Chapter 4:
Rachel found glee club was consuming, but her thoughts were often about Quinn. The morning after their night out, she woke with a sore head, but a happy heart. She wouldn't touch Daiquiri's again, but she did plan to go out with Quinn as soon as she could find time to track her down.
The school week ended fast and she hadn't crossed paths with Quinn once and she still hadn't got her number. So she joined her Dads at the local food festival, but she found herself scanning the crowd far to frequently hoping that Quinn might magically appear.
By Monday morning, Rachel couldn't wait any longer. She was on her way to Quinn's classroom when she saw Jimmy and Mischa sitting by the piano.
"Ms Andrews said I should come see you." Mischa stood up when Rachel walked in the room.
Rachel grinned, at least Quinn was still trying to help her get a club together. The second Mischa started singing and Rachel knew they had someone special. She was mesmerising.
Once Mischa was signed up, her friends followed and by the time Rachel had a minute to herself it was the end of Lunch.
They had a club and now she could find Quinn, just as she was about to go looking she was stopped by Sue standing legs apart, hands on hips, blocking her way.
"Lovely to see you Sue." She feigned warmth, but knew she was about to be cut down.
"Berry! So you failed and ended up back at High School? Well, I'd like to say its good to see you, but that'd be a lie as you've always been a poisoned dwarf that needed bringing down. Now I can own you, just like I owned Will! I own you Berry!" Sue pointed her finger at Rachel, holding her in a gaze for a moment.
"I did not fail and you really don't own me. I'm doing this for nothing." Rachel rolled her eyes.
Sue laughed heartily "And nothing is what you'll get. Nothing is what you will give to these poor, poor kids. Kids that you think you can build up just to knock them down. I destroyed this club once and I can do it again. Glee fails here and you will fail."
"We won nationals. McKinley has a history of success and as bitter as you are Sue you can't change that. Mrs Stephens is all for this, you can't stop us." Rachel could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was ready to fight for this.
"I'll try and I will win! So watch your back midget. Sue Sylvester means business."
Sue laughed as she slammed the door shut and Rachel shuddered. Sue may be ageing, but she was still a worthy adversary.
Rachel sighed, she wanted to help, but if Sue needed to fight, then that's what she'd do. By the time she got to Quinn's classroom she was surprised to find it empty, so she went back to thinking up set lists and costumes and watching clips of their competitors. She wanted to know them inside out and make sure they could win.
It was late Thursday afternoon by the time she finally saw Quinn again. Sue had changed the locks to the choir room and Rachel was fuming. She'd found the janitor and finally got the room open only to turn and see Sue stood at the end of the hall laughing. "I'll find another way to stop you dwarf. That was just the beginning."
Rachel narrowed her eyes but refused to rise to Sue, instead she found herself marching the other way down the halls. With a purpose she stormed into Quinn's class room. The same room she'd accidentally on purpose walked past three times a day all week, but not once had Quinn turned to notice her. Not once had Quinn been in the staff room on her break.
"Sue." Was all she said as Quinn visibly shrunk behind her desk.
"Not now, Rachel." Quinn used her best steely glare but it was no match for a determined Rachel, it never really had been.
"She's crazed. Just threatened me." Rachel continued. "and I hate being called a dwarf."
"I'll talk to her." Quinn assured, but Rachel knew she didn't have her full attention. The room was empty bar one girl sat at a desk in the middle of the room making notes.
"Someone has to stop her. She took glee club once. What if she does it again? I don't think I could handle it. I don't think I could stop myself from doing something to that evil women. Ugh she makes me so angry."
"I can't now, Rachel please!" Quinn stood up and took Rachel's arm, leading her from the room. "I've a student."
"She's only making notes." Rachel glanced at the girl and shrugged.
"She's taking a makeup test."
"Oh." Rachel felt her cheeks redden. "I'm sorry. It's just I've not seen you all week. Did I say something, do something?" Rachel remembered the awkward hug at the end of the night. It had been playing on her mind all week.
"It's just been a tough week. We're good. Friends." Quinn reassured, but her eyes were back on the girl in her classroom.
"I..." Rachel didn't want to push her.
"I better get back." Quinn had closed the door before Rachel could say anything in response.
xoxo
"You know Quinn Fabray teaches at the school?" She asked her dad that night at dinner.
"You may have mentioned it a few times."
"But did you know before I told you?" She persisted.
"After Judy got sick, well yes. Quinn came back to Lima and we got to know her."
"You're friends of Judy's? I can't get that." Rachel shook her head incredulously.
"Things happen Rachel. She's not a bad woman. She came back for Quinn when she was pregnant."
"I don't think I ever saw her again, you know. Is that odd?"
"It wasn't a good house and Russell was not a good Dad. Quinn must have found it hard growing up in a home like that. We all know Judy had her troubles but since she joined the theatre group, well we all became friends. Albeit slowly."
"She's a friend? I can't see Daddy sharing a drink with her."
"No drinks, Judy doesn't now. She can't forgive herself. Did you know that? She wasn't there for Quinn and she regrets that. Then she got sick. Her heart is weak and that's how we got closer to her. Since Hiram..." Leroy choked a little. "She's been good to me and Quinn was too."
"Quinn?"
"She came to see us both a few times. Asked about you of course. Told us all about how amazing you were on stage. In fact we couldn't get a word in. She really thought you were something else. You obviously mean a lot to her."
"Did you know that she didn't bother to come and find me afterwards? To come to New York and then just leave, does that make sense to you?"
"I guess not, but you know she sounded like quite the fan." Leroy winked and Rachel felt at a loss for words.
"And you know she's married?"
"Hmm." Leroy pursed his lips as he studied Rachel for a moment. "I've met the husband. He's good to Quinn."
"Right, but not good for her in your opinion?" Rachel nodded. "She says they separated."
"I didn't say that and I didn't know."
"But it doesn't surprise you?"
"I..look you should talk to Quinn about all that." Leroy prompted, but Rachel wasn't listening anymore.
xoxo
The next morning Rachel found a note on her desk.
'Sorry about yesterday. Drinks tonight? Can't believe the week I've had. Could do with some good company. Q.'
She saw Quinn's number scrawled at the bottom of the page. Tapping out a message she felt bad for declining, but she'd already made plans with Kurt who was visiting from LA
Quinn's response was prompt.
'I'll see if Miss Hanson is free...maybe i'll dig out the tequila!' Rachel felt a little guilty, she wanted to see Quinn and it sounded like Quinn needed the company, then a second message came through.
'I've nothing on this weekend so let me know if you're free Sat/Sun. Say hi to Kurt from me.'
For a moment Rachel thought perhaps she should invite Quinn along to see Kurt too, but she was feeling selfish and wanted him to herself. He was only in for one night.
'Free saturday.' She replied after ten minutes of typing out similarly worded messages.
'I'll pick you up at your Dads? 9am? We can make a day of it.'
"Perfect." She wasn't sure what state she'd be in at 9am, but Kurt was taking his flying visit literally. A night with Rachel. An early breakfast with his Dad and then back to LA.
Hangover or not, she couldn't resist spending the day with Quinn, she'd been thinking about her all week. How could she save her, did she need saving at all. Time would tell. Rachel needed to get to know her better, they'd both changed a lot over the last few years.
xoxo
"Quinn Fabray!" Kurt was laughing, he hadn't stopped since she'd told him.
"Please!" Rachel couldn't get him to stop, no matter how hard she scowled.
"I'm sorry...No I'm not. Quinn! the Quinn. Oh Rachel." His voice softened.
"What?" She found herself on the defensive.
"Still got high school issues. You talk about Finn?"
"We did. I think we're good. She's changed. We had drinks last week and it was good. Really good." Rachel smiled at the memory and caught Kurt raising his eyebrow at her. "and tomorrow we're going out. I think we could be good friends, you know. We're both older and…things change." Rachel's face filled with a smile as she talked and she saw Kurt watching her with interest.
"Oh yeah. Both older and a lot has changed. So you just want her friendship?" Kurt chuckled and Rachel lightly shoved him. "Oh come on Rachel, you don't still have that secret crush on her?"
"I never had a crush." Rachel narrowed her eyes but a smile played at her lips. "She's straight, we're going to be friends."
"Oh my little star." He shook his head. "You should tell her."
"There is nothing to tell. I'm getting another bottle, when you choose to listen to me and stop acting like you know everything, well then we can talk." She huffed and he laughed into his hand.
"Works for me, we've got some serious talking to do! You'll be back on the stage in a month?" he pressed.
"Not so soon." She shrugged.
"Slow and painful death, leads to nothing!" Kurt was harsh, his humour over Quinn had dissipated. "I love you Rachel, you're making a mistake right now."
"I will be back. Someday." Rachel sighed. She was getting tired of arguing with everyone. She wasn't in a hurry to get back to New York at all.
"Not if you sit around Lima playing High school with Quinn. Get back to Broadway Rachel. You don't need to be away too long. There are people lining up to fill your shoes. No one takes a break."
"I'm in rehab. Officially." She countered, it was the new official line since images of her and Quinn dancing and drinking had made it on to the internet. Her agent had gone mad at her and she'd agreed to what he wanted.
"Lima is not rehab. You stay here and there'll be talk of you having a breakdown. You can't procrastinate here and run a glee club. I'm your friend you need to listen to me. You've worked too hard to get where you are."
"I did and then nothing. Come on Kurt, you know how tough it gets. I need to refresh. I'm doing that. Being here reminds me of what I once wanted to be."
"Memories are fun Rach, but just remember time is not on your side. You know how this business works."
"I will be back in September."
"And Quinn? Is it really good to be getting involved with her now? Honestly, I think she's a distraction too far for you."
"Quinn isn't part of my career."
"Make sure you remember that."
"Listen, by September, I'll be back on Broadway and Quinn and I will be the best of friends and you'll wonder why you ever came here to judge me." Rachel pouted over her glass of wine, but she wasn't convincing herself and she knew she wasn't convincing Kurt.
"The longer you lie to yourself Berry." He muttered. Rachel heard him, but she didn't want to argue anymore.
"How about we get that wine ordered and you tell me everything about this new show!" she changed the subject, she wanted to enjoy her time with him. She got so little of it since he left New York.
"Talk about me? Oh absolutely." Kurt gushed on about how he was working with some of the most talented people he'd ever met and Rachel enthused at all the right moments.
They'd had fun, they always did now. She really didn't get to see him enough, but she found herself checking her messages every now and then. Eventually sending one to Quinn while Kurt was in the restroom.
'Still on for tomorrow or you and Miss Hanson drowning in Tequila?' She had felt a pang of jealousy at Quinn hanging out with Miss Hanson, she couldn't deny it.
'Oh it's all messy over here Rach, maybe you should come rescue me.'
The thought of rescuing Quinn hadn't left her mind all week, now she felt her heart racing as she wondered what Quinn was up to and what she could do to help.
'Quinn? I'm worried, should I be worried? I can be there in ten.' Kurt would have to understand, yes she was ditching him for Quinn and she knew he'd give her that look again, but it's what she thought she needed to do.
'Only joking R. I'm in bed! Opted for an early night. You can take me for drinks tomorrow night. How's Kurt?' Rachel felt the relief wash over her and then a smile formed on her face.
'Good! u had me worried for a minute there. Miss Hanson? Tequila? I was thinking all sorts of wrong. Anyway Kurt says hi and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.'
'No wrong here. I'll save that and the tequila for you. x Night Rach x'
"Night Q x'
Kurt coughed as he sat down and his attention made her flush. She covered her phone with her hand, but she knew he'd seen it and probably the silly smile she knew she was unable to hide.
"Quinn is still that mean girl inside. They don't ever really change and I'd hate to see you waste your time on her." He pressed her hand, but she pulled it away.
"I'm able to work out what and who she is. You shouldn't be so quick to judge."
"Sure." He nodded, accepting he was being hard on her. "And you know what?" he added with a wink. "I always thought she had a thing for you. Like a total repressed thing, but it helped explain how cruel she could be, maybe I was right!"
"I don't think so." Rachel shook her head, but she found she was curious as to why he'd say that.
"You should give it a go. You haven't been seeing anyone recently, so why not. You two could be the perfect couple." And now she knew he was only playing with her, he didn't even hide the sarcastic sneer as he swirled the straw in his glass.
"Shut up Kurt." Rachel snapped, she didn't like him teasing her. "Let me work myself out. Quinn is nothing to do with this." She was almost able to convince herself as Kurt nodded back at her. He changed the subject and the rest of the evening passed quickly.
They laughed and then they cried and although she'd meant to take it easy she was tipsy when she got home, she'd tried to resist that extra glass, but she couldn't argue with Kurt when they were having a good time.
xoxo
"Fun with Kurt?" Hiram poured her a coffee the next morning.
"He's good. Busy as ever."
"Leroy told me you're spending time with Quinn?" Rachel flushed as he changed the subject and she noticed her father was eyeing her curiously over his glasses.
"She's teaching at the school, but you already knew that right?"
"It's hard to forget what she put you through at High school."
"And I put her through things too. I took Finn, she's changed. I've changed."
"Yet it's still Quinn. Rachel and Quinn." his frown subsided, but he didn't' say another word, just stirred the spoon in his cup.
"I had enough of this from Kurt last night. I like Quinn. I'm in Lima for me and now I'm here for glee. It's important. Without glee club, where would I be? And honestly I could do with a friend, Quinn knows me for who I was and really I don't have many friends. People don't seem to like me."
"They do." He assured, but she shook her head. "I guess Quinn can't be all bad. She was kind. When I had my heart attack. She came around a bit and helped Leroy. They listened to some show tunes. Got him through when I was stuck in hospital."
"When I should have been here?" Rachel felt the tears forming in her eyes, she felt so guilty for not being here when she was needed.
"You couldn't be. We both know it. Quinn was...well perhaps she's all you ever saw in her and everything that I struggle to see."
"I don't get it Daddy."
"You will. She's as stubborn as you. That's easy for anyone to see. Just don't let that stop you being friends or whatever you need to be. I know how difficult you can be. I get the impression Quinn can be just as fiery so do yourself a favour and suck it up sometimes Rachel."
"I'm not stubborn." Rachel stuck out her bottom lip, but she heard what he was saying.
"That's my girl." Hiram chuckled. "Have fun today and if you really like Quinn, well don't give up when it gets rough, because knowing you it will." He kissed her on the forehead and left her to her thoughts.
But Rachel couldn't deal with her thoughts, she'd gotten used to drowning them in a bottle or two of wine at the end of a night. When they lingered they tormented her and quickly filled her head with self doubt. Doubts that had ripped her from the stage, left her with questions of why she was doing any of this. She'd been running away from those nagging thoughts and Glee club had held her focus for a few seconds, but now there was Quinn and all the comments her Dad and Kurt had made swirling around her mind.
Sipping her coffee she heard a car outside and she smiled to herself. She didn't have to think right now. Grabbing her coat she waited by the door. She had a day to spend with Quinn and she was going to enjoy it.