Catch Me When I Fall
Summary:
Its senior year at McKinley and Quinn's back on top, but when a certain diva gets back with her ex-boyfriend, Quinn can't help but feel jealous, and not for who anyone would have expected.
Rachel Berry/ Quinn Fabray (Faberry) - Eventual
This chapter contains swearing so just a warning; if you are going to be offended, don't read it.
I don't own the characters, just the ideas surrounding them.
Chapter 6: Quinn's POV
It's only 11 o'clock and I'm already pulling into the shopping mall car park.
The reason for this is that the only time I could stop thinking about the surprisingly-less-awkward-than-I-thought-it-would-be text conversation I had with Rachel the previous night was when I kept my mind occupied by doing something productive... Like getting ready without time to breathe between brushing hair and eating. I put on a simple white sundress with a pair of yellow flats with matching headband in my just above shoulder length straightened hair, which curls under slightly at the bottom, and was ready by 10:00 am, only allowing myself to get lost in my thoughts for about 30 minutes before realising that I should stop before I cancel the day all together.
So, with a quick half an hour drive, here I am, sat in my car an hour early to meet up with Berry.
I turn on the radio and decide to wait in my car for a while before entering the mall. I mean I wasn't really up for standing outside the food court for an hour, I'd look suspicious or ridiculous... Either way I don't want to seen as if I was lurking.
I try not to focus on what I'm going to say to Rachel when I see her, I mean, I already have that pretty much sorted. Just say thanks for holding me from Santana, sorry for being strange afterwards, and I'm going to quit calling her cruel names as thanks. Maybe ask her if she's okay because after yesterday and the way Finn was talking to her I wouldn't blame her if she wasn't, because we all know that Finnsecure can be a jackass sometimes... Or well, most of the time.
Anyway first things first, we talk and then we go have dinner. Wait... I asked Rachel... To dinner. Shit. I wonder if she thinks this is like a date or-
No. She wouldn't see me as more than a friend after how I've treated her.
I strangely feel something more than guilt with that realisation. I feel... disappointed? I've been a bitch to her so she'd never feel anything for me. Plus she's straight and has a boyfriend. But, you know, even if she would go there, I wouldn't , I mean I'm straight as well, so I shouldn't be disappointed, but happy that she has given me a chance to talk to her.
After spending a while listening to the radio presenters, who have far too many sound effects for my liking, along with a few songs in-between, I decide that I've waited for as long as I can stand in an empty car, so I head inside.
I'm outside the food court by just past 11:30 and I begin to prepare myself for another long wait.
Luckily I'm not the only one who arrives early because about 10 minutes later I see Rachel approaching. My breath hitches and I suddenly feel extremely nervous.
She's not wearing her usual blast-from-the-past style clothing but rather a pair of jet black skinny jeans with red flats and a matching red top that falls loosely from her shoulders and just hangs over the top half of body and stopping at the top of her thighs. Alongside this she's wearing her hair wavy and has swept it over one shoulder.
I'd never tell anybody this, but I really like it when she wears her hair like that.
She notices me waiting and sends me a mega-watt smile, that contrasts with the shy wave she also sends my way, before heading straight towards me.
I nod and smile in return, finally picking my jaw up off the floor as she nears.
She stops just in front of me and I can't think of any other word that describers her at this moment other than absolutely stunning.
"Hey Quinn." She says shyly looking up at me with a shy smile. It takes me a while to register that I should really reply.
"Hey, you're early." I return her smile and realizing that I'm not as nervous now she's actually here.
"So are you." She giggles slightly and I immediately know that I need to hear that again.
"That I am." I send her a smile before continuing. "So do you want to eat or...?" I gesture to the various diners and restaurants behind me.
"Sure, I only had a small breakfast so food would defiantly be a good start." She half rambles and I internally chuckle at how cute she can be. I'm really starting to like this more relaxed and playful version of Rachel.
"Well I know for a fact that the restaurant in the far corner provides a wide selection of vegan meals so maybe we should go there?"
"Lead the way." She lets loose another blinding smile and gestures for me to walk toward it with her in tow.
The meal went smoothly. It shouldn't have been this easy for us to meet up and chat considering our past, but it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Over her vegan pasta dish and my steak we made easy conversation about glee club and pretty much anything... Anything except what I was actually planning on talking to her about beforehand, but that could wait; after all I didn't want to ruin a perfectly good dinner.
We split the check and I internally sighed with relief that she didn't think this was a date and expected me to pay., not that I wouldn't, It's just that a very stereotypical date type thing to do.
Afterwards we decide to wander around the shops to see if there is anything to take mine or Rachel's fancy.
Two shops in and Rachel already wants to sit down so I let her lead me to a nearby bench and I decide that now would be as good a time as any to start the awkward apologies.
"Look Rach, about why I wanted us to talk-" She cuts me off with a slightly dazed look.
"What did you say?"
"I wanted us to talk?" It's more of a statement than a question but she answers nonetheless.
"No, what did you call me?" The brunette's dazed look turns into a small smile as she waits for me to repeat myself. I return the smile when I realised what I called her.
"I called you Rach... Is that okay?"
She answers me immediately by wrapping her arm that isn't holding her bags around my shoulder and quickly pulls me into a one armed hug, which I return with both arms as I am yet to purchase anything. She suddenly releases me with a slight blush.
"I'm sorry about that It's just It's the first time you've called me a nice nick-name." Her eyes are shooting rapidly around the room finding anything but my own.
"Don't apologise, Rach." I can't wipe the smirk off my face after purposely using her nick-name to get the megawatt smile out of her. I was successful.
"Anyway you were saying something before I interrupted." Her tan cheeks tint red as she blushes, probably from the memory of her reaction.
"Yeah it was just about what I wanted to talk to you about... So yeah, basically, I'm sorry about how I acted the other day after my 'confrontation'" I add the air quotes which makes Rachel smile slightly. "And also I want to say thank you for holding me back, I mean, I was pretty sure you hated me after how I treated you so, yeah thanks for that. One last thing, after being at the bottom I found out what it was like to be treated like a looser so I would just like you to know that I promise never to call you by those stupid cruel names ever again as well as never ordering another slushy attack. I'm also going to try and persuade the other Cheerios to do the same." I realise that I rambled slightly and kept facing forward through the whole speech but now I'm finished I turn my head to find a pair or expressive chocolate eyes looking at me.
"Do you mean all or that?" She asks, still sounds a little unsure and cautious.
"Of course, and I would really like it if we could maybe become friends, you know, if you want to, I mean after what I did it's totally up to-" I was cut of once again by Rachel.
"I'd love to Quinn." She's positively beaming right now and I can't help but offer my own wide smile right back.
After a few moments of just gazing at one another I decide to break the silence. "So what do you say to a few more shops?" I ask with a slight quirk of my eyebrow in a playfully-challenging, questioning manor - yes, I can show this with an eyebrow lift.
"I'd love to but my dads are expecting me home soon and I wouldn't want to keep them waiting." She stands and I do the same.
"That's fine; I'll walk you to your car." I motion my hands for her to lead the way and she walks by sending me a smile as she passes to walk in front of me.
We approach her car and before getting in she turns around.
"I really had a fun day today Quinn, sorry I had to cut it short." She offers a sad smile but I just send her a large grin.
"I had fun too, we should do it again sometime. You can make up for cutting it short." She playfully pushes my shoulder and we both share a small laugh before she continues.
"I should go." She gestures to her car behind her.
I pull her into a tight hug and try and ignore the tingling sensation that is shooting through my body at every contact point between us.
The brief hug only last a few seconds before I reluctantly release the short brunette.
We both say our goodbyes and I head back to my own car, sending Rachel a small wave and smile as I see hers leave the car park.
On my drive home I can't wipe the smile off my face. I thoroughly enjoyed my day out with Rachel and I enjoyed the fact that we have formed a friendship even more, but I can't help but remember the way my heart sped up and my skin tingled as I gave Rachel her goodbye hug. I can figure that out tomorrow because I don't want to spoil this pretty close to perfect day.
A/N
Sorry it's late... again. Punctuality was never my thing. :S
Slight block but I'm back swinging and I'll try and update soon. :D
Thanks for reading. Would love reviews guys, all feedback welcome :3 xoxo