I apologize for any mistakes.
"I'm Mr. Brightside!"
Quinn finds herself flexing her fingers as if she had just been grasping onto something tightly in her sleep. As if, unconsciously, she knew that what she was holding onto would not be there when she awoke.
She stretches her arm out to find the bed cold. She knows she shouldn't have been expecting a warm body at her side. But still, she had been hoping it wouldn't be cold. No evidence left behind of the girl who she had been previously sharing it with.
Quinn heaves a sigh, perhaps a bit dramatically. She should not have gotten her hopes up. She picks up her alarm clock and again, chucks it across the room. Apparently not with enough force though, because all it does is distort Brandon Flowers voice to a creepy register.
"Shut up!" Quinn groans at her alarm clock. She pulls her pillow over her face and screams. Hoping the feathers and fabric will muffle her frustration.
Quinn sits up in bed. Everything is exactly where she expects it to be. Coffee is brewing. There will be exactly enough shampoo for her. Brandon Flowers continues to croon through the broken speakers of her alarm. Nothing is different. Quinn Fabray is ready to change that.
Three months later
"It's been 3 months Q." Santana huffs taking a seat next to Quinn in the cafeteria. The Latina furrows her brow, her lips silently mouthing numbers "Maybe more. I don't know."
"I know how long it's been." Quinn replies, staring longingly over at Rachel who is busy having a conversation with Brittany. She flails her arms dramatically in the air, speaking in a heated rush. Brittany is trying her best to calm the diva.
"Well then what are we going to do?" Santana asks, shoving her best friend impatiently. Quinn ignores her and continues to watch Rachel gesticulate wildly. Occasionally she points over at Quinn, but she never looks her way. Quinn sighs.
"How am I supposed to know?" Quinn replies, a bit defeated. Santana is right, they have been living in this continuous loop for far too long and by the looks of things, it may just continue that way.
"I don't know! But you could at least pretend that you care! I've hardly seen you!" Santana really doesn't have it in her to throw her usual insults. She feels her sanity slowly slipping away.
"Don't blame me for this." Quinn argues finally tearing her attention away from Rachel.
"You're not even trying! You spend all your time trying to make out with Berry again!" Santana may have said this a bit too loudly, but at this point she doesn't care. Even if rumors spread they'll be gone by the time she wakes up again.
"Don't pretend like you don't spend all your time having sex with Brittany. I think you guys have done it in every classroom here." Quinn grimaces at the memories. She's walked in on her best friends at least a dozen times.
"Twice." Santana smirks. "All we need is Figgins office one more time and-"
"Stop. please." Quinn begs, hiding her face in her hands.
"What was she thinking?" Rachel screeches. The whole cafeteria turns their attention to the diva. Brittany has the good sense to pull her away to a more private location.
"In her defense you should not have just gone up and kissed her." Santana informs her best friend.
"You're defending Rachel?" Quinn implores, confused.
Though she knows Santana has a point. Quinn really can't be blamed though, not after Rachel was looking at her all pouty. She just had to kiss her. Especially since she and Rachel spent a perfect day together the previous day. They had ended the night with Quinn dropping her off at her door, sharing a kiss just before Rachel bid her a good night.
It's all so confusing because Rachel remembers none of this, but Quinn does. All she wants to do is continue the day where they left off, but of course, this curse or whatever, will not allow it.
"I'm losing my mind." Santana defends. "How many times have you guys kissed since all of this started?" Santana asks, probably wanting to change the subject before she reveals that she is growing fond of Rachel.
"Counting this morning?" Quinn asks her friend, her fingers trace over her lips softly.
"She slapped you. Yea, counting today." Santana chuckles slightly. She had witnessed the slap this morning, even though she knows Rachel has slapped her 3 times in the last three months. All because Quinn kissed her. She was finally able to witness it
"17" Quinn smiles softly, because even if 4 of those kisses resulted in a slap. 2 of them in Rachel running away and ignoring her for the rest of the day. And 1 case of her running away then coming by for dinner to pick up where they left off. 10 of them had been completely mutual and had not come as a surprise. 5 of them Rachel had been the one to lean in.
"You dog." Santana teases her friend bumping her shoulder lightly. Quinn chuckles, thinking back on her 6th kiss with Rachel.
One month and 28 days ago
"Thank you for coming with me today." Rachel thanked the blonde as they stepped out of the local shelter just having finished up helping Ms. Pilsberry serve dinner.
"Thanks for inviting me." Quinn replied honestly. She had been surprised when Rachel had come up to her after school to invite her to help serve dinner at the local homeless shelter.
It was cold outside and Rachel had forgotten her sweatshirt in her car. She was shivering, hugging her arms around herself.
"Here." Quinn didn't even need to think about removing her cheerios letterman to hand over to Rachel.
"No." Rachel refused between chattering teeth. "You'll be cold."
Quinn shook her head and draped it Rachel's shoulder before she could argue.
"I'm naturally warm blooded." Quinn told her, though she could already feel the effects of the cold night air. "Haven't you heard? I'm hot!" Quinn joked. Rachel bumped her hip against Quinn's and laughed.
"And humble!" Rachel shook her head then frowned when she realized they had reached her car, drawing their night to an end.
"You know, the polite thing to do..." Quinn began once she noticed Rachel's frown. "Is to buy me a hot cocoa after I so kindly offered you my coat."
"Such a gentleman." Rachel teased. She only contemplated what Quinn said for a minute before looking up at the coffee shop across the street.
"It would be rude of me really, if I didn't." Rachel agreed before offering her arm to Quinn.
"Shall we?" She asked, nodding over to the Lima Bean. Lucky for Lima there were 3 of them.
"Who's the gentleman now?" Quinn asked, taking Rachel's arm gratefully. The girls chuckled as they crossed the street.
They had both ordered hot cocoa's. And Quinn had ended up paying for them both. Rachel complained about it, but Quinn noticed the girl looked flattered by the gesture.
"Next time, I get to buy it." Rachel had told her once they were halfway back to their cars, sipping at their drinks.
"You want their to be a next time?" Quinn asked, slipping her hand into Rachel's like it was the most natural thing in the world. Rachel grasped it back in the same way. It always marveled Quinn when this happened. Because for Quinn, they had held hands more than a dozen times by that point, but Rachel didn't know that. So of course it would feel natural for Quinn. Not for Rachel. But apparently, it did.
"Don't you?" Rachel asked, of course she knew the answer to that. Especially because it had been Quinn to slip her hand into Rachel's. She just wanted to hear it. Quinn knew this, she had done it a couple times and every time, Quinn would indulge her.
"Only if there is a time after that. And a time after that. And a time after that." Quinn told her with a smile. They had reached Rachel's car. Now they really had to part ways. If Quinn had her calculations correct(and by this point, she did) Rachel's parents would call in 15 minutes asking here where she was.
"You'll get sick of me." Rachel had said it like it was a joke, but Quinn knew there were many insecurities laced behind that one statement. So Quinn stepped right in front of her, a breath away, eyes locked, one hand holding Rachel's, the other wrapped around her drink.
"Never." Quinn whispered in a promise. Rachel searched Quinn's eyes, looking for any indication that she was lying, but apparently she did not find it because she stood on her toes, wrapped her arms around Quinn's neck (Careful as to not spill her drink) and pulled her in for a kiss. It had been the first one Rachel had initiated. Quinn wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist and kissed back eagerly.
Rachel was the one to pull away and only because her phone vibrated in her pocket.
"Hi daddy." Rachel answered with a blush. Quinn shook her head. Dammit Hiram, why did he have to go an call 10 minutes ahead of schedule?
"Yes, I'm actually leaving now." Rachel mouthed 'sorry' to Quinn at this. The blonde heaved a sigh, but nodded. "Ok, see you soon. Bye." Rachel hung up her phone, beginning to pull off Quinn's lettermen jacket.
"No. Take it with you. It's cold." Quinn argued, placing a hand on Rachel's. Stilling her movements.
"Thank you." Rachel whispered. She was unsure of how to proceed. So Quinn leaned in and pecked Rachel, surprising the diva slightly.
"I like how it looks on you." Quinn told her. "Text me when you get home ok?" Rachel nodded. It seemed she couldn't find words. Quinn watched Rachel get in her car, feeling a little upset that Rachel said nothing about the kiss.
"Quinn!" Rachel called out before the blonde could retreat to her own vehicle. The blonde turned around to see the diva had lowered her window. She beckoned her with a curl of her index finger.
The blonde wasn't one to disobey. She leaned down, sticking her face into the vehicle. Rachel reached her hand to Quinn's neck, pulling her in for a kiss.
"I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, Rachel drove off.
Quinn glanced down at her hot cocoa, she had half left, but she much rather have the taste of Rachel Berry on her lips. So she tossed it in a trash can and headed home.
The next morning when she had woken up to the sound of The Killers, her heart had broken a little bit. But she also knew that she could make each day as good as that one.
"Sorry Quinn." Brittany interrupted Quinn's memory, taking a seat next to Santana.
"Hmm?" Quinn hums, not having heard the first part.
"She said Rachel's still pissed." Santana clarifies for her best friend.
"Yeah. I shouldn't have just kissed her like that." Quinn knows she was in the wrong for assaulting Rachel in that way, but she's unsure of the etiquette for these situations.
"Has she ever reacted this badly?" Brittany asks her fellow blonde. Brittany seems more confused than usual because she swears Rachel 'totally wanted to get her sweet lady kisses on'. It's not like Quinn is unaware that there is a sort of mutual attraction or else they wouldn't have already shared 17 kisses.
"Yeah, the second time she slapped me." Quinn told them.
Two months and 16 days ago
Quinn had found herself in the choir room. She wasn't an expert on the piano but Rachel had given her a couple of rudimentary lessons and she could now at least play her personal favorite: La vie en rose.
"What are you doing in here all alone?" Rachel called out from the doorway. She strode into the choir room, but instead of taking a seat next to Quinn on the piano bench, she stood at the opposite end. It should have been her first clue, really.
"I just needed some space." Quinn told her. She was unable to stop the slushie attack on Sam today, but she had managed saving Rachel from slipping and concussing herself.
"I came in here to thank you." Rachel blurted out, then blushed. "I mean for helping me." Quinn smiled, her fingers playing the soft melody.
"It was no problem. You didn't have to go looking for me." Quinn told her, stilling her fingers to look up at her.
"I didn't have to look. I heard the music." Rachel informed her. Quinn frowned and stood from the bench.
"You still didn't have to thank me." Quinn told her, taking a step closer to the diva.
"My fathers taught me to always-" Before Rachel could finish, Quinn leaned in and pressed her lips to Rachel's. The diva had responded for a moment before pulling away and slapping the blonde.
"What are you doing?" Rachel spluttered, taking a step away from the blonde. Quinn tried not to look too wounded, but she couldn't help it.
"I-I-I." Quinn really didn't have an appropriate response or an excuse. What was she supposed to say? You looked like you needed CPR?
"Is this some kind of joke to you?" Rachel asked, her eyes frantically searching around the room. Probably looking for Ashton Kutcher. No Rachel, you have not just been punk'd.
"Who do you think you are?" She screeched. "Is Santana going to pop out of nowhere and throw slushie balloons at me? Or is she just going to drop a bucket of pigs blood on me?" Rachel looked up at the ceiling, slightly horrified, expecting to find said bucket.
"It's not like that." Quinn shook her head fervently.
"It's not?" Rachel barked, livid. "Then tell me Quinn! What is it? You're not going to tell me that in the span of 24 hours you suddenly realized you had feelings for me! That's rich! If you're going to prank me, at least come up with something believable."
"Rachel, just-"
"I can't believe you Quinn. This is low." Quinn was finally able to see what was really bothering Rachel. She thought that Quinn liking her was absurd. And the blonde had gotten her hopes up. Rachel had it all wrong though. Quinn did have feelings for her, but Quinn would not have the opportunity to tell Rachel this.
"It's cruel. I didn't know you were capable of this." Rachel proceeded to perform her infamous storm out. She ignored the blonde for the rest of the day.
"Damn." Santana whispers sympathetically.
"I'm sorry." Brittany tells her friend. Quinn shrugs.
"But she's got it all wrong. I don't even like Carrie. Though...I think she may be onto something with the slushie balloons." Santana takes on a very pensive, slightly evil, conniving, look.
"I think you two might be looking at this all wrong." Brittany changes the subject suddenly.
"Looking at what baby?" Santana asks, leaning her head on Brittany's shoulder. Brittany wraps her arm around Santana.
"I mean as cool as living the same day over and over again is. I think you guys should do something to move on." Brittany informs them. Quinn stares at her friend with a blank expression. Is she kidding?
"Really San. I don't get to remember any of the places we've-" Before Brittany can finish that sentence, Quinn cuts in.
"You think we're not trying?" Quinn asks, slightly frustrated. Santana glares at her.
"Are you?" Brittany asks, unsure.
Quinn can't help but feel slightly offended by this. Brittany must sense this because she continues.
"From what you guys have told me all you two are doing is living each day and only do things to make your own life better." Brittany informs them. Santana's mouth opens and closes a couple of times but no sounds come out. Quinn bites her lip, taking in this information.
"Think about it. You guys are still kind of jerks. It seems to me you guys are taking advantage of this to live the best day ever. According to you. San and I get to have sex everywhere and you get to kiss Rachel. How does that help anyone but yourself."
Both girls are silent, taking in this information. Everything Brittany has said is true.
"I think I broke like 50 fairy god mother rules by telling you guys the answer." Brittany looks torn by this.
"Britt you're not our-" Quinn can't finish her sentence because Santana glares at her.
"No you didn't Britt. Sometimes Quinn and I are stupid." Quinn snorts at this, she has never heard Santana admit that she has acted stupid. "And we need someone to nudge us in the right direction."
"But aren't you supposed to figure this stuff out on your own?"
"Ideally, yes. But sometimes someone has to point out you're wrong. Doesn't mean the person is going to change. But if they do-that's when it matters." Santana tells Brittany. Quinn looks at her best friends, impressed. And also slightly envious of their relationship.
"Hey there pretty ladies." Puck announces, joining the girls at their table. Brittany waves enthusiastically at him, Santana nods, and Quinn scoots over to give him a little more room.
"I have a bone to pick with you." Puck tells Quinn, taking her fork and spearing a cucumber from her plate, plopping it into his mouth.
"Me?" Quinn questions, unsure.
"Yeah. You. I don't know what you did to my Berry, but I think you have to apologize." Puck tells her seriously.
"You're right." Quinn nods, not bothering to put up a fight. Puck shakes his head.
"I- what?" Puck looks surprised. "I mean- yeah. I know I am."
"I'm going to go do that now." Quinn stands without needing further instruction.
Meanwhile, Brittany waves over Tina and Mercedes, asking them to join.
"Oh god." Santana groans. "Is this going to be a regular occurrence?"
"Be nice." Brittany pokes Santana in the side. The Latina huffs.
"This is me being nice." She complains.
"Hey Wheezy, toss me a tot." Santana orders. Mercedes looks down at her tray, skeptical. Probably wondering if it's worth sharing, but apparently she finds the situation slightly amusing so she indulges the girl. She tosses it up in the air, allowing Santana to open wide, catching it in her mouth. Artie rolls up just in time to see what is going on and cheer along with the rest of the group.
"It's a start." Quinn nods, admiring the scene.
Now to apologize to Rachel.
First, I would like to apologize for the wait on this chapter, but I was on spring break and was scheduled to work every day, so I was exhausted and had no time. I didn't want to write you guys a half assed chapter. I wanted it to be good. So I hope this lives up to that.
Second, I would like to thank you all for the wonderful reviews, you are all what keep me going. Last chapter got the most reviews I have ever gotten on one chapter. Can we beat it again this time?
Third, or maybe 2.5? I got some mad, mad love on all my other fics, so thank you all so much for that. I'd like to especially thank reliposhxoxo , gllover22, and as always, frida. And all of you really. You all really make my days a little brighter. I will never be able to express how much it means to me that you all take the time to read this and to let me know what you thought of it.
What did you guys think?
Much love, Alex.