80 days left...
Rachel sat sadly in the library. For the first time for as long as she could remember, she had never felt like more of a loser. She sat alone, without books, without any friends, just sitting there, looking at her phone sadly.
She shifted the bedazzled phone between her hands and pondered upon it. She flipped it open. It's been awhile since I've used this, she thought to herself. She shut it with a sigh.
The phone seemed to be mocking her. It lit up every time that she opened it, but it was a blank screen that greeted her. No one was going to call. No one knew to call. Especially her. She laughed sardonically to herself.
"Hey, Manhands, don't go crazy on me now," Santana said as she sat down on the table before Rachel. She crossed her arms and stared at the brunette.
Rachel let out a light laugh. "I am not going crazy," she said as she placed the phone on the table. She looked around. "Where is Brittany?"
"Busy," Santana answered while picking at her cuticles. She picked up the phone and tossed it up and down. Rachel kept her eyes on the pink phone. "So...what were you laughing about, crazy?"
"Don't call me crazy," Rachel said, taking offense to the comment. She snatched the phone from Santana.
"Well, you're the one laughing to yourself. In the library by yourself."
Rachel looked down at the phone.
"Why don't you just tell Quinn your number?" Santana asked as she rolled her neck. "She's had that number for awhile now and I am surprised she hasn't figure out that it was you."
"Well, it's not like she has my number to begin with," Rachel said. "That was the stupid thing I was laughing at. In all the time that I have spent with Quinn, as strange as it sounds, I never gave her my number."
"How did you two talk to each other?" Santana said, not believing that for a second. "That is just impossible for two people to be together for awhile and not have each other's number."
The singer shrugged. "I just never gave it to her. We spent a lot of time together that it never came up. When we did talk, I would call her." She let a smile escape. "And every time I wanted to call her, she wanted to talk to me."
"Wow," Santana drawled. "How did she put up with that?"
"If you are going to be facetious, then please let me beat myself up over this stupid phone, because it is too incredible."
"Incredible?"
"Yes, hard to believe."
"God, Rachel use words like they are supposed to be used."
"Well, that is the definition. It literally means not credible, not believable-"
Santana put a finger against Rachel's lips to silence her.
The sudden touch threw Rachel's focus off track as she stared at the Latina. Santana's dark eyes glowered at her.
"What now?" Rachel asked as she rolled her eyes. Santana didn't say anything and moved into Rachel's personal space. Her warm breath rolled down Rachel's neck. "What are you doing?" Rachel leaned back into her seat as the vampire moved closer.
"Seeing what will happen if I did this." Santana shut her eyes slightly and pursed her lips, moving closer to Rachel's lips.
Rachel's heart pounded inside of her as Santana's lips ghosted hers. The warmth was unexpected.
Suddenly Santana yelped as she was pulled away from Rachel. She rolled over the table and onto the ground with a thud. Rachel felt an arm lift her from the chair, away from Santana.
Rachel whipped her head around to the source of the pull. A flash of blonde and the whiff of lavender filled her sense, leaving her with only one memory.
Quinn stood right behind her. Her arms wrapped around the smaller girl's waist with a stern expression as she stared across the room. Rachel's heart pounded inside of her as she felt Quinn against her body. The enraged warmth enveloped her body.
Santana stood up on the opposite side of the table and breathed out annoyed.
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked, snapping out of her reverie and moving towards the other girl. She felt a tug and fell back into Quinn.
"What now Quinn?" Santana asked, sounding even more annoyed. Her tolerance dropping to nothing as she stood still.
Rachel whipped her head between the two girls. "Quinn...," The blonde didn't say anything to Rachel and kept her attention on Santana.
"Stay away from her," Quinn demanded curtly, not even acknowledging Rachel. The sound of her voice was strained.
"What does it matter?" Santana threw out. "It's not like you even still love her anyways."
Something snapped in Quinn and her grip around Rachel tightened. Rachel winced unnoticeable. "She. Is. Mine," Quinn seethed, her voice dripping with pure venom. "Only mine. If you ever think about touching her again, then I will make sure, you lead a very painful life." Rachel's eyes widened at the uncharacteristic threat.
Quinn was always a graceful goddess. Her eyes, voice, and heart was always so welcoming. Now, she was vindictive and petty; it scared Rachel. Her hazel eyes turned green with jealousy that Rachel had never experience before. All that the brunette could feel was a tug in her heart that continually pulled her closer to Quinn.
The feeling that Quinn was right. She was Quinn's and only Quinn's. Whatever Santana was getting at, it was never going to change her feelings about Quinn.
Santana rolled her eyes. Another challenge rose from the girl. Quinn could barely contain herself, only gripping tightly onto Rachel. "Look Q, no need to get so territorial over Manhands."
Rachel stared at Santana, unsure of what was going on. She found herself staring at the blonde again, now with her arms holding tightly only Quinn. Quinn inched forward and Rachel held her back.
"I am going to say it one more time," Quinn went on. Her voice filled with the same amount of venom. "Rachel is mine." She didn't think twice as she whipped her head to Rachel's. She crashed her lips onto the shorter girl.
Rachel, startled, almost fell back if it wasn't for Quinn's tight grip around her waist. Just like that she felt Quinn's lips against hers. It was an amazing sensation that she remembered from the first time they had ever kissed. The soft, inebriated, tentative kissed that showed Rachel what she had wanted.
Quinn ran her tongue across Rachel's bottom lip. The taste of desire and lust filled her senses as she pressed for more.
As sudden as it started, it had ended. Quinn's warm breath lingered against her lips as they pressed their foreheads together.
Quinn shut her eyes and savored the moment. Her heart had pounded loudly in every single part of her body. The only thing that kept her mind from going out of her mind was Rachel's presence.
"Quinn," Rachel breathed out heavily. Her mind lost into nothingness. Her hands gripped Quinn's arms tightly to keep herself from falling.
"Rachel-"
Rachel shut her eyes tightly and pressed herself against Quinn. Spell or not. Imagination or reality. None of that mattered. For the first time in a long time, Rachel had felt her love against her body. It had been too long that Rachel didn't want to let go.
Quinn smiled and buried her head into the crook of Rachel's neck. The smell of mango and mint filled her nose. Then suddenly, it was gone. Quinn fell forward into the air, barely catching herself from falling.
She whipped her eyes around the room. Rachel was nowhere in sight. There was no one else in the room besides her. The wind wisping through her ears with a distinct sound of laughter. Not even Santana had been there.
She hung her head before walking out of the empty room. She just couldn't understand what had happened.
Rachel found Santana and Brittany on the bleachers. The Latina resting her head on Brittany's lap.
"What was that back there, Santana?" Rachel exclaimed as she pulled Santana's sunglasses off her face.
The vampire was deeply offended as she turned her head towards Brittany's body. The blonde pet Santana affectionately before she could recover. After a few moments, Santana sat up with the same annoyed expression on her face. However, it curled into a smirk as Rachel grew angrier.
"You ran away from her didn't you?" Santana asked.
"She did," Brittany answered. Rachel's jaw dropped. "Don't act surprised, Rachel. You literally pulled a disappearing act on her." Santana gave her a funny look. "She teleported."
"No shit, Berry, you didn't tell me you could do that," Santana said with interest.
"That is not the point!" Rachel growled back at the pair. "Look, what the hell were you doing in there?"
"I was just making a point to you."
"What point could that be?" Her heart pounded inside of her.
"Quinn still loves you, duh."
"Brittany, be nice, its very rare that we find someone so dumb."
Rachel looked aghast. "You-you-" Rachel sputtered without an argument. It made Santana smile deviantly. "You could have told me you were going to do that."
"Where would the fun in that be?"
"This is serious, Santana, not a joke."
"Only you could turn love into a serious topic. Stop it."
"It is. Quinn's life is at stake."
Santana rolled her eyes before falling into the crook of Brittany neck.
"Don't be so flippant about this! She is your best friend!" Rachel yelled as she threw back the sunglasses. "Just because she doesn't want you touching me doesn't mean that she loves me. Nymphs get very territorial and jealous easily."
"Boo-that is stupid. Satyrs are just stupid and don't understand what is going on right before them."
Brittany laughed. "Quinn is in love with you. How hard is that to believe? She doesn't just get protective over anyone. You heard her, you belong to her."
"Seriously," Santana glared. "If she was under your spell do you think that you would be the one subjected to her. I mean, she is staking claims on you."
Rachel stared at the two. It was disbelieving that the two were so receptive to such subtle, emotional signals. She was Rachel Berry, she knew things. She knew more than the average person.
"Oh, Rachel, you don't know more than the average person," Brittany cooed with a smile. "Are we going to need to convince you further that Quinn is in love with you?"
Rachel stared at the pair. How was it possible? How was it possible that Quinn could love her? She had casted a spell for so long. Her music was her spell. She growled in frustration before leaving the smirking Cheerios on the bleachers.
79 days...
"So Rachel just...disappeared? Right in your arms?"
"Yes."
"Were you high?"
"What?!"
"No, seriously, were you high?" Mike repeated as he cupped her cheeks in his hands. His eyes pierced through to hers.
"No!" Quinn slapped his hands away. She fell back into the recliner across from the Asian in a huff. "God, I just don't understand why she keeps pulling away from me." She covered her face with her hands.
"Maybe you aren't trying hard enough?"
"How do I know if I am supposed to be trying?"
"Well, why did you threaten Santana then?"
"I don't like you, do you know that?" Quinn sat up to glare at him.
"What?" Mike shrugged. "It's the truth. You overstepped your own boundaries. You tossed Santana over the table and demanded that Rachel was yours. And then you kissed her. You kissed her!"
"It was a lapse of judgment." Quinn tried arguing but it was no use. She was being ridiculous. Rachel was ridiculous. Mike, Santana, and the Fates were all being ridiculous. "This is stupid."
"No it isn't," Mike rubbed her shoulder soothingly. "You are stupid."
Quinn slapped his hand away. "You suck."
"Look, Quinn, you have two options," he stuck up his index finger. "You can try to get back with Rachel." He stuck up another finger. "Or call this number." He pulled out the card from her purse and held it out to her.
"Mike, if she wont have me then I won't have anyone else," Quinn stated definitively.
Mike's expression turned dark. "Quinn, you're being a stupid, stubborn bitch," Quinn frowned. "Don't you get what will happen if you die? Don't you think that everyone else will be unhappy? I will be bawling my eyes out for you if you died. How is glee going to function? Or the Cheerios? Would you stop being selfish for once and do this for me? Just so that maybe it could buy you time to be with the one you really want."
"I get only one shot at life," Quinn took the card back. "Whoever, I consecrate my marriage to will be the reason that I live. I can't just up and leave them, if I did, I would die anyways."
Mike looked unconvinced. "You belong with someone. If you believe its Rachel, then go get her. Or else, give this number a chance. Because if you are right, then this is a sign; whoever this number belongs to, is your soul mate."
Quinn took the card. Mike was relentless. She was never going to get out of this easily. Then again, maybe he was right. She was looking for her soul mate the whole time. That was the only reason why she was going to get married in the first place, was because she was going to be with her soul mate forever.
Yet, one question she always pushed back into the depths of her mind, fearing its truth: Was Rachel the one?
Was she The One? The One that I've been looking for the whole time.
He saw the look of contemplation in her face. Mike couldn't quite understand it. But he knew what was the right thing for Quinn. He picked up the phone and handed it to Quinn.
"Give this person a shot, you'll know for sure, I swear," Mike promised as he placed the phone firmly into Quinn's hand. "Call her."
Quinn felt her heart jump. It was scary and confusing. Mike got up and walked to the opposite end of the room to give her her privacy.
She looked at the card and felt her heart tug even more. It was that same sensation Quinn had had with Rachel. The rush of uncertainty and falling into infinity with nothing but Rachel's soft hand in hers. She wanted to revel in it but in doing so, she felt as though her heart was betraying Rachel. Her love.
A small cough broke her thoughts. She looked up and saw Mike encouraging her to call. It would not be the end.
Quinn sighed. There was nothing more she could do. She had to call. She took a chance and dialed the number.
Her heart pounded inside of her with an eerie familiarity. The pounding was synonymous to every joyous feeling she had with Rachel. The sheer joy overwhelmed her heart as the phone rang.
A click. Quinn stopped breathing as she heard the response.
"Hello-?"
The sweet and enchanting voice filled her heart with happiness that she covered her mouth to stop the sound of sobbing.
"Hello?"
Quinn shut her eyes and let the tears escape. All doubts were cast aside. The only thing that filled her mind was the sound of Rachel's voice.
"Whoever this is I hope you know that my fathers have connections to the ACLU and this form of stalking will not be tolerated," Rachel lectured threateningly. Quinn choked out a laugh as the tears continued to fall profusely. The sound of crying startled Rachel. "Who is this?" she demanded.
Quinn heaved in a breath as she tried to stop herself from crying. "R-Rachel-" she choked out with a laugh.
A small gasped escaped from Rachel. The blonde laughed even harder.
"Quinn?" Rachel asked as her heart swelled. "Is that you?"
"Yes, yes, yes, you idiot," Quinn answered with her emotions pouring out through the phone. She let the tears fall freely as a smile plastered itself on her face. It's her. It's Rachel.
She glanced up at Mike, who was smiling at her knowingly. She smiled back at him. For the first time in a long time, she didn't even realize how long she hadn't smiled.
"Quinn-is it really you?" Quinn knew Rachel was crying on the other end. Her happiness mirrored Quinn's and they were finally together.
Quinn snapped her thoughts together quickly as she shot up from her seat. Mike looked at the blonde curiously. "I need to see you." She smiled as she looked around for her keys frantically. "I want to see you. To talk."
"Right now?" Rachel asked startled but the spontaneous need.
"Yes, right now," the blonde insisted. She needed to know for sure that this wasn't a dream. "Where are you?"
"I am walking home, just a couple blocks from Mike's house," Rachel answered with a scuffle.
"Okay, I will go find you." Quinn jumped out of her seat and grabbed her jacket. Her heart pounded in her ears as she dropped the phone. She slipped on the jacket with some resistance, taking into consideration her excited state.
"Where are you going?" Mike asked, startled by her sudden burst of life.
"To find my soulmate." Quinn smiled a thousand watt smile. She rushed out of the door. If another second was wasted, Quinn was sure that everything would be just a cruel dream.
The wind brushed by her face, caressing her cheeks as she moved to where her heart was surely pulling her. It was Rachel. It was Rachel. The card was Rachel's. The whole time.
She laughed happily as she walked down the street. Her eyes darted back and forth seeking Rachel. The brunette was nowhere in sight yet but Quinn could feel her presence.
It was indescribable. It was strange and enchanting. She was unsure as to how she was so drawn and connected to the smaller girl. But all Quinn knew was that she still loved Rachel. No matter what, she wanted to be with Rachel. She was going to have Rachel. She was going to be able to have Rachel.
She looked across the street for good measure. She was glad there weren't too many cars after school for a couple of hours. She could see clearly across the vast street.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Quinn shot her attention to the sound of the barking. She watched as an Alaskan Husky trotted towards her with an excited look.
She dropped down to her knees and smiled. "Aw, boy," she scratched the back of his ears generously. Rachel had to be somewhere; she kept her attention on the road. "Where is she? Huh, boy?"
The dog barked excitedly before rushing off. He stopped a few feet ahead and turned his head directing the way.
The blonde followed closely behind. She could feel her heart flutter with joy as she felt Rachel's presence closer. The dog had disappeared somehow but it had led her far enough.
"Quinn!"
Quinn jerked her head to the sound of Rachel's voice. The brunette was out of breath as she stood on the other side of the street. She smiled sweetly to her and waved like they had just met for the first time. Quinn was elated as she rushed across the street to Rachel.
Rachel's smile contorted into fear as Quinn moved closer. The blonde stopped moving without evening realizing it. The last thing she could hear was Rachel's voice screaming her name over the screeching sound of rubber on the pavement.