Author's note: first story i'm posting. lil nervous. noooo big deal. Somewhat AU, at least in the beginning for sure. Rated T for possible sexytimes in later chapters...
Reviews would be LOVELY...and inspire me to write more if you all are interested!
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"Don't touch her!" Quinn shouted, pulling Puck away from Rachel by the shirt and shoving him to the ground. Rachel looked just as bewildered as Quinn felt when she realized what she'd just done.
"What the heck Q!" nine-year-old Puck yelped. "It was just gonna be a little kiss. Why do you even care?"
"I…don't," Quinn stammered, her face flushing. She was suddenly embarrassed, and Quinn Fabray did not get embarrassed. Santana saw the minute change in her face first and smirked as Quinn stepped forward.
"I don't," Quinn clarified, this time with more confidence. "I just wanted to be here to see it. Go ahead. Kiss Rachel, Puck."
Puck picked himself up off the ground, still slightly wounded, but gaining his confidence back as he stepped towards Rachel.
"Ever kissed a boy, Rachel?" Quinn asked mockingly, even though she already knew the answer. Hating herself for doing this, but not being able to stop.
Rachel whimpered slightly, trying to turn even farther away from the slightly taller boy in front of her. No, Rachel hadn't kissed a boy, nor did she really want to. She wanted to kiss this particular boy even less than the average boy, however – he had stupid hair and thought he was the coolest kid ever despite the fact that all he did was show off all the time which, although something Rachel could relate to on some level, she did not find appealing in a third grade boy.
No, Rachel had never kissed a boy. She'd never had any reason to, because the only person she'd ever wanted to kiss had golden hair falling in waves over her shoulders, and was currently smirking in her direction. Rachel was fairly sure she was the only one who could see the glimmer of pain behind the look Quinn was giving her.
"Puck, ew, get away from me!" Rachel squirmed as Puck got even closer, pushing against his shoulders as he leaned in. She didn't move fast enough though, and as she started to turn her face again, his lips collided with hers and Rachel Berry experienced the least enjoyable kiss a third grade boy could give. Or at least, that's what it felt like.
"Ow! You bruised my lip," Rachel screeched as Puck pulled away, victorious. Santana and Brittany high-fived as Puck ran back to his friends.
"Get over it, Berry. That's the last kiss you'll be getting for a LONG time, so just appreciate it," Santana scoffed and then linked pinkies with Brittany before walking away. Only Quinn stayed, looking unsure of what to do before suddenly grabbing the shorter girls' shoulder and steering her around the corner of the building.
"What are you…" Rachel tried to ask before Quinn shushed her and she shut up. When they were out of sight of the playground, Quinn softened her hold on Rachel and suddenly her Quinn was here. Her gentle, protective, loving Quinn. Her best friend.
"Let me look at your lip," Quinn commanded, but softly, and pulled Rachel's reluctant hand away from her mouth. "Not too bad. Jeez, boys suck."
"Yeah," Rachel mumbled, looking down. Quinn bit her lip and scuffed at the pavement with her foot.
"Rachel?" she asked finally, and Rachel looked up to see Quinn with a remorseful (she was proud to use her vocabulary, even in her head) look on her face.
"Yes?" Rachel sighed, knowing what was coming.
"I'm sorry," Quinn whispered, because she really, truly meant it.
"It's okay," Rachel replied, because that's what she always said. She leaned back against the wall, her hands clasped in front of her, wishing for the first time that Quinn would just go away and let her cry. Cry like she always wanted to when these things happened.
"Rachel?" Quinn asked again, and suddenly Rachel realized that Quinn was a lot closer than before. She could hear the shakiness of Quinn's breath when she took one of Rachel's hands and held it, taking one more step so her feet were touching Rachel's.
"Yes?" Rachel asked, afraid to look way. She was so confused and terribly hurt, but all she could think about was how she always wanted to be this close to Quinn. It made her feel good. It made her feel safe.
And suddenly Quinn's lips were on hers and Rachel froze, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. It was an innocent, barely-there kiss but it was a kiss, and that's what mattered to Rachel. And then Quinn was gone and Rachel was alone on the blacktop, staring at nothing and feeling everything as tears began to run slowly down her face.
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After school, Rachel ran home. She didn't stop to wait for the crossing guard to usher her across the street, or when Mrs. Pillingston called hello to her in passing. Rachel sprinted on her little third-grade legs all the way back to her house where she sped up the stairs into her room before collapsing on the bed.
Quinn had kissed her. QUINN had kissed her. Did friends kiss on the lips? Rachel didn't think so. Why would she want to kiss Rachel anyway? Why had she shoved Puck to the ground? Why had she let Puck kiss her? Why did Rachel care?
After a good half hour of flailing around on her bed, thinking until her head hurt, the doorbell rang. Rachel shot up on her bed as she heard her Dad answer the door, and then quiet voices flowed up the stairs.
A few minutes later Quinn bounded into her room, throwing herself at Rachel and hugging her for all she was worth. When she suggested they play dress up all Rachel could do was nod, and it was instantly as if nothing had happened at all.
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