Disclaimer: I do not own or its characters
A/N: Currently unbetaed, all mistakes are mine!
Monday morning Quinn and Rachel walked into McKinley High equally nervous, frightened, and excited - for different reasons.
"Oh my god, what if I see her today?"
"Of course you'll see Rachel today, you have Anatomy, Economics, and Glee with her."
"What if she talks to me? What will I do?"
"Uhm.. talk back to her?"
"Right, good plan. Do I tell her about Charlie?"
"We thought about this all weekend. You need to do it strategically; romantically…"
"Oh my god, what if I see her today?"
"Of course you'll see Quinn today, you have Anatomy, Economics, and Glee with her."
"I'm going to die. Have you SEEN her? She actually TALKS to me now! I've been thinking about her all weekend long, how am I not going to just stare at her lips when she converses with me?"
"You'll have to concentrate, Rachel. Focus on… her nose or something and attempt to listen."
"I can't do that! Are you crazy? Her nose is gorgeous too! I'll be thinking about her lips - staring at her lips! - and why she was Charlie in my dream, and why she's been so nice to me lately, and it's still all so confusing and really I just want to kiss her."
"That would scare her off in an instant! You'll have to find a way to get closer to her strategically; romantically…"
Quinn and Rachel entered their first period of the day - AP Calculus and AP Chemistry respectively - and opened up a notebook.
Quinn stared down at the blank page, tapping her pen dully on the clean, white, lined pages. Her mind was racing, trying to create a plan of action for the day. She titled the header of the paper, "Operation Favorite." She smirked at her cleverness; since Rachel was becoming an internet guru, Quinn was sure she would have clicked the bookmark button - a gold star - and in Quinn's mind a gold star was Rachel. It was all a metaphor for Rachel, and like the brunette always said, "Metaphors are important."
Similarly, Rachel was looking down at her own notebook trying to come up with a clever name for her plan; however, the title wasn't coming as easily for her.
"'Charlie Quinn?' maybe?"
"No, no, that is incredibly obvious, especially with the question mark."
"I got it!"
Rachel smiled triumphantly and wrote in her scribbly script, "The Lion and the Mouse." It was perfect. The lion represented Quinn and her previous animosity towards Rachel, and the HBIC attitude she still conveyed around school even though she wasn't on the Cheerios anymore; and the mouse represented Charlie, a strong, courageous, but small and kind person. Rachel needed to figure out why Quinn had represented Charlie in her dream. She had to figure out why exactly. She knew she had been worried about Quinn's response to Charlie, so that might have been it, and it was most likely because she harbored feelings for Quinn and Charlie, but her sixth sense was tingling and she just had to find out why.
The two were going to have a lot of homework that night because they focused solely on completing their plan of action. It was going to be a long day, but by God, hopefully it would be worth it and more.
The Lion and the Mouse: Point Alpha Niner 001 - Sit next to Lion whenever possible. Analyze and compare any noticeable quirks, words, or feelings to explain the phenomenon of why Lion was Mouse while in an unconscious state.
Rachel walked in to third hour Anatomy, pleased to see Quinn already sitting at one of the lab stations. She lightly skipped over to the empty chair next to Quinn, who seem deeply focused in a calculus worksheet.
"Hey, Sarah," said the blonde who hadn't looked up from her paper. Sarah was the girl who usually sat by Quinn, but today she was just going to have to find another place to sit. They didn't technically have assigned seats in here.
Rachel cleared her throat and sat next to Quinn. She smiled fondly at the deep look of concentration on the blondes face, "Hi, Quinn." The said girl's head snapped up comically and jumped back with surprise, falling backwards in her chair until her back slammed to the hard ground and the chair dug painfully into her back - again.
"Oh my god! Quinn!" Rachel yelped as the few others that were actually on time began laughing, whom were promptly glared at by the brunette. The blonde just groaned and arched her aching back to try and subside the pain. Rachel quickly clambered off her chair and helped Quinn up, trying to focus on taking care of the blonde and not how soft the girls hands were or how perfectly their hands fit together.
"Do I need to take you to the nurse, are you okay?" Rachel whispered, "I have medicine in my locker, I know it's against school rules and people usually tend to think of me as a peachy-clean rule abider, but I do think that the medicine rule can be bent; especially when it comes to situations such as these. Also, it comes in handy for that time of the month, so now if you ever run out of pain medication you know where to find some. Wait, the makes me sound like a drug dealer, oh my god, forget that last part. I don't have medicine. Nope, none. That is, unless you need some because I want you to not hurt, obviously."
By this time, Quinn was back up in her chair watching Rachel ramble on about her well being with a soft smile and Rachel's hand absentmindedly rubbing her slightly-ebbing aching back - which she didn't mind at all.
"Rach," Quinn smiled gently, "Breathe."
Rachel bit her lip and fawned at the caring look Quinn was giving her.
"Oh help me, look at her. My heart is about to have a seizure or something with how fast it's beating."
"Rach, you're supposed to be caring after her. She just fell, and it was basically your fault for scaring her."
Taking an unusually deep breath, with a glint of playfulness in her eyes, Rachel asked, "You're okay, right?"
"You rubbing my back is helping a lot, I wouldn't mind you continuing until actually decides to show up."
Quinn looked hopeful, and who was Rachel to deny the beautiful girl such a thing if it helped her feel better and allowed Rachel to touch her; it was a win-win situation.
"Uhm, you're in my seat."
Rachel turned to a light-skinned, light-brown headed girl with a beaming smile, but a "I-dare-you-to-ask-me-to-move-again" look in her eye, "I apologize for my ignorance. Do you mind if I sit here today?"
The already light girl paled even more and her eyes grew wide at the look Rachel was giving her. The petite girl was downright terrifying. "No, no, please go ahead; I-I'll find somewhere else to sit, don't worry about it, sit there as long as you like." The girl nodded and fast-walked over to Rachel's normal seat.
Rachel turned back to Quinn, who was giving her a smirk and a raised eyebrow, "Well, well, well, Ms. Berry, did you just adopt the HBIC glare? I didn't know you had it in you. I must say, I'm rather proud." The blonde wiped away a fake happy-tear, and Rachel just playfully swatted her shoulder, "Oh, whatever."
Quinn just laughed, and turned back towards the front of the room where their teacher had finally decided to show up and do her job; Rachel was more than a little disappointed that she had to remove her had from Quinn's lower back.
Acting as if she was paying attention, Rachel stared towards the faded-auburn haired teacher who was going over the Nervous and Respiratory systems. Instead of listening to her, Rachel thought back to her conversation with Charlie just before going to the mall. She thought of how Charlie told her there were over a septillion of stars in the universe, and she imagined Quinn telling her she was the only star that mattered. She thought of how Charlie had spoken about the concept of zero - adding them on to a another number makes it bigger and bigger - and she imagined Quinn telling her that they could add on as many zeros to that first day as they wanted to in their life together, keeping it going and going for infinity. She thought of Charlie being disgusted with Finn for feeding her meat, and she remembered Quinn ordering a vegan pizza instead of ordering the pizza she so obviously was craving. She thought of Charlie wanting to smack Finn, and she remembered Quinn kicking Finn in the shins in her honor. Charlie and Quinn… They were both so different, yet both so, so alike.
Rachel looked down at Quinn's notebook. The familiar handwriting (Rachel couldn't figure out why is was familiar, it's not like she had looked at Quinn's handwriting before - had she?) filled each line and margin because unlike Rachel, she seemed to be paying attention seeing as the entire page was scribbled with notes, arrows, boxes, and highlighted lines.
"Maybe I should have been paying attention, with all the annotations it looks important."
"Oh, oh! Ask for her notes after school, maybe she can come over and help you with it!"
"Study date! Genius!"
The rest of the hour, Rachel scratched out and appended her already memorized plan of action to get Quinn to agree to come over to her house and to make Quinn's time there as comfortable as possible. She was going to make it the best damn study time ever, or so help her Barbara may she be mute for a week and let the other Glee kids get all of her solos.
The Lion and the Mouse: Point BZ 002X - Get Lion to agree to spend a study time together. Prepare appetizing food for Lion, possibly show Lion the Mouse.
As soon as the bell rang, and Quinn was putting her notebooks away in her backpack, Rachel leaned over and tapped the girl on the shoulder, "Quinn? May I speak with you for a moment?"
The blonde hiked her bag over her shoulder and smiled at Rachel, "Of course, Rachel, let's walk to my locker while we do though."
Rachel nodded and grabbed her back as they walked through the door and out into the crowded hallway, "So, I have a confession to make," Rachel began.
Quinn turned her head towards Rachel with a worried, confused expression, "Okay, what is it?"
"I didn't pay attention at all, last period," Rachel blushed to the tips of her ears and looked up at the ceiling as the walked, thoroughly embarrassed.
"You, Rachel Barbara Berry, didn't pay attention in class?" Quinn had an unbelieving smile of her face and a hint of amusement in her eyes.
Though Rachel was completely embarrassed, she sighed with a smile on her face and managed to nod, "That is the case, yes. I was wondering if you would be able to come over to my house tonight and explain everything to me."
Rachel didn't fail to notice the way the blonde's bottom lip instantly was between her teeth in contemplation and a flash of… of something, went through Quinn's eyes, "Everything, huh?"
Rachel smiled softly, "Yeah, I didn't pay attention at all, and I'm afraid I didn't take any notes. I'm also sure you're more than aware that Ms. Crawson didn't pass out textbooks this year, so I'm sort of stuck. I'd be more than happy to pay you with… I'm not sure, what do you need? I usually offer voice lessons, but I think you're actually perfect despite my previous mark that you're a bit sharp."
Quinn's eyes went wide and she whispered breathily, "You think my voice is perfect?"
Rachel stuttered at realizing what she just said, "I-I, well, y-you see… yes.. pretty much… uhm.. no, more than pretty much, actually.. you're my favorite singer in all of Glee."
Rachel mentally slapped herself for being so obvious. She was supposed to be subtle and romantic, but she decided that she didn't really quite mind how obvious she was if Quinn kept looking at her like… like that.
"You're my favorite singer too, Rach," Quinn's face was so open and vulnerable that right then and there Rachel knew that she had to take the advice she had given Charlie. She had to take whatever chance there was, no matter how miniscule. She had to get Quinn as her own because her heart was set. Whatever she felt for Charlie - love, infatuation, intrigue? - was tripled as she looked at Quinn in that moment. If she hadn't felt that Quinn would run away, she would have kissed her in the middle of the hallway with everyone around.
"So.. My house tonight? 6:30 sound okay?"
Rachel waited with bated breath as a smile spread its way across Quinn's face, "6:30 sharp."
The Lion and the Mouse: Point BZ 002X/1 - Lion agreed. Prepare vegan lasagna, put a movie on in the background on mute to make it a more homey atmosphere for Lion, prepare living room with extra pencils and highlighters, laptop for searching things that need more explanation, and a blanket for if Lion gets cold. Comfort is of the utmost importance.
At exactly 6:30, the Berry household's doorbell rang. Rachel smiled at Quinn's punctuality and skipped over to the front door. She glanced over her shoulder and nodded proudly at the scene she had created. On the coffee table sat two plates of home cooked vegan lasagna, two glasses of water, and on the tv was the Sound of Music's DVD menu. The movie was interesting enough to watch while they ate, and long enough that they could study for a few hours before the credit roll.
Rachel turned the knob and instantly her breath was taken away at the sight of a casual, mussed-up haired, Quinn Fabray.
"What?" Quinn asked knowingly with a small smile.
"Nothing, nothing, you just look so different from the school Quinn I'm used to. This casual look is a really good look on you, and I don't know if I told you that when we were at the mall."
Quinn just shrugged and smiled, "I just wanted to be comfortable."
Rachel promptly invited Quinn in, and watched as Quinn's jaw dropped at the setting Rachel had created.
The blonde turned towards Rachel with bright, disbelieving eyes, "You did all of this? Rach, we're only studying."
Rachel just smiled and shrugged, "No need to rush. I believe it is best to be relaxed and have your mind open before engaging in vigorous study."
She smiled as Quinn turned around and obviously tried to hide her excited little hop, and quickly joined the blonde on the couch.
"Sound of Music? It's my favorite!"
Rachel just nodded, "While Funny Girl is my favorite musical, I decided that I'd spare you since it's your first visit here without any other company; and besides, Sound if Music is absolutely to die for."
Quinn didn't bother to respond because the next thing out of her mouth was a moan in response to the divine and heavenly dish Rachel had prepared; "Oh my word, Rachel, you made this?"
Pride shone through Rachel's face, "Absolutely. I take it upon myself to provide the best vegan food in Ohio."
Shoveling as much food as she could into her mouth, Quinn gushed, "Open a restaurant, please. I'd eat there everyday."
"I definitely wouldn't mind, if I could see you everyday." Rachel went wide eyed at her statement and desperately tried to cover up her mistake, "I-I mean, I already see you five days a week, but I think it would be great to have you enjoy the healthy vegan lifestyle seven days a week to improve your health and heart to ensure that you have a long and fruitful life; I mean, I'm sure you already will, but why not do it the healthy way with healthy food too to make sure you are able to live out life as long and as wonderfully as possible."
Quinn just chuckled and shook her head, "You're cute when you're nervous." The pair both blushed, and sang goofily through each Sound of Music song together.
When their plates were cleared and the two were well relaxed and ready to study, Quinn pulled out multiple notebooks looking for the one that held her anatomy notes.
Rachel absent-mindedly grabbed one that appeared to be a sketchbook/notebook with lots of gold-stars stickered on the front of it, "Mind if I look through?"
Quinn hummed, deep in concentration, and Rachel took it as a sign of permission. She opened the cover and traced her fingers over the perfectly-written cursive, 'Property of Lucy Quinn Fabray. L.C.Q.F.' She briefly pondered what the 'C' stood for, but quickly forgot everything as she turned the page. In Quinn's beautiful script were poems scattered on once-white blank spaces, with drawings and doodles of various effort put into them. Rachel's eyes scanned each one carefully, her heart filling with so much emotion and care for this cracking, fragile, and wonderful girl, whom she now realized she barely knew anything about.
"Status:
Eight hours of mindless torture
on a little three hours of sleep.
I feel suffocated and alone,
in a sea full of children.
My body wrenches, I've puked and shaken,
but that doesn't matter to the authorities.
It's about grades and status.
It's all about status.
Mother demands me to be "popular."
Father regards me to be,
at the absolute finest,
The best in front of others.
"Friends" insult pictures.
What I want doesn't matter;
My "status" must be as tall as a tower.
It's all about status in a world full of lies.
So what if I sit here and shake,
all that matters is that I don't fail;
it doesn't matter if I die."
"Have You Ever Been In Love?
"Have you ever been in love?"
She asked.
"Yes, madly, passionately, and terribly,"
I replied."
"Ten Words on Perfection:
You may not be perfect,
but you're perfect for me"
"Help:
I'm in love with a girl,
And so help me god,
When I hear her say,
She doesn't feel the same."
"Found:
I found you
Brown eyes,
A sweet soul
And my
Dream girl."
Rachel's eyes went wide, "Girl? She? Dream girl? Oh my god, oh my god, Quinn Fabray, straight as a stick Quinn Fabray, is lesbian. And in love with someone - a woman for that matter, oh my god, oh my god."
Rachel quickly closed the journal as Quinn exclaimed, "Ah hah! Found it! I must have slipped it into my 'secret pocket' which is really just a part of the inside fabric that tore."
Quinn's eyes landed on the journal in Rachel's lap and looked up at Rachel's face. The brunette tried to school her features, but she knew that even if she was the best actress in the world, that this was the biggest shock she'd ever experienced.
"I ACTUALLY have a CHANCE!"
"Rachel… did you read my journal?" Quinn looked visibly nervous, but hopeful. For what? Rachel didn't know; Quinn was probably hoping that Rachel had just been admiring the gold stars.
"God, why is the journal covered in gold stars anyway? Why would she pull it out, when she knows I love gold stars. The journal was practically a beacon calling out to be from the depths, 'READ ME. Imagine my owner actually wants you to read this and READ ME.'"
Rachel cleared her throat and gave her best attempt at a smile, "I… skimmed the first page. You're a beautiful poet, Quinn."
Suddenly, Quinn's whole demeanor changed. She was angry, defensive, and most of all, scared, "What poems did you read, Rachel?"
Rachel decided she would do anything, anything, to get Quinn to stay tonight. A little white lie wouldn't hurt, "I read Status," Rachel relaxed slightly when she saw Quinn breathe a sigh of relief, "I had no idea you felt that way, Quinn. It's totally understandable, however, seeing how your parents are all about appearances, and it's only natural for you to want to appease them; but it's not good if it's hurting you. I just want you to know," Rachel met Quinn's eyes and took the blondes hands gently, "That it would matter very, very, very much to me if you died. I don't think I would ever, ever, ever, be okay again. Not without you here on this Earth with me."
Quinn's eyes were watering and suddenly the blondes arms were wrapped around Rachel's small body, and her face was buried in the crook of Rachel's neck, sobbing. The brunette slowly wrapped her arms around the blonde and ran one hand up and through the shaggy, soft locks, "Shh, shh, it's okay, I'm here, I care. I'll always be here for you, I promise. I care. I care. You're important. You're important."
Rachel rocked Quinn gently, and thought through how she should proceed. She decided that she would wait for Quinn to tell her she was gay, until the blonde was ready. But more importantly, Rachel vowed to always protect Lucy Quinn Fabray, to make her feel loved and needed. To make her feel like she was worth every single drop of happiness in the world. That she deserved to be alive.
Because if there was one thing Rachel knew, it was that Quinn Fabray was meant to be walking, breathing, laughing, singing, and dancing her way through life. She knew that Quinn Fabray would amount to beautiful, glorious things. She knew that one day Quinn Fabray was going to make the world her empire, and she hoped that she could be there, next to Quinn Fabray, going off to perform on Broadway and take the world by storm in her own way.
She was going to make Quinn Fabray hers because now her chance was more than real. The blonde was in love with someone, and that in itself made her feel incredibly selfish for wanting to take away that love, but if the other person didn't know about the love then maybe, just maybe, Rachel Berry could become that someone.
A/N: Thank you for reading!
The poems found in this chapter go as follows: Status, Have You Ever Been In Love?, and Help are written by me (Nicole aka fortheloveoffaberry), Ten Words on Perfection was written by Grace, and Found was written by Victoria Jennings. All poems and their respective authors can be found on the Hello Poetry website. I do not take credit for Ten Words on Perfection or Found. Please check out the other poets, they're fantastic.
Thanks again for reading. If you're able to, I would greatly appreciate a review. I hope this chapter wasn't too… I don't know… stupid/confusing/didn't-make-sense. I don't feel like this one was of my best writing, but I really sincerely hope that you liked it anyway.