Chapter 5: Interrupted... Again
I know I said I'd update yesterday and I'm so very sorry I didn't but something important came up. Anyways here's the chapter! (Spoilers for next chapter are below the story!) And thanks to all who reviewed! Gold stars all around!
After glee, I walked to physics in a trance. It was like I was high off of the hand holding with Rachel. I just let my feet lead me to class and my face adopted a dreamy and dazed expression. Right outside my classroom, I bumped into someone, taking me out of my thoughts and pleasant memory. "Oh, I'm sorry," I apologized. It was then that I realized Santana was standing in front of me. I guess she was the person I'd bumped into; she must've been waiting for me. "Apology not accepted. And I saw you and Rachel holding hands. So have you told her how much you love her?" She asked me in a mocking voice. "Shut up Santana, and I do love her. But that is none of your business." I roughly pushed past her, making sure I hit her hard. I immediately took my seat and counted the minutes until lunch, when I could be with Rachel again.
I tried paying attention during class and actually managed to learn a few things when I wasn't constantly checking the time. The bell ringing vanished my weird mood I'd had since I'd bumped into Santana. I quickly walked out the room and headed to the auditorium. I wasn't feeling very hungry; thinking of Rachel just brought more butterflies. I walked to the auditorium where Rachel would probably already be waiting for me. For someone so tiny, she sure was fast.
I reached the auditorium door and poked my head inside. What I saw was not good. Rachel was sitting on the edge of the stage and Santana was standing on the floor beneath the stage. She paced back and forth, from the stage to the first row of seats. She was trying to persuade Rachel to do something, as I heard from the echoes of their loud voices. "Come on, Rachel."
"No, Santana. I promised Quinn that I would spend lunchtime with her. I'm not going to break my promise just because you have decided you want to spend lunchtime with me today."
"Fine," Santana huffed. She closed the distance between herself and Rachel, and whispered into Rachel's ear. Unfortunately, I heard what she said and it upset me. "But you'll have to make it up to me later." I felt my blood boil. Why did Santana have to act the way she did? And why did she have to mess with me this way? I decided it was a perfect time to make my entrance. I slowly, quietly walked a few feet away. Then I started walking back to the auditorium, making my footsteps loud so they'd echo. I heard Santana being told to leave by Rachel as I entered the room. Santana walked towards the door as I walked away from it. We stopped in front of each other. "Q."
"San." We nodded, acknowledging each other. I watched as she walked out before continuing to the edge of the stage where Rachel still sat. I sat beside her, realizing she'd been watching me since I'd come in. "Hey," she said. "Hey," I replied quietly, smiling at her. She returned it, and we sat there for a few minutes, just appreciating the other's company. Finally, she broke the silence. "So you and Santana have been best friends for a while, huh?" I didn't really know what to think about this. But might as well see where this leads. "Yeah. We know each other a little too well. But we've always been there for each other." She nodded. "Well, since you know her so well, could you help me?" My heart dropped. "With what?" I whispered, expecting the worse. "I just don't understand her behavior lately." Oh. Whoo. That's a relief. I thought it'd be her wanting help on how to announce her newly-discovered love to the Latina. Or, you know, something like that. "Yeah. Just tell me what's been going on." I tried to say it casually, not wanting to seem too eager or nosy. Rachel didn't seem to notice. She looked very preoccupied.
"Ok well, you remember how I had to do the duet with her?" I nodded. "Well when Mr. Schue gave us time to practice, we came here, to the auditorium. And at first, there was silence, because I really had no idea how we were supposed to prepare the duet when Santana would more likely than not be insulting me the whole time, which would cause us to argue and we would get nothing accomplished. But, Santana broke the silence and suggested that we sing So Emotional. She started planning the performance and never even once insulted me. So I joined in and together we began planning. It was odd, but pleasant. We were able to, for the first time, have a nice conversation. And I enjoyed it. She even joked around and we had fun. And I'm thinking we could be great friends and get to know each other." She paused, looking down and away from me. I continued to stare at her, waiting for her to resume telling me. "We exchanged numbers, and she came with me to my house, where we rehearsed in my room. Since both of us are exceptional performers, we quickly perfected our number and were ready. Then, she told me that it would be a great idea for us to look only at each other throughout the whole performance. I thought that considering the lyrics of the song, it would make sense. Right?" She turned to me, so I nodded my agreement, even though I didn't agree. But at least it was proof that she didn't stare and smile at Santana for three whole minutes because she wanted to; she's a performer, so of course she'd want to do anything to improve the overall performance. But her little stunt did nearly break my heart... "Then the next day, she sat next to me, but we are partners, so I didn't think much of it. We performed and it went perfectly. Afterwards, I asked you about how I was and I hugged you, and she interrupted, then the bell rang and you rushed out of the room, saying you'd see me later..." she rambled on adorably.
"Yep," I interrupted her rambling, curious to know what, if anything, had happened after I left. "Oh, and then she looked at me with a weird expression on her face. She offered to walk me to class, and naturally I agreed, seeing it as an opportunity to become closer to her. But she led me to a janitor's closet and said she had to tell me something important and it had to be said in private. She apologized for how terrible she has been to me all this time, and I forgave her." Of course. I love that Rachel is so forgiving, but it gets kinda annoying, especially when she's forgiving Santana. "Then she said..." she broke off, avoiding my gaze. "What?" I had to know.
"She said she liked me, and she kissed me," Rachel whispered. Oh. "Did you kiss her back?" I whispered, afraid to hear the answer, but I had to know; I couldn't not know. "No, she pulled away as quickly as she had kissed me and left. Since then, I've seen her and she's sat near me, but we haven't talked or anything. I think she's pretending that it didn't happen. I'm so confused." She finally looked at me, but I looked away. Still not looking at her, I started talking. "Rachel, she doesn't really like you."
"She doesn't?" Rachel sounded so sad. "No, of course not. Why would anyone like me? It was probably just all in my head or something." I turned to see her, and she did indeed look very heart broken. I hoped it wasn't because I said Santana didn't like her. "Rachel, you are amazing." I took ahold of her hand. "And I know someone who likes you. Actually, no, they are in love you." Her eyes, which glistened from tears, bore into mine. "Really? Who?" I gathered all my courage. I had to say this. "Rachel, I- " the bell rang, interrupting us.
"I uh, have to go clean myself up, Quinn. We'll talk later, okay? Then maybe you can tell me who this mystery person is." She gave me a sad smile and left. I just sat there, staring at her retreating figure.
I think this fic will be about 9 chapters, or maybe less. I am very excited for the next chapter (which I will try to post tomorrow or the next day) because Quinn will confess her true feelings! (With no bell to interrupt) And here's a hint as to what will happen: I will be using a certain Finchel scene and Faberry-ing it.