"You can't be serious," Liza says to Rachel as they eat what could well be the only vegan option in the dining hall. Liza rarely uses her meal plan. It's not as though her dads' fears of her starving in New York will come true. Although, the fact that they're still paying for the university to provide her with food that she never actually eats is understandable. When Liza first started her courses at Columbia, she lived on nothing but coffee and protein bars until Rachel and Quinn staged an intervention.
Liza tries not to make a habit of sneaking Rachel into the dining hall to eat food that isn't technically hers to eat, but Rachel is here unexpectedly and it's the only place Liza could think of while processing the fact that Rachel was on campus at all.
"I don't know, Liza. I love her to death, but she's been so distant lately. It's like she's not mine anymore," Rachel says.
"Well, Quinn was never yours specifically. She's her own person," Liza says. "She's trying to make up eight years of lost time to her daughter."
"Now really isn't a good time for you to be smart," Rachel laughs coldly.
Liza isn't sure why, but this makes her remember all the times Rachel and Quinn defended her against the people who thought her intelligence made her a freak. Rachel and Quinn. It's always been Rachel and Quinn. Even when it was Rachel and Jesse or Noah and Quinn or even Rachel and Finn, it was Rachel and Quinn. Even before Quinn existed in the lives of the Berry girls, it was Rachel and the idea that someone so perfect in her mind could possibly be hers. Liza isn't sure if she knows what to do if Rachel and Quinn aren't endgame.
The thought of Rachel and Quinn not being together forever is all it takes for Liza to snap. "Rachel, you can't break up with Quinn. She lives with us! She and Beth wouldn't have anywhere to go! Thanksgiving is in two weeks. Quinn was supposed to come back to Lima with us! She and I are in school together!" Liza exclaims. A boy that Liza recognizes from a party she accidentally crashed last year gives her a funny look from another table, but Liza keeps going. "You two are perfect for each other! You've both been through so much, there's no way you can just throw it all in the garbage! She's as much my sister as you are! Rachel, you just can't!"
"Liza, calm down. It isn't exactly your decision to make," Rachel says flatly. She stands up, pushes in her chair, and walks away, leaving Liza alone with Party Boy and the rest of his table staring at her. The tofu stir fry wasn't appetizing to begin with, but it's even less appetizing now. There's no way Rachel can break up with Quinn. There's absolutely no way.
*
Quinn and Beth aren't there when Liza gets home at the end of the day. Rachel is sitting on the couch with her legs tucked up under her body. She has a spoon in her right hand and a carton of vegan cookie dough ice cream in her left. Liza stares at Rachel while she stares back at Liza. Finally, Liza shakes her head and raises an eyebrow. "You did it, didn't you?" she questions. "You actually did it."
Rachel nods before patting the couch cushion next to her. Liza shakes her head again. "Where did they go?"
"Quinn and Beth are staying at Shelby's for now. And, since you're so concerned, they'll be staying with Santana and Brittany in Lima for Thanksgiving," Rachel says.
"I can't believe you," Liza replies. "Whatever happened to working through your problems?"
"This is too big to work through."
"It's only too big to work though because you're upset and your mind isn't letting you. There's no such thing as a problem that's too big. I'm a fifteen year old premed student at an Ivy League university. I should know."
"I don't mean to be rude, but could you just leave me alone for a while?" Rachel asks.
"Of course. I'll be in my room if you ever come to your senses."