Author's Note: Last chapter everyone. I'm so glad to finally be done with this. I'm really happy with how it came out though and I hope you all enjoyed it too.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Lea Michele and Dianna Agron, for creating such vibrant characters with so much chemistry.
Eleven
Chapter 11: In a Book or Something...
By the time Rachel had finished brushing her hair, the sun had risen in the sky and any lights that remained on in Quinn's place had become superfluous. When the two exited the steamy bathroom, besides instantly becoming comfortably cool, they turned off all the lights.
"I like to sing." Rachel said as she pulled her shirt over her head.
"Really?"
Rachel nodded, sorting through the stuff on the couch looking for her panties.
"You don't need to put them on." Quinn said.
"I'd like to."
"Is it because of me?"
"I just don't wanna be naked."
"Okay." Quinn pulled out a carton of orange juice. She took out two glasses and placed them next to the half-full beer bottle from hours ago. She poured a lot for herself and filled Rachel's glass halfway. She took a quick sip and set the both down on the coffee table.
"Thanks." Rachel smiled at Quinn before grabbing Quinn's glass. Quinn almost said something but stopped herself.
"Are you good?"
"What?"
"At singing."
"Oh! Yes. I mean…my vocal range is quite large and I like to think I have a beautiful voice. Everyone tells me so."
"I'd love to hear you sing sometime."
Rachel beamed, finally finding her panties and slipping them on. "I'll perform you a private concert one day."
"What else about you?"
Rachel shrugged. "Music is my life. I do really well in school though."
Quinn nodded, before returning to the kitchen. "What would you like for breakfast?" she called as she pulled open the fridge.
"Erm…what's on the menu?"
Quinn's eyes gazed over her food. "Not much vegan friendly…is the fruit still out there?"
Rachel's eyes darted to the bowl on the coffee table. "Yeah."
"Bring it in here, I'll put it back in the fridge and it'll be good in a little bit." By the time she finished her sentence Rachel was beside her, bowl in hand. Quinn grabbed it and returned it to its original resting place.
"I'm sorry I don't have anything for you." The blond closed the fridge and crossed her arms. She leaned against the appliance and looked at the brunette.
"It's alright…why don't we go out for breakfast?"
"Whatever you want, babe." Quinn said as she stepped forward and pulled Rachel's head to her lips, kissing the brunette's forehead.
"I want to pay."
"No…"
"Yes."
"You still have to pay me, remember? You can't afford to take me out."
"How much do I owe you?"
"I am sorry, the Quinn Fabray National Bank doesn't open until nine a.m. Until such time I am unable to provide any information regarding any bank debts or claims or whatever the fuck your problem is." Rachel laughed in the girl's arms.
"You should've been a comedian."
"I would have to have done black comedy. My life's a tragedy."
Rachel squeezed Quinn. "I would have made it better."
"You will make it better."
Rachel nodded.
"You have made it better."
Rachel smiled and buried her face deeper into Quinn's embrace.
"Let's get ready for out breakfast date. Where do you wanna go?"
"Mmm…there's this diner I've been going to for a long time that has a ton of good food. Naturally there's some vegan-friendly food there."
"Sounds good. Get your shit together and we'll head over there."
"I'm driving." Rachel squeaked as she scampered off to get her bra and jeans.
"I know you are." Quinn replied. She picked up Rachel's old glass of orange juice and took a long drink. It was gone before she was fully satisfied. But when she turned back to Rachel who was now fully clothed and dancing towards Quinn with Quinn's clothes in hand, she didn't feel one ounce of regret.
"I'll start up the car." Rachel handed Quinn the keys and bounded towards the door.
"Rachel," Quinn said as Rachel opened the door. The brunette turned back to Quinn.
"Yes?"
Quinn opened her mouth to say 'don't leave without me', but she instead said, "Don't forget your shoes."
Rachel looked down at her bare feet and blushed. She slipped on her shoes and ran to her car. Quinn clothed herself and followed. And when she saw Rachel sitting in the driver's seat with the passenger seat window rolled down, it was as if it was the beginning of last night all over again.
Except this time, Quinn was happy.
Quinn and Rachel had just finished eating their food at the diner. They had taken two seats at the counter and a man Rachel was very familiar with was working there right now.
"So." Rachel said, dropping her utensils to her plate.
"So?" Quinn repeated, taking a drink of her hot chocolate.
"How much do I owe you?"
"Huh?"
Rachel pointed to the clock. Quinn's head wavered for a moment before finally looking at it. It was nine a.m.
"Its nine already?" she asked, bewildered. Rachel nodded.
"We've been in here for a little more than an hour."
"Oh. Well, it's free."
Rachel rolled her eyes before leaning in and kissing Quinn's cheek. "How much would it have been?"
"Thirty dollars."
"You're cheap."
Quinn shrugged. "I've been told that before," she laughed as she leaned onto her elbow.
"How much if I was a regular person?"
"An hourly rate?"
Rachel shrugged. "Sure."
"How longs it been?"
Rachel squinted at the clock for a moment, before looking into Quinn's eyes. "Eleven hours."
Quinn's eyes widened. "Eleven?" she whispered.
Rachel nodded, shrugging. "Why?"
"Other than the fact it doesn't feel like it, everything's been happening by eleven."
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked, her face showing confusion.
"You shot me eleven times in my dream. When I was snorting coke I took eleven lines of it. And now we spend eleven hours together."
"Coincidence."
Quinn shook her head. "If it was like three it'd be a coincidence, but eleven's too big to be one."
"Right." Rachel laughed, she turned back to her orange juice and took a sip. "I bet this is all just in a book or something…"
"It probably is."
"And I bet there's eleven chapters in this 'book',"
"Mhm," Quinn hummed seriously.
"And it's probably like, eleven thousand words exactly."
"No. That's not likely."
"Fine. I bet it's called 'eleven', though."
Quinn looked at Rachel for a long, long time before responding. In the time she studied intensely all of Rachel's features. Finally she opened her mouth. "It probably is."
"You think we have a happy ending?" Rachel asked, putting her hand on Quinn's.
Quinn squeezed Rachel's hand lovingly. "Do you want the truth?"
Rachel nodded. She took a deep breath. "Yes."
Quinn leaned in and kissed Rachel. "If it was up to me, we would."
"If it was up to me, we would too." Rachel whispered.
"I bet if the book was about tonight," Quinn said after a long moment, "it would end right about here."
"What would be the last lines?"
Quinn shrugged. "I don't know. Who do you think would have the last words? Me or you?"
"You."
"I think you."
Rachel licked her lips. "Well how about we say I love you at the same time. Then we both get the last lines."
Quinn grinned a toothy grin. "Sounds good to me."
"Okay."
"One." Quinn said…squeezing Rachel's hand.
"Two." Rachel said…squeezing Quinn's hand.
"Three. I love you."
This story is dedicated to the truth that love can come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and ways. It is also dedicated to the truth that no one is truly unlovable, and that most hate in the world comes from a lack of love. In the words of John Lennon, "All you need is love."
Thank you for reading.
