"All the, small things. True care, truth brings." – Blink 182 (All the Small Things)

CHAPTER TWO: All the Small Things

Quinn was finally returning to school. Rachel had woken up extra early to help Quinn reach the top shelf in the closet where she had stupidly stored her dresses. After handing Quinn her clothes, Rachel graciously left the room with a "We'll leave in thirty" thrown behind her.

The ride to school was fairly quiet. Rachel just hummed when Quinn began to get antsy. There was no screaming, and Quinn was pretty proud of herself. She just stared out the window and began to wonder about what would happen at school.

Puck had already confronted her for doing something so stupid, leaving her in hysterics. Even now, the picture of Beth felt heavy in her purse. Artie had lectured her about his own accident. Tina and Mike had given her hugs and chocolates. Well… Mike offered to bring her some of his mom's panda hair soup, something Quinn had politely declined. Mercedes and Sugar brought her a plate of bacon, and the other guys ate most of it. Santana cried, actually cried, when she went to visit her at the hospital with Brittany the day after she woke up.

"You scared her," Brittany had said, pulling Santana in her arms and singing You Are My Sunshine.

Brittany and Santana helped her through physical therapy, even when Quinn wanted to quit.

"Sue made us do worse," Brittany would remind her.

"And in less clothing and in the winter," Santana pitched in. Quinn would roll her eyes, accept their hands, and try again.

They were the unholy trinity. Now? They were just ordinary best friends. She liked it better now that she didn't feel the need to dump slushies on Rachel's head or draw pornographic pictures of her in the bathroom stalls. She liked it, but she sometimes felt the need to piss Rachel off, just to see the expression on her face, the unbridled passion of whatever stupid thing they were arguing about.

She glanced at Rachel, the brunette's face relaxed and content.

"Are you okay, Quinn?"

And suddenly those brown eyes were on hers and she couldn't think.

"Quinn?"

She felt words, she didn't know what words, trying to push their way up her throat, but she stifled them down. Fear of the unknown always took over. Her mouth did this weird thing that made her tongue tied, and Rachel was still freaking looking at her.

"Quinn. Quinn!" Rachel snapped.

"I'm fine," she said and looked back out the window.

Her face heated up, and she was glad she wasn't facing Rachel anymore. The questions would be too much to bear, never mind the fact she wouldn't even know how to answer them. The ring was still heavy in her purse. She could feel it. She could also feel Rachel's concerned glances at the back of her head every so often.

What was going on?

"Hey Quinn," Finn said, grabbing her arm lightly as she began to walk to her fifth period class.

"Finn?"

"Yeah, it's me," he grinned lightly. "That accident didn't mess up your brain did it?"

Quinn rolled her eyes. "I don't have amnesia."

"Cool."

An awkward pause made Quinn antsy.

"You wanted something?" she asked as politely as she could.

"Oh, yeah! Has Rachel seemed… a bit different to you?"

"Just a little quieter, but nothing to be freaked out over," Quinn answered.

She tried to think about how Rachel had been lately. The brunette had been up extra early ever since Quinn came to stay with them at least. Did that even mean anything?

"Why?" Quinn asked.

Finn shrugged. "She's just been a little distant… With me… She won't let me kiss her or anything anymore. And she said she lost the ring."

Quinn felt a lump in her throat as she felt the heaviness in her purse transfer to her stomach.

"Rachel's been a little preoccupied with NYADA lately," Quinn tried to make up an explanation for any potential Weird Berry Behavior. Finn looked a little hurt so Quinn tried to backpedal. "It's probably in the bathroom. I thought I saw it last night."

The boy looked relieved, slinging a heavy arm across her shoulders.

"Come on, I'll walk you to Lit."

"Everyone, please welcome back Quinn!" Mr. Schue yelled loudly, clapping his hands.

The rest of the Glee kids applauded too, giving the blonde heartwarming smiles.

"Okay, in honor of Quinn, this week's assignment? Recovery!"

Quinn felt heat creeping up her cheeks, but she refused to look down at her shoes. The others looked at him dumbfounded or confused.

"Is that really the best idea, Mr. Schue?" Santana asked.

"Sure!" he said. "It's best to face these things as soon as possible! Any volunteers to go first?"

Silence descended on the choir room.

"Rachel?"

The brunette jumped, looked at Mr. Schue nervously, and shook her head.

"Maybe next week," she said. "I don't feel prepared."

"Okay, Rachel. Anyone else?"

Mercedes stood up. "I guess I can put a little spin on that Destiny's Child number we did a while back. Survivor by the way, Piano Brad."

Quinn smiled at Mercedes as she danced around her chair, relishing the true friendship she felt for her. Whenever she glanced at Rachel, the smaller girl was intently staring at her shoes, biting her lip.

Finn actually noticed something I didn't.

What has this world come to?