A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I think you'll recognize the song…
The guitar strummed its first chords as music filled the previously silent choir room. All eyes were on the blonde, especially a pair of brown ones, anticipating her performance.
Finn was still glaring at Rachel. Puck just looked heartbroken as he drank in the girl standing alone in the center of the room. Her dressed hugged her waist with a white bow, her hair tastefully pulled back by her white headband. His heart was pounding as he tried not to cry.
Quinn smiled nervously at the brunette as her hand still gently took the microphone, ready to start the performance. She took a deep breath and began.
When I was younger I saw my daddy cry and curse at the wind.
He broke his own heart and I watched as he tried to reassemble it.
She effortlessly hit each note with precision, and the brunette watching awestruck.
And my mamma swore that she would never let herself forget.
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist.
Quinn stared deeply into Rachel's wide eyes, desperately trying to convey her feelings, as the words rolled off of her tongue.
Darling, you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
Her hips swayed naturally back and forth as she leaned into the microphone, her heart beating even more rapidly than before. Her hand felt for that familiar bump she had grown so accustomed to.
After feeling a rather flat stomach, she glanced over to Kurt, who nodded encouragingly and smiled. Her hand clutched the microphone, and she moved her lips closer to it.
Maybe I know somewhere, deep in my soul,
That love never lasts.
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone
Or keep a straight face.
And I've always lived like this,
Keeping a comfortable distance.
And up until now I had sworn to myself that
I'm content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
Quinn closed her eyes and opened her heart so she was completely exposed, her emotions painted clearly on her face all for one girl, the girl.
Well you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
Her eyes opened slightly, and she caught a glimpse of Rachel, whose hand was cemented to her chest. Quinn watched a tear slide gently down her cheek, the sight tugging at her heart.
I've got a tight grip on reality but I can't
Let go of what's in front of me here.
I know you're leaving in the morning when I wake up.
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream
Quinn's eyes snapped shut as she threw her head back and belted out the climactic note. Her diaphragm contracted. She should have felt lightheaded, but she didn't feel a thing.
All of a sudden a wave of relief overtook her because it was finally out there. She lifted her head up and looked into Rachel's eyes, searching for their sparkle. Then, in the midst of the chocolate swirls, Quinn saw a tiny glimmer and it was all she needed to continue.
The chorus joined in behind her as she held out the note, the brunette's mouth remaining closed, and her eyes never leaving Quinn's.
In that moment, no one else mattered, not her mother or father, her child or the scars along her stomach.
All that she saw was Rachel, her luxurious brown locks flowing down her shoulders, her plump lips, and those eyes, those deep brown eyes that hypnotized her to no end. Her heart swelled to the point where it nearly burst out of her chest. She nodded subtly and sang the one lyric that she meant the most.
And I'm on my way to believing
She sang with so much emotion, her voiced echoing throughout the room as it gelled with the other instruments perfectly. Tears poured out of her eyes and wet her flushed porcelain skin.
The music faded away until the room was completely silent. Quinn didn't bothering wiping her tears as she walked over to Rachel. Her hand reached out for Rachel's small one and the moment they intertwined it was as if a bond formed, an electrical spark connecting them. Both were flushed as a wave of heat crashed down on them.
Quinn looked nervously at their hands and up into Rachel's eyes. That sparkle filled her up with all the confidence she needed.
"Rach," she whispered into the brunette's ear gently, "Can I talk to you outside for a moment?"
Rachel nodded numbly and the two walked out of the room leaving a shocked glee club. The kids looked at each other, none of them truly understanding what had just happened. They watched the two girls leave the room, Puck with a lone tear trailing down his tanned cheek and Finn with his head in his hands as a wave of nausea overtook him.
"So, next year's sectionals…" Mr. Schuester said, awkwardly attempting to continue rehearsal.
Quinn closed the door and stopped in front of a set of lockers, still holding on tightly to Rachel's warm hand. Before the brunette had a chance to speak, Quinn gently stopped Rachel against a locker.
"Rachel, I owe you an apology. When you asked me if I wanted to date you, the truth is, I wanted to say yes. Instead I pushed you away, like I always do, when all I really wanted was to pull you in closer and hold you."
"I thought you were embarrassed. I- I thought you were embarrassed of being with me and my ugly sweaters and obnoxious personality," Rachel whispered brokenly as she bowed her head.
Quinn lifted Rachel's face up and into her hands and looked straight into her eyes.
"Firstly, your sweaters are not ugly. They are adorable. Second, I love your personality because it always keeps me on my toes," she murmured with a teasing grin. "Thirdly, I could never be embarrassed of you, Rachel. You know why?
Rachel shook her head.
"It's because you are the strongest and bravest person I know, Rachel. You don't care how other people see you or what they think and to me that-,"
"I care about what you think."
Quinn shook her head with a smile. Rachel would always surprise her.
"Do you want to know what I think?"
Rachel nodded eagerly.
"I think that you are the smartest, most beautiful, and most talented person in this school. The people here are just too stupid to notice. I've always envied your confidence, but most of all, I've always envied your openness, how you accept anyone even if they don't accept you. You don't judge anyone. For some reason, you never judged me even after I made your life hell. You never left me. You're the only one that has never left me.
Quinn felt a tear dance down her cheek. Rachel quickly swiped it away with her thumb, letting it linger on her skin for a moment.
"Rachel, I want to be with you, the real way, the right way. I don't' care anymore. I need you, so much, and I can't believe I was stupid enough to hurt you like I did. And I am so sorry for that."
Quinn was breathing heavily, her hand still interlocked with Rachel's. She searched desperately for a sign of forgiveness, but she couldn't see anything.
Then, Rachel pulled Quinn into a hug. Quinn shivered at the touch and reveled in the warmth. A smile graced her face as she inhaled the strong scent of lavender. She buried her head into Rachel's hair and felt her breath on her neck causing a fire to ignite in the pit of her stomach at the feel of the warm air tickling her skin.
Rachel let go of Quinn and began to shake as her body became consumed with sobs. Quinn panicked as her heart broke at the sound of her cries.
"Rachel, what is it? Did I do something wrong? Please don't cry, Rach, I'm sorry…"
Quinn wrapped her arms around the brunette and pulled her into her chest. She weaved her fingers through the girl's long brown hair as her hand rubbed her back affectionately. Rachel pulled away again and wiped her eyes viciously.
"Quinn- I just I don't know what to say. I never thought you really wanted to be with me."
"Rachel, I do, more than anything," Quinn breathed.
Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn's neck as their faces drew in closer. They could feel each other's hot breath on their cheeks. Quinn was flushed, all of the blood rushing to her pale cheeks. Their noses brushed against each other, and Rachel sighed into the touch.
Quinn brought her hand to Rachel's face and brushed away a stray hair. Her hand cupped the Rachel's face as Quinn's lips moved towards Rachel's. Their lips lingered, not touching, but close enough that Quinn could practically taste her strawberry lip-gloss.
"Quinn, are you sure?" Rachel asked again, thinking of her heart, how she couldn't risk breaking it again.
"I've never been surer of anything in my entire life."
Their lips collided, fitting together perfectly. Their bodies melded into each other.
Rachel was careful and tender. Quinn's skin felt numb and tingly. Her lips moved with Rachel's in a dance, a dance they both somehow knew the choreography to. Rachel's tongue grazed over Quinn's bottom lip, demanding entrance, and Quinn obliged as their tongues caressed, sending a surge of electricity through the blonde's body. She leaned against the lockers as Rachel held onto her hair.
Quinn pulled away for air, her breathing labored. She stared into Rachel's eyes and saw that the sparkle had morphed into a bright light, causing the brunette to radiate the hallway.
"Quinn," Rachel breathed as she got lost in the hazel.
Quinn smiled tenderly as she caressed Rachel's cheek.
"Rachel Barbra Berry," she began in a whisper.
Rachel nodded, a tear falling from her deep brown eyes. Quinn caught it with her thumb and wiped it away.
"Would you like to go out with me Friday night?"
Rachel sniffled softly and released her hands from Quinn's neck. She slowly brought her hand up to Quinn's, her index finger stroking the cool hand on her cheek.
"Nothing would make me happier."