A/N: FINALLY! I am so sorry for the late update, but i swear I felt like I was losing my writing mojo there for a while!
Huge apologies, but I had exams, and the stress was just too much to even think about writing!
But fret not, the mojo is back! And so is the story!
I will be working much more on my stories now, ALL of them. I have more time now as I have finished school and I'm dedicating more time to my writing.
Thank you so much for your patience! I won't keep you waiting any longer!
Enjoy :)
The next day, Quinn arrived to school and went straight to her locker.
"Q!" Puck's voice was heard as he came up to her happily as he held a bag in his hands.
"Hey Puck, what's up?" Quinn said, quirking her eyebrow down at the bag in his hands.
"Coach wanted me to give you this, it's your gear and your letterman!" he said as he handed her the bag. She took it in her hands with a smile and gently placed it on the ground, opening it and pulling out her jersey to see what number she was assigned. It felt like her heart stopped when she saw the number under her last name.
Under the word 'Fabray' was the number '4' printed in white.
"Four?" she said softly. She blinked a couple of times as happiness swelled inside of her.
"What's that paper clipped to it?" Puck asked, she raised her eyebrow and looked up at her friend, then she turned the jersey around and saw a piece of folded paper attached to it with a paper clip. She pulled it off and opened it.
Thought you might want to spare your parents the trouble of making a new poster. Welcome to the team. See you at practice.
-coach Beiste.
Her face lit up as she read the note again.
"What?" Puck asked her and she showed him the note. He read it and a small smile crept up across his lips. "Damn, you're taking my place as her favorite!"
"Jealous?" Quinn said with a giggle.
"A little." Puck shrugged and chuckled at her, then he looked behind her. "Oh, don't look now, there's this hot brunette coming up to us!"
Quinn rolled her eyes at her friend and turned around to see Rachel walk up to her with a smile.
"Morning Rach!" she said with a smile.
"Morning!" She said happily. "I had fun at dinner last night, your parents are amazing!"
"Yeah Q they're awesome." Puck said with a nod.
"Thanks guys." Quinn said with a smile.
"So, do they umm…" Rachel began nervously. "Do they know?"
"Know what?" Quinn raised an eyebrow.
"That you're…you know…" Rachel said.
"Gay?" Quinn finished for her. Rachel nodded with a shy smile. "Not yet, I mean I know they love me and I know how awesome they are but I don't know if I'm ready to tell them."
"They won't hate you Quinn, you'll still be their little girl when you tell them, they'll still love you." Rachel said, reassuring her.
"I know." Quinn nodded and let out a deep sigh.
"And we'll be by your side when you decide to do it." Puck said with a pat on her shoulder. She smiled up at him and then back to the brunette in front of her.
"Thanks guys, I know you will." Quinn said. She saw Kurt come up to the three of them and smiled at him as well.
"Morning guys." He said as he came up, lifting his sunglasses above his head. He smiled at each of them and knew something was up. "What are we talking about?"
"Just telling Quinn that we'll be by her side if and when she's ready to tell her parents she's gay." Rachel smiled up at him and then back to the blonde who never stopped smiling at her.
"I think they already know." Kurt said.
"What?!" Quinn said in shock.
"Oh please, the only guy you hang out with is a flaming homo and you have posters of Kiera Knightly and Nina Dobrev. Both of which are in a bikini" Kurt pointed out. "I think it's safe to say they at least suspect some rainbow going on in there."
"It is a little hard to hide it when you make it so obvious Q, I mean, why are they right across from your bed?" Puck asked.
"I like to wake up and think 'Work hard enough and you'll look like those girls.'" Quinn shrugged, not even trying to come up with a better lie.
"Okay first off, if that's true you really don't need it, and secondly you're such a horrible liar it's not even funny." Rachel shook her head, clearly not accepting the excuse.
"Okay fine, sometimes my imagination isn't enough you know?" Quinn admitted with another shrug.
"Okay, stop!" Kurt said with a cringe and a lift of his hand.
"That's kind of hot Q." Puck said with a smile.
"Yeah." Rachel breathed out and suddenly everyone turned to her. She froze and her eyes widened. "Oh shit did I say that out loud?"
"You did." Puck said.
"On both counts." Kurt added.
SHE THINKS I'M HOT! Quinn squealed internally.
She thinks you masturbating is hot.
Same difference. Shut up.
"Will you guys stop looking at me like I just ate a baby! Quinn's hot, I think we can all agree on that." Rachel shrugged.
"I'm sorry I was too busy picturing you and Q getting' your freak on, what was that about eating babies?" Puck said with a chuckle. Rachel reached over and punched him in the shoulder playfully.
"Don't be gross!" she chastised. Kurt gave Quinn a knowing look as she smiled goofily at him.
She thinks I'm hoot! She thinks I'm hoooot. Quinn sang to herself mentally
Dude, she's talking!
SHIT!
"…The bag?" Rachel asked in a questioning tone.
"Huh?" Quinn said as she snapped out of her head, she looked down to where Rachel was pointing and saw the bag of basketball gear and her letterman jacket. "Oh, that's my basketball Jerseys and my letterman!"
"You already got your jacket?" Kurt asked with a smile.
"Yeah, and you'll never believe what number coach Beiste assigned me!" Quinn said excitedly. She grabbed the jersey that was in her hands a few minutes ago and opened it, showing them the number under her last name.
"She gave you your brother's old number?" Rachel said happily as she took the bottom ends of the jersey in her hand, the conversation where her brother's number came up the night before swimming in her mind.
"Yeah, cool right?" Quinn gushed happily.
"That's awesome Q!" Kurt said with a warm smile. "Charlie is going to be so proud! And so is your dad!"
"He's already really happy, he actually told me he's coming to pick me up after practice today." Quinn said happily and everyone's smile grew wider, knowing how happy the blonde was that her father was so proud of her.
"That's great Quinn!" Rachel said, pulling her into a hug.
"Yeah! That's awesome!" Kurt said, hugging her as well.
"Okay, okay, enough sappiness, let's see how hot she looks in her letterman!" Puck said with a chuckle.
A few minutes later Rachel was waiting for her near the sinks in the bathroom.
"I don't see why you couldn't just put it on outside, it's just a jacket." Rachel said to Quinn who was in one of the stalls.
"I had another jacket on." Quinn said.
"I know Quinn, I'm holding it right now." Rachel said, lifting the hoodie in her hands even though she knew Quinn couldn't see her. She smiled at the girls yellow and black checkered hoodie. "You know what song this thing reminds me of?"
"I swear to God Rachel if you start rapping Wiz Khalifa I am terminating this friendship, effective immediately!" Quinn threatened with a chuckle.
"Fine." Rachel pouted.
"Stop pouting." Quinn said.
"How did you-" Rachel began.
"Please Rachel, I can practically hear you pouting from here!" Quinn chuckled.
"You can't hear a pout Quinn, that's just silly." Rachel said, crossing her arms. "And so is being afraid to put on a letterman jacket! It's just a jacket!"
"It's not just a jacket Rach, I know you hate the way the school works as much as I do, but this thing is a sign of authority in this building." Quinn said.
"Whatever." Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Besides, I'm nervous about how I look in it, and you don't just pull a letterman jacket out and put it on. You make an entrance." Quinn explained.
"And people call me a diva." Rachel said with another eye roll.
"Rachel you go into five hundred word long rants about how you want to be on Broadway and be like Barbra Streisand." Quinn said.
"I will be on Broadway." Rachel corrected her.
"Whatever you say Rach." Quinn giggled. She fixed her beanie back on her head after putting the jacket on and fixing her clothes underneath it. "Okay, ready?"
"Yes, come on, I don't want to be late for class!" Rachel said, and it was Quinn's turn to roll her eyes.
"Someone's excited for Shakespeare." She mumbled.
"Come on Quinn!" Rachel said.
"Okay, okay." Quinn said. She took a deep breath before unlocking the stall door and walking out, facing Rachel as she looked her up and down in her letterman jacket.
Oh damn, Quinn IS hot. She thought to herself.
"How do I look?" Quinn asked nervously.
"Like you'll have all the girls at McKinley falling at your feet." Rachel said with a smile. Quinn smiled back at her and rolled her eyes before stepping up in front of a mirror and adjusting the sides of the jacket as she looked at her reflection. She adjusted her loose beanie and smirked at herself.
"I look ridiculous." She shook her head.
"You look hot." Rachel blurted out, clapping a hand over her mouth suddenly. Quinn turned to her.
"You know, that's the second time You've said that today," Quinn said, then turned back to look at herself one more time. "You have to be careful or Puck is going to have some nasty ass images in his head."
"I-" Rachel tried to say but her words wouldn't come out.
"And so will I." Quinn shot her a look and winked at her with a smirk before walking out of the bathroom. Damn, this jacket was already getting to her and she didn't even have it on for five minutes. Rachel blinked at the retreating image of Quinn's back.
Did Quinn just hit on me?
I think the better question is, did you really just get your panties that wet?
You really never do shut up, do you?
Duh, I'm Rachel Berry.
I'm Rachel Berry, you're Rachel Berry's weird, perverted, evil twin that somehow ended up trapped in her own mind.
Aww stop, you're making me blush
Ugh, I am so glad you were never actually born.
If I was born you could actually get away from me. This way I'm everywhere.
Yes but at least we have one less serial killer on the loose.
Let's not be so sure shall we?
Can you shut up long enough for me to focus on English?
Yeah because Shakespeare is so much better am I right?
Yes well my inner mental monologue won't get me an A in this class.
Do you think Quinn ever looks at your ass while you're in your cheerios uniform?
This is going to be a long day…
Quinn walked out of the bathroom and into the hallway where Puck and Kurt were waiting for her to come out. When they saw her in her letterman jacket, their faces lit up.
"What?" she asked when she saw them smile.
"You look…" Kurt began, trying to find the right words.
"So. Freaking. Badass." Puck finished for him.
"Thanks…I think…" Quinn said with a smile.
"Come on." Kurt said, handing her her school bag. "We don't want to be late for English, where's Rachel?"
"Coming!" Rachel called out a few seconds before the door opened and she came out. They all walked to class together, Puck walking them to class before going to his own lesson. When Quinn walked into the classroom with her letterman jacket, everyone looked surprised and started whispering to their friends. Quinn felt her breath hitch and her hands shake due to the sudden nerves. She took a deep breath and walked up to her desk, bowing her head into the desk and waiting for the teacher to come in and shut them up. Puck saw the look on his friends face and smiled, a brilliant idea coming to his mind like a light bulb had flicked on above his head.
"Hey Quinn," The blonde looked up at her friend who had popped half of his body into the class to shout something over to her. "Don't forget we have basketball practice today after school!"
Quinn's eyes bulged at him and then she noticed how everyone stopped talking and turned to look at her, they all either had hitched eyebrows, or intrigued smirks, or both. She felt nervous and confident at the same time. She looked up at Puck who smiled at her knowingly.
"I know dude, thanks!" Quinn said, raising her hand briefly in a small wave, which was returned by Puck. She looked over to the front and saw Santana smiling at her mischievously.
Uh oh…
Quinn looked at Rachel who saw the look Santana had given her. She leaned to her side and whispered in her ear.
"Why is she looking at me like that?" Quinn asked.
"I don't know, but knowing Santana, it means trouble." Rachel said. Quinn gulped audibly.
This was going to be a long day.
After second period Quinn was at her locker when she felt someone tapping her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw Dave Karofsky standing behind her holding a slushy in his hands.
Bitch I just got this jacket.
"Coach Beiste will kill you if you ruin this jacket." Quinn threatened.
"I'm not throwing it at you, it's a peace offering." Dave said.
"What?" Quinn quirked her eyebrow, confused. Dave handed her the cup and a straw.
"You're on the basketball team now, which makes you one of us, it's a truce." Dave said. "From now on, no more slushy facials."
"Umm…Thanks?" Quinn said, taking the cup and straw.
"No problem." Dave shrugged.
"Oh, just as long as you make sure to leave my boy Kurt alone too you got it?" Quinn said.
"Yeah, of course." Dave nodded.
"Okay, now get out of here." A voice was heard saying behind them. Quinn froze when she recognized who it was. She turned around and found that in front of her stood a fiery Latina.
"Umm…Hey Santana." Quinn said, taking a sip of the slushy to calm her nerves. Damn, these things were good when they weren't being launched into your face.
"Hey Quinn." Santana said with a sultry voice and a wink.
"D-did you have anything to do with what just happened?" Quinn asked.
"You mean Karofsky?" Santana said with a hitched eyebrow. Quinn nodded. "Well, let's just say I convinced him and the rest of the jocks at this school to never mess with you again."
"Okay…why?" Quinn said, suddenly feeling nervous again.
"I don't know, it's just…seeing you walk into English class with that letterman this morning…" Santana stepped closer to Quinn and whispered into her ear. "It did things to me, things that would make a god fearing Christian cringe and go to confession just for hearing about them."
Quinn stood there frozen. She could feel the Latina's hot breath on her ear and neck. She gulped, probably audibly considering their proximity, and took a small step back.
"I…I…" the blonde stammered out, not sure what she wanted to say.
Smooth Fabray…
"So, what do you say we go out on a date this Friday?" the Latina asked.
"What?" Quinn said, her thoughts snapping back into place.
"You, me, Breadstix." Santana stated. "Come on Quinn, you know you want to."
"How did you know I was…" Quinn asked, her nerves reaching a peak. She sipped the slushy again as casually as possible.
"Puckerman asks you out and you say no? No straight woman in her right mind would do that." Santana said with a smirk and an evil glint in her eyes that made Quinn shake in a very bad way.
"How did you know he asked me out?" Quinn asked again.
"I have ears all over this school." Santana shrugged. "So, Friday?"
"As nice as that sounds, no thanks." Quinn shook her head.
"You're saying no to me? Have you been paying attention? Everyone that goes out on a date with me gets lucky, unless they're a total loser." Santana said.
"I'm sure that would be awesome, Santana, but you were a total bitch to Rachel last week, and no one messes with my friends." Quinn said.
"If I hadn't slushied short stack she wouldn't be your friend right now." Santana deflected the accusation.
"She was already my friend, Santana, it's just that because of you we ended up hanging out all the time, and as great as that is, you still hurt her." Quinn said. "Normally I don't hold grudges, but when someone hurts my friends, it's kind of hard to let it go."
"So what if I apologize, will you go out with me then?" Santana asked.
"Why do you want to go out with me so bad?" Quinn asked.
"Look, things struck out with Puck, and before you ask no I'm not using you to make him jealous." Santana said, halting Quinn's thought immediately. "Look you're the only girl on the team, if I go out with you it wouldn't matter if I'm out or not."
"So you're gay too?" Quinn asked with a hitched eyebrow.
"Well done genius." Santana rolled her eyes.
"Santana, you're a cheerleader, no one's going to care either way 'cause they're all scared of you." Quinn shrugged. "Besides, you don't have to be in the hierarchy to be out, sure it would be better cause you'd get a pass on all the crap people throw at you, but look at Kurt, he's out and proud and he's never been happier!"
"So you're saying you won't go out with me?" Santana said.
"Sorry." Quinn shrugged.
"Will you at least consider it?" Santana said, slumping her shoulders.
"I'll think about it." Quinn nodded.
"Thanks, now do you have any idea where I can find Rachel?" Santana asked.
"Come talk to her at lunch, she's probably already in class right now, and I should be going too." Quinn said, shutting her locker and walking away. She finished off the rest of the slushy on her way to class and walked in to chemistry, taking her seat near Puck as usual.
"Dude, your lips are red." He whispered, then his eyes grew wide. "Did someone slushy you cause I will kick their ass-"
"No Puck, relax." Quinn stopped him. "Santana got Dave Karofsky to actually apologize and call a truce, he actually just gave me one to drink."
"To drink? As in not in your face?" Puck said with a raised eyebrow.
"They are surprisingly good when they aren't being hurled into your eyes." Quinn said with a giggle. "Anyway the weirdest thing just happened."
"Besides Karofsky not being a total D-Bag?" Puck asked.
"Even weirder." Quinn said. "Santana asked me out."
"What?" Puck said, genuinely confused.
"Yeah, apparently she's in the closet." Quinn shrugged.
"I knew there was a reason why I didn't turn her on!" Puck said.
"Umm, ew." Quinn cringed.
"Sorry." Puck chuckled. "Anyway what did you say?"
"No, obviously." Quinn shrugged.
"You turned down Santana Lopez? And you're still breathing? Wow." Puck chuckled again.
"I told her I wasn't about to go out with her after she bitched out on Rachel like that last week, anyway now she's gonna look for her at lunch to apologize." Quinn explained.
"And then you'll go out with her?" Puck asked.
"I never said that, I just promised her I'd think about it." Quinn said. "I could never totally shoot someone down, especially since, and this is really strange coming from her, but she seemed really keen on going out with me."
"Maybe she genuinely likes you." Puck shrugged.
"Somehow that scares me more." Quinn giggled nervously.
"Oh relax." Puck said with a pat on her shoulder.
"Yeah I guess you're right. Anyway I don't think I could go out with anyone else with the massive crush I have on Rachel." Quinn shrugged.
"Glad to see you're not hiding it from me anymore." Puck smiled at her.
"You figured it out immediately, why hide it?" Quinn shrugged again.
"It's okay man, I know the feeling." Puck said.
"You do? You actually have a crush on someone?" Quinn quirked up an eyebrow.
"Okay…not really, but I did once." It was his turn to shrug this time.
"Is this because I shot you down?" Quinn chuckled.
"Someone's full of themselves, looks like the jacket is working." Puck chuckled along.
"I totally made the most inappropriate joke to Rachel this morning in the bathroom, like, not even five minutes after I put it on, more like two seconds. It was weird how confident I was at that second." Quinn said.
"That's the letterman effect my friend!" Puck patted her on the shoulder.
"I can't wait to tell Charlie I got his old number!" Quinn said, the memory suddenly hitting her. "I'm actually thinking of just getting into my dads car with my jersey on."
"Dude. After practice you're gonna be all sweaty, it'll be gross." Puck chuckled with a cringe.
"I know but he's gonna be over the damned moon!" Quinn said happily.
"That's good though. He seemed really proud of you when you told him last night." Puck said with a smile.
"I know right?" Quinn agreed. "I haven't seen him that happy in a few weeks, he's got this big deal going on at work and it's really stressing him out. This basketball thing is just what he needed!"
"I'm glad he's happy, he seems like a really awesome dad…" Puck said, trailing off and looking down sadly at his desk.
"Something wrong Puck?" Quinn asks, not missing the way Puck stopped himself.
"I just…i just really wish I had a dad like that you know? Mine doesn't want anything to do with me." Puck said with a sigh.
"Puck, can I honestly tell you what I think?" Quinn asked him.
"Of course, you're my bro, you can tell me anything." Puck said, looking up at her.
"I think your dad's an idiot. He has this amazing son he doesn't even know well enough, or care enough to be around for." Quinn said. "And I think he's missing out on knowing the most amazing guy in the world."
Puck stared at her. His heart swelled at her words and tears threatened to sting his eyes. He looked down quickly and pressed the bridge of his nose to stop the tears from coming out. He would not cry over his dad, he wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
"Thanks Q." He mumbled. He felt the blonde's hand go up to his shoulder and give it a comforting squeeze.
"If you ever need anything, I'm here for you." She said. "And Puck?"
"Yeah?" he said looking up at her.
"I'd be more than happy to share my dad with you if you need him." Quinn said with a smile. Puck didn't say anything, he just smiled back at the prospect of finally having a father figure in his life.
"You know? We really need to stop having difficult conversations in the middle of chemistry." Puck said. Quinn giggled at how true the statement was.
Soon enough they found themselves waiting outside of the cafeteria for Rachel, that was when Quinn's phone beeped. She opened the new text she had just received.
'Hey, go ahead without me, I'll meet you there x.'
"That's weird." Quinn said, her eyebrow raised at her phone.
"What?" Kurt asked.
"She told us to go ahead without her. She's never usually late." Quinn said.
"Oh well, let's go, I'm hungry!" Puck said. Quinn rolled her eyes.
"As usual, you put your stomach first, what if she's hurt?" Quinn asked.
"Oh will you stop worrying your pretty little head about it? She's fine, if she were in trouble we'd be the first to know." Kurt waved off.
"Okay, fine, but I'm going to text her and ask just in case." Quinn said, looking at her phone again and typing in a message.
Rachel looked up from her phone after texting Quinn and looked back at Santana.
"Are you even listening to me?" the Latina asked.
"Yes, I am, I just wanted to text Quinn to let her know I'll be late since you decided to hijack me." Rachel said.
"Still the diva I see? Good to know some things never change." Santana smiled with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Can you get to the point of this conversation? I want to go hang out with my friends!" Rachel said, crossing her arms.
"Do you normally throw slushies on your friends?" Santana asked.
"Nice one, smartass, but let's not forget that that's why we're even having this conversation." Rachel snapped.
"Touche Berry, anyway, as I was saying. I wanted to apologize." Santana said, crossing her own arms. Rachel's eyebrows reached her hairline in surprise.
"Santana Lopez is actually apologizing? Color me surprised." Rachel shrugged.
"I am." Santana said. "I mean it, you're my best friend, I'm sorry I treated you like crap. You seem really happy with those bunch of lo-"
"Say it and you're dead." Rachel cut her off.
"Lovely people." Santana finished with a smug smile.
"Thought so." Rachel said with an eye roll.
"Come on Rachel, I'm saying I'm sorry here, are you really going to keep up the HBIC attitude?" Santana said.
"Santana, you threw a slushy at me because I was defending my friends. You called me a loser and humiliated me in front of the entire school." Rachel said.
"I know, but-"
"Not finished." Rachel cut her off again. "You called my friends losers, you, who are supposed to be my best friend and support every decision I make. And when you betrayed my trust, they were the ones who were there to help me."
"I know, and-"
"Not finished!" Rachel cut off again. "And now you come up to me and expect me to forgive you just like that? You've got some redeeming to do."
"Are you finished?" Santana asked.
"I am."
"Good." Santana said. "I know I did all of that crap, and I'm sorry, really I am. And I know you can't just forgive me just like that, but will you at least let me redeem myself? Tell me what I can do and I'll do it."
"First things first, any slushy orders you have. Stop them ASAP." Rachel demanded.
"I already did that the minute I saw Fabray in that letterman." Santana said. "By the way what's that all about?"
"She's on the basketball team now, her brother is Charlie Fabray!" Rachel told her.
"Wow." Santana said.
"Yeah. Anyway." Rachel said, coming back to the subject at hand. "I want you to give the guys a chance. They really are great once you get to know them. Even Puck, beneath that badass facade he's just a sweetheart."
Santana sighed and looked down for a second before looking back at Rachel.
"Fine. I'll give them a chance. But only because Quinn is damned hot in that letterman." Santana surrendered.
"Yeah tell me about it." Rachel mumbled to herself.
"What?" Santana asked.
"Nothing." Rachel dismissed. Her phone buzzed in her hands and she looked at the new text.
'You're okay though right? You're not hurt or anything? Are you at the nurse's office?'
Rachel smiled at the words on her phone screen. Her heart swelled at how worried Quinn was about her.
"What's got you all smiley smiley?" Santana asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Huh?" Rachel looked up. "Oh nothing, just a text from Quinn."
Santana observed the smaller brunette as she looked back to her phone and typed out a new message. She smiled to herself. She knew that there was no way a text, whatever it was, could make Rachel smile that smile unless the person who sent the text was very, very special to her.
'I'm fine, you diva! Santana wanted to talk to me to apologize, weird right? See you in a bit xx.'
"Santana, as riveting as this conversation was," Rachel said sarcastically. "I have to go, my friends are waiting for me and I don't want to miss out on the lunchtime laughs."
And with that, Rachel turned on her heel and walked to the cafeteria, reading a new text she received on the way.
'I am not a diva :('
'Uh huh, sure. ;)'
She arrived at the cafeteria, bought her lunch and sat down with her friends at their usual table.
"Hey Rach." Quinn said with a smile.
"Hey Quinn, hey boys." Rachel said to Puck and Kurt.
"Hey Rachel." They said in unison.
"So what did Santana say?" Quinn asked, taking a bite out of her chicken salad sandwich that she opted for instead of the pasta today.
"She said you looked hot in that letterman…which you are not wearing?" Rachel said with a raised eyebrow, just now noticing the girl didn't have her jacket on. Quinn smiled shyly.
"Yeah I'm uh…I'm kind of scared to get food on it." Quinn said shyly.
Why is that the cutest thing ever? Rachel thought
"That makes sense." She nodded.
"So Santana really said I look hot in the jacket?" Quinn said with a quirked eyebrow.
"She did." Rachel nodded.
And I couldn't agree more. She finished mentally.
Just imagine how hot she looked without anything on.
Will you get out of the gutter just for once in your life?
You started it.
Shut up.
"So did she apologize for what she did?" Quinn asked.
"She did actually. And she said she'd do anything to redeem herself." Rachel said, taking a bite out of her salad.
"So are you going to let her?" Quinn asked again, that damned eyebrow seemed to lift up on it's own.
"I am." Rachel said with a firm nod. "She's been my best friend since freshman year when I joined the cheerios. Sure we fight and we don't always see eye to eye and she's vulgar most of the time. But she's there when I need her and even though it's not all the time, she really does care."
"That's good. I love the fact that the four of us are friends, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should cut her and Brittany out." Kurt joined in.
"My problem was never with Brittany, it's just that she tends to follow Santana around." Rachel said, then went into deep thought "In actual fact, I think Santana needs her more than she needs Santana. Whenever Santana's angry or sad or upset in anyway she always goes to Brittany to cheer her up."
"I get a feeling Brittany isn't as dumb as she lets everyone believe." Quinn hummed before taking another bite of her lunch.
"She has her moments." Rachel shrugged.
"Hey Puck, what's up bud? You've barely said a word." Kurt said, switching the subject. All eyes went to the Mo Hawked boy who looked up from his lunch.
"Nothing, just thinking." Puck said with a shrug.
"Oh my God, are you sick?" Quinn said in fake-worry. Puck rolled his eyes as Kurt and Rachel giggled.
"Very funny. No. I'm just thinking about this whole Santana thing." He said.
"What about it?" Rachel asked.
"I think it's just kind of funny how first she asks Quinn out and then she apologizes to Rachel." Puck said. Quinn's eyes grew with the realization that she hadn't even told Rachel of her earlier encounter with the Latina in subject.
"She asked you out?" Rachel said. Why was her breathing suddenly shallow?
"Umm, yeah, sorry I forgot to mention it." Quinn said quietly.
"W-w-what did you say?" Rachel stammered out. She was incredibly confused at her own reaction. Her palms were sweaty, her heart beat was suddenly rapid and she felt like she was having a panic attack.
"I said no at first, but thens he asked me to think about it, so I at least agreed to that." Quinn shrugged. "I don't know how to completely shoot someone down."
Rachel had to fight herself not to say 'aww' at how sweet the blonde was even to a girl who was nothing but horrible to her in the past.
Wait, what is going on? She thought to herself. First the panic attack and now I'm gushing over how sweet she is? Pull it together Berry!
"Umm…" Rachel gulped, almost audibly. She tried to steady her breathing. She couldn't even get a grip on exactly what she was feeling. She just knew she didn't like the idea of Santana dating Quinn and a little voice inside her head just kept screaming 'NO.'
"Rach, are you okay?" the blonde asked. "You got all pale all of a sudden."
"Yeah you look really white all of a sudden." Puck said. "You're not gonna throw up are you?"
"I…I…'m f-fine." Rachel stuttered out forcibly.
"You look like you've just seen a ghost." Kurt said, his tone full of concern. Rachel gulped again.
"R-really guys…I'm ok-kay" Rachel stammered again, then forced herself to clear her throat.
Dammit Berry, quit stuttering!
What was happening to her? She inhaled deeply and exhaled, as if she needed to remind herself how to breathe. Suddenly she remembered what brought this reaction out. The thought of Quinn and Santana on a date. She felt sick to her stomach and she had no idea why. But suddenly her appetite was gone, and she just wanted to curl up in bed. Tears stung her eyes and threatened to spill out. The annoying part was that she had no idea why Quinn's news spiked up such a reaction. She should be happy, right? I mean her best friend was asked out by a smoking hot cheerleader. She felt sick again. She wrapped her arms around herself, shut her eyes and willed the strange feeling to go away.
"Come on." Quinn's voice broke her out of her thoughts, she felt her hand being taken into a gentle grasp. "I'm taking you to the nurse."
"Wha-why?" Rachel was suddenly very confused, and the she realized that to her the paling and the sickness were all emotional, but to someone who wasn't inside her mind she probably looked like she was going to pass out at any moment.
"Rach, first you pale up and now you just look green." Quinn said softly.
"Yeah and not a cool 'going hulk' green either." Puck added.
"You're being silly guys, I'm fine." Rachel said.
"Really? Because you look like you ate year old cheese that's been out in the sun for too long." Kurt said.
"I swear, I'm fine guys." Rachel argued again.
"Okay, well, will you still come with me to the nurse. So that we can make sure that you are actually fine." Quinn said, looking into her eyes with pleading hazel orbs. "For me? So that I won't have to worry about you?"
Rachel looked into those deep pools of hazel and something inside her melted. The feeling of sickness was gone, replaced by butterflies as she felt transfixed to the blonde's breathtaking gaze. Her breathing eased, slowing down. She felt Quinn's other hand go up to her bicep and shake her lightly.
"Rachel, are you even listening to me?" Quinn's voice flooded her ears.
Gosh, she has the voice of an angel.
She's talking!
And she's doing it so well.
Focus Berry!
"Rachel! Speak to me!" Quinn demanded again. "Breathe. For the love of all that is good on this earth. Do not. Pass out."
"I..I.." Rachel tried to speak.
"Well…she made a noise…that's good." Puck's voice said from behind her.
"Come on Rach, you're going to the nurse!" Quinn said, pulling at her hand gently helping her up. Suddenly the loss of heat from having Puck behind her caused her to shiver. Quinn felt her termors as she put an arm around her and leaned down to pick up her letterman jacket. "Here, put this around you so you'll keep warm."
Suddenly she felt the jacket being draped over her shoulders and Quinn's arm going around her shoulder protectively as she was led to the nurse's office. When they reached the office the nurse saw them and came up to them.
"We were having lunch and she just got pale all of a sudden, she looked like she was going to be sick then she just zoned out for a minute." Quinn explained to the nurse. The taller, older woman directed her towards the cot and Quinn nodded. She led Rachel over to the cot and helped her up onto it. Rachel laid down and shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. She opened them again a minute later and saw Quinn sitting on the chair next to her.
"Why don't you go back? Lunch will be over soon and you have class." Rachel said softly, feeling like she could finally speak for the first time in a long time.
"Hell no." Quinn shook her head. "I'm staying here."
"Why?" Rachel asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Because, Rach, seeing you suddenly go all pale…it freaked me out." Quinn said with a sigh. "And besides, there's no way I could concentrate on class anyway, I'd probably be texting you non stop to make sure you're still alive."
Rachel couldn't help but chuckle lightly. She was about to shrug off the jacket and hand it back to Quinn when she felt a soft hand on her shoulder.
"Keep it on until you feel better." The blonde's soft voice said.
"You're being the sweetest thing on earth right now, Quinn, honestly I'm fine." Rachel tried to reassure the concerned girl.
"People who are fine don't pale up out of nowhere." Quinn said. "You don't have any issues like low blood pressure right?"
"No." Rachel shook her head. "I'm perfectly healthy Quinn."
"Well then, maybe you were turning into the hulk." Quinn said. Rachel chuckled again at the memory of what Puck said.
"I just…I don't know, I just felt weird suddenly, but it passed I assure you." Rachel said, slipping her hand into Quinn's and giving it a light squeeze.
"Let's just get you checked out by the nurse once we're here okay?" Quinn suggested. "I wouldn't feel right about not making sure you're a hundred percent okay, especially since you have cheerios practice after glee."
"You remembered?" Rachel said with a smile.
"Of course, I walked you there last Thursday remember? Ms. Sylvester kept calling Kurt porcelain and lady boy. You shot her a glare that could turn a man to stone." Quinn said, chuckling lightly at the last part.
"Yeah sorry about her." Rachel said.
"Don't be, it's not like it's your fault she's a total bitch." Quinn said. "Anyway I remember as well cause all after school activities are on Tuesdays and Thursdays save for yesterday's try outs. I mean I have basketball after school today so."
Quinn finished off her thought with a shrug and Rachel smiled up at her again.
"I'm really happy you're on the team, now I can cheer for you during the games." She said, happily yet silently.
"And Puck too." Quinn chuckled.
"Yeah." Rachel hummed lightly, not really thinking about that part.
"And Finn." Quinn added.
Rachel's eyes grew wide for a moment, she really didn't think about that part.
"Y-yeah." She stuttered out. She shut her eyes and groaned internally. She had a boyfriend for god's sake, why was she so hung up on Santana asking Quinn out.
The nurse came in just then to take Rachel's temperature and ask her a few questions about what happened. She concluded that it was just a quick spell of dizziness. If only she knew the truth.
They walked out of the nurse's office together.
"So are you sure you're feeling okay?" Quinn asked again.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm fine?" Rachel said, smiling to the girl.
"Okay, okay. Excuse me for worrying about my best friend!" Quinn said with a chuckle.
"D-did you just call me your best friend?" Rachel said, her smile growing wider and her eyebrow quirking up.
"I did." Quinn nodded.
"I thought Kurt was your best friend." Rachel said softly.
"He is. There's nothing that says I can't have more than one best friend is there?" Quinn said, smiling at the girl.
"I guess not…so is Puck your best friend too then?" Rachel asked.
"Well, Puck's my bro." Quinn said.
"There's a difference?" Rachel asked, this time with an amused smile instead of a flattered one.
"Well, kind of. He's my bro, I play sports with him, talk about hot girls with him…you know what I'm saying here?" Quinn asked.
"He's the friend you do guy stuff with." Rachel said.
"Kind of, yeah." Quinn nodded.
"Me and Kurt are the ones that will help you pick out new shoes and clothes, he's the one you play video games with on Saturdays." Rachel mused.
"You could say that." Quinn nodded again.
"So what else fall under my best friend duties?" Rachel asked, tilting her head shyly to the side.
"Giving me advice on what girls like I guess." Quinn shrugged. Rachel giggled.
"Well, I'll be sure to do that then." She nodded. "Oh and Quinn?"
"Yeah?"
"You're my best friend too." Rachel smiled up at the girl who smiled back happily. "And thank you for caring so much about what happened."
"What are best friends for?" Quinn shrugged again, still smiling. Rachel looked into her eyes for a moment, before pushing herself up on her toes and kissing Quinn on the cheek.
"You're the best." She whispered into the blonde's ear before pulling back.
Quinn gulped, taking a subtle deep breath. She loved it when Rachel kissed her on the cheek like that. She desperately wished it would be on the lips, but any kiss from Rachel Berry was a gift that should not be blinked at.
"S-so are your dads both at work?" Quinn stuttered out, hoping Rachel didn't notice.
"Yeah, they're working late, why?" Rachel asked.
"Umm, if you feel sick again and feel like you want to go home, just text me. I'll call my mom to take you home." Quinn said.
"Quinn, that's sweet, but you don't have to call your mom, I'll just walk home if anything happens." Rachel said.
"I'm not letting you walk home if you're sick Rach, what if you pass out?" Quinn said.
"Okay, fine, but you have to stop being so sweet, I'm getting a toothache." Rachel said, poking Quinn playfully in the shoulder.
"If you go to the dentist let me come okay? I want to see what you're like on anesthesia." Quinn chuckled.
"And just like that you're back to being an ass." Rachel giggled, shoving Quinn lightly in the shoulder.
"Are you saying I have a sweet ass?" Quinn Teased.
God, I'm lame! She thought to herself.
"And what if I am?" Rachel teased back.
Did I just say that? Rachel thought.
"So you're saying you like my ass huh?" Quinn teased back once again.
"Now you're just putting words into my mouth!" Rachel giggled.
That's not the only thing I want to put in your mouth sweetheart!
Oh my God! Shut up!
"Come on silly, let's get you to class." Quinn snapped herself out of her thoughts. She instinctively wrapped her arm around Rachel's shoulder as they began walking. Rachel noticed this, but she did nothing to push her away. It felt warm. It felt comfortable.
The rest of the day breezed by and pretty soon the four were walking out of the choir room.
"Okay, so Q and I are off to the gym for practice." Puck said.
"And I have cheerios." Rachel said.
"And I'm going with you to watch and we can meet up outside the locker rooms?" Kurt said.
"Sounds like a plan!" Quinn said, smiling at the way they co ordinated everything without a second thought. They all gave each other a hug, when Quinn hugged Rachel, the brunette couldn't help but feel butterflies in her stomach again. She held the girl tightly for an extra second before they split up and went towards the gym or football field.
When Puck and Quinn walked into the gym, Quinn took a look around to see who her team mates were. Finn was there, of course, then she saw Dave Karofsky, whom she knew only because he used to torment the hell out of Kurt. She rolled her eyes, praying to God above that that would be over for good now. She saw a few boys that she didn't recognize and two other familiar faces. Lucas and Porter. She couldn't help but smile when she saw them, because it had meant that Mitchell hadn't made the team. She followed Puck to the sidelines to sit on the bench with the rest of the team. Coach smiled at her the minute she saw her, ticking off her and Puck's name on her clipboard.
"Right on time Fabray." She said with a pat on her shoulder.
"Not even a wildfire could keep me away coach!" Quinn smiled at the older woman, who chuckled.
"Glad to hear it! Now go take a seat." Coach Beiste ushered the girl to the bench. She nodded and took a seat next to Puck, who smiled at her and gave her a discreet low five.
"Okay team, listen up!" Coach said, gathering everyone's attention. "The season starts in a month. You know what that means!"
"Another year for us to suck?" someone shouted from the other end of the bench.
"Enough Richards!" Coach yelled back. "Okay come on guys this isn't the spirit! We need confidence first and foremost before we even start to practice. Saying we're not going to make it will lead us to not making it!"
"Come on coach! McKinley hasn't won a game since Fabray graduated!" Azimio argued back. Coach smirked.
"It's funny you should say that Adams. Because we do have a Fabray on our team this year!" she said. Quinn smirked to herself before looking up at the coach.
"What are you talking about coach?" another boy yelled. Quinn looked over and saw Finn leaning back and giving her a thumbs up. She nodded to him and continued listening to the coach.
"As most of you know, yesterday we held the tryouts for the new members of the team. We got three new members to fill in those that were left empty after graduation." Coach said. "Let me introduce them to you. Come on up as I call your names guys. Lucas."
Lucas stood up and went to stand by coach Beiste as the team clapped for him.
"Porter." The coach called out again and he repeat the action. Quinn took a deep breath and readied herself.
"Fabray." The coach called. She could feel the breath of every team member hitch at the name. She smirked again and stood up. The team didn't clap, they looked like they saw a ghost at the mention of her last name.
"Team. I'd like you to meet Quinn Fabray."
"Aw come on you gotta be kidding me!" Azimio shouted. Quinn rolled her eyes.
"A girl coach? Really?" another boy argued.
"Enough!" Coach yelled, stopping the team's words. "I'm disappointed in all of you. I thought I taught you better than to judge someone cause of what gender they are. You're not seeing the bigger picture here. Hudson! Tell me this girl's last name. Now!"
"It's Fabray coach!" Finn said confidently. He stood up. "Quinn Fabray. And I don't agree with what all these guys are saying. I think she'll be great."
"Sit down Hudson!" Coach said with a smile. He nodded and sat back down with a smile at Quinn.
"Adams. Tell me who was the last Fabray on this team." Coach ordered.
"That's easy coach! Charlie Fabray! But what does that have to do-" he stopped himself with a look on his face like he just got bitch slapped with a brick. "No way!"
"Tell 'em Quinn!" Puck cheered.
"Charlie Fabray is my brother." Quinn said with a smile on her face.
"THE Charlie Fabray is your older bro? That is so boss yo!" a boy yelled from the middle of the bench.
"Yep, he's three years older than me. He graduated and went to Columbia." Quinn nodded.
"Yo! He's gotta come to a game sometime!" another guy suggested.
"I'll ask him." Quinn nodded.
"Hey yo, I'm sorry Quinn." Azimio said from the bench.
"No hard feelings." Quinn smiled at him.
"So are you as good as he is?" someone asked. She had to learn these guys names and fast.
"He taught me everything I know." Quinn shrugged. "So maybe."
"Yo. She's amazing!' Lucas called out. "She kicked my ass yesterday."
"And mine every single time we played!" Puck called out as well.
"Okay guys calm down!" Coach said, trying to stop everyone's shouting. "My point is, Quinn's a team member now. She should get the same respect as each and every single one of you get. So I won't have any more of this 'she's a girl' business. Her value is more than her gender. It's her skills that count okay? Now let's test those skills out!"
Everyone cheered and got up, patting Quinn on the shoulder as Coach instructed them to split into teams. They played a practice game, Quinn's team winning when they had planned out a play. Luckily she had Puck and Finn on her team and they both convinced the others to pass to her as much as possible. When practice was over, Quinn looked up to the bleachers as she was gathering her things and her eyes instantly grew wide.
Sitting on the bleachers, next to Rachel and Kurt, was Russell Fabray.
"Dad?!" she called out. He climbed off the bleachers and down next to her.
"Hey sweetheart." He said with a smile on his face.
"What are you doing here? I mean I knew you were picking me up but-" Quinn began happily.
"Well, I was early." Russell said with a chuckle.
"And Ms. Sylvester let us out early, she got pissed off at some of the girls." Rachel said, Kurt rolled his eyes. "Anyway we saw him waiting in his car and decided to go keep him company."
"Then we realized you were probably still at practice and well we wanted to surprise you!" Russell finished. Quinn's smile grew ten times and she jumped into her father's arms, wrapping them around his neck tightly as he wrapped his own around her back.
"Aww." Rachel hummed and rested her head on Kurt's shoulder while still looking at the sight of Quinn hugging her father. Kurt smiled and nodded in agreement.
"You will never believe what number I got!" Quinn said excitedly as she pulled back.
"Well turn around and let's see it!" Russell said happily. She jumped and turned at the same to to reveal the big number '4' on her back.
"Oh my Lord!" Russell exclaimed happily. Quinn turned around and saw tears brimming in his eyes.
"God that you're such a girl!" Quinn said. She hugged him tightly again, tears stinging her own eyes as she saw her father so happy for her.
"I'm just really happy for my little girl!" She said softly.
"Yo Mr. Fabray!" Puck said happily as he saw him. He jogged up to them as Quinn pulled back.
"Puck, I thought I told you to call me Russell!" the older man feigned annoyance.
"Sorry Russell." Puck shrugged with a grin. Russell opened up his arms at the boy and Puck fell into a tight hug with the older man whom he had only met the night before. It warmed his heart to feel so accepted by the man. Most people wouldn't even want them anywhere around their kids, yet this man was welcoming him with open arms, literally!
Quinn smiled at the sight of Puck and her father and saw Puck smiling at her from over the older man's shoulder. She gave him a thumbs up and a firm nod before turning back to Rachel and Kurt.
"Thanks for bringing him you guys." She said softly. The two brunettes simply smiled at her and nodded. Russell was telling Puck why he was there when they heard a voice behind them.
"Hey Rachel!" Finn said, coming up to them. He smiled down at the brunette and she smiled back. "What's up babe?"
"Hey Finn." She said. She was shocked for a second, she hadn't really thought about the boy much since her trip to the nurse. He leaned down and gave her a soft peck on the lips.
Quinn looked away for a moment, feeling like he was suddenly intruding on the two. She took a deep breath and looked at Kurt, who's smile changed from happy to sympathetic. She rolled her eyes and stepped closer to him.
"Knock it off." She said.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"That look, that 'I'm sorry you have to see this.' Look." Quinn said.
"Quinn-"
"I know alright? I'll get over it. Just stop with the sympathetic looks." Quinn repeated. She let out a frustrated breath and led Kurt over to Puck and her father.
"Kurt, good to see you!" Russell said as he enveloped the boy in a tight hug.
"Good to see you too Russell!" he said with a smile. From the corner of her eye, Quinn could see Rachel nodding to something Finn was saying and then he kissed her on the cheek and walked away. She joined the rest of them a second later.
"So, how about I give you kids a lift home huh?" Russell suggested.
"Oh that's okay Russell, we don't mind the walk." Kurt said.
"You kids aren't walking on my watch, come on. It's just a lift, promise I won't kidnap you!" Russell said, letting out a loud chuckle. Quinn rolled her eyes at her dad's joke while her three friends all giggled to it.
"Okay let's just go get changed. C'mon Puck!" Quinn said, leading Puck towards the locker rooms. They changed and found Kurt, Rachel and Russell waiting for them outside near the locker room doors. Russell immediately grabbed Quinn gym bag from her hands and swung in over his shoulder. She couldn't help but smile. It was the simplest of gestures but she knew her dad meant the world through it. They walked to his car and they all piled in. Kurt, Rachel and Puck packed themselves in the back seat while Quinn jumped into the passenger seat on her dad's left side. She buckled up her seat belt as he drove backed out of the parking lot.
An hour and a half later everyone was home and Quinn had just finished having dinner with her parents and re-telling the story of how she was given her number and how everyone on the team was skeptical about her because she's a girl but then froze when they heard her name. Her father smiled proudly all through dinner and she never felt happier about doing something at school. Seeing the pride in his eyes made the nerves she had about trying out for the team all worth while and she knew then and there that she had made her dad happy. She loved being on the team, but seeing the smile it brought to him made it ten times better.
After dinner she was in her room working on her homework when her phone vibrated, she picked it up and answered without bothering to see who it was.
"Yo this is Q, who be you?" she said into the phone.
"Oh my God you are lame." Rachel's loud giggles came through the phone.
"Hey Rach, what's up?" She asked as if nothing happened.
"Seriously Quinn you are the lamest person I know." Rachel said, still giggling.
"And you love me for it!" Quinn shot back.
"Yeah, you're right there." Rachel said.
"So what's up?" Quinn asked again.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask how practice went. You were so happy to see your dad after practice I forgot to ask." Rachel said.
"Yeah sorry about that, but I never really expected him to show up at the gym you know?" Quinn said.
"I know," Rachel said. "So how was practice? Did the guys give you hell for being a girl?"
"They did at first, but then Coach told them who I really was, and Puck and Finn stood up for me." Quinn said.
"Aww they did?" Rachel said happily.
"Yeah, by the way thank Finn for me would you?" Quinn said.
"Too much of a badass to do it yourself?" Rachel asked with a chuckle.
"No, just scared he'll accidentally step on me." Quinn giggled through the phone.
"Quinn!" Rachel whined.
"Jesus Christ I can hear you pout from here!" Quinn laughed again.
"You're ridiculous." Rachel said, she was rolling her eyes on the other end of the line.
"Ridiculously awesome!" Quinn retorted.
"I didn't know awesome meant completely silly and arrogant!" Rachel feigned a surprised tone.
"No the word for that is Rachel Berry." Quinn said back with a smug smile that Rachel could practically hear, and suddenly she knew what Quinn meant about the pouting.
"Rachel Berry is two words smart ass." Rachel said. "And one day you will see it written on the marquee of Broadway!"
"Hell yes I will, and I'll be the one in the front row watching you on opening night!" Quinn said. She couldn't see it, or hear it, but Rachel's smile grew ten times when she heard those words.
"You mean that?" Rachel asked.
"Of course!" Quinn reassured. There was a knock at the her bedroom door. "Hang on Rach. Come in!"
"Quinnie, I made your favorite cookies earlier today, want one?" Her mother's voice was heard as she popped her head into the room.
"Yeah mom!" Quinn said happily. Judy came in and handed her a plate of six cookies and a glass of her favorite chocolate milk. "You're the best!"
"Anything for you sweetie!" her mother said as she gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Hi Rachel!" the older blonde woman said into the phone that was in her daughters hands. Quinn chuckled when she heard Rachel's loud giggle over the phone.
"Hi Judy!" Rachel's voice came over the phone. Judy smiled at her daughter and walked out of the room. Quinn put the phone back to her ear.
"Want a cookie?" Quinn asked playfully.
"Yes, I'm sure you have the strength to throw a cookie that far across town." Rachel said sarcastically.
"I could send it to you via text message." Quinn giggled.
"Please do." Rachel said with an eye roll. Quinn held back her laughter as she opened up a new text message and hit send.
"Did you get it?" she asked.
"Get wha- Oh hang on I have a text." Rachel said and Quinn had to hold back her laughter once more. Over at the Berry household Rachel opened up the new text she received. It was an emoticon of a cookie. She quickly slapped the phone back over her ear.
"You are such a freaking dork Quinn Fabray!" she said into the phone. Quinn's loud and raucous laughter came up over the line and she actually had to pull her phone away from her ear for a second.
"I can't breathe." Quinn said through her uncontrollable laughing.
"You're not funny you know." Rachel said even though she was fighting her own giggles. She wouldn't give the blonde the satisfaction.
"Dude I'm hilarious." Quinn said, still giggling like an idiot.
An incredibly hot, adorable idiot. Rachel thought to herself, groaning internally at her own thoughts, what was going on with her?
"You still there Rach? Oh God you haven't eaten your phone have you? Wait open your mouth I wanna see if people can hear me talking from inside you! This will be awesome for Halloween!" Quinn said through more giggles. This time Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Quinn that's incredibly ridiculous and inaccurate." She argued.
"It would be funny though." Quinn said and Rachel couldn't help but agree.
"Yeah it would be kind of funny." Rachel said. "So, what are you doing? You know besides devouring cookies."
"Homework." Quinn said with a semi-full mouth.
"No. Really." Rachel said, biting her lip to stifle the giggles.
"I'm serious Rach, I'm doing homework." Quinn stated matter-of-factly. She grabbed the glass of chocolate milk and started taking loud, big gulps.
"God, Quinn I can hear you gulping from here." Rachel stated.
"Sorry." She said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Mom makes the best chocolate milk and cookies!"
"I'll have to take your word on that, being vegan and all." Rachel said.
"I'll ask if she can make you a vegan batch! They're too good to miss out on!" Quinn said.
"Thank you but that's quite unnecessary, I wouldn't want your mom to go through the trouble." Rachel said, though she was smiling at the other girl's sweetness.
"Rach, she makes a huge batch of cookies every week so that we have a week long supply." Quinn stated.
"Really?" Rachel said, then another thought popped into her head. "Do they last as long as they should?"
"Considering my dad and I inhale them more than we do oxygen? No. But mom takes that as an even bigger compliment. Besides, the fresher they are the better."
"Well, I should probably leave you to your work, I wouldn't want to distract you." Rachel said softly, not really wanting to hang up even though she had no idea what else she could talk about.
"You're not really, I'm a very good multi tasker." Quinn said.
"I'm sure, either way I have a few things of my own I should be doing, mainly returning Finn's messages, it feels like I've been ignoring him these past couple of days without really wanting to." Rachel said. Quinn couldn't help but feel slightly good about that, knowing that the brunette was too busy spending time with her to hang out with her boyfriend, still she felt bad. Finn did defend her against his team at practice after all.
"You do that, and don't forget to thank him for me." Quinn said.
"I won't, still I think you should thank him yourself." Rachel said.
"I'll bring him a few of my mom's cookies tomorrow, if my dad doesn't eat them all that is." Quinn said with a slight chuckle.
"He'd like that. Goodnight Quinn." Rachel said.
"Goodnight Rach." Quinn said with a smile.
"Oh, and Quinn?" Rachel said before the blonde could hang up.
"Yeah?"
"Never answer your phone like that again, it's deeply embarrassing and so utterly lame." Rachel advised.
"I'll think about it, see you tomorrow Strawberry shortcake!" Quinn said with a very amused grin.
"Strawberry shortcake?" Rachel questioned.
"Your last name is Berry, you smell like strawberries and you're-"
"Finish that sentence and you're a dead woman Fabray."
"What?" Quinn said feigning confusion. "All I was going to say was that you're cute like the character Strawberry shortcake."
"Uh huh, I'm sure." Rachel said with an eye roll.
"Goodnight." Quinn sing song-ed into the phone before hanging up with a giggle.
The next day Quinn texted Rachel asking her to bring Finn over to her locker. The brunette was confused but didn't question her friend. She walked over to the blonde who was at her locker with her hand in Finn's.
"Morning Quinn." Rachel said to catch the blonde's attention. Quinn smiled at the both of them.
"Hey guys." She said.
"Hey Quinn, Rachel said you wanted to see me?" Finn said.
"Yeah!" Quinn said with a smile and reached into her bag, pulling out a container and handing it to him.
"What's this?" he said, taking the container in his hand.
"A thank you gift." Quinn said with a smile. He furrowed his eyebrows and opened the container. The first thing all three of them noticed was the amazing smell that came out of the plastic box. Finn lifted it up to his nose and took a long whiff. He looked inside and found ten cookies.
"God these smell amazing!" he said, reaching into the container and licking his lips hungrily before chomping down on a cookie, he then proceeded to talk with his mouth full. "What are these for?"
"Just to say thanks for sticking up for me yesterday." Quinn shrugged. "My mom made them."
"They're awesome!" he groaned happily before devouring the rest of the cookie in his hand. He popped the lid back in place and smiled at the blonde. "You really didn't have to do this, but thanks, you're awesome dude!"
"You too man." Quinn said with a smile. She glanced at Rachel and saw the huge happy grin on the short cheerleader's face.
"I gotta get to class. Thanks again Quinn!" he said, then winked at Rachel and patted Quinn on the shoulder as he walked away with a huge grin on his face. Rachel giggled as she watched him slip his hand into the container again, quickly devouring another cookie before he walked into class.
"You just gave them to him and he's already down to eight, I have a feeling you'll get your container back before lunch." Rachel said through her giggles.
"Glad to see he likes them." Quinn shrugged.
"If you weren't gay we would be having a serious discussion about how he likes your cookies just a bit too much." Rachel said, causing Quinn to giggle and then cringe at what she was insinuating.
"Oh God no. Not on your life." Quinn said and Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Still, it was sweet of you to do that, I thought you were joking when you said you'd bring him cookies." She said.
"I never joke when it comes to cookies." She said. Suddenly there was an arm draped over her shoulder.
"Morning ladies, how are you this fine Wednesday?" Puck's voice came up. Quinn rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Crease my letterman and you're a dead man Puckerman." Quinn said.
"Holy crap you just said 'man; three times in that sentence." Puck said in a dazed like manner. Quinn and Rachel giggled and two arms were wrapped around Rachel's waist, a head propping itself on her shoulder.
"And who said you three could have fun without me?" Kurt's voice came into Rachel's ear and she smiled at him.
"Aww, we could never have too much fun without you Kurt!" Rachel said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Damn right you can't." Kurt hummed with a giggle. He sniffed the air and then looked at Quinn with a serious expression. "Okay Fabray, where are they?"
"What?" Quinn asked with a quirked eyebrow. He removed himself from behind Rachel and stood nose to nose with Quinn who's eyes grew wide in shock and wonder at her best friend's glare.
"Don't play dumb with me blondie, you know what I'm talking about, hand them over." Kurt demanded.
"Kurt I seriously don't know what you're talking about." Quinn said confused as ever.
"Your mother's cookies Fabray, I can smell them from a mile away, they got me through Junior high and coming out. Now hand them over before we have a smack down!" he stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh, Kurt, you must be smelling them from when she gave some to Finn." Rachel said. His eyes grew wide…like scary, homocidal wide, as he turned to face the brunette. He glared at her for a second before turning back to Quinn with that same murderous gleam in his eyes that made her swallow audibly.
"You. Did. WHAT?" he barked out the last word.
"Chill, dude, they're just cookies." Puck shrugged. Kurt's left eye twitched as he looked over at the boy.
"They are NOT just cookies Noah Puckerman! They are the holy grail of baked goods! Judy Fabray should be revered as the goddess of baking for making such a delectable treat. Saying they are 'just cookies' is like saying Barbra Streisand is 'just another actress.'"
Rachel gasped in shock and horror. Kurt continued.
"It's totally absurd. And bordering on downright sinful!" he said, then turned back to the blonde. "Now I demand to know why you would give such tasty treats to Finn Hudson. What has that boy done to prove he is so worthy?"
"He defended me yesterday when the team got skeptical about me being a girl." Quinn stated softly. Kurt took in a deep breath and seemed to calm down.
"Understandable." He stated with a nod and backed up a step.
"Wait, I defended you too, where are my cookies?" Puck said. Quinn rolled her eyes and reached into her bag, pulling out another container and handed it to him. He grabbed the container happily and opened it up, once again revealing that amazing smell of freshly baked goods.
"How do you have so many?" Rachel asked. Quinn shrugged.
"I told my mom I wanted to take some with me to school today and she made three whole batches, mainly cause my dad had already had like…fifteen…come to think of it I think he threw up from eating so many and then ate some more… I don't know." She said with another shrug.
"So does that mean…?" Kurt asked.
"Yes, I have some for lunch as well." Quinn nodded and Kurt bounced up and down, clapping happily. She rolled her eyes and reached into her bag again, handing yet another container of the cookies in subject to Rachel.
"What? I don't…Quinn you know I'm-" the short brunette began.
"They're vegan. My mom went to the store yesterday and bought as many vegan ingredients as she could. She said if you and I were friends that meant you were welcome to our house any time and that also meant that we needed to have vegan ingredients around the house to fit your dietary needs." Quinn said. Rachel looked up at her. Her jaw dropped and tears stung her eyes. She ignored the container completely and wrapped her arms around Quinn's back before heaving out a loud sob into her chest.
"O-Oh m-my GOD!" Rachel sobbed out painfully.
"Rach? What happened? Did I say something wrong?" Quinn said, suddenly concerned. She shoved the container into Kurt's hands so that she could wrap her arms around the smaller girl. There was no verbal answer, just the feeling of Rachel shaking her head slowly against her chest. "Then what is it? Why are you crying? Did…did something happen?"
"Every thing's fine Quinn." Rachel sighed out, wiping away a tear. "Every thing's just…perfect."
"So…happy tears?" Quinn asked, looking down and pulling the girl away to look into her eyes. Rachel didn't want to let go at first, but then gave in and looked the blonde in the eyes. She nodded at her.
"Yeah." She said, her lips trembling as she beamed up at the other girl. "Happy tears."
"Holy CRAP!" Puck groaned out happily. "This is the best shit I've ever tasted! I think I'm gonna have on orgasm!"
"GROSS!" the other three yelled out in unison, earning them a few curious looks from the students in the hall way. Quinn just shrugged at them as Rachel pulled her in for another incredibly tight hug.
Damn, for a tiny girl she's strong as all hell.
"Okay." Rachel's voice broke her out of her thoughts. She pulled back and snatched the container from Kurt's hands. "Let's see what all the hype about these cookies are."
She opened the container and picked up a cookie, biting into it. Her eyes rolled back and she let out a pleasurable moan as the…what was it that Kurt called them? Delectable treat…melted in her mouth in a burst of amazing flavor the likes of which she had never experienced before.
"Puck was right about having an orgasm." She muttered, louder than she thought.
"Hot!" Quinn and Puck stated with a grin. Kurt merely cringed and then rolled his eyes. He turned to Rachel.
"May I have a bite? I want to see if Judy can make them taste as good with vegan ingredients." Kurt asked. Rachel nodded and he broke of a small piece of the cookie she had in her hands. He popped it into his mouth and mirrored Rachel's initial reaction to the taste. "Oh my God, that woman is a culinary genius!"
"Do you think there's a Tony award for best cookie?" Rachel mused as she took another bite. "We should nominate her immediately."
Quinn smiled at her three friends as Kurt nodded at her. The boy looked at Quinn hopefully and she rolled her eyes before handing him a container as well. She found herself thanking God and her mother's intelligence for the thin and lightweight set of Tupperware she had bought a few years back, stating that they were easy for carrying multiple containers at a time without taking up too much space. She decided it would be best not to inform them that she had a container for herself as well. Rachel was a safe bet but considering Puck and Kurt's reactions, they would most definitely try to steal it from her, not that there weren't more at home, but they tended to make the school day just a bit more bearable.
"There's more where that came from at home." Quinn stated.
"All in favor for raiding Quinn's house after school." Puck stated.
"Aye." Rachel and Kurt said in unison with raised hands. Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Good thing my mom made more of the vegan ones too then." She said and she swore to God Rachel looked like she was about to cry again. The blonde smiled at her and Rachel leaned up, giving her a peck on the cheek. She smiled to herself more than anything after that. Puck was about to reach for his second cookie when Kurt grabbed his wrist.
"Save some for lunch." He stated. "They are simply to die for with some milk!"
"I'll hold you to that." Puck said with a nod. "Come on guys, we gotta get to class!"
They all nodded, closed their containers and walked to class together with huge grins on their faces (And quite possibly cookie crumbs on their face, but no one cared about that part.)
At the end of the day they all found themselves at Quinn's house. Quinn called out to her mother as soon as they walked in.
"Mom! I'm home! And I brought fans!" she called and they all chuckled.
"What are you talking about sweetheart?" Judy said as she came out of the kitchen. She smiled at the three familiar faces that were accompanying her daughter.
"Puck, Kurt, Rachel, how lovely to see you again!" she said with a huge grin on her face.
"Hi Judy!" Kurt said, walking over and giving her a hug as he was so accustomed to now.
"Hi Mrs. Fabray." Puck and Rachel said politely from the door. Puck scratched the back of his neck nervously. Judy put her hands on her hips and feigned a stern look at both of them.
"Now just what did I tell you about this whole 'Mrs. Fabray' nonsense, you two?" she said and Rachel ducked her head shyly.
"Sorry." She said quietly, clearing her throat. "Hi Judy."
"That's better, now why are you so far away? Come and give good ol' Judy a hug hmm?" she said, holding her arms out open waiting for one of them to move. Rachel took a deep breath and remembered what Quinn had told her this morning about what her mother had done for her. She beamed at the older blonde and quickly closed up the space between them, enveloping her in a tight hug .
"Much better!" Judy said as she gave Rachel a tight squeeze. The two women pulled back and Rachel smiled at Judy who smiled back. "Now tell me, it was my first time baking with vegan ingredients, did I nail it?"
"Right on the head Judy!" Rachel said with a happy giggle. Judy's grin grew wider and she hugged the girl again.
"Good! There are plenty more were those came from!" she said as she finally released the small girl. Kurt, Quinn and Puck were already making a dash for the kitchen, however Judy was able to get into Puck's way. He halted himself before he could accidentally trample the woman who was standing just at the same height as Quinn was and had her arms crossed over her chest. He gulped audibly at her quirked eyebrow, the mirror image of her daughter's.
"Now, young man, I do believe you still owe me a hug!" Judy said and let her facade break to reveal the smile she was so desperately fighting to intimidate the young boy. Puck grinned widely at her as she opened up her arms. He enveloped her in a tight hug.
"It's good to see you again, Judy." He said happily.
"You too Puck." Judy said as she pulled back, and before she knew it the boy disappeared into the kitchen with the rest of his friends. Judy rolled her eyes and walked over to the kitchen. There were several cooling trays with cookies on them and Kurt and Puck chose exactly the same one to fight over while Rachel sat across from them and watched, munching down on a cookie taken from a tray which was marked as vegan to avoid confusion. Puck and Kurt already had a half-bitten cookie in one hand each and were slapping each other's hands away trying to snatch the same cookie. Quinn and Judy stood side by side with mirrored expressions, then turned their heads to smile at each other.
"Mom." Quinn said.
"Yes dear?" Judy replied.
"Your cookies could start a third world war." Quinn stated matter-of-factly.
"Thank you dear, I do take pride in my work." Judy smiled at her daughter. Quinn shrugged.
"I know." She said with a smile, looking back at her friends.
"Quinn?" Judy said.
"Hmm?" Quinn hummed, not turning her head this time.
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing plenty more of your friends around here, correct?" Judy asked. Quinn just smiled at the thought and nodded.
"Yeah mom, I have a feeling." Quinn said with a wide smile.
"Quinn?" her mother said again.
"Yeah mom?" Quinn responded.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Judy said warmly. Quinn turned to smile at her mother and then look back at her friends.
"Me neither, mom. Me neither."
