The caps rained down around them, but Rachel had merely slid her's off and dropped it on the ground.

Graduation. She had been waiting and hoping for this day for so long. It was her escape from Lima, and all of the limitations the stupid place imposed on her. This day brought her one step closer to her dreams and goals… And took her one step away from Quinn.

It was never meant to happen this way, obviously. Quinn was the cheerleading bully who didn't care about anyone but herself. She had tormented Rachel and brought her down to her lowest level for the first three years of high school. Senior year had changed everything though.

Quinn was a new girl. She was different, and even though things had been hard for her toward the end, she had pulled to together, and really, she owed Rachel everything. The last few months, they had grown close. Much, much closer than either of them had expected.

As Quinn crossed the auditorium, ignoring friends and family alike, she could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest. This was it. This was her last moment with Rachel in public. The last chance she would get to do what Rachel had been waiting for for the last three months.

She stopped in front of the petite brunette she had grown to admire and… God, she couldn't even deny it anymore. She loved Rachel. She couldn't say for how long or why it had happened, but it was there and it had taken over every thought.

"Thank you," she said quietly, taking both of Rachel's hands in her own. "And Happy Graduation." she added before leaning down and kissing her softly. It didn't matter that they were surrounded by people, some of whom would judge them and hate them, because Quinn was leaving for Yale the next morning and everyone needed to know it was the hardest choice she had ever had to make.

Because she was in love with Rachel, and she had to leave her behind.