Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Rachel's lying on her bed, trying to read Les Miserables for class and getting overly frustrated- it's just so long- when Blair walks in, clutching an essay and looking slightly unhinged. Her normally immaculate hair is ruffled, and her scarf is on crooked. For a perfectionist like Blair, that is unusual indeed.
She sits up curiously, and Blair sinks on to the bed next to her, turns and says "How would you define perfect love?"
Rachel frowns. "Well, I would say Finn- letting me go to New York- but he never remembered that I was vegan and was far too interested in touching my breasts to really listen to me- so not that- um, Romeo- no, he was stupid- Tony and Maria? No, they rushed it."
She scrapes around her knowledge of musicals and plays, making a list and mentally discounting everyone on it. Then she has a flash of inspiration.
"Romantic love is too flawed. Me and Quinn- our relationship- that's perfect love"
Blair nods approvingly.
"Read this," she says, passing the essay over.
Rachel scans the neatly written words, nodding in agreement, and frowns at the teacher's comment. "Significant other?" she says, confused.
"Yeah- that's what I thought."
"That's strange."
"There's more."
She tells Rachel about the Professor gently, kindly mentioning the GSA to her, about the counsellors available and a brief mention of having a best friend like that once, and her stuttered reaction, half-anger and half-shock.
"She thinks what you feel for Serena- and consequently, what I feel for Quinn- is romantic love?" Rachel sums up, looking confused.
Blair nods succinctly.
Rachel looks at her, and chews her knuckle.
"Oh," she whispers.
"Wouldn't that make us gay?" she asks a minute or so later, whispering it, almost scared.
"Maybe," Blair whispers back.
"So, hypothetically, if I was in love with Quinn, I'd find other girls attractive…"
"…and if I was in love with Serena, I would too." Blair finishes.
There's an awkward pause.
"Do you think we should check?" Rachel says, so quietly that she's almost mouthing silently.
"We could."
"…"
"…"
"No, I'm not gay," Blair says, wiping her mouth.
"Me either."
"No offence."
"Ditto"
Rachel picks up her book again, and Blair hurriedly moves to the desk. They study for the rest of the afternoon, and each privately determine to- with an air of relief- never, ever mention it again.
They've checked. They're not gay. It's all good.
/
Quinn has a date. Rachel smiles and congratulates, and asks all the right questions, but has to fight back tears.
She goes to bed after they disconnect and wakes up to a damp pillow.
His name is Alex, and is perfectly charming, and he's brunette and funny and likes tea. Quinn's happy, and Rachel has no idea why she's so sad.
She still talks to Quinn every night, and she's never seen Alex, lounging around in the back of the webcam. Quinn is still Quinn- kind and funny and witty.
But she still cries into her pillow.
A guy in Theatre Studies asks her out, and she says no.
She doesn't know why- she hasn't missed Finn in weeks- and he's exactly her type. Tall, with a leading man quality and would look great in a suit. But the thought of dating anybody is suddenly unappealing. She feels like she did in high school- pining, but over something unfathomable.
/
When Blair tentatively suggests, pale and terrified, that they go to a GSA meeting- as allies, of course, because of their dads- Rachel agrees. They spend the hour or so before watching The Great Gatsby (the Mia Farrow version).
A/N: I love everyone.
