Thank you, thank you, thank you...
...Seriously thank you!
Rachel strode across the street at a quick pace, looking back toward her apartment building only briefly.
She was nice.
Santana was nice.
And Rachel hated that. She hated that with every fiber of her being. If the Latina had been rude it would've made everything so much easier. If she had been mean it would help everything make sense. It would help Rachel not hate herself.
And she really did.
She hated herself.
Quinn was happy. She could see it in her eyes, and in her smile. And it wasn't as though Rachel wanted to ruin her happiness. Honestly she didn't. She just wanted to be the one who caused it.
It was difficult, loving Quinn from the side for all these years. Seven years. She had seven years to tell her, and you'd think she had her chance. Honestly any outsider looking in would tell Rachel she's been a fool, hoping Quinn would see she was waiting for her on the sidelines instead of taking any action of her own. But it was never that simple. Rachel couldn't tell Quinn how she was feeling then because the blonde would've never heard her. She was taken then, just as she is now.
Only then it was a different girl.
A girl by the name of Marley Rose.
Marley and Quinn had met Quinn's junior year of McKinley when Marley was just a freshman. They were friends before it became apparent that Marley had felt more. It wasn't until the last day of summer before sophomore/senior year that something had actually happened.
And unfortunately Rachel had been there to witness it.
A kiss along with a rushed confession falling from the brunette's lips on the front porch of the Puckerman's house during the end of the summer blowout.
And that was that, they were dating from there on out.
Honestly Rachel didn't think it would last. Quinn was all about popularity, head Cheerio, smart and stunning where as Marley was low-key and shy. It seemed like everyone wanted a chance with Quinn Fabray, where as they all ignored Marley Rose. Quinn, however, was loyal, she never cheated. For she had loved Marley more than she had ever loved before.
Some might say Rachel had plenty of opportunities to tell Quinn how she felt. They have after all been friends for nine years. But like it's been said, Rachel's feelings didn't develop until after they had sung their duet together, I Feel Pretty/Unpretty and at that time Quinn was dating Marley. So she'd disagree, there weren't plenty of chances. Quinn and Marley were a constant duo, they barley spent a day apart and when they did break-up (which happened on occasion) they were back together within days.
That's not to say that Rachel didn't exactly try. Oh, she tried. It just never came out the way she meant for it too. Halfway into the confession she'd find herself freezing up and saying something completely different.
Rachel stopped at the Starbucks a few blocks from her apartment, stepping inside she pulled out her wallet, making sure she had her money with her before she stepped up to the counter to order a Strawberry and Crème frap.
She decided she'd stay, she took a seat at one of the window tables and stay as long as she could. After all, Kurt had been right. She had no rehearsal today.
"So Rachel's…" Santana trailed off. She didn't come here to upset Quinn, and she was sure that offending her fiancée's best friend would do just that.
"I honestly don't know why she was being like that." Quinn said, taking an empty box and starting to pack her bookshelf. "I haven't been in a relationship since I was with Marley and that was almost eight months ago."
"I'm sure she's just worried." Santana shrugged, "she just came on a little strong. That's all."
"Oh, that's just Rachel." Quinn laughed, "she's always been the 'get-in-your-face' kind of girl. Forwardness is in her nature." She and Santana locked eyes, "I just wasn't expecting it to be immediate."
Santana shuffled over to the desk as Quinn continued with the books. "Ellie Goulding, fun., Wicked and Adele." She read as she picked up the CD's, "please tell me your music library consists of more than this?"
"There's more." Quinn assured her, "the CD's are all in there." She pointed over to a display case screwed into the wall.
"Did you paint these?" Santana questioned, looking at the painted glass of the two cases directly in front of her. One was the Broadway Wicked picture, the other was Starry Night.
"I did." Quinn affirmed, "are you proud?"
"So proud." The Latina replied, "are they both CD's?"
"Wicked is, Starry Night is movies."
"They're locked." Santana complained as she reached over to open one.
"I have a fear of thievery, and yeah, glass doesn't do much good, but the case is painted so you can't see what's inside, so if the thief really wanted to know what's locked inside, they'd have to break in."
Santana chuckled, "I'm really glad I already knew you were crazy."
"It makes sense." Quinn defended.
"You're still crazy." Santana sing-songed as Quinn threw her the keys to the case. After unlocking it, she set the keys on top of the case to look inside, "I think you need a bigger case." She said as she looked through the albums.
Quinn was a fan of many artists. Ellie Goulding, Britney Spears Eminem, Rihanna, The Beatles, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, MS MR, Aly & AJ/78Violet, fun., P!nk, Maroon 5, Panic! At The Disco, The Pretty Reckless and Paramore. Were just a few of the artist lined on the top row. "Wow, I feel like I'll never have to buy my own CD again." Santana smiled as she began gathering the CD's to set in a box. "I think you've got that covered."
"You think that's bad, look in the other one."
Santana stopped with the CD's and did as her fiancée told her to do. "God, you're like media freak." She laughed.
"Turn off?"
"Spring Awakening: Broadway? That was never a movie." Santana said.
"I know, but Rachel played Wendla for a year in a revival and I asked her for a recording of it for my birthday."
"The Lion king one and two, Spring Breakers, Easy A, Scream 1 through 4, Bad Girls, Boys on The Side, Girl, Interrupted, Crossroads…You've got like a billion movies."
Quinn stood up and walked over to Santana before she pulled a sliding shelf out from underneath her desk.
"Where'd that come from?" Santana gasped, "you have a hidden bookcase? Who are you, Lane Kim?"
Quinn laughed as she picked something from the shelf and showed it to Santana.
"Gilmore Girls." Santana laughed, "Oh, my." She then stepped around to look at the shelf. "Charmed, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, 7th Heaven, Medium, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, That 70's Show, Grey's Anatomy, I Love Lucy…You have every season available."
Quinn nodded along, her lip between her teeth.
"Definitely not a turn off." Santana assured her. "You have good taste."
"Knock, knock." Kurt's voice interrupted the couple's silent conversation as the two looked to him. "Sorry," he said quickly, "just wondering if you needed any help?"
"Thanks Kurt." Quinn said, "I think we got it."
"All right." The boy smiled, watching Santana bend back down, looking at Quinn's TV collection some more.
"Although, you could take those two boxes into the living room if you wouldn't mind." The blonde said, pointing toward the two full boxes beside the door.
"Sure thing." Kurt nodded.
"Rachel?"
The tiny singer picked her head up upon hearing her name. Her eyes met brown ones like her own. Expressive and wild. "Marley." She said, just above a whisper.
"Oh, my God." Marley chuckled. "I can't believe this. It's been so long." She stepped forward with a smile etched upon her face.
The Broadway star stood up to meet her in the embrace awaiting them. "It has." She agreed pulling away, "I didn't know you were back in New York."
"Just moved recently."
Rachel nodded as she took her place once again, "please, join me." She motioned across the table. In all actuality, that was the last thing she wanted to happen. But she had to play nice. "What brings you here. Last I knew you were headed to Miami."
"And I did." Marley replied as she shrugged her messenger bag from her shoulder before sliding into an open chair. "It was nice too…but I don't know. I always felt like there was something missing."
Quinn? Rachel's mind wondered as she nodded along.
"I just could quite find what I was looking for."
"Mercedes is down there?" Rachel asked, "isn't she?"
"Yeah." Marley nodded, "she's doing good for herself too. She and Shane are still the happy wedded couple they were before. Two little gremlins running around their picket fenced yard." She smiled taking a drink of her own coffee. "Them being there was really the only benefit."
"Honestly?" Rachel couldn't believe it. When Marley had announced she was moving her excitement was almost unbearable.
"Yeah. Truly. Miami's beautiful, but once you take in the sights…there's nothing like New York."
You know that look people get? The one where their mind wanders? It's as if they're deep in thought. Reminiscing on the past, on what they used to have. Rachel hated that look. And that was the look Marley was sporting. Rachel couldn't stop herself.
"She's getting married."
"Who?" Marley asked, her eyes shooting to the girl across from her.
Rachel nearly rolled her eyes, because honestly, Marley knew exactly who she was talking about. "Quinn."
"Oh. Is she?"
And there it was. A bit of worry, it whisked upon her face and was gone just as quick.
"Yes."
"I think we got it all." Quinn said as she led Santana down the narrow hallway, box in hand.
Her fiancée, also carrying a box nodded, "me too. But you might want to scan the room through once again, just to be sure."
As they set the final two boxes beside the table with the first six Quinn nodded, "yeah, okay."
As the blonde exited the room, Santana turned to Kurt, "okay, let me have it."
The boy quirked an eyebrow as he se this glass upon the kitchen island. "What do you mean?"
Santana dropped her hands from her waist and sighed stepping over to the boy, "oh, come on. You're one of the best friends! Where's the 'she's-been-hurt-before-so-if-you-hurt-her' speech?"
Kurt smiled, realization dawning on him. "Ah, that."
"Yeah…lay it on me." Santana said. "But just so you know, she's it for me. I won't hurt her."
Kurt gave her a once over before shrugging, "I don't need to." Causing Santana to smile.
"Don't need to what?" Quinn asked a she re-entered the living area. As neither person answered she shrugged, "nothing? Okay…well, we've got everything. So whataya say we take it down to the car?"
Santana of course nodded along while Kurt perked up, "I can start taking my stuff in there."
"No way!" Quinn said in mock enthusiasm.
"Oh, shut up." The boy rolled his eyes.
Quinn chuckled softly as she and Santana each grabbed a box to be taken down.
"I like him." Santana said as they reached the elevator.
"Kurt? Yeah, he's good people."
Santana smiled, "he's really good people…He cares for you a lot."
"We've known each other for so long…he, Rachel and I have been through a lot together."
"I'm glad you have strong friendships." Santana added, "your Kurt and Rachel are like my Blaine and Brittany."
"I don't think anyone's like Brittany." Quinn laughed.
Santana let out a small chuckle, "I'm gonna get you for that one." As the elevator landed on the last floor and the doors opened the girls continued on their journey to the small green Volkswagen Beetle awaiting them. "You need a bigger car."
"Don't diss my baby." Quinn said, "I love this car. Bug's have been my favorite for as long as I can remember. This car is forever mine…unless it gives out on me and I need to get a new one."
Santana smiled.
"I'll still end up getting another Bug." The blonde unlocked the trunk and she loaded her box in before taking the one Santana had in her hands and setting it in as well. "Three more trips." She said, closing the trunk and locking the vehicle once more. As she started to walk back toward the building, she felt a tug on her wrist causing her to turn around.
Santana pulled Quinn over to her and smiled at her genuinely. "I love you so much." She said clearly, reaching up and brushing a few strands of blonde hair away from hazel eyes. The Latina's eyes wandered around Quinn's face, before finally landing on her lips. And soon, she pulled the taller girl into a tighter embrace, hands landing firmly on her hips and their lips connected in a passionate kiss.
"I sounds like she's happy." Marley said with a smile. She looked happy for Quinn, but her tone said she was anything but.
"Yeah." Rachel nodded in agreement, "and Santana's nice…Pretty too."
The other singer pulled out her phone to check the time, "oh, I was supposed to be meeting up with Kitty…you know how she is when she has to wait."
Rachel stood up with her, "I do."
"Hey, look." Marley grabbed her bag and draped it back over her shoulders, "could you not tell Quinn that I'm back?"
Rachel's eyebrows shot up in question. "Why not?"
"I just…" She shook her head, "please?"
The shorter girl had to consider it for a few minutes, because she honestly didn't want to keep Marley's secret. She didn't want any other sort of competition. But then again, this could come in handy.
"Okay."
The other girl smiled widely, "thanks, Rach." She went in for another hug before she was on her way.
Rachel rolled her eyes. Marley acted all sweet and innocent, and thought that she and Rachel were friends. It just proved how good of an actress Rachel was.
She hated her.
The brunette took the last sip of her frap before she was on her way out of the restaurant, throwing the cup in the trash as she carried on. She was sure it was safe to head back to her apartment by now, she'd been in the coffee shop for at least an hour and a half if not a little longer. Quinn packed quickly. She was sure they'd be done.
It didn't take long to get back to her building. But what she saw once she got there, she was definitely unprepared for.
Quinn and Santana were kissing in front the blonde's Green Volkswagen Beetle. The very one that Rachel herself had helped Quinn pick out.
Her heart hurt. It had to stop, it just had to stop.
She quickly turned her head to get the couple out of her sight, but it did nothing to quench the pain in her chest.
They were supposed to be gone, why were they still there? The brunette quickly made her way over to the door, hoping to not be spotted, but things didn't go as planned.
"Rachel." Quinn greeted as she and Santana separated.
"Hey…I didn't even see you two there." She lied. "I figured you'd be gone by now."
"We're on our way." Santana said, "just three more boxes." She pointed back toward the building.
"Oh," Rachel smiled, "here, I'll help." She led them up to the door and pulled it open for the couple before she followed them over to the elevator.
"So how was your rehearsal?" Quinn asked.
"What?…Oh, it was uh, cancelled last minute."
"Then where have you been?"
"Coffee run."
Quinn looked at her questioningly, because she knew that it never took Rachel two hours to get coffee, but the blonde didn't press her on it.
And thank God she didn't because if she had Rachel would've had to tell her she'd run into Marley.
The elevator doors opened and Rachel led them to the apartment, "are those the boxes?" She asked spotting a few boxes in the living room by the table. Her answer was a nod from Quinn.
"Yeah, the other ones are Kurt's, he's already unpacking his things."
Rachel smiled, "I think I'm gonna like living with him."
"He is very useful." Quinn agreed.
"That's not to say I won't miss you." Rachel said quickly.
The blonde looked toward her friend with a small smile. "I'll miss you too, Rach…It's just time for some changes."
"I understand."
The three of them each grabbed a box before they and Kurt walked down to the Green Bug once more.
"That's everything." Quinn said, as they set the last box into the car.
Santana closed the back door before stepping over to the driver side door and opening it for Quinn.
The blonde stepped over to her friends. "Thanks for the help." She said before leaning in and hugging Kurt. Once she pulled away she smiled at Rachel. "This isn't goodbye." She reminded the tiny brunette who was sporting a sad frown.
"I know." Rachel said before quickly pulling the blonde into an embrace. Her eyes met with Santana's and the Latina gave her a soft smile. When Quinn pulled away Rachel smiled genuinely at Quinn, "I like her." She whispered.
Quinn grinned, "I knew you would."
Quinn said one final goodbye to her friends before climbing into her vehicle. Santana shut the door for her before striding to the other side of the car and climbing inside. And then it was only Kurt and Rachel, left on the sidewalk, watching the green car drive out of sight.
"So, Rachel, how was rehearsal?" Kurt looked to her.
Rachel shrugged, "I saw Marley."
All right, so there's that chapter, thanks again for reading.
...Though, I have a question, I was planning to bring many characters from the show into my story in time. And Finn happened to be one of them. Now in light of recent events I'm not sure whether people would be comfortable reading a story with him in it or not. I personally believe that writing Finn into fanfiction still is in some way honoring the character that Cory himself portrayed. However, I want you as readers to be comfortable with the story, so I'll only write him in if it doesn't bother you all in any way. So I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know.
...Thank you!
