"Quinn?" The blonde started to stir as she felt a gentle hand shake her shoulder, prying her from her dreamless sleep. "Quinn sweetie?" Quinn's eyes blinked open as she recognised the voice as her mother's. For a moment she wondered if her mother had really slapped her and yelled at her last night but the slight sting on her cheek confirmed it had happened. Quinn sat up in bed, looking at her mother in confusion. Why was she being so nice? Was she going to apologise?
"What time is it?" Quinn croaked through sleepiness.
"Half past six honey, I woke you up a bit earlier because there's something I need to discuss with you."
Quinn stared at her mother as she felt her stomach flip. Whenever her family had something to 'discuss' the end result never favoured her. She sucked in some air as she waited for her mother to continue who was now fussing over a stray bit of cotton on her cardigan. She looked up to meet Quinn's questioning expression.
"You're father and I have agreed that it might be best if you go and talk to someone again, because-"
"You want me to see another shrink?" Quinn asked angrily. Her parents had taken her to a total of seven psychiatrists over the years. The last session had been when she was twelve years old so the thought of seeing one again after all this time seemed stupid. They had all told her parents that she either had an 'over-active imagination' or it was 'just a phase'. Not one of them ever believed her for a second so why would this new one be any different?
"Honey, we just think that now you're eighteen, you're more eligible for diagnosis- that's what Dr Shepard told us over the phone," Judy told her daughter, trying to sound as genuine as possible so as not to anger Quinn even more.
"You've already phoned one up? I can't believe this!" Judy flinched as Quinn pushed herself out of bed and created as much distance between her and Judy as possible by standing on the opposite side of the room. "There is nothing wrong with me! Why won't you believe me?"
"Because normal people don't see ghosts Quinn! They don't exist!" Judy snapped, looking down at the floor as she desperately tried to keep calm, already regretting her outburst. She looked at Quinn's face hesitantly. Quinn looked hurt most of all and her hazel eyes bore into her mother's.
"You don't think I'm normal?" Quinn asked. Judy opened her mouth to reply but no sound passed by her lips so she closed it and looked away, unable to give her daughter an answer. Quinn scoffed. "I'm not seeing a damned shrink," she told her mother before storming out of her room. She let out a cry of shock as her body collided with another. She looked up to see her father standing in front of her with a stern posture.
"Oh yes you are young lady. I've had it up to here with your ghost stories. You need to realise that whatever you think you're seeing does not exist," Russell sighed and rubbed his unshaven chin. "Listen honey," he said as his voice softened, "you're unwell, you need some help and this guy- Dr Shepard- he's supposed to be damned good at what he does, so you're seeing him, tonight at half past eight."
Quinn realised that her parents were adamant on her seeing a psychiatrist, even if it meant dragging her there. She sighed. "Fine. I'll be home about half six, just before it goes dark," she muttered.
Russell's eyebrows shot up. "Where will you have disappeared to for nearly two hours?"
Quinn met his gaze, determined not to let the lie show on her face. "I'm taking pictures."
Russell grunted at the reply and was shortly joined by Judy who failed to look Quinn in the eye. The blonde turned back towards her room, hearing her father call out behind her, "Don't be late! I'm not paying nearly $150 for nothing."
She shut her door behind her and collapsed onto the bed. She was still fuming about having to be put through this torture again. She hated everything about psychiatrists. The questions they asked her, the way they tried to twist everything she said but most of all, she hated the look in their eyes when she told them she could interact with the dead. They automatically assumed she was messed up and Quinn hated being judged like that, she hated that they wouldn't just believe her.
He gaze danced over to her beside clock and she groaned as she realised she now had to get ready for school- another thing she hated almost as much as shrinks. Though, at least she had Brittany and Santana.
Quinn sat in homeroom; doodling over her notepad as the register was taken. Even still, when her name was called out, she would still hear whispering or catch the odd stare in her direction. It seemed people hadn't totally forgotten Monday's incident yet. As soon as she could, she escaped the room and headed straight to study hall for first period, thankful that she didn't have a lesson. She was still far too angry to concentrate properly.
After about ten minutes when Quinn had found a table and had begun to copy out English notes she heard, "Pssst." She looked up curiously and was met by a blonde cheerleader who was grinning like a five year old on Christmas day. She offered Quinn a little wave and mouthed, "Hi." Quinn returned the gesture and motioned Brittany over as she was also sat on her own.
Quinn frowned when Brittany sat down without any school related equipment whatsoever. "You do know you're in study hall Britt?" The cheerleader smiled and nodded.
"Yeah I know. I mostly come in here and just sleep or whatever but you're here now! There's no one in to talk to on Thursday first period usually." She looked at Quinn with a face full of interest and Quinn sighed to herself as she realised that she'd probably get very little done this hour.
"Are you seeing Rachel again tonight?" Brittany asked excitedly. Quinn nodded. "Tell her I say hi? It was really cool meeting a ghost- though I don't think Santana thought so. I don't think the two like each other which is a shame because it'd be super cool if we all got along."
For the next forty minutes, Brittany talked and talked about everything. Rachel, Santana- she even started on ghost movies and questioned Quinn if they were realistic tp her. Normally Quinn hated people who didn't stop talking but she didn't mind listening to Brittany, and even if she did, the girl was far too sweet to be told to shut up.
By morning break, Quinn was piling books into her locker, ready to go and see if she could find the two cheerleaders. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of a Cheerio uniform and she smiled. Only when she turned to the figure head on did her smile falter. Holly was stood in front of her with her hands on her hips, glaring at Quinn as the rest of the Cheerios- minus Santana and Brittany- copied her. Quinn held the head Cheerio's stare, refusing to let this girl think she had something over her.
"Where's your little guard dog?" Holly asked as she noticed the lack of Santana.
Quinn continued to glare at her and gritted her teeth to stop her from retorting. The last thing she needed was more negative attention; it'd only give the bullies something else to taunt her with.
"What's up Quinn? Ghost got your tongue?" Holly and the rest of her followers snickered. Quinn rolled her eyes and slammed her locker shut, heading towards the nearest bathroom, but to her horror the squad started to follow. She noticed one of the other cheerleaders hand something to Holly but she didn't have enough time to catch what it was before she turned around.
She entered the bathroom and sure enough a few moments later, the squad also entered, completely backing Quinn against the wall. She could now see what was in Holly's hand, it was a blue slushie. Her brows furrowed and she noticed Holly harbouring a cruel smile as she edged closer.
"Shut your eyes Quinn," a voice to the side of her said. She glanced to her left, noticing Amy leaning against a stall door. Quinn barely had time to comprehend what Amy had told her before an extremely cold, textured liquid hit her face. She shut her eyes tight and gasped, tasting the blueberry flavour as her mouth opened from shock. The slushie went up her nose, all over her hair and it dripped down the front of her top which sent shivers tingling right down to her core.
She heard Holly drop the cup to the floor as she cackled, exiting with her team as they left Quinn stood there, covered in what was essentially blueberry flavoured ice. Humiliation swam in her veins and for a moment she wasn't sure if she was going to scream or cry.
"It'll wash out, but you need to do it quickly," Amy said caringly. "Just rinse your hair off in the sink and your clothes the best you can and it shouldn't stain." Quinn nodded as she squinted her way towards the sink, following Amy's instructions. "I can't believe they did that to you," Amy said quietly.
"I can, Holly's a bitch," Quinn scoffed as she rinsed her face off. She heard Amy sigh to herself and wondered what the girl was thinking about.
"She never used to be like that," Amy told Quinn.
"Really? Could have fooled me, seems like she's been a pro-bitch for a long time," Quinn said bitterly, realising she shouldn't take her anger out on Amy.
"She really didn't. She was my best friend right up until I died last year. Then she seemed to change so fast. She became cold and cruel and it hurt me to watch her become like that. I guess she just takes her emotions out on people," Amy explained sadly.
"Yeah, well I just wish she didn't take them out on me," Quinn mumbled as she squeezed blue water out of her hair.
"She targets you because of what happened in the cafeteria."
"Yeah, I know that. I'm the school nut case now remember?" Quinn snapped, unable to control her temper.
Amy sighed and rubbed her forehead. "She targets you especially because of that. That night we went camping, Holly was there too. She saw your friend on the steps too and I think she was the most freaked out of all of us. After that night, she wouldn't watch or read anything with ghosts in. So when she heard that you were talking to 'thin air' I bet she guessed you were perfect to vent on."
Quinn looked up to see a saddened Amy and she suddenly felt awful for snapping at her. "Do you miss her?"
"I miss the old her," Amy said. "But not everything lasts forever," she said with a sympathetic smile. Her eyes glanced to the round clock that hung above the door. "Including morning break. You better finish up and get to second period."
"About tonight," Quinn started, "Should I meet you in here or at the house?"
Amy smiled, "I'll be here." Quinn nodded and continued to wash the blue gunk off of her clothes.
School had ended and Quinn and Amy were stood outside the abandoned house. Quinn looked at Amy, noticing her shift uncomfortably as she looked the huge, crumbling building up and down. Quinn was the first to move and she pushed the front door open, letting it glide through the air until she could see the insides from the doorstep.
She stood there and tried to see if Rachel was around but nothing stirred. She looked back to Amy and motioned her to follow her inside. "Rachel?" Quinn's voice echoed through the house and a slight chill made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
"Is she home?" Amy asked as she looked around the deserted house.
"She's trapped here, so I'm presuming so," Quinn said quietly. "Rachel? It's Quinn, where are you?" She called again, this time beginning to make her way upstairs with Amy hot on her heels.
"Quinn? I'm in my room," Rachel's distant voice called out. Quinn felt the familiar warmth flood her belly as the brunette's soft voice intruded her ears and she started to take the steps two at a time.
The door to Rachel's room was slightly a jar so Quinn quickly knocked twice before entering. To her surprise, she saw the brunette sprawled out on the floor, reading a magazine.
"Where did you get that from?" Quinn asked Rachel who still hadn't torn her gaze away from the magazine's glossy pages that were filled with gossip, celebrities and fashion.
"It was in Santana's bag. I didn't think she'd mind me borrowing it, after all, we got on so well," Rachel said casually as she turned another page. "I've not read one of these things since before I died," she stated before looking up at Quinn. At first she looked happy but then her eyes clouded as her gaze focussed past Quinn. "Is there someone else here? C'mon Quinn, after last time, really? Just please don't tell me you're back for another Ouija board session, I don't know how much more Santana can take being thrown at her," Rachel said with a smirk.
"Um, no it's not Santana or Brittany, I brought my friend Amy to see you," Quinn said as she stepped in to allow Amy and Rachel to see each other properly. "She's a ghost," Quinn said with a small smile.
Quinn noticed Rachel's expression briefly turn cold before a slight smile replaced it. "Hey," Amy said, grinning at Rachel as she recognised the ghost who had made her and her friends leave the house last year- though Rachel didn't seem to share her enthusiasm.
"Hello," Rachel replied briskly before standing up and brushing herself down.
"She was wondering if you knew anything to help her cross over, she's kind of stuck too," Quinn explained. Rachel's eyes flickered over to the other ghost and her stare grew hard.
"If I did, I wouldn't be here," Rachel said curtly, surprising Quinn with the edge in her voice. What had gotten into the little brunette?
"Well, Quinn suggested writing a letter to my mom, telling her not to blame herself and that I love her and stuff- do you think that'd work? I mean it's a good idea and-" Amy started but was cut short by Rachel whose eyes had narrowed on the girl.
"Like I said, I don't know. I wish I could help, but I can't. You're wasting your time here," Rachel told the other ghost bluntly.
"Oh," was all Amy could say as she broke Rachel's harsh stare and looked down towards the ground.
The air fell silent and seemed to fill with tension. Quinn really didn't know why Rachel was acting like this. When it was just the two of them, Rachel was the sweetest person that Quinn knew but now she was acting entirely different.
"I need to go, I'll see you tomorrow Quinn. Thanks anyway Rachel," the ghostly Cheerio mumbled, still keeping her gaze averted.
"Are you sure?" Quinn asked, slightly confused.
Amy quickly looked at Rachel then back to Quinn before nodding and disappearing entirely.
"I wish I could disappear out of here like that," Rachel muttered to herself.
Quinn turned sharply towards the ghost. "What's gotten into you Rachel?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Rachel replied though Quinn could tell the falseness in her voice.
"I mean, why were you acting like that to Amy? She only wanted some help, she's trapped to you know," Quinn said with a tinge of anger in her voice.
"Trapped? Didn't she just leave this place? At least she's not confined to the same old place every day. Seriously, do you know how happy I was when I took this from Santana's bag?" She waved down at the magazine. "I've been here for five years Quinn," Rachel snapped.
"I get that, I do but you didn't need to be so harsh towards Amy, she's a really nice girl you know," Quinn said softly, hoping her calmer tone would benefit the conversation.
"Whatever," Rachel mumbled as she shrugged.
"Fine. I guess I should leave to," Quinn said coarsely as she turned her back on the ghost. She was nearly out of the door when she felt Rachel's cold hand clasp around hers and tug her back. Rachel breathed a sigh and Quinn stopped but didn't turn around.
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just bitter that I'm trapped here and she gets to leave just like that, and-" Rachel cut her words off which caused Quinn to turn around and look at her curiously.
"And?" Quinn goaded.
Rachel took in a breath and started to chew her bottom lip. "And, I also guess I'm a bit jealous."
Quinn's brow creased with confusion. "Why on earth would you be jealous?" she asked Rachel, trying to smile at how awkward the other girl was acting in that moment.
"I just… like the idea of being your only ghost friend," Rachel told Quinn, though Quinn knew there was something else that Rachel wasn't telling her though she decided not to question it for now, knowing that if she did, the ghost would probably retreat into an even worse mood. Instead she pulled the ghost into a hug and felt the other girl's cold body against hers as her arms wrapped around Quinn.
"Stop being silly," Quinn simply said and she felt Rachel smile into her shoulder. Rachel pulled away slightly and looked up at the blonde. Their faces were inches away from each other and Quinn didn't understand why her heart was suddenly beating that bit faster or why her breath had hitched but she did know that Rachel had noticed as a grin tugged on her lips. Quinn's face heated and she broke the closeness, looking away as she blushed. "I can't stay for long," Quinn said quietly.
Rachel's grin faded; the corners of her mouth slightly downturned. "Why not?" Rachel queried.
The question caused Quinn's face to heat even more as the thought of telling someone that they had to see a shrink seemed so degrading. "Some stupid family thing," Quinn lied.
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Okay, now tell me the truth," Rachel said smirking as she saw right through Quinn's lie.
Quinn growled with frustration and embarrassment. "My parents are making me see a shrink," she said, avoiding Rachel's eyes.
"They really don't believe you do they?" Rachel stated as she began to close the gap between them once more. Quinn shook her head and flinched when she felt ice-cold fingertips press against the slight sting on her left cheek, soothing the pain slightly. Quinn didn't have to tell her where the mark had come from, Rachel had already guessed and sympathy glistened in her chocolate eyes. "I'm sorry about that," Rachel whispered, still looking up at Quinn and still touching her cheek.
Quinn didn't fully understand what Rachel was doing until the ghost's surprisingly soft lips brushed against her own. Quinn's heart was beating even faster and her hazel eyes shut instinctively as she felt herself briefly kiss the brunette back before her eyes flew open and she broke it off, staring at Rachel- who looked surprised at Quinn's reaction. Quinn's mouth opened and shut a few times but she couldn't quite get the words out, she didn't know what to say, she didn't know what to think so she ran.
As she ran down the stairs she could hear Rachel call her name out from behind her, even when she was out of the house, Rachel's voice still seemed to echo throughout the air and Quinn could hear the hurt held within it. Tears of frustration sprung to her eyes as she tore along the dirt path, back towards her house.
Quinn didn't run because of the kiss. The kiss had made her realise what all the little jittery, warm feelings had been, why she felt so drawn to Rachel but most of all, it had made her realise that maybe, just, maybe she had developed feelings for a ghost but despite that, Quinn knew no matter how hard she tried she wouldn't be able to keep away and that terrified her more than anything.
Quinn shut her door and sat with her back against it as she buried her head in her hands. "What the hell am I getting myself into?"