Quinn entered the choir room with a smile on her face. She aced her sociology test and Puck showed up at school with a gift for her—she hasn't opened it yet—but still so sweet.
But it's not a perfect day, after all.
Rachel Berry knew she met Jesse. And her response—as Quinn thought—was dramatic. But it's also a warning.
Quinn came up to her locker, putting some books inside and getting ready for lunch. She looks at a Glee Club picture inside her locker—there's Jesse in the picture. Something stopped her.
"CHEATER!"
It was Rachel. Again, she makes a dramatic greeting.
"What? I didn't do anything!" Quinn defended, with rough voice.
"I knew what you did last week. You met Jesse St. James, a jerk who betrayed on us, the guy who broke my heart and egged on me! How dare you—"Rachel spoke in a fast pace, she looked very upset, she can't even bother to continue.
"Look, I didn't meet him on purpose or what. I was about to see Shelby and Beth, and he—he was there. We talked and that's it. It's not like I'm going to date him or what!" Quinn said. She didn't want to spill that Jesse was the new coach—that'll mess up things even more.
"You've seen how it affects me, Quinn. He's malignant and depraved! He's the evilest creature in the history. I don't want you to do this for the team, Quinn. And it's about you, too. He'll break your heart."
Quinn sat down in one of the chairs next to Puck. Everyone was staring at her; it's like everyone knows about what happened already. Meanwhile, Quinn doesn't want to ask them why. She talked to Puck.
"Hey, Puck."
"Why don't you tell me yesterday that you met Beth? I missed her, you know! How could you do this?" Puck spoke in a slow voice, but everyone can hear it. Quinn felt embarrassed. But she tries to calm down.
"I'm sorry; I thought you have football practice, that's why I didn't ask you. But we'll talk later about this, okay? Just not here." Quinn said, and sighed. She kissed Puck's cheek and whispered to him.
Will Schuester, Glee Club coach, entered the room and explained to them that their assignment for the week is they have to come up with a dance number. Everyone seemed so excited, except for Quinn—who's too busy thinking about other things. She wants to tell Puck that she met Jesse yesterday. But Quinn thought that that encounter with Jesse was nothing, so she kept it to herself. If Puck heard about it, she'll know what to say. Quinn left the choir room with Puck.
"So you still want to watch a movie tonight?" Puck asked.
She still thought about Jesse. She can't even bother to hear what Puck said—her mind was hazy.
"Hello?" Puck touched Quinn's shoulder, to surprise her.
"H-huh? Oh sorry, Puck… I was thinking about something. What did you say again?" Quinn turned her head, planned to concentrate.
"I was saying do you want to watch a movie?"
"Uh-yeah, I'll think about it. I got a little headache." Quinn touched her head. It was a lie. It was not a headache. Jesse's on her mind. "I—I gotta go. I'll call you later." Quinn waved at Puck, and she smiled bitterly, and ran.
Quinn headed to the nearest Starbucks, she grabbed a cup of vanilla frappuccino. Then she texted Mercedes.
To: Mercedes
Hey, why did everybody stare at me during rehearsal? Something wrong? Xo Quinn
She waited for a reply. Nothing. Perhaps Mercedes doesn't want to talk about it either.
It wasn't until long until she saw someone. Someone with brown scruffy hair, freckles, wide smile….. Jesse St. James. She tried to hide her head with her headphone, she doesn't want him to notice her. She knows that they've been texting and IM-ing each other along the week, and they've been quite a good friend, but Quinn doesn't want to risk anything into dating him.
Too late.
Jesse smiled at her, and he quickly took a seat in front of her. Quinn forced a smile.
"Hey there. What's up?"Jesse smiled. Oh my gosh, Jesse, you're killing me. You fascinate me!
"Uh…. Nothing really. Aren't you supposed to be in practice?" Quinn asked, rhetorically. She tried to get rid of Jesse. She's somewhat sick of him.
"No, I canceled. I want to see you. I know this is your favorite place. Rachel and I came here a lot too, and I saw you," Jesse defended.
Quinn sighed. She knew he's just trying to get her attention. But she doesn't want to be rude, she ran her head through her hair, thinking.
She kept listening to what Jesse said about his rehearsals, what he wanted to do in the future. Quinn keeps pretending that she's bored, but it's hard not to listen to him—he seems like he knows how to steal everyone's heart.
She's never felt the same way. With Puck, she could catch a sneeze listening to his theory about video games. But with Jesse, it's just so fascinating listening to his story, it's like she wants to know everything about him.
She felt something.
"So what do you want to be in the future? A cheerleader?" Jesse smiled, and winked.
"Oh-that, I don't know yet. Maybe it's too soon, don't ask me," Quinn giggled.
Jesse grabbed her hand. "It's never too soon, and it's never too late either. I wanted to see you out there, taking bows, and I'll be giving you standing ovation."
Quinn grinned, again. "I don't know…. Let's not do something serious first. Sometimes I feel like, I don't wanna finish high school just yet. I live in the moment, Jesse. I don't want to think about the future—maybe I have to at some points of my life—but that's it."
Jesse smiled. "So let's do it your way then. I want to get to know you, Quinn. I think I kinda like you. Now I know maybe we can never be together, but as I told you, I'm gonna be your best friend. Someone you'll never know you'll have."
Quinn giggled. "You are such a drama king."
Jesse laughed.
They kept talking about their day-to-day life, random things about them, and other stuffs. Sometimes they share jokes and they would laugh. Jesse also said about how he wished he was the father of Beth instead of Puck, but Quinn took it as a joke ended up laughing. By the time the clock strikes 7, Jesse drove her home. While they're on the way home, Quinn leaned his head to Jesse and grabs his arms. She never feels safer.
By that moment, Quinn knows that she wants him.
On the next morning, Puck quickly confronted her. He has heard from Rachel and the rest of ND kids that Quinn met Jesse last week. His face looked very much angry, and he walked in a fast pace. He stood by her locker.
"Hey, Puck…." Quinn murmured. She knows what's going to happen.
"Explain something to me, Quinn. How could you do this to me? How dare you?" Puck interrogated. Quinn was surprised, he never acts this defensive. He's usually a calm guy, when he sees her with another guy; he's not taking it too seriously. And now?
"What? Was it me meeting Jesse you worried about? Come on! I've seen you texting Santana and other girls a lot; and I never complain. Also you've never had a problem with jealousy. What is it, Puck?" Quinn defended.
Puck took a deep breath, he was tired. He looked as if he wanted to punch her face but he can't. Quinn looked confused, waiting for his explanation; she knew something was up.
"I'm….. Still not over it, Quinn. I regret that I let you make the decision to put Beth up for an adoption. I love Beth…. She's my daughter. And you knew that I thought of having a family… and you took that chance from me." Puck explained.
It doesn't take long to get Quinn cry. That's why Puck was angry when he found out that she met Beth without taking him with her.
But Puck lied.
"I-I'm sorry. I love you, but…. Not without Beth." Puck confessed. Puck pulled himself in to wipe her tears, but Quinn shoved.
"I … Don't know what to say! You're such a jerk! A big, freaking jerk! You told me you love me, but this? We're done, Puck. We're so much done!" Quinn punched Puck's face and ran, crying.
She never felt this hurt.
Mercedes saw Quinn crying, and Quinn told everything in homeroom. She cried in Mercedes' arms, telling her how much hurt Puck caused. Quinn doesn't even have the energy to get to the next class. Good thing Mercedes cares about her. Mercedes lied to the teacher about her having a horrible headache, so Quinn went home.
She went to Jesse's house.
When she arrived at his house, Quinn saw Jesse sitting in the front porch. She ran to him, she couldn't hide her tears.
"What's wrong?" Jesse asked, softly.
Quinn cried, she leaned her head to his shoulder and lingers her arms around his waist. She couldn't feel any safer, other than in Jesse's arms.
Where she belongs.
Jesse tried to comfort her, and got her to explain what was wrong. Inside, he feels good that Quinn trusted him as his friend.
Or maybe lover.
"I broke up with Puck. He still couldn't get over the fact that I gave up Beth. He told me he loves me, but yeah…." Quinn sobbed, she almost lost her voice. "Now I don't know where to go, I don't know anyone to lean on…"
Jesse pulls Quinn in for an embrace, and he kissed her head. "Don't say that, everything's going to be alright. I got you."
Quinn wiped her tears with her hands, and she tries to speak. She was silent; no words come out from her mouth. She doesn't know what to think or do. Quinn just knew that she doesn't want to be anywhere now.
She realized she's with Jesse. Oh snap.
"I-I can't do this," Quinn said. "I realized that I think I like you, and I know you do too, but if we started dating after I broke up, it would be wrong…. I don't want you to be like, the rebounder."
Jesse smiled, and told her to sit down. "No, it's okay… we'll take it slowly ok? But before you go, I want to try something."
"Jesse—what about the team? They'll know about this and they won't let me date you like the last time when you were with Rachel….." Quinn refused, but inside she wanted to be with him. Badly.
"Shut up first." Jesse leaned in, he closed his eyes and he moves his lips to hers, and they kissed.
They pulled away, and they grinned at each other.
"You're a good kisser," Jesse whispered. Quinn feels butterflies in her stomach. Right now, she doesn't care about anything at all.
"Do you think we should go out on a date?"
"Of course." Jesse kissed her cheek. Quinn stood up, took her bag, and leave.
It was the best kiss she ever had so far.