A/N: This chapter begins the flashback. It is set after the ND lose Nationals and are leaving New York.
Finn and Rachel sat together on the plane back home from Nationals. Everyone had been ignoring them for the majority of the trip. Finn talked softly into Rachel's ear in attempt to give her comfort. His hand rest on her knee but she felt anything but comfortable. She listened to Finn ramble on about how he had no regrets about kissing her up there on that stage for everyone to see. Rachel heard the affection in his voice and it was enough to break her heart.
It was a mistake. They never should have kissed on that stage. Not at Nationals. Not in front of those people. Not when she didn't feel anything from it. After the kiss, Rachel's cheeks had been red hot, but it wasn't from the heat of the intimate moment. It was from embarrassment. How could she have been so silly to put New Directions in jeopardy like that? She had wanted to kiss Finn. She wanted to convince herself that everything was fine. That she knew what she wanted. Finn. But when their lips connected she knew instantly that she was wrong. The spark that she had once felt was no longer there.
"-And, listen, if anyone tries to slushie you when we get back I'll make sure-" she heard Finn continue. She was about to cut him but someone beat her to it.
"Can we swap, Finn? I need to talk to Rachel," said the person now standing beside Finn's seat.
"Quinn, I really don't think I want you sitting next to her right now, okay? She's in a fragile state and I think its best if I just stay-"
"Oh please," Quinn dismissed with a hint of attitude, "I'm not going to do anything. I just think I could give her some advice…on how to survive with everyone hating her." Her voice got slightly more genuine.
"That's ridiculous," Finn scowled, "Nobody hates us!"
At that moment all the glee club members that were seated around them turned to give death glares. Even two rows up slowly turned to meet eyes with Finn. Rachel slunk in to her seat a little deeper.
"See?" Quinn raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow.
"…uh…I. I guess we are at the bottom of the food chain."
"Again," Rachel added somberly.
"Ok, fine. Talk. But if I see even the slightest-" he said.
"Yeah, yeah. Now get up so we can have girl talk." Quinn nudged Finn out of his seat to switch with her seat by Puck.
For a while neither girl spoke. Rachel looked down at her fingers in her lap then out the window where there was only blue sky and white clouds. Quinn sat comfortably, taking in their close proximity. She was finally feeling calm. The entire trip Quinn felt so tied up with stress but now they were on their way back home and she was next to Rachel.
"Are you going to hit me?" Rachel asked timidly.
"No, Rachel. I am not going to hit you," Quinn said back simply.
"You're not mad about losing Nationals?" Rachel looked over at the blonde.
"I didn't care much about the competition part of the trip. It was fun just traveling. Anywhere is better than Lima," she said though secretly she couldn't wait to be cozy back at home.
"You're lying. You are angry with Finn and I for ruining our chances. Why don't you want to hurt me for it? I completely understand if you do. I'd hurt you if you were me," Rachel added nervously.
"No you wouldn't," Rachel said knowingly.
After a moment Rachel dipped her head to the side, "Yeah, you're right."
"But yes. I'm not thrilled about losing. We really could've won, Rachel." Seeing the smaller girls shoulders sag Quinn continued, "It's okay though because it will make winning Nationals senior year that much greater."
Quinn cocked her head to the side too so she could look at Rachel better.
"Did you really come over here to give me advice on how to deal with everyone hating me?"
"Honestly? It seemed like Finn was talking your ear off. I could tell you didn't want to talk and I've been in that position before with him. I did it to give you a break." Quinn lied through her teeth and she hoped Rachel couldn't tell. It was more like her reason for kicking Finn out of his seat was to take the opportunity to sit next to Rachel. Quinn was always afraid of letting her need to constantly be near the singer be too obvious but her jealousy had been boiling over watching Finn and Rachel sitting together.
"Thank you," Rachel said in a small voice.
"For what?" Quinn asked, confused.
"Not hating me."
Quinn's mind immediately went into a frenzy. She had so many things that she wanted to say right then…Don't thank me, you're the one who I've made miserable and you still forgave me. Thank you, Rachel, because no one else would forgive me that way after I made their life hell. You're so beautiful and I wish you could see it as clear as I do. You're so beautiful…
Instead, all that came out was, "Don't mention it."
Rachel seemed content with that answer, shifting sideways in her chair to lean against the window. Quinn kept her eyes forward, head still reeling from having Rachel so close. She wasn't sure how long it had been that she found herself attracted to Rachel but she knew it went far beyond just that year. When she first met Rachel she felt such hatred for the girl. Mainly because she had googly eyes for her boyfriend. Quinn reasoned with herself that the obvious explanation for hating Rachel Berry was because she was a threat to her relationship with Finn. Maybe she was at first but Quinn knew better than that. It stopped being about Finn a long time ago.
It was one time in particular a couple years back that Quinn found herself looking at Rachel and feeling very warm. She ignored the sensation until she realized she wasn't just warm. She was turned on. Quinn Fabray was perving over Rachel Berry. It was enough to freak her out for weeks. It was after then that Quinn began mercilessly targeting Rachel. She figured if she was too busy hating her there would be no time to ever EVER feel that arousal again. Side glancing at the girl beside her, she knew she'd been attracted to Rachel all along.
"Quinn?" Rachel said, startling her.
"Yeah?"
"I like your new short hair. It's very…chic," she yawned and then fell into a light sleep.
Quinn didn't say anything but she brought her hand to her lips to cover up the smirk that appeared there, just in case anyone had caught the intimate moment of, dare she say it, friendship.
The ride home seemed endless and each glee clubber was excited when the bus they had taken from the airport finally arrived in front of McKinley. Quinn stood with her arms crossed watching the broad football player and the wide eyed brunette facing each other.
Finn had his hands holding Rachel's wrists lightly. He seemed to be encouraging her. Telling her that everyone would have to forgive them eventually. Quinn felt like she would gag but she couldn't tear her eyes from the scene before her. Rachel just looked so little next to the ogre. Her lips were quivering a little-
"Quinn! Are you deaf? I've been calling your name like a toddler in the mall. Me and Brit are ready to go home already."
The Latina appeared beside Quinn with Brittany in tow. "Ew, why are Godzilla and Man Hands reminding us all of the reason why we LOST?" Santana emphasized the last word, causing Finn and Rachel to look over at them.
Finn rolled his eyes in annoyance. Rachel only looked at them with sad eyes. Seeing Rachel look their way Quinn immediately turned in the opposite direction, headed for Santana's car as fast as her feet would take her. She avoided looking in their direction from the backseat as Santana pulled out and away from the parking lot. Naturally, the Latina reached for Brittany's hand.
Quinn was used to seeing her two friends act so in sync. They were really one person, Quinn was convinced, they just appeared as two different people. For as long as she could remember Brittany and Santana were always publicly displaying their affection. They'd hold pinkies, whisper long secrets into each others ears, give sensual hugs. The list goes on and when she discovered that the cheerleaders started kissing many years ago, she couldn't say she was surprise. Quinn was taken back a bit by the sex that was so clearly written all over their faces the day she saw them after their first time. Santana tried denying it at first but Quinn knew the girl too well and soon after, Santana cracked, only telling Quinn things happened "too quick to stop it".
She never quite understood the relationship between the two but she assumed they were best friends discovering life, including sexuality, together. When Quinn had asked the girls about their sexuality they claimed to be obviously straight. Brittany piped in that they only made out to make the guys go wild. Santana had given a proud nod at the taller cheerleader. From then on Quinn classified the two as "bi when drunk".
Yet, this time something was off between them. Santana had offered her hand to Brittany but the girl limply took her hand, lacking the usual enthusiasm. A deep frown was set on her face. Quinn could see that Santana was barely even looking at the road, too busy passing looks over at Brittany.
"It's okay, Brit. I will make sure Berry pays for ruining our shot at winning," the Latina vowed.
"Did you know bears use the North Star to get home, too?" Brittany said looking out the window in a clear attempt to change the subject.
Santana's eyebrows came together in a confused line. Her eyes were worried, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to speak but didn't know what to say. Quinn sensed the coldness in the air. Sure, Brittany was probably upset about losing but why would she be cold toward Santana? They had to be in some kind of a fight.
Testing out her theory Quinn asked, "Hey B, are you gonna be staying with me or S tonight?"
Generally it was a question that needed no answering. Brittany practically lived at the Lopez residence.
"I think I'm gonna go home. We've been away so I haven't been able to feed my pet squirrel. I left him in my closet and I should probably take him out for a walk."
If it were possible, Santana's face became even more confused and hurt. Rejection bitter in her mouth. Quinn thought for a second that Santana was actually going to ask Brittany to reconsider and just spend the night with her but nothing was said. Santana bit her bottom lip, too proud to be caught begging for someone to stay. She was too scared of how she'd look if she told Brittany she didn't want to sleep without her, especially after losing the competition. Instead each of the girls sat silently for the rest of the ride, trapped in their own thoughts.
