Since Finn died, it felt like Quinn's body was covered in little paper cuts, and someone dumped her in a bathtub of lemon juice every day.
The university student woke up at five every morning after the funeral. She thought jogging would help her run off the constant ache of missing someone, but it didn't work. Still, running was a better pastime than she thought.
When she got back from the funeral, Yale offered her a week off from classes, but she declined. She couldn't go back to Lima and spend a week wandering the places she and Finn used to peruse in their youth. And she couldn't spend the week trapped in her dorm, either. It was better to go to class and pretend Finn was still alive, living his life far from her.
Her roommates bought her comfort food the night she returned from the airport. They told her she could talk to them whenever she wanted. Carma, her atheist friend, even offered to go to church with her the following Sunday. While Quinn appreciated their concern, the last thing she wanted to do was talk.
The young blonde shut off her alarm and crawled out of bed the first day of spring break. Only two weeks had passed since her trip to Lima, but Quinn pushed that memory aside. She put on her pink tank top and black shorts. She should be packing for her flight home, but she already decided she wasn't going. Her mother wouldn't be impressed on wasting money of a plane ticket, but she would understand.
The New Haven sun was just starting to rise as Quinn jogged to the popular path near Lighthouse Point Park. She paused, putting her earbuds in, and was about to turn on some aggressive pop music when she saw a familiar face sitting on the grass.
"Sam? What are you doing here?"
The blonde boy, dressed in a tank and shorts, stood. "I heard you weren't coming back to Lima for spring break, so I thought I'd come see you."
Quinn raised an eyebrow. Who could have told him of her change of plans? The only person who knew was –
"Rachel," she muttered. She should have known the starlet couldn't keep a secret.
"Don't be mad at her. I had to bribe her with a lot of star stickers and tickets to Wicked," he said with a smile.
Quinn crossed her bare arms. "And who is bringing her these gifts?"
Sam chuckled. "Who do you think?"
She shook her head. She knew Rachel wasn't going home either. Quinn shouldn't be surprised Puck would plan a trip up to New York.
"So, how have you been?"
Quinn swallowed. "Fine. You?"
"Fine," he replied. They stared at each other for a moment before Sam sighed heavily. "To be honest, I'm not fine, but I don't want to talk about it."
She saw the grief on his face and nodded. She knew that feeling well. Quinn walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. Sam followed her lead. They watched people jog past them, listening to the sound of water hitting rock, as they talked about anyone, anything, but Finn.
It must have been close to 6:30 when Sam's stomach grumbled, causing Quinn to laugh.
"When did you even get into the city?"
Sam checked his cell phone. "Two hours ago, I think. I wanted to get in before you went on your jog. Rachel said this was one of your favourite places. I kind of hoped I hadn't missed you."
Quinn shook her head with a smile, then stood. "I know this coffee shop that sells delicious quiche."
Sam got up. "As long as it's edible, I'll eat it."
"You've never had quiche?" she exclaimed. "I have a lot to teach you this week."
Sam quoted Star Wars, or Star Trek – she wasn't sure – and she remembered what it was like being Sam's girlfriend. A tiny part of her missed that. Quinn tugged on his hand. "I'll race you!" she challenged.
Before he could reply, Quinn took off down the path. "Lose pays," she yelled over her shoulder. Her cheeks flushed as she saw the athletic young man running after her with a goofy grin on his face. She turned her head and sped up, licking her lips as she tasted the jumbo cinnamon bun she was going to order.
