A/N: Another chapter up. Very long chapter. Read & review please!
A/N2:Also thanks to those who helped me with the US edu system. In this chapter and the one prior, I kinda broke out of the normal graduation cycle. It's actually more like the Australian one (the school semester for us normally finishes early December). I hope you still enjoy.
The days after graduation flew by fast and soon it was nearly the New Year. The group had gathered at Puck's house, and of course who's to say that booze was not involved. Puck yelled at the top of his voice, "To all the single men in the house! Raise your glass!"
Practically all the boys raised their glasses except for Artie who had somehow reconciled himself back with Tina. She sat on his lap proudly holding his cheeks in her hands as she pulled him in for a drunken kiss.
The single boys all cheered loudly as their cups clinked against each other. Finn was the next to raise his voice, "To broken hearts!"
Once again the same boys raised their glasses and took another swig. They continued in their drunken stupor celebrating their last day of the year.
Out on the back balcony of the Puckerman residence two friends sat, soberly both staring up at the night sky, "Quinn, I think we need to talk."
"What's there to talk about Rach? I'm listening."
"Well, we've had quite a crazy year and over 12 months after reconciling our friendship. You've done quite well in repairing our friendship Quinn."
"Well not without your over-forgiving heart Rachel," replied the blonde girl.
"Quinn, I…"
"Rachel, I…"
The two spoke in unison as they tried to raise a topic they had both been avoiding the past few weeks.
3 Weeks Ago
Rachel rolled over to face Quinn in her bed. She whispered to her friend lying next to her, "Quinn, thanks for staying over."
"That's alright Rach," replied the now graduated cheerleader quietly.
"Do you think everyone enjoyed themselves tonight?"
"I'm pretty sure they did. If Tina hadn't being the first to leave I don't think anybody would've left."
Rachel giggled, "Who would've known? Rachel Berry hosts the graduation after party."
"Not to mention alcohol-free. Rach, I had a wonderful time tonight."
"Really? Even though you broke up with Sam?"
"Yes, really Rachel. I don't think Sam and I would have anything long-term," Quinn tried to explain.
"What about that promise ring he gave you?" asked Rachel curiously.
"I gave it back to him before he left. He's just not what I need in my life right now. He's just not…"
"Not what you want?" questioned the brunette as she completed her best friend's sentence.
There was silence as Rachel tried to search Quinn's hazel eyes in the dimly lit room. She felt around under the blanket to find Quinn's hand. After finding it she brought it up from under the bed and squeezed them, "What do you want Quinn?"
Quinn stared at her friend. She felt a sudden rise of temperature in her face and her heartbeat picked up. For a while she had been thinking about all these strange feelings inside her. It occurred every time she looked at Rachel, every time they touched each other, even if it was a slight touch. Quinn's breath came out shakily, "Rachel, I'm not really sure what it is I want. I think I…What about you Rachel?"
"Oh, I know what it is I want." She looked straight into her friend's eyes. Quinn could see a look of longing in those dark irises. Her heartbeat picked up again and she felt her lips go dry, "Rachel."
"Quinn we've been friends for a while and surely you've felt…you've felt something more?" questioned Rachel bravely.
Quinn looked at her friend and tried to find the right words, "Rach, I can't lie and say that I haven't felt more than just friendship towards you, but…"
Rachel cut her short. She could hear the struggle in the blonde's voice. She held her friend's hands tighter and drew them toward her lips, "It's okay Quinn. I don't need an answer now. Let's just sleep."
Rachel shifted in closer toward the blonde. She found herself resting under the now-graduated-cheerleader's chin. She could feel the rapid beat of the girl's heart in front of her. She chose that moment to hum a small quiet tune. As she continued to hum the heartbeat began to slow itself down to a regular beat. Soon the two girls were fast asleep in each other's arms.
Present Day
Quinn decided to speak up first, "Rachel I prepared something for you."
"You prepared what?"
"A song," said the blonde embarrassingly. She took Rachel by the hand and guided her toward a few old crates that were sitting in Puck's backyard. There were some tea light candles inside some jars sitting nearby and Quin proceeded to light them with some long matches that she had taken from the kitchen.
The brunette girl looked at her friend with a questioning look, "Quinn what are you…"
Quinn cut her off, "Just wait right here. I need to go grab something from Puck's room."
"Okay," replied the brunette girl, looking at the taller girl curiously. She watched Quinn rush back into the house to grab what it was she was getting. While she waited she looked back up at the stars. She tried to recognise any of the constellations that she had learned about when watching a movie with Quinn a while ago. Men in Black was what Quinn had forced the brunette to sit down and watch after getting sick of watching various musicals. She soon gave up as she couldn't remember any of the constellations the blonde had tried to teach her. She soon turned her attention to the small glow of the tea light as they reflected off the glass of the jars that contained them. She looked at them enjoying the tranquillity they brought to her raging heart. Since that graduation night with Quinn she was hoping to know what was to become of their friendship.
Ever since Rachel laid her eyes on the blonde, when they had first met, she knew that their friendship would be something powerful. She found herself unable to let go of the other girl despite the pain she caused her during her earlier high school days. She tried to hate her, she tried to drown her out with loving other people, but she found herself unable to let go. She often wondered how the other felt about her.
Her phone began to buzz as she received a message, "Please give me a little longer. I'll be with you as soon as possible as I had to interrupt S and B in a very compromising position when I reached Puck's room."
A smile crossed her face as she sent off a reply, "That's okay Quinniepuff. Take your time. I'm enjoying the night sky."
Within seconds she received a reply, "Without me Berrypuff? Okay, I'll be back soon."
Rachel took in a breath as she let out a small giggle. She was grateful for the reconciliation of her friendship with Quinn. In all honesty she missed her. Ever since the separation due to Russell Fabray's threats she was glad to be back with Quinn. She had missed her.
Rachel's thoughts were soon interrupted by an out of breath Quinn. She stood in front of Rachel, her hazel eyes glistening from the light of the tea candles. She looked at the brunette and Rachel swore she saw the blonde girl turn bright red, "Quinn? When did you start playing the guitar?"
Quinn looked down at the sitting brunette, "Well I…I…ummm…okay, just hear me out okay. You should know this song."
Quinn began to strum the opening chords to a song that sounded familiar to Rachel. The brunette girl then soon realised what her friend was doing, "Wait, Quinn. When did you learn the guitar?"
Quinn stopped her playing, "Well, I only started playing about 3 weeks ago?"
"3 weeks ago?" questioned Rachel, "that was when…"
"Yeah," replied the blonde girl shyly, "I asked Puck to help me out. Rach."
"Yeah?" asked the flustered brunette.
"You're killing the moment right now."
"Oh right. Sorry, continue."
Quinn started the opening chords again to the song, "Feel free to join in. You know, at the parts where you're meant to."
"Okay," Rachel replied as she felt a warm blush cross her cheeks.
"I watched you sleeping quietly in my bed. You don't know this now but there's something that needs to be said, And it's all that I can hear, it's more than I can bare."
Tears began to form at the corner of Rachel's eyes as she felt her heart surge forward. Quinn was letting down all the walls around her heart; she was bearing her all to Rachel.
"What if I fall and hurt myself? Would you know how to fix me? What if I went and lost myself? Would you know where to find me? If I forgot who I am, would you please remind me? Oh, cause without you things go hazy."
Rachel recognised the song and closed her eyes as she listened to Quinn's voice drift off and the chords continue. She took a breath and began to repeat the words Quinn sang. She dropped all her defences as she looked deep into the hazel eyes before her, "I watched you sleeping quietly in my bed. You don't know this now but there's something that needs to be said, and it's all that I can hear, it's more than I can bare."
The young diva stood up from the crates and stood in front of Quinn; not breaking the contact that both their eyes held. She looked straight at Quinn and continued to sing, "What if I fall and hurt myself? Would you know how to fix me? What if I went and lost myself? Would you know where to find me? If I forgot who I am, would you please remind me? Oh, cause without you things go hazy."
Quinn continued to play out the chords to the song as Rachel hummed along swaying side to side. She stared at Rachel with a blush across her cheeks. Rachel looked straight back at her, a shy smile crossing her face. She never imagined she would be standing like this in front of Quinn, baring her whole heart.
One-Year Ago
"Quinn! Quinn! Where are you?" yelled the excited brunette girl.
"I'm right here Rachel."
The fireworks burst in the sky above the two girls. Brittany rushed beside the two friends, dragging Santana behind her. The taller cheerleader looked at the other two girls, "Rachel, Quinn! Why aren't you holding hands and kissing?"
"Well…Wait, what?" asked the other blonde girl, shocked at her friend's innocently asked question.
Santana stared at both Quinn and Rachel with a look of pity on her face. Brittany faced the two girls again, "Didn't you know that on New Year's Eve whoever you're with, like holding hands or making out with, you'll be with them for the New Year?"
Quinn and Rachel looked down at their hands noticing how they were intertwined with one another then looked at each other. Quinn was the first to speak, "S, what on earth is Brit talking about?"
Santana looked Quinn straight in the eye, "This is serious business too B. She believes whoever you're with as the New Year approaches is who you'll share your life with the next year."
Rachel looked at Quinn then their hands, "Well, then. Quinn I look forward to a year of undying friendship with you."
Brittany looked at the two of them then held both their hands in her own, "I wish that you two will have the best year of your lives till the new one!"
The radio announcer wished all the New Year celebrators a Happy New Year as the finale of the fireworks lit up the sky. Brittany turned toward her Latino friend as she landed an open kiss on the girl's lips. The kiss soon turned from innocent to something more.
Rachel's face flushed red and she looked away from the two girls. She turned her attention toward Quinn whose eyes were fixated on the sky. Rachel followed her gaze and looked up at the spectacular sky works. She felt Quinn's grip tighten around her hands.
"Happy New year Rachel," whispered Quinn.
Rachel turned toward her friend then stood on her tippy toes to kiss her friend on the cheek, "Happy New year Quinn."
Quinn felt her heart pick up in pace and the warmth remained in her face though the Rachel's lips had left her cheek. She turned her attention from her sky to Rachel whose eyes were still gazing at the sky. At that moment she felt a flutter in heart. "What was this feeling?" she questioned herself.
Present Day
In all honesty, Quinn had felt more than just friendship with the brunette girl whom she was playing the guitar in front of. The same went for Rachel. She knew she had feelings for the other girl since she had broken up with Finn. She realised after that break up that Quinn seemed to be the only constant in her life besides her doting fathers.
Quinn had fought with these strange feelings in her heart for a while. Even while she was with Sam she felt that her heart belonged to someone else. She looked at Rachel as she continued to hum along to Quinn's chords.
Rachel's eyes captured her and the sound of the night seemed to disappear. She was lost in the dark eyes in front of her. She felt like her soul was born again. At that moment she knew what it was that she wanted.
Rachel looked at the girl playing the guitar in front of her. She was definitely moved by Quinn's gesture. The light played in the hazel eyes in front of her and it only reassure her of what she wanted.
Quinn stopped playing, but Rachel joined her as they finished the song in harmony together.
"What if I fall and hurt myself? Would you know how to fix me? What if I went and lost myself? Would you know where to find me? If I forgot who I am, would you please remind me? Oh, cause without you things go hazy."
Rachel took in a staggered breath as she finished the last note. She looked at Quinn and from under her breath she whispered, "Yes."
"Yes?" questioned Quinn.
"Yes Quinn. I know what I want."
Quinn looked at Rachel as a smile crossed her face, "I know what I want too."
Rachel suddenly hesitated as she realised what their new college lives would encompass, "But you're going to Cornell."
"And you're going to Julliard," replied Quinn.
"Will we…"
"Yes. I'll make it happen."
"Quinn, you're going to make a wonderful veterinarian. It's been your dream for ages!"
"I know Rachel, and it wouldn't be possible without your encouragement. You're going to become successful. Your name will be in lights."
"And you'll be there beside me the whole way? Even if my ego decides to shoot through the roof?"
"I'll be there always Rachel, no matter what. Even if the public says you're a diva…I…I'll…I'll always…"
"Quinn?" asked the young brunette.
"I'll umm…"
"You don't have to say it yet," whispered the brunette as she found herself closer to the blonde; closer than ever.
The brunette hesitated as she looked at the taller girl, "Quinn, I umm…"
Rachel found it difficult to find a comfortable position so she found a slightly higher piece of ground on a small mound of bricks. She dragged the blonde in front of her.
"Rachel I want to say that I…"
Quinn's words were cut off as the brunette wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck and pulled her in to place as her lips gently landed on Quinn's. Rachel could feel the girl's shoulders tense under her arms, but then felt them relax. The kiss deepened into something filled with passion. Something filled with feelings left untold. Rachel moved her hands to Quinn's front as she clung onto the blonde's checked shirt a little more desperately then moved her hands back behind Quinn's neck.
Quinn's hands flew to the brunette's waist as she pulled her in closer. Soon their bodies were against each other. The closeness caused her to feel as if her soul was intertwining with Rachel's. Her hands moved from Rachel's waist to her back as she tried to lean deeper into the kiss. She took the small moment when their lips separated to take a breath, and then the kiss continued. She thought she heard some cheering in the distance from Brittany and a sigh of disgust from Santana, but she chose to ignore it.
Finally the two broke away from the kiss. Their foreheads leaned against each other as they stared into each other's eyes to catch their own breaths.
"Wow," was all Quinn could say.
"Thank you," whispered the brunette girl.
A soft smile crossed Rachel's lips. Her heart was flying high. Higher than the constellations she was observing earlier, "Quinn I…"
"I love you," breathed out Quinn before she started to gently kiss Rachel again.
Rachel pushed Quinn back, "I love you too."
Hands intertwined, lips against lips and heart to heart, the two girls melted into each other as the night above them crossed into the New Year.
In between their kisses Rachel managed to breathe out, "Happy New Year Quinn."
While struggling to keep herself upright Quinn managed to breathe out from between the kisses, "Happy New Year Rach."
A/N: So this concludes the high school chapter of the lives of these two girls. I think I might actually just continue the sequel in the same story, if not it might end up as an entire new story. Till we next meet my compadres :)