A.N: Sorry about the wait. Writer's block is a bitch. I may have gotten past it for the most part with my new cross over.
A.N2: Health issues have come up so updates may continue to be sporadic. I am having a... hard time writing.
Chapter 28
Monday August 29, 2010
7:50 A.M.
Quinn slumped down the stairs and spared her mother nary a glance as she slinked from the house and to her car. She didn't want to go to school today, she didn't want to see Rachel, and she really didn't want to see Santana. She wasn't sure she could see Santana with out punching her and she was sure she would start crying around Rachel.
The weekend had left her confused and angrier than before. She found it mind boggling to think that Rachel might have… she couldn't even think it. She wanted to believe more than anything that there was an explanation behind Santana's sudden protectiveness and the fact that she was comforting her girlfriend, except her imagination kept piecing together the facts for a very grim conclusion.
As she drove she thought of what she knew; Fact one, Rachel had put the brakes on the physical side of their relationship despite all previous progress. Now Quinn was willing to wait and the last thing she wanted to do was pressure Rachel, but she had thought they were on the same page. Fact two, Santana was suddenly over protective of Rachel, ala Brittany, so much so that she was willing to declare war on Karofsky. Fact three, Santana had been the one Rachel had wanted comfort from. Her girlfriend should have wanted Quinn to hold her but for whatever reason Santana had been cast in that role.
Quinn knew that separately or even together the facts didn't lead straight to cheating but the scared little girl in her couldn't help but be suspicious.
She needed to talk to someone. After a short debate with herself, Quinn decided to offer Kurt a ride, read kidnap him if she had to.
8:20 A.M.
The drive to Kurt's and the ride to school had only taken ten minutes. Five minutes had been allotted to convincing Kurt to tell her what he thought and in less than two minutes Quinn became convinced that it was more than possible that Rachel had cheated on her with Santana, rather it was probable.
She stalled and stared at Kurt, "Why… why didn't you tell me what you had overheard?" She tried to keep the anger out of her voice and succeeded on sounding rather blank.
Kurt winced and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "I didn't want to raise red flags over nothing Quinn; there are a hundred ways that conversation could be interpreted."
Quinn stepped out of the vehicle and raised an eyebrow at Kurt as the boy slipped out of the car as well, "Really? A hundred?"
Kurt nodded emphatically, "You owe Rachel and Santana the benefit of the doubt Quinn."
Quinn hefted her bag and turned on her heel.
As she walked away from Kurt she asked flatly, "Do I?"
10:44 A.M.
Quinn gave Rachel one chance during second period.
One chance to be honest with her, "Rach?"
The little songbird turned to smile at her and Quinn forced herself to ignore the faint rings around Rachel's eyes as she asked, "Is… What did you and Santana talk about after glee on Friday?"
Rachel's smile was a little too wide, with too many teeth to be real, "Nothing Quinn! We simply discussed her solo and practiced."
Quinn clenched her fist under the table and she offered Rachel an equally fake smile, "That's nice." She caught when Rachel's smile faltered at how fake Quinn's smile was.
12:56 P.M.
She adjusted her ponytail and exited the bathroom. All that work this summer and now she fit into her old cheerios uniform again. As she swept down the hall and people leapt out of her way, Quinn let herself feel the nearly forgotten rush of power that came with her newly reclaimed position.
She pushed the doors to the lunch room open with a bang and slinked to the front of the lunch line with an apple in hand. An arched eyebrow thrown at the small freshman boy at the checkout assured that she didn't have to pay for the piece of fruit.
She stopped dead in the center of the room and surveyed her kingdom. She focused lastly on the glee table and made eye contact with Rachel. The little diva looked stunned, confused, and a little scared. Quinn took a vicious bite of the apple in her hand and watched as Rachel flinched. The songbird's eyes were full of fear now, full of uncertainty.
Good.
2:12 P.M.
As Santana's hand buried itself in Quinn's hair the blonde Cheerio idly wondered at how long it had taken for the news to reach Santana.
"Hija de puta!" The Latina yanked the hair in her hand and swore loud enough for the entire hallway to hear.
Quinn snarled and aimed an angry, jealous punch to Santana's kidney before wrenching her hair from Santana's grasp. She ignored the pain and went for the throat, literally.
The Latina let out a choked gasp as Quinn's fist connected with her windpipe. She actually made to retreat, she wasn't angry enough to actually hurt Quinn, but Quinn? She was out for blood.
Quinn didn't allow for a retreat. She pictured Santana's hands on Rachel and years of friendship were washed away as she leveled a solid punch to Santana's face. Not a slap, a punch.
Santana scrambled away and demanded hysterically, "What the hell Q? You… what did I do to you?"
Heedless of the onlookers, Quinn snarled dangerously, "You know what you did Santana." The blonde made to stalk forward only to be caught around the waist by Mr. Schue.
Santana stared as Quinn struggled against the teacher. The blonde would later be described as rabid.
Mr. Schue barked out, "Go Santana!"
The Latina hesitated but Quinn figured something must have been in her eyes because with one last look the Latina hurried away from the still struggling Quinn.
As soon as Santana was out of sight Quinn regained control of herself and went limp in Mr. Schue's arms.
He let her go and she turned to him and said vacantly, "I apologize for that Mr. Schue."
Will stared down at the suddenly placid girl and spoke tentatively, "What on earth got into you Quinn?"
Quinn muttered with quiet venom, "Ask Santana and Rachel."
She walked away in the opposite direction from Santana.
3:45 P.M.
Quinn sat placidly on the risers, ignoring the glee kids around her. Santana wasn't here yet, neither was Rachel. Quinn let out an ugly sneer at the realization.
She was aware of the whispers and looks the other gleeks were throwing her. Her fight with Santana had become widespread news about five seconds after it ended and now there was rampant speculation as to why Quinn had been so vicious considering that it was Santana who had the right to be angry.
Quinn was surprised that Kurt hadn't clued any of their mutual friends into the fact that Quinn was furious at Santana and Rachel, not just the former. The male diva was apparently more loyal than she had given him credit for because he had kept his mouth shut. She wasn't sure who the loyalty was for though.
Mr. Schue was also missing from the room and Quinn scoffed in her head. You'd think two of his kids nearly murdering each other would cause him to be on time for once but no. He was late as always.
The door slammed open and Rachel stormed in.
Quinn arched an eyebrow at the overdramatic, even for Rachel, move.
The diminutive songbird was livid; her face paler than Quinn had ever seen it, as she stalked to stand in front of her girlfriend.
"Quinn Fabray! What on Earth is your problem?" The diva's hands went to her hips as she loomed over her girlfriend.
Quinn didn't spare the smaller girl a glance as she examined her nails, "Why don't you think real hard and maybe you'll stumble on it?"
She didn't see so much as sense Rachel's reaction as the diva reared back at the icy tone Quinn was using.
The diva shook off her reaction and snapped back, "Why on Earth would you tell coach Sylvester about Santana's summer? Why? How do you even know?"
Quinn snorted, "Boobs don't just suddenly grow a cup size Ru-Paul."
She did look up for Rachel reaction this time. Her 'girlfriend' started and stared down at her in shock.
Quinn stood suddenly and gripped the forgotten cup at her side. It was odd that no one had commented on her bringing a slushy into glee.
Rachel and the rest of the gleeks looked on in horror as Quinn hefted the cup.
The blonde's voice was low and harsh as she seethed, "You know what you did Rachel, you and Santana."
Rachel's eyes widened, "Quinn, I promised Santana I wouldn't say anything! I didn't do anything wrong."
Quinn shook her head and snarled, "Stop playing dumb!" Her grip tightened on the cup in her hand.
Rachel's eyes flicked down to the cup and back to Quinn's, she stood tall suddenly and squared her shoulders, "Do it then Quinn. Prove you haven't changed; prove that I was wrong to trust in you."
Quinn cocked her head and growled, "I'm the one that can't be trusted?"
She willed her arm to move, she willed herself to fling the slightly melted drink in Rachel's face. A minute passed and the door opened and Santana entered. Quinn felt the rush of anger as Santana's eyes went to Rachel almost immediately. The room was still as breaths were held.
Quinn's hand twitched and she roared, "Damn it!" She flung the cup away, not at Rachel though, not at anyone. She shouldered her bag and blew from the room, ignoring Rachel as the little diva sagged in relief.
The door closed behind the enraged blonde and Santana let out a breath, "What in the hell is going on with Q?"
Kurt stepped down and pierced Rachel with a look. He looked at her like she and Santana were something he had stepped in.
Santana noticed and sprang forward, "I am getting tired of people hating on me and my dwarf! You gots a problem Princess, speak up?"
Kurt sniffed disdainfully, "Quinn has every right to be mad, after what you two did this summer." He picked up his bag and might have left if Santana's voice hadn't cut him off.
"Oh. My. God! So Rachel was with me when I had the surgery! Big fucking deal! She was the only person in the right town and besides Brittany she's the only one who doesn't ever look at me like she's judging me. Excuse me if I wanted someone supportive around when I had a fucking operation!"
Kurt faltered, "Quinn isn't mad about that… in fact I'm not sure she even knows Rachel was with you when you had your surgery…"
Rachel came to stand by Santana's side and asked quietly, "Then why is she angry? Admittedly she seems far too angry for this to be about Santana's surgery, but for the life of me I can't think of a single reason why she'd be angry at both of us."
Kurt stared at the two brunettes and finally breathed out, "Because Rachel cheated on her with you?" He looked meek as he addressed Santana.
The Latina's eyes bulged, "What?"
Rachel's reaction was quieter. She stared at Kurt, hurt. After a moment she shook her head and made to leave.
Kurt spoke up, "Rachel? You… you didn't did you?"
Rachel turned and replied quietly, "No." She ghosted from the room and Kurt sagged.
He turned to face the furious Latina, "Santana…"
She growled at him, "Can it Glitter! Why can't anyone just ask! Fucking Q!" She threw up her hands and muttered sarcastically, "Hey Santana?" "Q?" "Did you fuck Rachel this summer?" "No." "Oh… well good."
She dropped into a chair and scowled up at Kurt, "She could have asked instead of going off on some psycho rampage."
Kurt nodded, more out of fear than an acknowledgement that Santana was right, which she was.
4:27 P.M.
Quinn had been home for less than ten minutes when the doorbell rang and Quinn's mom ushered Rachel into the kitchen where Quinn was seated.
Quinn fought down the wince at Rachel's red eyes and stared sullenly at the table. She knew her mom was concerned and was staring the two girls.
Rachel clasped her hands in front of her and spoke quietly, "I didn't cheat on you with Santana."
Quinn's head snapped up. Rachel's eyes were sincere and honest adding to the fact that Quinn knew her girlfriend couldn't lie for crap.
Rachel continued, "She and I did spend time together this summer because she needed someone to accompany her to the hospital for her surgery. She was scared."
Quinn flinched but replied, "And Friday? Why were you crying in Santana's arms?"
Rachel didn't falter, "I've been having nightmares. So has Santana and they are eerily similar and… horrific. I didn't want to worry you or Kurt and Santana understands because she has been dreaming about the same thing."
Quinn felt the vice that had been squeezing her chest loosen at little, "You… you didn't cheat?"
Rachel shook her head, "I didn't cheat."
Quinn sighed and made to stand only to be destroyed by Rachel's next words, "…I don't know if this is going to work anymore…"
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