Chapter 1: The Assignment
The final bell has rung and the students are flooding the halls to get to their cars and speed home. Except for the chosen few with talents for the ages.
The Glee kids pile into the choir room and take their seats.
Quinn is the last to enter. Everyone watches her cross the room. Lately, she's been silent. The sadness in her eyes has deepened, but she'd never let anyone close enough to see. She takes her seat in the top row in the corner with her eyes turned down.
Mr. Schuester stands at the front of the class and gains their attention, "Ok guys, I've had an idea for this next assignment….wait, where's Finn and Rachel?"
Quinn's eyes shoot to the two chairs that are usually occupied by the couple, to find them empty. She didn't even notice. At this point, she didn't care to see the two together at all.
Everyone looks around with no answer.
Then, their questions are answered as a fuming Finn jerks the door open and it slams into the wall. Just before it closes, a timid Rachel enters with a solemn look on her face. She looks up at Mr. Schue and gives him the quickest and smallest apologetic smile Quinn had ever seen.
Finn takes his seat after moving the brunette's chair to the other side of the bleachers.
Everyone just stares at him with wide eyes, except for a certain blonde. Her hazel orbs haven't Rachel's chocolate pools which are filled with swirling emotions. Sadness. Regret. Embarrassment. But at the same time, there a sense of pride.
Rachel slowly takes her seat and Finn squeezes his fists so tight that his knuckles turn white and he attacks the floor with his eyes as she passes him.
You can cut the new tension in the room with a knife.
Mr. Schuester continues, "Uhm… anyways, as I was saying: our next assignment is…solos!" The class lights up at the little five letter word, knowing it's their chance to shine. Even Finn had an evil smile on his lips.
All except two sad girls. Rachel is looking at her folded hands in her lap and Quinn is looking at Rachel.
"You will have the opportunity to sing any song of your choice that shows the strong points in your voice and the feelings you have inside, " Will explains with an encouraging smile, "And to show that you have what it takes to win Nationals. Now you have today and tomorrow and the rest of the weekend to rehearse and then we perform next week. Good luck guys."
He retreats to his office, leaving the students to discuss their options. Again, all except for those two sad girls. Quinn watches the damsel with curious eyes and blocks out the rest of the world. They may not have been interacting, but it felt like they were the only ones their. The voices of the other students blocked out.
What felt like seconds, turned out to be an hour when Mr. Schuester dismisses the students. Everyone stands to collect their things and leave in little groups still conversing.
Puck, Brittana, Quinn, and Rachel remain.
Rachel picks up her few books and approaches Puck, "Excuse me, Noah?" the boy looks down at her, "Would you mind giving me a ride home?"
The group looks at her with disbelief. No one had EVER heard her voice that small and unsure. "Uh, yeah sure. No problem, he says with a smile.
He picks up his bag and holds out his arm for her to take with a face that said 'It'll be ok'.
She tries to smile, but it ends up turning into an even sadder look. She takes his arm and they leave together, Quinn staring after them.
"Quinn?" she hears Santana's voice say, breaking her trance.
She looks to her friends.
"Are you ok?" asks the blue eyed blonde.
Quinn just nods and leaves without a word.
What'd ya think? ;D R&R please!