Did I say it was just a one-shot? Well, I lied. Ya know, like a liar. I'm continuing until I run out of juice to write. No beta!
Rachel found herself standing outside Principal Figgins' office. After informing the Principal about her situation, he quickly granted her request. Rachel thought it was because he wanted her out of the way and not to cause any more of a headache. She was probably right about that. She got what she wanted and she could talk to Quinn again sooner now.
Well, she would have but Quinn had her own... disciplinary action to be dealt with. Rachel did see and agree with Quinn's reasoning, but stabbing someone was a bit too much in her book.
Quinn also gave her a wink as Principal Figgins called her into his office. It made Rachel's cheeks burn hot and red.
So, Rachel waited for Quinn to leave the office. She knew Mrs. Thompson didn't care as long as Rachel didn't bother her but Rachel also didn't want to sit in the lobby with her. Even though the secretary couldn't hear anything with her headphones on, Rachel was more concerned that she would catch them doing something.
What thing? Rachel didn't exactly know herself but she still didn't want Mrs. Thompson to peep at them.
God, what was Rachel even thinking?
Rachel nervously played with the loose strings of her grey sweater, a toned-down outfit from what she usually dressed, to calm down a bit and waited some more.
Why was Quinn taking so long? It isn't that hard to assign detention or suspension. Unless she was arguing her point to lessen the consequences. Rachel would be proud of Quinn if she was doing that right now. It would be very unexpected if Quinn did that, though.
She imagined an angry Quinn yelling about unfairness.
It was hot.
'Calm down,' she told herself, 'you only just met her today. Don't get obsessive.'
She repeated the last part in her head like a dying mantra.
Rachel knew that was why she didn't make many friends at her last school.
She doesn't think sitting out here waiting for Quinn to come back seemed obsessive at all. She's just making a new friend. She does need more of those. Members of the Glee club were her friends if she was using the term very liberally. Tina was the closest person she had to be considered a friend. Kurt and Mercedes too but they were more people to talk to in passing when they weren't annoyed with her insistence on how to properly sing during Glee practice.
Which happened a lot.
Quinn seemed to be a more agreeable person than those two. Maybe Rachel could get Quinn's alto singing potential to be added to the club. Yes, Quinn might not be able to actually sing a note but Rachel was not if an excellent vocal coach. Oh, that would be such a great thing to happen. Rachel would get to see Quinn twice a week and have a new person to talk to, not including the vocal training they could do.
But would the skank even agree to that? She was, well, a skank. Rachel didn't even know what grade the other girl was in to know if she attended her classes or not.
It would be helpful if she knew more about Quinn—Rachel doesn't even know her last name yet. She really needed to calm down.
"Not that I don't mind a lady-in-waiting, but what are you still doing here?" a voice interrupted Rachel's train of thought. The husky in the voice made it evident that it was Quinn and a, hopefully, unnoticeable shiver was felt up her spine.
Rachel had to stop herself from rapidly jerking her head to the direction of Quinn's voice. She instead slowly turned to face the other girl. "I did say I would come back."
"Well, yeah. I didn't think you meant you would stay behind for me." Was it weird for Rachel to have done that? Oh no, the mantra didn't work. Rachel felt herself start to panic but Quinn continued. "Not that it's bad or anything, just unexpected. I thought our conversation was done. Did you have something else to say?"
It did calm her down a bit.
'Just wanted to ask you to join the Glee Club,' Rachel thought. Instead what came out was, "Oh, I was curious about what adequate punishment Principal Figgins saw fit to give you after the incident you had with Noah."
Quinn gave her a curious look, almost as if she knew Rachel was lying. Rachel doesn't know how she thought she sold it at that time. The only response Rachel gets from Quinn is a hum of acknowledgment and then she gestured for Rachel to stand up and follow her down the hall. Rachel blindly did so.
Quinn started the conversation back up again when they were a few feet away from Figgins' office. "I managed to talk him down for an ISS instead of a normal suspension. It also won't be on my record."
An in-school-suspension? Smart. Rachel could appreciate a fellow negotiator. But the latter part of the statement confounded her. "It'll be off your permanent record?"
The real question she wanted to ask was why would a skank care about matters such are those, but Quinn surprisingly picked up on it.
"I do care about colleges, Berry. My future is important. Don't be assuming again," Quinn said jokingly, yet there was an underlining serious tilt that Rachel registered.
"I'll put my assumptions about you away."
"Thanks. I appreciate that." Quinn chuckled.
"How did you get him to grant you your requests?"
"I told him what Puck did and added, very subtly, that I would get my friends on him. I think he picked up on the message," Quinn said with a shrug.
Violent convincing skills? Rachel thinks she'll have to dock some points.
Wait, docking points on what?
Rachel cleared her throat. "I see. How are you going to serve your in-school-suspension then?"
"I think it's the American history teacher, Mr. Jenkins, who oversees it."
"The scrawny little man?" Rachel interrupted.
Quinn snorted. "I don't think you can call anybody else little, Berry."
"Hey!" she protested. Quinn ignored her.
"But yeah, him. Pretty sure that he's scared of me. A little intimidation and I will have it all completed. At least in theory, not in practice," Quinn finished.
Quinn and Rachel took a turn and continued down the hallway, Rachel blindly following Quinn. She didn't know where she was going but was happy to follow Quinn around and continue the conversation. She just liked hearing Quinn talk.
Maybe it was how Quinn's voice fluctuated from a husk to something a bit lighter. Whatever it was, Rachel was hooked.
The few seconds that they weren't talking, Rachel heard Quinn humming a melody. She couldn't quite put her finger on what the song was and Rachel prided herself on being able to identify music of any kind.
"What song are you humming, Quinn?" Rachel asked.
Quinn stopped humming. "Oh, you could hear that?" Rachel nodded. "Sorry."
"Don't be! Even though I only heard it for a short while, you hummed great. That doesn't answer my question, though."
"Well, I was humming to Feeling Good by Nina Simone," Quinn answered nervously. She seemed like she was trying to hide it but Rachel's superior hearing skills picked the tone up from Quinn's voice.
"I would never have pegged you as a soul fan," Rachel commented. Quinn raised her finger as if she were reprimanding Rachel. "Yes, I said I would stop assuming things about you. I can't help it if you constantly cause me to reevaluate who you are. You liking Nina Simone… She is a phenomenal singer. I do think you would get along quite fine with Mercedes. You and her seem to have similar music taste, and possibly Santana, but I don't think she would be as willing to be friends. At first, anyway."
Quinn scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion. "Uh, Mercedes? Santana? Why are you mentioning them?" Quinn questioned.
"Oh, sorry. I was getting ahead of myself. Those are my fellow club members. I'm certain you would be accepted into our fold."
"So, you're asking me about… Joining your Glee club?" Rachel nodded. Quinn continued. "I don't think I'm the type of person who you want to join your club. Besides, I don't sing."
"Can't or won't?" Rachel blurted out. So much for self-control.
Quinn raised a challenging eyebrow. "Does it matter which?"
"Not at all. I can tell by the sound of your voice, and humming ability, that you have an adequate singing voice. With my help, even if my guess is wrong, it'll be fantastic in no time. You won't be at my level but it'll be enough for Glee. Coming back to your first excuse, the Glee club us accepting from all walks of life," Rachel stated.
Quinn looked like she was going to retort Rachel's statement. She let out a chuckle instead. "Anybody can hum decently, Berry. I don't think you insulting my lack of singing experience is a good way to recruit me. You need to work on that," Quinn commented. "But what you mean by with your help?" Quinn asked.
Rachel detected a hint of interest in Quinn's question. She took it. "No one in the Glee club ever takes up my offer of being their vocal coach but I do have a lifetime of experience. I have been singing since I was three months old and know exactly what I'm doing."
Quinn did a short laugh. "Say I do decide to join the Glee club… what's in it for me?"
"It'll look great for colleges. More so when we go to Nationals in New York this year."
"How are you so sure about that?"
"I am very confident in my ability to pull my team through. Even if their commitment can be rather lacking sometimes."
"How convincing."
Rachel gasped. "Are you doubting my singing abilities? Have you ever heard me sing yet?"
Quinn seemed to contemplate her answer. "I don't think I have."
"We need to change that," Rachel stated. "You and I, in the auditorium after school."
"Why should I, Berry?" Quinn challenged.
"I bet I can knock your socks off when you hear me sing."
Quinn let out a snort. "'Knock my socks off'? What decade are you from, Berry?" Quinn mumbled. Rachel chose to ignore it.
"It won't kill you to hear me sing after school," Rachel whined with a pout.
Quinn stared at her before clearing her throat. "So how about this, I'll see you in the auditorium, hear you sing, and then maybe join your club."
"After hearing me sing, you will definitely want to join the club." And maybe be friends. "I'm happy that you're accepting, Quinn." Rachel beamed, her smile reaching her eyes. "But how will I know if you'll really be there and aren't just lying to me now?"
Quinn suddenly stopped and stood close to Rachel, close enough to gently cup her face that there was barely an inch of space separating them.
"Hmm." Quinn hummed. It seemed like she was contemplating something Rachel couldn't tell, she was standing in shock at close proximity. Rachel only registered Quinn's hazel eyes that now had specs of gold and green swirling around. It wasn't a sight she had for long because Quinn moved her face as if to whisper something into her ear.
Rachel felt a deep exhale of breath on her cheek, followed by a kiss. It was nothing more than a quick peck on her cheek.
But it caused an intense blush to spread across her face.
Rachel's brain was short-circuited and could barely make out Quinn whisper.
"Yeah, I'll be there. You have my word, Berry." Quinn let her fingers linger on Rachel's left cheek before abruptly letting go.
"See ya later, Rachel," Quinn stated as she made her way down the hall. Rachel only meekly nodded in response.
Her name sounded so... sensual when it came out of Quinn's lips.
It wasn't until Quinn went around the corner and was out of her sight that Rachel was able to gather her thoughts and she noticed the classroom number.
115C. Her English Literature class.
How the hell did Quinn know what and where her class during this period was?
Holy moly, she maybe was a stalker.
At least she was a pretty one.