Chapter 16:
The morning after
She opens her eyes to find an empty bed. Rachel is not there. Yes, they sleep in the same bed every time Quinn stays the night; last night was no exception. She still thinks this will be a big problem when they tell Rachel's dads they are actually dating.
That is, if their relationship survives last night's events.
It is Saturday morning, she should be sleeping, but Rachel is a morning person, so, the moment the sun rises and the birds start singing, she awakes. And to Quinn it feels like something is missing with Rachel absent, so she ends up leaving the bed as well. Only today, she is not willing to find Rachel downstairs. She wants to be honest, of course, but she is afraid of the consequences.
Stretching her back and neck, careful to avoid moving her shoulder, she looks toward the bed table and notices a glass of water and two pills there. She takes the pills and leaves the bedroom.
When she enters the kitchen, she finds the Berry family doing what they do best, having a good time by only enjoying each other's presence.
Leroy is cooking their breakfast and the smells is delicious, Quinn takes note. Rachel is the only vegan in the house, even though Leroy tries to please her sometimes, eating vegan food as well. But mostly, he is always cooking two dishes. Something vegan for Rachel and something non-vegan for Hiram and himself.
"Morning sleepy beauty!" Hiram greets the blonde girl as soon as he sees her.
Rachel smiles fondly, watching her father greeting the girl she is in love with.
"Good morning Mr. Berry." Quinn says to Hiram.
"Oh hey! Good morning Quinn. How is your shoulder?" Leroy greets her as well.
"Good Morning Mr. Berry. It's fine, just sore."
"You can call us by our names sweetie. We're pass the formalities phase." Hiram states warmly.
"Are you hungry?" Rachel steps in, as she knows Quinn is not used to this type of interaction and this level of intimacy. "Dad is making pancakes."
"I'm actually pretty hungry." Quinn takes a sit by Rachel's side. "Rach?" She frowns, looking at the cereal Rachel is eating.
"Hum?" Rachel swallows quickly as she was with the spoon on her mouth the moment Quinn called her.
"Are you sure this is food you're eating?"
Hiram almost spills his coffee all over the kitchen bench.
"Aren't you a funny girl?" Rachel narrows her eyes in a playful manner.
"Oh no." Quinn gestures her free hand. "That's your role. I'd never."
"Very wise of you." Hiram raises his coffee as if he is making a toast.
"Stop mocking my child you two." Leroy says as he serves Quinn. "Here it is honey. Don't worry, they are real pancakes."
"Dad!" Rachel whines petulantly. "You too?"
"What?" He asks cynically.
"Just so you know baby this is my vegan cereal. And it's pretty good." Rachel says it in a very natural way. Leroy and Hiram notice, in fact they share a meaningful look. The girls, however, are too focus on each other to realize what Rachel just said.
"The cereal part is not what is concerning me, but the milk substitute."
"It's quite good."
"Okay…" Quinn trails off.
"Do you want me to help you?" Rachel inquires.
"No, it's okay. I'm fine." Holding the fork with her free hand, and with the plate in front of her, Quinn tries slicing the pancakes with difficulty.
"Let me." Rachel starts cutting the pancakes for her and thinking it would be the practical thing to do, she takes a peace with the fork and lifts it up towards Quinn so she can feed her girlfriend in the mouth.
"I'm not a baby."
"I'm aware. Just eat."
"Fine." Quinn rolls her eyes, but she opens her mouth.
"See? Easy."
The blonde girl starts chewing the pieces Rachel is feeding her, moaning as she does so.
"Quinn." Rachel looks like she is hungry, but not for food.
"Hum?" She doesn't stop her motions, enjoying her pancake a little too much in Rachel's opinion.
"You're moaning." The brunette says matter-of-factly.
Quinn chokes and blushes. She drinks the orange juice Leroy served her.
"I'm not. Besides, how would you know?" With her cheeks flushed, she opens her eyes widely as to warn Rachel.
"Intuition I guess." Rachel says as she goes back to her cereal.
"Rach!" Quinn reprimands her.
"What?" She questions cynically.
"Be more inappropriate, would you?"
"Me? You're the one moaning."
"I'm not." She looks at Hiram, searching for back up.
"You kind of are." Hiram states playfully.
She pretends to be outraged.
"Don't back her up sir, she is going to mock the hell out of me later." She pouts.
"I won't mock you. I promise." Rachel reassures her.
"Yeah, right…" She narrows her eyes. "Besides, it's not my fault Leroy's pancakes are so delicious. I'm just appreciating it."
"Thank you darling." Leroy says, pleased.
"Come on. More eating, less talking."
Rachel feeds her again as they all smile. In this moment, Quinn can't help but think that she just ruined the best thing that has happened to her.
"One more breakfast like this one and my fathers will fall for your charms the same way I've fell for you."
Rachel states lighthearted as they get inside her bedroom.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Quinn smiles, pleased.
As the blonde sits on the edge of Rachel's bed, the brunette gets closer and crosses her arms around Quinn's neck.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Rachel leans down so she can kiss the blonde girl, but Quinn dodges the kiss, moving her head to the side.
She doesn't think she deserves Rachel being all sweet with her. As for Rachel, of course she notices this change in Quinn's demeanor.
"I'm gonna call Santana."
"What for?" Rachel gets surprised.
"To take me home."
"Don't be silly, I can ask my dad to take you home and I'm going as well." She nods her head resolute. "I'm not going to be at ease until I see you stepping your foot inside your house."
With sorrow in her eyes, Quinn stares at Rachel.
"Trust me. I think it'll be better this way."
"Why?"
"I have to tell you something."
"I don't like the sound of this."
Rachel pulls away and sits on the bed right beside Quinn. The room suddenly gets uncomfortably quiet.
"I don't know what you need to tell me, but I need to say something first." Rachel looks at Quinn as the blonde has her eyes focused on anything in particular. "Like I said last night, we need to talk. But you weren't in any conditions at that moment and I wanted to…"
To cuddle you in my arms and never let go…
She thinks as she sighs. In fact, that was what she did. As if she knew, things were going to change between them. She considers herself a sensitive person, and the moment she saw the way Emily looked at Quinn, alarms started ringing inside her head.
"You're a mess right now and our relationship is complicated as it is-"
Quinn shakes her head and interrupts Rachel.
"You're only saying this because-"
"Please, let me finish." This time Rachel cuts her off. "Yesterday you left like a mad woman. I didn't get to explain anything."
"What's to explain? You broke up with me."
"I didn't. Aren't you listening?"
"I'm trying."
"I think we need a break."
"Same difference." Quinn snorts. Then she remembers she is not in a position to be petulant right now. "I'm sorry. Go on."
"I'm not giving up; I'm not going to let you go and I'm not going anywhere. Figuratively speaking." She smiles a little. "You're stuck with me. I love you. But you need my help as a friend right now. We need to focus on what you need to heal those wounds." She places her hand tenderly over Quinn's heart. "I know we can do it. Together."
"I really don't deserve you." Quinn says it with her voice cracking, a single tear running down her face.
"Don't say that. You know I love you."
"I love you too." Quinn turns to face Rachel, her eyes pouring her emotions. "Do you believe me?"
With Quinn looking at her like this, Rachel finds it easy to believe.
"I do. Hey. Look at me." Rachel cups the blonde's cheek and they look at each other's eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. It's just a temporary thing."
"It's not that." Quinn looks away.
"What's wrong?"
"I did something stupid. And I'm gonna lose you."
"You're not. I am here for you. No matter what. I promise."
"Don't make promises you won't keep."
"Quinn…" Rachel sighs.
"Emily…"
She frowns as soon as she hears the name.
They were not friends in high school and even though she supported her fathers and their will to help the at the time homeless girl, Rachel and Emily didn't get along. Emily always thought Rachel to be a little too petulant. And Rachel didn't like the air of superiority she used to emanate, like Emily was always above them. She didn't want to be part of anything because nothing was worthy of her time. She wasn't a Cheerio because they were too shallow, even though her best friend was one of them.
"What about her?" Rachel questions a little edgy.
"She kissed me."
I promise I'm going to post the continuation very soon, maybe tomorrow.
And don't worry, she said "she kissed me" but she will be more honest than that. But I'm afraid Rachel is not going to like it anyway, but you guys already know they broke up, it's on the first chapter, right? As I said, Quinn will redeem herself. And no, It's not with the Romeo and Juliet thing.