Title: A Cinderella Nightmare
A/N: I fixed the plot first (a.k.a. organized this mess) before starting with this chapter. Oh, and I typed this thing on my iPad. And for the life of me, the site kept on changing the fake emails (Is that a thing here? Sorry, I'm new to this stuff).
So for imagination's sake, just add 'imadethisupforshitsandgiggles . com' at the end of each fake emails. :]
Thanks for the follows, favorites, and reviews on the prologue and the first two chapters.
Enjoy. Review if you must.
Disclaimer: Glee belongs to where it legally belongs, i.e. not me.
Chapter Three: Meet The Step-Sisters
"Lucy, do you have something to say to your sister?"
"The waffles are soggy and bland."
"Oh... Sorry for that."
"Nonsense, Charlotte," the older blonde piped in disagreement before throwing an admonishing glance towards her daughter. "The waffles are perfect. Lucy is just being a brat as usual."
The hazel-eyed blonde huffed petulantly. "Stop calling me that name, Mom," the girl grumbled as she reached out for her mug, taking a sip of hot chocolate.
"That's your name and that's what I'm going to call you," the older woman declared with finality on her tone as she reached out for her own mug. "And hurry up and finish your breakfast, Lucy, or you'll be late," she added after taking a sip of black coffee before turning her attention to the other blonde.
"Will you be alright here all alone, Charlotte?"
"Of course, Judy," the blue-eyed blonde reassured with a smile and a nod. "I'll just do some chores around the house to pass the time."
"Oh, don't bother yourself too much," the older woman said with a dismissive hand as she gently put down her mug. "Besides, it's Lucy's turn to do the chores," she added pointedly before turning her attention on her waffle, taking another bite. Said girl murmured something under her breathe as she stabbed her own waffles with more force than necessary.
"No, it's okay. I don't have anything else to do, anyways," Charlotte reassured further, smiling brightly as she reached for a mug on her side containing chamomile tea.
"Well, if you insist," Judy said with a nod. "Though I don't want you to stress yourself too much, alright?"
"Yes, Judy," the blue-eyed blonde nodded.
On the opposite side of the table, Quinn is scoffing and grumbling under her breath as she stabbed another piece of waffle.
Mom is never that nice to me, she grumbled as she stabbed her breakfast again before taking a scrumptious bite. Truthfully speaking, the waffles are absolutely delicious and cooked to golden perfection. The whipped cream fruit toppings is also a good touch, especially the sprinkling of cinnamon and the dusting of powdered sugar on top.
It is so amazing that Quinn can't help but eat two pieces despite her strict diet.
But I'm not going to tell her that, Quinn thought petulantly as she takes another delicious bite, her eyes narrowing at Charlotte who is now pouring a suspicious, homemade juice.
"Hmmm... What is this?"
"Oh, that's my grandma's 'Seven Season Fruit Punch'," Charlotte explained cheerfully at the older blonde who is sipping on her glass, impressed. "I noticed that you have a lot of fruits that are in stock so I decided to make a batch for breakfast."
"It's absolutely delicious," Judy gushed as she took another sip.
"Thank you," the blue-eyed blonde said with a smile, grateful that the other woman appreciates her effort.
The older woman then polished her waffles and finished her glass of homemade juice. "I need to get going. I have a patient who's scheduled for a surgery at eight," she said as she stood up, picking the draped lab gown on the back of her chair.
"Have a nice day in school, Lucy," Judy said before walking her daughter's side and kissing the blonde's forehead. "See you later, Charlotte," she said before gently squeezing the other blonde's forearm.
"Take care, Judy," the blue-eyed blonde chirped and the older woman smiled indulgently before sauntering towards the door, opening it, then closing it softly behind her.
Back at the table, the hazel-eyed blonde is still in a bad mood as she stabbed her waffle, eyeing the girl opposite of her with suppressed distaste.
Such a barbie doll, Quinn thought as she surveyed what the other girl is wearing: a sleeveless summer dress in black that's decorated with a flowery pattern. Her long hair is in a neat, high ponytail with some scattered bangs framing her forehead. Earlier, she saw that the other girl is wearing thin-framed glasses, but it's nowhere to be seen now.
So girly, the hazel-eyed girl thought with an eye roll as she watch how the other girl demurely pour the suspicious juice on a tall glass before taking a small sip with her pinky raised.
Feeling the eyes on her, Charlotte looked up and saw how Quinn has her eyes squinted at her. "Do you want some juice?" she offered, thinking that the other girl wants one.
The hazel-eyed blonde ignored the offer, but instead asked a question. "What's your deal?" she inquired, her eyebrows furrowing.
The blue-eyed blonde tilted her head in confusion. "Excuse me?"
Quinn rolled her eyes before gesturing at the breakfast-laden table. "You've cooked yesterday and today," she impatiently explained. "Are you kissing up to my parents by making these fancy foods and homemade drinks?"
The blue-eyed blonde widened her eyes at the accusation."No, I'm just used to cooking for other people. I do that a lot back in Florida," she patiently explained as she tucks a loose hair behind her ear. "Don't you like you my waffles?"
Quinn pursed her lips at the puppy-look that the other girl sporting. "It's adequate," she just said before turning her full attention to her breakfast, vowing to herself to never reveal how much she loves the other blonde's cooking.
Especially the blueberry cheesecake, Quinn dreamily thought as she remembered the scrumptious and mouth-watering dessert that Charlotte whipped from scratch last night. By this rate, I'm going to gain weight again, she thought ruefully before absentmindedly taking another bite of her weight-gaining breakfast.
When she's a quarter away from polishing her plate, she absentmindedly looked up before narrowing her eyes. "Don't you need to do something else?"
Charlotte scrunched her eyebrows in confusion at the inquiry, so Quinn huffed before pointing at the empty plate in front of the other girl with her fork. "You're already done with breakfast."
"Yeah...?"
The hazel-eyed blonde rolled her eyes at Charlotte's confusion. "Why are you still here?" she impatiently explained with an eyebrow arch to make her point across.
Pale blue eyes lit up in understanding when Charlotte finally got what Quinn is insinuating. "Oh!" she just said before smiling. "My mom and grandma taught me that it's bad manners to leave someone at the table when they are still eating," she explained, the bright smile not leaving her face as she straightened her posture and demurely clasped her both hands on her lap.
"Well, it's also rude to not leave when said someone wants to be left alone to eat in peace," the hazel-eyed blonde retorted in annoyance.
The bright smile faded a little and Quinn saw a pinkish tinge gracing the other girl's cheeks. "Oh... Do you want me to leave now?"
Why are you so nice, you nauseatingly fluffy princess? Quinn thought, annoyed at the reemergence of the puppy-look. "Fine, stay there. I'm done, anyways," she just said before hurriedly finishing her breakfast to get away, a bit rueful that she wouldn't be able to savor the last few bites.
But it seems that Charlotte wants her to stay longer. "So... how's your school?"
"Fine."
"Huh," the blue-eyed girl just said. "Is the people nice there?"
"No."
Charlotte hummed in reply. "Do you have any hobbies or-"
"Stop making small talks," Quinn snapped as she poured water into her glass, ignoring the suspicious juice. "I'm not interested in talking to you," she said before gulping down the glass of water.
"Sorry," Charlotte timidly said, her pale blues widening as she nervously twiddled her thumbs.
The hazel-eyed girl huffed, despising the puppy-look. "I'm going to go," she just said before standing up and picking her sweater at the back of her chair.
"Oh, don't you want some jui-"
"I hate juice," Quinn lied. "And Dad will call later to check up on you. Be sure to keep an eye on the phone," she reminded, remembering Russell's text earlier:
Dad: Quinnie Pooh, tell your sister that I'll be calling the landline later to check up on her. Love, Daddy.
Another smile surfaced from Charlotte's lips. "Thanks," she chirped.
Urghhh! Stop smiling so much! Quinn thought before huffing. "Later," she just said before jogging towards the door.
"Take care, Quinn!" the hazel-eyed blonde heard before she slammed the door shut, jogging towards her car.
At least she stopped calling me Lucy, Quinn distractedly thought as she backed her car and drove away.
"So how's your twinsies?"
Quinn groaned in annoyance before slamming her locker shut, startling the curly-haired boy beside her. "Stop that," she spat at the smirking Latina. "She's only my half-sister, for god's sake."
The tanned girl shrugged indifferently, though the smirk widened. "Could've fooled me. You look so much alike," she quipped before chuckling when Quinn glared daggers at her. "Seriously though, how is she?" she asked again as the blonde slung her bag on one shoulder.
"Sickeningly sweet," Quinn answered with an eye roll as she started walking towards the cafeteria, the Latina in tow. "It makes me want to vomit," she added, her face scrunching in distaste as she remembered the past few days with Charlotte.
Last night is the worst so far. It was the first dinner where all of them are present and the night when Quinn realized that she should be vigilant about securing her 'only child' post. Charlotte is all smiles and politeness that night and Quinn is almost sure that there's a halo hiding on top of the girl's head.
"I hear you," the Latina agreed with a nod, her dark eyes flitting towards her left. Then her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed in distaste as she stared daggers at a certain area.
Curious, Quinn followed her eye sight and saw another blue-eyed blonde on a table who is currently conversing in Spanish with Mr. Schuester. The blue-eyed blonde is fluent in the language, enthusiastically waving her hands as the teacher opposite of her is bumbling an almost unintelligible reply.
Of course, Quinn thought with an eye roll when she saw her friend's eyes narrowing at the sight. The hazel-eyed blonde then dragged away the Latina before she do or say something.
Quinn then forcefully sat the Latina on their usual table before sitting opposite of her. She kept quiet as she observe the other girl huff and puff before Santana finally sighed. "Did you receive the e-mail?" the tanned girl asked after a whole minute of silence.
"Yeah," Quinn replied as she put her an elbow in the table, propping her chin with one hand. "Did anyone else did?"
Santana shrugged. "No, just the two of us," she commented before furrowing her eyebrows when she remembered something. "And what does she mean by night terrors?"
Quinn also furrowed her eyebrows at the inquiry. "I'm not sure..." she trailed off, remembering the e-mail she got last night:
To: golden_highflier3/4
Cc/Bcc, From: your_cheerio_overlord3813
Subject: Survival Tryouts
The second tryouts will commence on Monday at exactly six o'clock in the evening. Make sure to be on time or you'll be disqualified.
There'll be no iPhones, iPads, iPods, or any kind of electronic gadgets. If someone smuggled one, it will be immediately confiscated and I will give Becky the permission to smash it all in pieces with a sledgehammer before throwing the remains in fire.
I am also legally required to ask if one of you have some form of trauma involving night terrors. If you have, then you're automatically disqualified and don't bother showing up.
That is all.
(For Goldilocks and Fake-Boobs: I sent you this message two days earlier than the others. Keep that a secret or I'll either kick you out of the tryouts or hunt you down for disobedience. Probably both.)
-Susan Sylvester, PhD, Coach Extraordinaire and Overall Champion of the World
"Oh, before I forget," the Latina piped in as Quinn continues to mull over the possibilities of night terrors. She rummaged through her bag and produced a notebook, throwing it on the table. She then haphazardly riffled through the blank pages before getting two papers full of written computations in between two leafs.
"Here," Santana said as she handed over her Physics and Chemistry homework that are due on Monday.
Quinn smiled at the sight as she took it from the Latina's hands. "Thanks," she said before she, too, rummaged though her bag to take out a notebook. She flipped some pages full of handwritten notes before nestling the papers in between two leafs.
"No, thank you," Santana said with a grin. "I got an A on that English homework yesterday."
The hazel-eyed girl chuckled before raising an eyebrow. "And are these worth an A?" she asked, gesturing at the notebook in front of her.
The Latina scoffed playfully. "Are you doubting my skills?" she asked before throwing her notebook on her bag.
Quinn just chuckled in reply, knowing that the Latina is aware that she's just kidding. She then looked around, raising an eyebrow again when she noticed that something is amiss.
"Where are the boys?" she asked, still looking around. Usually by this time, the two boys will already be pestering them.
"I think today is the day that they'll be informed of the team positions," the Latina replied before sighing, seemingly sad and disappointed. "So I don't think Finnessa will be able to feed us today."
"We can always buy our lunch," Quinn said with a raised eyebrow, although she can understand her friend's complaint: the cafeteria food pales in comparison to a professional chef's cooking. "And do you think one of them can be the quarterback?"
The Latina shrugged. "Maybe. They're decent players, and it's not like the team is teeming with amazing players to choose from anyway," she reasoned sarcastically before standing up.
"C'mon, Blondie. Let's cut in line," Santana declared with a smirk and Quinn rolled her eyes before standing up, too.
"I saw JewFro in front. I'll just threaten to burn his hair so we cou-"
Thump!
"I'm so sorry!"
Uh oh, Quinn mused, her hazel eyes wide as she saw the Latina's shocked face. She then witnessed how it morphed into a murderous expression when it focused on a pair of surprised, blue eyes.
"Are you blind?!" Santana screeched loudly and the whole cafeteria went silent. "Look at what you did!" she shouted, gesturing at her low-cut shirt now covered with mashed potatoes and gravy.
"I'm sorry! It was an accident!" Brittany reasoned with wide eyes. She then started turning her head left and right, obviously searching for something. She then bounded over in front of the cafeteria line, talked to the lunch lady, and came back with a big pack of tissues still in plastic.
"Here..."
Santana angrily snatched the proffered rolls before dabbing the ruined top with a large wad of tissues.
"Don't come near me!" the Latina hissed when the blue-eyed blonde tried to come closer, presumably to help.
"It's just... I have an extra top," Brittany timidly offered as she unzipped her bag, taking out a white top, "and you could borrow it if you wan-"
"I'm not borrowing anything from you," Santana snapped, still furiously dabbing her front with tissues.
"Okay..." the blonde trailed off, taken back by the venom. "But it's yours if you wan-"
"Listen here, you bleach-haired Einstein wannabe," the Latina hissed, throwing the used tissues with excessive force before unrolling fresh ones. "I'll rather walk around topless than let anything of yours touch my skin," she declared venomously.
"Please don't do that..." Brittany whispered with wide-eyes, but the other girl didn't hear because she's already whipping around and storming out, barking at the people in her way who are busy watching the drama unfold.
"Hey, I'll take this," Quinn said, taking the white top from the frozen blonde. "Don't worry about that topless thing. I'll make sure she wears this," she assured and the other girl just nodded absentmindedly, still shocked.
The hazel-eyed blonde then took off jogging to catch her friend. She didn't have to hurry though, because the screams of terror and the loud voice spewing Spanish profanities are enough to pinpoint Santana's location.
"Santana," Quinn started as soon as she get inside the bathroom, almost colliding with a girl who is running in tears, "stop being a drama queen and just take this," she said, handing over the borrowed shirt.
"Get that away from me!"
"Seriously?" the blonde said, chuckling in amusement at Santana's attempt to dab her shirt with wet paper towels. "Don't tell me that you'll follow through with your topless threat?" she questioned, earning her a glare from the Latina.
"Just look at it this way," Quinn started again, her voice morphing into a placating one. "After you're done with this," she said, waving the folded shirt in front of her scowling friend, "you can shred it with scissors."
"Heck, you can even use it to curse her or whatever," she added with a shrug, and she saw how the Latina's heavy scowl morphed into a thoughtful expression.
"Fine," Santana finally acquiesced. She then shucked off her dirty top before wetting another set of paper towels and cleaning her chest area. "She ruined mine anyways, so I'll just ruined hers," she grumbled before snatching the offered shirt and wearing it.
Quinn rolled her eyes at her friend's lack of modesty. "Atta girl," she sarcastically said. "Now, let's go back. We still have enough time for lunch."
"Welcome home, Quinn! Oh, hi Santana!"
"Hey, other Blondie," the Latina greeted back in faux cheeriness, smirking when the other blonde rolled her eyes. "Wait," tanned girl suddenly paused, her dark eyes widening, "is that crème brûlée?"
"Yep," Charlotte chirped as she torched away in the kitchen counter, pushing the glasses atop her nose further on her face. "I'm experimenting with the base recipe. You know, adding something extra," she added with a smile, the hem of her dress dress fluttering as she swayed and hummed a tune under her breath.
"Well, consider me your test subject on this experiment," Santana declared, eagerly scurrying forward - to Quinn's chagrin - to the kitchen as soon as the blonde is done with the small torch. Charlotte then gave her a spoon, told her to be mindful of the temperature, before the half-Latina spooned a mouthful.
Quinn scoffed at her friend's appreciative moaning and the other blonde's delighted smile. "Why are you cooking? I thought you'll do chores?" she inquired with a frown as she sat down on a stool on the island counter.
"I'm already done with it," the blue-eyed blonde said with a smile, and a Quinn raised an eyebrow at that. "I'm just passing time."
"Why can't you just watch TV like a normal person instead of cooking again?"
"Hey! Don't tell her what to do!" Santana piped in after another mouthful of the dessert. "She can do whatever she wants and cook whatever she wants," she declared, plopping on a stool besides Quinn and ignoring the hazel-eyed blonde's glaring in favor of enjoying her dessert.
"Thank you. And oh, before I forget," Charlotte said after cleaning up the kitchen. "I was actually waiting for you to come home. Daddy wants me to go to his office now. He said you'll drive me there," she said with another smile, and Quinn groaned.
"Yeah, I know," she just said, remembering her father's other text that she received on the drive home.
Dad: Quinnie Pooh, drive your sister to my office after you get home. Love, Daddy.
"Great! I'll just go take a shower! Wait here," the blue-eyed girl chirped before walking away from the two.
"Enjoy your shower!" the Latina called at the other girl's retreating back. "Ow! What was that for?"
"I thought you're on my side?" Quinn hissed, annoyed at her friend's betrayal.
"I am!" Santana hissed back, rubbing her slightly sore arm.
"Then why are you so chummy with her?"
"Dude, have you tasted this? This is, like, heaven," Santana reasoned, moaning appreciatively again at another spoonful. "You know how I love food. Why do you think I tolerate Finnept's presence?"
Quinn glared hard, but she doesn't have any counter argument for that. "Give me that!"
"Hey! That's mine!" the Latina called indignantly at the blonde who snatched the dessert and hopped off the stool, chuckling.
Quinn just shrugged as she spooned a big portion. "Your loss," she said with a smirk before spooning another big one, emptying the cup in the process to the Latina's horror.
"Why you little..."
The two girls are still wrestling on the carpeted floor of the living room when Charlotte came back thirty minutes later, her hair down and glasses gone. Her pale, blue eyes widened at the chaos in front of her.
"Uhmmm... What is going on here?" she tentatively asked.
"She took my crème brûlée!"
"Don't be such a baby," Quinn teased and the Latina growled before pushing the hazel-eyed blonde on the carpeted ground and started pulling her hair.
"Stop stop!" the blue-eyed blonde tried to reprimand, though her disposition is not firm enough. "I can always make another, Santana," she gently tried to coax the Latina when she saw how Quinn is sputtering from the chokehold. "How about I make one after we get back from Dad's office? You can come with us," she added with a smile.
"Sure," the Latina agreed with a grin, letting go of the sputtering blonde to Charlotte's relief. "C'mon, Blondie!" she said as she stood up, offering her hand to the Quinn who is busy calling the Latina every bad name ever invented by mankind.
The trip to Russell Fabray's office is uneventful, save for the few snarky exchange between the driver and the Latina seated on the passenger's seat.
"C'mon, Blondie. Don't be such a baby," Santana drawled with a smirk, parroting the other girl's comment earlier. Quinn glared daggers at her, but stopped herself from retorting when they're at the guard's post.
"There's my girls!" Russell boomed joyfully as soon as they stepped inside the spacious office. He pulled the two blonde to him before giving them both a big hug - to Quinn's horror and Charlotte's delight - simultaneously. "Oh, and there's my favorite Latina!" He exclaimed before hugging the other girl.
"Hey, Russell," the Latina said, smiling at the man.
"Come in," The blonde man then said, gesturing the three inside. He pointed at the sofa before going to his desk. "So this is for you," he said as soon as he's in front of the three again, giving a box to Charlotte.
"Thank you, Daddy!"
"Dad, you could've just given her that later," Quinn commented when she saw the brand new smartphone that the blue-eyed blonde is now inspecting.
"But I can't," Russell explained, his eyes twinkling in merriment at the sight of his excited daughter. "I'll be going to New Jersey for a three days. I'll drive to the airport immediately after work and I'll be back on Monday night."
The indifferent daughter just shrugged. "So? Give it to her on Monday night."
"But she needs it now because she'll start school on Monday," the blonde man explained further, chuckling at the surprised gasp from Charlotte. "All your documents are already processed and you're good to go," he said, directing the statement to the smiling blonde.
Great, Quinn thought, her lips curling in distaste. Time for my nightmare to begin.
My fluffy, smiling nightmare, she thought with a wince when she saw how wide Charlotte's smile is.
"Oh, and Quinn?" Russell added, turning his attention to the sulking blonde. "Can you drive Charlotte to the mall and help her pick some new clothes?"
What? she thought, aghast at the suggestion. You conniving old man, she thought again, groaning at Russell's smirk and Charlotte's expectant smile.
He planned this! she internally screamed, cursing her father's attempt to get his two daughters to bond.
"Here," Russell said as he fished out his wallet and took out his credit card, ignoring the glare that his daughter is undoubtedly throwing his way. "Go crazy on the shopping, but not too crazy," he added with a chuckle.
Charlotte's eyes widened at the blonde man's statement. "Oh, but that's too much-"
Russell waved a dismissive hand, cutting off the blue-eyed blonde's protests. "It's the least I can do, Charlotte," he reasoned, and Quinn saw the flicker of sadness in her father's eyes before it morphed again to it's usual twinkle. "So, off you go!"
The two blondes then skipped towards Russell - well, Charlotte skipped while Quinn trudged petulantly - to give him a kiss on his cheek. Hazel eyes narrowed when the other blonde gave a lingering hug.
The trio then exited the office and walked towards the elevator. They got in, pressed the button that'll lead them to the ground floor, and stood quietly - Charlotte hummed while Quinn huffed at the humming - as they descended.
"Why are you not complaining?" Quinn hissed quietly as soon as they were walking towards the parking lot with the other blonde in front. "Are you seriously okay with being dragged around the mall?"
Santana shrugged nonchalantly. "I get to have my dessert after," she reasoned as the three opened the car doors.
"Wait, are you kidding me?"
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either," the girl on the other line chuckled.
"Wow," Quinn just said as she laze around the living room, reading a fashion magazine. It's Saturday afternoon, and her homework is already done courtesy of the Latina who is currently reporting about Finn being the quarterback.
As in Finn Hudson, a.k.a. Finnept, Finnessa, Finnderella, and the occasional 'Finn the Dim' (Santana's proudest one, yet) is the new quarterback of McKinley High football team.
Mindfuck.
"Wait, so Finn is throwing the party?"
"No, Puck is," Santana corrected, and the hazel-eyed girl heard shuffling from the other line. "He said something about showing his support for his bro, or whatever gay thing that spouted from his mouth," she added, and the blonde chuckled at the quip.
"And it's tonight?" Quinn asked rather distractedly because Charlotte just came out of the bathroom, a bit sweaty and disheveled.
The Fabray's cleaner quit almost a month ago due to personal reasons (pregnancy). And since the two older Fabrays are too busy with work, they're always forgetting to hire another one, leaving Quinn with a ton of chores every weekends (and sometimes even weekdays).
That said, the hazel-eyed blonde doesn't feel sorry for giving all her chores to Charlotte.
If she wants to be a part of this family, she gotta pay her dues, she thought with a smirk as the blue-eyed blonde fixes her a skewed glasses with one gloved hand.
"...are you even listening to me?"
Quinn was snapped from her observations when she heard the girl on the line hissed impatiently. "Yeah, sure. What was it again?"
She heard a huff. "I just said that yes, it's tonight. The whole football team and the Cheerios are present. Even the girls who are eligible for the squad is invited, and that includes you and me."
"I don't know..." Quinn trailed off, remembering her mother's instructions. She will be home late - three a.m. kind of late - because of the five surgeries that she needs to perform today. Since Russell is away for a contract in New Jersey, the hazel-eyed blonde will be all alone at home and Judy firmly stated that she stayed on the house.
Oh yeah, there's also Charlotte, she absentmindedly thought when she caught a glimpse of the other blonde who is now vacuuming the living room.
"Blondie, this is our first party with the elites of McKinley High," Santana insisted. "This is what we've been working for, and you don't know?"
"No, I-" Quinn started then paused, sighing. "I know that, Santana. But Mom said to stay at home."
"Why?"
"They're both gone," she shrugged though the other girl won't be able to see. "I'm on house-sitting duty."
"Then ask your sister to house-sit instead."
Why didn't I think of that? she mused before remembering why: she doesn't trust the other girl.
That freakin' smile is so not trustworthy, Quinn thought as she observed the other blonde's humming and vacuuming. "I can't."
"Why not?"
The hazel-eyed blonde huffed. "I just can't."
The Latina sighed. "Look, Blondie. Just act nice and convince her that you'll just go to some safe, non-alcohol party to celebrate your friend's success."
Quinn chuckled despite herself. "Non-alcoholic?"
She can almost see in her mind's eye how Santana rolled her eyes. "I was forced by your mom to spend time with her. And in those few minutes, I figured that she's a goody-two-good-shoes."
"So if you assured her that there's no alcohol," Santana added as Quinn saw the other blonde crouching to get the vacuum cleaner under the furnitures, "then she'll definitely agree."
"Why do I have to reassure her?"
"Because you need her," the girl on the other line said simply. "Look, I know how she still gets your panties in a twist," Quinn scrunched her face at the unsavory choice of words, "but that's why acting is invented. Just act. It's not that hard."
"Says you."
The Latina huffed, seemingly frustrated. "Fine, I'm going to go. But remember this," she added, her voice turning low, "Finnessa, your childhood friend, would want you there to celebrate with him. Think of how he'll be so disappointed when his blonde buddy is not there."
Quinn pursed her lips at that statement, knowing that Santana's aware that that hits home. Finn is her friend, and it's not a friendly thing to not show support when it's doable.
But...
C'mon, Quinn! You can do it!
I don't wanna...
It's just for tonight. After this, you can go back to disliking the fluffy princess.
But I'll have to be nice to her...
Think of Finn!
Er, no thanks?
What? No! I mean think of your friend, Finn!
Fine...
"Fine," the hazel-eyed blonde said out loud with a defeated sigh.
"Good," the other girl said, and Quinn can detect the smug tone. "I'll pick you up at eight and we'll carpool in my car. See you later."
"Later," Quinn said before hanging up. She then turned her attention to the other blonde who is still vacuuming, pensive.
She stared, contemplating on what to say and how to say it. And when she's pretty sure that she got it all figured out, she took a deep breath and exhaled. "Hey... Charlotte?"
The blue-eyed blonde looked up from rearranging the trinkets near the TV and saw a sweet smile from the other blonde. "Can you stay here while I go out?" Quinn added, adding a saccharine quality to her tone.
Charlotte can't help but smile back at the unusually sweet smile from her sister, but then her expression morphed into confusion at the request. "But... Judy said that we both should stay home."
Quinn suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "I know that," she replied, mindful of not snapping at the other girl. "But there's a celebration at a friend's house tonight. Just a quiet, little get-together among friends," she added, remembering Santana's advice. "He just became the new quarterback."
"Oh," the blue-eyed blonde said as she pushed her glasses with her index finger. "But-"
"Charlotte," the hazel-eyed blonde drawled, schooling her face into her sweetest expression. "I'll be home before you know it. Here," she added before reaching over the bedside table and picking up Charlotte's new phone, "this is my number. You can text or even call me if you want," she said after typing her number and handing the phone back to its owner.
"Uhmm, okay..."
"Good," Quinn said with a friendly smile and nod, earning her a smile at the still slightly wary girl. "Santana will be here at eight and we'll both go to my friend's house," she added as she stood up, sauntering towards her room.
What do you know, she thought with a smirk as soon as she closed the door, I have the potential to be an actress.
"It's too crowded!"
"I know! Isn't it great?"
Quinn rolled her eyes at that before looking around. The party is already in full swing, and it's only eight p.m.
"Baby!" a voice boomed, before muscular arms lifted the Latina besides her. "I missed you," Puck crooned before capturing the girl's lips in a searing kiss. Quinn huffed before taking her eyes off the nauseating display to observe the surroundings.
Santana is right, the entire football team is here, still (curiously) wearing their letterman jackets. Quinn surmised that they may be too excited to be a part of the team (or they just want to brag).
There's also the familiar girls who just survived Coach Sylvester's first tryouts, coupled with some girls who are actual Cheerios. They are dancing on the living room - the furnitures were pushed to have a wider berth - and against an awkward looking and blushing boy.
The blonde left the still french kissing - now with added groping - couple and sauntered towards the awkward boy who is fist-pumping half-heartedly to the music's beat.
"Hey, Finn," the blonde greeted. "Enjoying yourself?" she added with a smirk as she looked pointedly to a girl - Chloe, she remembers - who is busy grinding at him.
"Hey, Quinn!" the boy greeted back, smiling brightly. Excusing himself from the throngs of girls who are busy throwing themselves at him, he walked to the blonde girl and hugged her.
Whatever, she thought with a smirk when the four girls glared at her. She hugged the boy back just to mess with the four, and one girl huffed before storming out, the three girls following her.
"You're here!" Finn exclaimed as she finally let go of Quinn. "I can finally talk to normal girls!" he added, and the hazel-eyed blonde chuckled at his statement. "Where's Santana?"
Quinn turned her head around, then rolled her eyes before gestured at the couple who is busy making-out under the stairs.
"Oh, right," Finn just said when he saw how the Latina jumped and wrapped her legs around the mohawked boy's hips. "I don't think they should do that in the open," he commented when he saw how the mohawked boy pressed himself firmly on the Latina while grinding his pelvis, earning him a loud moan from the girl.
"Yeah... But you know how they can be," Quinn just commented, her lips pursed in both amusement and disgust at the blatant display. The other partygoers caught wind of the show, and some people started cat-calling them and encouraging them.
When he noticed that people are starting to fish out their phones to presumably record them, Puck stopped his ministrations. He then kissed his pouting girlfriend before gently dragging her upstairs, accepting the high-fives given to him by his teammates on the way up.
"There we go," the hazel-eyed blonde commented as they witnessed the couple's ascent to the second floor. "I hope you thoroughly sanitize your bedroom tomorrow."
"Nah, it's okay," Finn said, waving his hand dismissively at the quip. "Puck and I had a deal. He'll be cleaning my room when they have sex," he said, smiling his boyish smile.
Quinn raised an impressed eyebrow. "Impressive, and in exchange for what?"
The tall boy shrugged. "For this party? I don't really want to have one. He just insisted."
The blonde frowned at that. "You shouldn't let him do that."
"He has a point, though," Finn reasoned with a shrug. "I'm the quarterback now, so I should be cool. And parties are cool," he explained, and Quinn can't help but chuckle at the simple explanation.
"Still, you're not Puck. You hate alcohol."
"That's why I have this," he whispered, raising the cup his clutching to her eye-level. Quinn smirked when she realized that it's just apple juice. "You want some?" he asked, sipping on the fruity goodness.
Quinn paused at the question, pensive. She's not really partial to alcohol, preferring hot chocolates or even milkshakes.
But then she remembered how her life has changed in just a couple of days. She remembered how a stranger introduced herself to their life, forcing her family to adjust just to accommodate said stranger.
She also remembered yesterday when she was basically forced to bond with the stranger through shopping. She remembered the flurry of dresses and girly things, and how she also bought some pretty expensive things just to spite her conniving father.
Suddenly, drinking seems a pretty good idea.
"I want to drink," she declared when she remembered that from now on, she's not her father's only daughter anymore.
Charlotte Quinn Fabray is now part of her life, whether she wants it to or not.
She'll rather not.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Oh. Well, there are wine coolers in the fridge if you want. Is that okay?"
"Sure," Quinn said with a nod before standing up. "C'mon," she said, dragging the tall boy to the kitchen to lead her to the booze.
For the first hour, Quinn stuck to wine coolers. But when the clock slowly strikes to midnight, the list of alcohols that she consumed got longer and longer. At eleven o'clock, she, Santana, Puck, some Cheerios, and even some football players are taking shots after shots of tequila.
"Oh! I know what's awesome!" Puck shouted with wide eyes. He then poured another shot - messily - into his shot glass, then raising the glass before dramatically inhaling.
"Body shots!" he shouted with a fist-pump and he was greeted by enthusiastic, drunken shouts in reply.
Quinn knew that she should not participate, but her inebriated state is much more loose than her morality. Puck started the event by picking - of course - Santana as his partner.
He tugged her closer, earning a handful of cat-calls, before gently running his tongue on her collarbone. Smirking, he salted the licked area, brought the lime in between the Latina's pouty lips, and licked the salt off before taking his shot. He then went for the lime, and when it's done, he went for a kiss.
The kiss went longer than appropriate, but no one is really complaining (except for Finn who is busy drinking his apple juice and not participating on the reason that good hosts don't get drunk).
And when the longer-than-really-necessary kiss is done, the Latina smirked before curling her finger seductively, gesturing for the hazel-eyed blonde to come closer.
Oh boy... she thought, remembering the times when the Latina gets a little 'handsy' with girls when drunk. But with the help of the alcohol in her system, Quinn didn't think of it too much as she clumsily walked towards the smirking Latina.
Quinn is never at the receiving end of the attention, but she was about to be on one.
Santana tugged the blonde closer to her, her expression predatory. She then started unbuttoning Quinn's shirt, exposing her bra to the delight of the boys. The hazel-eyed blonde is about to complain when the Latina bent over and licked the blonde's cleavage.
Oh... Quinn thought, her mouth widening in surprise when she saw how the other girl salted that area before a grinning Puck handed her a shot.
"This is so hot..." the mohawked boy muttered in obvious delight as Santana put a wedge of lime in between the blonde's lips. She then winked before taking the shot then bending over to lazily run her tongue on the salted skin.
"Top that, Blondie," the Latina whispered in the blonde's mouth after she's sucked the lime off of her lips.
Quinn was snapped from her trance when she heard that before narrowing her eyes at the Latina's smug expression. Maybe it was the alcohol, but she can't let Santana win this thing... whatever this is.
Hazel eyes roamed around the circle, looking for an attractive partner to top Santana's act. She winced at the selection of boys, because the only attractive one is Puck (there's Finn, but she won't go there). After a a few seconds of indecisiveness, the booze then pointed to an attractive brunette wearing a short skirt and tight top that Quinn remembered at the tryouts.
"Hey... Michaela, right?"
"Yeah?"
The blonde then gestured the brunette to her, and all the boys clapped at the choice. Quinn figured that the brunette is also drunk when she just enthusiastically skipped towards her.
Or maybe she wants this... she thought, but shrugged it off since it's not relevant. Smirking, she gestured the girl to hop on the table. Without losing the smirk, she crouched down and slowly raised the girl's skirt.
When there's no protest from the brunette, she then pushed her legs apart and very slowly ran her tongue on the girl's inner thigh, much to the delight of the boys.
"Salt," she ordered with a snap of her fingers before a very eager Puck handed it to her. She then gestured for the boy to fill her shot glass before turning her attention to the thigh, dusting the moist area with the salt-shaker.
When she is handed her shot and wedge of lime, she looked up to the girl in front of her - the girl is blushing heavily and her breathing is ragged - before closing in on the thigh and licking the salt off. Quinn heard a subtle hitch of breath before she took her shot.
Oh, I'm not yet done, she thought when she saw her Latina friend with an impressed eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. She then squeezed the lime on her hand, making a mess on the girl's thigh.
The other girl gasped, surprised, before she squeaked and moaned when Quinn started slurping the lime off of the thigh. She squeaked again when the blonde sucked on a particularly sensitive spot.
"Nice, Blondie," Santana said with a grin when the hazel-eyed blonde straightened up.
Quinn smirked before turning to look at the brunette. "Thanks," she said, offering her hand to the girl.
"Anytime," the brunette replied rather dreamily, her eyes still glazed as she hopped off the table.
The room is full of cat-calls and claps, with the loudest being Puck. Quinn's drunken self soaked it all in, giddy at the attention. Hazel eyes roamed the crowd, her smile getting bigger at the sight of her approving peers.
But then her eyes caught an unexpected person, and she paused.
"Quinn?"
Quinn's eyes widened at the vision of a blue-eyed blonde who is wearing a white dress, her blonde hair in side-swept ponytail and her glasses folded on her collared neckline. The girl's eyes are as wide as Quinn's, though probably for a different reason.
"Whoa, who is the hottie?"
"Doesn't she look like Quinn?"
"Is she her sister?"
The hazel-eyed blonde snapped from her trance when she heard the murmuring getting louder and louder. She then stomped her way towards the other girl and dragged her outside, feeling the sobering effects of the shock at seeing Charlotte.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed as soon as she let go of the girl.
"It's late and you're not yet home," Charlotte explained.
"How did you even find this place?"
"I texted Dad."
"You what?!"
"No, no," the blue-eyes blonde placated when she saw the murderous glint on the hazel eyes. "I didn't tell him you're gone. I just told him that you mentioned how a friend of yours is a quarterback. He then gushed about someone named Finn Hudson, and I saw Hudson on that list in the kitchen," Quinn huffed at that, remembering the emergency contact list, "and it was the only Hudson there, so I figured it's where you are."
"So? Why did you have to go here?"
"Because it's late," Charlotte said simply, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, "and you told me that there'll be no alcohol."
Quinn rolled her eyes before crossing her arms in defiance. "Well, I lied."
"Why would you do that?" the other girl asked, tilting her head in confusion. "Never mind, let's just go home, please? Judy has been calling nonstop to check up on you."
"You should've just told her that I'm asleep."
"But you're not."
"I'm obviously not," Quinn sarcastically retorted, "but you should've just said that."
"But that'll be lying."
"So?"
The furrowed eyebrows deepened in at that. "Lying is bad," Charlotte slowly said, as if trying to explain something so obvious.
But Quinn doesn't want to listen. The alcohol in her body is making her more defiant and more impatient than usual. "You know what," she just said with a dark chuckle, her body turning around, "I don't care. Just tell her the truth if you want," she finished before turning completely around.
"But-"
Quinn suddenly whipped around, her face venomous. "Just go!" she exploded, and the other girl jumped in both surprise and fright.
Though surprised, Charlotte pushed through with convincing her sister. "But Quin-"
"Urghhh! Haven't you had enough?!" the hazel-eyed blonde spat as she continued, cutting off the blonde's protests. "First, you force yourself into my family. Then you started cooking and cleaning and all that good girl shit so my parents would want you to stay. And now you're lecturing me on how to hang out with my friends?"
"That's not my intenti-"
"I don't care!" Quinn shouted again, the other girl jumping again at the sheer volume. "I don't care about whatever bullshit intention you have, because you're nothing to me."
"You're not my sister," she hissed, her body vibrating in anger. "You never is and never will be. So stop acting like you are," she finished, her face flushed - before with intoxication - with anger.
Charlotte just stood there, obviously shocked at the outburst. Then the hazel-eyed blonde saw the welling of tears in those pale, blue eyes.
"I-I'm sorry..." the blue-eyed blonde whispered, her hands raising to subtly wipe at her eyes. Quinn felt something akin to regret at the sight, but she stomped it hard deep inside her.
She deserves it, the hazel-eyed girl internally reasoned when she saw Charlotte slowly backing away.
"I'll just go... Take care..." the blue-eyed blonde trailed off before walking towards the car that Quinn noticed as her own.
She scoffed before turning away and walking back to the house, not even bothering to check whether Charlotte drove off safely.
When she got inside, the party is still in full swing. She then accepted the shot that Santana handed to her after answering the question on whether or not Charlotte went back home.
And what do you know, she mused when she caught a glimpse of a wall clock that says twelve o'clock, Cinderella is really gone at midnight.
To be continued...
