PART 7

"I saw the Hobbit hanging off your arm yesterday. Are you two a couple now? Has she professed her love for you?" Santana asked mockingly while she was changing her clothes in the locker room.

"No," Quinn got irritated, "But I'm sure it's coming soon. We have a date this Friday," Quinn said confidently.

"Woah, who would have thought that the good Christian girl is going on a Sapphic adventure."

Quinn's face turned red, "Can you pipe it down. I'm only doing this so that I can laugh at your face, and take your money while I'm at it. Besides, shouldn't you be worrying about your 'relationship'?" Quinn air quoted.

"It's going great," Santana said nonchalantly.

"What? He already asked you to go steady?" Quinn mocked.

"We are taking it slow."

"You? Taking it slow? As if. Words got around that you two have been making out all over the school."

"Well, some people need assurance."

"Or maybe he's just not interested."

"At least we kissed. I call that progression. Can't say the same thing about you. What do you have? All talk and no action. But then," Santana walked closer, "Can you even pucker up your lips to kiss that Hobbit big mouth?" Quinn looked stricken and it made Santana laughed, "You can't even bring yourself to kiss her. You know it has to come to that."

Quinn gritted her teeth, "People don't have to kiss to fall in love. Besides, this competition is not about who got to kiss first." Then she walked out in a huff and tried to block out Santana's evil laugh.

"Where do you plan to take me?" Rachel suddenly appeared next to her locker.

"What?"

"I just need to know what I should wear."

"Just wear something nice."

"I have lots of nice clothes," Rachel said as she leaned on the lockers. "But should I wear something flowery, something summery, something -"

"Rachel," Quinn had to stop Rachel before she went to the babble-zone, "Think Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. I gotta go to class now. Later."

"By the way Quinn, it's not nice to wait in the car," Rachel said as Quinn was walking away. Quinn turned around and contemplated on those words. She understood what Rachel was asking, but she was not sure if it was something that she would entertain. So she just gave Rachel a thin smile and walked away.

Quinn stood there pondering on her current situation. She thought back to everything that had happened for the past few months, all the events that had brought her to this point. At this current moment, she was standing outside Rachel's house and was about to take her out to dinner in a very posh restaurant. It was a situation that she never thought in a million years would happen. If somebody would have travelled back in time to tell her that, she would have put that person in the mental asylum in a heartbeat. But here she was, doing exactly the thing that was so far out of her comfort zone. All this for bragging rights? But then she did enjoy Rachel's company and friendship. She rang the doorbell. But if she fell for me and found out that this is just a game, she wouldn't want to be friends with me anymore. She would probably hate me. Quinn didn't have time to think of the repercussion because the door had opened and Rachel was standing there. She had her hair pulled up in a bun and she was wearing a mid-length black dress. She was even wearing a pearl necklace.

Quinn was lost for words, "Umm ... you look ... umm ..."

Rachel closed the door, linked their arms together and they walked slowly to the car.

Finally Quinn was able to form a complete sentence, "When I said like Audrey Hepburn, I never thought you'd be dressed exactly like her."

"Do you like it though? How do I look?" Rachel was eagerly waiting for the answer.

"Umm ... you look nice."

"Nice?" Rachel stopped and turned to face her.

Quinn collected herself, "You look beautiful." Rachel had that disbelieving look, so Quinn softened her eyes and said, "Rachel, you look beautiful."

Rachel smiled happily, "Really? Thank you." They continued walking to the car, "You don't look so bad yourself," Rachel snickered.

"What?" Rachel had already entered the car, so she couldn't see that Quinn was glaring at her.

Quinn drove pass Breadstix which made Rachel released a sigh of relief. She continued driving until they arrived at a small cottage which was turned into an Italian restaurant.

"Have you been here before?" Quinn asked her.

"No, they just opened last month, right?"
"Yeah. I've never been here too, but I heard the reviews have been very good."

"But this is such a fancy place Quinn, it must be expensive. You don't have to go through all this trouble."

"It's okay, I can get discount."

They walked into the restaurant. After Quinn said a few words to the concierge, he showed them their table that was seated close to the fountain. Most of the customers were older people, so they didn't have to worry if there were any other McKinley High students there.

Rachel looked at the menu and was shocked by the prices, "Quinn, this is too much. We don't have to eat here."

"Oh God Berry, you're making it hard for me to treat you. Just sit back and relax. Order whatever you want. Remember, I got discount."

"How much?"

"It doesn't matter. Look, they have lots of vegan food here. Umm ... but you don't mind if I eat meat, do you?"

"Oh no, that's fine."

"Okay," Quinn smiled happily. "But seriously, have whatever you want."

The waiter came over to take their orders. After the waiter left, Rachel was curious, "Do you always do this? Treat your friends to expensive dinner?"

"No, that's why I can spend more tonight," Quinn answered playfully.

Rachel chuckled, "Well, just in case I'll be too full to think later, I just want to tell you that I had a lovely time."

"Rachel, so many things can happen from now till I drop you off, you might have a crappy time later."

"Quinn, you're such a pessimist."

"And I guess you're the glass half-full type of person."

"Of course."

"I just think 'it depends' is a valid answer for everything."

They continued their little chatter until the food arrived. Rachel had ordered dessert too, at Quinn insistence. She was eating chocolate pudding and had somehow managed to get some of them on her chin. Quinn laughed quietly when she saw it. Rachel tried to wipe it off but the more she tried, the messier it became. Quinn couldn't contain her laughter anymore. The pudding was smeared under her chin. Rachel glared at her but it made Quinn just doubled up in laughter, tears were even streaming down her face.

"Thank you for having a great laugh at my expense," Rachel said sarcastically.

"Rachel -" Quinn was panting, "I'm sorry Rachel, it's just - " Quinn looked at her and continued to laugh.

"Quinn!" Rachel whined.

"Sorry, sorry, I think you better go to the ladies."

Rachel almost stomped her way to the ladies. She came back a few minutes later, all clean up, and sat quietly while looking at her pudding. Quinn was just observing her the whole time wondering if she had hurt Rachel's feelings, but then Rachel started giggling and took a spoon of her pudding and wipe it on Quinn's lips.

"Rachel!" Now it was Quinn's turned to whine and Rachel's turn to laugh. Instead of wiping it with her napkin, Quinn licked her lips slowly and sensuously, all the while staring at Rachel, which made Rachel's eyes widen and turned her laughter into a gurgle that she tried to cover up by a cough. Quinn stood up and winked, "I'm going to the ladies."

They managed to finish off the rest of their desserts afterward in a civilized manner.

When Quinn dropped Rachel off later, Rachel looked at her, "Aren't you going to walk me to the door?"

"But then I have to walk back to my car, something might happen."

"I can watch over you from the door."

"Are you serious?" Rachel did look serious, so Quinn rolled her eyes, "Fine."

They walked out of the car, "Besides this is how you end a date properly," Rachel said playfully.

"This is not a date."

"Well, you picked me up, treat me to a fancy dinner, and sent me home, all very gentlewomanly, I might add. If you're a guy, this is so a date. Besides," Rachel pointed at her dress, "look at my dress!" She finished it in a high tone and with a mischievous smile that made Quinn laughed.

"Fine, it's a date," they both laughed. When they reached Rachel's house, Rachel quickly turned around and hugged Quinn. Quinn was too surprised by the action that it took her a few seconds to return the hug.

Rachel released the hold, "I had a really wonderful time. Thank you Quinn."

"You're welcome."

Rachel opened her door and stepped inside. When she turned around, Quinn was already making her way back to her car.

"Hey Quinn," Quinn turned to face her. "You look wonderful tonight."

Quinn smiled, "Thanks."

Quinn was about to walk away, "And Quinn," Rachel looked at her softly, "You were wonderful tonight." Quinn was speechless, it felt like something stuck in her throat, so Rachel continued, "Good night Quinn," she said as she closed the door.

"Good night Rachel," Quinn said just as soft.