The rest of the week drifted by in a haze. Nobody really said anything to her so when it was time for her last class on Friday, she felt relived. She took her seat in the back of the room, but today someone sat next to her.
"Hello, Quinn!" Rachel said as if they were friends.
"Hi, Rachel," She responded reluctantly. She usually sat alone or near people who wouldn't dare talk to her, so it was strange to talk to someone before class. Quinn had gotten used to the isolation she put herself through and it seemed like no one cared enough to think about her.
Berry was droning on about some boring topic, while Quinn pretended to listen. Thankfully, their teacher, Mrs. Okano, came in and started droning on about English, which shut Rachel up. Quinn only caught half of what the teacher was saying, so the bell came as a shock to her when it rang. Quinn tried to hurry toward the door, but Rachel caught up with her. She walked next to Quinn, but didn't say anything till they were out of the school doors.
"Are you okay?" she said worryingly.
"Yeah, of course I am." Rachel was not going to make her start a scene.
"You just seem kind of distant." Rachel had a searching look in her eyes now, as if she was trying to read Quinn's mind.
"I'm fine." I said. I erased all readable emotions from my face.
"I just want you to know that I'm here for you if you need anything." On that note Rachel walked away.
That night was horrible. Quinn's father was drunk and brought all his rage out on her. There were gashes all over her body, bruises on top of bruises, and the worst was the words he said. Each abrasion was for one time she had let him down, even in things she couldn't control like how when she was in third grade her soccer team lost a tournament.
Each cut got deeper and each bruise hurt more with the words of he said as he marked her. He hurt her physically and emotionally. After two hours, he passed out from alcohol, and she took it as a golden opportunity to leave. She didn't bother putting more makeup on or changing her clothes, she was to hurt to try and do those things.
She threw her things in her bags and got in her car. She drove for hours not knowing where to go. She didn't want anyone to see her like this. Everyone was so used to seeing her look fabulous that the mere thought of people seeing her in this state made her skin crawl. I'm such a horrible person, she though, my biggest concern right now is people not liking how I look. She thought about Puck and Mercedesbut she had already intruded on their houses.She debated going to Finn's house but remembered he lived with Kurt now, and as much as she loved Kurt, he loved good gossip. Finn was also desperately in love with Rachel. Quinn remembered how Rachel had confronted her earlier. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you if you need anything." She had said. Quinn new where she had to go.
As Quinn pulled up to Rachel's house she was hesitant as she got out of her car. What if Rachel hadn't meant it this way, what if she was just trying to get Quinn to tell her if something was wrong and not ask for a place to stay? All the thoughts going through Quinn's head sounded like that as she approached the door. She realized tears were streaming down her face as she reached for the doorbell. Rachel opened the door almost immediately.
"Quinn, what happened to you?" Rachel asked. Quinn threw herself into Rachel's arms.
"I'm so sorry to intrude, but I don't have anywhere else to go." She sobbed.