Learning to walk, together and alone.
SUMMARY: Can your life change in just an hour? He helped her to stand up, and then took the next steps with her. Find out how Quinn came up with the name Beth and how not Puck or Finn but Jesse was there for one of the big moments in her pregnancy.
18:50
Damn it, Quinn thought to herself, why did Glee rehearsal have to last longer today of all days? Just when today she had no ride home whatsoever.
She had to catch this bus, she just had to. Otherwise, she'd be stuck at school for another two hours, and she was expected at the gynecologist's office in an hour and a half. She was walking as fast as she could, but with her baby bump getting more and more in the way every day, it became more difficult every day.
She cursed herself for wearing her new flats today. She'd bought them on sale, and when it was hot (like it was that day, the third day of a heat wave) her feet tended to swell up - even more than they'd already had.
18:53
Her bus arrived two streets further in exactly two minutes. She'd never make it, unless she ran for it.
She moved her feet as quickly as she possibly could and in the process, passed only one or two of her fellow students, since it was already so late.
When she was halfway, she spotted Jesse walking alone, talking on his cell phone. Jesse St. James. No longer boyfriend of Rachel Berry, but still a member of Glee Club.
In Quinn's opinion, Jesse had handled the whole breakup very graciously. There was no resentment between the two of them and the others of New Directions were grateful to them for that. They needed to be a strong team in order to have a chance at Regionals. Still, it mustn't have been easy; Jesse had given up everything to be with her and in the end, it didn't matter anyway.
She ran by and threw him a smile, him returning it a bit weaker, as if he hadn't expected her to acknowledge him at all. When he realized it was really her, his smile grew and he quickly waved.
You see, secretly, they were intrigued by each other, they even liked each other, but neither would admit that. It'd just be too weird, they both thought. Besides, Quinn was going to have a baby soon and she hadn't met a guy who wanted to be with her in spite of that. She figured he wouldn't either.
18:54
Still one minute to go and she was running her feet off, but those yellow flats were killing her one toe at a time. She decided to take them off quickly and just continue on her bare feet.
That's where it went wrong. She took them off, however her legs felt like led from sprinting and they refused to go any further. She tripped over her own feet and yelled as she fell to the ground face-first, meanwhile twisting her ankle and accidentally throwing her flats around her.
She clenched her arm around her belly in sudden terror and tears sprung up into her eyes.
18:50
Jesse walked out of the school with a fast pace, wanting to get into his car as fast as he could.
Home wasn't really that spectacular to go to either, it was just him and his uncle and he was gone most of the time. But he'd probably work on some more songs for Glee tonight. Or he'd just cook himself dinner and watch a movie.
He sighed as he walked on. It was so freaking hot outside, even after six and the hottest part of the day should've been over by then. He was practically the only person on the street anymore, it was ridiculous.
He was startled out of his thoughts when he heard his ringtone coming out of his messenger bag. He rambled through the bag and looked at the screen that read 'Rachel'. He frowned and he felt his throat close up a bit. What was Rachel doing calling him? They had just seen each other at rehearsal.
He pressed the green telephone and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Jesse, hi. It's Rachel, as you probably saw. I realized that I never really told you that me and Finn are a couple now. I know that you and I decided to remain friends but I wanted to apologize if I somewhat ambushed you with it today."
For a moment he was at a loss of words. Rachel Berry apologizing? That was new.
However, he appreciated it. Although it hurt him a bit to see them together, Jesse was over her. He was ready for a new love in his life and he was ready to be Rachel's friend – and Finn's too. Hell, he wanted to be a real part of the Glee club. As Santana once had said too, it was the best part of his day.
Today he had taken a chair next to Quinn. He'd noticed she was awfully lonely lately, with no longer being with Finn or Puck, her only true friend seemed to be Mercedes. (And with Mercedes' friendship almost automatically came Kurt's)
He didn't mind to sit next to her, at all. (Obviously)
She had this perfume around her; flowers and fruity scents mixed together. He always caught himself scooting closer to her. He tried to fight the urge; she was having Puck's baby, she was anything but interested in him...
18:53
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Rachel calling his name. He returned to the present and realized that he still had to reply to her apology.
"Rachel, yeah, sorry. I was just kind of surprised that you called. But everything's okay. Thank you for saying that though."
Just then he saw someone running by him. Quinn Fabray? What was she doing running around? She was four months pregnant. She seemed to be in quite a hurry but she smiled at him anyway. Wait, what?
She was genuinely smiling at him.
He hesitated a bit until he got that he was being totally rude in her eyes. He flashed her his million dollar smile and waved shortly - he was doubting if that'd been a little too much.
18:54
He followed her with his eyes as she ran on with a great speed. He returned to his conversation with Rachel, but ended it when he witnessed what was happening to Quinn. A bit further, she stopped to take her flats off but as she wanted to continue she fell to the ground. He noticed the hand she had clutched to her stomach and his body went in overdrive.
"Rachel, I gotta go. Something's happened to Quinn, I need to go help her."
"Yes, of course. Oh my God, is she okay?" she asked frantically, obviously concerned.
"I don't know. I'll call you later. Bye Rach." he quickly shouted into the phone before he closed it and threw it back into his bag.
He leapt over to her as fast as he could with the adrenaline (mostly caused by worry) rushing through his blood.
"Quinn! Are you hurt?" he called out as he tried to help her up.
She looked up at him with her face scrunched up in pain and anxiety. She said his name as she grabbed his outstretched hand and tried to lift herself off the ground with his help.
However, when she tried to stand up she flinched and cried out in pain.
"OW, my ankle! I - I think I twisted it or something. It really hurts."
She cried out again, but this time it wasn't her ankle that was causing her pain. Her hand shot out to her baby bump and her breathing got heavier all at once.
Jesse had to hold her to keep her from falling. He was getting more frantic by the second. Had her fall hurt the baby? He didn't wan to ignore that the fact existed; what if she was miscarrying? He was probably overreacting, but better safe than sorry.
"Listen. Quinn. Hey hey, look at me." he said to her in an effort to calm her down.
Stress wasn't good for the baby either. She held onto him with a death grip and nodded a few times.
"The baby... I don't - what if I -?" She was starting to ramble and cry at the same time. He had to act fast.
"Calm down, Quinn. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'm going to take you to the hospital just to be sure. You're in good hands here, trust me. Okay?" he convinced her with a calmer voice than he'd expected from himself.
She nodded as he moved his hands to pick her up bridal-style. She rested her head against his chest and she actually felt safe in his arms. He put her on the backseat of his car so she could stretch her legs and then he drove away as fast as he could.
I hope you liked the first chapter! It's more of an introduction chapter, with what you need to know to follow. ;) This is supposed to be a rather short story (2-3 chps), but maybe if it's well-received I'll continue it :) Please review if you like! Thanks for reading!
