Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, NASCAR or any books or movies mentioned.

Chapter 5

The girls spent the whole afternoon wandering around Lima just enjoying each other's company. Every so often their hands would touch, sending both of them into a pensive silence.

Quinn drug Rachel into an old used bookstore, not letting go of her hand when they got inside. Rachel's hand felt warm in hers and it fit nicely inside her own, however, she refused to let her mind wander. She wanted to remain in the present…with Rachel.

"Why are we here Quinn?"

"It's my favorite store." She said as she scanned the books, pulling Rachel along with her. The brunette watched in awe as Quinn seemed to view each book with reverence.

"Anything special you're looking for?"

Quinn's eyes lit up as she looked at Rachel. "Actually, a few. I've been collecting 1st editions of the books that were on the banned books list."

Rachel was interested in what Quinn was saying but had no clue what she was talking about.

"I grew up under my dad's thumb and as 'a good Christian man' we couldn't allow me to read the books that had been banned by the government even if the banning was years ago. Since he's been gone, I've been reading everything he told me not to before. Slaughterhouse Five, The Diary of Anne Frank, Huckleberry Finn, Cather in the Rye, and Scarlett Letter. Though had I been able to read that last one maybe I wouldn't have cheated on Finn." Her eyes go wide as she realizes she said the last sentence out loud.

Rachel doesn't react except for squeezing Quinn's hand in assurance. "So what ones do you still want?"

"Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird and Atlas Shrugged are currently topping the list."

Rachel smiled at Quinn's enthusiasm. "I love the stars." Rachel blurted into the uneasy silence.

"I know. They're kind of your thing."

"No the ones in the sky. I am fascinated by the stories they tell. It's actually Greek Mythology that intrigues me, or any mythology for that matter. Roman, even Norse…" Quinn's lips were suddenly on Rachel's.

It was a chaste kiss as the blonde pulled back slowly, opening her eyes and looking into Rachel's confused brown orbs. "Thank you." Quinn breathed against Rachel's lips.

"You're welcome?" Rachel responded unsure of what happened.

Quinn sighed and began walking around the store some more, dragging Rachel along with her as their hands were still connected. Rachel was completely in a daze trying to figure out what just happened. Every few seconds Quinn would glance over at the brunette. As the blonde chewed worriedly on her bottom lip, she swung their hands gently between them. She spoke to no one directly, more so into the air around them. "It's just that I told a few people about the book collecting thing, and they laughed at me."

"Who'd you tell Finn and Santana?" Rachel saw the sad look on Quinn's face. "Oh. Well what do they know? Finn collects video games and Santana collects notches on her bed post."

Quinn chuckled lightly. She laced her fingers with Rachel immediately making their hand holding more intimate.

00000000000000000

After spending time in the bookstore and then upon Rachel's assistance a record store, they grabbed a bite to eat at a deli that served vegan dishes. Rachel smiled in appreciation at Quinn's restaurant choice as they chatted amicably and ate their meals.

After lunch, in which Rachel insisted on paying which led to a five minute argument and the understanding that Quinn would pay the next time, they made their way to the park. It was starting to get cold out so they didn't stay outside long. Soon they ended up back at Rachel's house. The Berry men were currently absent.

They walked upstairs to Rachel's bedroom and Quinn helped her find 'the perfect' place to hang their new picture. When Quinn was satisfied with the location, she sat at Rachel's desk. Rachel pulled up a chair and sat next to her as she loaded the new music she purchased onto her computer.

"Wow, how much music do you have?" Quinn was amazed as she scanned through song after song.

"Never enough." Rachel leans closer and points out a few specific songs here and there. Quinn's breath hitches when Rachel's breath grazes her neck. "I'll have to make you some CD's."

Quinn beamed before her face contorted into that of concern. Rachel noticed the look and amended her offer. "And I promise no show tunes."

The blonde's smile returned but she rolled her eyes playfully. "I'd like that. The CD's, I mean."

They spent hours in front of Rachel's computer pouring through songs; recommending songs to sing in glee and for competitions. Quinn would randomly choose songs she never heard of and start playing them. She enjoyed the fact that Rachel knew every one, and sometimes couldn't help quietly singing along.

Before they realized what time it was, Rachel's dads called them down for dinner. They ate as Rachel's dads grilled them on how their day was. Quinn almost envied that Rachel's parents were there for her and cared for her. But soon as the thought entered her mind, she dismissed it. If anyone deserved to be happy, it was Rachel.

"So how crazy was Rachel today Quinn?" Jeremiah asked.

"Crazy?" Quinn asked as she took a sip of her water.

"She's sort of OCD and if she doesn't plan every second of her day it's like the world is ending." Michael teased.

Quinn giggled when she noticed Rachel blush.

"I like to be prepared; it is rather wasteful to go an entire day without a plan. What if you miss something?"

"But what if while you are spending all your time doing things according to your plan, you miss out on something great but totally unexpected?" Quinn questioned.

Rachel thought about it for a moment. "Sort of like stop and smell the roses?"

"I'd like to think I was more elegant than that?" Quinn replied with a raised eyebrow and a cocky smirk.

Rachel smiled brightly. "I did rather enjoy today and it was entirely unplanned."

Quinn smiled in agreement while Jeremiah and Michael silently watched the exchange.

After dinner the girls offered to clean up. Rachel washed the dishes while Quinn dried them.

"Why aren't we using the dishwasher again?"

"It wastes water. Plus, I have my doubts about how sanitary it actually is, I doubt it can properly…" She sputtered as Quinn put some bubbles on her nose. Blowing them off playfully, Rachel continued. "As I was saying…."

This time she was splashed with some water. "Quinn, if you want me to shut up, I'd rather you just say so."

"I'd never tell you to shut up." Quinn noticed the incredulous look on Rachel face. "Ever again." She added as an afterthought.

Rachel shook her head and went back to work. "I really did have a great time today, Quinn. Thank you for joining me."

Quinn set her towel down and turned to face the brunette. "Rachel. I had a wonderful time as well, so thank you for inviting me. Not just today but…you know."

"Tonight?"

"And whenever. The offer still stands for whenever right?"

"Yes Quinn, I could show you where the hide-a-key is if you'd like."

"Already giving me a key? What's next, we call a U-Haul?" Quinn teased.

"Why? What does that mean? If you're having trouble at home…"

"It's nothing, Rach. It was a joke." Quinn turned back to the task at hand. "A bad one apparently." She mumbled to herself.

When they had finished with the dishes, they joined Michael and Jeremiah in the family room. They were still debating on a movie choice.

"Hey Quinn! Comedy or Horror?" Michael begged, desperate for someone to agree with him.

"Uhh, neither."

All three Berry's looked at her. She just shrugged and plopped down on the couch. "I was kind of hoping for a musical."

Rachel stared at her unable to form words.

Jeremiah arched his eyebrow in a way that made Quinn proud. "Got any particular musical in mind?"

"I was thinking Funny Girl, since I've never seen it." She smiled innocently at Rachel who was doing a great impression of a gold fish. Quinn giggled to herself at the look on the brunette's face. Before rolling her eyes with a sigh. "So will you get your butt over here so I can see the TV?" She feigned annoyance as she reached over and pulled Rachel onto the couch and coincidentally right on her lap.

The girls looked at each other awkwardly before Rachel quickly slid off Quinn's lap, though she did cuddle into the girl as she pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and draped it across them.

They sat cuddled up watching movies until they were both dozing off. Rachel felt someone shaking her shoulder and drowsily opened her eyes to see her daddy looking at her amused. "Why don't the two of you just go up to bed?"

Rachel smiled before turning to Quinn. She lightly brushed her fingertips across the blonde's cheek, causing Quinn's nose to wrinkle and her eyebrows to knit together. Rachel thought that was possible the most adorable thing she had ever seen. Jeremiah shook his head, said goodnight and left the room.

Once alone, Rachel tucked a piece of blonde hair behind the ear and leaned in to whisper to the sleeping girl. "Quinn, sweetie, you have to wake up." As she spoke her lips accidentally grazed the shell of the blonde's ear, causing Quinn to shiver. Such a reaction caused the girl's eyes to open abruptly. "Hey." Rachel whispered, her mouth still hovering over Quinn's ear. The blonde swallowed thickly as she breathed out in response. "Hey."

When Rachel crawled off the couch, the blonde immediately missed the warmth and if she were to admit it to herself she also missed the proximity of the brunette. "Daddy said we might as well go to bed." She shrugged before holding out a hand to the blonde. Quinn grabbed it without hesitation and allowed herself to be pulled off the couch. They stood face to face, noses almost touching for a moment, before Rachel took a step back. Quinn tried to hide the disappointment, though she wasn't quite sure what she was disappointed about.

Rachel led the blonde upstairs, stopping just outside the guestroom. As they both hesitated at the door, Rachel leaned in and kissed the girl on the cheek. However, the placement of the kiss had her lips dangerously close to the blonde's mouth, lightly brushing against the corner of it. Quinn's breath hitched in response and with a mumbled goodnight Rachel was gone, leaving the blonde standing in the doorway. "Goodnight." She whispered after the girl, but it came out as more of a croak.

As Rachel lay awake in her darkened bedroom, replaying the events of the day in her head, confusion took over her senses. What was happening to her? Why was a kiss on the cheek suddenly not enough for her when it came to the blonde? She was pulled from her thoughts when her door creaked open and a sliver of light shone through. "Rach, are you awake?" Quinn whispered from the hallway.

The flicker of a light turning on deep within the room gave Quinn her answer. She poked her head in and saw Rachel sitting up in bed; the nightstand lamp elegantly illuminated her features and nearly took the blonde's breath away. "Would you mind? Is it okay? Can I come it?" Her voice sounded so unsure.

"Of course Quinn." Rachel moved over to the left side of the bed, making room for the blonde.

Quinn climbed under the blankets and stiffly lay on her side of the bed.

"Quinn? What's going on with you and your mom? I thought things were okay with you two."

Quinn sighed, waiting several minutes to answer. "Things are okay. It's just. This summer…my transformation…I think she finally checked out. I let her down too many times." She said dejected, before whispering. "I screwed up too many times."

Silence followed Quinn's confession, but she could feel the other side of the bed move and suddenly Rachel was hovering over her. Rachel made sure her face was right in front of Quinn's; she needed to look into the girl's eyes. "Listen to me Lucy Quinn Fabray."

Quinn giggled at how dramatic Rachel sounded. "Come on, I mean it." Quinn sobered up and replied. "Right, sorry. Go on."

Rachel huffed. Her breath fell on Quinn's skin, causing the blonde to close her eyes involuntarily. She continued, talking unaware of the affect her proximity to the blonde was having on the girl. "You are not a lost cause. You are amazing and I'm sorry but if your mom doesn't see that, it's her fault, not yours. And just for the record, you have always exceeded my expectations. You have yet to let me down."

"You don't have to say that Rachel, it's okay." Her eyes shot open.

"I'm not saying it just because, Quinn. I believe it, I believe in you. I meant what I told you at Prom. You are more than just a pretty face. And I know that you don't think you can get out of this town, but you're wrong. You can do whatever you want to do. You just have to dream it. You can have whatever you want."

As Quinn stared into Rachel's caring and honest and beautiful eyes, everything she never allowed herself to feel suddenly hit her like a NASCAR into the wall. Her voice was husky as she spoke. "What if I'm scared of not getting what I really want?"

"You'll never get it if you don't even try, Quinn." Rachel smiled and lay back down on her side of the bed.

Quinn exhaled sharply. She leaned over to the nightstand and clicked off the light. They were suddenly embraced in darkness. Quinn slid toward the center of the bed. She reached a hand toward the brunette, placing it on the girl's stomach. "Thank you, Rachel."

Rachel placed her hand overtop of Quinn's. "You're welcome, Quinn."