Chapter 5

Quinn's eyes fluttered open as sunlight hit her face, making the blonde instantly panic at the unfamiliar surroundings. She startled awake, sitting up before she calmed down when she saw a familiar someone next to her, leaning her head against the bed, their back against the bedside table.

All of a sudden, the events from last night came rushing to her mind, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment and her heart sighing in relief at the near miss.

God only knows what would have happened if Phoenix hadn't arrived yesterday.

The sudden disturbance next to her head causes Phoenix to wake up too, the redhead looking around in confusion, before her eyes met Quinn's making her smile.

"Hey Quinn," Phoenix says, her voice even raspier with sleep, "How'd you sleep?"

"I'm so sorry," Quinn blurts out.

"What?"

"I'm so sorry, for last night and for being a mess and coming into your home and taking advantage of you and y-you had to f-fight that m-man," Quinn rambles, tears springing to her eyes towards the end. Phoenix's eyes widen and she quickly climbs into the bed, wrapping her arms around the blonde.

"Hey, hey, Quinn. It's not a big deal, of course I would've protected you. I was in the right place at the right time. You're safe now Quinn, relax," Phoenix soothes, gently rubbing circles on the blonde's back.

"Bu-but it's not fair of me to u-use you l-like this. We-we don't e-even know each ot-other," Quinn stammers, furiously rubbing at her eyes.

"Hey, of course we know each other. I know you're Quinn Fabray, you know I'm Phoenix Winters. We both study at McKinley. I know you're a cheerleader. You know I'm not," Phoenix offers, making Quinn laugh softly, the latter rubbing at her nose, "See? We do know things about each other. So don't worry about it Quinn. I'd do it again in a heartbeat"

Quinn stays quiet for a few minutes as her tears slowly come to a stop, Phoenix unable to suppress her smile at how adorable she looked with her slightly red nose and messy hair, regardless of the situation.

"Okay. Okay," Quinn says, "Thank you, Phoenix. Really. No one has ever done something like that for me before."

"Anytime, Quinn," Phoenix smiles, tucking a stray lock of hair behind the blonde's ear, "Now how about you go take a shower, change into clean clothes and I'll get started on breakfast?"

"Oh no, I think I'll just go home, I don't want to impose," Quinn says quickly, but hazel eyes scream something else altogether.

"You won't be, trust me. And I can see it in your eyes that you don't want to go home yet," Phoenix says softly, getting onto her feet and smiling down at the cheerleader sitting on the bed, "Towels and spare toothbrushes are in the cupboard under the sink," Phoenix informs, quickly going to her cupboard and pulling out a couple of clothes, "Shorts, pants, a sweatshirt and a tank top. Whatever you're comfortable with," The redhead smiles sheepishly, setting the clothes down at the edge of the bed.

Hazel eyes fill with tears and a small smile graces Quinn's face as she gets off the bed, taking Phoenix by surprise by wrapping her arms around her, hugging her tightly.

"Just...thank you Phoenix. For everything," Quinn whispers, making Phoenix's heart melt.

"You're very welcome"

Phoenix was putting the plates on the kitchen counter when Quinn walked in, her hair damp and framing her face. She was wearing Phoenix's sweatshirt and shorts, making the redhead smile.

"Feeling better?" Phoenix asks.

"Much better, thank you," Quinn smiles, before glancing down at her plate, her eyes widening when she saw the eggs, bacon, toast, fruits and pancakes, a steaming mug of coffee next to it.

"I hope you're hungry," Phoenix says sheepishly, her cheeks pink, making Quinn laugh.

"I'm sure I can figure out how to eat all of it," Quinn smiles, sitting on a barstool as Phoenix followed her lead and sat opposite the blonde.

Screw Sue Sylvester's crazy Cheerios diet.

They ate in silence for a while, the fact that she hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon hitting Quinn as she realized how starved she was, before Phoenix spoke up.

"So, do you want to tell me what happened yesterday and why you were out here alone?" Phoenix asks, her voice gentle.

Quinn looks at Phoenix uncertainly, her mind in a dilemma. On one hand, she owed the redhead an explanation, especially after everything she had done for her. On the other hand though, Quinn hadn't told anyone her secret and although she felt that she could trust Phoenix, she didn't want the entire school knowing. She couldn't lose her standing on the social ladder, not after how much effort she'd put I to climbing up there in the first place. Suddenly, she realized what she needed to know to be able to tell Phoenix, something that kept her secure too, hoping that it wasn't too rude to be this straightforward, considering everything the redhead had done for her.

Leverage.

"You tell me your story, I'll tell you mine," Quinn says, unintentionally slipping into her cool, collected head cheerleader persona.

"I'm sorry?" Phoenix asks in confusion and disbelief.

"You live on the quieter side of town, abandoned for the more developed part. Alone too, there's only one bedroom. You had to meet principal Figgins before your first day, but your parents were nowhere to be seen. The way you fought that guy yesterday, so effortlessly, and from what I can see, you only suffered from the scratch on your cheek. So tell me, what's your story?"

Phoenix leans back in her seat, raising an eyebrow at Quinn. She couldn't deny it, she was impressed with the blonde had picked up on the small details that were otherwise not apparent. But Phoenix was just as perceptive, if not more than Quinn, and she could see that the blonde had some internal battle going on in her mind and figured that she was trying to protect her secret by getting to know Phoenix's story, before divulging into her own problems.

"Well," Phoenix smirks, deciding to just come clean with the blonde, she would have to tell her sooner or later anyway, "I have to say, it's not a pretty story"

"I'm not delicate"

"I did warn you," Phoenix sighs, "All the things you said are true. I live alone, pretty good at street fighting, amongst other things. And I'm emancipated"

"What?" Quinn asks in shock, her forehead furrowing.

She hadn't expected that.

"I'm emancipated. Against my will."