Disclaimer: I don't own glee, Barbara Streisand, Star Wars or any music/musicians mentioned
For Quinn the weekend went by so slowly because she hadn't heard from Rachel. She wanted to call the girl dozens of times, but decided against it. Rachel said she would call if she wanted to hang out, so Quinn was determined not to sound desperate or stalkerish by bothering the girl.
But she wasn't above getting to school obscenely early just to see if she could 'accidentally' run into Rachel. However when she arrived at school and went to the auditorium, Rachel wasn't there. She wandered around before looking outside and seeing Finn's car in the parking lot. Making her way over to the boy's locker, she waited and waited.
Frowning, she finally returned to her own locker. What was going on? Were they avoiding her? Was something wrong? Her mind was going a mile a minute trying to replay the details of Friday night, but she couldn't come up with a reason for the outright avoidance.
When Quinn made it to her first class, she was practically attacked by Puck.
"Where were you?" He asked anxiously.
"Where was I?"
"We've been trying to get a hold of you all weekend, but no one has your number and no one knows where you live." He said.
"Who's been trying to get a hold of me?"
"Me, Santana, Kurt."
"Why?"
"Saturday afternoon, Rachel, Finn and their dads were playing their weekly game of basketball when Finn accidentally broke Rachel's nose."
"Is she okay?" Quinn practically screamed in panic.
Puck raised an eyebrow. "Yes, she just broke her nose." He lowered her voice and led her to the corner of the room. "But when they took her to the doctor, the asshole said that she should get a nose job."
"What?"
"That's what we said." Puck crossed his arms and frowned. "And she's actually considering it. She says it'll improve her singing, like she needs it…anyway, she won't listen to any of us."
"And you think she'll listen to me?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, Santana seems to and you're our only hope."
"God, way to quote Star Wars."
Puck rolled his eyes. "I can see why Mike and Sam like you."
Quinn grinned. Then immediately her face became serious again. "Is she even here today? I didn't see her?"
Puck shrugged. "I thought she was around, maybe she's with Finn. He's taking it so hard. He hates himself and he thinks it's all his fault."
"I'll look for her after class."
"Well, let me get your number so this kind of thing doesn't happen again." He noticed the glare she shot him. "Come on, that wasn't a pick up line. I actually just want to help Rachel."
Quinn nodded and told him her number. He quickly shot a text to the rest of their friends so they all had it as well. Quinn smiled at him and sat down. Her phone buzzed instantly.
Imna hav to ends U
From Quinn: Is this Santana?
Who the Hell else wud it be?
Quinn rolled her eyes as she saved the number in her phone.
From Quinn: Puck told me about Rachel
From Santana: I tried talking to the hobbit, but she won't listen to me.
From Quinn: Maybe if you stopped calling her a hobbit
From Santana: Screw U
From Quinn: You're not my type
From Santana: LOL! U got ballz Q, I'll giv U that!
From Quinn: I'll look for Rachel after class
From Santana: We R counting on U
From Quinn: I know
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After class, Quinn ran out of her classroom and straight to Rachel's locker. When she came face to face with the girl, she saw two fading black eyes and tape on the girl's nose.
"I missed you this weekend." Quinn replied, trying to sound unaffected by the sight.
"As you can see, I've been otherwise engaged." She sounded irritated and then she sighed. "I know they sent you. So if you're here to talk me out of it, you're wasting your time."
Quinn frowned before quickly recovering and plastering a smile on her face. "I was actually hoping we could practice our song at lunch today and tomorrow. Can you still sing?"
Rachel looked offended. "Of course I can sing."
And before Quinn knew what she was doing, she leaned in and kissed Rachel on the cheek. She let her lips linger for a second before she moved them to Rachel's ear. Quinn's lips were already tingling with the contact, but she made sure to brush them against the shell of Rachel's ear as she spoke. "Please don't change anything, you're already beautiful."
And with that she was gone, leaving a completely bewildered Rachel standing at her locker. Quinn was sure that she made a mistake and that Rachel wouldn't show up to practice so when she walked through the auditorium promptly at the start of lunch, Quinn let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"You came!"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Of course I came, I said I would." The brunette replied with a smile, remembering the role reversal when Quinn said similar words to her at her house on Friday.
All they did was practice; they didn't talk about the "incident" as Quinn had taken to calling it. And that was okay with her, because Rachel was there. She made a move, kissed the girl, told her she was beautiful and Rachel didn't run away. She was still there, sitting beside Quinn in the auditorium their hands grazing every so often as they ate their lunch together. And for now, Quinn was content with that.
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When Quinn got home from school that evening, she slammed the door shut behind her. Now that she had time to process, she was angry.
"Quinn? What's wrong?" Fran asked as she rushed into the room to greet her.
"Rachel broke her nose and some doctor told her that she should get a nose job."
"What?"
"The doctor. Instead of just, you know, fixing it…suggested that she get a nose job. He said that lots of girls her age get them and that it's safe and…"
"A doctor told her to get a nose job?" Fran seemed as upset as Quinn was. "She doesn't need one, that girl is gorgeous."
"I know!"
"So you're upset, because…?"
"She wants to get one." Quinn replied defeated.
"Really?"
"Apparently, according to Santana, Rachel is very self conscious when it comes to her looks because she's been bullied and stuff. Finn, Santana and Puck stop most of it, but growing up kids teased Rachel a lot. Gay dads, her love of Broadway and all her eccentricities. But I guess they also picked on her nose. And some called her man hands, or Trannie."
"Trannie?"
"Transvestite."
"Oh, I hate them." Fran seethed.
"I feel so bad; everyone in glee is trying to convince her that she doesn't need it. And you know what? The duet she and I are singing tomorrow is a mash up of TLC's 'Unpretty,' and the song 'I Feel Pretty.' Oh, and I kissed her on the cheek and called her beautiful today."
"That's perfect Quinn, just keep emphasizing that to her." Fran raised an eyebrow. "But maybe lay off the trying to kiss her thing, she has a girlfriend and you'll only confuse her."
Quinn nodded dejectedly. "But my lips tingled, Fran. I never felt that way. When we touch, when she looks at me…"
Fran stepped forward and hugged her sister. "I know sweetheart."
"She said that I was the prettiest girl she ever met. But she said that there was more to me, Fran. All anyone ever sees is how I look and how beautiful they think I am. Rachel's the first to see beyond that. But when she told me I was beautiful, for the first time in my life…I believed it."
Fran swallowed the lump in her throat. It broke her heart to hear her sister sound so sad, but it warmed her whole body to know that her sister was finally talking to her about something meaningful. She was finally opening up to her. And she had Rachel Berry to thank for it.
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The next day went by pretty much the same as the previous day had. She arrived early, but couldn't find Rachel so went to her own class. Then at lunchtime, Rachel strolled through the auditorium and they went right to business. Their song was ready yesterday, but Quinn wasn't going to say anything. She'd take any excuse she could to be alone with Rachel, even if they didn't really talk.
After school, Quinn made her way to glee. She sat beside Santana as usual, but noticed that Rachel was sitting by Finn and Puck not Harmony. Come to think of it, Harmony had been conspicuously absent. Quinn made a mental note to keep her eye out for Harmony. Just then, girl in question walked in the room with Sugar by her side. They were laughing and talking and Quinn was pissed off. She glanced back toward Rachel to see her reaction, but the girl was stoic as ever.
Puck and Sam performed first and as Rachel predicted, they were amazing. Mercedes and Sugar performed a mash up of two Adele songs. They blew the boys out of the water; Quinn hadn't realized how talented Santana was. When theLatinasat down, she leaned in towards her. "That was great. I didn't know you could sing like that."
Santana rolled her eyes. "Well, if you paid attention to anyone besides Rachel you'd have known." She smirked at the blush making an appearance on Quinn's face.
Quinn and Rachel were next. As they sat on chairs in the middle of the room and faced their friends, they sang their song. Rachel would look to Quinn every so often, and each time Quinn felt it and locked eyes with the girl intensely. At the end of the song Quinn made sure to look at Rachel, trying to convey everything she felt for the girl. She thought for a moment that Rachel understood.
They took their seats wordlessly and watched as Harmony and Kurt performed a mash up of 'Get Happy' and 'Happy Days are Here Again.' They were amazing. Quinn wondered idly why they chose to pair up, but was happy Harmony didn't sing with Sugar while Rachel was already feeling so vulnerable.
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The next day, Quinn was in the lunchroom with the rest of her friends. Apparently even without her to initiate things, they had continued to sit together at lunch. Quinn found herself smiling at the thought. At least she did something right.
"Where are Rachel and Finn?" Quinn asked anyone who would listen.
"Finn went with her to her doctor's appointment during 4th period. They should be back soon." Kurt answered.
Quinn's stomach twisted. "Any word on what she decided?"
"We did what we could." Sam replied crestfallen. "I wish she didn't think she needed it."
"I even tried telling her that her idol Barbara Streisand was told to get a nose job and that she refused to conform to society's standards." Harmony said.
"I offered to make out with her so she would know I thought she was beautiful." Brittanychirped causing the whole table to stare at her. "She thanked me for the offer and told me that it would make San sad, so we didn't get to make out."
Santana kissedBrittany's cheek. Quinn noticed that ever since the party, Santana was more open about her relationship withBrittanyand Quinn couldn't be happier for them. However, seeing how Harmony seemed to be more open with her attraction to Sugar was not something Quinn was happy about. She should be; having Harmony out of the picture was a good thing. But she didn't want Rachel to get hurt. Rachel's happiness was all that mattered to her.
As if on cue, the small brunette appeared at her side. "So, I just got back from the doctor and I told him that I wasn't going to get the procedure done."
Quinn looked away from Rachel's penetrating eyes, but didn't try to hide the smile of relief that tugged at her lips. She glanced up shyly and saw Rachel still looking at her. Distantly, she heard their friends cheer and watched them get up to congratulate the girl on her decision. Finn sat down, looking relieved.
The next two days went by quickly and mostly uneventful, but when Quinn walked in on Sugar and Harmony kissing in one of the bathrooms she finally blew a gasket. She shouted at Sugar telling her to leave, and then shoved Harmony into the wall. "What the hell are you doing?" She spat out through gritted teeth.
Harmony tried to push her off of her. "Leave me alone, it's not what you think." She hissed back with venom.
Quinn dropped her hands and backed away. "What is it then? You have two minutes to explain."
"Rachel and I broke up last Friday."
Quinn couldn't decide what she was feeling. Excitement? Maybe. Rage? Probably. Jealousy? Definitely. Disappointment? Kind of.
"She wants you." Harmony said quietly when Quinn was silent for too long.
Hazel eyes snapped up to meet Harmony's blue ones. "She said that?"
"She didn't have to. We were together because we thought the ones we wanted didn't want us. Do yourself a favor and let her talk to you, she tried to last week."
Quinn's mind was reeling. Last week? Shit! Rachel did say she wanted to talk to her, but Quinn freaked out and ran out of the bedroom. She's an idiot.
"I'm an idiot." Quinn replied as her shoulders slouched.
"Yes you are." Harmony replied with amusement. "She's still one of my best friends, and I feel it's my duty to tell you that if you hurt her…"
"You don't have to threaten me. If I hurt her, I'll let you, Santana, Puck and Finn all take their turns with me."
Harmony nodded in acceptance of Quinn's answer. Then she walked passed the girl and toward the door. "See you in glee." Harmony called on her way out of the room.
Glee! She was late for it. She hurried in the room just as Artie and Finn were singing a mash up of two Kiss songs. They were actually pretty good. She listened impatiently for the rest of the duos to perform and for Mr. Shue to give another assignment that she failed to comprehend because her mind was focused elsewhere.
After glee, she waited for the others to leave the room and watched as Rachel gathered her belongings. Soon, it was just the two of them standing in the room.
"You and Harmony broke up."
Rachel narrowed her eyes. "I did try telling you, Quinn."
"I know."
They stood awkwardly in silence for a few minutes before Quinn blurted out. "Do you want to do something with me tonight?"
Rachel looked at her regrettably as her face softened. "I can't. I have a previous engagement."
Quinn felt her heart constrict and her breathing became labored. Rachel took a tentative step forward. "Finn felt bad about everything and wanted to take me out tonight. To celebrate not getting the nose job."
Quinn nodded. Rachel stepped closer. "I told him we could hang out tonight since we usually do on Saturday afternoons and I'm going with you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Quinn asked before remembering the college tour that she wanted Rachel to attend with her. "Right!"
Rachel touched Quinn's arm and let her fingers slide down the length of it, she let her hand linger on Quinn's forearm briefly before traveling the rest of the way down and lacing their fingers together. Quinn followed the entire movement with her eyes. Her breath hitched when Rachel brought their joined hands to her lips and kissed Quinn's knuckles. "This feels right." The brunette breathed against Quinn's skin.
Quinn couldn't help praying that Rachel wasn't just talking about their interlocked fingers. "Yes it does."
"So, tomorrow?" Rachel asked as she dropped Quinn's hand and looked at the girl. Hazel eyes met brown.
"Tomorrow…for starters." Quinn answered.
Rachel's whole face lit up.
"You truly are beautiful, Rachel." Quinn whispered causing the brunette to blush.
"Thank you Quinn…for everything." Rachel smiled before disappearing out of the choir room.
Quinn stood there in shock. She's going to spend the whole day with Rachel tomorrow and whether or not it's considered a date, she planned on kissing the girl at the end of it. Or the beginning. Or maybe all day long. Yup, Rachel Berry was going to be hers. And it all started tomorrow…
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She ran through her front door excitedly. "Fran! Eli! Guess what!" She yelled through the house until she found them in the kitchen. "Guess what!"
They looked at her anxiously. "What?" Eli asked just to pacify her.
"I'm going out with Rachel tomorrow."
"We know. It's all you talked about last weekend. The college tour, right?" Fran replied, not understanding the significance of it.
"Yes the tour. But Fran. It's like, sort of a date. She broke up with Harmony for me. She likes me!" She practically squealed the last sentence.
"Oh, sweetheart, that's great!" Fran jumped out of her chair and hugged her sister. "I'm so happy that things worked out for you."
"Congrats girl." Eli patted her on the back. "Now you just have to tell your parents that you're gay."
Quinn's eyes widened and her mouth went dry. Right. About that…
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it!