Quinn dozed from time to time, but was continually being awaken by soft knocks at the door. She ignored when people tried to open the door to Puck's room, and just hoped that the noise didn't wake Rachel. She could feel her phone vibrating in her pocket, but ignored that too. She passed the hours that Rachel was sleeping by stroking her hair through the strange dreams the smaller girl seemed to be having.
Quinn was greatly amused to hear Rachel muttering softly in her sleep. Most of what she said wasn't clear enough to be heard, but Quinn was absolutely sure that she heard her name. More than once. She pushed off the thoughts of the disaster that would be the coming morning, and just enjoyed being with Rachel.
She thought back on the last week of her life. Honestly, if it hadn't been for Kurt, she probably would have lost her mind. More than once.
She was president of the Celibacy club. She was a Cheerio, for goodness sake! And yet every time she was around Rachel, she found her knees shaking and her heart fluttering. Everytime Rachel sang in Glee, Quinn felt something she'd never felt towards another person before. She felt like every night before bed she was having life changing epiphanies.
It only took her until Tuesday after their day working together to call Kurt in tears. She wasn't even sure why she was calling him. She was in tears before he even answered. And when she heard his voice she started sobbing.
It took him five minutes to calm her down enough to speak properly. And even then she was stuttering and blubbering too much to speak for too long.
They talked early into the morning. She doesn't really remember much of the conversation, aside from Kurt's final words before he sent her to bed. "Babe, if you care about someone, what else matters?"
And so she decided to begin pursuing Rachel Berry.
She had so many internal conflicts that she decided to stop thinking about them entirely. That didn't work for very long. And so every moment that she wasn't with Rachel, she was talking to Kurt. Kurt took to the role of Quinn's "gay big brother" (as he called it) very seriously. They talked about religion, they talked about family, but mostly they talked about Rachel.
Quinn was terrified of God's judgement, she was terrified of getting thrown out of her house, but she was mostly terrified about Rachel hating her and no longer wanting to be friends. She couldn't lose the friendship that had been developing so wonderfully. It had all happened very quickly, but she was becoming somewhat dependent on Rachel's companionship.
Rachel's companionship. Who would have ever thought that Quinn would be spending this much time with the one person that she tortured most? She felt terrible about the time that she spent making Rachel's life miserable. She hoped to make that up to her in any way possible. Over a long time.
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It was nearing nine in the morning when Quinn decided to check her phone. She spent five minutes maneuvering her body so that she could reach into her pocket without moving Rachel.
There were a lot more messages than she thought. Most of them from Glee people, asking where her and Rachel had gone. A few from Puck asking how it was to get it on with a chick. And one from Kurt.
I'll keep these crazies away from you two. Take care of her. –Kurt
Quinn smiled to herself. Of course. She had been expecting more pounding at the door from people trying to get in, and Kurt had saved her from Rachel waking earlier than necessary. She owed him one.
She owed him a thousand, now that she thinks about it.
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It was around ten thirty when Rachel began to stir. Quinn thought back on Rachel's comment about never sleeping past nine, but decided to never bring it up for the entirety of her life. Rachel sat up with her eyes still closed. She was mumbling to herself.
"I have the strangest dreams someti-" Her eyes open and she realizes that she's not in her room. She glances around, and sees Quinn. She starts to realize that not everything she remembers was a dream.
"Oh my god." Rachel begins to physically tremble, but Quinn doesn't hug her as she wants to.
"Rachel? Are you okay?" Quinn begins to worry that Rachel is going to combust when the trembling continues.
"Please tell me that this is still a dream. Just tell me I'm going to wake up in a minute, and this isn't real." Rachel speaks slowly, and carefully.
Quinn stays silent, and Rachel slumps over on Quinn's shoulder. "What did Puck really give me?"
Quinn can't help but smile. Rachel is too smart for her own good. "It's not important right now. We'll discuss the details another time, I promise. But for now…" Quinn reaches over to a cluttered nightstand and retrieves one of the water bottles she brought in the night before "I suspect you'll be needing this."
Rachel looks at Quinn like she's a God, and grabs the water from her hands, downing half the bottle in just a few seconds. Quinn places her hand on Rachel's back for comfort, and Rachel seems to remember the last time Quinn touched her back, because she stiffens suddenly. Quinn pulls back, and Rachel doesn't meet her eyes.
Quinn just gestures for Rachel to drink more. "I told you, we'll talk about the specifics another time."
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Rachel doesn't say a word throughout the rest of the morning, not even when they're alone in Quinn's car, driving toward Rachel's house. When Quinn pulls into the driveway, Rachel tries to get out, but Quinn quickly grabs her arm.
"Rachel. It's later. We've got to talk about this before it's been too long."
Rachel doesn't say a word, but stops trying to get out of the vehicle. Quinn takes this as a good thing and starts talking.
"Rachel, Puck didn't mean to give you what he gave you. But it happened, and we can't change that. I know you remember everything, and I know that you're probably freaked. But…I'm not. So don't worry about that. And I know you're worrying about me freaking out, so do not deny that." Quinn doesn't rush her words. She wants Rachel to understand what she's saying, and really hear her.
Rachel takes a few deep breaths, but doesn't speak for what feels to Quinn like forever. When she finally does speak, Quinn releases a breath that she didn't even realize she was holding.
"Quinn. Does our friendship still stand where I believed it to yesterday afternoon?"
Quinn hears that strain in Rachel's voice. She has chosen her words very carefully, and Quinn hopes that Rachel is implying the double meaning that Quinn is hearing.
"Rachel, our friendship stands exactly where it was. In fact, it may have grown through this experience." Quinn tries to imply as much as she can through her words. If there's any hope that she can get through to Rachel on a more romantic level then this experience could be a success after all.
Rachel looks Quinn in the eye for the first time in nearly an hour. "Would you like to come over to my house after Glee tomorrow to work on our duet?"
Quinn smiles, and nods. Rachel climbs out of the car, and waves as Quinn drives away.
As Rachel showers and then turns on the television, she can't seem to forget the kiss. That's not exactly how she had wanted their first kiss to be, but she distinctly remembers Quinn kissing her back.
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How are you feeling? Did you eat? –Quinn
You worry too much. –Rachel
About you, yes. Did you eat? –Quinn
My daddy made me a salad with cranberry vinaigrette. So yes. –Rachel
I do not understand how you can eat that stuff. Are you feeling better? No headache? –Quinn
Because I take pride in my health. And yes, yes, yes. I'm fine. Pinky promise. –Rachel
I will continue to worry until I have assessed your health in the morning. –Quinn
Quinn? –Rachel
Rachel? –Quinn
Thank you. –Rachel
For what? –Quinn
Taking care of me. Last night, this morning. Thank you. It would have been a lot different if I didn't have you. –Rachel
Any time, sweetheart. –Quinn
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Not going to lie, as I wrote that last bit I said "awwwww" in my head. For reals.
Please review, I appreciate them greatly. =)