Sorry for the delay, I knew what I wanted to write but writer's block definitely hit. To the reviewers who said the last chapter was pretty short, I can only apologise I can't write 3,000+ word updates (Although this is close to 4,000 it isn't going to become a habit), I genuinely worry that I'm being too descriptive or just adding words for the sake of it. The angst is almost all over too. I write best when it's fluffy and sugar coated! I probably won't be able to update for another week, I've got a summer university project starting on Monday which has me working 33 hours in 3 days, which is something I'm definitely not used to! I'm going to be exhausted so I won't have much downtime. Fear not, any time I have I'll be working on an update! Enough from me!
Thanks to all who have alerted, favourited and reviewed so far! I appreciate it all! Enjoy!
Fabraygron :)
"Right genius, what's your plan?" Quinn sniped as she and Santana sat on the train that was currently speeding through the countryside heading for the bright city lights of New York.
"Oh I don't have a plan," Santana dead panned. Quinn narrowed her eyes in response to the Latina's comment. "Seriously, I don't. I just needed to get you here. The rest is up to you my friend."
"Friend? If I was a friend, you'd be giving me a bit more help here, Santana!"
"Tell you what, we'll go back to my place, you can shower and get dressed up before we go out for food and talk through a plan."
"What if she doesn't want me anymore, San?"
"She will,"
"…and if she doesn't?"
"I'll go all Lima Heights on her ass." The Latina quipped. "Is that what you wanted to hear?" She added. Quinn nodded glad that her friend really was looking out for her. "I told you Q, your one of my closest friends. I've got your back."
"You said you spoke with Kurt a few days ago." Quinn noted as she recalled their conversation. Santana nodded to clarify. "How exactly did that come about?"
"Hummel called me to see if I'd spoken to you lately. I told him we'd spoken quite a bit then he asked if I knew about the stuff that was going on between you and Berry. I simply told him yes, to which he rambled on about you having an emotional breakdown on the phone to him," Quinn rolled her eyes at the man's overdramatic explanation. "After many discussions with you this week, I knew that nothing was going to be resolved because you're both too stubborn. So I decided to come and get you." Santana explained.
"So Kurt doesn't know I'm coming into the city?"
"Not a clue, I couldn't trust him not to tell Rachel. I haven't spoken to her so I can't judge what she'd actually do if she knew you were coming. She might camp outside my apartment or hightail it back to Lima to avoid you. It sounds like you've dealt that girl some real heartache, Q."
"Trust me, I regret every single second. I needed Kurt to understand that, hence the 'emotional breakdown'" She replied.
"Lose the air quotes. You've been breaking down on me pretty much every single phone call."
"I never expected it to hurt this much," Quinn sighed.
"Yeah you told me that a few times too," Santana joked. "That's what this visit's for one, way or another you shall begin fixing that broken heart of yours."
"Wait? You live here?" Quinn exclaimed as they approached one of the apartment blocks that sat beautifully on the skyline.
"I sure do, you'd know if you'd visited before now." The Latina quipped. Instantly Quinn felt guilty, she'd been too busy pining over Rachel to even consider visiting her other best friend. She'd never thought about it during her visit to the city either. She'd been too focused on Rachel.
"Lose the guilty look, Fabray." Santana said as she noticed Quinn's blank expression. Turning to let them into the building, she headed towards the elevator before she spoke again. "That wasn't a jibe. I know you've had stuff on your mind, besides I go back to Lima a lot." Quinn nodded curtly in response. She knew the Latina was missing Brittany.
"How is Britt doing?"
"She's getting there, her parents have hired a tutor to help her improve her GPA."
"That's good then. Is she planning on moving up here in the fall then?"
"Yeah, she's looking at it anyway. She doesn't know whether she wants to go to college or just look for work straight away," The Latina informed her as she unlocked her apartment door.
"How's that working out for you?" Quinn asked as she looked around in awe at her friend's place.
"What?"
"Looking for work."
"It's hard. I've had a few gigs in a couple of the local pubs but nothing major. I'm just waiting, I'd say patiently but you know me too well." She laughed.
"That I do," Quinn nodded. "I can't believe this is your place,"
Santana's apartment was massive. It had a spacious kitchen with a sleek modern island in the centre. The entire room had a modern feel down to the dish rack sitting on the sink. Adjoined on to the kitchen was the lounge which was slightly smaller but only slightly. Santana had placed pictures of her and her friends in frames and mounted them to her wall. The TV sat in the corner with all the furniture pointed towards it.
"My bedroom's the first door on your right," Santana said pointing back down the hallway they'd just walked through. "The bathroom is next door to that. The door opposite that is the guest room, which is where you'll be sleeping."
"This place is incredible, Santana."
"I'm rarely here." She admitted "If I'm not in Lima, I'm out in the city looking for work. My Mom's money is only going to get me so far."
"I'm proud of you. You stood up for what you wanted." Quinn said pulling her friend into a tight hug.
"Hey, maybe I'll be able to say that about you at some point this weekend." Santana joked breaking the emotional tension. Quinn scoffed at her quick wit.
"Go put your stuff in the guest room and get ready then we can head out, ok?"
"Yeah that sounds good." Quinn said taking her stuff and exiting the lounge.
Santana waited a moment until she heard the blonde's bedroom door close before she pulled out her phone. Quickly she typed out a text, her head continuously shifting up from the phone to the guest bedroom door as she waited for a response. A minute later her phone bleeped and a devious smile appeared on her face. Operation Faberry was officially a-go.
"Come on Rachel, I made reservations and you know how annoyed they get when we're late," Kurt shouted through their apartment. He stood at the door cautiously eyeing his watch.
"I'll be two minutes," She yelled. "Since when could you get ready before me anyway?" Rachel asked suspiciously. It was a well known fact that Kurt took longer of the two to get ready before they went anywhere. Rachel was usually stood by the door shouting for him to hurry up. Kurt simply didn't answer instead he eyed his watch again before stomping his foot on the floor in an attempt to hurry her up. The diva grabbed her cardigan and purse before darting out of her room.
"I still don't get what the hurry is," she argued as she vacated the apartment.
"I made reservations for a reason. I have to be back by ten to Skype with Blaine."
"Nice to see you still make time for me around your boyfriend."
"Oh ha ha," he deadpanned as they began walking down the street. He ushered her forward trying to make her speed up.
"Kurt I can't speed walk in these heels,"
"I'm sorry but they'll give away our table if we're not there by seven forty five."
"Santana, this place looks amazing," Quinn noted as Santana held open the door for her.
"It is! It makes the best quesadilla I've ever tasted,"
"Do you two have a reservation?" The waiter asked standing behind the front desk.
"No, but normally I don't need a reservation," Santana flirted with the man. She batted her eyelids and ran her fingers through her hair twirling the ends of the long curls.
"I'm sorry but we're fully booked for tonight." He informed them.
"Are you sure, I think you need to check that list again," Santana smirked looking up at the waiter with big bold eyes.
"I can assure you I don't need to check." He said looking deep into the Latina's eyes. "Now I'm going to have to ask you to leave," he added as he looked past her to a couple who were waiting patiently behind her.
"See here my friend, this lady and I we're going to eat here tonight, so we'll wait for a table to open up."
"Santana, look let's go." Quinn stated as her friend began drawing attention to herself.
"No Q, I promised you the best quesadilla and you're going to get it. Some loser is bound to miss their reservation and we'll be waiting to snipe it." Santana stated taking a seat on one of the leather couches. Quinn looked between the waiter and Santana before joining the Latina next to her on the couch.
"How about we wait ten minutes and if nothing opens up we can just go get food somewhere else?" Quinn reasoned. She really didn't want to sit and wait in this restaurant all evening, not if they had a plan to actually plan.
"Make it thirty and we have a deal,"
"Thirty minutes, Santana? Are you being serious right now? If you really want quesadilla we can go back to your apartment and I'll make it for you myself."
"No offence Quinn, but you're not the best cook,"
"I resent that, I'm learning day by day." Quinn scoffed as she sat back into the couch and crossed one leg over the other. "Are you serious about waiting thirty minutes just to see if a table opens up?"
"I am." Santana simply replied, piercing the waiter with a strong glare.
"What time was our reservation for?" Rachel asked as they rounded the corner.
"7:45," He replied looking at his watch. He had five minutes to get to the restaurant. He grabbed Rachel's hand and dragged her forward.
"Kurt what the heck is this about? You've never been this bothered to get to dinner before or to even stick to a Skype schedule with Blaine."
"Mr Schuester's been running them ragged for Sectionals, this is his only time to chat this weekend, so sorry for having to rush you,"
"Kurt, I'd have understood if you couldn't have made this dinner, we could have rescheduled." Rachel offered sympathetically as she voluntarily sped up. Kurt looked away from her and a smirk escaped his lips. They rounded the final corner and the restaurant was right up ahead.
"Just in time," Kurt noted as he opened the door for his friend.
"Table for two under the name Hummel," he said as he approached the front desk.
Quinn had been staring at the clock on the wall in front of her desperately counting down the seconds until she and Santana could leave when she heard the familiar voice of Kurt Hummel. She looked up and saw the fashion intern leaning forward over the counter.
"Kurt?" Quinn called.
"My, my Quinn Fabray and Santana Lopez, this is a surprise." He replied in shock.
"Hummel," Santana nodded.
"Why are the two of you sitting there?"
"We're waiting for a table, we've got a couple more minutes before we can leave," Quinn sighed. "Who are you here with? Work?" Quinn asked.
"Errrr," He replied trying to come up with a fake person before Rachel stepped forward into view. Kurt's mouth bobbed up and down like a fish out of water. Quinn's eyes moved from the man to the person who moved to stand by his side.
"Rachel." Quinn simply said as she jumped to her feet.
The brunette stood tightly next to Kurt looking everywhere but at Quinn. Quinn's eyes were glued to the diva. Every feeling that Quinn had developed towards Rachel escalated. The diva's dress clung tightly to every curve. Her hair fell in loose curls over her shoulder. The light make up she was wearing really made her eyes pop.
"Well isn't this cosy?" Santana quipped taking to her feet. She looked to Kurt who nodded sharply. He rummaged through his pocket, took out his wallet and handed the waiter his credit card. "Anything those two want is on me," he said signalling between Quinn and Rachel. "Come on Santana, I think this is going to be a long meal for these two." He pulled Santana by the arm and led her out of the restaurant, both with devious grins plastered across their faces. She quickly popped her head back in and shouted "Q, I was serious, have the quesadilla." She laughed. "Seriously you two, sort your shit out."
Quinn's focus was still locked onto the brunette who hadn't shifted in her positioning. She moved closer to the brunette who stepped backwards, almost falling into the front desk. "Can I show you two to your table?" The waiter asked. He didn't have a clue what was going on but he just wanted the two seated eager to
"Yes," Quinn replied confidently. Rachel's jaw shifted as she spoke.
"No," She turned to leave before Quinn lent out and touched her arm.
"Rachel, don't, don't leave. Stay." Quinn begged. "I miss you so much, Rachel. You're my best friend, give me this chance. I know I don't deserve it, but please Rachel. I'm begging you." Quinn's eyes were wide and the diva shifted nervously.
"Ok," she simply replied.
"Ok?" Quinn repeated, desperate for clarification.
"Ok."
"This way then," the waiter said rapidly trying to hurry them forward.
Rachel followed nervously behind the waiter. She had no idea what she was letting herself in for. Quinn had made it clear that she wasn't interested in Rachel. If she was just going to repeat that then the diva didn't need to hear it. They sat down in silence and quickly busied their eyes with the menu. Quinn's heart was bursting, she just wanted to spill everything to Rachel but she knew it wasn't the right time. She needed to set out some equal footing, but before she could start another waiter interrupted.
"Can I get you any drinks?"
"In fact I think we're ready to order," Rachel replied. Quinn was astounded by the croak in the diva's voice. It was the most she'd heard Rachel say since she'd arrived. "You're having quesadilla, right?" She said looking up to Quinn with almost a light smile on her face.
"Right," Quinn replied a smile also gracing her face.
"Two black bean and vegetable quesadillas with a side of guacamole and two Diet Cokes please." She turned to the waiter and flashed him the mega watt patented Rachel Berry smile. He walked away shaking his head at the quick shifting mood of the brunette haired woman. "You're ok with eating vegan, aren't you?" Rachel asked shyly.
"Of course," Quinn nodded quickly. "So…"
"So…" The diva repeated.
"I'm so so-" Quinn began but was stopped when the diva raised her hand up.
"Don't, Quinn."
"I can't. I have to apologise, Rachel."
"Can we eat first?" She enquired. "I haven't eaten all day and I really don't want to have to walk out before eating," she joked.
"Sure." Quinn sighed. She had a bit more time to decide what she really was going to say to the diva.
"So, what have you been up to?" Quinn asked as she took a sip of her coke. She attempted some form of normalcy in their dinner conversation. She wasn't sure whether the diva would actually talk or just give her tiny answers but she couldn't just sit in silence.
"Working really, I've got quite a lot done on that assignment I was telling you about."
"Oh, so you decided on a song?"
"Yeah, I went for 'Without You' from RENT. I'm having a bit of a problem with it,"
"What's up?"
"It's a duet and I can't find the right vocal partner."
"Can you not adapt it into a solo?"
"I tried, it needs that second voice." Rachel shrugged. She'd been working flat out, day in and day out trying to develop it into a solo.
"Have you asked anyone in your class?"
"No one has the right voice to complement mine," Rachel sighed in defeat. She waved the conversation away wanting to deflect the attention from her self-described failures.
"What about you?"
"Not much really, I'm loaded down with work but Santana forced me to come this weekend. Now I guess why, those two really set us up, huh?" Quinn laughed as the waiter approached their table and set down their dishes.
"Yeah I guess they did." Rachel replied laughing along with the blonde. The diva's laugh was the most angelic sound Quinn had heard in weeks.
"We definitely got played by our two so-called best friends." Quinn sniggered as she cut into her food.
"This smells really good," she mused before taking a small bite. It wasn't the best she'd ever tasted but if Rachel enjoyed it then hopefully she could learn to enjoy it. Quinn knew that if they decided to stay friends that it could and would work. She couldn't bear to lose Rachel again but that didn't mean she was going to give her up so easily. They ate their meals in a comfortable silence, similar to the one they'd experienced before the big fall out. They shared small smiles and their eyes were locked on, it was almost like their 'first date' where they flirted without saying a word. The meal almost felt like they hadn't lost the past two weeks; that Quinn hadn't broken Rachel's heart and her own in the process. They'd reverted without knowing or even realising. Quinn took out her purse at the end of the meal ready to pay but Rachel stopped her.
"We have Kurt's credit card," she smiled.
"I'd feel bad making him pay,"
"I wouldn't. He set me up,"
"You make it sound like you haven't enjoyed it." Quinn flirted cheekily which caused Rachel to blush profusely. "Would you be up for going for a walk with me?" Quinn asked once the waiter had processed her card.
"I don't see why not."
Rachel and Quinn walked slowly and quietly through the city, the only sounds they could distinctly hear was the sound of traffic driving past. Quinn noticed a couple of familiar landmarks and before they knew it she was stood outside Boardwalk which was looking pretty quiet. "Can I buy you a cup of coffee?" Quinn asked.
"Sure," Rachel replied softly. She was enjoying spending time with Quinn again. She knew that the first time she saw Quinn after she walked out it would be difficult, but tonight had been easier than she'd anticipated. The first time she'd seen Quinn in the restaurant, her heart had practically stopped but in typical Quinn fashion she'd eased those fears and everything had almost fallen back into place. Rachel knew Quinn wanted to talk about what had happened in New Haven; the brunette just hoped that it wouldn't be as bad as last time. In fact she knew nothing could be as bad as last time. She certainly wouldn't be the one walking away broken this time. She couldn't be any more broken.
"Evening Rachel," Marco called from behind the counter. "Soy chai latte and what was it? An Americano for your friend?"
"You're the best, Marco."
"Go sit down, I'll bring them over."
"You definitely come here way too much," Quinn joked as she sat down in the booth.
"I haven't been here in a while actually, I've hardly socialised with anyone besides Kurt to be honest," she explained. Quinn's mouth formed an 'O' shape. "That wasn't meant to be a guilt-trip," the diva added hastily. Marco interrupted the tense silence by setting down their drinks and noticing the silence quickly departed.
"Is it a good time for me to apologise yet?" Quinn asked. Rachel didn't respond so Quinn took this as her moment to tell the diva how she really felt.
"I'm so sorry, Rachel. I never expected that I would hurt you as much as I did. I went through everything in my mind before I told you and never once did I picture you leaving. I never anticipated how much you'd hurt. I genuinely thought we could just put it behind us. I thought you'd get over how you felt, but that was wrong of me, Rachel.
People always take you for granted, Rachel. They think you'll get over it because it's you. I wanted to show you how you should be treated by your partner and I didn't fulfil that criteria. I broke your heart and lost your friendship in one fell swoop. I just didn't expect it to hurt me as much as it hurt you. Watching you walk away broke my heart, Rachel.
I've pined for you since that day. I know that sounds pathetic but it's the truth. I realised how much I was letting go. I not only lost my best friend but I lost a potential lover, someone I could share my life with. I never fully understood how much you meant to me until I watched you walk away." Quinn explained, her eyes never leaving Rachel's. She needed the diva to know what she felt.
"You have no reason to believe me, but I do need you Rachel. I need you as a friend but I need you as a girlfriend too. I understand completely if that's not what you want from me now, god I don't deserve the second chance but if you gave me that chance I'd spend everyday we have together making it up to you."
"Why couldn't you have told me this at some point during the last two weeks?"
"I didn't know whether you'd actually speak to me,"
"Were you actually ever planning on telling me this?" The diva snapped. "If Santana hadn't dragged your pretty blonde ass down here were you ever planning on telling me any of that?"
"I-I-I…" She stammered she knew full well that the diva had a valid point. Had this opportunity never presented itself would she actually have confronted her feelings for Rachel? "I don't know Rachel, I miss your friendship but you said if I couldn't take all of you, I couldn't have any of you. I thought our friendship was over. I didn't expect you to wait for me either. So I honestly don't know."
"I like you a lot, Quinn. I couldn't just get over that," She stated reaching over and taking the blonde's hand. Quinn smiled at the interaction and turned her hand lacing her fingers with the brunette's. "I couldn't just get over you, not like that. Your friendship means everything to me, Quinn. You mean everything to me. I won't lie, I have been hurting so much but the minute I saw you tonight when you asked me not to leave I knew there was a reason I had to stay."
"So, can we give it a shot? I don't expect you to forgive and forget what has happened between us but I'd really like to see what happens between us, officially. Rachel Berry, will you be my girlfriend?"
Well? Much better?
R+R? :)