Author's Notes: I hope this chapter is worth the cliffhanger! As always, big thanks for Mike Ownby, who did his usual touch-up on all my pesky Americanisms (though this author's note remains a British English haven, ha) and helped streamline the content.
Quinn remembers her first kiss well.
She was at one of Puck's parties – one of her first as a Cheerio. Quinn proudly wore her uniform to the party, enjoying the attention she got from all the boys present. Finn Hudson, one of the football team jocks, stumbled over, told her she was hot, and asked if he could kiss her. Quinn had said yes, of course; she'd seen him around a few times when cheering for his games, and even the senior Cheerios thought Finn was cute. He was future high school royalty, and Quinn did agree with the seniors that he was cute (kind of); she couldn't have asked for a better guy for her first kiss.
The kiss itself was pretty underwhelming, considering all the hype that went into it. He'd mashed his lips against hers and held them there without moving. Just when Quinn was about to push him away, Finn had backed up, goofy smile on his face, and asked her to be his girlfriend. Quinn agreed, naturally; what Finn lacked in kissing skills, he more than made up for in popularity. Besides, they would have plenty of opportunity to practice kissing if they were gonna date through high school and maybe get married after.
This isn't her first kiss. It's not even her first kiss with a girl. But none of those first kisses match up to this one, which –
– is still happening.
Quinn kisses back tentatively. She would be lying if she were to say this isn't everything she's been dreaming of for a while now, but –
She puts a few inches of space between them, enough for her to catch her breath. "Marley?"
Slowly, Marley's eyes flutter open. Her face is flushed, her lips parted. They're still close enough for Quinn to feel Marley's breath on her cheek.
Seconds pass. Marley's eyes close, and she leans forward to kiss Quinn again. This time, Quinn is prepared; her right hand comes up to rest on Marley's cheek, steadying them both. She inhales softly when she feels Marley's hand on her neck.
It takes every bit of her self-control not to lose herself in the kiss. Quinn hums in pleasure, which turns into a soft moan when Marley's tongue traces Quinn's lip, gently yet firmly exploring her.
Marley's skin is so soft under Quinn's fingertips. She runs her thumb over the curve of Marley's jaw, enjoying the little ragged breath Marley draws in response.
Quinn breaks the kiss reluctantly. She would much rather be kissing Marley until the end of time, but they have so much to talk about. It cheers her up somewhat when Marley seems just as unwilling to stop kissing her. "Marley," she says again.
She whines but reluctantly, slowly, steps away.
Once they are at a safe distance, Quinn breathes out slowly. "You kissed me," she says stupidly.
"I did," replies Marley. Her hands are clasped together in front of her.
She has so much to say, Quinn doesn't know where to begin. She needs more time to gather her thoughts, thoroughly scattered by the kiss. "You… " Quinn begins.
But before she can finish, Marley says: "I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I'm sorry," repeats Marley, voice stronger. "I've read this all wrong. I'll understand if you don't feel the same way."
"What?" says Quinn, completely incapable of independent thought now that her train of thought is completely derailed. "I – no, that's not what I was gonna say."
"Oh." Marley's teeth show briefly as she bites down on her lower lip, her expression uncertain.
"Why did you kiss me?" Quinn asks. Her voice wavers despite her best efforts.
Marley's smile is barely there. "The other night in Grand Rapids, I thought you were gonna kiss me."
"And?"
Marley shrugs. "You didn't. I thought I'd imagined the whole thing. But I couldn't stop thinking about you since, and kissing you, so…" She waves a hand carelessly. "I finally worked up the courage to kiss you."
Quinn stares at her. "You kissed me because you thought I was going to kiss you?"
"You were talking about kissing Sam and getting to know for sure how you felt," replies Marley simply. "It seemed like the perfect time."
Quinn worries her lower lip between her teeth. "I was going to kiss you that night," she admits. She is watching Marley carefully as she speaks, her voice slow and deliberate, and she sees Marley's eyes brighten – then cloud in confusion.
"... Why didn't you?"
Quinn laughs, a sharp incredulous sound. "We're both girls, Marley. Imagine what it would be like if I kissed you and you pushed me away? We'd be stuck together for another week, imagine how awkward it would be."
"I kissed you, and you didn't push me away." Marley takes a step closer.
Quinn sighs. "I'm gay," she says, voice wavering a tiny bit. "I wasn't being completely honest with you earlier. Rachel didn't tell me anything. I found out what kissing someone was supposed to be like because I kissed her."
"You what?"
"She's not gay, but she helped me figure the rest out." Quinn frowns. "I had a hard time accepting it all, but once I did, I quit Cheerios. I had too much going on."
"Oh." Quinn can practically see the cogs turning in Marley's head. "Quinn, do you like me?"
"I…" She isn't sure why the words stick in her throat. Quinn didn't have a problem admitting to herself that she has a crush on Marley all this while. For god's sake, she was kissing Marley five minutes ago, a kiss that Marley initiated. "It's complicated."
"Complicated?" Marley lets out a surprised laugh. "Quinn, it's a yes or no question. Which actually, you don't even need to answer because you kissed me back."
"It's not just that," says Quinn. "We barely know each other. We'll be done with this trip in a few more days."
"What does any of that have to do with what I'm asking you?"
Quinn grits her teeth. "Nothing, which is what should have happened between us," she says. "I shouldn't have kissed you back. We should have had a great vacation, and in the fall, you would've gone to New York, and me to New Haven."
Marley just stares at her, hurt and confusion written all over her face. "Is that what you want? For nothing to happen?"
"I can't do this right now," says Quinn. "Please, Marley."
"Quinn, I'm just trying to understand. Why can't you tell me whether you like me or not?" Marley's voice trembles. "What's stopping you? What are you so afraid of?"
Quinn presses her teeth into her lower lip. Everything, she's afraid of everything, she wants to say; she wants to tell Marley that she's afraid of having anything at all, because she ends up losing it in the end. "What do you want from me, Marley?"
"What?"
"Okay, I have a crush on you," says Quinn, voice trembling. "That's why I nearly kissed you that night. Is that what you want to hear?" Memories float in her mind, of the boys she's dated and the girl she kissed. "What happens now?"
Marley just stares at her. She takes another step forward. Slowly, she lifts her right hand until her fingertips rest lightly on Quinn's cheek. Quinn flinches; looking hurt, Marley withdraws her hand. "Nothing. This doesn't have to mean anything if you don't want it to."
Quinn backs away, hugging herself tightly. "It's getting late," says Quinn quietly. "We should get back to the motel." She turns and walks away.
"Quinn."
"Can we not talk about this now?" Quinn pleads.
Marley sighs. "Okay."
Quinn drives. Marley spends the entire ride staring out the window, determinedly not looking at Quinn.
Her stomach is churning. Marley kissed her. Marley kissed her. She should be happy; she's wanted to kiss Marley for what feels like forever. But she's ruined everything. She ruins everything that's good just by touching it, and it shouldn't be a surprise to her that she's ruined this as well.
Why is she so afraid of this?
Quinn's no stranger to rejection. Finn, her own parents… even Rachel had let her down, albeit Rachel had done it in the gentlest way possible. And here she is, with someone she likes, and who seems to like her back. It's not rejection; it's the farthest possible from it.
But, says the little voice in her mind, their situation is complicated. They're halfway through their road trip, and at the end of the summer, they'll be headed for two different cities. The whole point of this road trip was to enjoy the brief period of leisure between school and make memories, not pack more emotional baggage for Quinn to carry to Yale.
College is supposed to be her fresh start. She can't make a fresh start if she's hung up over a summer fling, and Marley deserves far more than to be just a casual summer fling. She is beautiful, she is kind, and she is far too loving and generous to be strung along and ultimately hurt by someone like Quinn.
If only Quinn could tell her that walking away would hurt Quinn more than it could ever hurt Marley.
Marley hesitates in the doorway of their motel room.
Quinn notices. "What is it?" she asks, careful not to sound harsh or impatient.
"I can – are you okay with sharing a room?" After what just happened, goes unsaid.
"Of course," says Quinn. "Nothing has changed." She pretends she doesn't notice Marley flinch. "You can use the bathroom first," Quinn adds, turning and bending over her bags, pretending to be engrossed with searching for something.
When the bathroom door clicks shut, Quinn collapses on her bed with a sigh. She feels heavy, when she feels like she should be flying. She really, really hopes that she'll be able to look back on this in a couple of years and smile at how dramatic she was, instead of feeling that she's making the biggest mistake of her life right now.
Quinn sleeps surprisingly well, and wakes up early the next morning. Marley hasn't said a word to her since she asked about their sleeping arrangements, but it doesn't matter since there doesn't need to be much talking today. Quinn has planned a day of museums and galleries, and with a little luck they can scrape past the day in silence.
Marley isn't in the room when Quinn is done with the bathroom. She's grateful for it; she isn't sure she can face Marley right now, when all her walls are still down and she hasn't had the time and space to put her walls back up again.
Hey where r u? she texts Marley.
Lobby srry
Marley sits up straight when Quinn approaches, a blush decorating her cheeks.
"H-hey," says Marley. "Mornin'. Did you sleep well?"
All the quiet determination and bravado of last night seems to have fled. Marley seems to have reverted to the person who approached Quinn on the bleachers months ago.
Quinn hates it.
"Yeah," she says, her gaze sliding sideways. "You?"
"Me too." She stands. "We should go."
For all Quinn had thought of cutting their trip short because it would be awkward, she doesn't actually want to do it. This is stupid. The whole thing is stupid; why did Marley have to kiss her? Why did she have to kiss Marley back?
They could be doing more kissing. But instead, Marley's not really talking to her and Quinn can't fix it.
Quinn uses their fake IDs to get discounts to the art museum. She catches a hint of a smile from Marley before it's gone, and Marley is pressing her lips together and looking away.
She's miserable like she's never been before; not even after Rachel told her she didn't like Quinn the way Quinn liked her. And what's worse, it's almost entirely self-inflicted.
Somewhere after the Museum of Contemporary Art, Marley stops in the middle of the sidewalk.
"Quinn."
Quinn squares her shoulders. She's not ready for this confrontation. She doesn't think she'll ever be ready. "Marley…"
"We really need to talk about this," snaps Marley. "Let's go back to the motel, I'm not doing this in public."
"We're not doing anything," Quinn says, her tone wheedling. "Let's just get the trip over and done with. You can hate me all you want then. Or we can even cut this short and head back to Lima tomorrow."
She starts when Marley marches in front of her. She's angry, but Quinn can see tears in her eyes; guilt eats at her.
"Quinn, please. I can't do this, and neither can you. Can we… let's just go back to the motel. I don't think I can go through the day with us like this."
Quinn relents.
Once the door clicks shut behind them, Marley wastes no time rounding on Quinn. "Okay, why are you doing this, Quinn? Why are you pretending you don't like me, when you're clearly miserable about it?"
The tone of Marley's voice stings Quinn out of her sulk. "I'm not miserable," replies Quinn sourly. Which is true; she's angry at herself, and at Marley for not letting her sulk in peace.
"Yes, you are. I like you, Quinn, and I think you like me too. What is so hard about that?"
"I don't think we should be starting anything now, that's all." Quinn avoids any discussion of feelings.
"I'm not – we're not starting anything. I just want to spend this summer with you."
The way Marley says the words makes them seem golden. She sees it all in a flash: driving with the windows open, exchanging kisses in the lazy fashion only people truly comfortable with each other can. Her heart longs for that.
"Then let's go back out there," says Quinn, tamping down her emotions. "Let's go on with the plan."
Marley growls. "God, you're frustrating!"
"Well, get used to it," snaps Quinn. "This is who I am."
"No, it's not." Quinn sees the tightness of Marley's jaw, the anger simmering beneath the surface. "Why are you trying so hard to push me away?"
"Is it working?"
Marley's mouth twitches. "No."
Quinn looks away. "You know why, Marley. We can't do this – any of this. You're not gay," Quinn bites out, ignoring how the words cut into her. "I am. I'm sorry if I've confused you, or if I've done anything to lead you on. None of this was supposed to happen, and I'm sorry for that."
"Is that what you think?" Marley looks hurt. "That you turned me gay?"
"We're both girls, what does that make you?" Quinn shoots back.
"We've both dated boys too," replies Marley. "Yet you kissed Rachel, and I kissed you."
"You've only ever kissed me," reples Quinn, her heart pounding in her ears. "How do you even know if you like girls?"
Marley makes a noise of frustration. "Look, it's not about liking girls or guys. Quinn, you – you don't know how important you are to me. I know it's crazy given how little time we've spent together, but… the last week has been one of the happiest of my life. You're the first person I think about in the morning, and the last thing at night. I've never felt this comfortable, this – myself – with any other person."
"You'd probably feel the same way about Jake if you spent a week with him."
Marley shakes her head, as though struggling to follow Quinn's logic. "I don't need to know if I like girls or not. I don't care," she says, ignoring Quinn's words completely. "All I know is, I like you. I want to kiss you. I don't need to kiss other girls to know whether I like you or not."
"Yes, you do!" bursts out Quinn violently. If Marley wants a fight, Quinn will give her one. "You can't do this. We can't. You're more important than that – " Quinn stops short, angry with herself.
"More important than what?"
Quinn closes her eyes. "You shouldn't like me," she says, deflecting. She doesn't understand how that managed to slip out.
"Quinn, are you crazy? You're amazing. I think I'm more surprised that someone like you would like me."
"What?" Quinn says, frowning. "You're surprised? You're just – why wouldn't anyone like you? You make the most mundane things interesting. You say the strangest, most random things, which would be annoying if it came from anyone but you."
Marley looks a little pink. "The same question applies to you as well," she says, not meeting Quinn's eyes.
"No, it doesn't," replies Quinn without thinking.
"Do you really think you're unlovable?" asks Marley, clearly exasperated. "Because you're not. You're beautiful, and strong, and funny; and you have the biggest heart."
"I'm difficult."
"If that was supposed to scare me, it didn't."
Quinn doesn't laugh. "No one's ever liked me for me," she mumbles. "The boys – Puck, Finn, even Sam. They wanted to be with me 'cause I was pretty and popular and Head Cheerio. And Rachel didn't want me at all." A bitter laugh escapes her.
"I'm not Finn. Or Sam. Or Rachel," Marley answers her quietly. "And I like you because you teach me about worlds that I didn't know before. You laugh with me. You look after me. The rest doesn't matter to me, Quinn. I like you for you."
"I can't give you a relationship," Quinn whispers. "We're going our separate ways after all this."
"... Is that what you were so worried about, this entire time?" Marley asks.
"I've never done this with a girl before. I don't know what to expect."
"I'm definitely not saying we have to be in a relationship just because we kissed. We don't have much time left together, it doesn't make sense."
Quinn presses her lips together. "Exactly my point."
"I promise I won't fall in love with you, if that's what you're so afraid of," says Marley, shaking her head. "What's wrong with wanting you?"
Quinn shakes her head. "Are you so devoid of emotional self-preservation? You'd rather we be together for a week and never see each other again? Why are you so intent on being so emotionally invested in something that's not gonna work out?"
Marley looks her in the eye, her gaze so bright and intent Quinn has to look away for fear of being burned. "You're worth it, Quinn. Every second of being with you. Even if I end up being Icarus, I would much rather have tried and failed, rather than regret not trying at all."
"... did you just reference Greek mythology?"
"I thought you might listen to that if everything else failed."
The shy smile Marley gives her makes all of Quinn's excuses dry up on her tongue. She has never been so wanted; she has never been made to feel like she is worth every risk. With Marley…
… she feels like she can let herself want.
"I…" She pauses to lick suddenly dry lips. "Are you sure?"
Marley's answer is to come closer, tilting her face ever-so-slightly to one side. She doesn't kiss Quinn, however; she hovers just inches away, a small smile on her face, her eyes shining. The message is clear to Quinn.
So, Quinn kisses her.
She feels Marley smile into the kiss, and exhilaration floods through her body. Quinn presses closer, her fingers finding soft fabric and holding on.
This time, when Marley kisses her back, it is not soft or tentative. Her hands cup Quinn's face; she seems intent on showing Quinn how much she wants this, wants her. She traces the seam of Quinn's lower lip with her tongue, eliciting a soft groan from Quinn.
Quinn is functioning on autopilot now. She deepens the kiss, wanting more. Her grip on Marley's shirt tightens, and she pulls her closer. Marley lets a soft 'oh' escape her before their mouths slide together again, with more fervor.
The backs of Quinn's legs bump against the bed; she breaks the kiss, surprised. "I," she begins, and doesn't complete the sentence. Quinn feels dazed and giddy, and so happy she feels like she might burst.
Marley, flushed crimson, licks her lips. Quinn follows the movement of her tongue with her eyes.
"Wow."
Quinn laughs softly. Wow is also something she might have said, if her brain hadn't quit on her halfway. She sits down. "Come here," she says, looking up at Marley and trying not to blush harder.
Marley doesn't need to be told twice; she scrambles forward eagerly. Her head would have almost collided with Quinn's mouth if Quinn hadn't scooted backwards in the nick of time. But the awkward moment is forgotten almost instantly when their lips meet in the middle again.
Quinn can feel the mattress shift on either side of her body where Marley's knees are pressed. Marley is straddling Quinn's lap, and Quinn's mouth goes dry at the realization. There isn't a single rational thought in Quinn's mind. All she can think of is Marley, and how much she's wanted this – wants this.
Marley is considerably taller than Quinn when she's straddling Quinn's lap, a fact she takes advantage off. Her arms are around Quinn's neck, just as Quinn grabs onto Marley's waist. Quinn catches a hint of a smile before Marley bends her head and they're kissing again. Her tongue darts into Quinn's mouth; Quinn sucks on it, enjoying the surprised noise Marley makes. Quinn splays her hands across Marley's lower back, ostensibly supporting her but really trying to touch as much of Marley as she possibly can.
She needs to breathe. Reluctantly, Quinn pulls back, just enough so their foreheads are still pressed together. Quinn breathes in Marley's scent, willing her heart to stop trying to beat its way out of her chest.
When she opens her eyes, all Quinn can see is Marley, eyes bright and face flushed, her lips parted and glistening. She thinks she might be grinning like a fool; she isn't sure.
Marley doesn't break eye contact; her hand moves to cup Quinn's cheek, thumb rubbing comforting circles on her skin. Quinn subtly leans into the touch.
She can't remember feeling this happy. She feels desired; the warmth filling her chest.
"You kissed me," says Marley, sounding unreasonably happy. And also smug, but Quinn lets that go.
Quinn scoffs at her. "I did." Her smile is wide, and it probably gives her away.
Marley dips her head and pecks Quinn on the cheek. "Can we stay in so I can keep kissing you?"
"We're leaving Chicago the day after tomorrow and you want to spend our time in the room?"
Marley nods, once. She drops her head so her face is buried in Quinn's shoulder, which is…
Adorable. Quinn finds it adorable. "Well, that's not fair. After all, we went to all the places you wanted to go yesterday, and today was supposed to be my day."
She had meant it as a joke, but immediately Marley stiffens and straightens up, her expression horrified. "Oh shoot, I didn't mean it that way, I – why are you laughing at me?"
"I'm not," says Quinn, then presses her lips together.
"You are!"
"No. You're delusional."
Marley finally gets that she's being teased. She narrows her eyes. "I still can't tell if you're joking or not."
"Work at it." Quinn gives one last tug on the lock of hair curling over Marley's ear, then extracts herself with an expertise honed from plenty of ex-boyfriends. She relishes the sudden hunger in Marley's eyes.
It hits Quinn then, that she has no idea how to be with someone. With the boys, it was easy. She held the power in the relationship but let the boys think they were in charge.
She doesn't want to do that with Marley. Which actually – it shouldn't even be a factor, considering that they'll be going their separate ways after a week. This isn't a relationship.
It occurs to Quinn, then, that for all the talking they've done, there hasn't been much agreed on.
"Marley?"
"Hmm?"
"I think we need to, uh, talk." She clears her throat, because it sounds terrible and she needs a do-over. "About what's gonna happen for the rest of the trip. With us."
Marley watches her. "Oh."
"I just, I'd feel better if I knew what to expect. Or not expect." She sighs.
"I'm already promised you I'm not gonna fall in love with you," replies Marley. "Everything else is kinda… winging it." She glances down then.
"Winging it?"
"I'd like to keep on kissing you," says Marley, and the bluntness makes Quinn blush.
"I'd like that too," Quinn admits, and is rewarded with a smile. "I think we can work with that."
Marley starts laughing hysterically, and doesn't stop; even when Quinn throws a pillow at her.
Quinn really should have anticipated what comes after kissing Marley. For a moment, it feels like nothing has changed; but Marley turns to her to say something, and the sparkle in her eyes makes heat rise in Quinn's cheeks.
Embarrassingly enough, it's rather like the cheesy love songs they perform in Glee, that is an integral part of their setlists because Mr Schue is so fond of them. At least she's not singing and dancing on the sidewalk, like Rachel Berry might have.
Instead, Quinn gives the girl beside her a small shy smile, and asks: "Did you still want that ice cream?"
Marley emits a soft groan. "Maybe later. Lunch first, I've been looking forward to this."
"You've been looking forward to every meal on this trip so far," remarks Quinn, and Marley scowls at her.
"Maybe, but I've heard plenty of good things about deep dish pizza."
Quinn laughs. "You should go on a food tour of all fifty states someday."
Marley brightens, clearly excited. "You'll be the first person I call when that happens."
At this point, Quinn still doesn't know what to feel whenever Marley talks about the future. It's a little ridiculous given that she isn't even talking about them being together, but Quinn isn't accustomed to thinking about her future. Up until she got pregnant, Quinn had thought she would marry her high school sweetheart and build a white picket fence life together. That was replaced with getting out of Lima but she'd spared little thought for what came after.
"Hey."
Quinn blinks. Marley is smiling at her.
"You zoned out for a while back there. You okay?"
"Yeah. Just… thinking about pizza," says Quinn.
Marley purses her lips at Quinn. "Yeah, I'll buy that," she says, then bumps Quinn's elbow, grinning at her.
"I swear it's the truth," mock-protests Quinn. "You know me; I've been dying to eat real Chicago deep-dish pizza forever."
Marley laughs and shakes her head. For a moment there, it seems like everything is the same as it always was – but then Marley's smile softens, and Quinn's heart skips a beat.
Marley puts her face very close to Quinn's. "Liar," she says softly. Her eyes flicker downwards, then back up, as she smiles.
Quinn's brain short-circuits.
By the time she blinks, Marley is back at a safe distance, her attention on her phone. "I'm starving," she says, tilting her phone and making the arrow on the screen wobble crazily. "I hope we're getting there soon."
Forget the arrow: Quinn's head is spinning. And here she thought she invented the motto "all the teasing, none of the pleasing". She thinks she might understand why the boys looked so frustrated all the time, and she offers up a silent apology.
When walking in Millenium Park, it is impossible to miss Cloud Gate. Even though it's not on Quinn's original plan, she's incapable of saying no to Marley. The work doesn't appeal to Quinn much, but she can appreciate the artist's vision as she stares at her reflection in the curved surface of the sculpture. Quinn is certain, however, that he didn't intend for her to interpret the distorted version of herself as an appropriate metaphor for her life.
"You never really answered my question," she says without looking at Marley. "Why me?"
It takes a while for Marley to get into the same serious conversation headspace as Quinn, but when she eventually does, it's with a warm smile directed at Quinn. "I've never felt this way about a girl before – that is, had the same feelings for a girl the same as I've had for boys."
"That doesn't say much. Do you spend a lot of time with other girls at school?"
"Well – no."
"So do you go 'round falling in love with whoever you spend a week with?" She didn't mean for the question to come out sounding so confrontational, but when she thinks about it, she realizes it's something she's been meaning to ask for a while.
"Quinn, that's not fair," says Marley, frowning. "I'd love to say that you're special, this is the first time I've ever felt this way about anyone, but I don't know what I'm doing. All I know is that I like you, and I want to be spending all the time we have left living to the fullest. It's really that simple."
"A girlfriend for a week," remarks Quinn, trying not to sound too sarcastic.
"I'm eighteen," says Marley, snorting. "I've only ever dated two guys. I kissed a girl for the first time in my life yesterday. What do I know about love? I'm definitely not looking for someone to spend the rest of my life with, neither am I lying awake at night trying to figure out if I'm gay or straight. It doesn't matter; it shouldn't matter."
"It matters," says Quinn, "when it changes everything you thought you knew." She drops her gaze from Cloud Gate to the ground, unable to look her twisted reflection in the eye.
"Is that what happened?"
Quinn's mouth twitches. She doesn't need to answer; she knows her thoughts are written on her face as plain as day.
"... You kissed Rachel, and she rejected you." Marley shakes her head. "Now I get what you mean about you and Rachel having a complicated friendship. Bet you were thinking, oh god if only she knew."
"Yeah, exactly," admits Quinn. "It was really awkward for a bit. I really wasn't planning on coming out to you – no offense."
"None taken. We really haven't known each other very long, haven't we?"
"You don't know me," blurts Quinn. "Maybe you think you do. I certainly don't know everything about you. I don't understand how you can like me."
"You're saying if I get to know you better, then I won't like you?" Marley tilts her head to one side, as though physically grappling with Quinn's logic. "But by that logic, the less I know you, the more I should like you."
"That doesn't make any sense."
Marley laughs. "No. Nothing about any of this should make sense, but it does." She extends her hand, offering it to Quinn. "It's just a matter of how much you want it."
Quinn shakes her head. "I… you're infuriating."
"I've been told worse." Marley grasps Quinn's wrist and gives it a squeeze. "Why are you fighting so hard? Is this something you really don't want?"
"I've never gotten anything I've wanted," says Quinn quietly. "I destroy everything I touch."
"You're afraid to want this," Marley guesses.
"I'm tired of losing things."
Marley sighs. "I wish there was something I can say or do to help you not feel that way. Or even something that would erase all your doubts, but… there isn't."
Quinn, touched by how much Marley seems to care, makes a bold move – by her standards. She reaches out to hold Marley's hand. "This helps," she admits very softly, looking down at their joined hands..
Beaming, Marley twines their fingers together.
Quinn tries not to blush, and fails.
"I'm sorry that happened to you," says Marley quietly.
"Sorry for what, exactly?" Quinn asks, surprised.
"Everything, I guess. But I think I understand you a little better now, and you know what? I still like you." She grins, swinging their linked hands for emphasis.
Quinn lets out an involuntary snort; partly because she doesn't know how to respond to that, but mostly to cover up how charmed she is by Marley's words.
"Finally." Marley makes a beeline for her bed, grunting when her body hits the mattress.
"We didn't walk that much."
"Please leave me alone to die," grumbles Marley. She rolls to lie on her back.
Quinn seats herself primly on her own bed, crossing her legs. "You're almost as dramatic as Rachel," she says, eyes on her phone as she scrolls through her social media feed.
"Almost is the key word." Marley props herself up on her elbows and pats the bed. "Come over here."
"What?" Quinn's eyes go from Marley, to her hand, then back at Marley. "You – are you being serious?"
"No! Whatever you're thinking, the answer is no!" Marley's blush is something to behold; the color goes all the way down her neck and into her shirt. Quinn tears her eyes away with great difficulty. "I just… you're too far away to cuddle."
Quinn wrinkles her nose, unable to decide if Marley is still joking, or this is a poor attempt at being serious. "Are you actually telling me to go over there so you can cuddle?"
"No! Well – if you wanted to, I wouldn't say no." Amazingly, Marley doesn't blush harder. She looks quite earnest about the entire thing. "Do… do you not want to?"
Quinn is – for lack of a better word – torn. Certainly, she'd like a chance to get close to Marley, but she's never been so blatantly propositioned like that. Even Puck made an attempt at subtlety. In lieu of a verbal response, Quinn rises and moves to Marley's bed. She plumps up the pillows there and leans back against them.
Marley gives her a goofy grin. She flops on her side next to Quinn, head touching Quinn's shoulder; Marley produces her phone from her pocket and starts checking her notifications.
She still has her phone in her hands, fully expecting to have to put it away once Marley initiates kissing. But this lack of action unsettles Quinn. "You actually wanted me close?"
"Hmm?" Marley looks up from her phone. "Yeah. Why?
"I thought it was an excuse and you wanted to make out or something."
Marley grins sheepishly. "Like I said, I wouldn't say no if you wanted to. But just being like this is nice too, isn't it?" She wriggles closer so her entire side is pressing against Quinn's.
Once she's gotten over her preconceived notions of – whatever they are doing, Quinn has to agree. She relaxes. "You're really nothing like I've ever experienced," she says. "But… yeah, this is nice."
Marley makes a pleased sound. "Thats a good thing, right? And almost as nice as this?" she asks, then kisses Quinn's cheek. Her lips linger a beat too long, and Quinn takes a breath.
"You liar. You do want to make out, like the horny teenager you are." Quinn turns her head and captures Marley's lips in a proper kiss, relishing the soft happy hum she gets in response.
"Would you have come over if I'd just said: "Let's make out"?"
"Maybe," says Quinn, and enjoys the look of shock on Marley's face. She kisses Marley again, playfully taking Marley's bottom lip in her teeth and tugging.
"Oh fuck," says Marley, and Quinn feels a hand clutch the back of her neck, drawing her in. She goes willingly.
They kiss for what seems like a few minutes to Quinn, until something vibrates on her hip, making her jump.
"Shoot, sorry," says Marley, swatting at her phone.
Quinn catches a glimpse of the time on it and gasps. "It's nearly midnight."
"What? Oh. Wow." Marley laughs sheepishly. "That didn't feel like two hours." Marley rests her head on Quinn's shoulder. "We should probably sleep."
"Right now? Like this?"
Marley shrugs. "Why not? I'm too warm and comfortable to move."
"Gross. Go brush your teeth, I'm not kissing you tomorrow if you have morning breath." Quinn pushes Marley away, ignoring the other girl's pout.
"You can't resist my charms," says Marley, climbing off Quinn and disappearing into the bathroom.
Quinn shakes her head. She still can't believe this is them now, almost exactly twenty-four hours after all the events that almost ruined everything. It's hard to stop smiling, even; Quinn can't believe how happy she is once she's allowed herself to be.
She doesn't have a plan for the next week. It should scare her, but it doesn't.
"You're looking pale."
"Excuse me?"
"I think you've been spending a little too much time in your head," says Marley. She rejoins Quinn, now dressed for bed, wearing her oversized-T-shirt-and-shorts pajama outfit. "You need to get out more often."
Quinn starts to laugh. She laughs so hard her stomach hurts. She curls up in a ball, clutching her middle, still laughing hysterically.
"What?" asks Marley, sticking out her bottom lip in a comical-looking pout.
"You're ridiculous."
"Yeah, tell me something I don't already know. Or you haven't already said to me, like, a thousand times."
"Tomorrow. I guess. Stick around and find out," says Quinn. She gets up and disappears into the bathroom.
When she reemerges, it's to the sight of Marley still lying on the covers, fast asleep.
"Hey," she whispers, putting her hand on Marley's shoulder.
Marley stirs. "Wha'?"
"You fell asleep. Get under the covers or you'll catch a cold." She collects Marley's phone and sets it on the nightstand.
"Mmph. You're warm."
"Excuse me?" Quinn asks, arching an eyebrow. She hurriedly dodges a flailing hand that nearly knocks her glasses off as Marley rolls over.
"Sleep here tonight and I won't catch a cold," mumbles Marley.
Quinn supposes she's still mostly asleep – though it's hard to tell, because Marley does say too many non sequiturs for Quinn's taste. "That's what blankets are for."
Marley makes a whining noise. "Stay with me?"
She sighs. Curse her for never being able to say no. "Fine," she says shortly, pulling off her glasses and placing them safely out of Marley's reach. When she slides under the covers, Marley immediately puts an arm around Quinn's middle, buries her face in Quinn's neck, and falls asleep again. Quinn finds it very cute.
A part of her still wonders what she's doing, but right now, she's tired and warm and very comfortable, and she chooses to ignore it in favor of enjoying the now..