A/N: Again, thanks for all the great reviews! Keep 'em coming!
Without further ado, more Faberry cuteness :)
Rachel didn't reply to Quinn's latest message when she got up in the morning. She certainly read it before going through her morning routine, but she thought it was best to leave it be until she got home from school.
One thing from Quinn's last message stuck with Rachel through the school day, her question about whether she would find someone to love her and have a good life if she were gay. By the end of the day, Rachel was determined to show Quinn that her future wouldn't have to change as much as Quinn was worried about. Rachel had decided to ask Quinn on a date. What a perfect way to show Quinn that dating girls can be as good as, or even better than dating boys!
At school, Quinn barely acknowledged her existence, like usual. But during Glee Club that afternoon, Rachel couldn't help but feel Quinn's eyes on her most of rehearsal. Every time Rachel glanced at Quinn, which wasn't very often at all, Quinn would quickly look away.
After Glee Club, Rachel stayed to work on writing a song for sectionals. For ten minutes after everyone had left, even Mr Shue, Rachel was alone in the choir room. As Rachel sat at the piano playing a melody she thought might work in a song, Quinn snuck in the room. Rachel didn't notice and kept playing. The melody eventually turned into a slower, sadder version of Katy Perry's "Firework". Rachel's voice was haunting, and Quinn was mesmerized.
When Rachel was done singing, Quinn made her presence known. "That was beautiful"
"Quinn! Wow, way to scare the bejesus out of me," Rachel smiled.
Quinn smiled, "Play something else for me. Something a little more up beat."
Rachel beamed, "I've got just the song. I think about this one when I get nervous before a performance."
Rachel, with all the natural talent she had, plus everything she had learned from ten years of piano lessons, began pounding out Ben Folds' song "Hiroshima". She sang beautifully and comically. Rachel Berry was nothing if not dramatic. She was surely destined for a life in Musical Theater.
When Rachel was done playing, Quinn beamed. "That was awesome Berry! We should do more of that style of music. Who does that song?"
"Ben Folds. I love his music. Great beats and lots of wonderful piano."
"Suggest it to Mr Shue. Maybe he'd let us do it," said Quinn.
"I will. It would be something different for Sectionals."
Quinn smiled and looked like she was about to say something, but didn't. Rachel caught on to Quinn's sudden nervousness, "So, what's up?"
"I thought I could give you a ride home again?"
"All the way home?" Rachel teased. Quinn turned red and embarrassed. Rachel quickly defused the situation. "Quinn, it was a joke. I'd love a ride home."
Quinn nodded and they gathered their things and walked silently to Quinn's car. They got in and drove off.
Rachel broke the silence first, "I read your last message."
Quinn's defenses went up. "Berry, can we not talk about that right now?" Quinn snapped.
Rachel's voice was small, "Okay." Rachel seemed to shrink in the passengers seat.
Quinn sighed, "I'm sorry Rachel."
"I'm just trying to help, Quinn," Rachel said, her voice still quite small.
"I know you are. It's just hard to talk about stuff in person. It makes it a little more real, ya know?"
"Yeah, I get it."
A moment later, Quinn spoke up again. "I do really appreciate your messages, Rachel."
Rachel smiled warmly. "I have an idea, if you're up for it."
"What is it?" asked Quinn, cautious but curious.
"Let me take you out on a date," said rachel.
"Berry..." Quinn warned.
"Hear me out. Your last message said you were scared that you wouldn't be able to find love and have a normal life. I want to show you that you still can."
Quinn sighed, weighing her options.
"I'm not saying you have to go and fall in love with me, just one date. If you hate it, I'm okay with a quadruple slushy as punishment."
Quinn laughed, "Okay Berry, you can take me out on a date, but I have a few conditions." Rachel rolled her eyes. "One, we can't go anywhere people might see us." Rachel nodded in agreement. "Two, there will be no kiss at the end of the date." Rachel nodded again, though a little disappointed. "And three, you're taking Quinn Fucking Fabray out on a date, you better make it good."
Rachel laughed a little, "Okay Quinn Fucking Fabray, you got yourself a date."
Quinn laughed in response.
They agreed on Saturday for their date when Quinn dropped Rachel off. Rachel sprinted up to her bedroom to begin making plans. By the end of the night she had it all figured out.
The next day at school, Friday, Rachel stuck a note in Quinn's locker without anyone noticing. Quinn opened her locker after the next period and found the note. She opened it in math class, given she never paid attention in that class anyway.
The note read:
Quinn Fucking Fabray, (yeah, Rachel was never going to let her live that one down)
Please meet me at the park near my neighborhood at two in the afternoon on Saturday for our date. Be sure to dress for the weather, it's supposed to be gorgeous.
Your date,
Rachel Berry
Quinn tried to hide the smile that threatened to appear on her face. Rachel's note gave Quinn butterflies. No boy had ever put this much effort into a date with Quinn before. Maybe dating girls wouldn't be so bad after all.
Quinn met Rachel in the park at two the next day. Rachel had a blanket spread out on the grass under a large oak tree, and on the blanket was a simple picnic basket. Rachel had been right about the weather, it was unseasonably warm and sunny with just a few fluffy clouds dotting the sky.
Rachel was busy straightening out the blanket when Quinn walked up. "Hey," Quinn said. Rachel looked up and smiled warmly. Quinn was struck with how beautiful Rachel looked at that moment. Clad in jeans and a fitted tee shirt, Rachel's hair was pulled back in a ponytail with long bangs framing her face. Quinn was similarly dressed in jeans and a fitted short sleeved polo. She wore her hair down and in waves cascading over her shoulders.
"This is nice, Berry," Quinn said and then corrected herself, "er-Rachel."
Rachel smiled slightly at the correction. She could tell Quinn was trying to think of her differently.
"I made us a picnic," Rachel said proudly. She began pulling things out of the basket. "I've got drinks for us. I didn't know what you like so I got Coke and Mountain Dew and orange soda and root beer and Sprite." Quinn tried to hide her smile at Rachel's evident nervousness as Rachel continued to unpack the picnic basket. "I went to the store and got a pasta salad and potato salad, and I got some cold meat and cheese and buns for sandwiches and some hummus and veggies and fruit, and for dessert I got us some mini cupcakes." Rachel smiled proudly at the abundance of food spread out before them.
"This looks great Rachel," said Quinn.
"It should, dig in," said Rachel.
The two girls began eating their lovely picnic and chatting about school and glee club and the latest gossip. Rachel wanted to keep the conversation light so Quinn would feel more at ease around her.
When they were done with their meal, they packed away the leftovers and laid down on the blanket to watch the clouds.
"Rach?" said Quinn. Rachel turned her head to look at Quinn. "Thanks for today. This was nice."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I know you've been scared about what you're starting to feel, but I hope this helped to show you that you can be happy on a date with a girl."
"Yeah, it did," Quinn said softly.
Both girls turned their attention to the sky. Rachel's hand edged its way closer to Quinn's until their pinkies were touching. Quinn blushed at the electricity from their simple touch, but kept her hand next to Rachel's.
Rachel interrupted the silence, "If you do decide to come out, things will change. Your life won't be the same. And that's scary. Terrifying even. But trust me when I say that your life will be better not having to deny who you are or suppress your feelings."
Quinn nodded but didn't say anything. A solitary tear slid down her cheek. Everything would change. But would it really be better?
Rachel turned her head to look at Quinn. She saw the tear on Quinn's cheek and immediately turned onto her side to face Quinn. She propped herself up on her elbow and used her other hand to wipe away the tear.
Watery hazel eyes met striking dark chocolate eyes. Quinn momentarily forgot to breathe. Rachel bit down lightly on her bottom lip. Quinn thought that was the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. Without thinking she surged forward and captured Rachel's lips with her own. One hand found its way to the back of Rachel's neck and she held Rachel's face to hers.
The kiss they shared was more urgent and hungry than their first kiss. Apart from the kiss she shared with Rachel, and a few drunken games of spin the bottle, this was Quinn's first time really kissing another girl. And Quinn thought it was heaven.
Quinn sucked on Rachel's bottom lip, causing the diva to pull back and gasp for air. Rachel pressed her forehead against Quinn's as both girls struggled to take a deep breath.
"Please don't run away this time," Rachel whispered.
Quinn responded by pulling Rachel down for another kiss.