CHAPTER FOUR
WHEN DID THIS FREAKING HAPPEN!
WINTER 2011
WILLIAM MCKINELY HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT
Quinn pulled into her assigned parking spot. Turning the key she just listened as the engine slowly died out. Her eyes never leaving the front window. As the last din of the engine finally died out, she found her voice, "Are you sure about this?"
"I should be the one asking you that." Rachel said her eyes remained glued to the side of Quinn's face. "You didn't have to give me a lift to school. I could've gotten a lift from one of my fathers."
"It's silly to have them drive you to school – after all I was going to the same place." Quinn sighed finally letting go of her death grip on the steeling wheel. "Just makes better sense is all." She murmured.
"Thank you." Rachel sincerely said.
Sighing Quinn tapped her right fingers on her smooth thigh. "I hate that I have to wear this uniform in the winter." Rolling her eyes. "Matter of fact I hate wearing it at all. I mean the first two days of joining Cheerios it was such a power trip. But now," She sighed as she wiped away the hair from her forehead. "It's just a total bore. Wish I was pregnant once more."
"Do you still want to be a cheerleader?" Rachel asked her brows furred.
"I have too be." Quinn said in a low stern voice.
"Not if you truly don't want to be." Rachel gently said.
"I have too be." Quinn turned her head to stare into Rachel's soft chocolate brown eyes.
"No you don't." Rachel whispered. She lifted her hand to reach out to the blond – but she stopped. "If cheer leading doesn't make you happy – than don't do it. You should do what makes you happy."
"That's not the Fabray way." Quinn right fist clenched on her thigh. "I'm expected to be head cheerleader through out high school. Prom Queen at Junior and Senior prom." Her head rested against the seat.
"Prom Queen doesn't matter." Rachel kindly said. "It's just high school Quinn, after we graduate – than really are you honestly going to look back, and really be prideful that you won damn high school Prom Queen?" Her hand dropped down onto her lap. "I think you should look back all you have accomplished, Quinn. Your high grades, your friends and Glee."
"My grades aren't so high. Not after last year." Quinn sighed. She stared out the front window once more. "I haven't had time to study as I normally had. I thought after I gave away B-beth." She couldn't keep the stumble from her voice. Her eyes squeezed shut. "I thought that the new year would help me get my act together once more."
"You do have your life together. At least you are getting there." Rachel tilted her head to the right.
"You don't lie all that great, Rachel." Quinn twisted her head to look into Rachel's eyes. "Even through you believe that you are a great liar. You aren't. Never were." Her hand reached across the center console, "Promise me that you will never become a liar. It kills you inside."
"You did what was necessary to survive, Quinn." Rachel whispered.
"It destroys you." Quinn whispered. With one last longingly look into Rachel's eyes – Quinn turned and opened the car door. She got out and allowed the door to shut softly behind her.
Rachel watched as Quinn picked up her pace father away from the car. Her brow drew deeper together. "I'm not going to allow you too be destroyed Quinn." Her eyes drifted closed once Quinn was out of her line of sight.
OUTSIDE OF THE EAST WING
Quinn whelped as she felt herself being slammed into the brick wall. "What the fuck Lopez. How dare you treat me in this fucking fashion!" Her hazel eyes blazing fire. She was ready to go another round with Santana – any day of the week.
Smirking Santana just leaned her body flush against Quinn's – keeping Quinn's back firmly in place. "I just want to know what the hell you are thinking of giving that troll a ride to school? Are you doing some serious drugs now girl." Her right eyebrow rose high on her forehead.
"Leave Rachel out of this." Quinn growled low in her throat.
"It's Rachel now." Santana smirked even rougher now, "I want to know what drugs that treasure trail has slipped you." Her right hand rose to grab hold of Quinn's leather man jacket.
"Stop right now, Santana. You don't want to even go there with me." Quinn hissed through her teeth.
"Leave Quinn alone San." Brittany pleaded from the right of Quinn.
"You drop out of sight during Winter break; and the next thing I know you are driving Man hands Berry to school." Santana's anger laced her very soul.
"First off Lopez, I'm not the one that dropped out of sight these past two weeks. I stayed in Lima. You and everyone else left. Expect for Rachel." Quinn growled out as she tried to push forward – but Santana just tightened her hold on her.
"Why is your house up for fucking sell." Santana demanded. "Where are you living now?"
"San and I came home early, Quinn. We came top surprise you. But your house was all locked up with one of those realtor key locks. We looked in the window and found that it was bare of everything." Brittany explained with tears sparking in her baby blue eyes.
"Why haven't you answered your phone." Santana steely said.
"I didn't want too talk to you." Quinn roughly stated. "I didn't realize you were back in Lima when you called. I just didn't want to hear about how much fun you were enjoying skiing." Her right eye brow rose. "Sides you never text-ed me that you were home."
"Where are you and your mom living now?" Santana hotly demanded.
Quinn eyes sifted to the left.
"Not back with him!" Santana sneered. "That's it Quinn, I'm taking you to pack your bags. You can live with either me or Brittany."
"I'm not living with him." Quinn replied still not looking at her friends. "I'm not living with my mom either. She moved too Japan too be with him."
"You aren't telling us that you are living in your car again. God dammit Quinn, get it through your fucking head – a car isn't a good place to live. Even if you park in the empty school parking lot - you can still be seriously hurt." Santana's gripe tightened on Quinn's arm.
"The car is good enough for me." Quinn snarled out. "Sides I'm not staying in the school parking lot any longer."
"You know that I'll just follow you, and drag you to my place tonight." Santana slapped Quinn hard across the face. Leaving a palm print.
"Q-quinn …." A weak voice said.
Quinn head turned, and she stared into the wide eyed terrified eyes of Rachel.
"Get out of here fucking troll – this doesn't concern you." Santana said never leaving her eyes from Quinn's face. She felt bad for slapping Quinn – but damn it all hell she had to be rough with Quinn in order to save her. She had to fight against Quinn's stubbornness after all.
"Be nice San." Brittany said sharply. "Rachel has every right too be here. More so than either one of us."
"Q-quinn …." Rachel whispered once more. Her hands were shaking at her sides.
"Just go inside Rachel." Quinn said in a gentle voice. "I'm okay. Santana won't hurt me for real. Just go inside."
"Not without you." Rachel said as a lone tear ran down her right cheek.
"Do you have to be so damn dramatic all the time treasure tail." Santana growled low in her throat. She suddenly jerked her body away from Quinn's, and was quickly grabbing hold of the short Diva. She made the half turn and slammed Rachel against the wall. Much harder than she did Quinn. She heard the crack of Rachel's head.
"SANTANA!" Both Quinn and Brittany screamed.
"How many times do I have too tell you RuPaul – '.! How long will it take you before it finally sinks into that soul of yours." Santana's gripe tightened against Rachel's shoulder – as her right hand rose to the shorter brunette's throat. Her hand tightened against the Diva's pulse point. "Perhaps now you will finally get it." She squeezed.
Rachel couldn't breathe. Her eyes had widen when she realized what Santana had in mind – just a second before Santana had her hands on her. She couldn't fight back. How could she when she never fought back. When Santana cut off her passage to breathe – she knew that she was a dead girl within minutes. After all who would save her? Kurt was no longer at McKinely – and besides Kurt wouldn't save her anyhow.
Rachel was beginning to black out – when sudden the most awe sparkling white light over came her vision. All she wanted too do was walk towards that light. She just knew that she would finally have all the genuine love that she craved; if she just pass through that light.
Rachel grasped for much needed breathes. Her eyes stung with falling tears, and with unsheathed tears. Her eyes opened wide in her face. The only thing she was aware of was deep hazel eyes. As her vision slowly cleared, and able to take in more of her surroundings – she still forced solely on the hazel eyes.
"Thank God you awakened." Quinn breathed as she gently brushed aside Rachel's bangs. Her hand ran down the right side of the brunette's jaw line.
"Treasure Tail needs to get out of here now – I don't want to be forced to hurt her anymore." Santana growled from behind Quinn.
"You come near her again – Santana; than your life is over." Quinn growled deep in her throat – never taking her eyes off of Rachel.
"Why are you suddenly so protective of the bitch?" Santana said in a menacing voice.
"Do you want me to call your dads? Or can I get you home?" Quinn softly asked.
"Isn't your head hurt too?" Rachel swallowed around the still rawness of her throat.
"I just want you to be where it is safe. Sides my head stopped hurting the moment that you were in danger." Quinn replied.
"I don't want too miss any school. It wouldn't look good on my transcript for Julliard." Rachel tried to sit up. But Quinn's hands were firmly on her as the blond firmly shook her head. "It's just a headache Quinn, once I take some Advil I'll be fine."
"You need more than Advil Rach, I'm going to take you home. I want you to get rested in a nice quiet place. School isn't the place for you or I today." Quinn finally allowed Rachel to move. Wrapping her arm around the short Diva's shoulder she helped the brunette to sit up. Rachel's head dropped onto her shoulder.
"Hey Quinn." Sam said in a quiet voice kneeling down on the other side of Rachel. "Here let me help you with her."
"Sam how did you -" Quinn couldn't finish the sentence.
"Brittany text ed me." Sam said wrapping his arms around Rachel's body and gently lifted her into him. Slowly and carefully he stood to his feet. Rachel's head was tucked carefully against his collar bone – and Quinn as standing close in front of him. "Hey there Superstar – lets get you home shall we."
"Samuel?" Rachel slurred.
Sam followed Quinn towards the parking lot where she had parked her car. After he got Rachel in the passenger seat and safely buckled in. He climbed into the back seat. "Lets get you two back home shall we." He quietly said as Quinn started the car.
"How did you know that I was staying at the Berry's?" Quinn questioned as she drove slowly through the parking lot. So not to run into any of the students hanging out before the first bell.
"You mother text ed me the day you moved in." Sam said. "I was waiting for you to text me or call me – but nothing. Why the silence?"
"I didn't want to bum you out during your holiday vacation." Quinn said turning right to head to Rachel's home.
"I wish you would trust me." Sam softly said. He sighed.
It was quiet in the car the rest of the way to the Berry home. Sam got out of the back of the car – and gently lifted Rachel from the car. "Hey Superstar you are home now." He said into the dull eyes of one Rachel Berry.
"Home." Rachel slurred.
"Home." Sam said. He turned and walked up the walkway behind Quinn. She managed to have the front door opened by the time he started up the steps of the front porch.
Kristopher had the things ready in Rachel's room by the time the three teens arrived. After Sam had gently set his daughter on the bed; he quickly set to work checking on his little girl. He was relieved to see that he didn't have to take her to the hospital. After Quinn had helped get his baby girl into her warm pajama set and covered her up he turned to the blond. "It's time that I check you out too."
"I'm fine." Quinn shrugged.
"I'll be the judge of that." Kristopher said and carefully checked out Quinn. "All you need is a good rest also young lady." He turned to Sam. "Thank you for bringing home my daughter, and Quinn, Sam. But I'm sure that you need to get back too school."
"Yes sir." Sam said and left the house.
"I'm sorry." Quinn said in the silence that the room had turned into.
"This isn't your fault." Kristopher said. He looked down at his sleeping daughter.
"I'm the cause of it." Quinn said in a low rough voice. "If I had just stopped Santana then she would never would have laid a hand on Rachel."
Kristopher didn't have an answer to this. All he could say was, "I want you get some rest Quinn. Either you rest in your room – or you can rest in here."
Quinn stared at Rachel for a long time. "I'll be in my room." She said in a tone of voice that Kristopher had always hated to hear from anyone. She turned and left the room.
"Q-quinn …." Rachel whimpered.
Kristopher sighed as he took a seat in the chair that was pulled up next to the side of the bed where Rachel was lying. "I think you are in a place now sweetheart – a place that you may not get out of for a long time." He sighed as he just watched as his daughter uneasily rested.
Not due to the pain of her body. But the pain of her soul.
END CHAPTER FOUR
Author's Note: I have decided not to include a Spring 2011 part to this chapter. For some reason it didn't seem right to add the part of Rachel blindness in this part of the story.