Hi guys, so here's part 2.
To the reader who said that this is similar to Red Riding Hood, I just wanted to say, I didn't copy.
To clarify, I actually got this idea while reading the Hunger Games! Haha
I haven't seen RRH yet so sorry for the similarities. This was originally a Peeta/Katniss/Gale fic but I made it glee instead. :))
I just wanted to mention that so that you guys wouldn't think I'm plagiarizing.
On a side note, I do love The Hunger Games so much! I'm kinda on the fence on who I want for Katniss, but hands down, Finnick Odair is my favorite character.
PS. I realized two parts would be too short, so I still have another one coming!
I'll finish it tomorrow. It's getting late here :)
…
"Dear, please come out of your room. Everybody's waiting," Judy lightly knocked on the door. "It's rude to keep them waiting."
Quinn stayed seated on the edge of her bed. Her arms were crossed across her chest defiantly. She had known the Hudsons for ever since she was little. Everyone in Lima was practically neighbors from each others. But this time, it was different. They were soon to be just one family.
"Quinn, is anything wrong?" her mother asked through the door. Her voice rose with impatience.
"Nothing," Quinn whispered, leaving her room, making her way into the living room. She was greeted by her father, Christopher, Carole, and Finn Hudson. Finn, the once tall and awkward boy that left Lima four years ago was now a tall, well-built, handsome young man. There was no doubt in Quinn's mind that he could have any girl here in Lima. So why me? The group of adults had big smiles on their faces.
"Why don't you join us, Quinn," Carole patted the seat beside her. "We were just talking about you. My, how beautiful you have grown up to be!"
"Oh, she was always beautiful, Carole," Christopher joined in. "Look how beautiful your bride is, son."
Bride. The word choked her. She sat down in between Carole and her father. She wasn't in the mood to join in their lively discussion. Both pairs of parents engaged themselves in talking about how wonderful the partnership would be. Finn remained quiet, giving a small smile every time his father would praise him for handling their jewelry shop so well at such a young age. Quinn snuck a glance at his direction every now and then, wondering whether he was against the idea of them being arranged to marry each other. The tall boy unconsciously played with his fingers, looking down on the ground.
"Children, the reason why we all had to meet together today is because we have agreed on the day of your wedding!" Judy clasped her hands together, looking excited.
"What?" Quinn reacted. A date? They have decided on a date already?
"Yes, you two will be wed in two weeks from now," Russell answered. "Why wait, right?"
It never seemed real. Not until now. All this time, the marriage felt like just a nightmare that I would wake up from anytime soon. But now, I wake up from the nightmare only to find out that it is very much reality. This will be my future. He is my future husband. For the rest of my life, I will have to live with him, serve him, and start a family with him.
"Oh dear, you're crying!" Carole stroked Quinn's back. "You must be so excited."
"Wait until she finds out about the celebration we have planned out…"
"Celebration? What celebration?" Quinn asked.
"You father and I, as well as the Hudsons, think it's a great idea if we throw a party for the whole town, announcing your marriage."
How can they decide every aspect of my life? Everything is moving too fast. Why couldn't they tell me in advance? I only have two weeks left until I have to marry him…I want to runaway, to escape. But where would I go?
"Kids, why don't you talk a bit," Carole suggested. "Look how shy they are around each other. When was the last we were in Lima? Three? Four years ago?"
…
"My," Judy lost her breath. "You look lovely. No, beautiful. No! Stunning…"
Quinn and her mother spent the whole morning at the tailors. The shopkeeper was a friend of Judy's and she had promised Judy that her masterpiece would be made specifically for Quinn's wedding. It was a white silk and lace gown that covered Quinn down to her feet. It was lined with material that shined like diamonds when it hit the light.
"Catherine, it's beautiful," Judy hugged her friend, tears brimming in her eyes. After letting her friend go, she knelt down in front of Quinn, fixing the hem of her gown.
"Oh, it's Quinn who's the beauty," Catherine circled around Quinn, checking to see all the measurements were perfect. "The dress only makes her stand out even more."
"Darling," Judy looked up at her daughter. "What do you think?"
Quinn looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was indeed breathtaking. The long white gown clung to her body in all the right ways. It almost seemed right. She spun around slowly to see the dress in every angle. On any normal occasion, she would want to go out and show her beautiful dress to her friends. She enjoyed the attention she got from girls and boys alike. But right now, she wanted to stay inside the shop and hide all the beauty from everyone. If there was one person she wanted to look beautiful for, it was Sam and Sam alone.
From the reflection on the mirror, she spots the boy she was thinking of pass by the shop. He stops dead in his tracks and look through the glass window, his mouth slightly hung open. The big sack he carried on his shoulder fell to his side. Their eyes meet for a second before he takes in a deep breath and continue to walk on by. The chatter between the two ladies drowns out in Quinn's thoughts. Before she knew it, she was hiking her dress above her ankles and running outside the tailors.
"Sam," she called his name the second she walked in the meat shop. He was behind the counter, arranging the slabs of meat. He had a distressed look on his face. She knew he tried to look strong, but he couldn't. "I saw you walk by the tailors. Why didn't you stop by to say hi?"
Sam busied himself emptying the sack that contained the fresh game he had caught.
"Your mom came in extra early yesterday," Sam walked around, looking for something, anything, mingle with. "She placed quite an order."
"Sam…"
"She told me it was for a party, a big party. So I asked her what the party was for. She says, 'Quinn's getting married in two weeks'," Sam said. "Two weeks…"
"I just found out yesterday," Quinn explained. "It took me by surprise as well," she took a couple of steps towards the counter.
"Why are you here?" Sam asked, casually. He carried a large slab of what we could assume was once a cow. He placed it on the chopping board. "Your mom's probably looking for you…"
He raised the large butcher knife before driving it down, cutting the meat in half. He continued until there were only small pieces left. For some reason, Quinn could feel his anger through the way he chopped the meat. Luckily, they weren't any customers.
"I don't know what to say," Quinn spoke up.
Sam ignored her, walking over to the back and washing his hands with a bucket of water. He dried his hands on the apron he wore to work. Quinn just stood frozen by the counter, looking like she was about to cry – he hated it. Sam raised the apron above his head and throwing it to the side. He emerged from behind the counter and they were now face to face.
"You look beautiful in your wedding dress," he said spitefully. He meant what he said and he tried to sound convincing. But how can he sound happy when, for the longest time, he always dreamed that the moment he sees her in a beautiful wedding gown, it was going to be for him.
Quinn rushed to hug Sam. She sobbed quietly, letting her tears free flow. Seeing her cry probably softened Sam up because, as soon as her arms were around him, he wrapped his arms around her as well. They stayed in a hug for a moment. After she managed to gather herself, she pushed Sam off of her and smacked him hard on the arm. How can he compliment this wedding gown?
"I love you, Sam," she admitted shamelessly. Quinn pressed her lips on Sam's and they shared a long kiss. They breakaway from each other, breathless.
"Quinn, we can't do this anymore," Sam looked down on his feet. He knew that, soon, tears would return. "You're going to marry Finn. There's nothing we can do."
"Then let's run away!" she grasped his hands in hers.
"Don't you think it's a bit hard to run in that dress?" Sam attempted to lighten the mood. He shook his head, shaking the thought of him and Quinn together. "He is so much better for you."
"What makes you think that?"
"He can give you a happy, comfortable life–" he began before Quinn cut him off.
"Why does everyone have to make decisions for me!" Quinn cried. "I want you, Sam! I want to be with you!"
"I'm sorry, Quinn. One day, you will understand," his voice choked from fighting back the tears. I love you too, Quinn.
Quinn ran out the meat shop and, though it took a lot, Sam didn't chase after her. She was running back to the tailors. Back to make sure her dress was perfect. Back to her planned out life.
…
It was two nights before the wedding. After three days of Sam ignoring me, I gave up on the idea that he would meet me at the circle and we both would run away. The day in the meat shop was the last time we ever spoke to each other and a few days later he stopped showing himself altogether. For three days, I waited in the circle until nightfall but he never showed up.
Tonight was the first night of the celebration. The town was invited for a feast that was held in the town center. The Hudsons had paid for a meal that would last two nights – the last night being the celebration after the wedding. The townspeople crowded the center, dancing and drinking in merriment. Finn and I were seated in a big table. People passed by wishing us joy and luck in our marriage.
"I hope this isn't too much," Finn spoke. He seemed embarrassed that his parents had spent so much on a celebration Quinn wasn't too excited about. It was awkward for them to be finally alone. On days that Finn and Quinn were supposed to get to know each other, she was usually nowhere to be found.
"Its fine," Quinn lied. Her voice was flat. What's the point of all of this?
Quinn hasn't spared him a smile ever since Finn and his family had arrived in Lima. She was cold and unresponsive to all the enthusiasm her parents and Finn's parents were showing.
"I know you're not exactly too happy about this arrangement," he sounded apologetic. "But if it's any consolation, I'll try my best to make this work."
Quinn felt guilty. Clearly, Finn wasn't too excited as well but unlike her, he was trying to stay positive. She muttered a half-meant 'thanks' and continued to watch the people dance. Why can't I be happy like them? She tried to stop pitying herself. At any rate, she was luckier than most girls. Finn was handsome and reliable. She could've done so much worse. But he isn't Sam.
"I used to have a huge crush on you," he admitted shyly. He was rocking back and forth in his chair.
Quinn perked up, looking at him directly for the first time. "Really?" she wasn't too interested. But at least now, they were talking something that wasn't related to the marriage.
"All the boys in town always said that you were prettiest. When we were twelve years old, I wanted to tell you I liked you…"
"Why didn't you?"
"You were always with Sam."
The mere mention of his name managed to let her stomach drop. It was a good thing that the music was loud. Quinn was pretty sure that the people might hear the screaming in her head. Finn went on and on about his childhood crush on her. He mentioned things that only made her think more about Sam. When they were twelve, Sam had helped climb the tallest tree around the circle. From the tallest branch, they could see the whole town.
Finn mentioned about leaving the town and feeling sad because he knew he wouldn't meet a girl as pretty as Quinn. The year Finn left, they were thirteen. Sam and Quinn had shared their first kiss. It was an accident. Sam was teaching Quinn how to shoot an arrow. He had his arms wrapped around her, instructing her on how to aim when Quinn turned her head to ask a question and their lips grazed each other's. It was an incident that both kids haven't brought up until two years later, when they shared their first real kiss.
They were fifteen and Quinn was gently examining the bruise that covered Sam's left eye. He had gotten into a fight with a boy named Noah Puckerman. Everyone knew that a lot of boys fell for Quinn's beauty – Noah was no exception. One afternoon, he approached Quinn and tried to plant a kiss on her lips. Quinn was able to dodge it. Sam, who was not too far, went up to Noah and got into an argument. Eventually, the two boys had thrown their punches and Quinn brought Sam home to check on his bruise. While berating him for being so reckless, Sam pushed forward and let his lips meet hers. He was mad at Puck for trying to kiss Quinn, but most of all, he was mad at Puck for being able to do the one thing he can't.
"Will you excuse me," Quinn stood up from the table before Finn caught her hand in his. It was the first time they've ever made any physical contact. She stared at the big hand holding hers.
"Where are you going?" he asked with a crooked smile.
"I left something at home. I'll be right back," she lied.
(March 30, 2011)
