A/N: Gah, that episode tonight! My Faberry shipping heart...then that promo? Holy hell... Dying for next week. Anyway, here's the second half! I also just wanted to say that I've had this story planned out for ages. I have pages and pages outlining how it's going to go from beginning to end. Yes, it is long. Yes, there is a point to all of it. If you see stuff that's paralleling more recent Glee things, it's entirely by accident. Most of this story was written months ago. *shrug* :) Hope you continue to enjoy it!
Chapter 12: There Goes the Rug
"It has got to be disgusting up there."
"Think of the spiders. If we shined a light right there, imagine the amount of cobwebs we'd see."
"I'd rather not, thank you."
"At least the stage is cleaner."
"But what if one of the spiders dropped down in the middle of a performance…"
"QUINN! I don't need nightmares!"
"I'm giving myself nightmares."
"Perhaps we should stop staring at the ceiling then."
She turned her head to the side so she could see Rachel. "What should we stare at then?"
The brunette turned as well and smiled at meeting Quinn's eyes. "This right here isn't so bad."
"Not an eyesore?"
"You're beautiful and you know it."
"Of course I do."
"Do you really?"
Quinn gave her a look that let Rachel know she wasn't going to answer and they were going to drop that line of conversation.
"I'm so full," she moaned and rubbed her stomach.
"I tried to stop you."
"It was all so good though! Charlie's is my weakness. I practically lived there when I was pregnant. If they could have set up a cot for me in the corner, I would have been set. All the guys in there know me by name."
"They should name that sandwich after you."
"Oh, my crowning glory. Who needs Prom Queen when I've got a deli sandwich with my name?"
"I'd call it… 'The Bacon Quinn'."
She groaned and gave her an exasperated look. "That is the lamest thing I've ever heard."
"What? I think it's great! In fact, I'll go in there tomorrow and suggest it. After all the business you've given them, surely you deserve it."
"You wouldn't dare!"
Rachel giggled. "It'll be perfect! Your name up there on the board in chalk, I'll make sure they do it in extra bold letters. Multicolored!"
"You better be joking right now."
"Am I?"
"I would never speak to you again."
"I'd be okay with that," she shrugged, "you don't have to talk, as long as we do other things."
Quinn gasped in outrage and Rachel laughed gleefully.
"You are such a tease."
"And you love it."
They laid there in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Rachel was scrutinizing the track lights (off at the moment) while Quinn simply watched her. She had to give herself a small pep talk before she could work up the nerve enough to say it. Turning on her side, she leaned on her elbow and looked down into Rachel's eyes.
"You don't call me enough."
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "We talk on the phone nearly every day."
"Once a day," she corrected her. "Exactly once a day we talk, usually at night. Never more than once. And you text me three times a day. No more, no less. Even if it means not replying, you won't let it go over three."
"You've been counting?"
"What's going on? Why don't you call me more? Why don't you annoy me?"
"Hold on," Rachel scoffed in disbelief and sat up, leading Quinn to do the same. "Let me get this straight. You're sincerely asking me why I don't call you so often that it starts to annoy you?"
"I want to call you all the time," she huffed. "I always want to talk to you, but you're so standoffish sometimes. You…you weren't like that with the others."
"The others?"
"Finn…Jesse…even Puck."
She started to get uncomfortable. "Quinn, I don't-"
"Is it me?" she pressed. "Do you just not feel that way with me? You practically owned their phones with how much you blew them up. But you're not like that with me. I can handle the truth, okay? I just want to know."
Rachel looked almost…amused. How was this in any way funny?
"So what you're saying is that you want me to badger you incessantly with phone calls, emails, text messages, handwritten notes, and baked goods with handwritten notes in them, until you're severely irritated and feel like I'm smothering you?"
"Yes!" she cried and then thought about it. "Well, no. Actually, yes. I don't know! I just mean… I want more."
I want you to need me like I need you.
But she couldn't say that.
Rachel flung herself into Quinn's arms, causing the girl to fall backwards onto the pillows, and knelt over her, giggling madly.
"Quinn! You have absolutely no idea how difficult it has been to contain myself, to ignore practically my every instinct in an effort not to scare you away. I didn't want to make the same mistakes as I have in the past so I put a limit on the number of times I was allowed to contact you within in a twenty four hour period. No matter how much I wanted to call or text you, I would resist because I…I have to break my bad habits."
Then there was that sad smile on her face that Quinn hated to see. It was the same one she had after Finn would say something stupid and hurtful. It was the one she had when she felt ashamed.
"I don't want you to get sick of me," she said quietly.
"Rachel…" she sat up and wrapped her arm around her waist, pulling her close so that the girl was sitting on her lap, "I don't think I can ever be sick of you."
"Don't say that," she shook her head, looking away.
"But I mean it," she insisted and cupped her cheek, gently urging her to meet her eyes. She did so hesitantly and Quinn smiled up at her.
How can I tell you all that you are? How can I make you understand?
"Don't ignore those instincts anymore. I-I want it. Okay?"
Rachel kissed her fiercely.
When they finally left each other to continue the rest of the day, it wasn't a minute before Quinn's phone vibrated.
I'm worried you'll regret this.
I might.
That's not comforting.
Honesty is the best policy. Aren't you always the one telling me that?
Fine. But is it possible for you to be honest as well as reassuring?
I'll work on it.
There was a few minutes break and she tried to pay attention to her teacher in the front of the class, but her mind was stuck on Rachel. Quinn wondered if she would reply or if she should say something else. But then another message came.
I miss you already.
She smiled to herself, feeling giddy and warm all over. This was turning out better than she ever thought. Why hadn't she said something to Rachel sooner? Too chicken, of course. It scared her to think of what it might have meant otherwise. All this time she'd been afraid that Rachel just didn't share her feelings completely – that Quinn was just her rebound. She was slowly starting to understand that it wasn't that at all.
Next year we should make sure all of our classes are together.
Do not joke about things like that with me, Quinn Fabray. I'll do it. I'll break into the office with Puckerman and hack into the computer system if necessary.
She giggled at the mental image that conjured. Rachel and Puck in ninja gear, ski masks, picking the lock into the school, bickering when Puck decides he wants to super glue the secretary's desk shut… Then she tried to cover it by coughing when she got some looks from people in the class.
No joke. Physics will be much more tolerable if I have you for a lab partner.
I'll start working on it immediately! We might have to bribe some people in the office…I'll discuss it with Noah. Leave it to me!
Her teacher was giving them an assignment so Quinn stopped for a few minutes to write it down. When the woman went back to lecturing, she went back to her phone. It took her a few moments of tapping anxiously on the keyboard before she finally typed out what she wanted to say.
Was it what you wanted? Even though I yelled at you at first?
Her stomach rolled and her palms grew damp as she waited for a response. What was taking her so damn long? Quinn rapped her fingernails on the desk, brimming with nervous energy. The boy next to her gave her an annoyed look and she glared at him so fiercely, he cowered and turned away, not looking at her for the rest of the period. Finally she had a reply.
It was wonderful (even with the yelling). I knew it would be. It's you.
Quinn breathed in deeply and the anxiety melted away. She hadn't ruined it. Rachel was happy. Everything was okay.
I still feel so full. I might throw up.
Maybe next time you'll listen to me!
Oh, don't nag.
Shhh. I can't talk anymore. Mr. Grayson is glaring at me. I think he knows.
Did no one teach you how to text under the desk?
I'm trying! It's not like I ever do this with anyone… I should be paying attention to the lesson!
But you'd rather talk to me.
Always... It seems there is little I wouldn't do for you Miss Fabray.
I'll remember that.
And I'm sure you'll make me regret it.
Quinn thought for a few seconds about her next message.
Are your Dads going to be home tonight?
No, actually. I think they have a work function to attend.
Can I come over? Do our homework together?
Are you really going to let me get any homework done?
She smiled widely and covered her mouth with her hand so her teacher didn't get suspicious, which she likely already was.
Cross my heart.
Liar.
Her silly grin was giving her away. She'd been right about her teacher being suspicious. The woman was glaring at her now with that look on her face like she was going to try and take her phone. Well, that wasn't happening on any planet. Quinn was the Captain of the Cheerios. None of the teachers messed with her unless they wanted the wrath of Sue Sylvester upon them. But this particular woman would at least put up a fight.
Crap. Mrs. Farnessi is coming over. I can't talk anymore.
Did no one teach YOU how to text under the desk?
Nag!
Bacon Quinn.
Quinn went to Rachel's straight from practice. She brought a change of clothes and showered while Rachel made them dinner. Rather, she ordered take out. It was easier since Quinn was absolutely against all the vegan options Rachel had made her try so far. She knew the girl was going to keep trying though so she'd just have to put up with it.
They ate at the dining room table and Rachel got to play footsie with her like she had wanted to that night at Breadstix. It was silly and perfect. They couldn't stop laughing.
After dinner, the diva was adamant about them starting their homework, since it was already getting late, and Quinn reluctantly agreed. She settled herself at Rachel's desk while Rachel was on her bed, books opened, papers everywhere. It was quiet, which had annoyed Quinn the first few times they tried doing homework together. She liked having music on in the background, but Rachel was a firm believer in radio silence during academic work because music was distracting. It's the one place in life music didn't belong, she explained, which shocked Quinn because Rachel sometimes acted like music could cure cancer if you tried hard enough. She could find a purpose for it anywhere…except during homework apparently.
They'd argued about it, Quinn saying she couldn't concentrate without it, Rachel saying that was contradictory because it was actually a distraction. In the end, Rachel claimed the right to set the rules in her house. Quinn couldn't refute and begrudgingly gave in. She was starting to get used to it by now…though it was still annoying.
"You don't kiss me enough."
Quinn stopped in the middle of a sentence on her history assignment and looked up at the ceiling to consider whether or not she heard that right. Yep, she definitely heard right. Putting down her pen, she swiveled around in the chair to fixate on the brunette who was staring right back at her, sitting upright, legs folded underneath her, homework forgotten.
"Excuse me?" she said pointedly with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I didn't mean it quite like that," Rachel backtracked.
"I should think not."
"We kiss often."
"Uh, yes."
"But you don't…" she trailed off and blushed slightly, which piqued Quinn's curiosity all the more. She rolled the chair closer to the bed.
"What?"
"While I am perfectly content with our current situation-"
"I hate that word," she said sullenly.
Rachel held her hands up apologetically. "I'll rephrase. I'm not complaining in any way, shape, or form, but…I do feel as though our level of physical intimacy has receded somewhat."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't get defensive. Just hear me out."
Quinn crossed her arms in a decidedly defensive manner, which made Rachel give her an exasperated look.
"Let me preface this with the understanding that I am not ready to give myself to you fully in that way. That's not what this about."
"Okay…"
"But before we made our relationship official, we were further along…i-in our familiarity with each other. Yet ever since we decided to be together, it hasn't been like that anymore - which I find completely backwards."
Her mouth dropped open. "You think we don't do enough?"
"No! Maybe. I don't know," she said bashfully. "It's just…we were doing more, Quinn, and now, although it's wonderful, please don't misunderstand me, whenever we have time together it's been relatively tame compared to what we were engaging in before. With the exception of that janitor's closet interlude, hands have always remained in respectable places, clothing is never removed. Again, please know that I'm not dissatisfied in any way with where we are, but I would like to understand why it's…"she shifted apprehensively, "changed."
Quinn was really just trying to wrap her head around the fact that they were actually having this conversation.
"I-I wasn't thinking about it before."
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she knew she had said the wrong thing. Rachel immediately lowered her head, looking absolutely wounded, as if Quinn had just said she resembled a bug or something.
"So now that you actually have to think about doing things to me, you don't want to?"
She was momentarily distracted by the mention of "doing things" to Rachel.
God, what she would give to…
"Quinn!" she snapped, aggravated at seeing the glazed over look in her eyes, thinking she wasn't paying attention.
"I didn't mean it like that and you know it," she replied seriously. "It's just…different now. That's all."
"I can't help but feel like your attraction to me has lessened."
She rolled her eyes. "Now you're being ridiculous."
"My feelings are hardly a thing to be ridiculed, Quinn."
She adjusted herself in the chair uneasily, uncrossing her legs and bringing her arms down to grip both sides of the seat. She needed to hold on to something right now.
"When I say things are different, I mean that there's more at stake. We…we're…I don't want to rush it. I wasn't thinking before, just doing. I was doing things that I wasn't even ready for. I was so…confused. I had all these feelings and I just wanted to get rid of them so-"
"You thought grinding against me while we were on a piano was going make it go away?" Rachel replied incredulously.
Quinn blushed at the memory. "I wasn't thinking!"
"You were just doing…" she repeated with a nod, starting to understand. "You were acting on your repressed urges without allowing yourself to comprehend them fully."
"Yes?" she admitted reluctantly, uncomfortable with hearing her say it so…clinically, like she was some textbook case of repressed gaydom.
"I see. So if we were to take things a step further now, you would be uncomfortable with that, because you're not ready?"
"No!" she blurted and then turned even redder at how desperate she'd sounded. The other girl looked surprised by her vehement response.
Fix it! Fix it!
"Wait. What do you mean 'a step further'? What exactly are we talking about here?"
Rachel bit her bottom lip with a lascivious grin, letting Quinn know exactly what she meant. The blonde sucked in a breath. Suddenly feeling like the room was much, much too warm.
"I just want us to be comfortable without the pressure," she explained tentatively. "I don't want you to feel pressured… Okay?"
Rachel's eyes widened and Quinn groaned inwardly, knowing she had figured it out.
It was true what she said about going places that even she wasn't ready for in the beginning. She still felt like she didn't know what she was doing, but the night that Rachel had shoved her away always floated somewhere in the back of her mind whenever they were kissing. It was a constant reminder that enabled her to keep her hands where they should be and not where she was dying to let them go. It was why she never let any clothes be shed. It was why, though they got very heated, she didn't let herself go completely because she knew she had to stay in control of her own desires. It had proven itself to be one of the most difficult things she'd ever done.
Staying behind the firmly drawn line with her old boyfriends was easy. She didn't want more. Now things were oh so very different.
She had never experienced such sexual frustration before in her life. She thought she might lose her mind, but every time the chance came for them to just take a step beyond the usual boundaries - that night was in her head again, the hands pushing her away, the way she trembled with her naked back to her.
Quinn would never forget it.
"Is that what this is about?" Rachel murmured, her shoulders drooping in relief. She'd finally gotten to the root of that tenuous question she'd been battling herself with for weeks now. "That night?" She shook her head. "Baby, you can't keep beating yourself up over that."
"Like I said…" Quinn muttered uncomfortably, staring at the floor, but after a pause, she looked up at the brunette in wonder. "Did you just call me 'baby'?"
She winced. "No?"
Quinn unconsciously wet her lips, marveling at the shiver that went through her to hear Rachel call her that. She'd hated it whenever the guys tried that with her and promptly kicked them of the habit. But when Rachel said it…it was just butterflies in her chest.
She smiled faintly, giving her a wordless answer. "Do I get to say it too?"
Happiness washed over the other girl in a brilliant glow, unwilling and unable to hide a single iota of it.
"If you want to…"
She got up off the bed and promptly straddled her in the desk chair. Quinn looked up at her warily, but Rachel just curled her arms around her neck and wriggled around until Quinn was forced to put her hands on her waist to stop the provocative movement and she smirked triumphantly, having gotten what she wanted.
"While I appreciate your careful consideration of my feelings and not wanting to pressure me, I think in the future we should allow ourselves to be more open about this particular subject. If you had simply spoken with me about your concerns, you would have found out something not altogether surprising."
"What's that?" she asked hoarsely.
Rachel was wearing a skirt that had ridden up almost entirely when she sat down and now a very sensitive area was pressed up against her with only the flimsy material of her panties standing between Quinn and the chance to…
"You would have found out that I'd like just a little less thinking and a lot more doing."
Rachel's mouth descended on hers before she even had a chance to respond.
It's safe to say the physical side of their relationship was progressively back on track after that.
Another few days passed without incident. Other than that encounter with Santana, the Latina seemed hardly interested in them at all. Quinn knew better than to let that lull them into a false sense of security. If Santana couldn't get instant gratification, it only made her more determined to get what she wanted. She may have a temper, but when it came to this sort of thing, she was an expert hunter, knowing just how long to wait, how to crouch down unseen, wait for the perfect moment to strike for the kill. If Quinn hadn't been so focused on Santana and keeping her fellow cheerleader off the scent, maybe she would have been able to prevent what happened next.
"No, no, no, you stay away from that phone, Quinn Fabray!"
Quinn was on her stomach reaching for her purse from the bed.
"I was just going to check- OOF!"
Rachel ambled on top of her, reaching over her, and snatched the cell phone away. Quinn tried to fight back, but the brunette had her pinned, holding her down with one hand and the phone in the other.
"Get off me!"
"No phones!"
Rachel leaped off her and ran for the window, she threw it open and held the phone out over the ledge. Quinn gasped in horror.
"What are you doing?" she shrieked.
"We agreed! No texting or talking to other people when we're alone together. Our time is limited so we make the most of it."
"If you drop that, I swear to God, Berry…" she growled.
"Are you going to keep your promise?"
"You're holding my cell phone hostage!"
"WELL?"
"Fine! I won't look. Jeez. I was only going to check my messages. Give it back!"
"Rachel?" a man called from downstairs.
Quinn's eyes went wide in a panic.
"In my room, Dad!"
"I thought you said they wouldn't be home before nine!" Quinn squeaked.
"They weren't," Rachel replied, "But it's okay, Quinn. It's not like you're not allowed to be… what are you doing?"
The blonde had stuck her head out the window.
"I'm looking to see if there's a way I can climb down. Maybe that ledge there…I could drop down…"
Rachel grabbed her by the waist and yanked her away from the window. "Don't you dare! Are you crazy? You could kill yourself. What do you think is going to happen if they know you're here? Open season?"
There were footsteps on the stairs. Quinn didn't say a word and bolted for the bathroom, disappearing just in time before Leroy opened the door.
"Hey, sweetie, we're home early. Brought some dinner for you. Better come down before it gets cold."
"Thanks, Dad." She smiled. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
He closed the door again and Rachel looked towards the bathroom disapprovingly. She went in to let her crazed girlfriend know that the coast was clear, but she was still going to have to face her fathers when she went downstairs. But Quinn wasn't there. Baffled at first, Rachel checked behind the door - still no one. The room was empty. Then she saw that the shower curtain was drawn.
Oh, she couldn't be serious…
Rachel pushed the curtain back and there was Quinn, standing sheepishly in the stall.
"He's gone?"
She folded her arms across her chest. "Baby, I think we're going to have to have a real conversation about this."
"What?" she tried nonchalantly.
"You are in the shower, fully clothed, hiding from my father."
"So? What if he checked the bathroom? He could have seen me."
"This is getting out of hand!"
Quinn shook her head and reached out to grab the front of Rachel's shirt, pulling lightly.
"What?"
"Come in here," she said mischievously, pulling harder.
"In the shower? What? Why?"
Quinn didn't answer and just wrapped her arms around her, dragging her in, despite Rachel's protests.
"This is silly!"
"Shhh," she said and backed them both up till Quinn was pressed up against the cool tile. Her hands slipped downwards to firmly grasp Rachel's ass and she pulled her in close to stand between her legs, finding her lips eagerly. Rachel responded instinctively, cupping her cheeks in both hands, and let herself lean into the blonde heavily. She felt so good… Their breasts flattened against each other; she could feel the heat coursing between them, hardened nipples straining rigidly through her bra.
Rachel delved into the waiting mouth with her tongue, stroking just so. Her skin flushed at Quinn's touch, she was already panting. Quinn moaned when she ran her hands down to her waist to push her harder against the tile, brushing past the sides of her breasts for all too brief contact. Rachel gasped when the blonde thrust her hips against her and covered her neck with scorching, open mouthed kisses. She moved against her almost desperately to seek that coveted relief that she seemed to be cursed to never find. Quinn's sweet, talented tongue dragging across her bare skin made Rachel throb with the thought of what it could do elsewhere. Quinn smirked and yanked the curtain closed behind them.
"I thought this was supposed to happen when we were naked…with water," Rachel gasped.
"Next time," she said, squeezing her tighter and kissing her harder. "It is the proper way after all."
"I wonder if we can consider that an improvement," Rachel mused as she fixed her hair in front of the mirror, undoing Quinn's handiwork.
The blonde spun around with a glare.
"Improvement? Are you insinuating something?"
"We've gone from you hiding in the closet to hiding in the shower," she explained nonchalantly, still fussing with her hair. "Would that be considered a lateral move or perhaps a small step up?"
Quinn snorted. "Oh, funny."
Rachel smirked at herself in the mirror. "I thought so."
Her phone was on the vanity and as soon as it was in her hand, Quinn's indignant cries filled the room.
"You're leaving," she reasoned. "The rules don't apply now."
"You threatened to throw mine out the window!" Quinn shot back furiously.
"You weren't leaving then."
She growled. "Well, I'm glad I'm leaving now!"
"No, you're not," Rachel said mildly.
"Oh, yes I am!" she insisted.
"What are you going to do? Try to sneak past them? Just go and say hello, Quinn. That's all. It won't be the end of the world."
"And you can swear to that?"
"On Barbra herself."
She rolled her eyes. "You better be coming with me. I'm not going down there alone."
"Just one second, I wanted to see…" she trailed off.
Quinn was busy getting her things together so it took her a few moments to notice how quiet Rachel had gone.
"Something wrong?" She turned around to see the girl a sickly shade of pale as she sat on the bed staring at her phone. "Rach? Rachel? What is it? What's wrong?"
She didn't answer, only looked up at Quinn with pure horror.
"What is it?" she almost yelled, panicking now, and took the phone away from her to see what had gotten Rachel so spooked. She saw the headline in big bold letters.
BREAKING NEWS AT MCKINLEY HIGH: HBIC QUINN FABRAY CHEERS FOR THE OTHER TEAM – SPOTTED TANGLING TONGUES WITH FELLOW GLEE CLUBBER RACHEL BERRY.
She didn't have to read the rest of the blog post. That was enough. The phone slipped out of her hands.
"Quinn…" Rachel whispered, "Quinn, it's going to be alright. Jacob makes up rumors all the time… no one will think anything of it."
She sounded so far away.
How could he have found out? They were so careful!
No. That was a lie.
They were reckless, increasingly so. Dozens and dozens of stolen moments whirled through her head. Which time had he caught them? Which one had been the fatal shot? She was so stupid! She knew better than that and yet she had allowed herself to be lulled into a false sense of security, because of Rachel…always because of Rachel…for Rachel.
Oh, God! What was she going to do? It would be rampant through the school tomorrow, the words on everyone's tongue. For as loathed as Jacob Ben Israel was, everyone still read his blog. Quinn Fabray…a lesbian. It was over. She was finished. Her parents…they would know before the day was out. Her mother for certain, her father not long after. Rumors of this nature in Lima spread much further than the deceptively solid walls of McKinley High. The entire town would be whispering her name again; the shamed daughter of Russell and Judy Fabray had not only gotten herself knocked up at sixteen, but she was gay. What she would face now…
Was she breathing? She was certain she wasn't breathing. Her body felt cold, trembling, as if she were ill. She certainly felt ill. Her world was crashing down around her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Again. This was happening again. How could she let it come to this? She had sworn she would never let herself be here again. How could she be so stupid? WHY?
A warm touch startled her. There was the distinct pressure of someone trying to hold her. Quinn looked down to realize that Rachel was tentatively trying to take her into her arms. Dread. Disgust. Fear. Loathing. Hatred. All of it made her stomach lurch.
"Don't touch me!" she cried, shoving her back.
"Quinn…" her voice trembled fearfully, pleadingly.
"Just don't freaking touch me."
How to get out of here? How to leave this oppressive place? How to get as far away as possible from the teary eyed girl standing before her? She didn't want to look at her. She didn't want to see her face. She wanted to be a hundred thousand miles away from her and even then it would not feel enough. Away. Just get away.
Her feet moved before her mind could catch up and Quinn was already to the front door, ignoring the calls of the men behind her.
She was driving much too fast without seeing hardly anything. Her hands were cold and clammy against the steering wheel. Then she couldn't see anything at all. In one heart lurching moment, she swerved off the road. The bright beams of her headlights carried off into some endless blackness where she had stopped. Next to some fucking cornfield. In fucking Lima. In fucking Ohio. Quinn turned off the ignition, leaving her without a light, ripped off her seatbelt, grabbed her phone, and flung the door open to get out.
There was no one on the road right now. It was past 10 o'clock. Lima was dead by 8. She was alone in the pitch dark, no moonlight to speak of, stranded by an empty cornfield.
It took some time for her fumbling fingers to get to his number. Then it was ringing. Once. Twice. By the third ring she was screaming for him to answer it as if that would help somehow.
"Hey," came that familiar voice.
"WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING PICK UP YOUR PHONE?"
"Whoa! Whoa! Hold up. Wha-"
"ARE YOU ALONE?"
"Uh, yes?"
She clenched her teeth, hissing now, "Sam, I'm not dicking around, so help me God. Are. You. Alone?"
"Yes! I swear! What's going on? You sound-"
"Did you tell anyone about us breaking up?"
"Um, no..." he replied apprehensively. "Not really anyone's business. Besides, I'm still kind of having trouble believing it myself so…"
Quinn tried to remember to breathe. Her lungs felt as though they would burst.
"Remember when you said to ask if there was anything I needed?"
"What happened, Quinn?" His tone grew serious, in that gentle, but constant way he always had about him.
She furiously fought back the tears clouding her vision. "T-that perverted Jewfro outed Rachel and me on his blog. It'll be all over school tomorrow."
She heard him mutter a few choice curses that didn't even compare to the ones that were running through her own mind right now.
Then it had to be said. No cushioning it.
"You have to be my boyfriend again."
"WHAT?" he yelped so loudly into the phone, she winced when it pierced her eardrum.
Quinn hurried to explain, terse and unyielding with every word. "If we walk in, hand in hand, affectionate as ever, everyone will see and think he's just making up perverse fantasies again."
"Oh, Quinn, I don't-"
"I need you to do this for me," her voice cracked roughly. "Please. If it gets back to my parents…Sam, you know. I don't have a right to ask you, but I'm doing it anyway. I need you. I-I don't have anyone else."
There were a few moments of silence on the other end. She could only hear his rapid breathing in time with the pounding of her heart. What was this? How did she get here? Standing on the side of the road in the dark, nothing before her, nothing behind her, pathetically begging a boy to save her. Who was she?
"Okay…" he said after what felt like too long and she stifled a sob of relief. It was exactly what she had needed to hear. "Okay, Quinn. You've got me," he said soothingly. "We'll fix this, alright? It's gonna be okay."
"Thank you," she whispered hoarsely. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Her throat was in a painful knot. Everything hurt. "I feel like that's all I ever do with you. Apologize and thank you."
"Ah, it just means you have manners," he said lightly. "Before this, I didn't even know you knew the word 'please'."
"Shut up, Sam."
They agreed that he would pick her up the next morning and they would go in together. Sam tried to get her to talk a little more, but she couldn't stand to. After Quinn hung up, she threw her phone away as hard as she could into the blackness of the field and burst into tears at long last.
