A/N: This was written for the Quartie ficaton, based on the prompt, "But I won't hesitate no more, no more. It cannot wait. I'm yours" Also, This story draws on more of my personal cannon than I would normally like to admit, specifically my story Bad Reputation. Also, this was totally originally a one-shot. But, I have the attention span of an exhausted five year old ona caffeine high… so I've broken it up.
DISCLAIMER: Sadly, Glee is not mine. If it was, I would not live in a place where 11ºF is considered balmy.
Quinn Fabray smoothes her long white dress nervously, and peaks into the large ballroom. Her mother is sitting in a corner, alone. Quinn's father isn't there. She hasn't seen him in more than two years, not since the disaster dinner with Finn when which ended with her being disowned. She has other friends, though. The Jones and the Hummel-Hudson family sit together, chatting amiably. Burt and Carol hold hands, while Dr. Jones clutches a video camera and Mercedes' mama holds the digital camera for stills.
She notices the large Abram's contingent. Artie's two younger sisters, dressed impeccably in sundresses, read quietly. At least two grandparents, and an aunt chat quietly with his parents. They are such a contrast to the Puckermans; Sarah, Puck's younger sister, is playing loudly on a Gameboy, and her mother is looking murderous and fanning herself with a program.
She scanned the crowd for one more person, a face she hasn't seen in almost a year. Someone she hopes and prays will come…
"Quinn."
The voice startles her.
"It's time to line up."
Wordlessly, Quinn follows a white-clad Rachel Berry to the place where they're lining up. In the past few yeas, Quinn and Rachel have grown from adversaries to sort of friends. During her freshman year, Quinn never could have imagined that it would be Rachel Berry who would come get her before their graduation, and that they would be friends. But, during Quinn's freshman year, so many things were different. Her father and mother lived at home. She was a Cheerio on the rise, and Rachel Berry was the freak who joined too many clubs. Sandy Riorson was the head of the Glee Club, and Quinn was popular.
Quinn finds herself next to a nondescript member of the defensive line as the McKinley High Graduates process into rented space. Coach Beiste has whipped their awful football team into a mediocre group of players with a 6-6 record. Pomp and Circumstance is piped in through tinny sounding speakers as the graduates walk down the aisle, and settle in their seats across the front row.
The valedictorian, a kid from the Hockey team who might have slushied Quinn once or twice, gives an uninspired speech. The commencement speaker, local celebrity and cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, gives a much more interesting speech which has absolutely nothing to do with the graduates. Quinn sighs: typical Sue.
The presentation of the diplomas begins, and Quinn watches as her fellow students stand and file through the seats.