So…first appearance of Quinn. And more Santana & Brittany, because they're hilarious.
I know where I'm going with this story and what's going happen, but I would still really like to hear your suggestions and work them in if possible.
Count To Ten
Chapter 3
Day 2…
The second day of Rachel's project – Santana's advice, which would surely turn out as some kind of evil plan in the not too distant future – started off slightly better than the first. People still shot each other confused looks when Rachel stayed quiet for longer periods of time, but no one questioned her on her unusal behaviour anymore. She guessed they'd all adopted the same point of view she'd heard Mercedes mutter about when the other girl had thought she was out of earshot: „Don't try to analyze it, just enjoy it while it lasts."
And they really seemed to enojy it. Overall, people were nicer to her, actually directing their words at her instead of ignoring her presence in fear of starting her off on a rant. In turn, Rachel herself felt more involved and her motivation to follow her new mantra grew. But there were still times it hurt her almost physically to count ten full seconds (ten, and not a single one more), her mind bursting with things she wanted to say, and she felt like weeks had passed instead of days. She began to measure everything in spans of ten seconds, and the figure was so ingrained in her she began to see it everywhere. She'd even dreamed about a giant ten chasing her. During class, teachers thought she was slacking off when she was asked a question and didn't answer. Ten seconds after the fact, no one wanted to hear what she had to say anymore, just like the day before at Glee. That was what really bothered her: ten seconds was simply too long. Not only for her self-restraint, but also for the people talking to her. After ten seconds, they either lost interest, had walked away, or reprimanded her for being rude, not paying attention or not having studied.
She'd thought about telling everyone about her project so they would understand, but she'd just as quickly dismissed the thought as it came up. She figured no one would care anyway, and explaining Santana's role would not only have people questioning her sanity (more than usually) but also put the Latina on a warpath against her. She had made clear that no living being was to ever find out she was involved in this, and while Santana didn't make her cower in fear anymore, she wasn't stupid. Messing with Santana equaled a death wish.
She desperately wished for the weekend to come, to offer her some reprieve of her tiring week. On Monday she'd had her conversation with Santana, on Tuesday she'd started with Operation This Is Going To Kill Me (her new, much more fitting name for Project Count To Ten) and now she was on Wednesday. Two more days before she could hide from the people around her and her own decisions (three, really, because this day was far from over), which meant two more meetings for Glee, one on Thursday and one on Friday. Usually, she'd be looking forward to Glee, but she was in an unusal situation. Glee joined all the people that normally bothered speaking to her, which meant much more stress for her than during the other parts of her days.
But she wouldn't give up. She wanted to, but she wouldn't. Not before having another talk with Santana. The sneaky cheerleader had so far succeeded in avoiding her, which would be totally fine, considering that was how things normally were. But again, this was an unusal situation, and Santana had been the one to seek her out on Monday, not the other way around, and she had voluntarily offered advice. If she hadn't been so confused by everything that was going on and focused on how it was going to affect her, she would've probably rememberd to search the sky for flying pigs. Maybe hell had frozen over, too, but she had no way of knowing. Maybe she'd ask Santana if it was cold in her room.
„Rachel, do you think you could come over today and help me with the arrangement for our performance? It's great to be in charge of this, and I appreciate you not throwing a fit, but I could really use your thoughts."
Yes, Kurt, of course I will help you. I feel honoured you'd ask for my help. And I will tell you so in approximately seven seconds.
„Rachel? Did you hear me?"
She nodded her head, but obviously, that didn't please Kurt.
„Listen, if you want to give me the silent treatment because you're angry I was put in charge, you can do that all by yourself. I'm not going to stand here and watch you being an envious, stubborn little brat." And off he was.
Argh. She was going to have to rename this to Project I Want To Hit Something Badly From All This Frustration. Or hit someone, she thought, as Santana brushed past her, Brittany in tow. She followed the two of them to the girl's restroom and took a deep breath in preparation, steeling herself against what she was sure was going to be an onslaught of insults as soon as she voiced her complaints and suspicions. Pushing the door open, she looked around an saw nothing. She shook her head, briefly considering she'd started to hallucinate from all the pressure her brain was under, but then she heard giggling from one of the stalls and took another step into the room. Kneeling down, she saw two pairs of feet shuffling around in the middle stall. What on earth were they doing? Scratch that, she knew what they were doing, but how were they doing it? There was barely enough space in there to turn around when you were alone, but this? Either they'd done a lot of yoga sessions or her knowledge on sex seriously lacked. But that was beside the point at the moment – she had something to say and she was going to say it, as embarrassing as it was going to be with the two of them doing what they were doing. At least they'd have the door as a barrier between them – it wasn't like she could actually walk in on them, anyway. There was no way a third person would fit in there.
„Santana!"
She heard a groan (Santana) and another giggle (Brittany), a loud thud, and then a slightly breathless Oh god. Wether it was from pain or pleasure, Rachel couldn't make out, but she wasn't going to be dissuaded.
„I need to talk to you."
„You cannot be serious. I'm in the middle of something here."
„I realize that, but it is of great importance that we talk now. I am not all that clear on the details of lesbian sex, but as we only have a few minutes of our break left, I'm sure you couldn't possibly…"
„If you're trying to tell me I can just as well talk to you because I won't be going to have enough time to get off anyway, I'm coming out there and show you exactly what I can accomplish in a few minutes."
Rachel blanched. „I hardly…"
„That's enough, you…"
A muffled be nice cut off the Latina's words, followed by a crash and another groan, this time easily identified as an expression of pain.
„Are you alright?", Rachel asked in concern.
„I'm reconsidering wanting to join the mile high club. I have bruises in places I didn't even know you could bruise", came the deadpan reply.
„How can we help you, Rachel?", Brittany chirped.
„I'm not sure I can do this", the diva sighed.
„We aren't asking you to join in."
Apparently, Santana didn't appreciate the coitus interruptus. She made a mental note to remember that for future reference and then shuddered at the thought of ever needing that information again. „You know what I'm talking about. Mission WHIGMI is driving me insane."
„Mission what now?"
„WHIGMI. What Have I Gotten Myself Into."
„You retiteld the project?"
Just three or four times. „What's more important is that I don't think it's working the way it should."
There was a hiss and a laugh, and then silence.
Were they…? „What are you doing?"
„Nothing." A sigh, but not of the exasperated kind, and more groaning. „Why do you think it's not working?"
„Well, because…" Things got louder in the stall and distracted her from her train of thought. They wouldn't seriously…? „I just…Santana, are you listening?"
„Yeah…go on."
„Who do you mean? Brittany or me?" Amusement temporarily won over indignation and Rachel grew bold. „Because I am not stopping."
„Brittany isn't either", Santana informed her.
„Tell us why it's not working", Brittany encouraged. Apparently, the blonde knew how to multitask.
„For the most part, people seem to like the change. But some are also impatient or angry when I take too long to open my mouth."
„Counting….ahhh..to eleven again…yesss…ohh…are we?"
„Santana…"
„You shouldn't…oh god..give up…ahhh…just…holy mother of…yet…"
This was getting ridiculous.
„After all….ahhh…you haven't…oh my…"
„For all that is holy, stop with the foreplay already!"
„Am I interrupting something?"
„Quinn!", Rachel shrieked, fearing a heart attack at the sudden appearance of the other girl.
The head cheerleader raised a sceptical eyebrow. „Were you listening to Brittany and Santana having, you know…"
1…of course not!...
2…well, yes, but…
3…I tried to get them to stop!…
4…say something, Santana…
5…on second thought, please don't say anything…
„Rachel?"
6…why, oh why…
7…this is not going to end well…
8…stop looking at me like that…
„Rachel?"
9…just one more…
10…yes!...
„I'm sorry, I was momentarily stunned. I merely wanted to freshen up when I heard them…doing…what they were doing. I suppose the freakout was uncalled for. It just took me by surprise."
There. Almost no stuttering, no endless rant, no nonsense, no foot-in-mouth-syndrome. Please say it worked?
Quinn's frown turned into a full-blown grin. „Yeah, I get that. The first few times in the Cheerio's locker room I reacted the exact same way. You get used to it, I guess. Not sure that's a good thing, though."
Rachel grinned right back. „It surely never gets boring at McKinley High."
„You're right about that." Suddenly, Quinn's expression grew nervous. „I'll…see you in Glee tomorrow?"
„Of course, I'm looking forward to it", Rachel nodded. „We'll also see eacht other in two classes before that."
„Right."
„Have a good day, Quinn."
„You, too. See you in Glee. And before that. But Glee will be great." Unexpected as it may be, shy was a cute look on Quinn. And was there a blush?
„I'm sure of that."
„Okay, then…bye."
„Goodbye, Quinn."
With Quinn gone, Rachel turned back to the only occuppied stall and opened to door. It briefly registered that for her to be able to open the door, it must have been unlocked, but she really didn't want to know about how exhibitionist the two girls actually were. She was greeted with two – fully dressed, thank god – cheerleaders and a thumbs-up from the nicer of the two.
„That went well", Santana commented.
„Yes", Rachel agreed, grin still in place.
„So you were saying?"
„What?" What had she been saying before Quinn came in?
„About this project not working?", Santana prompted.
Oh, that. „You know, I think I may have judged too soon. I mean, it's only been two days, right? I'm sorry for the unnessecary interruption, really." She couldn't decipher the look on Santana's face, but she thought it might be triumph.
„Great. Apology accepted. Anything else?"
„No. Thank you for your time. I'll be seeing you."
„Yes, in Glee", Brittany nodded enthusiastically, grinning at Rachel's parting figure.
Once she closed the restroom door behind her, Rachel took a heavy breath and let the sea of students and their chatter wash over her. Maybe this idea would turn out to be a really great thing. At the very least, it was not a bad thing. Not when it got Quinn and her to have a decent conversation. Not when it brought that look to Quinn's face. No, it wasn't bad at all.
In the middle stall of the girl's restroom, Santana Lopez looked thoughtful. „What's going to happen tomorrow in Glee?"
Brittany pecked her lips. „Why are you asking?"
„Because Quinn was all like oh, I'll see you in Glee, it will be great. And you mentioned Glee, too."
„We just really like Glee."
„Brittany." She knew her girlfriend couldn't resist the use of her full name and the stern look.
„Quinn is going to do it tomorrow."
„Really?"
„Yeah. She found the perfect song."
„And I bet the fact that they just had a normal conversation helped, too."
„Yes. You're doing a good thing, Santana."
„Yeah…we'll see how it's going to play out."
„Tomorrow."
„In Glee."
„Wouldn't miss it for the world."