This is my first fic and I had so many ideas so if you get bored reading this, I hope you skip forward and get to the drama at the end.
"Are you kidding me?" Quinn asked her reflection as she attempted to zip up her size 2 skirt. She was forced to turn the zipper from her side to just inside her hip bone in order to finish the task and she ended up sucking in her stomach in order to turn the zipper back to her side. This made her feel humongous, bloated and disgusting...
Even with perfect hair plus impeccable fashion, along with a satisfying reputation keeping her clear of slushies she cannot get past the fact that size 0 and size 2 clothing don't fall off her like they fall off the other girls. She pinched her skin and maybe half a gram of body fat in her fingers and she grew incredibly frustrated.
XoXoXo
Blaine sang his fourth ballad to Kurt in only two weeks. Rachel effectively tuned him out after scathingly criticizing his technique. She then began her second favorite activity; she loved gazing at Quinn. Shamelessly staring whenever Quinn sat in front of her and unconsciously glancing over her shoulder whenever Quinn sat behind.
Fortunately Rachel stole the middle seat in the back row of chairs for optimal Quinn viewing. Unfortunately Rachel did not see much more than blank stares and frowns from the blonde. Usually it was all scowls and smirks from Quinn to her "lesser" Glee-mates but Rachel noticed Quinn was completely aloof this afternoon. Even though the blonde had admitted that Glee was a substantially rewarding part of her school day, one would not have been able to tell at all lately. Presently Quinn was paying no attention to Blaine and instead chose to stare out the open doorway, ankles crossed, long sleeve blouse pulled past her wrists into her fists. She wasn't even startled when Kurt sprang up next to her, applauding his boyfriend.
The bell rang suddenly and Quinn shuffled to her next class. Normally Rachel would follow closely behind Quinn before she made it to class, but Rachel was unable to catch up.
XoXoXo
"It's wonderful to see you this morning, Quinn," Rachel said the next day when she emerged from the bathroom stall. Rachel was surprised and pleased to find Quinn in the otherwise empty bathroom. Happy accidents are what Rachel attributed this surprise alone time to with Quinn. She would never admit to planning such trysts... if you could even call them that. Quinn put down her cover up, pulled down her sleeves, washed the make up from her shaky fingers and continued to apply mascara. Only then did Quinn acknowledge Rachel's greeting with a sarcastic smirk towards Rachel's reflection, and rolled her eyes.
Outwardly, Rachel was not troubled by this, though internally she sighed. Rachel washed her hands and offered, "Did you sleep well?"
Quinn leaned closer to the mirror and grunted her reply. Rachel took the opportunity to stare into hazel eyes since Quinn wouldn't have noticed. Rachel continued:
"After my nightly Myspace video posted I had some warm tea which allowed me to sleep more peacefully. My dads bought it from a lady behind the organic food store, thus I was a little concerned by the lack of proper FDA labeling."
Quinn hummed, "Sorry I didn't add to the criticism last night, Berry." She put her mascara away.
"It's fine actually..." Rachel moved to dry her hands and noticed the make-up on Quinn's sleeve. "I understand your distaste for my voice and confidence and maybe even your distaste for my existence." Rachel moved her hand towards Quinn's sleeve to point out the make up stained on her white blouse.
Just as quickly, Quinn caught Rachel's intentions and used her forearm to push away Rachel's hands, though Quinn stared in the mirror appearing not to worry about it. Rachel then put her hands behind her back and began to walk towards the door as Quinn turned to see Rachel out.
"I have no issues telling you this, Quinn: You are still beautiful. Your nose is perfection, your voice brings much variety to our Glee club. But even past your face, I believe you have a wonderful soul hiding inside you. Your body has come a long way since the baby, and Cheerios, and even now, it is exquisite." Rachel lifted her chin and waited for a reply.
"Thank you, Man Hands, but I can take care of my own clothes and obviously, my 'beautiful' physique." Even if Quinn disagreed with every statement from Rachel's mouth, she played it off like she couldn't care less.
XoXoXo
"Fellow Glee clubbers, and mostly to my fellow Seniors, I wish to dedicate this to you all," Rachel announced as she handed Brad her sheet music and stood before the club. "I thought of this little number for us to finale with at Nationals in the spring, though of course, it is ultimately up to the votes."
Most of the club tuned her out as Rachel had at least one solo ballad to perform per week, this was nothing new. But Rachel had more that two intentions in performing this song.
"I love you all like family, and I want everyone to feel special in their own right," she added quietly, addressing the whole team though her eyes fell mostly upon Quinn's face. Rachel had been quite worried for Quinn's stability in all what she described as a "fall from grace." But just like every other day as of late, Quinn was staring out the doorway into the empty halls, pretending to find more interest in the lockers than in her teammates.
Rachel took note of Quinn's lack of interest. Rachel walked towards the corner of the room and grabbed a metal stool. She drug it over to the middle of the room allowing the screeching against the tile floor to wake up the dazed blonde, though Quinn gave one of her most daunting glares to Rachel as the other Glee clubbers groaned and covered their ears.
She looked up while everyone whined. "...My bad...," she added, blushing and smiling gently, though she knew it was the only way to snap Quinn out of her own mind.
Deep breath in. Sweet smile on...
There'll be girls across the nation that will eat this up /
Babe, I know that it's your soul but could you bottle it up /
and get down to the heart of it /
No it's my heart / you're shit out of your luck /
Don't make me tell you again my love, love, love, love /
Love, love, love, love.
Rachel theatrically skipped around the stool she placed in the center of the room and eventually started singing around Finn and Puck.
I am aiming to be somebody that somebody trusts /
With her delicate soul / I don't claim to know much / except soon as you start / To make room for the parts /
That aren't you it gets harder to bloom in a garden of
Love, love, love, love /
Love, love, love, love.
Quinn's eyes were following Rachel around the room as she smoothly weaved through the teens with mixed feelings about the song. Santana was smiling at Brittany as Brittany swayed in her chair, Tina was bobbing her head gently, and Finn was practically drooling. Quinn wasn't happy to see that.
Then Rachel came around to Quinn's corner of the risers, drug her hand across Quinn's shoulders and Quinn almost leaned into her. Almost. Quinn continued to hum along and tap her foot as Rachel finished back in front of the class.
Started as a flicker meant to be a flame /
Skin has gotten thicker but it burns the same /
Still a baby in a cradle got to take my first fall /
Baby's getting next to nowhere with her back against the wall /
You meant to make me happy make me sad /
Want to make it better better so bad /
But save your resolutions for your never new year /
There is only one solution I can see here.
Love you're all I ever could need /
Only one good thing worth trying to be and it's love.
Most of the girls clapped, Quinn nodded approval and added a small smile past Rachel's head. Rachel caught sight of the grin but couldn't get her hopes up before Artie cleared his throat.
"I don't see how the male voices could be added to this song," he said. He folded his arms.
Puck continued, "That's a pretty 'chick' song. If we're gonna win this time, we need to feature a badass dude lead." He also folded his arms, but not until after he smacked Finn in his stomach to snap him out of his idiot stare at Rachel.
The bell rang. Everyone left.
XoXoXo
When she made it out to her car in the mostly empty parking lot, Rachel almost slipped into the driver's seat before a soft hand fell onto her shoulder. Rachel wasn't threatened but became very tense when she turned around to find Quinn standing so close to her.
"Just so you know," Quinn began, "I'm noticing this pattern of yours."
Rachel hoped Quinn wouldn't catch onto the way she knew all of Quinn's class schedule and where she parked her car... things that would make her seem a little bit like a "creeper."
"But the song you sang today was nice. If you're trying to get Finn to like you, it's probably working," Quinn explained with a blank stare at Rachel. Quinn wasn't planning to intimidate the girl. She didn't want Finn anymore, but Rachel kind of deserved better.
"I only wanted to make everyone realize that we're all worth a lot more than what we think of ourselves," Rachel explained. "Especially the females of New Directions. We all deserve more than what we settle for."
Quinn nodded but didn't smile. She never thinks she deserves better.
"All we need is love," Rachel continued. "Not the most popular person, or the one who everyone else thinks they want. We just need someone with love."
Quinn shrugged and stepped backwards toward her car, parked next to Rachel's. But before Quinn could step too far away, Rachel offered:
"I'm making some more tea tonight, would you like to try some?"
Quinn paused and pondered. Remembering that she had nothing to do, but thoughts of spending an afternoon with Rachel raced through her brain.
"What about your nightly video for Myspace? I'd rather not be around for that."
"I have nothing prepared yet, so I won't subject you to the process."
Quinn still didn't look over at Rachel while they both stepped towards their driver's seats. She considered the caloric intake of this tea with no FDA labeling. She just won't add any sugar. "If you want, I'll follow you to your place in my car."
Rachel raised onto her tip-toes, delighted that Quinn accepted. "That would be wonderful, Quinn."
They both started their cars and Rachel led the way out of the parking lot. Truthfully, Quinn knew exactly where Rachel lived, seeing as Lima isn't very large, it's quite common to have many classmates living in one of two neighborhoods, and Santana lived a few streets down from the Berry residents. Once Santana learned where Rachel's house was, it became a monthly tradition to egg or toilet paper the house. But Quinn wouldn't admit to that now, since she was just invited over.
Why the hell is Quinn going to Rachel's house anyway? Rachel was pretty creepy, now that Quinn thought about it, and what would Santana say about it, if she happened to drive past Berry's house? Quinn doesn't even know why she approached RuPaul in the parking lot, either. Quinn's bitch face snapped back on as she turned her car around, heading back to her own house. "That was almost the dumbest thing you ever did, Quinn," she thought to herself.
XoXoXo
The next day, Rachel picked her self-esteem up a bit after the acceptation and ultimate rejection of the planned Tea-with-Quinn afternoon.
The next day it was even harder for Quinn to get out of bed, since she realized that no one cared about Quinn anymore. She has no reputation to uphold, but she still believed the world really cared about her.
Quinn was much more easily approachable without her Cheerio uniform. In fact, lately Rachel started to think that Quinn might actually not mind if Rachel was within 10 feet of her, though Rachel still endured the same insults. At Quinn's locker, Rachel approached the blonde.
"Quinn Fabray, I suggest you contribute a solo to glee club soon. I, for one, am growing tired of all the Blaine and Kurt love songs. I will also admit that everyone has grown tired of my solos too."
Internally, Quinn disagreed. She had been content with harmonizing and swaying in the background. In fact, she prefered her less-than-perfect body to remain more hidden.
"No thanks, Streisand. But you're right. Your solos are getting old," Quinn finished by slamming her locker and turning away with her nose held slightly higher in the air than she had it earlier that morning.
Rachel wasn't phased, caught up with Quinn and walked one pace behind her. She said quietly, for only Quinn to hear, "Well you should also know you like very nice in floral, today."
"That means nothing coming from you, Argyle."
Rachel stopped walking and watched Quinn gain even more confidence as she continued down the hall.
XoXoXo
"SHUT UP! God, damnit!" Quinn shouted to the ceiling.
"She lives!" Brittany said behind Quinn.
"What the hell did you spike your coffee with, Tubbers?" Santana added.
This all happened after Shuester stepped out of the room and Artie rounded on Rachel. He was mad about Rachel talking over him for the second time today. Santana was on no one's side, but also took the opportunity to tell Berry how extra "dwarfish" she looked today in her new sweater and knee-highs.
Quinn continued, "The more you idiots talk, the longer we have to stay here after school, so just shut up." She kept her eyes forward and her arms crossed.
"Quinn, you can't tell us how to do anything," Finn said. "You either work against us or you don't work at all!" Finn somehow found the balls to add something, though it helped no one.
Santana had another quip for Finn too. "You work against us everyday with your inability not to look like a constipated toddler on stage!"
All along, Rachel's mouth hung open, trying to stop the arguing but also found Quinn's outburst the most concerning.
Quinn finished, "You're right, I don't care about this club. Or anyone else for that matter."
Santana put an end to everything with one last comment. "Yeah, not even about yourself."
Quinn calmly walked out and no one but Rachel saw Quinn's fingernails digging into her arms.
"I can't believe you, Santana!" Rachel yelled and storms out after Quinn.
Rachel caught up with Quinn and held her shoulders tightly so Quinn would stop walking away. Quinn took a few more steps and put her back against the lockers. Rachel stepped closer.
"What they said was uncalled for."
"Yeah, especially the shit they said to you, Berry."
"I didn't appreciate it, no, but I didn't want it to affect you either.
"It shouldn't! A year ago I would have started all that first.
Rachel put a hand around Quinn's bicep, hoping Quinn would calm down and maybe look at her.
"People tear me down and people tear you down. We both have to deal with this... I care about you, Quinn."
Quinn's fists slammed into the lockers behind her. "Awesome. Gee-fucking-thanks." Quinn won't cry in front of anyone anymore. Not even herself. She took a strong breath in and a slow breath out.
Rachel tried to hold Quinn's fists away from the lockers.
"No thanks, Rachel." The blonde walks away.
"Quinn, PLEASE?" echoed down the hallway but only made Quinn walk faster.
this is my first Faberry fic and I would love feedback :D
