A Part Canon, Part AU

glee ~ QUINTANA ~ Romance/Drama

(inspired by the Thanksgiving episode)

A Multi-Part One Shot/or Mini-Ficlet; I can't decide which, yet?

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

Part One

Quinn's POV

She angrily grabbed a couple paper towels from the dispenser then turned on the cold water, shakily placing the items under the faucet as she reflected on what one of her closest; no, scratch that, her best friend said, more like hurled at her, just a few short moments ago.

'...Is that what Prof. Patches said to you in between quickies in his office? Does he get off on teen moms that hardly ever visit her kid? SMACK! SMACK!...'

Quinn leaned against the sink with her free hand as she brought the other hand with the cool wet compress up to her still slightly aching cheek, in the hopes that it would not only ease the sting of Santana's rebutted smack but also to calm her jumbled nerves, and heart. She was very upset about what had transpired between the two of them, they both acted like children and she knew in her heart that she was the one that started it. Saying that Santana was jealous of her was just Quinn's way of deflecting the real issue, she really, really missed her. But not just for the last six months but the past three years. That argument with San was more than just a lump of hurtful words it was her way, their way, a strange, somewhat perverse way, but a way nonetheless, of re-connecting. She knew that if she pushed Santana hard enough that she'd take the bait and push back; and push back twice as hard which would make her push back even harder until she or both of them would break. And by break she meant touch and not only physically but emotionally as well. Why in the hell was it so hard for the two of them to show emotions, true unfiltered, loving emotions, toward each other anyway. Anytime one of them would come close to that the other would say or do something completely asinine to sabotage the moment, like today. Santana was only trying to give her some information about Kitty which was probably true. Since she'd been around the young Cheerio longer than she had, San was bound to know more about her than she did. And God knows that Santana Lopez may be many things but a liar was not one of them. So, if San said something about someone it was either true or someone had lied to Santana and in her zeal for honesty, she'd unknowingly repeat that untruth. A smirk crossed Quinn's lips as she thought about some of the truths that the tanned woman had unleashed on people, namely one tiny Jewish teenager, Rachel Berry. Hell, they both used to throw crap at Rach, but that little diva just took it and upon occasion she'd throw some right back at them. Shaking the rumination form her mind she focused on Santana once more. Quinn realized that her words had stung the brunette and so when a bee is agitated it stings back and that she did, royally, with that teenage mom comment. It really burned Quinn that Santana knew her so well, that she could get so deeply under her skin as if she was another layer of said skin, nobody has known Quinn like that, not even her own mother. As Quinn continued to ponder all these things she took a good long look at herself in the mirror. And as she studied herself, she noticed a little crack in the mirror, and that small jagged crack just seemed to re-inforce the crack that she was feeling in her heart for Santana... the loss of her Santana.

The blonde's revelry was broken by the flinging door. "I know, I'm so excited about sectionals, I-" Tina stopped talking to Marley as she noticed Quinn standing at the sink with a wet cloth to her face, after bursting into the bathroom. The mildly dazed expression on the blonde's face told her that Quinn had been deep in thought and obviously hurt in some way. She and Quinn had never been what you'd call close but after being around someone as much as they'd been around each other because of their involvement in glee you pick up on people's habits and quirks, so yeah she could definitely tell that Quinn was not quite herself. "Hey, um, Marley - can I catch you later?" She asked in a friendly tone, nodding her head in Quinn's direction which was a silent plea to leave the two of them alone so they could talk. "Oh, yeah, sure Tina, okay, bye." The thin brunette said shyly as she gave a knowing nod to the other brunette and then a small smile to Quinn before sliding out the door.

"So, Quinn, how - are you, what happened? Why do you have that paper towel up to your cheek?" Tina gently rattled off a litany of questions, all tempered with pure concern which actually touched the blonde deeply, as she walked up next to her at the sink. Looking directly at the other woman, she spoke softly. "Quinn, what's wrong? I can tell something's bothering you, do you want to talk about it?"

Quinn just kept looking at the cracked glass in front of her, nor did she remove the compress from the side of her face, then after a minute or two she cleared her throat before responding. "Have you ever cared about something or someone so much that it hurt, I mean, physically caused you pain?" She questioned, glancing at the shorter girl through the mirror, but before Tina could give it any real thought to query at hand much less a reply the blonde retracted her statement. "Y'know what, never mind, it was a stupid question, forget I even asked, okay?" Quinn was now facing Tina, giving one of her ice princess half smiles with a slightly raised eye brow that only meant one thing; I'm really not alright, and yes something is weighing heavily on my mind and heart but I'd rather not say what it is... so back off. Tina, of course, took the hint and said nothing, just nodded in understanding. Deciding to use another restroom Tina exited the facility leaving Quinn yet again to rummage through her frazzled thoughts of Santana.

tbc...