(Rachel POV)
God, this summer sucks….. I can't believe my camps have been canceled. You see, I was counting on those camps to keep my mind off of it.
Rachel sits in her room on the window seat looking out over the yard and the little bit of town she can see. Her left knee is drawn to her chest as her right legs dangles over the edge of the window bench. She begins to lazily play with her as she begins to think of her. To think of Quinn.
It started at the end of last year, after her accident. Quinn had been so down and just about given up when Rachel saw it. She saw that hopeless look. That look that told of the feeling she had felt before. That feeling of utter loneliness and that there was no point to it all. Rachel had simply known that look because she had been there before. She felt all the weight and emotions and rawness before. Rachel had almost ended it all before.
She made herself a promise at the end of that long road. A promise that no one would feel that was if she could help it. Knowing full well that she was not the only facture in someone's decision to end it all, she vowed not the be the last straw. She had changed after everything that happened that year. She changed a lot of things about herself.
Watching Quinn roll down the hall in the wheelchair with her broken heart on her sleave and despair on her face had set a chain of events in motion that led Rachel to where she is right now. Thinking back on how it all started.
"Hey, Quinn! Let help you out. You look a little tired." Smiling, Rachel moved behind the chair and began to push.
"Thanks, but you don't have to. I can do it."
"It's fine. I've missed you in glee recently. Where have you been?"
"I've had physical therapy and been catching up on the work I missed while I was out. Rachel where are we going?"
With pursed lips Rachel sighs. "We are going to the auditorium. I want to talk to you for a bit."
"We both have class. We can't miss that. Is miss perfect attendance really going to skip?"
Rounding the corner and sitting on the stage she stops and locks the chair. Purposefully ignoring the question for the moment, she gathers a few soft pillows and a blanket from the stage props and lays them out.
"Rachel. Really what are we doing here?" annoyance edging her tone.
"We are going to sit here for the last class of the day and do some homework while listening to music and then I will be taking you to your physical therapy." Rachel states mature-of-factly as she looks at Quinn with her arms crossed. Rolling her eyes Quinn unlocks her chair and starts to leave.
"Oh no you don't!" Rachel runs over and stops the blond girls escape. There is a slight struggle and Rachel wins due to the simple fact that she has the height and leverage Quinn does not from her position. Rachel quickly scoops Quinn up and out of the chair with little effort on her part.
"Damn it, Rachel put me down!" She exclaims as she struggles some more in the brunet's arms.
Holding the blond closer and tighter so not to drop her, Rachel makes her way to the pallet she has laid out and gently placed her on it. Moving quickly, she grads some more items and creates a back for them to lean against. Never has she been so thankful she the years of dance and gymnastics that led to her having the strength and agility to do what she just did. She can see the resentment and unshed tears in the blonds eyes from the stunt she just pulled. With a sigh she sits down.
"I'm sorry but I can't just let you go without hearing me out. Please." Begging, Rachel keeps her eyes down knowing that the last thing Quinn wants right now is to look at her or touch her or be near her.
As a tear rolls down her cheek an angry whisper escapes her lips, "It's not like I can go anywhere now."
Resigned to what she started; chocolate eyes slowly move up to find the smooth white face stained with silent tears. "I know you have not been going to physical therapy or doing your schoolwork. It's all a show. I help the teachers grade sometimes for the classes I'm not in and I have seen your work more than once. Or, I have not seen it, I should say. I also volunteer at the physical therapy clinic because I can't deal with hospitals and I need the hours for my collage applications. I just happened to over hear the staff, while I was filing papers, talking about the beautiful young blond that has been skipping her appointments over the last two weeks. And they were saying what a shame it was because you were making great progress and it look like…"
"It is none of your business what I do. You have no right! How dare you!" The fury clear on her face are she interrupts the ramble of the other girl.
"Quinn, I just want to help. I'm here for what ever you need. To talk, to cry, for support, or a tutor. I am well aware of what I've done. I just refuse to let you give up. You, Quinn Fabray, are too amazing and strong to give up." She counters softly while chancing a touch to the beauties arm.
Pulling away and arms crossed Quinn stairs out and refuses to look at or talk to Rachel. Sighing, the brunet pulls both school bags closer and takes out her own work. Setting her phone to play the tops songs on her play list she begins working through her history assignment. Three songs later the notes Quinn pull out some of her own work and begin. Smiling to herself and tapping her pen, Rachel begins to lowly sing along with the song, "Love, I've been looking for a while. Been close a couple times. Man, she's hard to find. And towns, been everywhere along the map." Stopping she sees Quinn looking at her.
"What?"
"Why do you have this song on your play list? All of them seem to be classic Broadway so far and them modern country. It's out of the norm." A genuinely curious tone in her voice laced with the last of her anger.
"All the songs on this play list mean something to me. I always listen to it while doing my homework and put it on out of habit. I can change it if you have a preference." Knowing what the next song was and that she didn't want to lie this girl that needed help, she hopped that the blond would want to change the song. She knew she was not ready for that conversation. Noting the change on the girls face she sighed.
"Rachel, what does this song mean?" The song had changed during her contemplation and she knew it. Quinn knew the song even as the opening cords played. Those Nights by Skillet begins in earnest as Rachel looks deep into Quinn's eyes and sees the wonder and understanding.
Breaking eye contact and looking out over the seats she quietly replies, "Like I said. I'm here for anything you need. I'm not ready to talk about the meaning of this song to me with you. But, if you stick around long enough, I might tell you one day."
"I'll go." Comes her quite answer to the unasked question. Chocolate eyes find hazel and she can tell something small has changed in blond beauty.
"Go where?"
"I'll go to physical therapy. If ….you take me." The look was hesitant, and the tone hopeful, but Rachel saw it for what it was. A commitment to try. Nothing more and nothing less.
Looking at the clock and seeing time had gotten away from them the brunet quickly stood and started to gather her things and replace things where she fond them. "You should probably tell who ever was coming get you that they don't need to."
"No one was coming. At least not anytime soon. My mom is at work till late and…. I wasn't planning on going home." Quinn whispers the last part as she looks away. Having stopped short at the first part, Rachel sighs and pretends as if she didn't hear the last part. She knew that pushing was not what was needed now and that it would come out in time. Turning she brings the chair closer and locks it. With a smile, and warning this time, she gently cradles the slightly taller girl to her chest and places her in the chair.
"Would you like me to push you to car or would you like to do it yourself?" Rachel politely asks.
Knowing just how demanding the next hour is going to be because she has not been going and more than likely regressed in her therapy, she lightly sighs and bows her head. "If you don't mind, could you please push me."
Spotting the change in the girls demeanor, Rachel crouches down and lifts Quinn's chin with her fingertips. "Do not feel bad about needing help. Believe me, I know how hard these next hours, days, weeks, and months are going to be. Plus, if I get to help with the therapy then I am not going easy on you." Letting a cheeky smile grace her lips she stands and begins making her way to car while pushing her friend.