Disclaimer: These characters belong to the creators of Glee.
A/N: I know I'm a day late but I wanted to write a Valentine's day chapter for this story. I'm sorry it's been a while but hopefully the updates will start being more frequent. No promises though. Hope you enjoy! Let me know whether you like it or not and as always, all mistakes are mine :)
Words (minus response to reviews) - 5126
Chapter 9:
Lucy sits down at her desk and retrieves the card from the top drawer before placing it on the desk. It's a handmade Valentines Day card that she's spent the last week working on and making perfect. She's drawn several hearts across the card and a lot of gold stars, since they are Rachel's thing. She opens the card and writes a tiny message, wishing Rachel a great day before signing her name followed by several kisses.
She watched today as various students received a Valentine's Day card from somebody else in the school. Her teacher had asked everybody to write a card for at least one person in the class but walking into her classroom this morning, Lucy didn't expect to receive one. She didn't exactly have any friends other than Rachel and they kept to themselves. To her amazement, Lucy found herself leaving school with a card.
It was anonymous and only signed with a kiss but she didn't care, the fact that it was an unknown sender made it even more special.
Rachel didn't receive a card but she said it didn't bother her. Valentine's Day is just a day like any other except people buy presents and cards for somebody they love.
Lucy inserts the card into the envelope before sealing it and writing Rachel's name. She always intended to give Rachel a card; she just didn't want to give her it in school. She thought people might laugh at her if she sent another girl a card on one of the most romantic days of the year.
"Lucy," her father says as he enters her bedroom. "What are you doing?"
Her arm comes to rest over the card, shielding it from her father. "Nothing."
He frowns before coming to rest beside her. "What is that?"
"It's nothing," Lucy reassures quickly.
Russell puffs out a breath and snatches the card from the desk before Lucy can stop him. "Rachel. What is this?"
"It's a Valentine's Day card."
"You do not send a Valentine's Day card to another girl." The tone of his voice has grown serious and it's the same tone he uses when he's telling Lucy off after she's done something wrong.
"She's my friend, why can't I?"
"Do not argue with me," he spits harshly, shaking his head and crumpling the card up before throwing it in the trashcan. "Don't you have homework to be getting on with? Stop wasting your time on this trivial nonsense and do something productive."
Lucy waits for him to leave the bedroom before the tears start to fall. She knows her father is harsh and he has strict rules but just because he doesn't think it's okay, doesn't mean she has to think the same.
"Your dad has several faults, one of which is he isn't a very progressive person," her mother tells her softly, suddenly appearing in her bedroom doorway. Judy walks over to the trashcan and picks up the card, trying to smooth it out as much as possible. "At least it's not ruined."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not," Judy replies. "It's just a little messy but most things in life are."
Lucy watches her mom with interest; she mustn't have had a drink yet. She's only nice when she's sober. It's the only time she shows her caring side. It's something Lucy realised a couple of months ago. Her mother missed her school play because she had been too interested in a bottle of wine at home but the next day, when she had no alcohol in her system; she treated Lucy to a new outfit as an apology.
She wonders what alcohol must taste like if it's good enough to change her mother's personality.
"I wanted to give my friend a card, is that wrong?"
Judy sits down on her daughter's bed and sends a sympathetic look towards Lucy. "No sweetie, it isn't wrong. You can give your friend a card."
"If Rachel was more than a friend, could I give her one then?" Lucy asks, genuinely curious. If she asked her father, he'd say no in a heartbeat.
Bewildered by the question, Judy hesitates ever so slightly before composing herself. "Let's not ask hypothetical questions sweetie." Judy stands up and hands the card to Lucy. "Why don't you run across and give it to her now?"
"What about dad?"
"Allow me to worry about your father."
"Thank you mom," Lucy says, beaming widely. Her mother makes to leave the bedroom but Lucy calling out stops her. "I love you."
Judy bobs her head. "I love you too Lucy, always. Never forget that."
"Where are your dads?"
Rachel raises her head from her book to look at Lucy. "They've gone out for a romantic dinner."
"Do they do that a lot?" Lucy questions because she can't remember the last time her parents went out together.
"They have a date night once a week, I don't know what they do on them though," Rachel tells her friend. "I just know that once a week, Mrs Patterson babysits me. She never seems very happy though. I usually just stay in my bedroom and sing."
"Are you disappointed you never received a Valentine's Day card?" Lucy asks suddenly.
Rachel shakes her head. "Not at all, just because I didn't receive one today doesn't mean I won't in the future."
Lucy reaches into her pocket and removes the card before offering it to her friend. "I made you one. Do you want it?"
"Of course Lucy," Rachel utters happily, climbing off her bed and accepting the card.
Lucy blushes at the state of the card. "I'm sorry it's crumpled up, it was an accident."
"Oh don't worry about that," Rachel says with a wave of her hand. She opens the card eagerly and beams when she reads what Lucy has written. "I love it, especially the gold stars. They're a metaphor for me you know."
The corner of Lucy's mouth curls upwards. "Yeah I know."
"Can I tell you a secret?" Rachel asks before proceeding when Lucy nods. "The card you received in school was from me."
"Really?" Lucy asks, her heartbeat quickening.
"Of course, I wanted you to have one."
Her happiness disappears suddenly and she ducks her head. "Because nobody else would give me one you mean."
"No, that's not what I meant," Rachel replies quickly, wrapping her arms around Lucy in a brief hug. "Valentine's Day is about love and I love you so I wanted you to have a card. Besides, your card is the only one I received."
"Well I love you too."
"I'm glad the only card I received was from you."
Lucy smiles softly. "I promise I'll always be your Valentine Rachel."
Rachel walks down the corridor, bypassing several couples whose public displays of affection are slowly becoming more and more pornographic. Just because it's February 14th doesn't mean couples should have a free pass to practically molest one another in front of an audience. She's an avid believer that strong displays of affection should be kept behind closed doors.
She doesn't want to see couples kissing.
She turns right and enters the choir room, the rest of Glee club already sitting on their chairs. The only available chair is the one behind Quinn. Sighing lightly she heads towards the chair and sits down, placing her folder and her bag on the floor.
Mr Schuester walks into the choir room and heads immediately towards the whiteboard.
"I don't understand why this school appears to go all out for Valentines Day," Rachel comments as she sees Mr Schue write the word love on the whiteboard. "This school is littered with pretend hearts and romance. It's not even a real holiday; it's just a cleverly conducted idea by corporations to increase their sales of chocolate, teddy bears, flowers, cards and other such romantic items. People buy into this façade way too much if you ask me."
"Nobody did," Santana mutters.
Mercedes stares at her friend. "I had no idea you were little miss depressive."
"Well I love this day," Puck states. "It's a lot easier to pick up chicks. I know plenty of single girls who would do anything for a date tonight. Isn't that right Santana?"
"Shut it Puckerman, been there done that. Never again."
Mr Schuester claps his hands to silence the club. "I didn't realise the idea of singing love songs would cause controversy. I for one think there are some great love songs that we could all sing."
"Nobody's disputing that Mr Schue," Kurt says.
"I think this day is romantic," Brittany chimes in, staring at Santana subtly, the look unmissed by everybody but Quinn.
"I suppose if you were involved in a relationship, it could be romantic. If you're single, it's really just another day. Nothing special happens; you don't get showered in romance and chocolates. I have two questions Mr Schuester," Rachel begins. "Why should we turn love songs into a week assignment when Valentine's Day is just one day? Also, why should we sing love songs when nobody in this room is actually currently in a happy and loving relationship?"
"I'm dating somebody."
Everybody in the room, including the cheerleaders and football players, turn their attention to the low whisper emitted from Tina. She ducks her head when she realises she's confessed that louder than she had wanted.
"You're dating somebody?"
"Who?"
"Why haven't you told me?"
"I didn't realise you talked."
A chorus of questions and statements erupt around the room and Tina starts blushing profusely, uncomfortable with the sudden inquisition. She feels her hand being taken by another and stares gratefully at Mike.
"Me," Mike admits, with a wide grin spreading across his face. "It's a fairly new development."
"Dude," Puck says, offering Mike a high five. Something Rachel has learned about her fellow Jew, is that no matter what the relationship, Noah always seems to love the news.
"Is anybody else concealing their relationship from the rest of the group?" Rachel questions, glancing around the room, waiting for somebody to confess to having a dalliance with another member of Glee club. Brittany's hand raises slightly before Santana tugs it back down.
"It's none of your business Berry if they are," Santana states.
"Is this a yes or no for singing love songs for this week's assignment?" Mr Schuester asks, disrupting the current conversation.
"It's a yes," Kurt says and his answer is met with a series of nods from the rest of the students. Even Rachel manages a curt nod but only because her opinion is clearly not one shared by anybody else and she has no interest in spending the rest of the hour arguing.
"I already know what love song I'll be singing," Mercedes announces. "One of the classics, I will always love you by the late Whitney Houston."
"You have any plans tonight Q-ball?" Santana asks, as the rest of Glee club discuss what love song they are going to sing.
"What do you think?"
"Maybe Hudson will ask you out."
Quinn rolls her eyes. "I'm not interested in Finn, I've told you that." She looks behind her to see if Rachel is listening but the girl seems more interested in eavesdropping on the other conversation taking place. "What are you doing?"
"San's coming to my house," Brittany answers for her.
"Enjoy your date," Quinn whispers.
"It's not a date," Santana warns lowly. "Why don't you join us? You're the third hottest girl in this school, it's sad that you're single on Valentine's Day."
"I take it you're the first hottest girl."
Santana shakes her head. "Nah, somebody pips me to the post, I'm a very close second though. Come on Q, we'll eat chocolate and watch those crap romantic movies."
"You've got Mail," Brittany says. "I love that movie. Can we watch that?"
Santana smiles at her fellow cheerleader. "Of course we can Britt."
Quinn stops staring at Rachel and looks at Santana before nodding in surrender. "I guess I could come round for a couple of hours, as you said, it's not like I have anybody else to spend tonight with."
Rachel turns the shower off and quickly dries herself off before throwing on her underwear and her socks. She steps out of the shower stall and returns to the locker room, her face falling when she finds the locker room empty with the exception of Santana who is brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She wraps the towel tighter around her body, even though she's wearing her underwear, and walks towards the locker with her clothes in.
Opening it, she's happily surprised to find her clothes are still there. She fully expected them to have disappeared, like they have done so many times in the past. It's yet another reason why she hates gym. One time after her gym lesson, she returned to find her locker emptied and every article of clothing she had in there lay scattered around the school. Somebody even managed to tie her top to the flag pole and she had to ask the school janitor if he could retrieve it for her.
"Thank you Santana."
The cheerleader stops brushing her hair and looks at Rachel through the mirror. "What are you thanking me for?"
"You resisted stealing my clothes, I'm grateful for that."
Rachel realises she should have just changed in silence because her answer has caused Santana to turn around and stare at her, watching her intently. Rachel swallows and desperately tries to keep the towel tight against her body. If she hadn't said anything, maybe Santana would have left her alone. Now Santana's probably going to make up for not stealing her clothes by doing something else.
"I bet you're the type of person who would keep their socks on during sex."
Rachel frowns. "Okay."
"Why do you always wear those hideous knee-high socks? Scared I'll see your hairy feet."
Rachel rolls her eyes. "Of course I must have hairy feet since I'm apparently a hobbit. That's very clever Santana, albeit not very original. For your information, I don't particularly enjoy touching this floor with my bare feet. It's a strange quirk I have."
Santana tilts her head to the side. "Why aren't you getting dressed?"
"I don't really want an audience; I'll wait till you leave."
"I'm not going anywhere. What are you afraid of? Let me guess, the rumours are true. Are you packing Berry?"
"Don't be ridiculous, of course the rumours aren't true."
"If you have nothing to hide, get changed."
Subconsciously she grips her towel tighter. "You may be interested in seeing women's bodies, and this may come as a surprise to you, but I have no interest in stripping for you Santana."
Santana closes the gap between the two of them in record speed and the swiftness of her actions startles Rachel. She steps back but when Santana copies her actions, Rachel continues backwards until her back hits the wall.
"I'm not entirely comfortable with our current proximity right now Santana."
"Why would you say that?"
"You normally try your hardest to keep as much distance from me as possible but you're now so close I can feel your breath. It's a little disconcerting."
Shaking her head, Santana closes the gap even further. "Why did you say I'd be interested in seeing women's bodies? What have you heard?"
Rachel opens her mouth before closing her. She doesn't know what to say, she's not entirely sure why Santana has reacted this way. She knows she has a tendency to rile the cheerleader up but this is a new experience. "I haven't heard anything."
"So you just presume I like looking at women's bodies," Santana spits venomously. "What the fuck Berry?"
Santana has teased and tormented Rachel for over a year but never once has Rachel felt truly frightened of the girl.
Until now.
"I was just making a joke due to the fact that you apparently wanted me to strip for you. I didn't mean to generalise your interest and what I said certainly didn't have any underlying meaning. I apologise if I said the wrong thing."
Santana calms down slightly but her eyes still hold a trace of anger. "Careful what you say, people might start getting the wrong impression and if that happens, I'll know who is to blame. You think throwing slushies at you is the worst thing I can do, wait until you see what happens if you land on my bad side."
Rachel swallows a bob in her throat, fully aware that Santana means every word of that threat. "I understand. Just so you know, if you did enjoy looking at women, there's nothing wrong with that."
"What did I just say?" Santana shouts, slamming her hand against the wall, a safe distance away from Rachel's body because despite her dislike of the girl, she'd never physically hurt her.
"I'll just cease talking."
"Santana, what are you doing?" Quinn shouts as she enters the locker room, tugging Santana away from Rachel. "What part of leave her alone did you not understand?"
That peaks Rachel's interest and she watches the cheerleaders with fascination.
"She needs to watch her mouth. Loose lips like hers can cause damage," Santana warns before grabbing her bag and storming out of the locker room.
Once she's sure Santana has left, Quinn steps forward and stares at Rachel softly. "Are you okay?"
Rachel brushes herself off and steps away from the wall. "Of course I am, it will take more than a verbal telling off by Santana to scare me."
"What did you say to her?" Quinn questions as she follows Rachel back to her clothes, only now realising Rachel is clad in just a towel. She tugs her bottom lip between her teeth as her eyes slowly trail over Rachel's body.
"Quinn, would you mind turning around? I'm not entirely comfortable with you seeing me in my underwear. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not," Quinn says before doing as requested. However, Rachel has clearly not realised that by turning around, Quinn is now facing the mirror and actually has a perfect view of Rachel getting changed. She watches as Rachel drops the towel before slamming her eyes shut.
She's not about to leer on the girl.
"So what did you say to Santana?"
"I made a passing and purely innocent comment that Santana appreciated looking at women's bodies and she misinterpreted it. I think she thought I was accusing her of being a lesbian. Which I wasn't. I don't understand why she reacted so negatively. Even if she is a lesbian, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Not everybody thinks the same way as you Rachel."
Rachel shrugs on her dress before informing Quinn it's safe for her to turn around. "What did you mean when you asked Santana 'what part of leave her alone did you not understand'?"
Quinn twirls her finger in her ponytail. "She wanted me to join Glee club so she had another friend. I think she just wanted to even up the numbers. Anyway, I said I would as long as she stopped teasing you as much."
"Here I am thinking you joined because I wanted you to."
"I did," Quinn say suddenly. "I just saw a chance to help you and I took it. You have to admit, today aside, she has been nicer to you."
Rachel scoffs. "I can't say I agree with that."
"I know it probably doesn't look like it but she is being nicer to you."
"Are you expecting a thank you or for me to show my gratitude?" Rachel asks, packing her towel into her bag. "If that's the case, it's not going to happen."
"Why –"
"Why should I be grateful to you for stopping Santana being as mean to me when it's your fault in the first place?"
Quinn falters and anything she was going to say fails to come out. Every word she can think of appears to catch in her throat. "I wasn't after a thank you."
"If Santana is the only reason you joined Glee club, feel free to leave. For your information I don't need you to look after me Quinn; surprisingly I can take care of myself." She makes to leave the locker room but Quinn wraps her fingers around her wrist, stilling her.
"I don't want to leave Glee club," Quinn confesses. "Why would I want to miss out on a week of singing love songs?" Silence befalls the two girls but Quinn doesn't want Rachel to leave so she finds something to say. "It's Valentine's Day today."
"Really Quinn? I hadn't noticed."
She tries to ignore the sardonic reply. "Do you have a date?"
"Actually it may interest you to know that I'm inundated with offers Quinn," Rachel replies quickly, running her fingers through her hair.
"Really?"
Rachel scoffs once more. "Of course not. I'm not exactly on McKinley's list of most desirable women. I think that list is too full with cheerleaders."
Quinn shakes her head. "I think you're wrong."
Rachel chuckles dryly. "My lack of romantic interests would suggest that it is you who is wrong."
"I guess we'll see."
Rachel stops walking and stares behind her to see Finn following her. When he sees her, he turns his attention to the right and starts reading the poster for the Spring Fling dance with sheer fascination. Shrugging his strange behaviour off, Rachel continues walking until she reaches her locker. Turning around once more, she sees that Finn has proceeded to follow her.
"May I help you Finn?"
"What? Why?"
"It appears that you're following me. If this is the prelude to some awful prank, can you at least forewarn me? I've only just showered after gym and I would really appreciate it if I didn't have to return to the locker room for another shower."
"It's not a prank."
"Is it a dare? Has somebody dared you to follow me?"
Finn shakes his head and comes to rest beside Rachel, fiddling with hands nervously. "Are you doing anything tonight?"
"It's Friday night so I have my Friday night dinner with my dads, possibly followed by a board game or perhaps a spontaneous sing-a-long around the piano. After that, I'm sure I'll retire to my bedroom and start working on the numerous amount of homework I have to complete before the weekend is over."
"You do know today's date right?"
"Last time I checked my calendar it was February 14th."
Finn sighs. "It's Valentine's Day, why are you spending it with your family?"
"As I mentioned in Glee club, I am not in a relationship, nor am I dating anybody. Who else am I supposed to spend tonight with?"
Finn tilts his head and sends a lop-sided smile in the girl's direction. "Puck is going to Breadsticks tonight with a girl he met in the cafeteria, apparently she's a skank."
Rachel stares at him with sheer aghast. "That is no way to speak about women. If Noah calls this girl a skank, I highly doubt his date will be successful."
"He didn't call her that," Finn corrects. "She's part of a group of girls who call themselves the skanks."
"That's a peculiar name to give yourself," Rachel mumbles. "Although, now you mention it, I do recall seeing a group of girls standing under the bleachers, mainly dressed in black and/or leather. I doubt a pseudonym like the name rainbow would suit them."
"Anyway," Finn says, trying to prevent Rachel from rambling any further. He has noticed she enjoys talking. "He's going there and I was wondering if you wanted to join him."
Rachel finds herself looking down the corridor and spies Mike and Tina holding hands in the corner. She's happy for Tina; they appear to be a cute couple. She's surprised Tina and Mike managed to bridge the gap between football and Glee club so quickly but she's glad they did. Obviously not everybody has such a strong opinion of the Glee club as the cheerleaders do.
"Rachel?"
"I'm sorry Finn, did you just suggest that I have a three-way date with Noah and this 'Skank' because I don't find that an acceptable thing for you to suggest."
"No," Finn shouts. "I didn't phrase that right. I was wondering if you wanted to join him and me."
If she didn't have exceptional balance thanks to her early years training in ballet, she's pretty confident her knees would have just buckled from the shock. "Did you…I'm sorry, are you asking me out on a date?"
"Yeah."
Rachel glances around her surreptitiously, looking in every single direction with a nervous expression on her face.
Finn frowns. "What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for the hidden camera, evidently this is a joke. One that I do not find amusing in any way, shape or form."
"I'm not joking."
Rachel brings her attention back to Finn and notices he's rubbing his hands together in an uneasy manner. "Are you being serious?" She receives a nod as her answer. "Why would you want to go out with me? We don't even speak to each other."
"I don't know," Finn says. "You're not bad-looking and our singing voices match perfectly so we work as a couple in Glee club."
"We've sang one duet."
Finn doesn't hear her. "I thought it might be fun to go out together."
Not bad-looking. Finn certainly knows how to sweep her off her feet. The first people to show any interest in her romantically and it's hardly a fantastic offer.
"Thank you for that romantic reasoning but I can't cancel on my fathers. That would be impolite. Besides, I don't really know you Finn. Before Christmas, you didn't speak to me and even now our conversations are through the medium of song or high fives as a form of greeting. I still don't understand what's wrong with the word hello."
"Are you turning me down?"
"I am. It's a surprise to me too. If we got to know each other a little more, my answer may change but I don't want you to ask me out because you don't want to be alone tonight."
Sufficiently downtrodden, Finn shuffles away down the corridor. Rachel shakes off their discussion, still slightly confused where it came from before opening her locker. At the sight before her, she furrows her brow.
Inside her locker is a single red rose. She reaches inside and retrieves the flower, noticing the tag attached to the bottom of the stem.
From your valentine x
There's no name or any inclination of who sent her it. She looks down the corridor but it has suddenly become deserted, most students already making their way home.
She presses the rose against her chest, a shy smile crossing her face. Maybe she had been a little hasty; maybe Valentine's Day isn't so bad after all.
Quinn buttons her coat up before attaching the lead to Dusty's collar and opening the front door. He immediately runs as far as the lead will allow him before pausing and waiting for his owner to catch up. She closes the front door behind her and starts following Dusty. She learned a long time ago that she never walks Dusty, he always walks her.
She walks as she always does, her eyes fixated on the ground below, before raising her head at the sound of somebody approaching her at a rather fast speed. She smiles when she sees the jogger slow down before coming to a complete halt.
"I didn't know you ran."
Rachel places her hands on her hip and breathes deeply. "My elliptical machine is beneficial for my exercise routine but I find that maintaining one form of exercise can be somewhat tedious as time progresses."
"Do you always run at night?"
"It's usually quiet." She relaxes her stance and strokes Dusty, scratching behind his ear. "Are my eyes deceiving me or is Quinn Fabray actually alone on Valentine's Day," Rachel teases lightly. "I guess being popular isn't all it's cut out to be. You're head cheerleader and I'm basically a social pariah yet we're still in the same predicament. Without a date on Valentine's Day."
There's a definite harshness in Rachel's voice which doesn't go unmissed by Quinn. "You're not a social pariah."
"Let's not open that door," Rachel comments as Dusty starts sniffing the grass. "Seriously, did nobody ask you out?"
"Nobody I'm interested in," Quinn answers, tugging her lip between her teeth. "What about you? Were you proved wrong about being desirable?"
"I received a rose."
Quinn smiles softly. "Really, that's great. I've never been given a rose."
"It was probably just somebody's idea of a joke," Rachel tells her. "I didn't really appreciate it."
"Why do you think it was a joke?" Quinn questions suddenly. "You know, you're far too hard on yourself. You're not disgusting Rachel, far from it."
"I guess the nicknames I own have dented my self-confidence. I have you to thank for that."
Quinn flinches. "I am so sorry about those nicknames but people know they're not true. I know I should never have invented them."
"No you shouldn't Quinn. By the way, it's funny that you think I'm too hard on myself when you were so hard on yourself, you had plastic surgery. I think my lack of self-confidence pales somewhat in comparison to yours."
"I guess I had a dream of the person I wanted to be. I thought if I got a new nose, it would make me feel better in myself."
"Did it?"
"Not in the way I hoped." Quinn pats Dusty's head when he sidles up next to her, a silent plea for her to continue walking. "I'm sure whoever gave you that rose meant it."
"I doubt I'll ever find out because the note which came with the rose was anonymous."
"Trust me," Quinn says, stuffing her free hand into her pocket. "I better go. I have to finish walking this fella and then I promised Santana and Brittany I'd watch movies with them."
"Don't let me detain you any longer than I already have," Rachel says, as she starts jogging on the spot, preparing herself to start running once more. "Good night Quinn."
...
Rachel undoes her ponytail and turns on the shower before stripping down to her underwear. She enters her bedroom and removes a towel from her dresser before staring happily at the single red rose which rests in a vase, sitting proudly on top of her desk. It's the first flower she's ever received and despite what she told Quinn, she loves it.
Even if it was a joke.
A/N 2:
Guest – Thanks for reading and reviewing :) Don't worry; I am continuing this story, even if the updates are sparse at times.
Sarah - Thanks for reading and reviewing :) I for one am glad you've just discovered this story. I'm also glad you're enjoying it, I hope that continues.
Guest - Thanks for reading and reviewing :) I'm pleased you love this story. Sorry this update has taken a while. I've nearly finished my other story so I might be able to write quicker.