A/N: We're here for Day 20! We're two-thirds of the way through, how absolutely wild is that? I hope you're all enjoying these. This one features prom and a secret relationship. It's also inspired by the song "Dance with You" from the musical The Prom. I borrowed some lines from the song, as well as some from other songs in the show, so I would highly recommend listening to them after reading. I'll leave the titles for you at the end. Hope you enjoy!
Day 20: Dancing
Prom-posals, as far as Quinn Fabray is concerned, are the most obnoxious displays of male entitlement that have ever existed. They are nothing more than a way for teenage boys to guilt-trip teenage girls into attending a dance with them, to pressure girls into saying yes because they're in public and it would be embarrassing if they said no. They're over-the-top, overdone, overrated, and Quinn is over them.
That being said, Quinn would love to be able to ask her girlfriend to Prom, or even go with her girlfriend to Prom, in public, but that's not going to happen. So, instead, she's going to be bitter.
Like now, as she's sitting in Mr. Schue's Spanish class, and Rick Nelson walks in, interrupting class, with a giant poster that reads, Don't say no! Prom without you would be no bueno! He walks directly up to Missy Gunderson, sitting in the front row, and asks her the fated question.
Quinn rolls her eyes at the scene, resisting the urge to get up and walk out of the room. She's sick of it. She's sick of seeing these people get to flaunt their love for all to see while she has to hide in the shadows, in the darkness, in the secret places and stolen moments.
It's not fair.
It isn't.
Later that day, when she voices her frustration to her girlfriend, Rachel doesn't respond how she expects her to. They're laying on Rachel's bed, Rachel's head resting on her shoulder as they stare up at the ceiling above them. Quinn talks about the annoyance of what happened in Spanish earlier that day, and Rachel shrugs.
"I think it's sweet," She says.
Quinn turns her head to look at her, confused. "Sweet? Rachel, it's annoying."
Rachel keeps staring up at the ceiling, oblivious to Quinn's glaring. "No, it isn't," She mumbles.
"Rach, half of the girls that get asked by these guys don't even want to go to the dance with them," Quinn explains, desperate to get through to her girlfriend. "They have no choice but to say yes because they're in public."
"Sure, but what about the other half that do want to?" Rachel asks innocently.
"What about them?"
Rachel sighs. "It's a really romantic gesture, and I just think it would be something really nice to experience."
Quinn sits up, letting Rachel's head fall onto the pillow underneath her. "What, do you want me to pay Finn to Prom-pose to you? I mean, really?"
Rachel jerks straight up. She sits across from Quinn, tucking her legs under herself, and eyeing Quinn incredulously. "No, of course not," She denies vehemently. "Why would I want that?"
"Because you're talking about how much you love this idea of a public gesture to ask you to Prom when you know I can't give that to you." Quinn states fiercely. She's trying to simmer her temper, but she's been in a pissy mood all day, and this conversation is certainly not helping.
"I know you can't, Quinn. Believe me, I'm aware," Rachel retorts. "I'm simply saying that it seems like it would be nice. That's all."
Quinn can't help but let her mind run wild with insecurities. What is she supposed to think when Rachel says that she wants a public gesture? Quinn can't give that to her. Not now, at least. They've been dating for nearly eight months, completely in secret. The only people that know are Rachel's dads, because they needed some place to be able to spend time, and Mercedes, because they're both close with her and they wanted to tell someone else. For a multitude of reasons, it's just the five of them that know the true nature of their relationship.
They can't come out at school, for fear of bullying (they saw what happened to Kurt), for fear of isolation, for fear of social status decline. They're reluctant to tell any of their other friends simply because they know how quickly gossip travels around their school. Quinn refuses to tell Judy out of fear of being disowned for a second time. So it's just Rachel, Quinn, Hiram, Leroy, and Mercedes.
It's sad and scary at times, but they make it work. Having Rachel in secret is better than not having her at all.
But, right now, Quinn can't stop herself from feeling a bit affronted by Rachel's words.
"Rachel, is there something else going on here?" She asks, voice taking on an accusatory tone.
"What do you mean?"
"You… You've never talked about stuff like this before," Quinn says, "Baby, you know I wish I could tell the whole school how much I adore you."
Rachel huffs. "Why can't you?"
Quinn opens her mouth to respond and quickly snaps it shut. She watches Rachel as she plays with the fabric of the blanket under them, eyes glued to her hands.
Why can't she? What kind of a question is that? Quinn has officially lost her girlfriend here. They had agreed months ago that keeping their relationship a secret would be the best for both of them.
At Quinn's silence, Rachel continues, saying, "I-I mean, I don't need any kind of grandiose statement or-or gesture, and I don't think we need to blaze any kind of trail, but I just…"
"You just what?" Quinn asks gently.
"I just wanna dance with you, Quinn," Rachel admits softly. "Why can't we have that? We can go to the dance together, or separately, or whatever, I don't care. I just want to stand on that dance floor and dance with you."
Quinn's eyes widen. "Rach, I… I wanna dance with you, too. But we can dance whenever we want. We don't need the whole production, with streamers and confetti and people we don't know."
"But what if I want that?"
Quinn pauses, processing her words. As much as she wants those things, she knows they can't have them. Not with the school that they go to. "I want those things, too, but what about everyone else? What they might say? Or do?"
"Who cares what other people say?" Rachel says, "All I care about is you. You, and me, and a song. That's all I need. That's all I want."
Quinn can't deny the appeal of the idea. Getting to go to Prom with her girlfriend, slow-dancing with her in front of the whole school, without a single care in the world besides the two of them. But, "Rach, my mom could find out. You know what she's like."
"I know, but can you at least consider it? Please?" Rachel begs.
"Rach…" Quinn looks at her girlfriend, her brown eyes pleading with her. Sighing, she says, "I'm just not sure."
Just then, Hiram calls from downstairs that dinner is ready, and Rachel gets up from the bed and walks towards the door. She gives Quinn a meaningful look before she opens the door and leaves Quinn alone in her room. Quinn sighs, burying her head in her hands.
Now she's the one being guilt-tripped into going to the dance with someone. What a turn of events.
Standing outside the gym, Quinn nervously rubs her hands on her dress. It's a month later, and it's the night of Prom, and Quinn is here, in a baby blue dress, hair pulled back in a simple updo, feeling like she could vomit any second. She's here with Sam, who had asked her to the dance, as friends, and Quinn hadn't had a good excuse to say no. Rachel is already inside with Mercedes and Kurt, and Quinn has yet to see her tonight since she and Sam went out for dinner while the other three got ready together at Rachel's house and came straight to school from there.
Now, Quinn is here, about to walk into the school gym, and she's panicking.
She and Rachel had agreed to come separately, and Quinn is regretting it. She wishes she was standing here with her girlfriend, and they could walk into the gym, hand in hand, and that would be that. Instead, she's here with Sam, who is a great guy, but it's not the same. Quinn just wishes she could be holding Rachel's hand right now.
So, in true Quinn Fabray fashion, she pushes her worries down, puts a cold look on her face, and struts into the gym. Sam stumbles to catch up with her, and she pans the room, looking for a familiar face. She spots Mercedes from across the room and heads in her direction, Sam, yet again, stumbling behind her at her sudden change of direction. As they get closer, she sees Kurt standing next to Mercedes, and, then, she sees Rachel.
She stops in her tracks. Sam stops next to her, confused, but Quinn can't tear her eyes away from the sight before her.
Rachel is there, looking absolutely gorgeous in a soft, pink dress, her hair curled and falling easily around her shoulders, a corsage–a pristine, white gardenia–on her wrist that matches Quinn's, and her breath catches in her throat. She's easily the most beautiful girl Quinn has ever laid eyes on, and Quinn can't believe that she's hers.
Sam eyes her curiously. "Quinn? Let's go."
She blinks twice, glances up at Sam, and continues walking in their direction. She stops in front of them, doing her best to avoid Rachel's fierce gaze. For now, at least.
"Hey, guys," She greets. "You all look incredible."
Mercedes wolf-whistles with a grin. "Quinn, you look hot!"
Blushing, Quinn mumbles her thanks, her eyes shifting to look at Rachel. She's staring back at her, eyes gleaming with unabashed affection, and Quinn's heart flutters in her chest. Clearing her throat, Rachel says, "Quinn, Mercedes is correct, you look… amazing."
Quinn smiles shyly at the reverent tone in Rachel's voice. "Thank you," She mutters.
Mercedes grins, looking between them knowingly, while Sam and Kurt share a look of equal confusion. Then, an upbeat song starts playing, and, before she knows it, Sam is dragging her onto the dance floor, with Kurt pulling Mercedes and Rachel with him just behind them. They find Tina, Mike, Brittany, and Santana, and all of them dance together for a while. Quinn has the best time dancing with all of her friends (and her girlfriend), but, when the music eventually transitions into slower songs, she's glad for the chance to take a break and catch her breath.
She's about to walk off of the dance floor when Rachel grabs her wrist. She turns, meeting Rachel's eyes, and sees a pleading look in them.
Quinn stops. She sees the love in Rachel's eyes, and she wants nothing more than to stay here with her. She wants to stand here, pull her girlfriend close, and slow-dance with her. She really does. But when Quinn looks away from her eyes at the crowds of people around them, her heart clenches with fear.
She jerks her wrist out from Rachel's grasp and gives her an apologetic look. Rachel's face drops, and Quinn walks off, out of the gym, unable to see her girlfriend looking so heartbroken and knowing that it is all her fault.
She makes it halfway down the hall before she hears someone call her name. Spinning around, Quinn is surprised to see Sam chasing after her, and she stops and waits for him to catch up to her.
Panting, he just says, "Quinn? What's going on?" Quinn opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out, and he continues, "Is it something with Rachel? What happened in there?"
Her eyes grow moist, and she just laughs. "She happened, that's what happened."
Sam raises an eyebrow in confusion. "What does that even mean?"
Quinn just sighs, letting the tears fall from her eyes, and says, "It means she came into my life and turned it completely around, and now I'm ruining it for both of us." She explains. Once the words are out of her mouth, she can't find it in herself to stop. "She wants us to dance together, in there, in front of everyone, and I just–I can't, Sam. Not with all of those people in there. Not with my life."
"You–Oh," Sam says, realization dawning on him.
Quinn stares at him nervously, terrified of how he'll react. He looks back at her, his eyebrows raised high, and he just steps forward and pulls her into a hug. Surprised, Quinn doesn't even have time to wrap her arms around him before he's pulling back and looking at her sincerely.
"You gotta dance with her," He says.
Quinn's jaw drops. "I, what?"
Sam grabs her hand and begins to lead her back to the gym. "You gotta dance with her, Quinn," He repeats.
Quinn stops walking, pulling Sam back with her. "I can't. I told you that."
"Yes, you can."
"No, Sam, I can't," She insists. "I'm… I'm terrified. I could lose everything. My status, my home, my mom. I can't."
Sam pauses and looks at her intently before saying, "Would you rather lose her instead?"
"You can't ask me that." Quinn refutes. "That's–she would never…. I can't lose her. I won't lose her."
"You might if you don't get your ass in there and dance with her," He says. "I've got your back. So does Mercedes, I'm sure, and Kurt, and the rest of Glee Club. And, most importantly, Rachel."
Quinn looks away from him, debating her options. She wants to dance with Rachel. She wants to be with Rachel. It's as simple as that.
You, and me, and a song, She hears Rachel's voice echoing in her head, That's all I need. That's all I want.
She can do this. She can go and dance with her girlfriend in front of the school, potential disastrous outcomes be damned. She can do this for Rachel. And for herself.
Determined look settling on her face, Quinn spins on her heel and struts into the gym, Sam trailing her from behind. She easily spots out Rachel this time and walks straight toward her. When she stops in front of her, Rachel looks up, tear stains evident on her cheeks, and Quinn's heart breaks at the sight. At Rachel's confused expression, Quinn just holds out a hand to her.
"May I have this dance?" She asks softly.
Rachel gasps. "Quinn, what—" She cuts herself off, looking deeply into Quinn's eyes, and grins shyly. Placing her hand in Quinn's, she just responds, "Yes, you may."
Grinning, Quinn pulls Rachel up from her seat and leads her onto the dance floor. They find an empty spot amidst the rest of the dancing couples, and Quinn raises their hands, placing her other hand on Rachel's hip. Rachel rests her free hand on Quinn's shoulder, and Quinn begins to lead them in a slow sway.
She ducks her head to meet Rachel's eyes. "I didn't get the chance to tell you earlier, but you look so beautiful, Rach."
Rachel blushes fiercely, saying, "Thank you, Quinn."
The song fades away and is quickly replaced by another slow song, and Quinn smiles. She looks at Rachel, seeing the pure expression of happiness on her face, and she wonders how she could have ever considered not doing this with her.
"I'm sorry, baby," She blurts out quietly, drawing Rachel's attention. "I'm sorry for not coming with you tonight, and I'm sorry for walking out on you earlier."
"What changed your mind?" Rachel asks softly. "What about your mom?"
Quinn just shrugs. "Losing you would be worse."
A look of awe passes over her face, and Quinn smiles brightly. She brings their joined hands up to her face, pressing a kiss to Rachel's hand before letting it fall onto her shoulder, and Quinn wraps both of her hands loosely around her back. In turn, Rachel wraps her arms around Quinn's neck, pulling them closer together, and rests her forehead against hers.
Suddenly, Quinn is aware of the large number of people surrounding them, and her eyes close shut to try to block them out. Rachel moves one of her hands to her chin, lifting it slightly, and Quinn's eyes flutter back open to meet hers.
"Hey," Rachel whispers, "Just you, me, and a song, remember?"
Quinn nods slightly against Rachel. "Just you, me, and a song."
Rachel smiles and locks her hands behind Quinn's neck. "I love you, Quinn."
"I love you, too, Rachel." She whispers back.
As she slow-dances here, with Rachel, the world around them melts away, and all Quinn can perceive is the feeling of Rachel's arms around her neck, Rachel's head pressed against hers, Rachel's eyes looking into hers, and the song softly playing in the background. It really is just her, Rachel, and the song, and Quinn knows she would've been an idiot to ever pass this up.
A/N: Songs referenced include:
Dance with You
You Happened
Alyssa Greene
Unruly Heart
All from the Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Prom! Bonus points to anyone who spots all of the references.