AN: Thank you for the reviews so far! Keep them coming they're like crack to be, seriously.
So I thought I would shake things up a bit in my next chapter, this is just a filler really. A bit of the past. Let me know what you think
XX
Without him the world around me changes, a world that's full of happiness that I have never known..
The brunette opened her eyes to the sound of her own voice, drifting through the speakers of her custom made alarm clock. She turned over and beamed at the tiny device, it was much nicer than the regular beep beep beep. Was there any better way to wake up then to have the Rachel Berry belting out a heartfelt rendition of On my Own? She didn't think so.
She sat up slowly, testing the waters. She had a mild headache and a parched throat, not too bad after practically inhaling four bottles of wine the night before. The brunette rolled out of bed and shuffled towards the floor length mirror to survey the damage.
Panda eyes and bed hair, still though nothing she couldn't fix with a shower and some carefully applied makeup. As she gazed into her own dark brown eyes reflected back at her, she had a sudden flashback of the first time she had ever felt the burning taste of alcohol. It seemed funny to her that Quinn had been at fault.
It was senior year and Rachel had been invited to a party at Puck's house. She had been excited, her first party since ..well ever. She had spent hours trying and re-trying on clothes, she had to get this right, for once she needed to blend in. Look like she belonged. The singer had finally settled on a short black dress that fell just below her knee, it hugged her curves perfectly and she was surprised at how it complimented her.
She added a slight wave to her hair and allowed it to flow over her shoulders and tickle her chest, a small silver necklace rested just above her plunging neckline. Usually she would have donned her Finn necklace, but it had been stolen from her locker last week. She didn't really see who would choose to steal it, but she thought it was just as well, their relationship was coming to a close. She topped her outfit off with a pair of killer black heels that set her outfit off perfectly.
Finn had arrived to pick her up at eight thirty sharp like she had told him, and they had left for the party together. The moment they arrived at the house, Rachel grew nervous. She could already hear the thumping of the music coming from just beyond the front door, people were strewn across the lawn, making out or simply passed out. This really wasn't her scene. But in the next moment, Finn had grabbed her hand and led her into the devils layer.
Needless to say, Finn abandoned the brunette within minutes of entering and she found herself wandering alone through the mass of bodies that filled every inch of space. After much elbowing and "I'm sorry excuse me's" she managed to fight her way through the patio door and onto the empty decking in the back yard. Sighing, she took a seat and wondered what the hell she thought would be different. What just because she was invited to a party that people would actually talk to her? That she would somehow become one of the accepted? She knew in her heart she never would.
Just as she was contemplating sneaking home early and singing a song about it, the back door slid open and somebody stepped out, shutting it behind them. The brunette didn't bother turning around, whoever it was would probably just ignore her anyway.
"What are you doing out here?"
Rachel spun around so fast she almost got whiplash.
"Quinn?"
The blonde merely nodded, surveying Rachel through half closed eyes. She was totally buzzed.
"I-I'm out here because ..it's a bit much for me in there." Admitted the brunette, gazing at the house uncomfortably, before turning to face the cheerleader again.
"Why are you out here?"
"Same reason as you." Shrugged the blonde nonchalantly, trying not to sway as she made her way towards the steps where the brunette was perched.
"What?" she added at the brunette's sceptical expression.
"It's just .." shrugged Rachel "all this is kind of what you do right?"
The blonde frowned.
"I-I just mean that-"
"Your right." Realized the taller girl.
The singer was stunned.
"I am?"
"You are." Confirmed the cheerleader with a slight hiccup. "This is what I'm supposed to do, drink, have fun, make fun of people like you." She pointed to a pot plant nearby instead of her intended target.
"So why aren't you?" asked the brunette slightly wary that the blonde was sharing her thoughts seemingly without a filter.
The cheerleader carefully sat down beside the smaller girl and closed her eyes for so long the singer was beginning to wonder if she fell asleep. She was just about to poke her, when the blonde spoke.
"Because I'm tired."
"Do you want to lie down?" wondered the shorter girl.
The blonde snorted slightly before fixing Rachel with her penetrating.
"No Berry. I'm tired, I'm tired of doing all this" she gestured at the house and herself in the same movement. "I'm tired of drinking and pretending to have fun."
The brunette didn't dare to breathe, did Quinn Fabray actually have non-shallow feelings?
"I'm tired of making fun of you Rachel."
The shorter girl gasped dramatically, trying to meet the blonde's gaze to see if she was telling the truth.
"Why do you do it then?" she questioned breathlessly.
"Because It's what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to be the cold, heartless bitch that slushies geeks and dates the most popular guy in the school"
"That doesn't sound very fun to be" the brunette pointed out.
Quinn smiled lightly, tilting her head to meet the shorter girls gaze.
"It's not."
Rachel returned her smile and they fell into companionable silence. It was comfortable, they didn't need to fill the silence.
"I wanted to have my first drink tonight." Admitted Rachel snorting slightly.
Quinn turned to look at her before smirking devilishly.
"Well Berry, its your lucky day." The blonde informed her, before producing a bottle of vodka from nowhere.
The brunette eyed the bottle warily, she wasn't so sure about this now that it was right there in front of her.
"C'mon take a risk" winked the blonde before taking a swig herself and spilling a little in the process. "Oops" she giggled lightly before pushing the bottle into the other girls hand "your turn."
Rachel tilted the bottle and brought the neck of it to her mouth, she could taste Quinn's cheery lip-gloss on the tip as she swallowed the foul tasting liquid and felt it burn a path down to her stomach.
"Ew."
Quinn cracked up and grabbed the bottle back.
"You need to drink a bit more before it loses the paint remover taste" the taller girl informed her seriously.
They passed the bottle back and forth until it Rachel was seeing double, double Quinn was interesting.
They lay back and watched the clouds for awhile, making ridiculous pictures out of the wispy puffs.
"That right there is me accepting my first Oscar" the brunette stated proudly, before shifting to see if Quinn agreed. The blonde was frowning about three inches to the left of where the tanned girl was pointing.
"I think it looks like an Octopus. I like Octopuses."
Rachel was mildly offended, but the innocent look on Quinn's face caused her to crack up.
Quinn looked at her.
"Why are you laughing at me?"
Rachel took one look at the blonde's haughty expression and descended into further hysterics.
The blonde huffed and fell silent with a small smile playing on her lips.
"What time is it?" asked the taller girl suddenly.
"Umm, it's twelve." Answered the brunette, checking her phone.
"Oh crap. I have to go, my curfew is in a half an hour." The blonde stated, dusting herself off slightly as she stood.
"Oh. Well I think I'll stay here for a while" the brunette said happily, gazing up at the swaying form hovering above her.
"Suit yourself Berry, goodnight."
"Goodnight Quinn."
The cheerleader opened the door and turned around to look at the brunette once more.
"Oh Rachel?"
"Yes?"
"Nice necklace."
And with that the blonde was gone.
Rachel felt happier than she had in a long time and went to sleep smiling vaguely, the taste of vodka and lip-gloss still clinging to her lips.
The next day at school the brunette watched Quinn approach with a grin. Her "hello" was lost in the torrent of purple slushie that clouded her vision. She gagged and spluttered staring at the cheerleaders outstretched hand uncomprehendingly, realizing too late that she held two cups. The second one hit her faster, pooling about her neck and dripping down her clothes before soaking the floor beneath her with the frosty drink.
"See you in Glee manhands" the blonde spat before walking away.
XX
Rachel shook her head and banished the memory, she wasn't that person anymore. She was famous, she was loved, nobody could take that away from her now. Not even Quinn Fabray.
The brunette jumped as her phone vibrated in the pocked of her jeans. She slipped the small cell from it's denim prison and flipped it open impatiently.
"Hello?"
"Rachel it's Emily, I'm just calling to remind you that you have lunch with Gerry today."
Oh joy.
"Right. Thanks Emily."
"My pleasure Miss Berry. Is there anything else you need?"
The brunette frowned at her reflection.
"Gerry really likes Quinn doesn't he?"
There was a short pause before Emily recovered.
"Be honest Emily, no matter how you think I may feel about her"
She could practically see the assistant nodding.
"Yes Miss Berry he does. While I arranged our meeting yesterday he told me how excited he was about having the two of ye working together. He said he thought ye would have great chemistry on-screen. He told me that the storyline is good, but the two of you would be the ones to bring it alive. And Oscars would follow."
I want that Oscar.
The brunette pinched the bridge of her nose. That's what she had been afraid of.
"Thanks for the honesty I guess." She mumbled bitterly.
God damn Quinn Fabray.
"Rachel are you OK? Do you need anything?"
A time machine.
The brunette exhaled shakily, knowing what she needed to do.
"Can you get me her address?"