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Day Three: The First Time
Faberry Firsts
The first day of freshman year between third and fourth period. That was the first time Quinn saw Rachel, wearing a red beret, a black turtleneck, and pleated skirt. Despite not being remotely fashionable, Quinn thought she looked nice.
The first day of freshman year between fifth and sixth period. That was the first time Rachel saw Quinn looking beautiful and fierce in her brand new Cheerios uniform.
The first day of freshman year after school, waiting to be picked up by their respective fathers. That was the first time they looked at each other at the same time. It was also the first time they spoke to one another. The conversation was pleasant if somewhat superficial and ended far sooner than either of them would have liked, but Quinn couldn't keep her father waiting.
The second day of freshman year. That was the first time they had lunch together. It was also their first real conversation. It was the first time Rachel had thought that she'd made a great new friend. She wouldn't… couldn't admit it then but Quinn thought something different about the tiny brunette, and that was a first, too.
The third day of freshman year during lunch. That was the first time Quinn heard Rachel sing. It was beautiful of course and somewhere in the middle of it, for the first time Quinn begins to daydream about having a future with Rachel, kissing her, marrying her, making babies with her. A minute later she snaps out of it and reminds herself that being that way is a sin.
The night after the third day of freshman year. That was the first night that Quinn prayed for God to take away her impure thoughts and desires.
The fourth day of freshman year after first period. That was the first time someone threw a slushie in Rachel's face. Five minutes later in the second floor bathroom Rachel gave herself her first shower in the sink while in the first floor bathroom Quinn threw up for the first time.
Three months into freshman year. That was when Rachel received her hateful nickname, RuPaul.
Five months into freshman year. That was when Rachel got her first mixed signal from Quinn when the girl who had been so mean to her for months caught her in an empty hallway and said "Happy Hanukkah." It was the first time someone outside her family remembered that Rachel was Jewish. It was the first time Quinn had ever defied anyone's expectations. It was also the first time Rachel had hoped that Quinn was going to come around. It wasn't the first time or the last that Rachel would get her hopes up for nothing.
Three weeks into sophomore year. That's the first time the fledgling New Directions perform a really good group number "Don't Stop Belivin'" and when Quinn, watching from the back of the auditorium, sees the way Rachel looks at Finn, it's the first time she's consumed with jealousy. Realization as to who she was jealous of in that scenario combined with alcohol leads Quinn's First Time.
Two months into sophomore year. That's when Rachel tells Quinn that despite everything she doesn't hate her. It's the first time Quinn's at a loss for words.
Three months into sophomore year. That's when Rachel gives her underwear to Jacob Ben Israel to buy his silence about Quinn's pregnancy. It's the first time anyone has ever done anything to protect Quinn.
Days before Sectionals sophomore year. Finn finds out about the baby, things happen as a result, and later Quinn is sitting alone on a bench and it's the first time Quinn thinks… no, the first time she knows that her life is completely out of her control. Then Rachel apologizes to her and Quinn doesn't even know which way is up anymore. She was so set to hate her based on this and lay her stupid feelings to rest once and for all but she just wants to kiss her instead. It's not the first time she's had that impulse but it is the first time she actually wants to act on it.
Days after Sectionals junior year. That's the first time Quinn and Rachel hold hands. Mercedes and Tina are singing "Dog Days Are Over" and everyone is dancing and having fun, and it just sort of happens, Quinn, not really thinking about what she's doing, takes Rachel's hand and Rachel doesn't stop her. They hold hands through the remainder of the song.
A couple of weeks before Regionals junior year. Miss Pillsbury is drowning in her intimacy issues and wants the Celibacy Club to sing "Afternoon Delight." Quinn and Rachel are both smart enough to know what the song is about but Rachel (almost) never turns down a chance to perform so she's in and Quinn's been wanting an excuse to sing with Rachel for a while now. It's the first time they perform together outside of Glee group numbers.
The week leading up to Regionals junior year. Quinn and Rachel get into a huge fight over Finn that sort of ends up not really being about Finn. If they were lovers or even friends it would definitely qualify as their first fight.
The week after Regionals junior year. Finn accidentally breaks Rachel's nose. Rachel contemplates getting a nose job and asks Quinn to be her nose template. It's the first time they spend time together outside of the necessities of school or Glee. Rachel suggests a song idea for them and they perform a duet together, another first.
Junior Prom Night. After Quinn slaps Rachel and apologizes for it, which contrary to popular belief is not the first time she's ever apologized, Quinn unloads about her fears of the future. It is the first time she's ever expressed those fears to anyone. Then Rachel tells her she's pretty like everyone does, but she continues by telling Quinn that she's "a lot more than that" and that's another first. No one's ever told her or even hinted at the idea that she could be more than just another Christian housewife.
The second day of senior year. That's when Rachel shows up under the bleachers and braves the threats of the other Skanks to tell Quinn that she misses Quinn in Glee Club and invites her back, not because of some sense of obligation like Santana had tried earlier, but because the club needed her. It was the first time Quinn had ever been needed.
The week of Sectionals senior year. That's when Quinn had it in her mind to get Shelby fired to get Beth back. Rachel talked her out of it. Afterwards, they were in the office talking like the friends that they'd slowly become and Quinn talks about the future and for the first time it's optimistic. Rachel not-so-causally says, "You're a lot better than you know." It's not the first time Rachel has tried to build Quinn up, but it's the first time Quinn really listens when she does it.
A week after Regionals senior year. That's when Rachel receives her acceptance letter from NYADA. Her fathers watch her open it and after all of the celebrating they do, Rachel's first instinct is of course to call Kurt but she doesn't want to brag to him if he's still waiting on his letter, so she calls Quinn instead and invites her over to celebrate with her. They spend hours laughing and talking and watching movies, including home movies of young Rachel, and eventually fall asleep together on the couch. It's their first sleepover.
The next day at school. That's when Finn gets upset that Rachel would rather spend the night with Quinn than tell him about her good news and starts yelling in the middle of the hall. Rachel knows that he's just upset that this means their relationship is near its end, but she also knows Finn has a tendency to get angry and sometimes even violent when he upset and she suddenly feels trapped against her locker with him towering over her until Quinn and Kurt intervene to defuse the situation. Finn calms down but breaks up with Rachel anyway. It's certainly not the first time he's done that, but it's the first time that Rachel isn't really that upset about it. It turns out that Kurt also got into NYADA and Rachel, Kurt, Quinn, and Mercedes go out to celebrate that night.
Four days later. That's when Quinn gets her acceptance letter to Yale along with a full ride scholarship. She wasn't going to have to beg her sorry excuse for a father for money for school. "I'm not a Lima Loser," she says aloud to an empty house. It's the first time she's ever been certain of that fact. She literally jumps for joy and immediately calls Rachel even before her mother. It was the first time that Quinn had ever reached out to anyone.
Two weeks later. That's when Puck asks Quinn to Prom. She doesn't know what to say. She's over status and isn't running for Prom Queen this year, but she does still want to go. Without any other prospective dates she's inclined to say yes, but she can't help feeling like going with Puck would feel like moving backwards and she's about moving forward now. Before she gives him an answer she talks to Rachel and asks if she wants to go to Prom with her. She had meant to say "as friends" but the words never actually come out of her mouth. Surprisingly, Rachel says yes anyway. It's the first time Quinn's ever asked anyone out. It's the first time anyone's ever asked Rachel to a dance.
A week before Senior Prom. That's when word gets out in Glee that Quinn and Rachel are going to Prom together, and while Rachel calmly explains that they are just friends, Quinn panics and says that anyone in Glee that doesn't have a date is welcome to join them. Sam and Rory accept the offer. It's not Quinn's first bout of gay panic but it's the first time she recognizes it as such, and the first time she begins to contemplate the implications of it.
Senior Prom Night. Dinner before hand is actually fun. Sam's dorky sense of humor is actually kind of amusing when you stop looking at him as a prospective boyfriend and Rory's a complete sweetheart. At the dance, Puck, who apparently came stag, asks Quinn to dance often and eventually she relents. The moment they start Quinn realizes her first instincts were right. Puck is her past and she's not remotely interested in rekindling things with him, if there was ever anything to truly rekindle. Sam and Rory pull off Sam's plan to win Mercedes back and remarkably it works. It also has the added effect of convincing Sugar that she'd rather be with Rory than Artie, whom she'd come with. This left Rachel and Quinn alone together once more. They dance together for the rest of the night, fast songs and slow. Both girls fight the urge to kiss one another. By any reasonable standard it's their first date, and both girls' first with another girl.
Nationals senior year in Chicago. New Directions makes the top ten this year, and after all the groups have performed a second time, the judge starts reading off names one by one. By the time it's down to the top three and they had yet to be named, Rachel and Quinn had white knuckled grips on each other's hands and huge smiles on their faces. The third place team takes their trophy and exits and it's down to just New Directions and their perennial nemeses Vocal Adrenaline. When New Directions are announced as the National Champions there's pandemonium all around them, but Quinn and Rachel are quiet and still, locked into a death grip of a hug crying tears of joy into each other's shoulders. It's Rachel's first National Championship, and while Quinn has two for cheerleading under her belt, it's the first one for something she's actually passionate about.
Graduation Day. Quinn makes valedictorian despite her three month tumble off the deep end at the beginning of the year. It's the first time Quinn feels comfortable enough in her own skin to speak honestly about her emotional journey from pudgy, unpopular Lucy all the way up to today. She speaks of many things, most of which she leaned in Glee Club: the importance of friends and of family and of making a new family when the one you were born to isn't there for you, she speaks of the importance of creativity and the arts, and she speaks of the supreme importance of acceptance, accepting others and more importantly accepting and loving yourself. Rachel just sits teary eyed and beaming at her. It's the first time Rachel has ever been just completely proud of someone who beat her at something without even a hint of jealousy.
Graduation Night Party at Puck's. The girls are virtually inseparable all night. They share their first kiss that night… their first two actually. The first first comes during a game of Spin the Bottle. Silent communication between them tells them to show off for the audience and Rachel leads them in a stage kiss meant to look like a lot more than it really is. Later, they slip away from the group into the back yard and share an un-coerced kiss that's much more tender and personal. They're both drunk, although not that drunk. Neither of them talks about it afterwards.
July 10th, 2012. That's the day Rachel's leaving for New York. She got a cast as an understudy in a play at NYADA and she has to be there. Quinn helps Rachel pack and the entire time she's there she wishes that she'd talked to Rachel about graduation night so that she could kiss Rachel goodbye at the airport. She doesn't really know what her feelings are for the tiny diva but it's definitely more than just friendship. Quinn, Kurt, Mercedes, and The Berrys are all sad to see Rachel go and she's sad to leave. When Rachel's plane taxis away from the building Quinn feels truly heartbroken for the first time, and Rachel feels completely alone for the first time. The Berrys are nice enough to let Quinn sleep over in Rachel's bed.
July 27th, 2012. That was the day when the female lead in Rachel's show came down with a stomach bug and Rachel was tapped to go on in her place. It was her first time on the stage, and she was ecstatic about that, but afterwards it felt kind of hollow. Reassurances from her castmates that she had done well didn't make up for the fact that no one was waiting after to see her.
August 14th, 2012. That was when Rachel made her first trip to Yale. It was also when Quinn was due to arrive at Yale, and Rachel actually beat them there by about twenty minutes. When Quinn and Judy did arrive, Quinn was out of the car door as soon as it was stopped and ran towards Rachel who was already off and running towards her. It was like something out of a cheesy movie which made Rachel even happier. Quinn hadn't told her mother about her feelings for Rachel so she had to settle for a bone crushing hug on the sidewalk but as soon as Judy was out of the dorm room, Quinn pushed Rachel up against the wall and planted her with a blisteringly hot kiss broken only long enough for Quinn to beg Rachel to go out with her that night to which Rachel happily agreed before resuming the kiss. The girls shot apart as Judy walked back into the room. The older blonde eyed them both and said, "You're supposed to put a scarf around the doorknob when you need alone time, dears." That afternoon was Quinn's first honest conversation with her mother about her sexuality and the first time Quinn knew for sure that her mother meant it when she told Quinn she loves her. That night was Quinn and Rachel's actual first date… the first of many and the beginning of so very much.