She hates herself for a full week after she lets that question go unanswered. She feels like a coward and a fool but what was she to do? Fall to her knees before Quinn and say Me?
She wonders how the blonde would've looked at her. The way she always does when someone, Rachel especially; compliments her? Sceptical and disbelieving and looking as if she wished she could believe Rachel if anyone. She wants to prove it to her somehow, help the chair-bound woman see herself through maple eyes and a captive heart.
Rachel and Quinn are alone in the library when the blonde looks up from her book and stares in a way that should probably make the brunette uncomfortable.
"I love you, Rachel. You know that right?"
"Of course I do. I love you too, Quinn." Brow lowered over hazel eyes, the blonde looked up, piercing Rachel with her gaze.
"Do you?" she asked, voice sharp.
"Yes." She said, voice unwavering.
"You see, it's hard for me to believe that. I needed you last week and you just let me run away again...roll away. I've never needed or wanted you to tell me that I'm beautiful and that anyone would be lucky to have me. But I did that day. I don't understood, Rachel. Did you get tired of telling me the same old lies?" Rachel shakes her head furiously scrambling to scoot her chair closer to Quinn's.
"No! And please stop... the things I say to you aren't lies. I mean them and I believe them. I just. I was afraid that I would say too much, okay. There's this line between the two of us that I created and I didn't want to cross it." Hurt and frustration flowing from her voice, Quinn scoffs.
"Well maybe it's time you did. Because I already have. And the longer you wait, the further away I get." She rolled away, leaving her best friend behind, fighting tears. The idea that maybe they should have fought their fears and crossed that line a long time ago resonates within both of them.