Chapter 14: (Actually, singing was always my first choice)
Flashback: Love comes slow and goes fast.
EDIT: THE PERSON AT THE DESK IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RANDOM GIRL NAMED MARTHA NOT MERCEDES SO SORRY I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T NOTICE SOONE GHAAAAASKDHNAKJSDN
Rachel's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled out her clunky, out-dated phone and quickly read over Brittany's text before tossing it into her pocket again. Brittany had Santana and that meant Rachel could go find Quinn. She had to find Quinn. She couldn't let Brittany see how useless she actually was, not when the doctor trusted her so.
She scanned the area around the firm. There were several small shops and one or two small restaurants, nothing that seemed like a place Quinn would spend her lunch. It might have been easier to walk back in and ask Tina just where Quinn spent her lunch, but Rachel had pride to hold on to.
She spotted a nice looking restaurant near the end of the street and began a prompt walk towards it. The outside of the place was dark, in the front stood a tall man in a suit and the name of the place, Xes, was in a neon red. Rachel reached the entry and smiled at the man who, with an amused smile on his face, moved aside and let her in.
Rachel wondered if this was the kind of place that required a reservation. She'd have to tell the waiter or waitress that she was looking for Quinn directly then. But then what would happen when they lead her to the blonde-haired woman? She couldn't explain that she was trying to track her down and become acquainted with her for a friend who was probably more interested in her friend than her. Would she have to tell Quinn that she knew who she was? Would she ask for a new-
"All alone sweetie?" The dark-skinned woman from behind the front counter smiled. The front was a dark room, white light slipped from two doors on either side of the woman. Soft music could be heard from the door on the left.
"Do I need a reservation to go in?" Rachel smiled back at the woman, she squinted at her name tag. "Uh, Martha?"
The woman laughed, "Nope, go right in." She gestured to the left door. "Since you're new let me tell you that if you stay long enough, you're gonna hear everyone burst their lungs out." She laughed. "Singing."
"Do you do open-mic?" Rachel's eyes lit-up.
"Tonight at nine."
"Do I need to sign-"
"No. Just grab the mic and go up on the stage."
"Thank you and uh, what's the door on the right?"
"You can find out at nine today." Martha smiled, "Now hurry on in."
Rachel dashed towards the left door and pushed it open, expecting a lavish restaurant with a grand center stage she was very surprised to see a bar. A nice bar, but a bar nonetheless.
The place was large, much larger than seemed possible for the size of the building. The ceiling was high and expensive chandeliers hung from it, making Rachel wonder if this place was a recycled banquet hall. To the right, was a large bar that was quite simply designed but looked prestigious still. In the center was a wooden dance floor now covered with wooden tables though there was more than enough space to dance in-between them. Around the dance floor and along the right side were booths and more tables. At the back was a large stage where a yellow-orange spotlight shone down on a single mic. The place was mostly empty, there were a few people sitting at the bar and some at tables.
Rachel spotted the only mop of yellow hair at the bar and walked towards it. She wasn't surprised to find the mod belong to Quinn, though she was surprised to find her drinking at this hour. She took a seat one way from Quinn. The woman looked over to Rachel, her eye scanned her body and then fell to her nail.
"You should try the place a few blocks down." She said, and turned back and downed her drink.
Rachel was astonished to not hear a single trace of alcohol in her voice, considering what she was drinking.
"Do you know what the door to the right of this place is?" Rachel said, desperate for conversation.
"A strip club." Quinn deadpanned.
Rachel frowned, "R-really?"
"This place is called sex; backwards. Most come in thinking it's a strip club. The co-owner's a real classy guy." Quinn smiled and turned to Rachel, "I can make whatever you want. The bartender won't be back for a bit."
"Well what is there?" Rachel smiled nervously. Brittany hadn't given her the details of what to do once she found Quinn.
"If you want food you'll have to wait. The cook's out, she should be back later but I don't depend on her to be on time." Quinn laughed quietly and hoped over the counter. "And then we have any drink you can think of, but I can't make all of them well so be weary."
"Do you come here often?" Rachel blinked, she seemed like she ran the place, "Oh and anything really light."
"I'm the manager." Quinn turned and pulled out a can from under the counter, "Beer then. One dollar."
"Oh that's cheep." Rachel laughed, sliding a dollar forward, she took the bear. And popped it open and took a sip.
"Mmmhh." Quinn smiled, holding something back. Rachel noted that she found something funny, probably an inside joke. Probably involving the beer she'd been given.
"So, I heard you have open-mic at nine today?" Rachel wasn't usually this bad at small talk, but she felt nervous around Quinn. She couldn't quite place why, she wanted to say it was her piercing green eyes. In truth, Quinn was just too pretty and her voice still hadn't lost the sting it had in highschool. Quinn reminded Rachel too much of the people she'd spent all her highschool years hating.
Quinn nodded, "But I wouldn't-"
"Don't scare away the new customers, Q."
Quinn snapped her head back to meet the eyes of a blonde-haired man who approached behind her. He had round lips and a broad-smile. "Hi there," His soft blue eyes met Rachel's. "I see you have a can in front of you but let me offer you something that hasn't been under the counter for a criminally long time."
Rachel shook her head, "It's ok. I like it. And furthermore, alcohol would impair me from singing properly this evening."
"Oh," He smiled, "You plan on coming later?"
Rachel nodded. She began talking lividly then about music. Though, she promised herself she'd keep the talking to a minimum, she knew she could sometimes be over-bearing and the last thing she wanted was for a serial killer to hate her, but she couldn't help herself. The bartender and Quinn seemed to be paying her polite attention and that was all she needed. The bartender would even join in every so often, though it was obvious he didn't know much. Quinn kept an amused smile on her lips and one eyebrow raised. Eventually, Rachel was allowed to sing early and she won the people over with her voice. She ended up having more fun than she though she would. Though, Quinn sat with other people in a booth, Rachel could see that she was listening to her voice.
She sent Brittany a text saying she'd be out late, the first of it's kind. She sang and sang and sang. She hadn't sang for a crowd in so long she'd forgotten the thrill, the passion. She wanted to put down the cape for now, she was too quick to give up singing, and really, being a superhero wasn't for her.
She stayed there until nine, where she sang for the crowded room.
"Brittany, come down please." Her mother rarely called her down, Brittany came down when she was ready to come down and her parents respected that. Though, as a child, she took that for granted and didn't go to school. Her parents respected Brittany's choices, even at that age. Though they tried their best to hide their quite disappointment, Brittany saw it. She realized how much her parents loved her, and if going to school would make them happy, she'd do it. She didn't get why school was important until much later on, but she always loved her parents.
So she came down quickly, something much have been wrong for her mother to call her down.
She was greeted with the worried expression of her mother and the crying face of Santana's mother and the face of Santana's father twisted in pain.
"Santana is missing, dear." Brittany's mother smiled nervously, she knew who Santana was. Brittany would sometimes talk animatedly about someone, or something that happened at school. When asked what she was talking about, she'd say "Santana" and blush. But those times were numbered. Her mother figured she must have had a crush. She almost didn't want to bring up Santana, knowing it might hurt Brittany too. "You were the last person to see her. Mr and Mrs. Lopez were wondering if she'd said anything to you."
Brittany sifted nervously, "I was the last?"
"The last that can talk." Santana's father stepped closer to Brittany, getting a good look at her, "You danced with her? Please if she said anything..." His eye's were dark and watery.
Brittany swallowed, "How do you know she's not-"
Santana's mother began to sob.
Santana's father stroked his stubble, "We're trying to figure that out. Brittany, they didn't find a body."
Brittany knew Santana was alive. She saw her, but she couldn't tell her parents that she caused the hall to burn down. She knew that must have been why she ran away. Brittany was going to respect Santana's choice just like Brittany's parents respected hers and for the same reason: because she loved her.
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