a/n: this chapter took me FOREVER to write...even though it's pretty short. so, i apologize. i just really wanted to get this up today.

but, oh my god, you guys. you're just awesome. i didn't think ANYONE would actually read this, but ya'll are! thank you soooo much. i had no idea going into this what the response would be like.

now to address some of your comments. first of all, i want to clarify that this is indeed a Paige/Quinn fic. so, my comment about them not being end game doesn't pertain to this particular story, but rather more 'big picture'. there will definitely be some McBray/Painn action up in here. no fears.

secondly, damn. everyone wants someone OTHER than Paige to be jealous...even though it is kind of in her character. but, no worries. like i said, be patient (i intend this to be novel length). Paige will hold the power ;) i don't want to give too much away, but there will be a trip to Lima soon. and Emily will make a very unexpected appearance later on as well.

and lastly, i have a question for you all. if you were Santana...what would your nickname for Paige be?


I sat down next to Quinn on her bed as she stared vacantly into her phone. I began to run my fingers through her blonde curls, trying to calm her.

She finally turned her attention away from the phone and looked into my eyes. Through the tears and smudged make-up, I could see her pain. "You know, you can go back to the dance. I don't want to ruin your night."

"Ruin my night? Please. You made my night. It wouldn't be any fun without you anyway."

I saw her try to crack a smile.

I couldn't avoid asking the question any longer. "So what happened?"

She let out a deep sigh. "It's...it's a long story."

"Well..." I looked down at my wrist, as if I were wearing a watch, "I have all night."

"I...I...uhm, I just..." She fell silent.

"Quinn?"

"I just don't even know where to start."

"The beginning is usually a good place."

I finally got a smile out of her as she shoved me. She began to fiddle with her phone again until she pulled up a picture on the screen and handed it to me.

"Who is that?"

"My daughter. Beth." Her tone was so soft that it was almost a whisper.

I stared at the picture, in silence. I had no idea what to even say.

"I had her almost four months ago. It's the first time I've seen her since I gave her up for adoption."

I looked up into her eyes and saw a single tear run down her cheek.

"How...how did you get this picture?"

Quinn cocked her eyebrow and grinned. "When you started that sentence, I thought you were going to say something else..."

"What do you..." And then it dawned on me. "Oh."

Quinn just smiled.

"From my friend...Rachel. She got it from her biological mother...who is now Beth's mother."

I just nodded, pretending I knew exactly everything Quinn was talking about. I handed the phone back to Quinn and she refocused her attention to the picture.

"I miss her. I wish I could be there. I wish I could see her."

We sat in silence as I ran my hand up and down her arm. There were so many things I wanted to ask, but I felt like it wasn't my place.

"I'm sorry I broke down out there. I was just...so overwhelmed with emotions. Everything just suddenly came rushing back."

The tears started to flow again.

"You know, that's the reason I'm here."

I looked at her with an inquisitively. I could tell there was much more to this story. She closed her eyes and her face dropped into her palms, sobs echoing through the room. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer to me. She buried her head in my neck again as I felt her warm tears and heaving chest against my body. I couldn't stand seeing her like this. My eyes began to swell with tears.

She eventually pulled away after a few minutes and her crying slowed. "Are you crying, too?"

"N...no..." I lied and looked away from her.

She grabbed my chin between her thumb and forefinger and guided my head back towards her.

She smiled. "Yes, you are, liar."

I sniffled and used the heel of my palm to wipe my eyes. "I can't help it." I couldn't. I couldn't stand seeing her this upset. And I couldn't help but think about how I ended up here. My eyes met hers once again and it felt like she was looking straight through me.

She brought her hand up to my face and brushed away some hair from my eyes and tucked it behind my ear. "You know, you're really beautiful."

I just stared at her, blankly. I was completely caught off guard by her non sequitur.

"No, seriously. I just looked in your eyes and saw something I've never seen in them before. Since your first day here, you've had these massive walls up. You wouldn't let anyone in. And just now, I saw what's inside those walls."

I sat in silence and diverted my attention to anywhere but Quinn's face. Her eyes had gone straight through me. I felt myself building those walls again.

"It's not like you don't do the same thing."

I couldn't believe I came back with something so insensitive. So defensive.

She paused for a moment. "You're absolutely right. I do."

"I didn't mean -"

"No. I've spent my entire life trying to be anything but myself. I changed my name, I changed my body, I acted like a bitch, and I built my walls. I couldn't let anyone in. I wouldn't even let myself in. And look where that got me. I dated the quarterback and became head cheerleader. I was determined to rule that school. I was popular. I was the head bitch in charge. Prom queen was mine for the taking. I thought I did everything right. I became everything I never was and always wanted to be. But I still felt empty. I still hated myself. I told myself I loved him. But I didn't. Then his best friend came along and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He got me a little drunk and I was feeling like shit about myself that day. I let him use me because, in that moment, it made me feel better. 'Trust me' he said. I gave him my virginity. And he got me pregnant. I've never even been with anyone since that night.

When my dad found out, he kicked me out and pretty much disowned me. I shuffled around three different houses until my mother let me come back home...after she left my father when she found out he was cheating on her. Then he threatened to not support my mother unless she sent me away. Away where I couldn't get into trouble again. Where I could meet a good Christian boy and live a good Christian life, just like my sister. But he will never love me like he loves my sister.

And now, I'm here."

It was just like a switch had flipped inside her head. I couldn't believe the fire that had just erupted from within Quinn. It was like everything she had been bottling up inside of her just poured out right in front of me. Pieces of her scattered everywhere with nothing to hide.

"I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of pretending everything is okay. I'm tired of pretending to be someone else."

I felt her hand on my neck, aggressively pulling me towards her as her other hand rested gently on my cheek. I closed my eyes as I felt her breath on my face and her lips crash into mine.