Ok. So my first multi chapter fic. I commented a small sin when writing this, i started with the second chapter then had to mold the first chapter to fit, so if it sounds (or reads) weird my apologies. I beg you to at least stick around until the second chapter and judge that one first please.
I'm beta-less for this, the first time in a little while, so all mistakes are my own.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Glee or any of the characters. If i did, things would be a lot different. :)
I watched her eyes, her chocolate orbs flicking over the page in front of her as she absorbed the information from the paper. A gentle smile played on her full lips while her hand flew over a separate sheet, jotting down some notes. When the teacher interrupted the study to interject a vital piece of information, she gave him her full attention. My gaze flicked to the pulse point on her neck, quivering slightly with each beat of her heart. A cautious longing burned in my stomach as I imagined feeling the thump under her skin with my lips. The shrill bell cut through my thoughts and I quickly packed up my books and pen, and then slung my bag over my shoulder. I moved in time with her, stalking her from a safe distance. 'It's not stalking. I'm not hunting. I'm just…' I had no answer for that.
I followed her scent through the hallway to the choir room and sat next to Santana and Brittany. "Yo Q. Where's your head at?" I pointed to my head, sat atop my shoulders, with a smirk. I earned a glare and the middle finger from Santana. Brittany just smiled at me.
"Where else would it be Sanny?" I raised my eyebrow a little higher at Santana and tried not to full on laugh at her. She scowled and linked pinkies with Brittany. I shook my head, allowing a little chuckle and turned my attention back to Rachel. She was in a heated discussion with Finn. 'The big oaf. Not like he treats her well anyway' I took a deep breath, trying to stave off my anger at him when a whisper in my ear startled me.
"Making eyes at Man Hands again, Q?" I stopped myself from jumping in time and instead let out a harsh laugh.
"Stop projecting S." I bit my bottom to stop from grinning while I waited for her response. '3…2…1…'
"What the fuck?!" She hissed at me, "Argh, I can't even… Don't make me go all Lima Heights on your skinny little ass." I snorted at her and let out a loud belly laugh.
"Rachel! Seriously?" Finn's voice echoed around the room. All eyes turned to the couple standing by the piano. Rachel had both hands flat against the polished surface of the lid, taking deep breaths with her head bowed. When she wouldn't look at Finn he slammed his fist down next to her hand, causing her to jump back. Everyone was on their feet in an instant and moving to intervene. Rachel raised her head, locking her intense gaze with Finn's.
"Yes seriously, Finn. You can't keep asking that of me then get angry when I don't give in. I've given you my reasons for declining your requests and I'm sorry if they aren't good enough for you. If that's the way you feel then please do not think you have to stay in this relationship." With that, she turned her back on him and marched to her seat, sitting heavily with her arms crossed over her chest and one leg draped over the other at the knee. I couldn't help but snicker at Finn's face. His cheeks were tinged pink, though I couldn't tell if it was from anger or embarrassment, but his mouth hung open slightly in shock.
"You're breaking with me? YOU'RE breaking up with ME? You have to be joking?" His voice was getting louder. He curled his meaty fingers into fists, a motion that was not lost on Puck who took a step closer to him. Rachel shook her head in disbelief, anger brimming beneath her seemingly cool exterior. I could smell it rolling off her like a tsunami of emotion and I had to sit on my hands to restrain myself. It was too tempting to jump over and kick Finn's ass.
"I was unaware I stuttered Finn," she snarked.
"Damn," Santana muttered next to me, "Berry's got game." I smirked at her, the same thing running through my mind.
"Now if you would just sit down, somewhere else, so we can get on with Glee and stop embarrassing both of us? That would be spectacular." She turned her head towards me, her eyes downcast, essentially ending the conversation. Finn let out a grunt and lashed his foot out at an unsuspecting chair. Before it had come to a stop, Puck had his arms around Finn, hustling him out of the room.
"Calm down dude. If you can't control your temper you need to leave." I was impressed with Puck, not knowing he could be so mature. He didn't fight back, just held Finn off until they were in the hall then stood back, murmuring softy, "Now isn't the time or place bro. Just give her some time and take it slow."
Mr Schue chose that moment to enter the room through the other door. Finn held up his hands and stalked off down the corridor. I glanced at Rachel, concerned for her after that very public break up but her face was impassive, her attention focused on Mr Schue and his new assignment. We were separated into partners, having been given duets to perform and I ended up with Rachel. Everyone else had naturally paired up with their friend/significant other, which only left me and Rachel. I glared at Santana as she giggled at my predicament. One half of me was elated. The other; not so much. I was supposed to hate this girl; I had to hate this girl.
"Can we go to the auditorium to practice?" was Rachel's first question to Mr Schue. Not: Why her? Or: Please can I change partners? It shouldn't have made my heart beat faster or made me blush, but it did. Mr Schue waved the question away with a nod of his head. Rachel picked up her bag and turned to look at me expectantly. I sighed heavily and threw my bag over my shoulder, following her dutifully. I avoided watching the sway of her hips or her stunning legs as I trailed behind her, instead focusing on keeping my practiced cool. Once on the stage, she took out a folder from her bag and laid it on the piano, flipping to a section and settling there. I sat on the piano bench and ran my fingers lightly over the white keys, pressing harder on the C to produce the note.
"So, in keeping with the theme, I have a colour coded list of songs that would suit my voice…" She trailed off when I began playing Für Elise, her eyes widening at me and her mouth slightly open.
"What were you arguing with Finn about?" I questioned after a few bars. Her eyes met mine and I was surprised to see sadness there. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want. I just know how he can be," I said gently. As I finished the first section of the arrangement, my fingers stilled on the keys, giving her the silence to talk if she wanted to.
"He… Well," She huffed and sat on the floor, her legs out straight in front of her, her hands bunched nervously in her lap. "He has been pressuring me into, you know." I swallowed the lump of anger that had bubbled up in my throat. 'That idiotic pig. I swear I will kill him.'
"I told him that I wanted to wait. I have a very clear plan for my future and giving myself away to someone at this age is not in it. I don't understand why he can't understand that." She started biting her bottom lip.
"Because he's an idiot. You shouldn't be coerced into having sex with someone. It should feel right and natural." I gently began tapping the keys again, providing a lilting background to our conversation. She looked at me again, keen chocolate orbs burning into me. She pushed off of the floor and sat next to me on the bench.
"I didn't know you could play the piano," she breathed, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"I used to when I was younger. But not so much anymore," I replied. With a smile I changed the tune to the 'Chopsticks'. It won me a beautiful melodic laugh from the vision beside me. As I finished I let out a chuckle as well. "See? Talented!" Rachel nodded her agreement and rested her head on my shoulder gently. My breath froze in my lungs. I couldn't think. I couldn't move. I knew I should be screaming at her to get away from me and calling her names, but her hair was so soft against my neck and she smelt of strawberries. The kind that is red, ripe and juicy and perfect in the middle of summer.
"I, uh, should get going. I have a ton of homework to get through," I slid of the bench and picked up my bag not giving her a chance to reply before I stalked off the stage and into the wings.
I occurred to me as I was driving home that we didn't actually pick a song for the duet. 'It'll be fine' I didn't technically lie, I did have homework to do, but it wasn't a lot, and it wasn't due for a few days. I ate dinner in silence, my father talking more than enough to make up for my taciturnity, and then went to my room. My final thoughts as I let sleep envelop me were of Rachel and home.