Winter Storm
(Quinn)
"The only thing I like about these storms it's the free day." Santiago said while he packed his bags. Kayla, his girlfriend, also was in the room waiting for him to get their way to New Jersey, where a friend of them has an impressive house.
A lot of people were leaving the town for two or three days. Kids didn't have classes today and the schools would remain closed till after Thanksgiving. Public transports would stop after a certain time for security reasons. The storm was expected to hit at eleven in the night with gusts of wind up to 90 km/h. Alerts on television said the average accumulation could be record.
Because of the storm alert, we only work in the studios until Tuesday. True be told, we stayed until late night filming apace. On Wednesday, the crew had an internal meeting without ABC people or the cast. These were occasions of how we used discuss and mount strategies to deal with certain elements and problems, and make adjustments.
The cast always sell the image of total harmony in social networks, but it wasn't like that. They acted professionally most of the time, but the discussions were daily. Two actors of the main cast were beginning to try to pound in the plot, which was always uncomfortable for the writers. That's why Gary ordered the writers to leave New Rochelle's office to work on Manhattan's office. Only the story editor would be leased on set. The process of planning storylines was long. There was a meeting of writers and producers that defined the storyline of the season. They created small synopsis for each episode and some points that needed to be required for the construction of the season. Then, the writer in charge writes the episode. This script was approved by the main producers and the editor makes the final touch to promote the narrative fluency within the tone set for the series. Finally, a copy is sent to the representative of the ABC studios and the cast. Meanwhile, us from the crew, organize everything else. It's a big team working its ass off. But it's funny most of the time. Because I'm the camera operator, my schedule follows the filming agenda, but there are people who are the first to arrive and the last to leave the studios. The work is intense.
From time to time, the writers and producers promote meetings for the so-called "adjustments" for several reasons. Sometimes a character becomes popular and it's worth giving him more screen time, sometimes critics and audience points that a plot doesn't work at all and it would be stupid to continue to insist on it, sometimes some character doesn't work because the actor was miscast and it's needed to shift the focus far from it until someone thinks on a better solution, sometimes an actor starts giving problems and the producers with the writers need to think a proper way to cut off its head.
Dianna Cain was one of the issues reported with more passion for us. She was a great young actress, her character is popular, but she brought some problems into the studio: she was a diva. Indeed, how could we deal with a complicated star of the show? While the bosses ensured they would deal with her, we, the blue collar workers, could only count to ten each time she gave her diva attacks in the studio because of a silly reason. To make matters worse, Dianna was having an affair with one of her co-stars and she was the girlfriend of an ABC's executives. Nice, right? After two hours of reviews, some outbursts and confrontations, our meeting finished and the party began: our secretary ordered beer, soda and pizza that we all enjoyed as our pre-Thanksgiving party.
I wouldn't go to Ohio spend Thanksgiving at my mom's or my soon to be in-laws, as was tradition. Not even Santana would travel by economic issues. Not even my soon to be in-laws would come here because they have to come to our weeding anyway. That's why we didn't travel to escape from the storm. I would rather stay at my fiancé's place during the storm and then, in the next week, celebrate Thanksgiving in New York with our New York family: Rachel, me, Johnny, Santana and, maybe, Santiago.
"You should get out of here, Fabray." Santiago sought advise me. "Apparently things will be very ugly."
"I won't have any problem staying at Rachel's. The building is very robust, I'll be on the ninth floor, which is not that bad in case of missing light. I don't know why you are so filling your mouth to say something. You're going to New Jersey! Big deal!"
"One word, Fabray: fireplace"
"Three words: bed, Rachel, blanket."
"Really? Kayla, blanket, fireplace."
"Considering that there will be three more couples friends, the fireplace will be a crowded place." Kayla shot and Santiago turned red.
"Really?" Payback time. "I didn't know you were swing enthusiasts."
"Fuck you, Fabray! I don't share!"
"And this is the guy who lives trying to convince me to do a three way." Kayla handed and I shot to laugh. "He can't handle me! Imagine two girls?!"
"Kayla, you are my hero. I don't know how you keep Santiago in line for that long, but whatever you do, I admire you. You're practically a holy and should be canonized."
Santiago and Kayla left minutes after our lithe chat while I was still wrapped at home organizing some stuffs I would donate, sell or keep. I opened a small suitcase and looked at the bookshelf. Too bad I had to organize everything alone, and too bad I couldn't keep everything or Rachel (and Santana) would kill me if I appear in the apartment with a lot of things to add in the office that was already full with my equipments of photography. Too bad… I really loved my Asimov collection.
I looked again at my stuff and spent a good chunk of the afternoon selecting those that I really had emotional bond, such as boxes of movies, my qualifications and my portfolio folder. This alone filled an average suitcase. I decided to sell my Hemingway, Asimov and Charles Dickens collection. All the other things: donation. It was getting late and Rachel already sent me three texts asking what was taking me so long, so I closed all the windows and locked the doors. I picked up some things in the pantry, as cookie packages and instant noodles, and put it all in my suitcase. I know Rachel must bought water, batteries and a lot of food just in case, but take some of these things wouldn't hurt. It was nearly six P.M and Rachel sent me another text message.
"For God sake, where are you?" - Rachel
"I'm in my way. Don't worry!" - Quinn
The weather was bad enough at that point. Windy enough, it snowed a little, and I was sort of cold even with a heavy coat to face the bad weather. It took me ten minutes do find a taxi, but I did.
"It's freezing, right?" The taxi driver, a man around his fifty's, was up to a little casual chat.
"Yeah, it is."
"You were lucky. I was going home, but I saw you with this heavy suitcase. I looked in trouble, so I decided to pick one more passage."
"Thank you. I'm really glad of your consideration."
"Don't tell me you going to travel today. It could be very dangerous with this weather and the storm."
"No, I'm just going to my fiance's place. I'm staying there."
"Fiance? Good for you, ma'am. It's not everyday we see a young lady like you ready to start a family."
"Thank you."
The taxi driver wasn't a psycho, thank God. He just did his job and took his money. I wished him a safe drive back home and that's my exciting trip to Rachel's.
The doorman was already familiar with me and opened the door as soon he saw me at the sideway. I went up to the ninth floor and when I hit the ring bell, I was received with a relieved hug from my fiancé.
"Thank the good Lord." And then I received a slap on the shoulder. "It's almost seven with a storm on the way. Do you want to kill me?"
"Excuse me. But I'm here and safe, right?" I looked over Rachel's shoulders and I was surprised with some familiar faces. I wasn't talking about Santana and Johnny, but Kurt and... wait a minute, what the hell Finn Hudson was doing here? Rachel had said vaguely that Kurt was in town for a workshop that Vogue offered once a year. But Finn? Call Brittany and we would have quite a night.
"Quinn!" Kurt intended to give me a hug, but gave up half way when he saw me frowning. My biggest puzzled expression wasn't for him. "I missed you!"
"Hi there, Kurt…" And a looked to the giant in the room, literally.
"Hello Quinn." Finn walked awkwardly. He was thinner than the last time I saw him at Rachel's parents weeding party, but I could feel he was still the very same clueless jerk.
"Hey. Good to see you both. It was a surprise." I looked at Rachel, who lowered her head clearly knowing that she had forgot to tell me some details about this night.
"Oh, that's nice!" Santana said a bit loud pointing to my suitcase. "More photo trash to clutter in the office."
"Actually it's just some books, docs, and my DVD collection. And that's it, Santana. Don't worry. The next suitcase I will bring here will be myself, after my honeymoon."
"That's right, baby." Rachel gave me a high five.
I hung up my coat in the foyer's closet and excuse myself to put my suitcase at the office. When I back to the living room, I found Kurt, Finn and Johnny chatting about something on TV.
I walked right into my soon to be bedroom to change the rest of my clothes. If only Johnny was home, could use something older, homey. The presence of Kurt and Finn forced me to put something more presentable, so I put a black legging, a t-shit that promotes my TV show and flip-flops. I tied my hair in a ponytail almost as good as those I made when I was cheerio.
"Surprise." Rachel went into the bathroom.
"What the hell these two are doing here?" I shouted whispering. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was a last minute thing. Finn came to spend a few days in New York and his flight was canceled because of the snowstorm."
"Did you know he was here?"
"He called me to say hi... it doesn't matter, Quinn. Finn and Kurt don't have a place to go."
"Well, what about a thing called hotel? I'm sure they have money to pay some extra daily."
"Don't be mean. Kurt is my friend and so is Finn. I wouldn't let them spend a night at the airport."
"I'm ok with Kurt, but Finn is just your Facebook friend."
"Don't be jealous!"
"I'm not!"
"Look. Finn is here because Kurt asked. I couldn't deny this favor, and I don't have a reason to. This apartment is big enough to house two guests plus Johnny. I bought extra water, food and lot's of extra batteries for the flashlights, candles and an extra blanket just in case. We will be ok."
"Opportunists." I crossed my arms.
"Look." Rachel pointed her finger at me. "I'm just doing this favor for two old friends. Now, if Finn has another agenda, that's not my problem. The fact is that he is our friend and I won't drive him out. Not when a storm in falling outside."
I rolled my eyes. I went to Rachel and gave a quick kiss on her lips.
"Doesn't mean that Finnesse is invited to our wedding." Rachel smiled and we kissed again. This time, I could enjoy the sweet taste of her tongue against mine. So good, so relaxing. "We could stay here longer…" I gently squeezed her ass subtly suggesting a quickie.
"Ten minutes more?" Rachel started kissing my neck, driving me crazy of lust.
"A little more…" I put her short and her underwear down at once and I got on my knees.
I wasted no time and immediately started to kiss that sweet and beautiful tight pussy, sucking gently her clit and licking all that sweet and soft piece of heaven. While I worked with my mouth, one of my hands explored her body to her small but perfect breasts. I began to massage them and felt by the insistent movement of Rachel's hip that she was loving my caresses, but was impatient for her release. So I put two fingers in.
"Hummm, right there, baby." Rachel said between low moans while her hand was holding my head, as if she wanted me put a little more pressure.
So a suck her clit harder and move my fingers inside faster: it was a quickie after all, so no time for romance: just a good fast fuck. And I was missing it so much. I passed the whole week without my Rachel, working my ass off at the TV show. I deserved that extended holiday with her and Finn Hudson's unwelcome presence wouldn't spoil it.
I felt her muscles against my fingers, her insistent low moans, her hand grabbing my head against her pussy. So good, so erotic. Rachel hold her breath and then she cum and relaxed a little bit. It's done. She's done and I was proud of myself: yes, I'm that good.
"Holy fuck, Quinn!" She managed to say. Rachel only curse when she is satisfied after a good sex or when she was really mad of something. "B+"
"What?" I was suddenly offended.
"It's a good grade for a quickie, and plus, you will have to keep my mind out of this storm later… in that bed."
"Deal."
"I love you, baby." She kissed me.
"I love you too."
Rachel went to the bathroom to clean herself. I needed some too, since my pants were ruined. But my release would have to wait a little bit. Five minutes and we were already out of our bedroom to face Santana, Johnny and the guests.
We left the room holding hands and we found Johnny trying to establish some conversation with the unexpected and unwanted visitors. The news repeated the care that people should have during the storm as homebound, protect doors and windows, do not let the cars blocking the way for the passage of the fire department, do not call 911 unless in cases of life or death. Johnny protected the windows of the apartment, everything was close and the heater was in full operation. The temperature in the apartment was nice and we all feel safe there.
"Things look bad." Finn commented on the news.
"After so many hurricanes, we get used to it." Johnny smiled. "I have a friend who found a market selling kit-storm"
"Amazingly, I've seen a kit-earthquake in LA." Kurt said smiling. I believe he posted a picture of it once.
"It's still hard to believe you managed to tame Santana." Finn said to Johnny, after a pause.
"Tame?" Johnny laughed. "Look amigo, I thought of my girlfriend in many ways, but one that she needed to be tamed was never one of them."
"It's just way of saying." Finn always was a graceless jerk, I can tell. "Santana has always been the most feisty girl in school. That's why I said…"
"Do you wanna hate him, Johnny?" I teased. "Did you know that Santana took Finn's V –card?"
Johnny looked at me with a funny expression, Rachel punched my arm, Finn looked away and Kurt looked perplexed.
"It was just one night…" Finn said low.
"Don't worry, honey." Santana went out of the kitchen. "He's shit and that was the second worst laid I've ever had." And looked at me in a way that she will plan a payback later. "What took you two so long there?" She asked. "We have unwelcome guests, don't you know that?" That's what I love about Santana: she can say loud what I can't.
"Santana!" Rachel tried to scold her sister. "That's rude."
"Oh no, sis. This fail project of Pops Racer wannabe is so dumb that his Chip n' Dale only brain cells can't process that he offended me first at my own house. That's rude."
"What?" Finn reacted. "Rachel, I don't…"
"I don't see this discussion going nowhere." Kurt whispered to himself.
"I think we should move on this discussion." Johnny frowned.
"Well, Finn Hudson!" I crossed my arms while Rachel just sat besides Kurt in the couch. "What are you doing in New York when this storm alarm was going on for a week!" I sat in the arm of the couch next to Rachel.
"I was just passing by." Finn moved uncomfortable in the armchair. "I had a hard break up with a girl I was dating for a year and decided to take a week off in my work to put some things in order in my head. New York is a special place to me, that's all."
"I'm sorry." Johnny tried to be friendly.
"Again, of all the places in the world to relax, you came to New York with a storm alert?" Santana joked and I was grateful to have been her. "You wanted to cool off, Finnept. Literally, I'd say."
"Things only overlapped and converged." Finn stared at his hands. It was a typical gesture.
"I don't know who your ex was, but I can't blame her." Santana continued. "Dating a potato bag must be difficult."
"Santana!" Rachel warned.
"All right, I'll be gentle."
"Santana still thinks we are in high school when she thought it was ok to bully people." Now Rachel crossed her arms.
"In this she hasn't changed." Kurt hissed.
"Not true: I just keep things in perspective." Santana raised her hands in defense. "Anyway, Lady lips, how was your workshop at Vogue?"
"Extraordinary!" It was the first time that I saw Kurt excited. "Mrs. Richards is simply fabulous and left me seriously interested in doing my specialization in fashion editorial market. Maybe I can get an internship on a magazine here in New York, or even in L.A."
"Really?" Santana said with a smile on her lips.
"Do you have something to say, Santana?" Kurt became suspicious.
"Don't worry lady lips. That was only was a mandatory sarcastic stop."
A gust of wind hit the window and the lights flickered about the TV off and go into standby. The six of us were speechless for a few seconds.
"Dinner?" Rachel got up from the couch and clapped her hands. "Johnny and I were cooking earlier. Someone wants to try our Ratatouille?"
"Did you cook something named after a cartoon?" Finn asked.
"Well, Ratatouille is a secular French dish… but do you know that, right?" Johnny was beginning to understand that Finn wasn't the smartest person in the world.
"Of course." Finn smirked. "I was just joking."
"Do you like cooking?" Kurt asked Johnny suddenly too interested. Rachel must remind him later that Johnny is straight and Santana is still Santana.
"Actually I do. But I'm not that good, and I only exercise this ability when I come here to spend some time with the girls. I hate just cook to myself."
"Nice." Kurt smiled.
We set up the table quickly with plates we use on a daily basis. Johnny prepared the meatballs in electric fryer while I warn up the Ratatouille a little bit. Santana put beer on the table, but I'd rather drink wine. The storm was falling outside, and inside, six young adults were chatting at the table, eating a surprising delicious meal. Our conversation has improved somewhat with alcohol.
"Blaine is doing well playing in pubs." Kurt was drinking more than eating something. "He enjoys posing straight on stage only to break the little hearts of little girls."
"And yours..." Rachel completed unexpectedly causing laughter at the table.
"Not at all my dear friend, Blaine is no longer my romantic interest. I get over him, ok?" He drank another sip of wine. I'm seeing someone else."
"Tell me more, tell me more..." Santana said in Barney Stinson's style.
"Mike Grolberg." Kurt said excitedly and took the phone to show us a picture of him with a 25 years old, white, blonde man that somewhat resembles Sam, from the old Glee Club. "Surfer, gay and hates show tunes, but I'm working on it."
Santana laughed. We all did, but Finn who looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"How can you date a suffer if you hate saltwater?" Rachel finished her beer just to take another bottle.
"I would not say that dating is quite an appropriate term. And I don't have problems with saltwater, Rach."
"Kudos!" Santana applauded and I started laughing. "And you, Finnesse? How is your life in Detroit as a mechanic?"
"I'm living in Lima." Finn was the only one who wasn't drinking at all and he was looking too much at my Rachel. I wasn't liking it. "I did some specializations and worked a few months in Ford's factory, but I decided to go back to take care of Burt business since he can't have time to deal with that any more. I am a volunteer at McKinley High's glee club with Tina, and I'm thinking on finishing my graduation in business at Community College of Lima."
"That's what I call a businessman." Santana snapped.
"It may seem small, but it's my business. Tell me Santana, what do you do?" Santana looked to Finn abruptly and looked at Rachel, as if she had received a kick under the table. She then nodded and finished her meal.
"I'm just a student, Finnept. But who cares, since your stuffs seems more exciting." She said ironically. The truth is that Santana could easily humiliate Finn just telling the truth: that she was a student at Columbia University, who had a solid company in the internet and she was heir to a business empire.
"And you, Quinn?" Finn asked me oblivious to Santana response. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing interesting." I took my glass of wine to drink a sip. "Just working these days."
"Rachel said you are in a TV show."
"I'm the camera operator of The Project, and half of the time I'm the actually cinematographer."
"The Project?"
"Yes. That ABC's TV show airing on Tuesdays."
"I heard, but I haven't watched it." He gave me his characteristic annoying half smile. "Sorry."
"But do you see my TV show, right?" Rachel asked.
"Yes I do. It is... the storyline is very good, but don't understand why you need to do those scenes. Which are very well made and beautiful, but then the old boyfriend inside me feels strange about it."
"Ex-boyfriend." I fixed it.
"In fact, Quinn, how do you deal with that?"
"Rachel is professional and so do I."
"Quinn makes therapy." Santana shot and I shot her with my look.
Yes, I was in therapy from 15 to 15 days with Dr. Irina Merkulova. So what? She's the one who is actually helping me to face my inner demons. This is more that most of people have the guts to do.
"It's about time." Kurt said softly and saw Finn trying to cover his smile with her hand.
"In defense of Quinn." Johnny commented. "Everyone should do therapy at some point. No one can be so controlled as to not need any help to face certain things."
"Are you also doing therapy?" Finn asked.
"No, but I wish I could have done in the past."
"Why?" Finn insisted.
"I think this is none of your business, Moobs." Santana responded aggressively, but Johnny kept certain tranquility.
"When I lost my parents. This would have been a good time to seek help from a specialist. Unfortunately, I didn't do it." And he faced Finn so that if Finn dared to make one more miserable question, we would run the serious risk to see the peaceful Johnny lose his temper.
"Do you know what? Now that we enjoyed this delicious meal, it's poker time!" Rachel said suddenly to the astonishment of Kurt and Finn.
"What?" Finn frowned.
"We planned to spend the night playing poker during the storm. Plus, I can't play it very well and they were going to teach me before I face the casinos on my bachelorette party."
"Casino?" And there was another old trial to look Finn, the great fake hero of a bunch of teenagers of a choir at McKinley High.
"Yes, casino. I'm planning to take my sister to Las Vegas and make her lose some thousand dollars in strippers, gamble and alcohol. You know… the good stuffs."
"And are you ok with it?" Finn asked me.
"She will doing the same." Johnny answered for me. "Just not with Rachel and Santana. Quinn will have her bachelorette party planned by me and Mike."
I wasn't sure about it, but seeing Finn's perplexed face totally worth it.
Mike and Johnny didn't have a clue about my bachelorette party. All I knew was that it would take place a week before my weeding, and that Santiago would be there since they said I don't have any relevant female friends, but Santana. I knew that some strippers involved and a lap dance. Now the whole picture, I had no idea. I also didn't know what Santana was actually planning for her sister, but I'm okay of Rachel having fun and getting drunk at her bachelorette party. It wouldn't take my sleep.
"So? Poker?" Rachel insisted.
"Poker!" I said louder and did high five with Santana and Johnny.
Johnny put a green towel on the table, Santana brought the snacks I went to the office where they keep the chips and the deck, Rachel put music: she chose Adele.
"No way!" Santana shouted. "We're going to play poker in the snowstorm and you're playing Adele?"
"Something wrong with Adele?" Kurt intruded.
"Adele... she's great, but this is not the time." Johnny took Adele off and put his Tarantino's soundtrack. "There… Dick Dale. This is the shit."
Johnny put a bottle of scotch on the table for Finn's horror and Kurt's dismay.
"Let's get drunk before the storm arrives for real." I hit on Kurt's shoulders.
Before we begin, Johnny told everyone to wait. Then he ran to Santana's room and came back with an old blue hat with the symbol of Y.
"My lucky hat." He sat at the table and then poured himself a dose of the liquor. "I can't play it without my lucky hat."
"Bulldogs?" Finn Asked. He seemed curious.
"I'm from Connecticut, man. And people from my city cheer more for the Yale Bulldogs than for UConn Huskies. But anyway, 27 times national champion, man." And made a typical crowd greeting.
"I'm Buckeyes and Browns til the end." Finn really smiled for the first time since I saw him.
"I just don't fuck with the Buckeyes because of the girls, and because Juan played on the football team. Santana can kill me if I say something bad about the Buckeyes."
"Indeed!" Santana said.
"And I'm also Violets." Johnny and I got high five and Santana growled High. "Oh darling, It's not my fault that the Lions sucks."
"Roar, Lion, roar." Santana let out the Columbia's War song and took the cards distributed by Johnny.
"Lions?" Finn started laughing.
"We are great at rowing, swimming and diving, and fencing, you know?"
I started laughing, but then I noticed that Finn was awkwardly. Then I realized that everyone there had experiences in great colleges, but him. And Santana was studding in one of the best universities in the world. I wouldn't be against humiliate Hudson in a fairer level. But Santana was a top student and Finn was an ass academically. It's better to change the subject.
"I want four cards." Rachel demanded and I rolled my eyes. She really had no idea how plays serious poker. Who in its right mind would ask four cards to lose to the chance of a bluff? Leave it to my future wife.
"Who asks four cards in poker?" Santana complained. "I want the winner one."
"Why I can't ask four cards?" Rachel frowned.
"You can." I explained. "But you also need to remember that this is a bluff game. I want two."
Bets were made. The cards were ordered and Finn took the first round to my disgust. A few more rounds, alcohol was rising, the storm worsened and the issues being trampled on.
"Why I can't make anyone fall in my bluff?" Rachel was frustrated and threw her cards upon the wager chips.
"Because you bite your lips when you're with a good game." Kurt shot.
"Really?" She was heartbroken.
"For an actress, you are such a bad player, Rach." Johnny said at the moments the lights flickered again. The storm outside looked pretty bad and it hadn't even reached the peak.
Johnny and Rachel were getting really drunk too at that point. I didn't remember seeing Johnny drinking so much before. Santana also never said anything about it. She herself was just tipsy. I know Rachel was afraid of storms. She spoke loudly had timely attitudes and laughed at everything during our game. Ie: all signs that she was exaggerating in the drink. At least Rachel was a funny drunk, as well as slurred speech Johnny.
"Damn, I lost again." Kurt seemed frustrated with his chips fading as a strong bleeding. Finn and I where winning the night. "What the hell. This surf music has filled the bag. Can't you change?"
"Hey!" Rachel smiled. "Your boyfriend wasn't a surfer? And you're already disgusted?" And she burst out laughing.
"Maybe they just surf in marolas!" And Johnny followed the laugh. I looked at Santana, who looked at Kurt, who looked at Finn. Santana also began to laugh and I gave up at this unusual situation.
"What's so funny?" Kurt complained.
"Maybe we should just change this song." Finn looked annoyed.
That was it. When Finn rose toward the iPod, the light fell.
"That's what I call being party pooper, Moobs." Santana snapped. "Besides being unwelcome guest, do you think you can rule the house? Put yourself in your place!"
"This is Rachel's apartment."
"This is my apartment too, idiot!"
"You two, enough!" Rachel shouted.
Now, without music and without our noise, the sound of the storm intensified and showed us how much it was bad.
"San..." It was Johnny, and he looked scared.
"Quinn, let's take the flashlights and candles. Poker is over." Santana volunteered.
"How can I help?" Finn volunteered.
"Stand still." Santana replied gruffly.
Batteries, candles and flashlights were in an accessible place in the kitchen in which we purposely left that way. Santana lit a thick candle. The meager light gave us the possibility of arming the lanterns. We had two of them: one mine and Rachel's and one for Santana and Johnny. At least that was the original plan.
"The lanterns are ours." Santana lit three more thick candles and put them in other saucers.
When we returned to the room, I put a candle on the table and Santana put another one on top of the mobile next to the TV. I caught Rachel frightened, embracing the Finn. My blood boiled and alcohol in my body didn't help me think right.
"Excuse me." I pulled her by the arm. "But I will take her to the room because that's my responsibility."
"I was just afraid and hugged him, Quinn." She said in a small voice in our way to the bedroom. "It was nothing... he's just a friend."
"It's bedtime, Rach." I joined in our closet and grabbed the warmer blankets. The apartment also would retain the heat for a while, but it would cold down if the energy don't come back soon. I took the flannel pajamas to Rachel and gave it to her. "You better change clothes now, Rach." I helped my drunk fiancé to strip her short and blouse to put something the flannel pajamas. "Can you go to the bathroom alone?" She nodded. "Good girl!"
Later, I would take an aspirin for her, but first I packed the bed to lie down. In the meantime, Santana appeared with a candle.
"What's up, San?" I asked.
"How's she?"
"Drunk, but fine."
"I was worried when I saw the way you grabbed Rachel's arm and brought her here."
"We're fine. I just…"
"Yeah… him… but Quinn…"
"I know I don't have anything to be afraid of… it's just… I don't like him."
"Me either, still… he's kind of a friend."
"Yeah… so… how's Johnny?"
"I put him in bed."
"I've never saw him drink like that."
"Like Rachel, he is terrified of storms."
Without further explanation, Santana came out of our room. I put Rachel in bed and she slept fast. Then, I went to see if Santana needed some help with the other two. She had spread some candles in strategic places in the house. There was one in the toilet in case the boys needed to use it, one in the office, two in the living room, one in the kitchen. We gave the folding bed to Kurt sleep on it.
"Do you have a sleeping bag?" Finn asked me.
"No we don't. But you can have the couch or you can sleep with Kurt. You choose."
"The couch is nice." I nodded and give him the blanket, the sheet, and pillow. I was going to the office to see if Kurt was ok, but Finn grabbed my arm. "How is she?"
"Sleeping." I said short and thick.
"You guys are always like this? Drinking and talking nonsense?"
"You can't judge what you don't know now, Hudson."
"I still care about Rachel. A lot."
"She's none of your business, but I assure you that Rachel is happy."
"Maybe..." He shook his head. "Sometimes I dream, you know? What if I hadn't made some mistakes? What if I had realized from the beginning that instead of thinking you wanted me back, you always wanted stab my back? Maybe I had been able to fight properly. But I didn't realize who was my real opponent. And it was always you. From the beginning, when we were dating, you always had your eyes on her."
"Still grinding out your defeat, Hudson? Is that why you came here after ending your relationship? Is that why you came here to see her at the stage and walked away without saying anything? Did you hope that she could see you in the audience and magically fall in love again? Look it's been five years. Sorry to end your fantasy, but it won't happen. Rachel Berry-Lopez loves me, she will be my wife in a few weeks, and what goes on in your life simply does not interest us." I stepped back and turned even more serious. "I won't deny that you will always be her first love, her first boyfriend. That's a thing I can't be. But that was also in the past. Kurt is still part of Rachel's life because he is working for her. But you? I'm sorry saying it, but you don't belong in our lives anymore."
"I know that!" The way he said this, convinced, surprised me. "I could see it tonight. You guys changed too much… even Santana, even though she's still an aggressive bitch."
"Please, don't…"
"Right… what I want to say is that you changed a lot, I changed a lot and the way I lead my life doesn't fit the way you guys lead your life here. I know I will love Rachel forever, but I don't fit. I don't belong here and you guys don't belong to Lima anymore."
Yeah bitch you don't.
"Just take care of her." He finished.
"I do and I will."
"Congratulations on your wedding, Quinn Fabray."
I nodded and led him in the couch. Santana was talking quickly with Kurt and I wonder what they're talking about. The two were silent when they arrived in the living room to say good nights. I entered the bedroom, changed my clothes and put warm pajamas. Rachel was sleeping deeply. I lay down and closed my eyes. The Finn's words bounced in my mind. And what if he had won the battle for Rachel's heart? And what if she had chosen him instead of me in that Nationals?
I did that mental exercise Irina taught me and imagined another reality. One that Rachel gave up doing that audition and returned to Lima in hand with Finn Hudson. I'd go back miserable and alone. Mike also would come back with us. Rachel and Finn would have a glorious year at McKinley as it couple. Perhaps they had married right after high school finished. Santana still would be in New York in Stuyvesant, but she wouldn't have known Johnny. Santana would have chosen Harvard instead of stay in New York studding in Columbia. Mike would have be an engineer in OSU, would supply his artistic ambitions and perhaps he would still dating Tina. Johnny? I don't know what could happen to him. He always says we are his second family, we help him even without knowing about his recovering. Without us, perhaps Johnny would be an aimlessly stoned.
I would get a full scholarship in some college but NYU. Maybe I would be a Yale girl or whatever. The fact was that I would be doing a tough job to ignore the happiness of the it couple and try forgetting. Probably I would be fighting my sexuality and wouldn't have the courage to come out of the closet. I wouldn't have the opportunity to see Beth grow and I have the impression that I would be someone confused and bitter. At least until I could find someone to appease my heart.
What a horrible alternative reality!
But then I looked to my fiancé, to my Rachel sleeping next to me in our bed. We are deeply in love and we are happy despite all the mishaps of the way. I know I should feel sorry for Finn Hudson, or at least look sympathize. But you know what? I wasn't sorry for him. There, in that bed, next to the love of my life in a blackout day in the midst of a violent snowstorm, I could only smile and say quietly:
"God, I'm so happy!"