Chasing A Dream ch. 6
Waking up every morning in a soft, warm bed than in reclined car seat is the best feeling and taking an actual shower instead of out a sink of a smelly gas station is pure heaven as I walk out of the bathroom, feeling more refreshed than ever. I lace up my shoelaces before opening the door to see Marley and Kitty already dressed while my sister's currently sitting in Rachel's lap who's braiding a single braid along the side of her into head. The diva doesn't notice me leading against the doorway under the smaller brunette bounces up to her as I lift her into my arms, hugging her tightly before setting her down.
She looks up at me smiling before patting Kitty on the shoulder, signaling that's done as she hugs my leg happily as the dynamic duo walks out of the room hand-in-hand as the singer sets the brush on the dresser. I don't know what happened but it seems like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders and I wanted to ask her what happened between this morning and last night but if she wanted to tell me then she would tell me in her own time. Going down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Alex and Xavier in the kitchen, cooking breakfast, laughing and just enjoying each other company was something that I'm not used to seeing as my parents could barely tolerate each other let alone enjoying the other's company.
Dad was rarely home as he was more likely than drinking and gambling away his problems and Mom was too drunk to notice that she had children depending on her to care of them instead of the other way around. More often than not, I was cleaning her up and doing all of the housework while taking care of my little sister, feeling more and more like an parent to someone should be able to take care of themselves. I don't want to be anything like them and I swore that I would become that someone that my sister could be proud as well as when I looked myself in the mirror, I wouldn't see my Mother or my Father, I would see something worthwhile.
"Quinn"
"What?" I said snapping out of my thoughts.
"Are you okay, kiddo? We lost ya there for a sec" Xavier asked concerned.
"Yeah, just got lost in my thoughts" I said sheepishly.
I could tell that they didn't believe me but thankfully that they didn't say anything else on the matter while Rachel agreed to take the girls to school as I head off to the soccer field to meet with the soccer captain. Apparently she wants to talk to me about something as she was vague as hell about what it was about but I guess that I'll find out when I get there and I was almost out the door when Xavier stops me. He smiles happily as he places a brown lunch paper bag in my hand then place a kiss on my forehead, throwing me off guard as I walked out the door, looking over my shoulder as he just chuckles.
I hopped into my car, making it to school in five minutes before heading straight to the soccer field where soccer captain Natalya Perez watching over the try-out with a impassive look on her, standing on her left and I knew that was aware of my presence. The senior was kind but could be tough when she needed to be as she was tougher on me than the rest of the team and it made a better player and I'm grateful to her but I still don't know why she wanted to me today.
"Fabray" Natalya said nodding in greeting.
"Perez" I said stuffing my hands into my back pockets. "Any decent prospects?"
"There are a few and maybe that might need a bit of work but has potential"
"Looks like you might have your work cut out for you" I chuckled.
"Not really. You might though" Natalya said smirking.
"Huh?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Quinn, the reason that I've been so tough on you specifically is because I saw something in you that would make a great player and an even greater captain. I've been training to take over me because in a few weeks I'm going to Louisiana to play for the New Orleans Jesters" Natalya said facing me fully.
"W-What?! What about the team?"
"I called the team yesterday and they know about my departure which I put it to a vote about you replacing me and it was unanimous" Natalya said smiling softly. "Quinn, I know that you can do this. I have complete faith in you and I can't think of anyone that I would rather pass the torch to"
"When are you leaving? What about school?" I asked running my hand through my hair.
"In two weeks and I'm going to get my GED but I can't leave unless I know for sure that you'll accept" Natalya said placing her hand on my shoulder.
"Do I have much a chocie?" I said sighing.
"No" Natalya said smirking slightly. "Unless you want Ravenna taking over"
"Oh hell nah, there's no way I'm letting that bitch become captain" I said frowning.
"She was the only one that was against you being captain and if you're in charge then I know that the power's not gonna go to your head"
Ravenna Brothwood has been a pain in my side ever since we both tried out for the soccer team in our freshman year cause I got to be a starter and she was stuck on the bench for most of the season. We both competed for the same position of offensive midfielder and for the better part of the last two years, she's been my substitute but she's been gunning for my position to prove that she's better than me but so far nothing has come of it. With my being chosen for captain, I thing that the brunette might try to get me dethroned but there's no way that I'm gonna let that but I can't let her go just because I don't like her although we'll see how this season goes. Luckily Natalya's still gonna be here for another two weeks so I'm not too worried as we continued to watch the try-outs in peace when Rachel walks by, walking towards the school as we locks eyes and she smiles, giving me a small wave. I smile back with a two finger salute when I notice that the captain has a knowing smirk on her face and I raise an unimpressed eyebrow at her.
"What?"
"So things are going well with Berry I see"
"Well as expected but um, I uh have a quick question for you" I said scratching my cheek.
"You want advice on wooing your lady friend, is that it?" Natalya said giggling good-naturedly.
"Yeahhh kinda" I said shifting from one foot to the other.
"I'm assuming that she's type that likes grand gestures and all that jazz then I suggest using the skill you have at your disposal and make a big/meaningful. Show how truly special she is to you"
Using the skills that I have. Make it meaningful. I think that I have something in mind but I'm gonna help with this. I thanked Natalya before heading off towards auditorium where I knew that Mercedes and Sam hide out when they want to get some piracy to make out and I had to pry them away from each other long enough to explain the plan. If I want Rachel to be mine then I have to show her that I'm serious and all in.
After breaking up with Finn, I assumed that the news of our breakup would have spread to the entire school by the time I walked through the double doors and I would be back at the bottom of the social ladder to face all of the ridicule from the popular crowd. I kept my head held high and my shoulders square because Daddy always told me to always told me to never let the haters see you sweat. I walked towards my locker to gather my class for first period when I see Jesse and Karofsky heading towards me with Big Gulp cup filled to the brim with blueberry slushy, I could only stand ready to take the icy slap.
I closed my eyes to avoid getting it in my eyes and I waited but nothing, opening my eyes to see that I'm completely dried as I stared at someone's back who had taken both slushy attacks to realize that this person is none other than Quinn. She wipes the frozen corn syrup from her face as she glares threateningly at the assailants before grabbing the both of them by their collars as her voice was eerily clam but too low to tell what had been said. From the looks of pure dread and terror on their face that it wasn't pleasant to say the least as she pushes them away from her before turning to face with me with a kind smile on her face.
"You okay, Rachel?" Quinn asker concerned.
"You were just on the receiving end of a double slushy attack and you're asking me if I'm okay" I said grabbing my slushy kit from my locker.
"I have my proprieties in order" Quinn chuckles.
I shake my head as we walked into the bathroom with Quinn turning on the cold water, dipping her head under the running to scrub the ice chip out of her hair and I open my green apple shampoo. I rub the soap into her hair, making sure that I get all of the corn syrup out of her hair since I have far more experience in dealing with this than the soccer player does before washing the soap out. She raises her head as she squeezes the excess water from her hair as I pulled a towel out from my kit, wrapping it around her shoulders to rub her hair down when she stop my hands as the towel lays around her head. I looked into her eyes to see sincerity and kindness staring back at me as I notice that her hair is sticking out in all different direction like a lion's man and I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Hey! Stop laughing at me" Quinn pouts.
"I'm sorry Quinn but you look like a lion with your hair sticking out like that" I said between laughs.
"Oh yeah, I am Lion Quinn! Hear me roar" Quinn said baring her teeth.
I shake my head as she pulls her soaked through shirt off, noticing that she has a tattoo on her right shoulder of a lion head with two spears crossed behind it as well as that soccer has worked in her favor. Her tone stomach to the nice sized arm muscles as I feel my chin being lift to so I'm making eye contact with a pair of hazel eyes and an amused smirk, pulling on a short sleeved red hoodie.
"My eyes are up here" Quinn said smugly.
"I-I knew that. I was just-"
"Ogling. Yes, I know but try to retrain yourself"
"Do you have to be such an arrogant asshole?" I asked rolling my eyes.
"No but I know that it gets under your skin and I wouldn't be me if I wasn't an asshole sometimes" Quinn said leaning against the sink.
"You know what I think" I said crossing my arms.
"No. What?" Quinn asked curious.
"I think you're hiding behind this tough, arrogant asshole persona to keep others from seeing the kind person that's afraid of being vulnerable because she's been hurt and let down too many times" I said sympathetically.
Quinn looks away from me for a moment and for that moment, I could almost see that vulnerable girl but as soon as she tries to break out of that tough exterior, the walls come back up. I do want the soccer player to be open with me but I know that it's going to take time for her to be comfortable with that concept as I step into her personal space, stepping on my tippy-toes to place a chaste kiss on her cheek before taking a step back.
"Walk me to class?"
"Anything for my fair princess" Quinn said holding her arm.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 6