Rachel woke up at 5:30am to Barbra Streisand's "Don't Rain on My Parade."
She hadn't gotten any sleep whatsoever.
It was the first day of school and sure, everyone gets those first day jitters, but not everyone comes out with their girlfriend on the first day of school and not everyone goes to a primarily homophobic, small town Ohio high school.
The brunette hopped out of bed and went down the hall to the guest room. As she poked her head through the door, she saw her girlfriend lying in her bed, her golden hair splayed over the pillow. The light from the window danced across her porcelain skin. Rachel's heart fluttered inside of her chest.
Rachel smiled, deciding to let Quinn sleep a little longer, and proceeded to do her morning workout on her elliptical. Those butterflies never ceased fluttering in her stomach.
After her workout, her forehead covered with a layer of sweat, Rachel walked to her bathroom and turned the shower on. The hot water massaged her back as she rubbed shampoo into her brown locks. She closed her eyes and reveled in the warmth of the water.
Before she knew it, it was seven. She had stayed in the shower for ten minutes longer than usual. After she was dressed and ready to go, she returned to the guest room and poked her head into Quinn's room once more.
The girl had rolled onto her side, her back to the door, and Rachel heard her shallow breathing. Both of her fathers had left for work already, and the house was completely silent. Rachel quietly entered, her feet padding softly against the carpet.
Quinn moaned as she felt the mattress dip with Rachel's weight. The brunette stroked the blonde's cheek and kissed her tenderly.
"Quinn, sweetheart, we're going to be late. Wake up," she whispered.
The ex-cheerleader moaned and curled herself into Rachel.
"Stay with me forever, Rach."
"As much as I would like to, Quinn, that would be illogical. We both need an education if we would like to have promising futures. I, for one, cannot wait to start my classes and see everyone from Glee considering it has been quite some time since we have seen them last. Furthermore, what would I do if I needed to use the restroom if I were to stay forever? Would you let me leave? Or would you accompany to-,"
"Okay, I'm up, you dork. Puck was right. That rambling is better than an alarm clock."
Rachel giggled as a soft blush pervaded her cheeks.
"Let's go, seriously. It's getting late."
Quinn pouted.
"One kiss? I promise I'll get up."
Rachel nodded with a smirk, leaned in close to the blonde, and just as her lips were about to touch Quinn's she jumped out of the bed.
"Breakfast in five minutes, darling," she said as winked at the tired blonde.
Quinn sighed and slammed back onto her back, smiling into her pillow. Rachel was enough motivation to get out of bed. In reality, Quinn was merely playing around with the brunette.
Quinn had actually gotten up at 5:30am that morning and lied in bed listening to her iPod because who could sleep when in just a few hours they would come out to the entire school?
Eventually the blonde got herself ready for the day and ate a lovely breakfast with Rachel.
Quinn drove to school as Rachel controlled the radio, rambling on about different artists and plays and God knows what else. It was comfortable with Rachel, and Quinn wanted the car ride to last forever.
Once they got to school, the tranquility would vanish. She would enter Quinn Fabray mode, walls fully up and running. The only difference was this time Rachel was on her side of her wall, and if anyone tried to hurt her girlfirned she would attack.
"Quinn?"
"Yeah?"
Rachel looked down at her hands and played with her sinfully short skirt.
"Are you scared?"
Quinn was scared. She was scared shittless.
But Rachel was worth it.
Quinn pulled the car into the parking lot of Dunkin' Donuts and killed the engine.
"I love you, Rachel. Yeah, I'm scared, but that's normal, I guess, but that doesn't mean I'm going to bail on our plan. You are the most important person in my life, and I want the entire world to know how I feel about you."
Rachel smiled weakly.
"You're not going to be humiliated by me?"
Quinn pulled Rachel close into her and caressed those sweet strawberry lips with everything she had.
"I will never be humiliated by you."
-/-
Jaws dropped. People froze. Everyonestared.
Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry walked into McKinley High, hand in hand, and strolled down the hall with their shoulders rubbing together. They arrived at Quinn's locker, and as the blonde exchanged her books Rachel stroked her arm lovingly. Once finished, the two proceeded to the diva's locker.
Quinn smiled at the gold stars and rainbow flag decorating her locker door. She leaned against the lockers to stare at her girlfriend. The door closed and Rachel looked up into Quinn's hazel eyes with a look that said Ready? Quinn nodded fiercely and snaked her arm around her tiny waist and guided her through the halls, the student body parting like the Red Sea.
Students watched in awe as the two supposed enemies walk together down the hallway to Rachel's first period math class. Santana nodded to Quinn as the blonde held her girlfriend and guided her down the hallway. Quinn's heart swelled when Brittany waved at her and smiled her dopey grin.
Nothing bad had happened yet, but then again they hadn't actually done anything that would cause any of the students to infer that the two were in fact dating each other.
They arrived at Rachel's classroom about a minute before the first bell. Quinn pulled Rachel aside to let the other students go into the room.
"Are you alright, Rach?"
Rachel smiled a toothy grin and nodded profusely.
"Never better," she replied as she grabbed the blonde's vacant hand.
Quinn glanced around the hallway. About twenty students were staring at them.
"What about you?"
Quinn looked into Rachel's eyes, enamored by their sparkle, and moved her body closer, wrapping her arms around the diva's waist. Then, she pulled the girl into a slow, languid kiss.
Rachel moaned as a tongue danced across her lip. It was over before it had started, and all Rachel stars were stars, shiny pretty stars, as her mind clouded with lust.
"I'll pick you up after class, babe," Quinn whispered huskily into the brunette's ear.
Rachel, and the rest of the student body for that matter, gawked at the ex-cheerleader as she strutted down the hallway, her blonde hair swaying with her movement.
Forty minutes later, just as she had promised, Quinn was waiting by the door expectantly for Rachel. Her face brightened at the sight of her girlfriend who wore her classic plaid skirt and soft blouse with her signature penny loafers. Their hands found each other as Quinn kissed Rachel on the cheek.
"Hey," she whispered as she pulled the brunette towards her.
"Hello, Quinn," Rachel said shakily, surprised at the sudden warmth radiating from between her legs.
"Are you alright?" Quinn asked, automatically detecting the change in the girl's demeanor.
"I-I'm fine, it's just I didn't know you would be so, um, forceful with the public displays of affection, that's all."
Quinn smiled warmly at the brunette.
"Okay, let's just hold hands then. I have to go back to my locker, if you don't mind though."
"I don't mind at all," Rachel said enthusiastically, squeezing the soft hand in hers.
The two walked down the hall, ignoring the shocked faces and whispering gossipers.
"Looks like the rumors are true," a familiar voice boomed throughout the hallway. "McKinley's very own head cheerleader's a flaming dyke!"
Quinn froze momentarily, but Rachel pushed her forward.
"Ignore them, Quinn," Rachel said under her breath.
"Hey! I'm talking to you, Fabray! You and your freaking tranny girlfriend are stinking up this hallway!"
Quinn let got of Rachel's hand and turned around, racing towards the jock.
"What did you just call her?" she yelled, venom practically spraying the on-looking students.
The jock and his minions surrounded Quinn. The Neanderthal adjusted his jacket cockily.
"I said you and your freaking tranny girlfriend are stinking up this hallway!"
Suddenly, Quinn pushed the boy violently up against a wall of lockers, her hand fisting the his T-Shirt.
"Listen here, you ignorant asshole, no one insults Rachel Berry, you got it? Any of you try and pull anything on her I swear to God I will rip your throats out, got it?"
The boy smiled evilly.
"Isn't this ironic, boys? A year ago we were getting orders to torture her little gremlin. My my, how the times have changed, Fabgay. Now why don't you let got of my shirt before I-,"
"Before you what? Are you gunna hit a girl?" Quinn challenged.
With one swift movement, the boy threw Quinn into the opposite wall. She collapsed to the floor. The sound of her body colliding with the metal lockers was enough to silence the entire hallway. Students watched earnestly.
Rachel ran to Quinn's side in a blind panic. Before the girls had a chance to fight back three slushies were launched at them, the iced drink drenching both of them.
"I swear to God people are turning gay left and right it's like a disease."
He looked around and saw the students gaping at the scene
"Nothing to see here, folks. This isn't over, Fabgay."
The gang of Neanderthals left the now empty hallway laughing on their way to their second period class. Rachel and Quinn hobbled to the nearest bathroom, leaving a trail of blue ice on the floor. Quinn was shaking violently, goose bumps forming on her bare arms. Tears were streaming down her face.
"Rachel, I'm so sorry, I-,"
Rachel looked up at her with a stunned look in her eyes.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because of me those idiots called you a tranny and threw slushies at you!"
Rachel shook her head fiercely.
"That isn't your fault. They would have done both of those things regardless. I am in love with you, Quinn. This is their fault. It is their fault for being ignorant, and I am so proud of you for doing what you did, even though it was rash, and violent, and you almost were seriously injured."
Quinn laughed and a small smile crept upon her now blue stained lips. Then her eyes darkened for a moment.
"I'm so sorry I made you feel this way, Rach, honestly. I-never realized how humiliating this is."
Rachel pulled Quinn into her arms and rubbed her back softly.
"Quinn, I forgave you a long time ago."