A/N: Thank you all for the overwhelming support for this story. I am so glad you're enjoying it! I am posted an extra chapter for just for niko5290, who was so kind :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or the Pillsbury Dough Boy
Chapter 9
The entire day was spent with Rachel and Quinn stealing glances at each other. They sat together at lunch, with the rest of glee of course, but they actually conversed with each other which was fairly new. Only a few seemed to be aware of it, but Puck, Mike and Tina weren't going to say anything. Yet.
Mercedes sat with Shane during lunch now, so she was completely out of the loop. But even she decided to keep a better eye on her (ex) friends. It was times like these she wished she could breach party lines and ask Kurt if there was any new gossip, but she was currently on the outside looking in. Even Brittany and Santana sat with the glee club at lunch. Maybe she could ask them.
After school, Mercedes was waiting for the rest of her group to enter the empty room. As soon as the girls she was looking for entered, she pulled them off to the side.
"Is there anything going on between Quinn and Rachel?"
"Just the usual. I think they're friends again this week. Wait a day or so, it could all change." Santana shrugged but as she walked away, she smirked. It would change alright but not in the way anyone was expecting.
"They're just friends, I thought Q said…?" Brittany was interrupted by Santana.
"Whatever Q might have said B, was between us. Not Mercedes or anyone else at this godforsaken school. Okay." She whispered so no one but Brittany could hear her. Brittany nodded in understanding.
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When Rachel and Quinn got to the choir room, they were ambushed by Puck. "Baby Mamma." Quinn scowled at the nickname as Puck stepped between them and put his arms around both girls, before leaning down and addressing Rachel. "My sweet Jewish princess."
Quinn nearly growled at Puck's term of endearment for Rachel. Rachel was not his anything.
"What do you want Puck?" Quinn spat out disdainfully.
"Oh, come on! I haven't heard from either of you all weekend, you even missed my after the after party. Though I know where Rachel was…" He wiggled his eyebrows.
This time Quinn did actually growl. Puck whipped his head around to face the blonde's steely glare. "I thought you were over the Pillsbury Dough Boy." The mohawked boy smirked. Quinn couldn't help smirking at the nickname he gave Finn.
Rachel huffed, and pulled out of Puck's embrace. "What did Finn say about that night Puck, because if he…?"
Quinn's eyebrows narrowed, Finn better not be bragging about having sex with Rachel or else she'd have to end him. God, now she was sounding like Santana. Oooh, maybe Santana would help her dispose of the body…
Puck waived his hands in surrender. "Whoa, look Finn never said anything. You just look like a girl who got some this weekend is all."
Both Quinn and Rachel's cheeks tinged pink. Puck noticed immediately. "Oh, no way!"
Quinn grabbed hold of the boy's shirt collar and yanked him down to her, so they were eye to eye. Then she threatened through gritted teeth. "If you tell anyone about this, I will destroy you Puck. Do you understand me?"
He nodded as she let go of him. His smirk returned as soon as he was a step away from the blonde. He straightened out his shirt before whispering. "I promise not to tell a soul, however, I make no promises about not using the fantasy of the two of you for my spank bank."
Rachel visibly shuddered while Quinn took a step closer to Puck. "I swear to god, Puckerman."
Puck shrugged and took a seat in the back of the choir room, a smirk plastered on his face.
Quinn sighed, before turning her attention on Rachel. As soon as she laid eyes on the girl, her whole body relaxed and a smile overtook her face. Rachel leaned in closely and whispered. "You defending me, defending us. That was so hot."
As her breath ghosted across Quinn's neck, it was the blonde's turn to shiver. Rachel strode to the front row and sat down, Quinn followed as soon as she composed herself. As she sat down beside the diva, she sighed loudly. Only four more days to go…
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Quinn picked Rachel up for school the next day. Rachel kissed her on the cheek in greeting, when she got in the passenger's seat. Quinn smiled contently before she reached out her hand to hold onto Rachel's.
When they got to school they tried to be mindful of their surroundings, so far four people knew. They definitely had to be more careful. They even discussed maybe telling Finn. It was Rachel who thought it was too soon.
Rachel had her Class President debates after school that afternoon, and Quinn was so excited for her. However, when it was Rachel's turn to speak and the brunette bowed out of the race and told people to vote for Kurt instead, she had to admit that she was never so proud of the girl.
As soon as they were alone at Rachel's locker, Quinn stepped dangerously close to the girl; completely invading her personal space. "What you did today, for Kurt. Rachel, people always underestimate you. Myself included." Quinn smiled shyly when she caused the girl to blush. She slowly lifted her right hand and tucked a stray strand of hair behind the brunette's ear. Allowing her hand to linger she continued. "What you did was amazingly selfless and I am so proud of you, Baby."
Rachel beamed with a smile that lit up Quinn's whole world. "You called me baby."
Quinn suddenly looked nervous. "Is t-that o-okay?"
Rachel's smile remained just as bright as she replied happily. "I loved hearing you say it."
The blonde leaned closer and kissed the brunette's cheek, before whispering in her ear. "Just so you know, I'm still writing in your name on my ballot."
Rachel giggled as Quinn pulled away with a smile. "What?"
"You are so sweet, Quinn." She reached up and held the blonde's hand in hers.
Both were lost in their own little world before a booming voice interrupted them. "Your gay is showing."
Rachel quickly let go of Quinn's hand, causing the blonde to frown slightly before she pasted a smile back on her face. Santana recognized the mask, but said nothing.
"Good afternoon Santana." Rachel smiled brightly, though everyone knew it was fake.
"Berry, Q-ball. Just wanting you to know that you should maybe cut down on the eye-fucking…" She smirked when she saw both girls shifting uncomfortably. "Because Mercedes is already on to you and that little scene I witnessed right there, after I went into the bathroom to throw up, is exactly what you don't want the school to see. So long as you want to remain in the closet, I mean."
"I appreciate your looking out for us, Santana." This time Rachel's smile was an honest one, causing the Latina to roll her eyes.
"Whatever, I was just protecting my own eyes. If I had to see any more of that, I'd be scratching them out."
With that the Latina was gone. Quinn looked at Rachel, forcing a small smile. Three more days to go…
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The next day when Quinn picked Rachel up for school, she pulled away when Rachel attempted to kiss her cheek. The brunette looked at her questioningly.
"Quinn, what's wrong? You've been acting strange since yesterday. You didn't even text me goodnight like you usually do."
"I just think we should be more careful Rachel, if we don't want people to find out about us yet."
"More careful? Quinn we're in your car in my driveway. Who'll see us?"
Quinn shrugged as she put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.
"Are you mad at me? I know you would prefer I run for President, but yesterday you said you were proud…"
Quinn slammed on the brakes and shoved the car back in park, before turning in her seat and looking at Rachel. She took the smaller hands in hers. "Rachel, I am proud. I meant what I said. But…"
"But what?" Rachel looked at Quinn with concern in her eyes. "Are you having second thoughts about us, is this about what Santana said…?"
"No. I mean, Rachel are you?"
"Am I what?" Rachel asked as her brows knitted in confusion.
"Having second thoughts. You seemed so into the moment yesterday, and then as soon as Santana came by you dropped my hand. You are the one who wanted me to be ready to come out and I don't think you seem to be."
Rachel scooted as closely to Quinn as her seatbelt would allow her to. As she put her other hand over top of Quinn's, she smiled. "This is so new to both of us, and I know we never discussed how to come out or when. We haven't even had our first date yet. I get that our friends seem to be okay with us, so far anyway, but I don't know how the rest of the school will react. If Santana saw us, others could have to. I was trying to protect you, in my own stupid way…" She was cut off when Quinn's lips seized hers in what began as a chaste kiss until Rachel had time to respond.
She unbuckled her seatbelt, having to briefly detach her lips to do so, before reclaiming the blonde's lips as her own. The kiss was passionate and dominant and perfect. Rachel pulled slightly away, taking the blonde's bottom lip in her teeth and tugging slightly causing a moan to erupt from Quinn. She smirked as she let go of the blonde's lip and reattached their lips with fervor. Though it started out intensely, it built into something less primal and more indulgent. They slowly explored each other's lips before pulling away breathlessly.
"I should hope you know by now that I choose you Quinn and will come out whenever you are ready. If you want me to talk to Finn today, I will."
Quinn studied the brunette adoringly. Then she traced the girl's facial features with her fingertips. Ghosting them over her eyebrows, her cheekbones, down her beautifully perfect nose, and across her deliciously swollen lips. Letting them linger there, she licked her own lips and closed her eyes as if to commit the girl's face to memory. When she opened them, her hazel orbs were impossibly darker. She chewed on her bottom lip in a way that the brunette found absolutely adorable.
"Hearing that I'm yours is enough for now, Rachel. But soon, I'll want the whole school to know that you're mine." Quinn whispered huskily. As she mentally counted down again, two and a half more days until their date and then she could show Rachel how much she wanted this…
They agreed to lay low today, however it was apparently not in the cards.
Finn was waiting for them by Rachel's locker. "Hey Rach." He replied with a lopsided grin that both girls used to foolishly think was charming. "Quinn." He added as an afterthought.
The blonde didn't acknowledge him with more than a scowl, but Rachel touched her forearm encouragingly as she addressed the boy. "Morning Finn. What brings you to my locker on this fine Wednesday morning?"
He shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, spit it out." Quinn barked, clearly annoyed.
He glanced at her before noticing Rachel's hand resting on the blonde's arm. He studied them and did that thinking face thing that only made him look constipated. "I was going to warn you about Jewfro's blog trying to out the two of you with pictures that were clearly photo-shopped, but he isn't wrong is he?"
Rachel looked at Quinn who nodded and walked away, but only after taking hold of Rachel's hand and squeezing it for comfort.
She stood a safe distance away in case Rachel needed her, but far enough to not tempt herself into eavesdropping.
"Is she why you broke up with me?"
"No." Rachel shuffled from foot to foot not making eye contact. "Not exactly."
She made herself look at him, as the confusion and pain were evident in his eyes.
"Finn." She reached a hand out toward him but he backed away, the blonde watched the scene from afar; stiffening and clenching her fists as she did so.
Rachel stepped closer to Finn. "Look at me." He obeyed. "I went to her house after we…you know…because I was regretting it and she knew what it was like to regret…it."
He narrowed his eyes at her but remained silent. Rachel continued. "I was going to break up with you soon anyway, because I hated myself for the way I lost my virginity to you. That's on me Finn, I made a mistake and I regretted it. But if I had stayed with you, I would have resented you too."
His eyes became more compassionate as he listened to her speech. "Quinn and I are together now; we are going on our first date on Friday. It wasn't some big affair Finn, it was never like that."
Finn nodded in understanding. He knew they were friends after Quinn gave up Beth, he also knew how deeply Rachel cared for Quinn. For some reason, she never gave up on the blonde. She talked about her a lot, even when she was supposed to be fighting with her. Come to think about it, Quinn always talked about Rachel. They were always on each other's radar, in the other's orbit. Realization dawned on Finn's face and Rachel must have noticed it.
"What?"
He stepped closer to Rachel, wrapping her in a hug. "She sees you in a way I never could Rachel. Don't let her break your heart though."
"I won't." She replied, returning the hug.
Quinn tapped her foot impatiently before storming over to the couple. Pulling Finn away from Rachel she spat out. "Okay, that's enough."
He looked at her, with tears actually in his eyes, before turning back to Rachel. "I appreciate you telling me before you announced it to everyone else."
Rachel nodded solemnly as Finn disappeared down the crowded hallway. The brunette wrapped Quinn tightly in her arms and whispered in the girl's ear. "I know that must have been hard to watch, but nothing happened Quinn. He understands, and in his own way he was giving us his blessing. That's all. I'm still yours." She kissed the girl's cheek. "Completely."
Quinn released the breath she hadn't known she was holding, as her body relaxed around the smaller girl's embrace. "I know. It's just that now I suddenly have something to lose."
Rachel placed a hand on each of Quinn's cheeks and held the girl's teary gaze. "You won't lose me Quinn; I'll be around for as long as you'll have me." Then she leaned in closing the distance between their lips. It was a brief kiss, but it got her point across. Rachel just came out to the school; she was not ashamed of being with Quinn. The blonde smiled even as the brunette pulled away from the kiss.
They announced their relationship at the glee table during lunch and were barely acknowledged by their friends when they did so.
"Excuse me? I'm not sure if you understood what Quinn and I were trying to tell you. But we're…"
"We get it Rachel; it's just not really news. We've known something was up with you two since Monday." Tina replied before returning to her food. Nods of agreement went around the table.
Quinn smirked at the dumbfounded look on Rachel's face before leaning in and whispering to her. "You're just not as good of an actress as you thought."
Rachel huffed. "I'll have you know that it was your manhandling of me after the debate that must have clued them in."
Quinn rolled her eyes playfully. "That was on Tuesday, Rach. You were, as Santana called it, eye fucking me all day on Monday."
"Language! Quinn I can't believe the vulgarity…" Quinn attacked her lips causing Puck and a few others nearby to catcall, while Santana groaned "Get a room."
Quinn pulled away with a proud smirk.
"So, that's all it takes to shut her up." Puck was amused at Quinn's glare, but he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively anyway before adding. "I'll have to remember that."
Finn stood up, leaving his food untouched on his plate, and stormed away. Quinn looked from him to Rachel. The brunette smiled when she saw the blonde look at her. "He just needs time Rachel, it'll be fine."
Rachel nodded before sitting down, Quinn sat next to her. They held hands while they ate, much to Santana's dismay. "Must you do that, some of us are trying to eat here."
She also stormed off, Brittany right on her heels; though the blonde threw an apologetic look over her shoulder as she ran off.
Quinn took a deep breath, as she released it she whispered. "Two more days."
Rachel was the only one who heard her; she leaned closer to the blonde. "We're already out at school, and broke your 'no kissing till the first date' rule, what can you possibly be counting down to?"
"I don't really know, it's just, it's my first time planning a date. And it's me and you, and I don't know but I hope it's the start of something amazing."
"Quinn, we've already started something amazing. Anything else is just icing on the cake." She kissed the girl's cheek and they ate the rest of the meal in silence.
Quinn smiled at Rachel's words, but couldn't help continuing the countdown…