A.N. : As a reader, I normally always skip those, for obvious reason, but you know, just have some stuff to say. So this story doesn't come from my imagination, I'm not that good. It comes from a ramble I saw on bunnyearsberry's tumblr. So all credit for that prompt goes to her. And I should mention as well that the only reason that this is even being written, is that my school (my student's association really but whatever) is on strike. So I am not aloud to go to class and I am pretty bored. Since I study creative writing I thought I would occupy my time by writing creatively! Except in english... You see, I actually study Création littéraire, you know, in french. So yeah, english is not my first language so feel free to point out any mistakes I made. Tell me if it's worth something, if I should continue or not.
Quinn looked out from the passenger's seat window, her forehead resting against the cool glass. Trees passed rapidly before her eyes, looking naked without their leaves. She always hated that time of the year. That sort of "in between" stage that was the month of November. The warm days were pretty much over but no snow was yet to be seen. Already tired of school yet holidays appeared so far away. It had always been her dark month.
Maybe it's why she suddenly decided that she had enough of McKinley, why she couldn't endure the looks, the whispers, the way people went out of their way to not cross her path. Not in the nice way of her head cheerleader days. No, more like she had a disease, as if her fall from grace was contagious.
Of course, some people had wanted to help her, members of the Glee club. Not anyone that mattered, because she had alienated Finn and Puck the year before, and Santana and Brittany never really spoke to her once she was off the Cheerios. So she was left with the others, the losers, to defend her honor. Which wasn't much since the only one of those who had an ounce of courage and self-respect had never showed up for the first day of school in September.
Rachel Berry. Nobody knew were she had gone. Some say that she left for New York, had auditions and was lined up for something big on Broadway. Those were the nice ones. Others were barely concerned farther than being relieved the faggots' spawn had left.
What Quinn was sure of was that she had gotten out. And that is exactly what she intended to do.
"Quinn, honey, are you alright?"
That was Judy, her mother. The newest version of her mother, anyway. The one who cared about her well-being, who was treating her drinking problem and the one she could talk to. It hurt to leave that mom behind.
"Yeah, I'm good." Quinn replied without turning around.
Her mother was obviously not satisfied with the answer and tried digging deeper.
"I know we've talked about this a lot but it is still time to change your mind if you're not sure."
Quinn took off her eyes from the road to concentrate on the woman beside her. Her mom had her bottom lip caught in her teeth, a habit her daughter picked up at an early age.
"No, I am sure. I guess I just wished I could be closer to you"
"Well, there were schools nearest home. This is the one you preferred. At least, that's what I understood…"
"Lima is no home to me, you know that. No anymore, not since…"
Quinn trailed off, her hand on her stomach a clear indicator to what she meant. She shook herself, willing those thoughts away and spoke again.
"I just need to be as far as I can be from that place. But not from you. I'm sorry you're going to be alone there."
"Oh honey, you knew I couldn't move. I just got the real estate job in Lima. I don't have the time or the money to look for somewhere else to live or another work place. The only reason we can afford for you to go to this school is because of the divorce alimony."
"I know, I know. It just sucks."
Quinn fell silent again; eyes on her lap looking at her joined hands. Her mother let go of the wheel to take one in hers.
"Don't worry, I'll be alright. We'll call and e-mail. And the holidays are not that far, you'll get to come visit me. Anyway, soon enough you'll have plenty of friends and I'll be glad to even hear from you once in a while. Just promise me you won't forget your old mother."
Judy took her eyes off the road to send her a smile that Quinn returned right away.
"I won't, I promise."
"That's good, because we're already here."
Their car pulled up in front of a stone building. It was seven stories high, at least from the windows Quinn could count on the facade. Crawford Country Day was written in an arch above the double wooden doors that were three steps away from the ground.
The structure sat in a vast park. Absorbed in her mother, Quinn had miss the large trees lining the way up to the school, but now she paid attention to them and couldn't help but wonder how they would look alive and in bloom. Her eyes traveled around and she noticed that another pavilion seemed attached to the main building, to her right, on the west side. It was in the same style has the other but was obviously more recent, although the oldest part looked like it could have been build in the 1850's so the newest part could as well have more than a hundred years old. Despite the age, everything came across as well kept, clean and lived in.
She couldn't see anything else from were she was but she imagined there to be quite more space and maybe even other buildings behind the ones she had noticed.
"Are you ready?" Judy disrupted her observations.
"I guess." Quinn replied, still taking everything in.
"Well now, that's not the enthusiasm I'd hope to see."
Quinn turned and smiled. "Let's go!" She got out of the car and waited her mom to join her.
"So, what do we think so far?" Judy said while walking around the vehicle.
"Looks nice." They were now side by side but neither made a move toward the front doors. Judy was holding her purse tightly and Quinn had both hands deep inside her rear pockets.
"Should we bring your luggage inside?"
"Not yet, I don't want to be stuck carrying it around if they decide to give us a tour."
"You're right, of course they would want to give you a tour."
Quinn noticed a small tremor in her mother's voice that made her face her.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
The young girl was suddenly engulfed in a hug. Taken a back, it took her a few seconds to reciprocate. She closed her eyes, enjoying the comforting arms and scent of the woman who was her only family left. They parted but left their arms around each other.
"I'm fine. I'm just going to miss you a whole lot. But I'm fine! My crazy mom moment has passed, so you won't have to fear me embarrassing you in front of your new comrades."
"Mom, you don't embarrass me. But don't say comrades, it sounds weird."
"A bit to communist? Should I say colleagues? They can't be considered your friends yet, no? You know what, I just won't refer to them, much more simple."
"You do that." Quinn bit back her laugh at her mother's antics.
"Now, shall we head inside?"
"Yes mother, we shall."
The two blondes marched confidently to the doors, both ready to begin this new chapter in their lives.
"Mom, you don't need to hold my hand."
"Sorry."