Jamming In Japan
Chapter 10
X
Quinn was very sure of three things when she woke up. The first was that Rachel was definitely still asleep. The second was that she was lying right on top of her. And the third was definitely the most awkward thing of all: she had morning wood and it was being smothered by Rachel's stomach in the most torturous and pleasurable way possible. Despite the fact that Quinn desperately needed to get up she didn't want to disturb Rachel from her sleep. The only three comforts Quinn had from this entire situation was the fact that they were both clothed this time, they definitely hadn't had sex this time around, and even if they had done the deed at least this time they were married so nobody had to give them a rude wake up call. It was all Quinn could ask for and she was definitely grateful that the potential for any scandals had been eliminated because they were married to each other, at least she hoped so.
She gave a long sigh as she looked around the room for a clock to see what time it was only to groan at the fact that it was only a little after five in the morning. They had gone to bed relatively early last night, about 22:30 according to their hotel room clock in 24 hour format, but she still would have liked to stay in bed for a little bit longer. She knew Rachel would be up by the time six came by if they were still in the states but Quinn wasn't sure about Japan because they were typically 13 hours ahead of their time zone, if not 14 during daylight savings. As it were the clock had 4:25 glaring back at her in red and she wanted another two or three hours of sleep in order for her to actually be in a relatively good morning mood. She was most definitely not a morning person in any sense of the word and only got up early when absolutely necessary.
Giving a slight groan into the quiet morning she attempted to roll over and go back to sleep in order to ignore the throbbing in between her legs. It was a long while before she managed to fall asleep but it was worth the wait if her sleep was blissful.
X
Quinn had been having a pleasant dream that left a smile on her face when she woke up after only another hour and a half of sleep, unsure of the reason she had woken up again. She could feel the smile on her lips still when she felt the first rays of light filter into her vision and sensed an empty coldness next to her that left her feeling lonely and her smile faded with it. Quinn had expected to feel warmth and security when she woke up because she had expected Rachel to be next to her still. She then realized that that was a bit of an unrealistic expectation because Rachel was an early riser and why had she expected Rachel to even stay in bed with her if she didn't even really like her but was too nice to be mean to her.
After another moment of mulling things over in her mind Quinn finally managed to find the strength to sit up and take in her surroundings. Upon looking around she noticed a few things that had definitely changed since she last woke up. For one thing the sun had risen so it had to be sometime past five or six in the morning now, Rachel was nowhere in sight, and it seemed as if a few things had been moved around in the room. Quinn was still slightly bleary eyed and disoriented and blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the brightening room as the sun continued to rise.
She closed her eyes for a few moments to allow them to adjust somewhat before she searched for the clock to find out what time it was and saw that it already nearly six in the morning. Quinn sighed as she decided to lie down for just a little while longer before braving the daunting task of getting herself ready for the day and exploring the sights of Japan with her wife and interpreter and guide. She knew that at some point, there was absolutely no chance of this not happening, Rachel was going to ask about the famous カラオケ権(Karaoke Ken) she'd read about in her rather extensive research on all things to do or visit in Japan.
Before she could react she heard a door slide open and closed briefly before quiet footsteps padded over to where she still lay on the 布団 with her eyes closed. Quinn wasn't sure why but she felt the need to pretend she was asleep to see what Rachel would do if she thought she was asleep. There was no doubt in her mind that it was Rachel who had entered because no one else would have entered other than Rachel considering there was an 'outside' area for shoes before the area for guests. To enter the area with shoes a keycard had to be used for security measures despite the low crime rates in Japan.
Just when Quinn was going to stop pretending she heard her name being called out softly, "Quinn, Quinn?" Rachel had called her name twice and her curiosity was further piqued when Rachel paused for just a moment before she felt a hand brush over her face so barely it was as if Rachel's fingertips were barely gliding over the face of her skin, as if Rachel was tracing her face with her fingers. It would have been extremely creepy and strange if they weren't married to begin with but as it were they weren't even technically friends with each other at this point in time either. Quinn wasn't sure what to do. Should she move? Pretend to wake up somehow? Just keep pretending to be asleep? She wasn't sure if any of the options were any good because she was actually rather enjoying the gentle, barely there touch from Rachel's fingers.
Moments away from giving away her enjoyment of Rachel's stroking fingers, now gently weaving through her hair, Rachel spoke yet again. "I know everything's been going by so quickly and things are a bit … hectic, chaotic might be a better word for it, but we've got two weeks to figure this thing out, to figure out where we stand. It's not as if things are bad the way they are now but … we need to talk about this … about us and what this all means. This marriage isn't going to work if we never communicate … kind of like how we did in high school. Sure, we exchanged words but … did either of us ever really say what really wanted to say, did we ever really express ourselves and our emotions properly? It seemed like we were always trying to get each other's attention the wrong way and ended up fighting and hurting each other at every turn when we seemed to … to want to communicate somehow. And now … now look at us Quinn. We're … we're married for god's sake and we … we have a contract for another year and we need to make this … this thing between us work somehow. Because … because it won't work if everything is like how it was in high school. Nothing about this 'marriage' we have will last for the next year if we … can't play our parts right."
There was something about the way Rachel spoke that hurt Quinn's chest hurt just hearing it, the way she had said 'play our parts right,' as if … as if this was nothing more than that to her. It almost sounded like she was disappointed that this was only another role to her … almost. She felt somewhat disoriented from the emotions in Rachel's voice, whether she meant to convey it or not but then something else made Quinn's breath hitch for the briefest moment, silent enough that Rachel didn't hear it. Rachel had taken one of Quinn's hands, while she was speaking she had been playing with it and Quinn was thankful that she wasn't ticklish, and brought it to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on it. It lasted just a bit longer than Quinn was expecting it to and she cracked her eyes just the tiniest bit to see if Rachel's eyes were closed while she did it, and they were, surprising Quinn with the sight of Rachel's tender expression and furrowed brows. She wasn't quite sure what she was looking at right now but she was certain it should have been a private moment for Rachel alone. She sure as heck didn't have any way of making it private considering Rachel didn't know that Quinn was actually awake this entire time or else she probably wouldn't have said anything at all.
X
Breakfast was a quiet affair with 小笠原幸子 sitting silently at the table with them. She seemed like the kind of person who valued silence more than the conversations that most typical American families seemed to enjoy, something Rachel was familiar with in her boisterous family circle.
It wasn't until they had taken the metro to a few cities away that something quite interesting happened … or rather an interesting person appeared. It was rather sudden and unexpected all things considering. 小笠原幸子 seemed like such a put together individual with an endless supply of calm and composure but before either Quinn or Rachel were aware that something was wrong in a mere flash their guide and interpreter was out of their sight and a loud screech could be heard.
Once the couple regained their bearings they saw their interpreter holding someone closely in a protective manner and a car nearly blocking the other side of traffic, most likely the source of the loud screech. It only took them a few moments to understand what had just taken place right before them. Their guide, a person with a noble aura and seemingly unflappable calm, had been standing next to them one moment, guiding them to a café for a light breakfast before exploring the city, and within the blink of an eye she was somewhere else completely. The next thing they realized was that not only was their guide nowhere near them but she had also managed to somehow magically teleport a good 15 feet away from them and save someone's life. They were both duly impressed by the feat and as they came to their senses and recovered their composure they watched the scene unfolding, feeling like intruding bystanders from watching their body language. It was their familiarity and how closely they were standing to each other that gave the tip off. Not only that but also the facial expressions they both had gave much away as to what their relationship to each other must have been. Their guide's face was quite stern and motherly looking but there was also a tenderness and concern in her face. And while they could not clearly see the other young woman's face they could tell that she felt sheepish and repentant.
As they approached the conversing women Rachel wondered what was being said, though she had her own guesses just from body language alone. They weren't close enough to hear what was being said yet but Rachel wouldn't understand them even if they were so she thought about asking Quinn to translate for her. It wasn't that Rachel wanted to be nosy and eavesdrop but more out of concern for the young woman who had nearly been run over by a car. At least that was the main reason for her curiosity. Rachel was also curious about the relationship between the two women because they seemed more than a little familiar with each other. It seemed like 小笠原さん was more concerned than if the young woman was a complete stranger or even just a dear friend from the way her eyes shined with a gleam of adoration to the way she fussed over her in the most refined way possible, straightening her clothes out and checking her for any injuries. It almost seemed like loving concern from a significant other and the more that thought cemented in Rachel's mind the more plausible it became. There really wasn't any other explanation for it.
"Quinn … do you understand anything that's being spoken between uh … Ogasawara-san and uh … whoever that is she is speaking to right now?" Rachel asked, hesitating over the pronunciation of their interpreter's name briefly. Quinn's lips quirked in a slight smile at hearing Rachel's uncertainty over the way she said their interpreter's name. It was rather adorable that she scrunched her eyebrows up in thought for the briefest moment before her name fell from her lips.
Concentrating on just the two women now only a foot or two away from her, Quinn listened intently to hear some of the conversation being spoken. Quinn heard bits and pieces that she understood: questions about whether she was hurt anywhere and if she was sure she was okay. There was definitely concern and caring in her voice from what Quinn could hear of the conversation and it was a rather heartwarming sight to see their normally composed interpreter looking so … adoringly at another person. There was no question in Quinn's mind that there was something more to their relationship than just friendship. That was something Quinn knew was undeniably true just seeing their body language but hearing it only helped confirm it for her.
They both stopped at an appropriate distance from where the two women were still standing just on the sidewalk. The driver who had nearly hit the young woman, who they had yet to be introduced to, had stepped out of his car at this point and was speaking to the two women and apologizing for his carelessness. He looked to be the tiniest bit unsteady on his feet and it made them both wonder if he had had too much to drink and was driving around with a delayed reaction time. He seemed like a decent enough man with his contrite facial expression as well as his remorseful head bow to the young woman. It seemed like everything had been resolved, considering the accident that almost happened never actually occurred, as both parties moved away from each other after a quick bow of respect. They were waiting off to the side for just a moment before they were acknowledged and approached by the other two women.
As 小笠原 approached them Quinn could hear her speaking to the other young woman and referring to her as 祐巳 without any honorifics which meant one of two things: they were very good friends or in a relationship with each other. Not that Quinn was entirely surprised by implication that these two women were together. When they had gone out to eat the night before Quinn had noticed that many men had been eyeing the woman but she either didn't notice or didn't give them any acknowledgment whatsoever. She had suspected that it was the latter though due to the fact that she had kept her gaze pointedly straight and her posture had seemed even stiffer and more rigid than it already was from their unwanted attention. It was actually a bit amusing for Quinn to see their disappointed gazes when they realized that she wasn't going to look their way at all, let alone acknowledge their wandering gaze. She could have just been ignoring them because she was working but something told Quinn otherwise and this little occurrence only solidified Quinn's suspicion.
Now that they were both closer Quinn could see that the other woman was shorter than their guide significantly, perhaps even around Rachel's height. She had shorter hair pulled back into an elegant half ponytail braid left in the middle of her hair, which they could see when they were closer to them, and her face was quite pretty. She had a heart shaped face and soft looking cheekbones that made her look like if she smiled she would look much younger. She looked to be just a bit younger than 小笠原 from what Quinn could see and before Quinn could continue her observation they were being spoken to by 小笠原.
"I'm deeply sorry about that," she said with yet another head bow in their direction. "This young woman is 福沢祐巳(Fukuzawa, Yuumi) my petite soeur from when we attended school together. She is a bit … absentminded sometimes and had been distracted by something as she crossed the street." There had been only the briefest of pauses before she had referred to her as her 'petite soeur' that Quinn noticed only because she had been watching them so closely. She knew it hadn't been a pause because of pronunciation because she saw the slight hesitation before she said it.
"おはようございます。始めましてファブレイベリーさん達。あたしは福沢祐巳です。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。"* She said in greeting. "あのごめんなさい、あたしは英語が話せません。"* She had also apologized for her inability to speak English in nearly the same breath. She seemed like she was nervous to speak to them.
"大丈夫です。"* Quinn said in response, surprising 福沢 immensely. Quinn belatedly realized that Rachel hadn't understood a word that was spoken just now and leaned over to whisper in her ear, "she was greeting us. She said good morning to us and introduced herself to us and asked us to be kind to her, which is just a Japanese phrase said to others to take care of them basically." Quinn was quick to elaborate because of the confusion on Rachel's face. "And she also said that apologized for not being able to speak English," Quinn said before she forgot.
Rachel nodded her understanding, "thank you for translating for me … but didn't you say something too?" Rachel asked with a slight furrow of her eyebrows. Quinn thought it was adorable that she even tilted her head because it reminded her of a confused puppy dog. Quinn would've have given anything to just lean forward and kiss Rachel in that moment but she held herself back because Rachel had warned her about how reserved Japan was, and Asia as a society in general.
"Uh, yeah, I told her that it was okay," Quinn replied as she turned her attention away from the tempting sight of Rachel back to their guide and her most likely girlfriend. "Shall we move along to explore the sights? I don't mind if your, uh, petite soeur 福沢さん were to come along with us and join us today, if that's all right with you Rachel?" Quinn left it open for her to decide.
"I don't see why not," Rachel smiled in a welcoming way as she awaited a quick explanation to the other young woman. Her bright smile was answer enough to them as they moved along to their original path to just walk around the city and see the sights. Of course when they came across a certain something they had no choice but to indulge the singer her wishes at a カラオケ権 as soon as she spotted it. Not that Quinn put up much of a fuss at all to fulfill Rachel's wish.
X
Song after song after song, it was mostly Rachel and 福沢 singing various songs into the microphone while occasionally successfully coaxing either Quinn or the more elusive 小笠原 to sing as well. It wasn't impossible but it was definitely more of a challenge to have the latter singing a song as well. Though none of them sang terribly or completely out of tune, it was definitely Rachel who stole the show with her strong, steady voice always completely pitch perfect and in tune, her voice utterly beautiful. It had been a while since Quinn had heard Rachel really sing since she mostly hummed when they were at home or she occasionally sang in the shower and Quinn could only hear it if she was near her open door. It left Quinn breathless and in awe to hear her voice singing so strongly without restraint. She was a bit surprised they hadn't had a noise complaint yet … but honestly who could possibly complain about her voice? Rachel had soundproofed her room so that any neighbors they had in the condominium next to them wouldn't be able to complain about noise.
Watching Rachel sing her heart out was something that Quinn had missed dearly and she hadn't realized it until this moment as she watched every facial tick and every vein in her neck strain. It was like she was being transported back to high school again when she was just as captivated by the sight of Rachel singing. It definitely made much more sense as to why she was always left feeling breathless and in awe of her in contrast with all of the things she tried to convince herself of instead all those years ago. She had never been able to keep her eyes off of the diva but she had herself convinced that it was because she was jealous of her and her talent. How could she have been so blind to everything that was so obvious to her now after all of these years? She was so stupid and foolish … she was such a teenager that if she could she would roll her eyes at herself right now. There was absolutely no way for her to deny that she was indeed in love with her wife now but she knew she could never tell Rachel because Rachel never showed any interest in the last two and a half months they'd been living together. In fact Quinn was surprised that they had even slept in the same bed as each other. Though Quinn wondered she highly doubted that any answers would be forthcoming any time soon considering Rachel could be tight lipped about certain things when she wanted to. In fact, Quinn doubted there really was any reasoning beyond the guilt she probably still had over Quinn's accident years ago because she felt it was her fault.
There was no use wondering so Quinn continued to watch Rachel rock the music as she sang some beautiful song Quinn didn't know at all but enjoyed the tune of immensely. It was really quite catchy. And the further in the song got the more Quinn wondered who Rachel was singing about if she was singing about someone at all. It certainly seemed like an emotional choice for her considering the fact that the lyrics were rather … implicating but the way she was singing it also gave it away a bit.
All my friends said we were wrong
Asking what's been going on
Why I'm spending all my time with you
But I don't even hear a sound
So they're telling me you're playing round
But I don't really wanna hear the truth
'Cause I guess there's no way to live
But I'm addicted to what you give
(To what you give)
No, I can't give you up
You got me hooked
I'm running back, back, back …
Running back, back, back … to you
No, I can't give you up
You got me hooked
I'm running back, back, back …
Running back, back, back … to you
Got me hooked, hooked, hooked on your love
I've got me hooked, hooked, hooked on your love
(You've got me)
I'm trying to fight these obstacles
'Cause what I feel is impossible
I can't remove the deepest part of me
'Cause when I think we're close it seems you're gone
When I turn my back you're trying to run
Will you soon be coming back to me?
'Cause I guess there's no way to live
But I'm addicted to what you give
(To what you give)
No, I can't give you up
Got me hooked I'm running back, back, back …
Running back, back, back … to you
No, I can't give you up
Got me hooked, hooked, hooked on your love
You've got me hooked, hooked, hooked on your love
(You've got me)
I guess that it's oh so plain to see
You're the only one who'll set me free
'Cause I'm hooked on what we use to be
Now I can't know my reality
No, I can't give you up
Got me hooked I'm running back, back, back
Running back, back, back … to you
No, I can't give you up
Got me hooked I'm running back, back, back
Running back, back, back … to you
No, I can't give you up (I can't)
Got me hooked I'm running back, back, back (give you up)
Running back, back, back … to you
No, I can't give you up (I can't)
Got me hooked I'm running back, back, back (give you up)
Running back, back, back … to you
(I can't give you up)
Quinn really didn't know what to make of it but it certainly had her thinking and wondering who Rachel could possibly be thinking about. Did Rachel have an unrequited love? She certainly could have been in love with someone else and Quinn wouldn't know it because though they lived together they didn't talk very often and most of it was rather inconsequential. But there was something in the way she sang this song, a little bit of a catch in her throat that gave Quinn some hope that whoever she did love, or at least like, didn't like her back. She would be a wreck if she found out that Rachel liked someone else, somebody who wasn't her. Quinn felt something in her heart ache, almost like a tug in her chest at the thought twisting away in her mind like a horrid knife. Quinn shut her eyes momentarily and took a slow breath in and out before she smoothed her expression over again.
Unbeknown to Quinn Rachel had looked over and seen her momentary facial expression of anguish before she could smooth it over into her aloofness. If Rachel hadn't taken a closer look and actually watched her closely she would have missed it entirely. But Quinn was good enough that she almost thought she imagined it if not for the fact that she had seen Quinn's eyebrows furrow for sure. It made Rachel's heart ache a bit to see Quinn hiding her pain from her but she didn't dare ask while they were with company like this, so very close to public scrutiny if they so much as stepped outside. Rachel was sure that this was a discussion for private.
Rachel sang some more songs with 福沢祐巳 and occasionally dragged in to sing a song as well while they still had the room. They had only paid for two hours worth and Rachel didn't want to waste any more of that precious time if this was a private conversation kind of thing, which she was sure it was. She laughed happily as Quinn sang a silly song just for fun and laughed even harder when Quinn started dancing sillier and happier than Rachel had seen her in a long time. The sight warmed her heart and she felt her heart beat just a little bit faster when Quinn smiled at her so brightly and genuinely. She was quite sure in that moment that she was actually falling for her wife. A niggling thought in the back of her mind told her that this was a rather pertinent piece of information vital to their relationship with each other. She ignored it for the time being in favor of singing and dancing along with her wife in this moment.
There wasn't a time Quinn had ever really remembered having this much fun in a long time. Her family was cold and very indifferent towards each other most of the time and that ended up making her childhood a rather sad time for her. She hated any 'celebration' they had for holidays because she was always expected to be an angel for them to put on display and brag about. Being here with Rachel though … singing and being silly made her smile and laugh in a way she hadn't thought possible and for a moment she forgot that she wasn't married to Rachel for a reason that wasn't out of love and commitment. For just a little while she forgot that Rachel didn't actually reciprocate her feelings and that they weren't really a couple completely in love. Quinn was actually genuinely happy for the few hours she could forget about everything.
At one point, while Quinn was just watching Rachel sing her heart out, Rachel looked back at her in the look in Rachel's eyes, the delight and joy she saw, seemed like it was directed at her. Quinn could have sworn that in that moment Rachel might have felt the same way or at least felt something more. But just that single moment in which their eyes met and Rachel looked at her with so much joy and happiness … Quinn could have sworn that she wasn't imagining it and they were really married. It was as if … they were a real couple looking at each other whenever their eyes met this way and she didn't have to pretend at all anymore because … because it was real. But there was a niggling thought of doubt in the back of her mind saying that it could just be because Rachel was happy she could sing.
While Quinn was in her world watching Rachel, Rachel took it as a moment of vulnerability she could prey on and get Quinn to sing a song with her next. As soon as her current song was done she got up from her seat with 福沢さん and promptly sat on Quinn's lap as she gave her a puppy dog face and asked her to sing with her. Both of the much more reserved Japanese guests looked on in shock at such a bold and daring display of affection between the two women. They had both heard of and were aware of how Americans were much more … public with their displays of affection but there was a major difference between knowing something and actually seeing it in person like they currently were. It made both of them blush a bit as Rachel continued to plead and ask Quinn to sing with her and they could see that the blonde was shaking her head and avoiding eye contact with her. At least she was until Rachel took her face with both of her hands and forced her to look right at her as she asked and the blonde seemed to be breathless and frozen as she looked into her wife's eyes so intensely. When she received no answer Rachel leaned in and gave her a light peck on the lips and both of the much more reserved ladies looked away from the display as their cheeks turned red from the innocent peck. It felt like an intrusion of privacy to the two Japanese women but they couldn't exactly leave the room unless they needed to use the restroom because they'd be in other people's way.
Finally, after a few minutes of coaxing and some innocent kissing, Rachel had convinced Quinn to sing, she cave in after not being able to take it anymore, and Quinn sang Hello with Rachel. Quinn didn't even want to think about why Rachel even chose this song of all songs as a duet considering their entirely muddled and completely undefined relationship. It made very little sense to her but she didn't even want to think about it until she had time to actually process everything because it was just too tiresome and she just wanted to enjoy the moment and take things as they came instead of constantly worrying about every little thing that happened between them. It just made her chest ache and her breath hitch. It made her feel, it made her throb, and it hurt a little bit not knowing if Rachel was doing it on purpose or not.
X
After yet another song Rachel roped Quinn into singing before she could even protest Quinn told Rachel that she was becoming a bit too breathless and excused herself for a bit of fresh air.
Quinn stood outside of the building as she took a few deep breaths and concentrated on keeping track of her pulse to see how badly her breathlessness would become. It was something she had learned over the years with having asthma and having to constantly keep track of her inhaler usage as well as looking for signs for any potential asthma attack. Quinn was sure she had taken her medication like she did every morning and rinsed as she was usually supposed to do.
Not realizing she had been standing outside for quite some time Rachel came out of the building and looked at her in concern. "Are you all right Quinn? You've been outside for quite some time." Rachel was looking at her with so much worry in her eyes and she even seemed slightly panicked at the sight of Quinn's index and middle fingers jammed into her neck to check her pulse.
Not giving a verbal answer, Quinn thought about it for a few moments before she nodded her head in reply.
Rachel didn't look very convinced of it, "are you sure? You look …" Rachel paused as she searched for the right words to say, "you're not … breathing very evenly and you seem a bit out of breath. Do you … do you need your inhaler Quinn? Do you have it with you? Oh my god, you're not … you're not having an attack are you?" It was one question after another in rapid fire as soon as Rachel realized what Quinn was doing, "you need a doctor? Do we have to take you to a hospital? Is it an emergency?" With the rate Rachel was asking questions Quinn would never be able to answer any of them fast enough let alone remember all of them. It seemed as if Rachel was having a bit of a panic attack over her concern when Quinn wasn't even panicked yet.
"Rachel, calm down before you get yourself too worked up." Quinn said calmly, smiling a little over the fact that Rachel nodded at her so seriously with a look of concentration on her face. "I'm all right, I'm okay, and I'm still breathing so you need to breathe too." Rachel seemed like she was at least calming down from her frenzy now. "Come on and breathe with me, in," a pause, "out, slowly." And they did it for a few minutes before Rachel seemed like she had calmed down entirely after working herself up to a near panic. As soon as Rachel had calmed down she looked up and their eyes locked and neither could look away, as if they were magnetically drawn to each other and could not force their gazes to avert.
They were both still looking at each other but Rachel was the first one to speak up and break the intense staring contest they were having. "I … I'm sorry about, about uh, about almost having a panic attack but I just … I was just so worried about you when you had been gone for so long. I was thinking about all of the possibilities like you being kidnapped or getting lost or something like that. It just … well … anyways I hadn't been expecting you to come out here and just stand out here by yourself while you checked your pulse. I'm sorry I kind of assumed the worst and panicked like that. You know me and know all about my rather … intense personality." And she just kept on rambling and rambling, not knowing where to stop because she was nervous and so unsure of what had happened between them just now. Quinn just stood there smiling slightly and listening as she continued to watch Rachel ramble herself into a hole of unending words. Finally Rachel noticed that Quinn wasn't responding and she stopped mid sentence just to say, "What? Why are you looking at me like that … and smiling at me? Is there … is there something on my face? Do I have a crumb on my cheek or lip somewhere?" Rachel asked as she checked around various areas of her face for any food particles she might not have noticed. And Quinn continued to smile as she watched.
"You're just cute." Quinn spoke it so nonchalantly that Rachel thought she must have misheard her because she was so concentrated on the task of finding something on her face, anything really to explain Quinn's smile of amusement.
"What?" Apparently Rachel had lost her eloquence, "come again? I believe I misheard you say that you find me cute in any way whatsoever. I apologize, Quinn can you reiterate that for me? I'm all ears now."
Quinn's eyebrow furrowed slightly at the tone of disbelief she had been met with but her smile was still on her face despite the furrow of her eyebrows. "I said that you're adorable … especially when you're rambling." And Rachel's expression morphed into further confusion as what Quinn said yet again came out the same way she had heard it earlier except with more words. The meaning hadn't changed even if the words were slightly different. "I do find you to very adorable Rachel, especially when you ramble. I think it's very cute when you ramble and I also know it's because you're nervous about something and you don't know what to say to fill the silence so you feel the need to say something just to fill it up. And I think it's a very endearing trait." Quinn elaborated to Rachel, further adding on to her puzzlement.
It was silent for all of five seconds before Rachel responded, "you, Lucy Quinn Fabray-Berry," she had barely remembered to actually add the Berry at the end, "find me, Rachel Barbra Fabray-Berry … adorable?" The end of her sentence definitely held a note of incredulity to it. It stank and reeked of it.
She continued to look at Quinn blankly for a few moments as she processed some more and when it seemed as if she was done Quinn answered with a simple but firm, "yes, I do." And with that Quinn took Rachel by the hand and led her back into their room but she stopped right before she entered the room, hovering in front of it for a moment before she made up her mind. "All of those things I said in high school … was to stop myself from liking you as a person … a … friend." And with that Quinn walked back into the room, never letting Rachel's hand go. And Rachel, for her part, never pulled her hand out of Quinn's. She laced their fingers together and gave Quinn's hand a reassuring squeeze instead of pulling away. It was a step in the right direction.
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Okay so I know it's been exactly three months for this update but I had a lot on my plate between my baby sister, who I've mentioned a few times, having spinal surgery, a knee injury for myself and a whole bunch of other factors. I usually only have a day off each week and if I didn't put in my availability as such I would be working seven days a week instead which would be killer. So my little sister is actually eight years old and had a spinal surgery nearly two months ago and it was a tough time for all of us in this family. I'm pretty sure I told more than half of the customers coming into my work place that she was having it and asked them to pray for her instead of wishing me a happy birthday, which was just barely a week before her surgery. She, of course, is a little trooper and warrior and she did so well in surgery that she got out early! The surgery is normally between 5-6 hours under but she got out about half an hour earlier than the minimum of 5 hours!
I'll stop myself here and just say that I'm sorry it took so long but I'm sure you wonderful readers understand that it was a stressful period of time for me. I took a few days off of work just to visit her at her rehab and watch her start to walk again and look kickass (pardon me for swearing) with her little walker! This chapter was nearly 6,700 minus this note. I hope many people R & R thoughts about the chapter or at least keep my little sister in your thoughts! Thanks everyone and again I apologize for the long wait for this chapter!
姫宮光る