You guys left me so much great feedback (thank you!) for the last chapter I feel bad only posting this super short chapter today. A longer one will follow shortly.

Chapter twenty-seven: Punctuality Isn't That Important.

"You're late."

Quinn nearly broke her key off in the lock at her father's voice. She wrestled it free and turned with an apologetic smile. He was leaning against the doorway to the dining room with a half-full glass in his hand and a frown on his face. A glance at her watch told her that seven o clock had passed nearly ten minutes ago..

"Sorry! I misjudged how long it would take me to drive back from school this late." It was a weak lie but he wasn't listening anyway.

"Quinn, remind me again why punctuality is important."

"Yes, Daddy. Tardiness demonstrates a lack of respect and projects an image of carelessness. "

"And yet?"

"I know, Daddy. It won't happen again."

"Hurry and wash yourself up. Dinner is already on the table and it's getting cold."

Nodding, she ran for the stairs.

"Quinnie, slow down." Her mom called through the open door. "Try and remember you are a young lady and not a football player."

"Sorry, Mom. I will," she said, finding it hard not to roll her eyes as she tried to slowly hurry up to her bedroom to change into a fresh dress.

This was all Rachel's fault! She'd made sure to leave the Berry residence at six-forty, leaving her with time to spare, but Rachel had insisted on walking her out and they'd used up her free time and then some standing beside her car and making plans for the following school day. It had only been Hiram leaning out of the front door to yell 'Admit defeat and join a gym, girls, because you'll die of hypothermia before you can shiver all of those pizza calories off!' that they'd finally parted ways with small smiles and a squeeze of each other's freezing cold hands.

Finally at the dinner table she ladled as little of the home made beef and vegetable stew onto her plate as she could get away with and only one scoop of the creamed potatoes and popped a small forkful into her mouth before pushing the rest around her plate. If only they had a dog so that she could make some of it magically disappear.

"So how come you were so late, Quinnie?"

'So late?' It had been like seven minutes tops.

Naturally, she answered her Mom like it wasn't a ridiculous accusation. "I did actually start to leave on time but I got caught up talking to some of the girls by my car."

"Some of the girls? Are you rejoining the Cheerios?" Her Mom asked with an excited look to her father.

"No, I meant the girls in Glee. We have a special assignment this week and we all stayed late to work on it."

"All of them?"

She turned politely to the head of the table and answered his question as if she didn't know what it really was. "Santana and Brittany had Cheerios practice, so they couldn't stay for long."

"I see." He chewed a piece of beef before suddenly grinning, "You're not all doing that Tigger song, are you?"

She almost snorted a carrot out of her nose at the idea, "No, Daddy, certainly not. We haven't decided on a song yet actually, so we might be staying late tomorrow too. If that's okay?" she added, holding her breath in hope.

Her father pursed his lips doubtfully before relenting with a nod, "Of course you can Honey. I don't want you late for dinner again though so you better make it back here no later than six. Am I clear."

She nodded eagerly, "Yes, clear. Thank you, Daddy, I won't let you down again."

She couldn't wait to text Rachel and tell her that now even if their plans for snatching some time together went awry there would still be opportunity for a playdate after school.