Puck growled in frustration. Quinn broke up Finn. How the hell was he suppose to get his intel now that Finn was out of the equation.
He looked down at his list. It was a list of all the cheerios and football players as well as all the gleeks he knew Quinn had been friends with or is friends with.
So far he staked out five people after Santana and Britney's. Still no luck. He didn't understand it.
He even drove around town to see if he could spot her suv any where but hadn't seen it.
He's pissed but he knew it was just a matter of time before she slipped up and when she did he'd be ready.
Until then he'd park outside of every persons house until he got something. Then he'd get his daughter back.
Quinn walked to her locker as calmly as she could. She had felt eyes on her all day and was creeped out until she realized it was Puck.
For the most part he had been stealthy but she was better at it and caught him in the act using the reflection of the trophy case in the hall as well as her pocket mirror.
It was unsettling. She knew why he was following her, he didn't believe her.
It was her second to last period of the day. So she went to her locker and gathered what she'd need for her next class and casually made her way to it, acting as if she didn't know he was there.
She made it to the room and took her seat. She pulled out her phone under the table and began typing.
'Pucks following me.' -Quinn
'What?' -Rachel
'He's been following me all day. He doesn't believe me.' -Quinn
'About Beth?' -Rachel
'Yes. I think he's going to try and follow me back to your house.' -Quinn
'Where are you now?' -Rachel
'My second to last class.' -Quinn
'What do you have next?' -Rachel
'English.' -Quinn
'Okay, ask to go to the bathroom now and leave the school. I have my English book here. I'll text Mike about the assignment, he's in that class with you.' -Rachel
'Wow, you're good.' -Quinn
'Thanks, now go and when you get home we'll take my car to pick up Charlie when it's time to pick her up.' -Rachel
'Thanks Rachel, you're a life saver.' -Quinn
'Don't mention it. Now hurry. I'll see you when you get home.' -Rachel
'Okay, see you soon.' -Quinn
Quinn stared down at Rachel's last message with an overwhelming feeling in her chest. 'Home' Rachel called it home. Not her house or anything but home. Like it was Quinn's too. Quinn swallowed thickly and raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms. Fabray?"
"May I use the rest room?"
"Yes."
She could tell her teacher was annoyed but Quinn didn't care she grabbed her bag and went.
The blonde walked the halls being sure to pay extra attention as she casually made her way to the exit.
She reached the exit doors looking back and forth before leaving and walked briskly to her car.
As soon as she was in, she skidded out of the parking lot and headed for Rachel's.
She kept glancing in the rear view mirror hoping beyond anything that Puck wasn't following.
Rachel stared out the window watching for the blonde anxiously. The brunette sighed with relief when she spotted the suv pulling in.
She immediately pressed the garage remote to open it and Quinn slid in before the door finally closed behind her.
Quinn had the wheel in a death grip. Even though it's perfectly clear that Puck hadn't been tailing her, she still felt like he had. Like he knew.
Rachel watched Quinn from the door to the garage with sad eyes. She felt anger take hold of her at the obvious trauma Puck was causing Quinn even if he didn't realize what he was actually causing Quinn by following her around at every turn she made at school.
Rachel walked calmly to the still running car. She lightly tapped the window on the drivers side startling Quinn.
Puck had walked out of his class early to get to Quinn's on time, like he had done all day.
He stood in the hall and watched the door as the bell rung signaling the end of class with a smirk.
He watched student after student leave but slowly the smirk on his face began to slip until a look of confusion took over his features.
He rushed to the door and looked into the room only to see the teacher erasing whatever was on the board.
Empty. The fucking room was empty. He clenched his jaw and went searching for her.
Rachel and Quinn were sat in the living room. Rachel had just made them some tea to help calm Quinn's nerves.
"Are you okay?" The brunette asked.
Quinn sighed. "I'm not sure how I feel right now. I mean, I knew Puck was greedy and selfish but I didn't think his precious apartment would make him act like a psycho."
"I didn't think so either. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. At this point he's already on to me and I can't hide forever."
"Well, maybe not forever but maybe we can buy you time. Throw him off your scent a little."
Quinn furrowed her brow at the brunette. "What do you mean?"
"Well, this morning for example. I drove the kids to Aggies not you. Maybe instead of driving them to Aggies, Aggie can babysit here instead. That way Beth never actually has to leave the house so even if he follows you. Beth is no where in sight. We'll take the car seat from your car and everything."
"I couldn't ask Aggie to do that."
"Trust me, Quinn. You wouldn't need to ask. Anyway, what would you rather? Constantly driving your daughter back and forth in worry and possibly getting caught with her or asking for help from someone whose willing to give it?"
Quinn nodded her understanding. "I guess you're right."
"Usually am."
Quinn chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "Of course, you are."
"So, other than that. How was your day?"
"It was going fine. I didn't really have any problems other than Finn."
"What happened with Finn?"
"I broke up with him and he didn't take it well."
Rachel's eyes bulged. "You broke up with Finn?"
"Yes. It wasn't right for me to stay with him when I was only using him for food. He also wasn't acting like a very good boyfriend."
"True. How bad did he take it?"
"As only Finn can take anything. He got upset and grabbed me to-"
"Grabbed you?!" Rachel asked with fury in her eyes that Quinn had only seen that day Rachel had slapped Finn. They were full of anger, indignation and protective fire.
"Yes. Rachel, it's okay. He didn't hurt me, I'm fine."
"That may be so but no male should put their hands on a female in a aggressive manner n-"
"I didn't say he was aggressive."
"Was he?" Rachel fired back already knowing the answer.
Quinn hesitated. "Well.."
"Quinn. Was he?"
"A little but Santana was ther-"
"Ugh! That fucking ogre!" Rachel growled shocking Quinn with the cuss word as she stood up abruptly to grab her phone.
"Rachel what are you doing?!" Quinn said as she also stood up, lightly grabbing Rachel by the wrist.
"I'm calling that sad excuse for a male lead and giving him a piece of my mind!"
"Rachel, no." Quinn said taking her phone and grasping both her hands in her own.
"Quinn, give me back my phone."
Quinn lifted their joined hands to her own face using Rachel's hands to cup her cheeks which halted Rachel's angry tirade. "Look at me. See, I'm fine. I'm okay. He didn't hurt me."
Rachel looked at her with aggravated but slowly calming eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Besides Santana was there and she stopped him."
Rachel sighed and nodded her head that she was letting it go. Her hands softly slid from Quinn's cheeks. "I guess, I'll have to thank her."
Quinn smiled a smile that was thankful but also curiously confused by the brunette's response on her behalf.
"If you want to be my guest, though it's not necessary."
"Well, I wasn't there so I'd like to thank her." Rachel said looking to the clock on the wall.
"If you insist." Quinn said but just than remembered what Santana had said to her just that morning. "By the way Rachel, Santana had asked me something earlier that I was confused by. She asked if I had gotten my back pack from your house?"
"Oh. Yeah, that was a very interesting day. Come on, I'll explain it to you on the way to Charlie's school."
"This is bullshit!" Puck growled as he took in the school parking lot as all the students began to leave in their cars.
Quinn's suv wasn't parked where it had been that morning. He's pissed he hadn't left his class earlier.
"Dude, if she left early maybe she had a doctors appointment or something. My mom picks me up early from school to take me to mine all the time." Finn said.
"That's not the point. I wanted to follow her today."
"Well, there's nothing we can do now. We'll just have to watch her more tomorrow."
"Fine but tonight we stake out the next house on my list."
"Whose?"
"Mercedes."
"Cool, just let me go home for dinner. Mom has something to talk to me about."
Puck nodded his agreement.
"See ya, dude."
"Don't be late."
"I won't."
"Alright, later man."
Santana got into the drivers seat of her car and sighed. It had been a long day.
"Hey, San?" Britney said from the passenger seat.
"Yeah, I know you don't want to talk about it but.. maybe you should go talk to your papi. Maybe if you say your sorry he'll forgive you and forget everything that happened. You don't have to be with me. You won't have to be-"
"Brit, we talked about this. I'm not breaking up with you. This is who I am whether my family likes it or not. I'm also not going to leave you like this. I need you just as much as you need me but more importantly I want to be with you. Not because it's wrong or right or not the best situation. You mean more to me than anyone. I could live in this world completely alone without them but who I can't live without is you, okay?"
Britney nodded as her tears fell and she was filled with love for Santana but also sadness.
Santana's dad had been cruel and so hateful but Britney remembered what he said and she knew that if Santana just broke up with her and left.
Santana could still have everything she needs and to Britney Santana's life was more important to her than her own.
She didn't want to drag her down. She wanted Santana to be happy. The longer Santana fought with her family the more hurt Britney felt.
The more she feels like she ruining Santana's life but she knew now wasn't the time to say anything.
"Okay. I love you too." Britney replied.
The two kissed lovingly. Santana felt her heart fill with unconditional love for the girls whose lips taste like the sweetest candy.
She didn't feel like she lost much of anything but gained life with Britney. The two pulled apart.
Rachel had explained everything that had happened while Quinn was sick and the lie she had told Santana to keep her off her trail.
Quinn was surprised but not too surprised that Santana had sniffed out something was amiss and she's glad she didn't delve deeper into the conversation with Santana earlier that day. That would have been bad.
Quinn also introduced Rachel to Charlie's teacher and a few other faculty members as her friend that was giving her ride since her car was in the shop and her father was away on business.
Rachel smoothly acquaintance herself with them and offered her home and cell phone number along with her email should an emergency arise and Charlie needed an emergency pick up.
The few teachers had been very impressed with Rachel's maturity and smart thinking.
The teachers already aware of how often Quinn's father works. Quinn herself was impressed with how Rachel easily did it.
"You know, that was impressive." Quinn said as they drove away from the school.
"What?" Rachel asked as she kept her eyes on the road.
"That, what you just did. You basically had those teachers eating out of the palm of your hand."
"Yes, well I'm well versed with dealing with adults-well, certain adults. The teachers in our school on the other hand not so much." Rachel replied with a smile.
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what exactly?"
"Why did you give them your information? You know that links you to us."
"I do but when you got sick and Charlie was better she missed school. I wanted to be sure I could drop her off and pick her up without issue. I would like to drop her off and pick her up more often with you if I can so they could get to know me more. The teachers will relinquish her to me without if they see I'm apart of your life. I meant what I said, you don't have to do this alone anymore, Quinn. I hope I didn't over step."
Quinn stared at the brunette's profile with glistening eyes and a smile of affection. "No.. Not at all. Thank you, Charlie and I would love that and I hope you know that you've got us to help you too."
Rachel glanced at her with a smile and her own glistening eyes. The brunette nodded that she understood.
"Thank you, Quinn. I uh.. I wanted to talk to you about something else too."
"What is it?"
"Quinn, if Puck really is staking you to get Beth back than I think we're going to need more help than just the two of us."
"Okay?.. What did you have in mind?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
Santana pulled into the lot of Breadstix tiredly. It was six o'clock and she was starving."
"Okay, we're here. Now let's get our grub on."
"San?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"You think after this we can stop by my house?"
Santana looked at her in sad confusion. "Why?"
"I just.. I just want to know."
Santana sighed. "Okay but babe.. No matter what, I'm here."
Britney nodded. "I know."
Aggie listened intently as Quinn explained everything that she had already explained to Rachel about her situation.
Aggie had been surprised when Rachel and Quinn turned up with the kids in tow to speak to her.
Hearing the entire story though made her weep which caused Quinn to become confused but Aggie passed it off as she being an emotional person.
Hearing about this Noah Puckerman made Aggie's blood boil and Finn Hudson she just flat out did not like after Rachel's last relationship with him fizzled out.
Now Aggie knew why Rachel had coerced Quinn into coming to her. Quinn needed help, severely.
"And that's about it. Now I'm just worried he's going to found out sooner rather than later like. I don't want him involing Rachel in this or Rachel's business being aired out. Puck is selfish and if he does find out I'm living with Rachel I'm pretty sure he'd threaten to tell her business in order to get me home."
"I see. I'm glad you've come to me."
"Rachel said I could trust and since I trust Rachel I'm trusting her judgement. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here at all."
"I'm happy you trust her and her trust in me." Aggie said. "I don't mind going to Rachel's house at all to babysit. I will gladly do so if it helps keep you all safe."
Quinn felt her insides melt with relief.
"Also now that I know everything I'd like to discuss something that you may be interested in." Aggie continued.
"What?" Quinn asked.
"The position you are in is very fragile. Hearing your story, you've been through quite the ordeal and now your trying to protect your daughter from her father."
Quinn nodded.
"Well, if you'd like me to. I can help with that." Immediately Aggie saw Quinn's walls begin to stack, she smiled.
"Calm down, Quinn. I mean you no harm." Aggie said sweetly.
"I'm sorry I don't usually trust people."
"That's very understandable but allow me to explain."
"Okay."
"What if I told you I could help you get your paperwork approved for emancipation?"
Quinn's eyes bulged. "What?"
Though Quinn was 17 she still had months to go before her birthday and was struggling.
If she was to get emancipated it would make a lot of things easier especially with keeping her daughter.
That's one of the things Quinn had been worried about. She had no family for help and was homeless along with her sister.
Puck had family, his own business and had his mother co sign for their apartment. Without him she wouldn't have been able to do that.
If he found her those same factors could easily grant him full custody and Quinn could end up in foster care until she graduates. Charlie would belong to the system as well because she wasn't her legal guardian.
"Is that something you'd be interested in?"
"I'm sorry but what's the catch?"
"No catch."
"You expect to believe you'll help me get emancipated for nothing?"
"Quinn, I've told you my own story. You know I left home when I was still a child. I understand your situation more than you know. I can help you and I want to help you, why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because.. we don't even really know each other. Aren't you worried about us being just kids?"
"I would worry about something like that if I thought you were actually incompetent and were reckless but so far all I see is a young woman trying her best to survive while keeping her family intact. Now, I'm going to ask you again because I will not force you. Do you want my help?"
Silence engulf the room. Rachel sat waiting on the edge of her seat in silence.
Quinn stared into Aggie's eyes searching. Aggie sat calmly and waited.
Jaxon was playing with toys on the floor and Charlie was watching cartoons. Beth was in Quinn's arms drinking her milk.
Quinn looked at all the children than Rachel than back to Aggie.
"And I wouldn't owe you anything? Like ever?" Quinn asked.
"Never. Not a thing." Aggie assured.
Quinn swallowed thickly. "Okay.. I would like your help getting emancipated."
Rachel's smile exploded onto her face and Aggie smiled warmly at Quinn with a nod of approval.
"I promise you, Quinn. You won't regret this." Aggie said.
"I hope not."
