First off I owe huge apologies to you all for the last Chapter of Thin Ice! (if you're reading that as well) it was grammatically horrible and the song lyrics didn't come out spaced like I typed them so it was a jumbled mess! I am sorry about that everyone and feel bad for rushing it, I would offer an excuse but the only one I have is that my enthusiasm far outweighs my abilities sometimes! If anyone knows of a Beta who might be willing to work with me please PM me so I can spare you that again. This has also not been Beta'd but hopefully will not be as bad. I do however finally redress the fact that I have no twelfth member in my glee club lol, hope you like the approach but apologise if you don't. okay…on with the show!
Although life didn't change overnight for New Directions, it did change! They hadn't in any way planned to video their performance of 'Fuck You' but Lauren Zizes had heard on the grapevine what the glee club had planned and after a little discussion with the rest of the AV club they had arranged to record the event…and post it to You Tube. Against all expectations the video had gone viral. Numerous high schools across the country and then various different colleges, universities and school's across the world began to emulate McKinley High's attitude towards bullying. A month after the video had first made it's way onto the world wide web, New Directions found they had gained a certain notoriety, something they were dubiously proud of.
One tremendous up side to the You Tube video was that Azimio left McKinley and went to attend Carmel instead. Apparently he couldn't handle the negative image he now had and instead of trying to change his behaviour had chosen to leave. This was not exactly heartbreaking for the school and with him gone and Santana back in charge of the Cheerio's things finally began to change at McKinley high. Slushies were now for drinking and not surprise facials, there were no dumpster tips, port a potty lock ins or 'accidental' shoves into lockers. In fact a general sort of peace had started to descend over the school. It wasn't a utopia and there would always be social divides within a high school as that was just life…but those divides were no longer underlined with acts of physical violence or open jeering, if anything the new rule seemed to be very much live and let live.
Quinn was actually one of the least affected by these changes, despite being the driving force behind the now iconic performance she seemed uninterested in the fallout. While everyone else went nuts over it and celebrated the general détente, the blonde basketball captain just carried on going about her business. The up side was she no longer had to worry about Rachel when she went to hold her hand or kiss her in public, aside from that she tended to keep her head down and get on with her studies and basketball. Which is why she had no idea of the almost heroic stature she had gained in the eyes of some of the former 'lesser life forms' of the school. It became apparent one lunchtime about a month after the performance when she realised the last blue Jell-O pot had gone from the cafeteria. Groaning dramatically she draped herself over her girlfriends back and gestured pitifully at the normal coloured Jell-O pots.
"Raaach, they ate all the blue Jell-O, I told you we should have stopped kissing sooner."
The brunette diva rolled her eyes and with a small smile turned and propped one hand on her hip. She spoke as they made their way over to their usual table with the rest of the gleeks.
"Oh I see, so eating blue chemicals is more important than making out with your girlfriend, is that the situation here Miss Fabray?"
Realising her faux pas as soon as she'd spoken Quinn turned to the others at the table for help, Brittany just smiled back genially and the others swiftly made studious attempts to avoid her eyes, all except Santana that was, who was smirking. Quinn sighed at the lack of support and slumping into her seat caught Rachel's chin gently and turning the diva's face to hers kissed her softly.
"I hate when you play dirty Berry…of course it's not more important you doofus, but you know what happens when my blue level's get low."
Rachel just grinned back happily and kissed the tip of the athletes nose, ignoring the gagging sounds coming from the direction of Santana.
"Yes, you become slightly less manic, which is a good thing because we all have important matters to discuss."
The others groaned in chorus, now however it was good done naturedly, whereas before it would have held a genuine tone of exasperation. Rachel's reaction however had not changed and she continued to ignore the groan as she spoke over it.
"Well, I'm sorry but while Lauren was kind enough to step in and help us out to our victories at invitational's and sectionals it's time we actually gained a new member. I mean, Mercedes has moved schools now to be with Sam so it's time we got used to the fact she isn't coming back. And I was thinking, now things are different in the school I think we could really get some decent new members."
As the group started discussing possible new members from the fresh influx of students Quinn's attention was caught by a small group of freshmen who were clustered on one of the corner tables. They were talking in hushed urgent tones while every so often glancing at the gleeks table. She vaguely recognised them as the newer members of the school band and smiled in their direction tentatively. She was surprised when it caused a flurry of bent heads and whispered words and reaching across she tugged on Rachel's sleeve.
"Um…Rach why are the new band kids looking at me all weird?"
She was expecting to be met with one of her girlfriends usual long rambling explanations about how highly esteemed the glee club was now. So when instead she was met with only silence she managed to tear her gaze away from the flustered bright red faces of the freshmen and towards her friends…all of whom were looking at her as though she'd added four by four and come up with oxygen as the answer. Santana snorted into her hand.
"Just how oblivious are you these days Q? okay let me explain it to ya'll so you know exactly how things are. Normally, band kids, especially freshmen band kids would have been soaked in several different flavours of slushy and found out what exactly is lurking at the bottom of the dumpsters. But since we performed our little song they're untouchable…everyone is."
Quinn rubbed the back of her neck and frowned deeply, she already knew that! but she didn't know why that impacted her especially. Rachel smiled fondly at her oblivious girlfriend and Santana sighed again.
"Q…it was your idea, because of it Azimio left and his disciples are too nervous to try anything, you instigated the one thing that has finally started to change this school. Something even scary ass Sue or lovable old Mr Schu couldn't do. They sort of have a hero worship thing going on."
The Latina smirked at the basketball players look of embarrassment and then allowed the smirk to spread into a huge grin as she observed something behind her best friends back.
"As you're about to find out."
Quinn opened her mouth to speak but was silenced when she saw one of the smaller freshmen was standing at her elbow. She was mildly worried when she noticed the boy was bright red and shaking so she offered a small smile, hoping it would relax him before he combusted.
"Um…hey, you okay?"
He nodded hurriedly and glancing back to his table where the others were all looking at him expectantly he took in a deep breath. He then withdrew his hands from behind his back to place a blue Jell-O pot and a sandwich bag full of blue M&M's in front of her.
"Hi…we just wanted you to have these because we know you like them and we're really grateful for what you all did!"
He rushed it out in one breath and then hurried off before the blonde could even think about thanking him properly. She looked at the treats and then back at the table of freshmen before raising a hand tentatively and waving with a small smile. They all smiled shyly and there were one or two hesitant waves. Quinn turned back to the rest of the glee club (who were trying their best not to laugh outright at the bemused basketball player) and rubbed the back of her neck again.
"Did that actually just happen?"
Rachel smiled proudly and deftly snagged one of the blue candies before she wrapped an arm around Quinn's shoulders and pulled her close.
"Yep, they like you…you must be used to this sort of thing though, I mean when you were the HBIC people gave you stuff all the time."
Quinn snorted and rolled her eyes as she picked up a spoon and eagerly took a mouthful of blue Jell-O, ignoring Rachel's grimace as she did so.
"Yeah, but that was because they were scared I was going to make their life hell if they didn't."
Rachel tapped the blondes shoulder gently with a fingertip where her hand rested and when she had her girlfriends attention she smiled softly. Despite the full dining hall and being sat at the table with all their friends the gesture felt oddly intimate.
"And now it's because you're being you. I keep telling you you're worth everything to me, now everyone else can see how amazing you are too, maybe you can start trying to believe it."
Swallowing her mouthful slowly, Quinn smiled despite herself. She still had trouble sometimes, seeing herself as anything other than the cowering victim she had once been, but…the group therapy that Leroy had gotten her into was helping. As of course was Rachel, reaching across she rested her forehead on the diva's and let out a small breath.
"I'm trying Rae…and I'll keep on trying."
Before the two got too carried away Santana decided to intervene and clearing her throat she fell back on her usual smart ass attitude.
"Okay you two, before I have to go all Lima Heights on your asses for being overly sweet could we maybe concentrate on the problem of needing a new member? I for one want to kick ass at Regional's and the only way we're doing that is if we do something different…and for that we need not only a new member but a new method of attack."
Brittany frowned and laying a hand on the head Cheerio's arm she bit her lower lip worriedly.
"We don't have to really kick asses do we? I like the new nice school we're at and thought we were done with having to pretend to be mean?"
The Latina's expression instantly softened and she smiled gently as she took Brittany's hand.
"It's just an expression Brit, Brit…no more mean, just like I promised."
Dave smirked and nodded his head as he leapt off the bench and getting behind the two cheerio's swept them into a bear hug. This made Brittany squeal with delight and Santana scowl at him when the blonde cheerleader wasn't looking. Dave just enjoyed the mushy hug which he knew the Latina was definitely not enjoying, so of course he couldn't help adding cheerfully.
"No more bad stuff, it's all hugs and kisses now…right San?"
The others didn't even try to hide their grins and laughter at the situation the head Cheerio now found herself in and she alternated between pretending to glare at them all when Brittany was distracted or grinning back happily when she wasn't. Eventually, Dave let go of them and leapt back into his seat next to Artie, where he took the smaller boys hand in his with a fond smile. They were the only couple that weren't big on overt PDA's but the little ones they shared always made the rest of the group smile inwardly. Puck growled as he stuffed another French fry in his mouth.
"Can the new member maybe not be gay…and severely hot, I'm beginning to feel left out as the only single guy in glee now."
Mike patted him on the head condescendingly and grinned.
"Maybe we can get you a pet, like a mascot to keep you happy and out of trouble?"
The mohawked boy snorted and rolled his eyes but grinned nonetheless and hurled a French fry at his friend who caught it in his mouth much to Tina's disgust. Rachel sighed and drawing their attention neatly back to the main point of discussion, tried again.
"I can see trying to have a proper meeting about this is pointless, but can we all just ask around and see if there is anyone who would be willing to join? Quinn, Mike and Puck you could ask your team mates, it's always good to get more jocks on side, especially now we have a winning team."
Mike cleared his throat pointedly and the rest of the table groaned and sank their heads into either their hands or down onto the table in front of them with a thump, because they knew what was coming. Since their first game the team had gone on to win every one of their next three games and had been written up in several local and sports papers. Including the now infamous paragraph that was about to be repeated…again!
"Don't you mean the 'hottest new team to emerge in high school basketball for decades, only enhanced by the magical bond between team Captain, point guard Quinn Fabray and ace Shooting guard Mike Chang that has seen some of the sweetest baskets scored this year.'…"
Tina glared at Rachel half heartedly and the diva had the good grace to blush as she admitted.
"Well I didn't think he would say it every time I mentioned the team."
Mike grinned unrepentantly and high fived an equally joyous Quinn, however when they noticed that their other halves were less than impressed they settled down again. Before Rachel could say anything else the bell rang and the table started to disperse rapidly, the diva turned to Quinn who was pocketing the remaining candy with one hand and snagging Rachel's books up with the other. The blonde walked Rachel to her locker and leant on it. Smiling slightly she watched the diva concentrate as she picked her books out for her next class. Rachel noticed out of the corner of her eye, and with a small smile she blushed and spoke to the athlete even as she kept her eyes on her locker.
"What are you smiling at there stud?"
Grinning, Quinn shrugged the shoulder that wasn't leaning on the bank of lockers.
"Just…happy I guess. I mean, while nothing in life is ever perfect it sort of feels like things are right now you know? School, basketball, glee…it's all going nicely. Plus, I love you and as amazing as everyone thinks the things I have done are, they should know it's only because you made me see I didn't have to be what I thought I was. I'm only as good as I am because you made me that way Rachel Berry."
The diva's breath caught in her throat and if they had been anywhere other than the school corridor she would have been showing Quinn exactly how much she meant to her. However as it was the school corridor she settled for a kiss. A toe curling intense and deep kiss that left the blondes head reeling that is. Thanking god she was leaning on the lockers Quinn blinked and realised the smug looking brunette had just asked her a question. Rewinding a few moments she cleared her throat and remembered what it was.
"Oh…um, no I have a free period right now, figured I would go see if there's any way I can persuade Lauren to come back for good. I know she also has a free period and is bound to be in the AV lab."
Smiling happily at the dedication Quinn was showing to the glee club Rachel reached up and placed one more much more chaste kiss on the still swollen lips of her girlfriend.
"Okay, are you at practice this afternoon? I know you have extra practices this week."
The basketball captain shook her head.
"No, I'll meet you after your trig class."
As the class in question was two doors away she waited to make sure Rachel got there (habit) before turning on her heel and heading for the AV lab. She was only feeling slightly guilty at the fact that she had an ulterior motive for going to see Lauren. Luckily the AV lab was fairly empty, in fact apart from Lauren there was only a pair of legs sticking out from under a desk. Quinn raised an eyebrow as she sat down opposite her unlikely but close friend.
"Hey Zizes, you are aware that one of your club appears to have been either eaten or squashed by a desk right?"
Lauren rolled her eyes at the basketball players smirk and casually pushed the tray of Twinkies across the desk in silent invitation. It wasn't a big deal unless you knew Lauren and her addiction to the sweet treats, in which case it meant a lot! Quinn dutifully, and happily, accepted one. Lauren watched her for a moment curiously before speaking.
"Always nice to see you Q…but I'm wondering why. You guys already thanked me for the video, which by the way you so didn't need to. And you know me well enough to know that I cant come back to Glee because of my own projects…so?"
Popping the last bite of the hastily scoffed cream bun into her mouth Quinn swallowed. Fidgeting awkwardly for a moment in her seat before sighing she rubbed the back of her neck and finally spoke.
"You know me too well Lauren…and you're right, I know you want to make your movie so I wouldn't ask you to mess that up by pressuring you back into Glee. But, yeah I do have a favour to ask."
Lauren nodded with a small smile and ignored the thud and muted swearing that came from the direction of the legs behind her. She gestured for the basketball player to continue and after a moment where she glanced at the legs Quinn did so.
"I was wondering if you could see your way to maybe organising some more filming. You see with her dad's also helping me out Rach has cut down on some of her own expenses and one of them is a decent camcorder. Now you and I both know she's bound to make it big, there is no other viable future for her…and to help her with that I was wondering if you could arrange for your club to start filming some more of her performances and practices?"
Lauren looked thoughtful and rubbed her chin as she started mentally adding up what cameras and members she would need to use to put together a decent audition DVD. Quinn spoke hastily as she outlined exactly what she wanted.
"I mean, she kicks ass and I was thinking her application to NYADA would go better with a well put together short of all her best performances. I'm more than willing to pay for time and equipment but I want it to be a surprise. I just know that she's at her best in her unguarded moments sometimes…it's like she puts more of herself into what she's singing so…"
Lauren lifted a hand cutting Quinn off and smiled gently.
"Cool it Fabray, of course I'll do it…just pay for the discs and we'll call it even. Oh and obviously I get to option her for one of my films when she makes it big. Which will be after I do of course."
At the girls honest grin Quinn found herself smirking back and she bumped the wrestlers knuckles with her own happily.
"Lauren, you are the best, anything you need for your movie you just need to ask me okay?"
There was a distinct twinkle in Lauren's eyes as she bumped Quinn's knuckles that the basketball player completely missed.
"I'll bear that in mind Fabray…now that we're done with business, so to speak, how is the hunt for your twelfth member going?"
Quinn sighed and ran both her hands through her hair as she sat back tiredly. Smothering a yawn she recounted the few applicants there had been so far. Sadly none of them could sing and all of them had suffered from serious stage fright. After Lauren got done laughing she pursed her lips slightly then heaved a huge sigh before folding her hands in front of her.
"While I cant be with you guys full time this year, never let it be said I left my friends up a creek without the necessary paddle. Watt's, get your ass over here!"
Quinn raised an eyebrow in mild confusion as Lauren waited patiently. The legs which were encased in jeans and battered black Vans slid out from under the desk to reveal a figure that the basketball player vaguely recognised. Cameron something or other, An English girl that had pretty much kept off the radar ever since she started at the beginning of the year. Roughly the same height as Quinn but a little bulkier, with a black v neck t shirt covered by a loose bright orange shirt with 'Property of Arkham Asylum' on the front and 'Inmate' stamped across the back. She was currently rubbing a hand gingerly over the lump forming under her dark blonde spiked hair.
"Bloody Hell Lauren, when was the last time anyone looked at the wiring in this place, there was a power chord down there that says Sinclair for crying out loud!"
The wrestler rolled her eyes and gestured towards Quinn.
"Yeah, like you aren't gonna take it and add it to your geek collection, now hush up. Cameron Wilde, this is Quinn Fabray."
Flushing slightly Cameron nodded and offered her hand. Lauren couldn't help but laugh at the basketball players perplexed look and said, as though it would explain everything.
"She's English."
Cameron was the one to roll her blue grey eyes at that statement and after shaking Quinn's hand with a half smile she looked back at Lauren questioningly.
"You wanted something else? Cos seriously that wiring needs more work and then I need to recalibrate the EMF reader before Friday or all the readings are going to be bollocks."
Quinn just looked on bemused and clapped herself on the back mentally as she finally remembered that she recognised Cameron from the swim team which explained the sturdier build. Lauren looked between the swimmer and the basketball player and then smiled.
"You both want me to do you guys a favour so in return, Cam you are going to join the glee club, and don't pretend you cant sing because I have seen the evidence remember. Quinn I know she's a little odd but it's mostly because she's English and she can sing so you need to vouch for her. That way both your debts are paid and all is right with the world."
Quinn shrugged, it was fine with her though she doubted Puck would be happy because from what she had seen of Cameron's wandering eyes in the locker room she was about as straight as Kurt. Cameron didn't exactly look over the moon but she sighed and directed her response to Lauren.
"And you'll supply the infrared camera's and the glasses, well, if we get them finished?"
The wrestler nodded and grumbling under her breath Cameron sighed and shoved her hands in her jeans pockets.
"When and where do I turn up then?"
After giving her the details of the next practice which was tomorrow afternoon the swimmer nodded, sighed and retreated to the safety of the jumbled wires under the desk. Quinn decided not to ask and just hoped that the girl could sing, if so their problems were solved and she would manage to get the audition disc put together for Rachel. After a general catch up gossip with Lauren the basketball player decided to head to the library to work on her history assignment while she waited for the diva's class to finish. She was so engrossed in the history books that she didn't notice the furtive figure of her girlfriend heading towards the AV lab's that she herself had recently left.
Lauren wasn't generally one to be surprised, not often anyway but the arrival of Rachel Berry wearing a borrowed letter jacket that wasn't Quinn's and was instead about three sizes too big and obviously some kind of disguise…that did actually warrant surprise and her left eyebrow made an abrupt acquaintance with her hairline. The diva looked around furtively as though she may perhaps be being pursued by the mafia before she slunk into the seat opposite the one Lauren was still occupying. The wrestler calmly closed her laptop and assuming her usual tone of neutral curiosity she cleared her throat.
"Something I can help McKinley's resident superstar with?"
Rachel smiled brightly and allowed her head to fully emerge from the oversized jacket that Lauren now realised was Mike's when she took in the stitched name Chang on the right breast.
"Lauren, I'm glad I missed Quinn and I assume she wasn't able to convince you to return to glee full time? But it's fine, I actually had a favour I wanted to ask you."
She had no idea they weren't alone until she heard a snort of laughter sound from under the desk in the corner. She jumped slightly at the unexpected sound before turning back to the former glee club member who was smiling slightly and looking even more curious.
"Okay…well, I seem to be on a roll so what was it you wanted to ask me Berry?"
Brushing off the first part of Lauren's sentence, Rachel flicked her hair over her shoulder and bit her lip for a moment before leaning forward and talking earnestly.
"Well, as I am sure you know through your friendship with Quinn and also because of the inevitable high school gossip. Quinn now lives with me and my fathers and for some reason feels beholden to them. Because of that she seems to be failing to apply to college's that she is actually worthy of. Now while I realise this is not your problem and could perhaps be considered a little underhanded of me I have decided that Quinn should apply to Julliard."
Lauren secretly agreed that the blonde's previously hidden musical genius should in fact secure her a place at the prestigious school of music and art. She kept those thoughts to herself however and just inclined her head to silently encourage the diva to continue.
"Needless to say Quinn feel's she isn't capable of this and to that end I was wondering if perhaps you could indulge in some subterfuge and compile a DVD of some of her performances. She plays the jazz club every Saturday night with Arties band as well as her performances for glee club so you should be able to get some very good and varied material."
Rachel frowned as the legs under the desk snorted another laugh and she opened her mouth to finally ask a question concerning those legs when Lauren spoke again, effectively distracting her.
"Okay…so let me get this straight…"
Over the next ten minutes Lauren discovered that Rachel and Quinn were scarily alike in what they wanted and she had to fight a very hard battle with herself not to grin at the irony of this situation. Once an agreement was reached Rachel slunk back into Mike's oversized letterman and headed towards her trig class again. Smirking, Lauren sat back in her chair and finally gave in to the laughter she had felt welling up since she'd seen the little diva in the very bad disguise. Sliding out from under the desk Cameron scratched her head free of dust and smirked.
"I take it this is all to remain secret then?"
Lauren glanced at the dust covered nerd she had formed a firm friendship with and rolled her eyes.
"Of course, but it does help with my own film that I wanted to make, and with you in Glee club it could work even better than I anticipated."
Cameron sighed and glanced at the wrestler with resignation.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm going to be wiring up countless video camera's over the next few weeks?"
Lauren laughed and reaching down she hauled the swimmer to her feet effortlessly.
"Don't even pretend to complain Jenny English, you love all this nerd work."
Scowling the swimmer grumbled good naturedly to herself about Lauren needing to make her mind up about a nickname. Shaking her head, Lauren re-opened her laptop and with a smile glanced down at the flashing title on her screen…
High School Love: True Story…
Yep, this was going to work out for all of them just fine.
That evening at home Rachel was flipping through song sheets trying to find something different, something that would make them stand out at Regional's. Quinn was busy working on the first of several jazz mash ups that she and Dave had mused on for a while. They might not even work in the long run but it was worth a try and the club had been urging them to try something different. Her girlfriends exasperated sigh gained her attention however and she looked up as the diva swept her notes onto the floor in frustration. The blondes eyes widened at the out of character action and she set her pen down.
"Rach…you'll figure it out, or the group will. We work as a team remember so stop pressuring yourself to come up with the solution all on your own. The problem is all of ours, not just yours."
The diva wiped the tears of frustration away and Quinn slid from the desk to pull Rachel away from the screen of her laptop and into a hug.
"Hey…come on, we just have to figure out how to make the audience feel more a part of the performance than just watching it."
She murmured soothingly into the brunette's ear as she kissed the side of her neck softly. She smiled slightly when she heard the shaky breath Rachel released as she sank into the basketball players embrace fully.
"I know stud, it's just frustrating…like the answers right in front of me but for some reason I cant see it!"
Quinn just nodded against the diva's shoulder and rubbed her hands soothingly over the small of the shorter girls back. It was all very relaxing and edging towards mildly erotic before she was shocked into stunned silence when Rachel suddenly pulled back with a grin and a yelp of enlightenment.
"That's exactly it Quinn! You are a frikkin genius!"
She pressed a very thankful and almost bruising kiss to the shocked athletes lips before lightly skipping back over to her computer leaving a puzzled Quinn in her wake.
"Um…you're welcome?"
Rachel however was already off and bringing up several different videos at once, so shaking her head fondly Quinn decided to retreat to the kitchen and make some tea. She had the feeling it was going to be a long night. Hiram was downstairs and looked up with a smile as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hey kiddo, how's it going up there? Little bee looked sort of down when you got back this afternoon?"
Quinn nodded and shrugged a shoulder as she rummaged through the cupboard for Rachel's herbal remedy thing she preferred to drink in the evenings.
"Worrying about Regional's. Though we do now have a twelfth member assuming she can sing. Rachel wants us to do something different, something that makes us stand out from the other groups performing. Vocal adrenaline always go for glitter and in your face showmanship. I guess she must have thought of something though because she's totally distracted right now."
She gave a yelp of triumph as she finally found the tea bags and dropped them into the pot by the boiling kettle. Hiram smiled at her and leant back in his seat, Quinn had continued to surprise him, firstly with her attention to Rachel's dramatic personality without over indulging it. Then with her dedication to her therapy, she rarely spoke about it but occasionally she would find him or Leroy just for a hug and he always did so without questioning her. But where he would like her to show a little more dedication was her approach to her own further education.
"Quinn, can I ask you something?"
She nodded as she arranged the mugs on the tea tray smiling at the hand painted porcelain cups she and Rachel had made for each other at colour me mine. The diva's had several gold stars of course as well as love hearts, along with Quinn's interpretation of the brunette via a stick drawing. Quinn's also had a stick drawn basketball player on it with a microphone in one hand and a basketball in the other, as well as several of the instruments she could play and a huge heart on the bottom. They had both scrawled messages of love to each other in the base of the mug and every time they drank from them it caused a smile to emerge no matter their previous mood. Turning her attention back to Hiram she noted the fond exasperation in his eyes and smiled guiltily at her wandering mind.
"Sorry dad…go ahead before I see something else shiny."
He laughed and she ducked the tea towel he threw at her jokingly before assuming a more serious expression.
"Leroy and I were wondering if you had given any more thought to college. You must know there have been scouts at the last few of your basketball matches right?"
The athlete shrugged slightly and rubbed her hand idly across the back of her neck. A gesture the older man was beginning to recognise as one of hesitation and awkwardness and sighing internally he tried again, a different approach this time.
"You know that they're already comparing you to Sue Bird right? Colleges are clamouring to put together invitations that you cant refuse. Rachel wants you to embrace your musical gifts…but the thing is kiddo, no one knows what you want."
Looking at the two decorated mugs again the blonde smiled half heartedly and turned to Hiram as she finally confessed.
"I don't know what I want to do, I honestly have no idea. I feel like sort of a cheat when it comes to the music because it's a freak gift, a one in a million thing and not true talent and dedication like Rachel has. I love playing basketball but I don't want it to be the sole focus in my life. I will happily play for a college but not because they offer me a sports car or an apartment. I want to work out what I want to do with my life first and base my college choice on that."
Hiram smiled fondly and walking over hugged her lightly with one arm as he used the other to pour boiling water over the tea bags in the pot.
"I think that's the most sense I ever heard a teenager speak when it comes to college. Don't let anyone rush you into a decision Quinn, and as enamoured as Rachel is with the idea of Julliard for you she will support you no matter what you decide and you know she will. So take your time, and think about what matters to you."
Glancing across at the slightly shorter man Quinn swallowed back her tears of gratitude and just let her forehead rest on his shoulder for a long moment before she stood up.
"Thanks, that means a lot to me…sometimes it feels like there's pressure from all sides and I just want to say what everyone wants to hear to make them happy. So thanks, I promise whatever decision I make it will be well thought out."
Nodding happily he pressed a kiss to her temple and then headed back to the folded paper on the kitchen table, he almost tripped when he heard the next words out of the blonde teenagers mouth however.
"I was also wondering…if I could go with you and Rachel the next time you go to temple."
He turned at the hesitant question and after blinking a couple of times in shock he sat down. Quinn busied herself with the tea accoutrements while she waited for him to process the request. When he did he cleared his throat and spoke carefully.
"You know you don't have to right? We understand that you were raised as a Christian and just because you live with us doesn't mean that you have to convert."
Smiling softly the basketball player just nodded and tried to find some of the vegan cookies Rachel loved.
"I know that, but regardless of my own religion it is a huge part of Rachel's life and I want to understand it more. I've been reading up about it for a few weeks now and truth be told there are several things about the religion that cry out to me in ways that Christianity did not. I'm not saying I want to convert but I do want to learn more, if you and your temple will allow me that is?"
Hiram knew the temple would welcome her with open arms, there was never a question as to that.
"Does Rachel know you're asking?"
Quinn shrugged and tried not to look guilty as she admitted.
"She knows I've been reading up about it and researching but I didn't want to say anything in case you really didn't want me to go."
Hiram shook his head slightly and wondered if there was a day when this teenage girl would cease to surprise him, he hoped not.
"Well of course you can come along to temple Quinn, but talk to Rachel first so she doesn't think we either a) conspired together or b) that I strong armed you into it!"
Laughing slightly Quinn picked up the tea tray and nodded in agreement as she headed upstairs. She could hear Rachel muttering away to herself excitedly when she was only halfway up there and grinned fondly before pushing her way into the room. Smelling the honey and ginger in the tea Rachel smiled and looked up her expression softening.
"Thanks Quinn, you didn't have to do that…"
Setting the tray down the basketball player shrugged and looked over the diva's shoulders at the selection of songs she had highlighted.
"I know, but you were so engrossed I didn't want to interrupt you, so what have you come up with supernova?"
Turning in her seat Rachel yanked gently on the basketball players hand until Quinn relented and with a small smile settled down on the diva's lap. When she was comfortable Rachel grinned and spoke.
"Now that you are sitting comfortably I will share with you the stroke of genius that you inspired in me!"
Raising an eyebrow Quinn snagged a cookie from the plate and got it half way to her mouth before the diva intercepted it and took a bite. The athlete rolled her eyes and accepted the half cookie before speaking carefully (so as not to spray Rachel with crumbs).
"Wow, I inspired a stroke of genius, I am officially intrigued! So come on supernova spill it already."
Finishing her mouthful of cookie with a little impatient huff that Quinn secretly found very endearing, Rachel flipped her hair over her shoulder and carried on as though she hadn't been interrupted.
"I was thinking that you were right, when you said it had to be something that really made the audience feel part of the performance. That in turn got me thinking about the one thing we have that the other glee clubs don't."
She smiled expectantly and belatedly the basketball player realised she was supposed to say something.
"Um…a really angry Latina with razor blades in her hair?"
The little diva opened her mouth to disagree then looked thoughtful before shaking her head slightly.
"While I certainly hope we are the only glee club that has Santana, that wasn't quite what I meant. What I meant was we also have musicians! You can play, well, whatever pretty much, Blaine can play keyboard, Artie plays bass, Puck guitar, the only thing missing is drums and I'm sure the jazz club drummer would fill in for us."
Quinn took a sip of the herbal brew she had made earlier, annoyingly it was growing on her. Reaching out to snag another biscuit she waited wordlessly while Rachel took half, it was an odd ritual but the two of them always split cookies now.
"So you want us to literally play as well as sing…that definitely is something the other clubs haven't tried. And I guess if the choreography happened around the band it wouldn't look so stilted. Plus of course the guitarists can dance to a certain extent."
They split another two biscuits while they mulled it over and Rachel passed the song sheets over to Quinn.
"Plus I was thinking that the song itself needs to be something really punchy, I figured if we go for an original emotional number for the solo piece to draw them in something deep and soulful. Then maybe play a cover of something really punchy and upbeat that can literally invite the crowd to participate. So what do you think?"
Flipping through the songs carefully Quinn found herself smiling. Rachel had picked well known songs that would get people up and rocking in the aisles. The problem now was narrowing down the twelve she had picked to just one. After some thought the athlete plucked two out and tapped them.
"These two get my vote, I like them both and there's absolutely nothing offensive in them. Plus the Lady Antabellum one I can definitely see you and Dave rocking, or maybe you and Blaine…hell anyone in the group could rock that."
Rachel looked at the two the blonde had chosen and smiling happily she cast the others aside. Quinn looked at her questioningly at which point the diva chuckled and tugging lightly on the collar of the athlete's t shirt pulled her down for a kiss.
"I trust you, and besides those were my two favourites as well. I'll ask the club tomorrow and we'll see if they have any other suggestions or if they object to this choice. Plus of course we have to see if they actually agree with the idea of playing as well as singing."
Splitting the last cookie, the brunette placed half in her girlfriends mouth and chewed her own happily. Quinn swallowed her half before deciding that they had done enough work for one night, turning on the diva's lap so she was straddling her she let her arms loop around Rachel's neck.
"Now we have solved, at least potentially, the glee club problem, how about we spend some time solving the 'girlfriend feeling abandoned' problem?"
Rachel chewed her lip as she feigned thinking about the proposition while Quinn waited not so patiently. Eventually when the athlete resorted to a particularly over exaggerated pout the diva relented.
"I think that can be arranged, what do you say to a night of snuggling and scary movies?"
The basketball player held up a hand to halt the diva who was leaning in for a kiss.
"Snuggling yes, but the last time we watched a horror movie you made me actually crawl under the bed with a baseball bat to check for killer clowns!"
Raising a disbelieving eyebrow the brunette was quick to correct the error in that statement.
"Actually I asked you to check under the bed for serial killers because it was your bright idea to watch Copycat, you were the one who was scared of the prospect of killer clowns under there, not me!"
Quinn had the good grace to blush and half smile as she ducked her head.
"Yes well…I wouldn't have even thought that if you hadn't made me also watch Clown house!"
Gasping in mock outrage Rachel swiped at the basketball players arm and ignoring the exaggerated yelp she corrected her girlfriend yet again.
"You offered! Because I was so scared by Copycat you said we could watch the film Clown house which was the scariest film you ever saw and that way I wouldn't feel like a wimp…and I was glad we did because quite frankly that film really wasn't scary, it was just silly."
The blonde's jaw dropped in shock and she folded her arms huffily.
"Excuse me…three lunatics escape an asylum and dress like clowns then think they can make balloon animals out of people…how was that not scary! Even talking about it is making me want to get the baseball bat out again."
They looked at each other in silence for a moment and then smiled softly before saying in unison.
"The Little Mermaid."
With the decision made there was a flurry of activity as they each went to get changed into their pyjamas and get comfortable in Rachel's bed before starting the movie. Once they were comfortable and the lights were out the diva pressed play. After a few moments Quinn spoke quietly.
"Rae, can I ask you something…well, tell you something and ask you something at the same time?"
Keeping hold of her girlfriend Rachel nodded and smiled against the soft skin of the athletes neck.
"Of course you can."
She felt rather than saw Quinn take a deep breath and after a moments indecision the basketball player began to speak quietly.
"One of the things we talked about in group this week was um…sex and how the things that happened to us in the past have coloured how we act now. When it comes to sex I mean, and see the thing is, I realised that the one time I did actually do it I was drunk and don't really remember much. I don't want it to be like that for you and the next time I…wow, this is really hard to talk about."
She trailed off and closed her eyes, mentally cursing herself. The group leader had told them that if they were in a relationship it was something they would have to think about. But now she was trying to talk about it she was tripping over her own tongue and sounding like a complete moron. There was the gentle brush of lips on each of her closed eyes and when she hesitantly opened them the brown ones peering back at her weren't full of confusion or disdain, just love, understanding and honesty.
"Take your time Quinn, there's no need to rush, I'm not going anywhere."
She wasn't sure if it was the tone of her girlfriends voice or the look in her eyes but the blonde felt herself relax. After letting loose a breath she wasn't even aware she had been holding she finally found the words she had wanted and started again.
"I was trying to say…that I love you Rachel, I honestly do and I know that I want you to be with me both physically and emotionally but…I have never been with someone sober and I don't know how it will go."
She paused to bite her lip anxiously and Rachel smiled encouragingly as she ran her hand soothingly over Quinn's back and waited patiently.
"I hope it will be okay but I don't know, and the last thing I want is for us to be in that situation and me to freak out. I just want you to know that if it does happen, if I ever do lose it then it isn't because of you Rae, you're amazingly beautiful to me and I hope you know that."
Trailing off the athlete gave a half shrug. She only realised she was crying when the diva reached up and with the pad of her thumb and swiped away the tear that was trickling down her nose.
"Quinn…I know how you feel about me and I feel the same about you. I know you are still growing to love yourself and deal with what happened and I know a part of that is going to be sexual intimacy. I don't care how long we wait, I want you to be happy with who you are and to trust both me and yourself fully before you even think about sex. It's just one way of many when it comes to expressing how we feel about each other."
Waiting for the athlete to nod her acceptance of what Rachel had said the diva leaned in and pressed a feather light kiss onto Quinn's lips.
"In the meantime we get to enjoy snuggling up and watching movies. And of course making Santana vomit with our hyper cute behaviour."
As predicted that got a laugh out of Quinn and after a moment's more silence they turned back to the movie. As she watched the exploits of Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian on the TV and listened to Rachel humming along with 'Under the Sea' the basketball player felt the invisible pressure that had been sitting on her since the last group session finally lift.
Now all she had to do was help put together a Regional's winning glee show, ace all her exams, lead the basketball team to victory and finally, choose a college and find a direction in life…glancing down at the happily humming diva in her arms Quinn felt herself grin.
Bring it on…!
And…another chapter done, hopefully with fewer grammatical errors! (again, sorry for that) anyhoo, I hope you enjoyed and don't resent the original character too much, I just had to solve the Mercedes thing somehow, for some reason I just don't get the character? I can find an angle for all the others quite easily but not so much for her, not without turning her into a cliché anyway! So I made up Cameron, and I also wanted an excuse to bring Lauren back in cos I like her. Well I shall head off to play with my new phone and hope I learn to use it before I blow it up, the next thing posted will (fingers crossed) be a follow up to Cheerio's & Froot Loops! Stay tuned kiddies and remember you all have my love and adulation! Mwah! Mwah! XXX