Disclaimer: I don't own glee.

A/N: Okay so I have not forgotten about my others stories. Have no fear they will be updated…well soon. This is just an idea I got and just had to write. I have most of it already written on paper, I just have to type it out and finish it up. It's going to be in three parts so I'll post one part a week. I hope you guys like it and review and let me know what you think.

The Me before You

Part 1

"Do you like it?"Quinn tunes out her grandmother's voice as her eyes scan the room around her. Quinn steps further into the room, the floor board creeks under her feet. The hardwood floors were the first thing Quinn noticed when she stepped into her grandma's home—her new home.

Quinn shakes her head to stop from thinking about what brought her here. Instead she tries to focus on the room. There is a flower boarder that runs along the top of the wall. The wall itself is a light yellow. A colorful, flowered blanket lies upon a twin sized bed that is in the corner of the room. On the opposite wall is a long white dresser with a nice size mirror on top.

"Quinnie!" Quinn jumps when her grandmother's palm lands on top of her shoulder. For a minute she forgot she wasn't alone. "I asked if you liked your room. It's been so long since your last visit. You probably don't remember this being your mom's childhood room."

Quinn sucks in a breath at the mention of her mom. Her grandmother doesn't notice her tense up though because she continues to go on about how Judy loved flowers and how she begged to have that dresser with the mirror.

"I like it." She really doesn't but she says she does so Mary Carter would stop talking. "I want to be aa-alone." She stops and takes a deep breath. "Please."

Mary attempts to push some blonde hair out of Quinn's face but the child turns her head. "I'll leave you be this time, but don't you ever think you will get away with talking to me like that again." With that Mary turns to the door. "Now," she starts looking over her shoulder. "Take some time to get settled. I'll call you down for dinner in a few. Please do bring your manners with you."

As soon as the door shuts behind her grandmother, Quinn throws her little body onto the bed. As she lies there in cries, she thinks about how she hates this room, hates this house and hates her parents for leaving her.

Well she doesn't really hate her parents. It wasn't their fault. At least that's what Mrs. Pillsbury, the schools councilor, said when she interrupted Quinn's favorite class of her 7th grade year, gym, to tell her that her parents had been in a bad accident and that they didn't make it.

At first Quinn didn't understand. Or at least she didn't want to.

Mom and dad. Dead. But how? She had just kissed them goodbye before catching the school bus this morning.

That's all her thirteen year old self could think of.

But it was true. Her parent had been killed by some guy who was speeding on the highway. He ran into the back of the sFabray's SUV, sending them crashing into a pole.

So now Quinn finds herself moving States to live with a woman she hardly knows.

Mary Carter only came to California a handful of times to visit since Quinn was born and Quinn only ever remembers two times that she ever flew to Ohio to see her Grandmother.

And she remembers being excited when her dad would say it was time to go. Quinn always thought her grandmother had too many rules.

No running in the house, don't bring your toys out of your room, no candy or juice before 3 in the afternoon. Mary had a long list of things not to do. It was too much restraint for a kid with so much energy to live up too.

Anyway the point is Quinn doesn't really know her grandmother. The only thing she knows for sure is that her grandmother always frowned at her whenever she would stutter. And stuttering was something Quinn Fabray did a lot of as a small child. She still does it. A lot less but every now and then when she's feeling overwhelmed or nervous or just unsure of herself.

So basically….really all the time.

She just wishes it was less.

# +;_-p.

It's been three years since Quinn has moved in with her grandmother.

It took her almost a whole year to accept the fact this was her life now. To accept the fact that her parents were gone and that her life was now in Ohio with her grandmother.

That first year was the hardest. Quinn had to adjust to living with an older person that didn't do much outside of the house. Sure her grandmother would go to book club meetings and Bingo. And every now and then she would have someone over for tea. But those was all activities that you couldn't really bring a child to (not that they would want to be there anyway) and the ladies that came over for tea didn't have grandchildren or at least they never brought them over to play with Quinn. So Quinn would have to sit around the house and make up games to play by herself.

She also had to learn a new school. Her grandmother insisted the she be placed in private school. So Quinn finished her seventh grade and eight grade years at J.E Richards's private school.

It wasn't until her eight grade year that Quinn met her best friend, Mercedes Jones. Mercedes was the only person in Quinn's class that didn't laugh at her the first time she was called on to answer a question and started to stutter halfway through her answer.

When things get to overwhelming at her grandmothers, Mercedes doesn't think twice about having a girl's night for her and Quinn. It's like Mercedes can read her mind. She just knows when Mary is getting on Quinn about her stutter or about how she got a B in chemistry when she was told that only A's are expected and accepted in this house.

That B in chemistry is what has Quinn cleaning every dish and surface in the old squeaky house before she can go spend the weekend at Mercedes. The weekend was promised to her over a month ago, before school grades came out. But Mary decided that Quinn had to make up for getting a B in school before she went anywhere.

It was the beginning of spring break and Quinn was excited to be spending it with her best friend. Mercedes hardly came over to Quinn's because her grandmother, Mary, didn't really like having guest. Plus Quinn's grandmother was stuck in her ways. While she didn't flat out look down on black people, Mexicans…. basically anyone of mixed race or another race than her own, or of a lower class, she did make it clear where she stood. She didn't think much off those kinds of people.

Mercedes always found it amazing how Mary's views on life hadn't managed to influence Quinn's.

Well they did. Just not in the way she thinks about people. But on the way she thinks about herself.

Quinn always feels the need to be extra polite-to make up for her grandmothers rudeness. She doesn't speak unless spoken to because of years of getting laughed at by classmates or looks from strangers or that frown her grandmother makes every time Quinn stutters.

And Mary's views on lower class people just makes Quinn want to get to know them that much more. Quinn believes anyone who isn't her grandmother must be exciting and friendly. They could only ever be a breath of fresh air compared to that woman.

It's here. Here being a social event for doctors and their families—where Quinn meets Santana Lopez. Santana Lopez, daughter of Dr. Carlos Lopez, also known as the girl without a filter.

Mercedes has known Santana since she was like seven. Santana goes to public school so the only time they see each other is at events like this. Events their dads bring them to for their work. They are not that close but they are at least friendly towards the other when they are at these socials.

Santana is the first person Quinn's age that she has interacted with outside of her private school or the clerk at the local grocery store. So when Mercedes introduces them Quinn just smiles and nods, afraid to talk and end up stuttering and embarrassing herself in front of the beautiful girl.

"What's wrong with her, Mercedes?" Santana frowns at her friend before looking back at Quinn. They've been sitting together for five minutes now and Quinn hasn't said a word. "You don't know how to talk? You mute?"

Quinn's face starts to turn red. She doesn't think she could speak even if she wanted to. She decided not to speak so she wouldn't put Santana off with her stuttering, but instead her silence is going to be her downfall with the loud mouth brunette.

"Leave her alone, San." Mercedes jumps in to save her. "Quinn's a quiet soul." Quinn gives her best friend a little thank you smile before directing her gaze to the table.

"Fuck that." Quinn frowns at the swear words that just left the beautiful mouth of the brunette. "We gotta be here for at least two more hours. You're going to have to say something to me Blondie. You can be a quiet soul some other time." Santana sits back in her chair with a huff.

Quinn watches the pout appear on Santana's face. Quinn can't help but to notice how cute she looks. How cute Santana is. Santana has nice long black hair, brown eyes that seem like they are looking right into your soul and nice tan skin.

Quinn has known for awhile now that she's attracted to girls. The first girl to ever give her butterflies in her stomach was Amanda Anderson. The first time Quinn saw Amanda was during freshman orientation. Amanda was helping the councilor give the new students a tour of their new school for the next four years. During the orientation Quinn found out that Amanda was a junior. And during the school year she found out that Amanda was one of the top students of her junior class and had a passion for art. Quinn had a crush on Amanda all the way until the girl graduated and moved away for college.

Of course she kept her crush on Amanda a secret. Her grandmother would probably have a heart attack if she found out that Quinn likes girls. And Mercedes —well Quinn's not sure how Mercedes might take the information. Mercedes never gave Quinn a reason to believe she didn't like gay people. But then again the subject never came up for her to find out. And Quinn's fear of rejection is what keeps her from bringing it up.

"Hello!" Quinn snaps out of her thoughts when a tan hand is right in front of her. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Santana snaps.

"Nothing. I'm ss-sorry. W-what were you sa-ying?" Quinn can feel her face burning. She just wants to find the nearest corner, sit in it and cry. Quinn turns her face away from Santana. She doesn't want to see the other girl's reaction. Quinn's nerves are all over the place so she knows her stuttering will only get worse if she tries to speak again. And if Santana laughs…well she might just cry.

"Are you kidding me?" Quinn hears Mercedes trying to warn Santana not to say anything mean or laugh. "Shut up, SUV. No one is going to laugh." When Quinn hears that she slowly turns to face Santana again. "Dude, no one cares that you stutter. Now stop being rude and keep me from being bored out of my freaking mind."

And with that Quinn smiles before stuttering out a question to Santana about public high school.

#$%^&*(*&^%$

Quinn is on her fifth lap around the neighborhood when she sees Santana again. Quinn hadn't seen Santana since the Doctor Social four months ago. They didn't exchange numbers or anything, so Quinn wasn't even sure if she would ever see the girl again. But here she stands. On the side walk a few feet away from Quinn.

"What's up, Blondie?" Santana speaks as she sits down a brown box on the ground in front of her.

"Hi." Quinn waves while nervously pulling on the tank top she decided to wear during her late morning jog.

"What are you doing here?" Santana walks closer until she's within arm reach of Quinn.

"I live d-d-down there." Quinn points over Santana shoulder in the general direction of her house. Santana looks over her shoulder and nods, but Quinn is pretty sure Santana still has no idea where she lives considering Quinn's house is a few blocks down. Not even Quinn can see her house.

"Cool." Santana says before stepping back towards the box she sat on the ground. "Well my people just bought this house. I'm helping them move in." And its then that Quinn notices the moving truck and few boxes sitting in the yard. They weren't there the first four times Quinn ran pass this house, so Quinn assumes they only just got here.

Santana starts to say something else but a short, bold headed man appears on the porch of the house they are standing in front of.

"Who's your friend, Santana?" He sends a smile Quinn's way.

"Uncle Mike, meet Quinn Fabray," Santana points at Quinn. "Quinn, that's my Uncle Mike Berry." Santana nods in the direction of the man on the porch.

Mike grins and waves happily at Quinn. "Nice to meet you Quinn." Quinn just waves back.

"Yeah," Santana shrugs. "Quinn doesn't talk that much."

"That's perfectly fine. We can't always be as talkative as you." Mike laughs at his own joke before walking down the stairs of the house. He picks up a few boxes before heading back towards his new home.

"Whatever," Santana mumbles before bringing her attention back around to Quinn. "So what are you doing right now?"

Quinn shrugs. "Running."

"Well that's boring," Santana shoves the box she was holding into Quinn's arms. "You're helping us move now. You can run later."

"But…" Quinn eyes widen as Santana puts a smaller box on top of the one she's already holding. It might be small but it's heavy.

"Okay, so maybe one box is good for right now." Santana removes the smaller box with a laugh. "Follow me loser."

Quinn opens her mouth to protest but then thinks about how she has nothing else to do. Santana's right about her being able to run later. Plus maybe she can get to know Santana a little better as they help unload the moving truck.

When Quinn steps into the house, she sees boxes all over the living room. Judging by the amount of boxes already in the house, Quinn assumes Santana's uncle most have moved these boxes in days ago. They can't be from today's trip. Santana hasn't been here long enough for them to have moved all this stuff in the house before Quinn came back around the corner.

"Oh hello?" Quinn looks up to see a average height man with glasses and a short brunette standing in front of a doorway in the living room that leads off into some other part of the house. Maybe a dining room. She doesn't know.

"That's Quinn." Mike jumps in when he sees Quinn just wave at the duo. "She doesn't speak much."He says walking pass with another box.

"Well she doesn't need to be able to talk in order to help move boxes." Santana says bumping Quinn's shoulder.

"Don't be rude, Santana." Santana roll her eyes at the unknown man and walks back outside. "Hi, Quinn. I'm Carmelo." Quinn watches as a tan hand extends to shake hers. Quinn notes that Carmelo's skin tone is the same color as Santana's. "I'm Santana's other uncle and this," He points behind him to the girl still standing in the entry way. "Is our daughter Rachel."

Quinn is so caught up in staring at Rachel that she doesn't give the 'our daughter' part of the introduction a second thought. Nope. Quinn's eyes are glued to the girl. Quinn thought Santana was beautiful…but Rachel. Quinn has no words for Rachel. But she has feelings.

Butterflies.

The same kind of butterflies she got when she first saw Amanda Anderson.

"Hi." Quinn's voice comes out as quiet as ever. If Carmelo wasn't standing right in front of her, he wouldn't have heard it.

"Hey." Rachel smiles back and then ducks her head. Quinn realizes that she's staring and looks back at Carmelo. She gives him another smile before going back outside to help Mike and Santana.

With Quinn's help, it only takes about thirty minutes for them to get all of the boxes and furniture into the house and into their correct rooms. Quinn didn't notice until she was helping Mike sort boxes, that both men's names was on the boxes and both of their boxes went into one main room. The master bedroom.

Quinn wasn't going to asks Santana to confirm her suspicions about the two—that would just be rude. And didn't need to be explained because on one of her trips back downstairs for another box to carry to Rachel's room. She caught the two men in a lip lock. She didn't stay and watch them kiss. Instead she rushed back up the stairs. Completely forgetting the box.

She found Santana leaning against the wall by the window when she got back to Rachel's room.

"Hey, Santana? I think I-I-I'm going to t-to go." Quinn rushes out.

"Why? Don't you want to stay for lunch?" Quinn jumps at the sound of Rachel's voice. She had completely forgotten the other girl was in the room. Quinn's whole body starts to warm.

Rachel heard her stutter. That's the only thing Quinn can think about. Rachel heard her stutter.

"Yeah, dude. My uncle Mike is like a master chef. You have to stay." Santana doesn't catch onto Quinn's anxiety.

"Can't." Quinn tries to cut her answers short. That way she doesn't have to worry about stuttering. "Have to get home."

"Okay." Santana shrugs. She gives up.

"Bye." Quinn doesn't even look in Rachel's direction as she flees the house. She waves goodbye at Mike and Carmelo as she leaves the house.

%^&*O*^#*9

Quinn doesn't see or hear anything about Santana or Rachel for the next couple of weeks. After the day she helped them move in, Quinn changed her running course so that she doesn't have to go by the Berry house anymore. She changed it, not only because she was afraid of running into the Berry's or Santana, but because if she did run into them and stayed and talked, she would have to lie to her grandmother again about where she had been. The day she got home from the Berry's, her grandmother had asked where she had been and she lied and said she tried running up the hill a few streets over and sprang her ankle, so she sat under a tree until she could walk on her foot again.

She didn't want to lie. But Quinn knew that Mary disapproved of same sex relationships and if she found out that Quinn had been interacting with the Berry's, she wound have forbid her to even look down the street.

It was then that Quinn was glad that her grandma hardly left the house or spoke to people in the neighborhood. That way Mary would never find out about the life style of her new neighbors.

*(*&#*()*$&

Quinn is over Mercedes having their last sleep over before school starts in two weeks. Quinn is shocked when Mercedes gives her a piece of paper with a phone number on it. Under the name is Santana written in nice print.

"Homegirl has been asking about you? I saw her a few days ago when I went to the hospital with my mom to pick up my dad. Her dad invited us to dinner on Friday." Mercedes fills her in. "She also told me to bring you. Why didn't you tell me about you helping Santana and her uncle's move?" Mercedes frowns.

"Don't know." Quinn shrugs. She sits up on Mercedes full size bed. Quinn loves how the bed is so soft and big—At least bigger then her twin size mattress that her grandmother refuses to replace with something bigger or just newer.

Mercedes roll her eyes at Quinn answer before telling Quinn that she's going to the dinner with her and her parents. No other option is available.

So that next Friday Quinn spends the whole day locked in her room looking for the perfect dress to wear to dinner.

"Where you going?" Her grandmother, Mary, asks from the couch when Quinn walks into the living room.

"Dinner. With Mercedes parents. "She pauses and takes a deep breath. Always short sentences with her grandmother. Mary must not hear her stutter. "I told you."

"I guess that's alright." Quinn rolls her eyes. "Don't be out too late and don't let them feed you too much. They don't seem to know what portion control is."

Mary always digs at how big Mercedes is. So anytime Quinn says she's going out with Mercedes, Mary has something to say about how much food she takes in.

"Goodnight. Grandmother."

#$%^&*I(O

Quinn is surprised to see Rachel and her dads when she gets to the Lopez house. But with a big hug from Mike and a smile from Rachel, Quinn relaxes.

So far the night has been going good for Quinn. Mercedes and Santana encouraged her to join in on the conversation at the big dinner table. No one batted an eyelash when Quinn would fumble over words. Instead they waited patiently for her to finish her sentence and than they would respond like nothing had happened. Quinn never had that before. Not with anyone but her parents and Mercedes.

She had been stuttering since she could talk. Her classmates, even when trying to be nice, would rush her to get out what she was trying to say. Or people would just ignore her. Quinn hated that. So as she got older she learned how to shorten her speech or not to speak at all. Not speaking wasn't hard at all. She had always been a soft spoken, shy girl, that didn't really go looking for conversation.

After dinner Santana leads the girls up to her bedroom. Santana room is decorated in dark colors, black and blue. That doesn't surprise Quinn at all. She hasn't known Santana that long and she doesn't have to know that Santana has never been a bright color type girl.

"I like your room." Quinn whispers as she runs her hands along Santana's wooden desk. "It's you." She looks up and smiles at Santana. Santana punches her shoulder.

"You're weird." Quinn blushes and ducks her head.

"She means that in a nice way." Rachel appears next to Quinn's side.

Santana moves to the middle of the room and claps her hands. "Its movie time bitches!"

"Language Santana." Rachel hisses.

"Shut up, Shorty." And with that they settle down to watch a movie.

At the end of the night, Quinn leaves with a hug from Santana and a kiss on the cheek from Rachel.

%^&*&^%$#

"Quinn, stop daydreaming. My uncle is going to kick my ass for being late to pick up Rach." Santana pulls Quinn away from another display window at the mall. "Dude, I promise we will come back after we get Rachel."

Quinn sighs before following her friend out of the mall. Over the last two months, Santana has become Quinn's second best friend. Sure she's not as close to the brunette as she is to Mercedes, but she's close enough. Santana still hasn't been to her house or met her grandmother. Quinn thinks that Santana and her grandmother would kill each other.

"Where have you been?" Rachel get's into the backseat of Santana's car when she sees Quinn sitting in the front seat.

"Chill kid. We were at the mall. Lost track of time." Santana tries to ease her cousin's frustration. At least she's telling the truth. Santana called Quinn up a few hours ago and demanded that the blonde accompany her to the mall. Santana said she needs some more school clothes. Quinn wears a uniform so she doesn't need new school clothes. But it was the first time someone other than Mercedes, wanted her to go do something with her.

"Don't call me a kid." Even though it's not a safe move, Rachel kicks the back of Santana's driver's seat. "Hi Quinn." Rachel beams at Quinn. Quinn smiles back at Rachel.

Quinn and Rachel hadn't spent that much time together. Rachel turns out to be a very busy person. Quinn just has school and the occasional outing with Mercedes—well and now Santana.

But Rachel.

Rachel has school, glee club, dance class and singing lessons. Quinn doesn't know how she does it all.

"Don't tell Uncle Mike I was late." Santana says while they are at a stop light.

"Are you going to buy me something at the mall?"

"Yes?"

"Deal."

Quinn giggles at the cousin's behavior. Quinn doesn't have any brothers or sister or any cousins. Her parents were only children and their parents were only children. So she doesn't know what it's like to have a relative the same age or close to it that loves you as much as Santana and Rachel seem to love each other. They seem more like sisters then cousins. Santana had already bought Rachel something from the mall before they even picked her up. Santana always keeps her little cousin in mind.

"I like this shirt. Hold this while I try it on." Santana shoves some shopping bags into Rachel's arms before dashing off to the fitting room.

They've been back at the mall for almost thirty minutes now and Santana has managed to buy three more expensive outfits. Quinn's actually surprise Santana hasn't bought more, what with the way she demands that they go into every store.

"Do you think she'll let us leave after this?" Rachel jokes while moving to sit down on a bench outside of the changing room area.

"Maybe." Quinn shrugs. This is the first time she's been left alone with Rachel since meeting the girl. Sure they've hangout with their friends together but never had it just been just Rachel and Quinn in the same space. You know, breathing the same air.

"I like your hair cut. It's cute." Quinn blushes at the compliment. She got her hair cut a few days ago. It was part of her goal to live more freely. She told herself before the new school year that she'd try to be more outgoing. She made a promise to herself to try to find out more about who Quinn Fabray is, rather let people tell her who she is.

She had got the idea from Santana one day when they were hanging out with Mercedes. Mercedes had asked Santana why she felt the need to be so blunt about everything. Santana had responded by saying that life was too short to be sugar coding everything all the time. She said she'd rather just get everything out in the open and move on. That day Santana had also told Quinn that she should stop trying to hide her stutter. Santana told her that she would never change people opinions of herself if she never spoke up. So from that day on, Quinn has been trying to speak more while they are out in public.

Every now and then, Quinn will get scared and not speak even though she wants to, especially when she's around Rachel. It's like she gets super nervous and afraid to open her mouth because she knows she'll start stuttering. And stuttering in front of Rachel is something she doesn't want to do.

Santana could tell that stuttering was really holding Quinn back from being herself, so she asked her dad about tips to help someone stop stuttering. Of course Carlos was more than happy to help her. He was just happy that Santana was thinking about someone other than herself. So now every Friday or just when they are alone, Santana and Quinn work on stopping Quinn's stutter. It's not completely gone but it happens a lot less then it use too.

"Thanks. Santana took me to get it cut." Quinn informs Rachel. Quinn looks at Rachel when the brunette doesn't say anything further. Rachel is just sitting there staring at her. "What?"Quinn self consciously runs her hand down her face to make sure nothings on it.

"I…um nothing." Rachel smiles and looks away. A second later Santana appears with her regular clothes on.

"What did I miss? Why are you blushing, Q-ball?"

"Leave her alone." Rachel stands up, grabbing their shopping bags. "Did you try on the shirt or what?"

"Yeah, it doesn't look right on me." Santana shrugs and hangs the shirt on the rake outside of the fitting rooms.

"Okay." Rachel frowns. "Can we go now? I'm tired and hungry."Santana flicks Rachel on the nose before grabbing her bags from the girl and moving to leave the store.

"No." She says over her shoulder. "We have to find Quinn a new outfit."

"I don't want anything new."Quinn speaks up as she walks behind the cousins.

"Quinn, I never saw you in pants before." Santana reasons. "I bet your ass would look amazing in jeans." Of course Santana words make Quinn blush. Everything makes Quinn blush.

"I like her dresses. They're cute."

"Shut up, Rachel." Santana waves her cousins words off. "I didn't say they weren't cute. I'm just saying Quinn needs…" Santana and Rachel get into a little argument about teenage clothes and what Quinn should and shouldn't wear.

"I'm ready to go n-n-now." The cousins stop bickering and look at Quinn. Quinn thinks they must have forgotten she was there during the five minute argument they've been having.

Santana sighs before pushing pass her cousin to leave the store and the mall. "Let's go, bitches."

#$%^$%^&&^

It's the day after the whole mall situation that Rachel decides to knock on Quinn's door. Lucky for Quinn, her grandmother is out at bingo.

"Rachel," Quinn moves out of the doorway so Rachel can enter. "Hi."

"Hello, Quinn." Rachel grins at her like always. "How was school?"

"Okay. I g-gguess." They just stand in the living room, by the front door, staring at each other. "Do you want some wa-water?" Quinn starts. "Or something." Rachel just smiles and tells her that water is fine.

When Quinn comes back into the living room, cup of water in hand, Rachel is sitting on the couch humming.

"How'd you know where I lived?" Quinn doesn't want to be rude but she's never told Rachel which house was hers.

"Mercedes." Rachel shrugs. "I asked her what your house look like and she described this one." Rachel giggles. "It looks exactly like she described. Only thing missing is the black Buick she said is usually parked in the driveway."

"Mary's out right now."

"Mary?" Rachel frowns.

"My grandmother."

"You call your grandmother Mary?" Quinn shrugs.

"Sure, when she's n-not around." She admits with a shrug.

After that the tension is broke and Rachel and Quinn start to talk about why Rachel came over. Rachel wanted to apologize for hers and Santana's behavior yesterday. Quinn thought they had nothing to apologize for but accepted the apology none the less. Then they went on to get to know each other better. You know the basics, favorite color, cartoons, school subjects and other random facts.

Quinn had already told Rachel and Santana about how her parents were killed in a car accident when she was little and how her grandmother was the only relative she had left. So Rachel told her about how Mike and Carmelo adopted her when she was a baby. Rachel talked about how Carmelo and Carlos are brothers (Quinn figured that out a long time ago) and how Santana and her have grown up together. About how Santana has always been there for her and never treat her any different even though they don't really share blood.

Rachel leaves Quinn's house with a kiss to the blonde's cheek and a promise to call when she makes it home. They exchanged numbers before Quinn had walked Rachel to the door.

As promised, Rachel calls when she makes it to her house.

#$%^&*(*&^%

Wednesdays becomes Rachel and Quinn day. One day while Rachel and Quinn were texting (because that became a regular thing since they exchanged numbers) Rachel had informed Quinn that she was free on Wednesdays after school. Quinn didn't really have a schedule or anything so she didn't really have to make room to hang out with Rachel. Plus her grandmother went to Bingo every Wednesday faithfully.

Rachel would come over around four and they would sit in the living room in watch movies, talk, and just all around enjoy each other's company. Around six thirty they would start cleaning up their mess and then Quinn would walk Rachel to her house. Every now and then Quinn will go to Rachel's house.

"Hey Quinn?" Quinn looks away from the TV when she hears her name fall from Rachel's mouth.

"Yeah," Quinn becomes nervous when Rachel pauses the movie and turns her body to face her.

Rachel just stares at her before asking her question. "How come I've never seen your room?" Quinn tenses up at the question. "I mean, I've been coming over here for a few months now and still have yet to see your bedroom."

"It's nothing special."Quinn looks away from Rachel.

"Can I be the judge of that?" Rachel pushes. Quinn sighs and sags back into the couch a little more.

"Not today, okay?" Rachel stares at the side of Quinn's face before sighing and un pausing the movie.

The rest of the afternoon is awkward between the two. Rachel is wondering why Quinn is so closed off. Quinn is busy thinking of ways to discourage Rachel from wanting to know more about her than what she offers.

Despite the awkwardness, Rachel still hugs Quinn when the blonde walks her to her home at the end of their day together.

$%^&*^^$% $

"…okay. Make sure you pick me up at eight. Don't be late." Quinn watches with wondrous eyes as Santana leaves another boy begging for her attention.

It always amazes Quinn how the other girl can make anyone and everyone swoon over her. Santana can be completely rude to a guy and he will still do whatever she asks. Quinn doesn't think of Santana in a romantic sense, especially since she's met Rachel. If it wasn't for Rachel, Quinn's sure she would be swooning over Santana too. The girl can be charming when she wants to be.

Quinn has never even held a conversation with a guy with any romantic intentions. Nor has she ever had the desire to. It's always been other girls and even then she's been too afraid to do anything about it. Just the thought of flirting with a girl makes her blush.

"He was cute. If dinner's nice I might just keep him around for more than just one date." Santana winks at Quinn before pulling the blonde back towards the food court where Rachel and Mercedes is waiting. "Maybe he has a friend that he can hook you up with."

"What are we talking about?" Mercedes inquires when Quinn and Santana gets close enough to the table for her to hear the end of their conversation.

"How Quinn needs to get laid." Santana jokes. Quinn's face heats up. Santana has always spoken freely about sex and about anything that crosses her mind. But recently she's been making comments about Quinn not having a boyfriend or Quinn acting to uptight. "I'm kidding, Q-babe." Santana pats the blonde on the back when she notices the look on Quinn's face.

"It's fine. I'm okay." Quinn hates how weak she sounds. She knows that Santana doesn't really mean to embarrass her. Being loud, saying whatever she thinks, is just part of Santana Lopez's personality and Quinn understands that.

"Can we go get ice cream," Rachel picks up on Quinn's mood and tries to take the attention away from her. "I want ice cream, San."

And with that they start to talk about what kind of ice cream they are going to order.

$%^&*(# ^

"Quinn!" Quinn nearly drops the book she was reading when she hears her grandmothers voice calling. Thinking something is wrong, Quinn quickly jumps out of the bed and rushes down the stairs to Mary's side.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Quinn asks frantically while looking for any sign that her grandmother is hurt. The old lady might be a bitch but she's all Quinn has.

"I'm fine." Mary waves Quinn off. "Someone's at the door." And for the first time Quinn actually notice the knocking at the front door. Quinn rolls her eyes before turning towards the door. Would it have hurt the older lady to get up and get the door that was just a few feet away? It's probably just one of her friends anyway.

But Quinn's wrong. Standing on her porch is a teary eyed Rachel. Quinn quickly opens the screen door and motions for the brunette to come in. "Are you okay?" Quinn groans when Rachel's little body slams into hers. Rachel through her arms around Quinn and bury her face in the blondes neck.

"Who's that, Quinnie?" Mary calls from her spot on the couch.

"My friend Rachel," Quinn rubs Rachel's back in hopes of calming her. "We'll be in my room." Quinn gently pushes Rachel back, grabbing her hand instead so she can lead her to her bedroom.

Once they are in the room, Quinn sits on her twin size bed with Rachel halfway sitting on her lap.

"What's going on Rachel?" Quinn resumes her rubbing of Rachel's back. It seems to be helping the girl's breathing even out.

"It's stupid." Rachel says after a couple of minutes of silence. "I'm completely overreacting." Rachel rolls her eyes at herself.

"Let me be the judge of that?" Those similar words get a little smile out of Rachel. Quinn mentally pats herself on her back for making the other girl smile.

"I got into an argument with my dad's about going to New York for the summer."Quinn raises her eyebrows. It's still December, why is Rachel thinking about summer already. "What? If I want to get into a summer program, now is the time to start looking into what programs work with my goals and to start applying."

Quinn doesn't even try to argue with the driven girl. "Okay? So I'm going to guess and say they said no to New York."

Rachel nods and rests her head on Quinn's shoulder. "It's a really good program. There is going to plenty of supervision and…ugh it sucks. It's just for the summer."

Quinn doesn't know what to say. Mike and Carmelo have always seemed like good parents to her. They are always very active in Rachel's life as well as Santana's. Hell they even help Quinn with her homework when needed and asks about what's going on in her life. Quinn figures if they said no to the New York trip it must be for good reasons. But you will not catch her saying that to Rachel. The smaller girl would probably flip and list all the reasons she believe Quinn and her parents are wrong.

"Maybe they will change their minds. We still have awhile to go before the summer gets here."

"I know. I just like to be prepared." Rachel whispers distractedly. Rachel has now lifted her head from Quinn's shoulder and is taking in her surroundings. "So I finally get to see your room." Quinn's eyes widen as if she just realized that Rachel is in fact in her room.

Her plain, boring, uncreative room.

"It…nice." Rachel says while looking up at the flowers that line the room.

"You don't have to lie."

Quinn knows her room isn't anything special. She's told Rachel this plenty of times before. Rachel room is exciting. It has movie and play posters all around. Its field with pictures and awards the singer has won. Even Santana's, room with its dark colors, has character. Quinn's room has no character at all. It's still as if her mother lives here.

Part of the blame for that goes to her grandmother and part of it goes to Quinn. Mary doesn't do well with change. Most people her age doesn't. Anytime Quinn would attempt to add something to the room or just give it modern a feeling, her grandmother would tell her no. And its Quinn fault too because she always gives in. She never puts up a fight for the things she wants. Part of that's because she doesn't really know how.

Her life was so different before her parent's death. Before she always felt like she had someone to talk to. Though as a kid, Quinn didn't have many problems. But now as she finds herself getting older and having questions about her body, life and things like that, the only adult she has to turn to is her grandmother. Her grandmother, the lady that looks down upon people, who doesn't like change and never really cared to be a part of Quinn's life before the accident. So how can Quinn make her room seem like it fits her, when she doesn't even know who she is.

Maybe the room is just as it is meant to be at this time. It's just as confusing as Quinn.

"I'm not lying." Rachel voice is defensive. "Yeah, it's not the best room in the world, but it's…I don't know. It's you." Rachel voice lowers.

"This room is boring. You calling me boring, Berry?" Quinn tries to lighten the mood.

"You're not boring." Rachel rolls her eyes. "And don't call me Berry."The last part is said with that defensive voice.

"I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean anyt-thing by it." The stutter comes back along with a sick feeling. Quinn feels like she's done nothing but say the wrong thing these last few minutes.

"Quinn," Rachel calls for the third time. "It's okay. I just don't like to be called by my last name."

"Why?"

"I just don't." Once again Rachel shuts her down. Rachel has never been this shut off to her before. Rachel and Santana is a lot alike in the way that they always express what they feel or think. Rachel loves when people inquire about her life. She loves to give her opinions whether it's wanted or not.

"Sorry."Quinn sighs.

"Maybe I should go." Rachel moves to stand but Quinn grabs her hand before she's able to lift off of the bed.

"Don't." She tugs Rachel closer. "Please stay." Rachel looks like she's going to protest but Quinn cuts her off again. "Tell me what you really think about my room." Silence takes over.

"The bookshelf." Rachel turns her face to look at the bookshelf. "It's so you."

It's the one thing her grandmother didn't question her about.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Rachel smiles. "I can see you just sitting here reading. Off into your own little world."

"And you don't think that's lame?"Quinn holds her breath as she waits for an answer.

"Not at all." They just sit there staring at each other. Quinn still holding onto Rachel's hand. Them both getting lost in each other's eyes.

"Quinn!" Quinn jumps off of the bed, releasing Rachel's hand as she does. "Get down here and bring that girl with you."

Quinn turns back around to see Rachel with her mouth wide open, staring at the closed bedroom door. "Ready to meet Mary?"

TBC

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