A/N: Ok sorry this took so long to write, I didn't have a clue what to write about but here it is now, a bit lighter than some of the other chapters but I hope you enjoy it all the same.
Quinn opened the door to her illusion of a home and dumped her keys in the pot on the telephone table. She could hear the sound of a news reader's standardized voice dully muffled by a half open door. Her father's voice cut over the TV to give some uninsightful, half drunken comment on the current story before the quiet sound of liquid being poured liberally into glass washed it all down. Quinn sighed and continued down the hallway to the stairs. She almost wished her parents would interrogate her about her whereabouts this evening just so she could be sure they cared, even if it was just anger directed towards her at least that was something, something more than the wall she was currently receiving.
She was more jealous of Rachel than ever after tonight. Admittedly it was a different kind of jealousy; she didn't want to take her hurt out on the diva anymore however it was jealousy all the same. Her dad's cared so much about her, that was proven when Mark had shamelessly interrogated her before dinner and she wished her parents could care half as much as that. She wished her house could be half as much of a home as the Berry's. Instead she inhabited this hollow house with her two fake parents and her misery and ever expanding emptiness for company. She wanted someone to care about her, about where she went, who she was with, what she did.
"Quinnine? Is that you?" her mother slurred from the living room. Quinn's heart jumped; maybe they did care after all.
"Yes mum." She half replied half asked.
"Lovely" it was a hollow statement, devoid of any real emotion. It should have been full of relief or happiness however it just signalled the clicking back in to place the normality of the Fabray's life, their daughter was home, they were drunk and life was fine on the face of it. Perfect.
Quinn's head sagged as she trudged back upstairs to bed. It was foolish to think things had changed, especially during the time she was sat happily in the Berry's home. She got changed for bed and lay awake in the half darkness of her room until she heard the sounds of her parents making the short journey from the longue to the bedroom for their alcohol induced sleep and she resigned herself to her life, this was how it was going to be either until she got the strength to leave them behind and find what she wanted.
Quinn's Saturday began in the usual way; she woke up at 9 and went to Cheerio's practice at 10.30 before accepting the offer of a trip to the mall with Brittany, Santana and a few other members of the squad. They had been hanging out since about half 12 and it was now 3 the other Cheerios had gone off to somewhere or other leaving just Quinn, Brittany and Santana who were wandering aimlessly around the huge expanse of shops.
"So where were you last night Q? I phoned but your mum said you were out." Santana asked after taking a sip of the drink she'd bought only a few minutes earlier.
"Why'd you phone?" Quinn asked trying to avoid the question.
"To talk to you why else?" she asked sarcastically. "Anyway, that's not what I asked Q, where did you go last night? You weren't with Finn or Puck were you?" she asked with genuine curiosity, at least she had friends that cared deep down, that had to count for something.
"Of course I wasn't with them!" she snapped back, again attempting to avoid the answer.
"So who were you with? God Q, why is it so hard to get a straight answer out of you?" the Latina replied with her usual attitude.
"It's not hard to get-"
"Who were you with?" she asked in exasperation.
"I went to dinner at Rachel's" Quinn caved. Santana's eyebrows practically disappeared under her hair.
"I knew it" Brittany called out in satisfaction causing both Quinn and Santana to look at her in question. The tall blond shrugged her shoulders and continued walking; Quinn followed her closely followed by Santana.
"Since when do you hang out with man hands out of school?" she asked sceptically.
"Stop calling her that!" Quinn snapped.
"Alright, chill out Q. How was it then, Rupa-"
"S!"
"Sorry, Berry's place." She finished with a smirk.
"It was good."
"Just good? Aren't you gonna give me any details? Was her room as disgusting as it is in her video things?" She jibbed.
"No, it was nice, she has a nice house."
"So you were in her bedroom then?" Santana asked with a grin which Brittany was sharing, Quinn went red with embarrassment.
"Shut up S!" she said with unconvincing anger causing her two 'best friends' to laugh. "You are unbelievable!"
"That's why you love me." Santana said with a joking air of smugness between laughter. Quinn just shook her head.
"Do I even want to know what you were up to last night?" Quinn asked as their laughter subsided.
"Probably not" Santana said with a mischievous grin.
"Why not?" Brittany asked with a puzzled look before turning to Quinn, "S took me to the park and then we went back to her's and-"
"Ok B, I don't think Q wants to know any of that." Santana grabbed the girl's hand and looked down at the floor at embarrassment. Quinn giggled at her friend's embarrassment; if that was her then Santana probably would have hit her for divulging 'private' information. "No need to be smug we still don't know what you were doing in Berry's bedroom." Santana warned her with a smirk.
"Not what you think I was doing, get your mind out of that gutter S." Quinn joked.
"What gutter?" Brittany asked with her usual puzzled tone.
"Doesn't matter B, Q was just being an ass. So what were you doing in her room then?" Santana asked with genuine interest.
"I had to go her after she stormed out of dinner" Quinn smiled faintly at the memory of the evening.
"She does that at home? I'm surprised her dad's haven't murdered her." Santana said with a worrying amount of seriousness.
"It's kind of endearing." Quinn said without really thinking.
"Endearing?" Santana repeated dubiously.
"Um, yeah I mean, no. Sorry, what?" Quinn attempted to back track but instead ending up flailing.
"You said endearing." Santana stated with a quirked eyebrow. Quinn could feel her cheeks burning as she sought an answer.
"I'm not sure what endearing means but Q has a thing for Rachel." Brittany floated back into the conversation, causing both Santana and Quinn to snap their heads round to the blond in between them and freeze their movements.
"I'm sorry but what?" Santana asked with disbelief.
"Q likes Rachel." She stated simply before turning happily to Quinn "So are you dating? I like Rachel." Quinn looked at her in astonishment before she caught Santana's shocked expression and she looked away quickly.
"You have a 'thing' for Berry?" She enquired with eyebrows raised. Quinn wasn't sure what to say so attempted to deny it.
"Of course not, we're just friends!" she shot back and began to walk again.
"Wow you're a bad liar." Santana said with a surprising amount of humour. Quinn turned around to face her friends again, Brittany was gazing dreamily at Santana who was smirking at Quinn. "This is just too good." The Latina said with a chuckle. Quinn quirked her brow at the girl; she had expected the girl to yell at her or give her the cold shoulder, not laugh about it. "Of all the people in the school you chose Berry." She shook her head with a smile.
"I didn't choose anyone" Quinn snapped, she wasn't sure what she was angry about.
"You know what I mean." Santana replied.
"Can we get some ice cream?" Brittany asked completely off topic. Santana picked up her hand again and smiled.
"Sure, you coming Q?" Santana asked as they turned around, Quinn raised her eyebrow again, she really didn't understand her friends at all. Brittany could go from one thing to a complete unrelated topic in a matter of seconds and Santana wasn't giving her a hard time about liking Rachel.
"Um, yeah" Quinn said as she walked after the girls. Half an hour later they were sat in an ice cream parlour with 3 half eaten Sundaes on the table in front of them, it was nice to be away from the strict Cheerio's diet even if it was only for an hour.
"I don't get it" Quinn said as Brittany and Santana were feeding each other ice cream in front of her.
"Get what?" Santana asked without looking at her.
"Why are you ok with all this?"
"All what?" Sanatana asked distractedly.
"With me... you know."
"Liking Berry?" the Latina final looked at her after spooning a mouthful of ice cream into Brittany's waiting mouth.
"Well it'd be kinda hypocritical of me to judge you..." She said motioning with a spoon between her and Brittany.
"Even so, it's Rachel Berry, you hate her."
"I don't hate her, she just annoys me sometimes and it's easier to pretend to hate her than have to be friends with her and put up with her constant talking." Santana replied while turning back to Brittany and accepting a spoonful of ice cream, Quinn arched an eyebrow.
"That makes sense I suppose. I guess I just thought you'd be angry or freaked out or something." Quinn said taking another mouthful of ice cream.
"Q, I'm not your parents, not everyone's a self righteous, up-tight, judgemental ass, just 'cause we live in Lima doesn't make us narrow minded. And as I said before; it'd be kinda hypocritical." Quinn smiled at her friend's words, she didn't expect to be accepted and it gave her some hope. She felt much better than she did the previous night after getting home from Rachel's. Which reminded her, she needed to say thanks. Quinn pulled out her phone from her jeans pocket and switched it back on, she'd had it turned off since Cheerio's practice. It vibrated in her hand as she got on the new message screen.
Hi Quinn, I would like to apologise for my behaviour at dinner last night, I hope you still had a good time. Rachel x
Quinn smiled at the screen.
"Who you texting?" Santana inquired. Quinn looked up at her and went slightly red. "Of course." She said with a roll of the eyes before going back to eating with Brittany.
I had a great time thanks, and don't worry about it, what's dinner without a little drama? Q x
She sent it with another smile and set her phone down on the table before going back to her food and trying to resist the impending eye roll at Brittany and Santana's soppy display. Her phone soon buzzed again.
I'm glad you think that. So what are you up to? Rach x
I'm at the mall with S and B, do you want to come down? Q x
I'd love to but my dad's decided to have a spring clear out and I've been forced to help. Rach x
But it's autumn... Q x
That's what I said -_- Rach x
Haha, I'll have to come over and inspect your work sometime. Q x
You best come soon or it'll get dirty again. Rach x
I'm free tomorrow Q x
I'll see you at 1 then? Rach x
Sure, See you then =) Q x
Quinn placed her phone back on the table and went back to her now melted sundae.
"Finally!" Santana sighed reaching out and grabbing the blonds' phone.
"Hey!" Quinn said without making any attempt at retrieving her phone and instead drinking the rest of her now liquid ice cream.
"Another date then, that was quick." She teased after a minute, handing the phone over to Brittany.
"It's not a date!" Quinn said in irritation.
"No but you want it to be." She opened her mouth before closing it, she couldn't really argue with that and Santana gave her a smug grin so Quinn just settled on an eye roll. "I know; I'm unbelievable."
"Can I go?" Brittany asked as she gave Quinn her phone back.
"I don't think Q wants anyone to nestle in on her alone time with Berry." Santana jibbed.
"Shut up S! And no I don't think so B, maybe some other time." Quinn said trying not to rise to the Latina's words as Brittany sunk slowly at her words.
"Don't worry B, we'll do something together tomorrow." The blond instantly brightened.
"Anyway, I should probably be getting back now, I need to do some homework if I'm going out tomorrow." Quinn said getting up from the booth and grabbing her purse.
"Already choosing Berry over us." Santana jibbed and Quinn hit her on the arm as she left. "I would so hit you back now if I could be bothered to move." The Latina called with a grin before turning back to Brittany as Quinn rolled her eyes and left the mall with a warming satisfaction, she had friend's who cared about her and didn't want to judge her for being who she was. The thought was comforting as she drove back to her house and her unsympathetic parents and entered their unfeeling house to complete any work she had so she could enjoy tomorrow and Rachel for longer.