I apologize for any and all grammatical errors.
Quinn isn't sure what to do now that Lunch time has come without having to clean any slushie out of her hair or anyone elses for that matter.
She catches sight of Sue Sylvester, a sly grin on her face, that frankly, gives Quinn the creeps.
Santana and Quinn meet up with Brittany, who walks out of the boys locker room with Mercedes and a good as new Sam.
Quinn isn't feeling up for a huge crowd, especially after all the praise she gets from Sam and Mercedes for standing up to Rick. Quinn smiles at them, but really doesn't want any praise for stopping a tradition she once upheld herself.
So instead she takes her belongings and tells Santana that she has something to do. Though her best friend is skeptical, she allows it.
Yes, Quinn knows she did right for standing up to Rick, but can she really feel pride when she is the one who used to throw those very slushies?
The look Rachel gave her when she stood up for her, really made it worth while. Quinn begins to wonder if this is enough to get her life back to normal. As much as she likes the fact that she is given the chance to redeem all the wrong she has done during her high school career, she rather not do it while having to explain it to her best friend over and over again.
She's only had to tell Santana twice and already she's tired of convincing her that she's reliving monday.
Quinn wanders down the mostly empty hallways. Most students have opted to take the normal route and actually eat lunch during their lunch break.
She finds herself in the choir room. She's come to realize how much this room really means to her. During her pregnancy scare she lost everything she once thought she had. She was kicked out of her home, and instead of going to either Santana or Brittany's house, she pulled away from her best friends.
The student body was after her blood. And could she blame them? She was awful to them and they found a weakness and struck. Hard. Sylvester kicked her off the cheerios.
You find out who your friends are real quick when you're no longer popular. The only ones who really had her back were the members of the glee club. Ironically enough, the person who offered the most support was the one she had given the most grief at one point. Rachel Berry. That's who always made sure Quinn hade everything she needed. And even thought it was the worst three weeks of her life, Quinn found out who her true friends were.
Sylvester soon reinstated Quinn as head cheerio, with a few of the blondes stipulations. She no longer had to wear her cheerio uniform every day, only on game days. It set her apart from the rest of the cheerios. She no longer wanted to be like the rest of her cheerio teammates.
She sits at the piano, her fingers stroking the keys, playing random notes. They chime in the air. She smiles at the sounds emitting from the piano. She plays no particular tune, never having learned piano.
"Didn't see you in the cafeteria." A voice calls from the doorway.
Quinn smiles down at the keys, not looking up. She just continues to tap the keys lightly.
"I could have been outside." Quinn tells her, her smile turns into a grin when Rachel takes a tentative seat next to her on the piano bench.
"I admit, I might have looked for you out there too." Rachel admits shyly, sliding in next to Quinn properly, both girls facing the piano. "And the theatre."
Quinn chuckles lightly, watching as Rachel's nimble fingers float over the keys. Not daring to press any of them, she wouldn't want to be rude, interrupting Quinn's playing.
"The theatre? That's where I would go if I needed to find you." Quinn stops her playing, nodding down at Rachel's finger, giving her permission to play.
"To be fair, I checked Coach Sylvester's office first." Rachel admits, her cheeks tinting pink.
"We just spoke in the hallway. Why go through all the trouble?" Quinn asks, watching as Rachel's fingers effortlessly glide over the keys, softly playing a familiar song. One Quinn can't quite place.
"I just thought- you know- you wouldn't want everyone to see you defending me. I'm pretty sure-" Before Rachel can continue her rambling, Quinn stops her.
"I didn't stand up to Rick as some sort of power play. I was defending you, Rachel. I don't care if everyone sees." Quinn tells Rachel. The diva's finger stumble slightly at the admission.
"Not that I don't appreciate it, but why now?" Rachel asks in a whisper. It's a fair question.
"I figured it's time for a change around here." Quinn tells her. Though that isn't the half of it. Rachel looks slightly disappointed at the information. Rachel's hand has to reach in front of Quinn to continue playing the song. The blonde intentionally brushes her fingers against Rachel's. It's clear it was intentional.
"I didn't want to see you get hurt." Quinn adds. Again, Rachel's finger fumble over the keys. Quinn turns to face Rachel directly. Rachel does the very same. The girls are a breath away from each other. All Quinn would have to do is lean in..
The lunch bell clangs loudly, startling the girls enough to have them jump apart.
"Oh um, I better get to class." Rachel jumps to her feet, picking up her backpack from the floor.
Quinn looks over her shoulder at Rachel, watching the girl go.
"Wait!" Quinn calls out to the Diva. It's enough to stop Rachel mid step.
"What song was that?" Quinn asks instead of asking what she really wants to.
"La Vie En Rose." Rachel smiles before exiting.
The rest of the school day goes by rather quickly. With only two periods left in the day, Quinn was free to day dream
Wondering if her shared moment with Rachel actually meant something. Or maybe Rachel had been caught up in the moment. It's understandable, who wouldn't get caught up in a moment like that.
Quinn sure as hell knows she did. She might as well have confessed her deep rooted feelings that she is harboring for the Diva. Seriously Quinn, get your head in the game! Be calm, be cool, be collected.
That's the plan, now stick to it.
When the final bell rings Quinn also finds that watching students leave McKinley High is unfamiliar to her. The last 2 times she has lived this monday she was either hiding in the locker room, ridding her self of slush, or heading straight or the choir room.
This time Quinn watches the students exit, when Rick passes by he goes out of his way to get as far away as he can from Quinn. Quinn can't help but feel a little smug at this fact.
Quinn waits until the entire student body, for the most part at least, has exited McKinley before she makes her way to glee club,
She's purposefully fashionably late. 1. because she does not want to get any praise from her fellow glee club members for her supposed 'heroic act' of the day. 2. She's not quite sure what she would say to Rachel if she got the chance to talk to her.
Should she apologize for almost kissing her? Should she pretend it never happened?
William Schuester is, once again, trying to explain altruism. If he wants the perfect embodiment of the word he should just have Rachel stand before the club.
Quinn isn't naive, or clouded with the 'intense crush' haze. She knows Rachel isn't without her faults, but she doesn't find them nearly as annoying as the rest of the class. In fact, she finds a lot of them endearing.
As soon as she enters the room, all eyes are one her. Even Mr. Schuester stops his lesson to turn and look at her. So much for an educator right? Well, she wasn't exactly trying to sneak in either, to be fair.
"Sorry I'm late." Quinn mumbles. Santana stares at her questioningly, but the girl just shrugs and continues on to find a seat. It seems almost deliberate the the nearest available seat is the one between Rachel and Santana. Quinn doesn't think she's ever seen her best friend willingly sit so close to Rachel.
"You want a definition of that word?" Santana whispers once Quinn takes a seat. Both girls look up at the board. "You're looking at it. I chose to sit here because I knew you would want to be as close-" Santana is cut off by none other than Mr. Schue.
"Santana do you have a song you would like to present?" He asks her pointedly. Santana rolls her eyes. She's not the firs person to talk during one of Schue's lessons and she won't be the last.
"Nope." Santana's pops her lips on the 'p'. Brittany smiles at her side and leans her head on the Latina's shoulder.
"Well because you seem so keen on-" But before Mr. Schue can finish Rachel raises her hand. "One second Rachel." He's about to continue on with berating Santana but the Latina shakes her head.
"Rachel's willing to sing, give her a shot." Santana tells the man. Everyone turns to openly gape at Santana. She used Rachel's first name. Out loud. In public.
"What?" She calls out to the room defensively.
"Mr. Schue, if you'll allow." Rachel stands, not bothering to wait for an answer. Somewhere in the back of the room Puck snorts and gives Rachel a thumbs up. Quinn still finds their friendship rather odd, but welcomes it if she has someone always watching out for her.
"This song doesn't necessarily have to do with the lesson, but I'd really like to sing it for you all. Brad, I can handle it." Rachel dismisses the man behind the piano with a smile.
For the second time that day, Rachel plays La Vie En Rose. Only now she is confident in herself. Her fingers are precise, and her voice, as always is perfect. She sings the english version of the song and Quinn can swear everyone can see her swooning.
When the song is done, Rachel finally lifts her gaze. And it lands right on Quinn.
Quinn takes Santana and Brittany home. Well, she drops Santana off at Brittany's house. Santana promises to call her later that night. Quinn can't help but notice the lack of Brittany's parents car in the driveway. At least her best friend will be in a good mood when she calls later.
Quinn goes home to do her homework because she has a good feeling about the day. She really thinks she has learned her lesson.
When it comes time for dinner Quinn tries with all her might to keep a good conversation with her mother. She figures it's a key part to the puzzle that is her life these past couple of days, but no matter how hard she tries, she can't help but feel awkward.
To be fair, Judy tries her very best as well. They're in the middle of dinner when the doorbell rings.
Quinn isn't quite sure why she's so surprise. Rachel has shown up the last 2 mondays, of course she would show up again.
"I'll get it." Quinn jumps to her feet before Judy can even open her mouth to speak. The head cheerio glances at her reflection in the mirror near the entrance. She straightens her clothes, checks her teeth for food, and brushes her hair into place.
Calm. Cool. Collected.
She opens the door carefully, feigning surprise.
"Rachel!" Quinn may sound a bit hysterical.
What the hell happened to calm, cool, and collected?
"Hi Quinn. I just- I don't think I got to properly thank you today." Rachel starts, fidgeting with the hem of her sweatshirt.
"You went out of the way to look for me." Quinn smiles. There that's better. Rachel can sense the teasing is good natured. She looks up from the hem of her shirt and smiles.
"I just don't think you understand how much it meant to me." Rachel admits shyly.
"I just wish you didn't have to deal with that in the first place. I truly am sorry about that." Quinn apologizes. Rachel shakes her head.
"I didn't come here to dig up the past. I just really wanted to thank you." They both stand there silently for a moment before Quinn realizes she's being rude.
"Would you like to come in for dinner?" Quinn invites her in, opening the door for the diva to enter. Of all the things Rachel is the most surprised about (including almost kissing her) this is by far the most surprised she's looked.
"I shouldn't." Rachel shakes her head. "I wouldn't want to impose."
"It's no problem at all." Judy speaks up, peaking out from the hallway. Quinn hadn't been aware her mom was listening. "C'mon on in, Rachel, right?" Judy extends her hand to greet the diva.
"Yes ma'am, Rachel Berry." Rachel takes a step inside. Her eyes wandering all over the place. Taking in the house. She smiles at some of Quinn's pictures when she was young (before her Lucy era).
"I've seen you at some of the performances. You have quite the voice. You my dear, have a bright future." Judy tells Rachel, leading her to the dinner table.
"Thank you." Rachel beams. Quinn has never felt so proud to call Judy her mother. She hadn't realized her mother actually paid attention.
"Would you like anything to drink, Rachel? Water, juice?" Judy is already retreating to the kitchen.
"Water is fine, thank you." Rachel looks down at the dinner Judy has made. Quinn frowns when she realizes the food isn't Rachel friendly.
Judy returns from the kitchen with a glass of water and an empty plate.
"I hope you like roast chicken. It's an old family recipe." Judy smiles placing the plate down.
"Mom, Rachel's Vegan." Quinn informs her mother. Correction: Rachel looks the most surprised now.
"Oh no. All I have here is a salad. I can whip something up for you if you'd like." Judy looks absolutely horrified with herself.
"Oh no. It's no problem. I had a late lunch." Rachel waves off, not wanting to inconvenience Judy. Quinn knows for a fact that Rachel did not have a late lunch. Both girls had skipped lunch. Rachel's eyes flicker over to Quinn. The blonde opens her mouth to let her mother know Rachel is lying, but Rachel narrows her eyes at Quinn. The blonde lets it drop, making sure to serve the rest of the salad on Rachel's plate.
Quinn hasn't had such a pleasant dinner with her mother in quite some time. She has Rachel to thank for that. Turns out Judy is a really big fan of Celine Dion. So of course both women hit it off splendidly.
Judy herself almost swoons when Rachel offers to wash the dishes. Judy waves the Rachel away, telling the girls to have fun before it gets too late.
Quinn is more than a little nervous when she walks Rachel up to her room. She doesn't let people in there often because she sees it as her sanctuary. She's also afraid she'll do something stupid, like try to kiss her again.
Rachel wanders around the room. Stopping at the book case, examining the pictures on the wall. She smiles when she sees pictures of the glee club and it's members pinned to a large cork board.
"It's not what I expected." Rachel tells Quinn, taking a seat next to her on the blondes bed. She leaves a decent gap between them. Great. Quinn just knows she's freaked the girl out.
"What were you expecting? Medieval torture chamber? Slushie machine?" Quinn jokes. Rachel frowns and shakes her head.
"I don't know. Maybe a poster of Justin Bieber."
"I'd prefer a torture chamber." Quinn jokes. She considers it a win when Rachel laughs.
"Thanks for-" Quinn starts at the same time Rachel says:
"I just want to-"
Both girls stop and blush slightly urging the other to continue.
"Thanks for staying for dinner. You didn't have to. And you must be starving. But thank you." Quinn tells the girl honestly.
"It was really my pleasure Quinn. I had fun." And Rachel actually sounds genuine when she says it. "I should however, get going. My fathers were ok withe me staying for dinner, but if I stay any longer they might send out a search party." Quinn chuckles and nods, standing from her bed and offering a hand to Rachel.
"I'll walk you to your car." Quinn offers, pulling the diva to her feet.
The girls walk down in a comfortable silence. Neither of them needing to express what a good time they had.
Quinn has never felt happier or more satisfied with herself. She'll wake up to find it's finally Tuesday. She just knows it.
"Thanks again." Quinn tells Rachel. The diva plays with her keys in her hands before looking up into her eyes.
"Thank YOU." Rachel emphasizes. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
Quinn bites her lip. She's almost positive she'll see the girl tomorrow.
"I hope so." Quinn says instead of making a promise she can't keep.
Rachel enters her vehicle and waves as she drives off. Quinn watches the Diva's car turn around the block. She sighs into the chilly air and shakes her head.
"I really hope so."
How are you guys? I've just been kinda on a posting spree. I've updated all of my current fics. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
What did you guys think?- A