A/N: Here is the second chapter! I want to thank Jo for helping me beta this thing, you are amazing girl, thank you! :)
Some people added this story to their Story Alert and Favorite Story thingy and I wanna thank them too! This chapter is for you guys, I would love to know your thoughts on it. :)
The song Quinn sings in the end is called ''One Fire Wire'', by Colbie Caillat.
Enjoy it!
Chapter 2: You Were Missed
Quinn Fabray was a mess. For three years now she had been losing herself, and during the summer before her senior year things had only gotten worse. She had cut her hair and dyed it pink, got a nose ring, a tattoo on her back and quit Glee club. She had nothing. Her dreams seemed to have died and she had no idea who she was any longer. But she still hoped that somehow everything was going to change when she stepped inside William McKinley High School again.
She had heard Shelby was living in Lima now. She was offered a job as an art teacher at McKinley's and had accepted it. The blonde wasn't sure if she was ready to see the adoptive mother of her child every day. She wasn't sure she would ever be ready because every time she would look at Shelby her heart would break and the regret of giving Beth up would crush her.
First day of class was quite busy. She ran into Santana and Brittany while trying to find her new friends –The Skanks- under the bleachers. She hadn't really talked to her former best friends in a long time and as they asked her to come back to Glee club and the Cheerios, nostalgia hit her. But she just couldn't do it; she didn't have the spirit to cheer or sing anymore so she simply told them she had changed and it was best if they just accepted it and left her alone.
x
During lunch she was alone under the bleachers smoking a cigarette. She rolled her eyes when a small brunette got closer looking nervous and at first just standing there staring at Quinn. The blonde couldn't help but think how adorable Rachel Berry looked when she wasn't sure what to say – which was rare because usually she just rambled. A lot.
The diva watched as Quinn licked her lips and stared at her. She had forgotten her speech at this point. The speech that had taken her hours to prepare. God, how did it start again?
''Hi Quinn.''
''Rachel. What are you doing here?"
''I- I wanted to talk to you.''
''Look, if this is an intervention to try to get back to Glee club, you can save your breath, Brittany and Santana already did that. I'm not going back.''
''I came to see how you're doing Quinn, if- if you are okay. And to say that I'm sorry.''
Quinn looked at her confused. Why was Rachel Berry apologizing to her? Of all people? The blonde had been nothing but a bitch to her in the past. She was the one who should be saying she was sorry, not the other way around. The brunette took a step forward and continued: ''I should have done something last year when I noticed you were falling apart. And I didn't. And we were friends right?'' Quinn nodded, finally taking her eyes away from the brunette's. ''So let me help you please. You can talk to me if you want.''
''You can't do anything to help me Rachel, I've got no fight left inside of me.''
''I refuse to believe that! You're Quinn Fabray for God's sake. You just don't give up. You move forward, you get yourself back together and fight for what makes you happy!''
Noticing Quinn wasn't going to say anything to that and would only continue to stare at the floor, Rachel decided to change the subject a little bit.
''My biological mother is living in Lima now and working here, did you know that?''
''Yeah,'' Quinn's voice was barely more than a whisper but somehow the diva caught it and continued. ''You can be a part of Beth's life if you want to, Quinn. Shelby told me that.''
''Since when are you speaking to her?''
The blonde had finally raised her head to look at the brunette again. Rachel's relationship with Shelby was intense to say the least. The woman had hurt her biological daughter badly and Quinn hated to see Rachel hurting – which was quite ironic considering she herself had done a lot of things to hurt the diva, things she was so incredible ashamed of.
After taking a deep breath the brunette answered, ''I'm not… I mean, I don't know. She came looking for me earlier at the auditorium and said she wanted to get to know me, make up for the past. And she told me to tell you that she needs to speak with you.''
Quinn could see the sadness in Rachel's eyes even when she was trying to hide it. It broke her heart.
''Thanks, I'll find her later. Are- Are you okay Rach?''
''If I remember clearly… I was the one who came here to ask you that.''
''And if I remember clearly… I deflected that question…''
Quinn gave the brunette a smirk which made Rachel smile. She was about to start turning away when she made herself look at the blonde, biting her lip. Quinn had asked her to not do what she was about to; the atmosphere between them was so good right now, so light. She was afraid she was about to ruin it.
''Quinn, come back to Glee club.''
The smile in the blonde's face disappeared as she stared at the shorter girl in front of her.
''This is our senior year, our last chance. I miss seeing you every day, I miss having you on the choir room, we all do! We need you. But you don't have to do anything you are not ready for, I know you have a lot going on. I know you are hurting so whenever you do feel like you're prepared to come back… do it. Please.'' And then she left before Quinn got the chance to shout a response at her.
The blonde stared at the space were the diva was standing just a few seconds ago. Did Rachel really say she missed her?
X
Just before going home Quinn went looking for Shelby. She found the older woman playing the piano in a room next to the Glee club choir room. It took Shelby a few seconds to see the girl standing in the doorway.
''Quinn. Come in''
''I heard you were looking for me.''
''Yes, that is true.''
''What do you want?" Quinn's tone was cold, she didn't want to talk to Shelby, because she was sure Beth was the subject, and she just couldn't bring herself to talk about the little girl. She couldn't, but still, she was about to.
''As you may know, I'm living in Lima now. I moved here so I could see Rachel of course but also for Beth. A smaller town is better for raising a child. Besides, I want her to know you.''
''Why? I gave her up. She's yours now.''
The blonde was fighting the urge to cry. She wanted more than everything to be a part of Beth's life, to get to see her daughter and hold her. But she had lost that right when she gave her away.
''Quinn… you did what was best for her. You gave her a chance to have a better life. I'm sure that deep down you know that. You do deserve to see her grow because she is going to do so thanks to what you did. Most girls at your age would have aborted or kept their babies and struggle to raise them. You have a chance to go after your dreams...to continue with your life, knowing your child is okay and have a good life. And you will know because you will be a part of it, if you choose to be.
Quinn couldn't hold her tears any longer. She let herself go and cried as Shelby held her close. The younger girl must have cried for minutes till it became a sob. The older woman stepped away to look at her
''I want you to be a part of your daughter's life. But not like this Quinn. You are lost. You need to pull yourself together if you want to be there for Beth.''
''I-I know. I just don't know how.''
''You'll figure it out soon enough, don't worry.''
Quinn smiled at Shelby, chuckling as she wiped the tears from her face.
''Here.'' Shelby put her hand inside her pocket and pulled out her phone. As the picture of a gorgeous baby started to appear in front of Quinn she realized wiping her tears was useless because new ones were falling down her face.
''Oh my God she is even more beautiful than she was the last time I saw her, how is that possible?''
''She has your eyes. And your hair; which I'm thankful for because Puck hair is, well, let's say...not as good.''
It made her laugh. It was true. Beth really had her hair and eyes. She was the most beautiful and perfect thing Quinn had even seen in her life. She was sleeping in the picture and seemed so peaceful and innocent. Quinn just wanted to stare at that image forever.
''Thank you.''
X
The rest of the week was considerably calm. And on Friday she decided it was time she went back to Glee club. She missed singing, dancing and laughing with her friends; who all came to talk to her at some point during the week asking her when she was coming back. She knew they were worried about not having the number of members for Sectionals but she also knew they cared.
She stood at the door for a moment, looking at them discussing about the assignment of the week or what musical to do next – she wasn't sure which. She was excited but also really anxious. Puck was the first one to see her.
''Blondie!''
She rolled her eyes while walking into the choir room; she used to hate when he called her that but she was surprised to find out that she kind of liked it now. Suddenly it was quiet and all eyes were on her.
''I- I would like to audition… that is, if you still want me in the club.''
''Of course we do,'' Finn and Mercedes said at the same time while smiling at her.
''You don't need to audition Quinn.''
Quinn caught Rachel's eye on her and suddenly she wasn't so nervous anymore, she was sure that it was the right thing to do. From now on she wasn't going to give up, she was going to try to be happy. And as the diva smiled at her clapping her hands in excitement Quinn felt more confident than she had been in a long while.
''But I want to, Mr. Schue.''
''Ok then. Let's hear it.''
''First, I want to thank you guys for letting me do this. I would like to say thanks especially Brittany and Santana. You were right; I can't break the Unholy Trinity. And you Rachel, thank you for reaching out to me once again.'' The diva gave her a warm look while smiling shyly and leaning in her chair. Quinn smiled back at her as the song started.
I try so many times
But it's not taking me
And it seems so long ago
That I used to believe
And I'm so lost inside of my head, and crazy
But I can't get out of it. I'm just stumbling
And I'm juggling all the thoughts in my head
I'm juggling and my fears on fire
But I'm listening as it evolves in my head
I'm balancing on one fine wire
And I remember the time my balance was fine
And I was just walking on one fine wire.
I remember the time my balance was fine
And I was just walking on one fine wire
And it's frayed at both the ends
And I'm slow unraveling.
After she was done and before she could take a deep breath, arms were around her, a lot of arms actually. She smiled wildly at her friends while searching for the one she really wanted to hug but she wasn't there.
Rachel was standing beside the hugging-group looking at the blonde. And when everybody let her go and stepped away the diva wrapped her arms around the girl's neck. Quinn couldn't help but held the shorter girl as tightly as possible and breathe her in.
''I'm really glad you came back Quinn.''
''Yeah, me too.''
