A/N: Just a little Faberry to (hopefully) brighten your day/weekend. You know who you are.
Any second. Any second, she was going to start crying. I could see it in her eyes and body language. Several minutes had gone by and she hadn't said a word. Normally, she would be forcing her opinion on what to do for Senior Ditch Day.
But not this time. This time, she was much to quiet to be the Rachel Berry I knew. She looked up and I could see it coming. I took a silent breath and waited.
"I'm sorry Quinn. I am so so sorry for what I did to you. It's all my fault. I was the one who texted you and because of that, you're in a wheelchair." Rachel's voice cracked. She looked around, addressing the others. "And I don't think it's fair that we're sitting here planning what to do when she isn't capable of doing it."
I watched as everyone in the room bowed their heads in shame. Sadness hung over the room, evident in their faces.
"Look, this doesn't change me and it doesn't change who I am. We all agreed that me being in a wheelchair wasn't going to change anything." I looked at Rachel, motioning to her. "Come here."
She got up, sniffling slightly as she made her way over. When she was close enough to touch, I put my arms around her waist, gently pulling her into my lap.
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Look, it was not your fault. If anything, it was mine for thinking I could text while driving." Rachel started to cry again, burying her face in my neck. I could just barely hear her through the light sobs.
"But—"
"No buts." I gently pushed her away from my shoulder, taking her chin in my hand and forcing her to look at me. "I don't need your sympathy, okay?" I looked around at the others. "I don't need sympathy from anyone. Understood? " They all nodded. "I'm fine."
Rachel looked at me before climbing off, grasping my hand and giving it a squeeze.
I tried to ignore the sudden explosion of butterflies in my stomach as I looked around at the others. "It's Senior Ditch Day. How about Six Flags?"
Puck grinned. "The wise Fabray has spoken. Six Flags it is."
As he exchanged high fives with the others, Rachel gave my hand another squeeze before letting go.
When she stepped away, I couldn't help feeling an odd sense of loss.