Chapter 7:

Rachel had rushed out of her family home that morning, her Dad's wishing her luck. She could feel her nerves tingling as she got closer to the school, but as she sat on the bus with the rest of the club she felt her disappointment outweigh her excitement.

She took one last look at the empty parking lot as they pulled away. Quinn was nowhere to be seen, she'd said she'd try, but Rachel got the impression she had something else to do and someone else to be with.

She focussed on her breathing exercises, they'd always helped before a performance, it didn't matter that she wasn't singing today, she needed to be their for her club.

The competition was theirs to take and she was back in control.

It all happened so fast, one minute she was prepping them to go on stage and the next she was watching from the wings, unable to help, but feeling as if she breathed every note.

She watched, she cheered and she even cried. They had all done their very best and now all they could do was wait.

A little bit of her had hoped Quinn would be there, somewhere in the audience, with some good excuse as to why she'd not made it on time, but Rachel knew she wasn't here, she'd see her in any crowd.

After talking to Kurt last night, she'd decided she needed to say something, to find out if Quinn was even slightly interested in her, she wanted to be subtle though because she didn't want to ruin their friendship. Time was running out, she'd soon be in New York and she knew that once she was back her time would be consumed with work.

"Come on Miss." Mischa hooked her arm in Rachel's and pulled her into the spot light. "This is for you," she added as the judges made their way into the centre.

Rachel could feel herself shaking. She wanted them to win so much. She didn't want to leave them after a loss. Then she saw something in the audience. A group of people moving and there she was. Quinn was on her feet, clapping and cheering.

Rachel was transfixed momentarily before she realised they'd won and her kids were jumping around her with a trophy in their hands. She lost sight of Quinn and when the lights dimmed she couldn't see her anywhere.

xoxo

Quinn had only just made it. She'd spent too long sat in her car wondering what she was doing and why she couldn't stay away from Rachel. She was meant to be giving it a go with Greg. She'd told herself that he had to be her focus not some girl she went to high school with. A girl she'd bullied and tormented before eventually almost consenting to be her friend.

She never understood why Rachel continually offered her friendship no matter how badly Quinn knew she'd behaved, but she was ever thankful for it. She wished she'd been a friend to Rachel then and she wished she could be one now. So with that in mind she stepped into the auditorium just in time to see Rachel's team take the prize. She was proud. She was more than that.

Her eyes locked onto Rachel and for a split second she thought Rachel had seen her, but then the group huddled around her and Rachel was swallowed up. She didn't stop watching. She waited, she wanted Rachel to know she'd made it but then she saw someone she'd long forgotten. Jesse St James took to the stage, a smile on his face. His arms open. Rachel had been searching the audience, but then she saw him and Quinn watched as she screamed and ran into his open arms. Quinn still watched, her knees bent and she was sitting down again. She didn't move. Rachel left the stage, Jesse's arm draped across her shoulders. It had been a long time since they'd graduated, but in that instant it felt like yesterday. The lights dimmed and she made her swift exit.

xoxo

Rachel fell back onto the couch, she'd looked for Quinn everywhere but nothing. Jesse had moaned as they checked the parking lot for a third time and finally she'd given in and collapsed. "What a day!" she exhaled and Jesse handed her another glass of champagne. She shook her head but took the glass, she'd had too much already, but they were celebrating.

"You are one amazing woman. We should hook up," he sat next to her, letting his hand rest on her thigh. She looked at it for a moment before removing it.

"I am amazing, but no. We really shouldn't."

"Rachel," Jesse closed the space between them, his face full of hurt, but she knew it was part of his talent for acting and of course lying.

"We've been there and things change..."
"They do!" his grin almost reached his ears. "I like them with a little more, you know."

"I do." Rachel took another sip, her eyes looking towards the group from McKinley as they celebrated freely. "I'm glad you found your happiness."

"And you?"

"Look at them," she ignored his question, gesticulating towards the happy group that were living a dream she once had. "This matters."

"I heard a rumour, actually, I've heard too many rumours." he eyed her knowingly. "First you're a drunk or is it drugs, either is more interesting than the 'taking a break' blurb. Then some guy is in for you. Broadway is buzzing again. You could be back and if you are you're going to kill it...but?"

"But?"

"I find you here, with McKinley High Glee club! Rachel, the same thing, the same low goal. You belong to New York."
Rachel swallowed thickly, she was tired of hearing this now. "I don't belong to any one or any place. You should know that." Rachel stood up, ready to make an exit, but for a moment she paused and looked back at him. New York was a place that lit a fire in her belly that just never would go away no matter what line she walked. They all said she belong there and they were all right and she knew it.

Jesse smiled at her and she smiled back and for once it hit her eyes.

"I'm glad you asked me along today, Its good to see you," he added.

"It's been too long, when do you start filming?"

"Not until the summer, I'm bored already, but at least I can visit old friends."

"Are you coming back to Lima?"
"No chance." He laughed. "I've got a hot date with Anton later," he waved to the guy that had been watching them from across the room.

"Love you." She kissed his cheek and got up, the bus was about to go and she needed to make sure they all got on it. She'd seen Jimmy and Mischa sneak off earlier and went off to find them.

xoxo

Once they'd got back to Lima she quickly excused herself from the others and headed to the bar Quinn had taken her. Glad to see no familiar faces as she entered, she ordered a drink and found the seat next to her instantly occupied.

"No Jesse?" Quinn looked past her before finally locking eyes with Rachel.

"So you were there?" Rachel waved to the bar tender and a second drink appeared. "I thought I saw you."

For a second Quinn's face lit up. "You did it." She beamed. "It's…you won!"

"So where did you go?" Rachel couldn't hide the cold from her voice. She felt angry that Quinn had just disappeared when she'd wanted to share winning with her.

"I saw Jesse."

"Yes, you did. He came to congratulate me."

"I did too."

"So you say."

"Seriously Rachel! I drove up there. I was late. I was there. Fuck. I know I was a bitch at high school, but him! He was all over you." Quinn was pissed.

"He's gone now. No need to get jealous." Rachel left the words hanging between them, watching as Quinn drained her drink and then ordered another.

They sat in silence for a moment, Quinn emptying her second glass and moving on to her third before she spoke.

"Are you going back to New York?" Quinn looked back at Rachel.

"Maybe." Rachel chewed on her bottom lip. She knew she was going.

"Is it good? The right thing?"

Rachel looked up and saw the hope in Quinn's eyes, maybe she did only want the best for Rachel. "It's something. It could be amazing. Clem is crazy for the script."

"Clem is…something else."

"She is isn't she. Not everyone takes to her, but she's a friend. Keeps me from making all the mistakes I think I want to make." Rachel paused as she took another drink.

"Some mistakes are worth making."

Rachel's eyes darted to Quinn, but Quinn was looking at the bar.

"Let's get a bottle." Rachel ordered before Quinn could protest. Spying an empty table she lead Quinn to it.

"When would you leave?"

"Soon, they'll need me back for rehearsals. Why, you going to miss me?"

"Yeah."

"Oh." Rachel was taken by surprise at Quinn's honesty. "I'd miss you too."

Rachel took Quinn's hand and squeezed it lightly, but she didn't let go. The way Quinn looked up at her over her glass left her breathless.

"You're proud of the win." Quinn broke their stare and pulled her hand free.

"I think they were something else, amazing. What more can I ask of them?"
"A nationals win." Quinn joked, but Rachel nodded.

"Yeah, that would be it. I want that. I wanted it for me at first, but now I know I want it for them. They've worked so hard. It reminds me of what we all did. You remember that first trip to New York?"

"I'll never forget it."

"I do love it there. You'll come visit when I go back?"

"When..." Quinn paused at the admission Rachel would be leaving. "I will."

Rachel topped up their glasses and began talking away about plans for Nationals, even though they both knew she wouldn't be at McKinley then, she didn't want to talk about leaving right now. Being with Quinn was as absorbing as ever and she wanted to think about the now and not the fact they'd be apart.

"Can I get you a drink?" A man sat down in the spare seat at the table, uninvited.

"We're good thanks." Quinn waved her full glass in his direction dismissively.

"Tequila!" he continued, motioning to the guy behind the bar.

"No thanks." Rachel put up her hand to stop the order.

"Just a drink girls," he slurred. "What? You a pair of fucking dykes?" he stood up and leered at them over the table.

"Just too good for you." Quinn stood up and stared him down. He was no match for Quinn and quickly began to back away.

"Whatever, plenty chicks round here," he mumbled as he staggered back towards the bar.

Rachel was giggling in her seat. "You're still a cold..."

"Bitch?" Quinn raised her eyebrow as she sat back down.

"I wouldn't say that."

"You almost did." Quinn clinked their glasses together.

Rachel's eyes strayed to the guy that had moved back towards his place at the bar. "Maybe we should give him a show." Rachel felt far too bold as she leant closer, her lips a breath from Quinn's, her heart racing so fast she thought it would burst out of her chest, yet she couldn't stop herself, she wanted this.

"I don't do shows." Quinn closed her eyes but didn't pull away.

"Neither do I." Rachel closed her eyes and leant in the final centimetre, but then she felt Quinn's finger on her mouth, stopping her.

"Don't. Not unless you know what you're doing." Quinn's words were succinct but her hot breath kissed Rachel's skin and Rachel couldn't answer, she was intoxicated.

Maybe she'd drunk too much champagne and then followed it with too much wine, but she knew what she was doing and how much she wanted it.

Then it hit her that this isn't how she wanted to do this. She was drunk, she didn't want to mess this up. She was meant to be being subtle, trying to work out if there was any kind of chance with Quinn without risking their friendship, it mattered too much.

She closed her eyes and was about to explain, but Quinn was already settling the bar bill.

"Quinn!" Rachel called out as they hit the sidewalk. Quinn was already halfway towards her parked car. "You can't drive." She rushed towards her and stopped her opening the car door.

"I left my cell." Quinn retrieved her phone from the car. Locking the door, she fell back against it and looked at Rachel. The cool night air was sobering her up quickly. Rachel was watching her with interest.

"You want to come back with me?"

"I..." Quinn didn't get time to form an answer. Her phone rang and Greg was filling her ear with a hundred questions. "He's coming to get me. He'll drive you home if you want?" she said as she hung up.

"Sure," Rachel agreed but she regretted it the second Greg showed up. His arms quickly wrapped around Quinn's waist, claiming her in a way Rachel didn't like.

"I'll call you." Quinn offered as Rachel got out the car. Rachel just smiled, she had nothing left to say that night, nothing she could say with Greg there anyway.