A/N: I am planning to continue and finish this story. Real life just gets in way and so I am never sure how fast I can update. But reviews make me feel like I owe my readers to write faster, so you know how to make me update a bit quicker ;). This chapter is sort of a filler, so it's very short. After this one, they should be much longer. Thanks for reading. Always thank you. Here we go.
Grand Central was one of my most favorite places in the city. It was just as crowded as Times Square, but it also had some weird sense of intimacy about it. It reminded me of Heathrow Airport in Love Actually: all the people meeting, hugging, and kissing. Not to mention, the guy from HONY frequented this place and I liked to think that one day he'd stop me and ask me some questions, and take a photo of me. Wouldn't that be grand? Yeah, I know. It's also a little pathetic. But at this exact moment of my life I was, in fact, pathetic: standing at a train station, waiting for a girl only to subtly beg her to forget all about a bet we had in high school.
"Hey, Berry, long time no see," I heard the raspy voice really close to my ear and nearly jumped out of surprise. Putting my best "happy to see you" face on I turned around and faced Quinn. Quinn Fabray, who hasn't changed a single bit since our years at McKinley and at the same time changed completely. I don't know what it was: her shorter than I was used to hair, her small nose piercing, or the platinum blonde hair color she had going on. Whatever it was that changed it still looked gorgeous, and just like every time I have seen her I was awed with how seemingly unaware of her own beauty she was.
"Hi, Quinn. It has been far too long!" I exclaimed and cringed inwardly at my own excitement. Not that it was not exciting to see my former almost friend, but it also sounded a bit desperate. Quinn, however, just smiled at me and gestured towards the nearest exit.
"So, how are things at NYADA? And Broadway? Congrats, by the way. I don't think any of us ever doubted you are gonna make it," she said louder as we were walking through the crowds to go outside of Grand Central.
I smiled at her gratefully and chuckled at the 15 year old Rachel Berry who was doing a little dance in my mind.
"I'm doing very well, thanks. NYADA is amazing and challenging and just all I've dreamed about. Broadway is… It's Broadway! It's the best place in the world!" I answered enthusiastically. "Do you want to go to this small coffee shop around the corner, it's quiet and we can catch up without screaming at one another" I suggested.
"Lead the way, Broadway star."
I couldn't believe I was sitting in my favorite coffee place with Quinn Fabray. She was a lot more open that I remembered. She was laughing at my awkward jokes and even spilled her latte giggling at the unbelievable story of how I was propositioned with sex by two of my classmates. It was very endearing to see the once inhumanly gracious cheerleader being so very, well, human and down to earth. She told me couple of her embarrassing college stories. She was very happy to be in Yale, it seems. She told me that her classmates were smart and challenging, her professors were mostly nice and she loved Connecticut. She also said she was glad being away from her family and experiencing life without the judgement that small town like Lima always preventing her from experimenting, whatever that meant.
"Okay, let's get serious now and get back to our bet. What do you propose we do instead the original settlement?"
I sighed dramatically and made my best puppy eyes at her.
"Honestly, Quinn, I don't know what you want me to say. How can I give you my Tony, even if I get it? And dedicating the award to you is no better, really. What do you suggest?"
"Go out with me?"
Now it was my turn to spill my drink. In fact, I choked on it and spit it all over the blonde across the table.
"Whoa, a simple no would have sufficed!" Quinn blushed (why was she blushing? It was me embarrassing the hell out of myself!)
"But… you're… you're straight." was all I could come up with.
"I'm asking you out. That is a horrible heterosexual behavior, wouldn't you say?" Quinn raised her eyebrow not looking at me, still wiping off my coffee off of her collar.
"Yeah… Are you serious?" I was flabbergasted. Seriously, was there something in her drink? I always thought this place was respectable and wouldn't stoop down as to spiking their patrons' beverages.
"Do I look like I'm joking? And you still haven't answered."
"Wow. I'm just shocked. I would never think you'd be interested in something like this, honestly. And me? Really? Me?"
"Yes, Rachel. You. I. Am. Asking. You. Out." Quinn finally looked at me and smiled shyly.
"Yes. I will go out with you." I wasn't sure how this would work out with her in a different state and me always busy with rehearsals and school. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't flattered that this beautiful and smart and genuinely fun girl was interested in me.
And I finally realized what has changed in Quinn Fabray I used to know. She looked really happy where she was right now.
