are weak, I will be strong
Helping you to carry on
Call on me, I will be there
Don't be afraid
Please believe me when I say
Count on…"
She offered a person to talk to, to be there for her, and to accept her for who she was. She hoped Quinn will understand this.
Quinn listened closely and understood what Rachel was offering. And in her heart, she accepted.
...
Once they had successfully reached a small mom and pop restaurant and had safely parked in the parking lot Rachel finished her current song and stopped singing. She put both of her hands up to her face and sighed in relief, "Oh thank God." She put her hands in her lap and let them wring together as she tried to normalize her breathing and let it soak in that they had made it out of the storm.
"Would you mind holding my hand, Quinn? My heart is beating really fast and I'm sure physical contact would help calm me down." Rachel sheepishly asked.
Quinn looked at Rachel's hands and considered the request. She slowly lifted her right hand from the death grip she had on the wheel, slid it in between Rachel's, and linked the left hand of Rachel's fingers within her own, pulling their hands from Rachel's lap to lie between them. What Quinn felt next was a connection to Rachel stronger than any connection she had ever felt with anyone else. Though only their hands were touching, she felt the touch spread throughout her entire body. When she looked up at Rachel she was 100% sure that Rachel felt exactly the same way. They simultaneously moved their free hands to join their connected ones.
Rachel smiled, her body stabilizing and focusing only on the comfort that Quinn provided. Rachel watched as well as felt Quinn relax with her. Quinn softened and stilled just as her hands did so. Rachel couldn't exactly understand what she was feeling but she knew she didn't want to let go. There was no other place she could think of where she would rather be than with Quinn, holding her hand, in the small car, listening to the storm calm.
And calm the storm did.
...
They entered the restaurant holding hands and didn't let go throughout the entire meal. They began with a comfortable silence. Enjoying the feel of the others hand and the connection that was felt through it. Sometimes words are not needed. This was one of those times. They let the silence allow them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the other. Allowing them to enjoy their new found friendship and let it sink in. They ordered when the waiter approached.
Having broken the silence from talking to the waiter, conversation began to flow easily between the two. As they talked, their apprehension from the ordeal they had just went through melted away and turned into excitement. Their hearts were pounding just as fast now but for very different reasons. They talked animatedly about the storm, what they had felt, how afraid they had been.
"Wow Quinn! I had no idea you were such a great driver?"
"Well what about you, Rachel? You were so knowledgeable about the correct procedures and maneuvering capabilities within storms. Definitely blew me away."
"All I know is that if I ever go into battle, I want you by my side." Rachel winked at Quinn, causing the blond to blush a little at the compliment.
As they continued to converse they eagerly soaked up the information they began to learn about the other. They talked about everything under the sun, discussing movies, music, spirituality, alcohol, love, life aspirations, and of course glee club.
"How cute are Brittany and Santana!" Rachel gushed.
"I know! I love being around them now that they've officially become a couple." Quinn smiled as she thought of her two close friends.
"Kurt, Mercedes, and I have every intention of nominating them for prom queen and queen this year. Kurt is already planning their campaign."
Quinn nodded approvingly, "That's such a great idea. They have my vote."
"You're not planning on running this year?" Rachel questioned. She didn't try to conceal the shock from her voice.
"No. This year is going to be about me. I'm done with trying to win everyone's approval. Our near death experience today put a lot in perspective for me. For one, I'm going to make genuine connections with people." Quinn looked down at their linked hands for a moment before meeting Rachel's eyes again. "I'd like it if we could continue to spend time together Rachel."
Rachel was beyond flattered and gave Quinn her very best smile; she didn't give the "showbiz" smile, but her genuine, couldn't be happier, you've just made my day, Rachel Berry beam. "I'd like that to."
...
Quinn drove Rachel home letting go of her hand when she had to but always taking it again as soon as she could. They both basked in the ambiance the car provided. What had felt like a death trap on wheels mere hours ago was now a warm and secure shelter. They sang along with the radio together and continued to converse easily.
Quinn pulled up in front of the Berry home and turned off her car.
"Who would have guessed that when Mr. Schuester told us we needed to attend this performance together the night would have turned out like this?" Quinn smiled to Rachel.
"It's very interesting indeed, makes me wonder if he planned it. Either way, I'm glad you accepted the assignment." Rachel replied with a smile of her own.
"I am too." Quinn agreed. "So… I guess I'll see you at school on Monday?" Quinn's reluctance to let the evening end, and along with it the new connection she shared with Rachel, was obvious as her body slumped and she frowned slightly.
"Would you like to stay the night? We can make hot chocolate and watch a movie. There's fair-trade chocolate and soy milk. Both of which are quite delicious." Rachel offered, also not wanting to say goodnight.
Quinn smiled into Rachel's eyes and said, "I'd love to."
They spent the entire weekend together.
...
The last song Rachel sang was Whitney Houston featuring CeCe Winan – "Count on Me"
I will send the songs included in my story to anyone who wants them if they message me their email address. I know I hate it when I can't find the song that people put in their stories. I will always make sure that each song is on YouTube.