Words can't explain how sorry I am for neglecting this. Been super stressed with school. Enjoy xx.
"I heard them." Quinn's hands shook as she tried to not cry.
"You heard them…" Quinn clarified, wanting to make sure she was 100% clear on what Rachel was talking about. When Rachel nodded, Quinn tried to keep her face from scrunching up and letting the tears fall. Rachel really didn't deserve what they did to her, and worse, Quinn didn't anything to stop it.
"Rachel, I'm so sor-"Rachel put her hand up to quiet the girl before shaking her head. The brunette's shaky voice quietly began to speak.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for. You weren't the one saying things about me."
"I didn't stop it though, Rachel. I sat there and let them talk bad about you." Rachel began to laugh really hard. Quinn gave the girl a sharp look, not believing what she was seeing, but also enjoying hearing the girl's laugh again.
"Quinn, I'm used to it. I've just decided to not take it anymore. The fact that you didn't say anything means more than you could ever know." Rachel gave the blonde a small smile who returned one. The two sat in comfortable silence, until they heard a loud voice coming towards them.
"Berry? Where the fuck are you, Manhands?" Santana called out in her almost obnoxiously loud voice. She turned the corner and found Rachel and Quinn sitting together.
"Oh, this is why you left, Q? Should've known you were a dyke for Berry. But, right now, all Berry needs to do is get her annoying ass back to the choir room so we can get ready for sectionals. I will not let RuPaul ruin the chance for this club to stay alive. Let's go, Berry. Get over your diva issues and come actually help us." Santana rolled her eyes at the girl while impatiently tapping one foot.
"Santana. No." Quinn stood up from her spot and stood in front of Rachel like some sort of shield. The blondes' warm hazel eyes met the Latina's dark eyes and instantly turned to steel. Santana raised her eyebrow and squinted at her friend.
"Listen, Q. I really couldn't care less right now about your boner for Berry. This is her chance to finally stop being such a selfish brat and actually help us." Rachel winced at the mention of "selfish brat," the words bringing back the memories from the day she'd heard the glee club talking about her. Quinn noticed the wince, a flash of worry crossing her features. Her entire face turned to hard stone as she looked at the Latina, blazing fury evident all over her face.
"You really think Rachel hasn't helped the club? Who is the one that has raised her hand almost every day, ready to make suggestions? Who has dedicated her time to this club and preparing us to make us better? Who is the one that has come up with most of our fucking group numbers? I sure as hell wasn't you or I. You all talk about how Rachel needs the club, and there's no way she'd leave it, but the way I see it, the club needs her, and we're all just too fucking stupid and prideful to realize it. So either come up with your own ideas or go fuck yourself, Santana." Quinn spat out at the girl, an angry fire in her eyes, fists clenched at her sides. Santana let a flash of awe and shock cross her features before regaining her hard exterior.
"Well, well, well, aren't you Mother Teresa? You've been just as mean to Berry as we have. You are just as guilty. Stop trying to act all high and mighty when in reality, you are just as bad, if not worse, than the rest of us. It's plainly obvious to anyone with eyes that Berry is just a charity case to you anyways. Are you trying to get back with God by helping the losers so he'll let you into heaven despite your bastard child?" Santana smirked before a hard slap echoes the halls. Quinn's jaw dropped open as she watches Rachel's palm collide with Santana's cheek. The girl stumbles back and regains her composure, staring with her mouth open at Rachel. Rachel shoots Santana an angry stare, before grabbing her bag and Quinn's arm, ad storming out the building.
"Whatever, Berry! I swear to God, if you aren't in Glee tomorrow, you will not spend one minute not covered in slushy." Santana shouted towards the two retreating figures.
Once outside, Rachel let her grip on Quinn's arm fall. She mumbled an apology to the blonde who simply shook it off.
"Do you need a ride?" The blonde questioned the brunette who simply shrugged and nodded. The two walked to Quinn's car. Once inside, the cheerleader took a deep breath.
"You're not a charity case to me." Quinn softly said as she looked to the girl next to her. Rachel closed her eyes and kept them shut, not saying a word. "I swear, you aren't. You're amazing, Rachel. It just took me a stupidly long time to realize it. I want to be your friend. I want redemption, yes, but I also want you. I-I mean, I want to be your friend even after you forgive me for my mistakes. We've barely had 10 minutes of a civil friendly conversation, yet I feel as though you could become something big for me. A big part of my life, I mean. I've barely cracked your shell. Please don't close up again." Rachel simply grabbed the other girls hand and gave it a light squeeze. She held on for another minute before realizing what she was doing. Quinn's heart dropped at the lost of the girls warm hand on hers. Quinn let out a deep sigh before turning on the car and starting to drive. At stoplights, while she waited, she watched the brunette sit and look at the various buildings with a tiny smile gracing her features.
"Um, Rachel. Do you have some time before you have to be home?" Rachel looked at the small gold watch on her wrist before nodding.
"Do you want to go get some coffee?" Rachel bit her tongue to keep from smiling too large and gave the blonde a happy nod.
Snow had started to fall in Lima. It was nearing closer to the official date of winter every day, and Rachel couldn't wait. She loved everything about the cold. Her favorite feeling was drinking a warm coffee and watching the snow fall down in light flurries, the coldness bringing her a sense of happiness. Once parked in the parking lot, Rachel looked down at her outfit. She had on jeans, a t shirt, and Quinn's jacket was still wrapped around her in comfort. Quinn sensed the girls' hesitance and reached into her backseat. She found a spare beanie and scarf and threw them to the girl.
"Here. If those don't keep you warm enough, just let me know and I'll do my best to keep you from freezing." The blonde winked at Rachel before hopping out of the car. Rachel pulled on the items, blushing as she took in Quinn's words. Quinn rushed over to Rachel's side and opened the car door for her, going into a curtsey.
"After you, my lady." Rachel snorted and pulled the jacket tighter around herself. The pair walked into the coffee shop, greeted with the strong smell of coffee and the warmth of the shop. Rachel breathed in the heavy smell and let out a content sigh. Walking up to the cashier, they both debated on what they were in the mood for.
"One grande Peppermint Mocha with no whipped cream, and soy milk. Basically no dairy in it, please."
"Just a grande soy Mocha please." The blonde smiled at the cashier who was punching in their orders as fast as she could.
"Alright, one grande peppermint mocha, no dairy, and one grande soy Mocha. Your total will be 8.55." Rachel reached for her wallet, but was too slow. Quinn slid the cashier a 10 and took her change, dropping it in the tip jar.
"Quinn Fabray! I could've paid for my own drink!" Rachel huffed at the giggling blonde.
"I know you could've, Rach. But, that doesn't mean I would let you. I'm the one that asked you out for coffee, so therefore, I pay. Ask me out and you can pay."Quinn teased with a sly smirk on her lips. Their drinks were ready, so they grabbed them and sat down in the big chairs near the window. Rachel took a sip of hers, letting the hot drink burn and then soothe her taste buds. Quinn gingerly sipped at hers, watching Rachel immerse herself in looking at the snow.
"So, you're a winter girl, eh?" Quinn asked Rachel, who was still staring at the falling flakes.
"If it wasn't already obvious, yes. I love winter. I love the cold. There's just something about the snow: the way it falls, the way it makes everything else seem more comforting, the fun you can have in it. I love the exclusivity of it. Some parts of the US don't get any snow at all. But, everywhere in the US gets sun, even if it's just a little bit." Rachel let out a blissful smile just thinking about winter. The two girls sat and talked and talked until the shop workers came up to them and informed them that it was closing. They walked out of the shop, watching as their breath turned to fog in the cold winter air.
"Hey, Rach. You know what my favorite part of winter is?"
"What?" Rachel turned around to face the blonde and was instantly met with a cold, wet snowball to the face.
Quinn let out a sugary sweet smile. "Snowball fights." Rachel bit her lip and narrowed her eyes.
"You did not just throw that at me, Quinn Fab-"She was cut off as another snowball hit her. Wiping the snow from her face, she was met with the image of a cackling Quinn, clutching her stomach from laughing so hard. Rachel scooped up a handful of snow, shaping it into a circle, before pulling back her arm and launching it at the still laughing blonde. Rachel gave Quinn an equally sweet smile as the blonde gave her a pointed look.
"This is war, Berry."Quinn gritted through her teeth. She then instantly grabbed snow and shaped it, hurling them at the brunette. Rachel yelped and ran, trying to escape the flying mounds of ice. The two girls threw snowballs back and forth at each other for at least half an hour, laughter echoing all throughout the cold Ohio night. Quinn sat down on the step of the coffee shop, still laughing at Rachel and her snowball throwing. Rachel came up behind her not too long after and collapsed next to the blonde. Rachel rested her head on the blondes shoulder, and the two sat in silence for a few minutes. Then, Quinn grabbed Rachel's hand, leading her back to the car.
"C'mon, Rach. Let's get you home. Your dads are probably worried about you." Rachel bit her tongue. She wasn't even sure if her fathers were home. They most likely left for another "business trip." She plastered on a fake smile which Quinn noticed. The blonde grabbed Rachel's hand and gave it a light squeeze before going back to the wheel. Quinn and Rachel drove down the streets with Christmas music blaring from the car, which Rachel was happily singing along to. Quinn turned the corner and pulled up in front of Rachel's house. She turned off the car and turned to Rachel.
"I guess this is my stop. Thank you for tonight, Quinn. I needed it more than you could imagine." Truthfully, Rachel was a little afraid that soon, Quinn would go back to her old ways and dump her, leaving her all alone again. It seemed like the blonde cheerleader could sense it because she grabbed Rachel's hand forcefully, pulling her towards her just as the brunette was about to get out of the car.
"I'm not going anywhere, Rach. You're stuck with me." Her hazel eyes twinkled as they looked into Rachel's deep brown eyes, full of hope. Rachel gave her a smile. Quinn leaned in towards Rachel. Rachel gulped, unsure of what was about to happen. Rachel accidently tilted her head a little. Quinn's lips gently touched the corner of Rachel's mouth. The blonde's mouth dropped open and she began to stammer.
"I-I meant to… your cheek…I'm s-sorry." Both girls were breathing extremely heavy, unsure of what had just happened. Rachel shook her head.
"N-no. It was my fault. My apologies, Quinn." Rachel's shaky hand opened the car door. "G-Goodnight, Quinn. Tonight was lovely." The blonde nodded with a glazed look in her eyes. Rachel began to walk towards her door before realizing she still had on Quinn's jacket. She ran back to the car which Quinn had just started up again.
"Quinn! I almost forgot. I still have your jacket." Rachel shrugged off the jacket, holding it out to the girl. Quinn shook her head.
"Keep it." Then, she sped off down the street, leaving the other girl standing in the snow shell shocked, clutching a cheerleading jacket.