Un-betaed. Sorry for mistakes
Chapter 3
Quinn smiled as she joined Santana and Brittany at their usual lunch table.
"So you are friends again?" Quinn really wanted to add air quotes to a "friends" part, but had decided against it. She smiled warmly at Brittany; she had a favor to ask after all.
"Yup, and we didn't have to drink that yucky potion." Brittany bounced in her seat.
"Yeah, about that" Quinn rubbed her neck awkwardly glancing at Santana in apprehension.
"I wanted to ask you something"
"More importantly, where've you gone last night?" Santana interrupted stuffing her mouth with fries. "I called you like twenty times"
"I drove Sam home"
"Yeah, and when did you get home?" Santana sensing her discomfort pressed further. "It's sort of weird, because when you ignored my calls, I called your home and Judy answered the phone. Did you bump uglies with ladylips?"
Quinn had thought of lying but she knew that sooner or later Santana will learn the truth and taunt her anyway.
"I got home around one, not that I owe you an explanation"
Santana raised brow waiting for details.
"I drove Berry home."
Santana almost choked on her soda.
"Potion must be working" Brittany quipped "Have you already kissed?" she asked with a barely contained exuberance.
Quinn sputtered "Why would we?" She turned to Santana for help but was met with a smug grin.
"You know I am not gay, right?"
"Uhuh" Santana hummed with a Cheshire smile on her face.
"You will be so pretty together." Brittany added dreamily.
Quinn felt like banging her head on the table.
"Anyway, Brit, I need that potion book of yours" Quinn's voice muffled as she rubbed her face embarrassed, it's not like things could get worse.
Santana laughed out loud at her. Quinn's glare only adding to Latina's mirth.
"I just need to check some things, and I need your help with Latin. I mean that secret language you know."
"I am pretty sure there's no transformation section in the book. You'll have to deal with hobbit in all her fugly glory." Santana sneered.
"Oh wait," she continued in mock contemplation "maybe temporary blindness potion will do? Brit will help you gladly, right?"
"Oh yeah, and while we're at it maybe she'd prepare a courage potion for you?" Quinn contested her brow arched in challenge.
Santana threw half eaten tomato at her.
"I will help you Quinn" Brit said hastily to stop their petty bickering before it escalates.
"Hey, Quinn" Sam joined them at the table. "I was thinking, maybe you want to go out today?"
She shrugged "Yeah, why not."
"I am playing basketball with guys after school. If you wait we could go to the movies after?" he asked looking hopeful.
Quinn wanted to say no, she'd rather go to Brittany's to further investigate the whole potion book deal, but she felt like she ought to give him some reassurance that they were okay; so she agreed with a toneless "Sure."
"Ok, great, see you later." he practically skipped away
"Sooo, Q. Already cheating on Berry?" Santana grinned as she moved to toss away empty soda can.
"Shut up"
"Anyway, what did you want to talk about?" Quinn asked as they walked to the class.
Look of uncertainty crossed Santana's face but was quickly replaced with the usual arrogance. "About Brit" she cleared her throat.
Quinn bit her lip, she was pretty sure what it was about. They have talked about it before. One night Santana drunkenly sobbed out the whole Brittany and feelings thing. Quinn was shocked, not about Brittany, but about the feelings; it was surreal to hear her closed off friend talk about things like love.
"You should just talk to her." Quinn placed comforting hand on the tense shoulder.
"What would I say?"
"The truth."
"I don't know... I don't think it's such a good idea."
"Look, I know I am the one to talk here, but maybe it's better if you just come clean about it. Maybe you will stop being the grand bitch all the time."
"Fuck you!" Santana chuckled pushing Quinn lightly.
"You and I both know I am right for once."
Quinn entered the gym just as team started their warm up. She waved at Sam and went to the top of the risers, homework in hands.
"Hello Quinn!"
She paused in her steps uncertainly "God, why?"
Quinn hardly contained groan as she was met with a bright smile. "Really?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked Rachel.
"I could ask you the same question. As I am always here on Fridays. As a good girlfriend it is my responsibility to do everything to maintain healthy relationship, so I've allocated this day to supporting Finn in manly activity of playing game of basketball with his friends by ways of coming here to cheer and support him. Additionally, today I am here since he asked me to a date in hope to mend our relationship which suffered as you had witnessed, quite a blow."
"Why do you have to talk so much?" Quinn groaned as she put her books on the seat next to Rachel.
"Because it is eternally amusing to watch you react."
"Are you saying you spout these speeches just to get a rise of me?"
"Well, not always. I am passionate about many things, Quinn, and maybe sometimes I tend to overreact. But today I am here to watch my boyfriend play and I think you here for the same reason, for your boyfriend that is."
"Yeah, actually I am." Quinn answered opening her book.
"Look at us having civil conversation. Again." Rachel chuckled. "It is curious though how we just keep meeting in unexpected places."
"Don't even think about saying it." Quinn growled not looking up from her studies.
"Potion!" Rachel stage whispered next to her ear.
"Here, Finn bought me apology cookies. I've tried them, they are not poisonous." Rachel smiled offering her cookies. Quinn stuffed several in her mouth.
"I am entitled to be afraid for my life and you know there's nothing wrong with being a bit cautious when around Brit or Finn." She mumbled around mouthful of cookies. "They tend to oversee things and…" – she stopped noticing look on the brunette's face.
Rachel burst out laughing "See, when you passionate or aggravated with something even you, it seems, tend to talk a lot." Quinn smiled.
Comfortable silence settled between them as both worked on their homework.
"I can't believe you forgave him so easily." Quinn mused aloud as they watched Finn ran past them smiling a little confused.
Rachel lowered her head for a moment "I don't hold grudge and Finn has a great leading man potential. His lack of maturity on the other hand..." she trailed off.
"So basically you are dating him for a status?"
"Well no, not really. I think I love him."
"You think you love him?"
"It's easier this way" Rachel answered her hands clasped tightly on her knees."It's not like you can judge me." she added looking up.
"I am not." Quinn agreed. "I can't believe you're taking the easier way though."
"I am human, Quinn. I can't fight all the time." Rachel said softly.
"I know." Quinn stared ahead, once again trying to suppress feeling of connection and silent acceptance she felt lately when around Rachel.
"I just think you deserve better. He treats you badly" she said out loud.
"He's not the only one."
'So true,' Quinn thought mortified.
"Then maybe you should try being single."
"Worked out for you, didn't it?"
Lips pressed in a thin line Quinn tried to contain herself from throwing ready insults at the brunette.
"I am sorry."Rachel hurried to apologize. "Thank you, anyway. For caring. I appreciate it." Rachel added sincerely.
"I don't care, not really." Quinn huffed indignantly, tips of her ears turning pink.
"Hey, ready to go?" Both Sam and Finn stood in front of them.
"We thought it would be awesome to make it a double date!" Sam said carrying books for Quinn as they walked down the corridor.
Rachel turned to Finn for confirmation.
"Yeah" he shrugged "Since we're all going to the movies"
"Are you a moron?" Quinn glared at Sam "You want me to go on a double date with my ex?"
"What? He's my bro. And it looks like you and Rachel started to get along at last."
Quinn turned to Rachel for support but singer had got around her initial surprise and just stood there her arm linked with Finn's. "Let's put it to the vote" Rachel said a gleam of mirth in her eyes. Quinn got outvoted.
"I like aliens" Sam said staring at the movie list.
"Yeah, and action." Finn joined him.
"No!" once again Quinn turned to Rachel "Say something!"
"Let's put it to the vote." Rachel chirped.
Quinn watched unamused as once again New York fell prey to the alien invasion. Half a movie in and she felt like she would combust any minute now. Sam kept annoying her by leaning over Rachel to exchange few excited words with Finn.
"Maybe you should change seats so you two could talk freely?" Quinn asked sarcasm dripping from every word.
"You don't mind, Rach?" Sam asked already standing up.
"Awesome!" Finn high-fived Sam as he settled next to him.
"Seriously?" Quinn whispered staring at the brunette who now occupied the seat next to her.
Rachel watched the screen intently, small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Don't even pretend to pay attention to this poor excuse of a movie." Quinn whispered angrily.
"I am paying attention, Quinn, because it looks like our boyfriends enjoy this movie a lot, so there's must be something interesting, I am looking for a redeeming qualities."
"Yeah, and how's that working out for you?"
"This movie sucks." Rachel gave her verdict.
"This date sucks. Let's go" Quinn said grabbing Rachel's hand.
"We'll be back in a minute." she threw over her shoulder at their oblivious boyfriends.
"Quinn, where are we going?"
"I was bored." Quinn stopped and let go of brunette's hand suddenly aware of the contact.
She dragged a hand through her hair "Do you want to get something to drink? We'll meet them after the movie."
"Sure," Rachel smiled "I am glad that you consider me not boring."
"Well, I may have gave you different epithets, but never have I called you boring."
They went to a small cafe just around the corner from a theater.
As they had settled in a small booth with their coffee, Quinn started to get nervous.
She looked around; at this hour tables filled mostly with couples.
'Do we look like we're on a date too?' She wondered picking at the napkin.
"I asked Brit to help me with the potion book" she blurted out without a preamble "To see if there's more to this potion thing"
"Why?"
"You know why. Because of this." she waved between them "Over past days we've spent more time together than we have in the whole years combined."
Quinn's words sounded as a green light for Rachel to speak about the subject that bothered her for days now.
"You know I agree wholeheartedly. I am glad you acknowledged it! I was skeptical at the beginning," she leaned over the small table "but now it is obvious something's going on. We need to form a plan!"
"Whoa! Slow down, Rachel. What plan?" she raiser her hand to stop the brunette.
"Just a plan." Rachel mumbled uncertainly.
"Plan is to meet Brittany and read the book. Simple as that." Quinn said taking a sip of her coffee.
"Fine, I guess you're right."
"So, agreed, tomorrow after school?"
Rachel nodded in agreement.
The rest of the evening went smoothly. They went back to meet boys who proceeded to gush about how great the movie was. Shortly after, pairs parted their ways to go home.
After kissing Sam goodbye and getting rid of him before his attempts to invite himself over became painfully awkward, Quinn went through her usual evening routine. Everything was fine till she went to bed.
She had trouble sleeping that night, she tossed and turned thinking of tomorrow. 'What if potion was real?' She have been spending time with Rachel without being annoyed and if it wasn't magic, then she didn't know what was. Sure diva had become less offensive to her tastes, but maybe the cause was in prolonged exposure? God, it must be it. It's just acquired tolerance. But if the potion was real then she was destined to fall in love with Rachel Berry!
With a start Quinn climbed out of the bed to get her notebook and loaded Rachel's myspace page. She started re-watching videos one after another, like she'd never seen them before. "Sure Rachel has a great voice," she thought, "and overall nice body and beautiful hair, and those warm eyes" Quinn bit her lip - "and her lips are... quite... kissable... Rachel Berry is pretty." she whispered and quickly closed the lid of the notebook shocked by realization.
She climbed under the covers. 'The Apocalypse must be near!' she thought as she burrowed deeper under covers "I just woke up in the middle of the night to check Rachel Berry out.
It is all the potion's doing. Brit will make an anti-potion and everything will go back to being normal." With this comforting thought she drifted off to sleep.
She dreamed about full lips and dark eyes. When she woke up she couldn't decide if it was nightmare or not. Well, her mind screamed "Horror!" in Sue's voice, but her body hummed in rather pleasant way. Cold showers had long proved to help with ridding mind of confusion.
Quinn patiently waited for Rachel to finish her after school ballet classes.
She has been avoiding her the whole day and as smiling brunette traipsed to the car she desperately tried not to stare at the top that clung to her body in all the right places. She lowered her eyes only to be attacked with a view of usual short skirt and long tanned legs.
Rachel smiled and greeted her casually and unexpectedly Quinn felt stress leave her.
She looked up at brunette, sure Rachel looked nice and so what, if she liked what she saw, nothing has changed, it not like Rachel is psychic and will automatically know that Quinn, maybe, had started to like her.
"I've never been at Brittany's before." Rachel said as they went up the stairs to the second floor. She smiling at all the family pictures adorning the walls.
"Come on, Quinn tugged at her sleeve "Brit will give you the tour later, now hurry up."
They climbed the stairs and Rachel instantly recognized which door led to Brittany's room, one with a cute yellow duck on it. Quinn knocked and waited for a couple of seconds before slightly opening the door.
"Believe me, it's better to knock first" she said at Rachel questioning look.
They were greeted with a sight of Brittany sitting on the floor, potion book in front of her, bed sheet wrapped around her shoulders like a cape.
"I've been waiting for you! Sit!" she said in a solemn voice.
They both turned to Santana, who was stretched out on the bed flipping through magazine absolutely ignoring them.
"Well, come on, guys" Brittany whined patting space beside her.
They sat awkwardly in front of her.
She took their hands in hers "Now, you should hold hands too. We shall form energy circle"
Quinn proffered her hand to Rachel fighting the urge to wipe her suddenly clammy palms on her jeans.
"Oh wait," Brittany dropped their hands instantly "Wrong page. Cancel energy circle." she said leafing through the book.
Santana snickered from the bed, but as Quinn turned to look at her, promptly hid behind the magazine.
"So, what are you here for?" Brittany continued to flip through the pages, chin resting on her bent knee. "Amulets, how to fight curses, Love potions – you've tried it, aphrodisiacs?" she droned on as if reading an advertisement.
"No, Brit. We want to know how exactly potion supposed to work. Please, read about it." Quinn said rather impatiently.
"Wait, are all those things real, because I need some amulets for I am pretty sure many envy my talent and I don't want to loose my voice to some curse." Rachel asked rather interested in what Brittany had mentioned. "Oh god, what if I've already been cursed! That is why my social life is
lacking!"
"That's not true, those things aren't real. Focus Berry!" Quinn waved at the book impatiently. "Come on Britt, read it!"
"How's potion real and voice amulets are not?" Rachel looked at her curiously.
"I didn't say potion was real" Quinn felt her frustration level start to rise.
"Then what are we doing here?"
"Researching, just in case." Quinn stated matter-of-factly.
"So, just in case. I want my voice amulet!"
Last part was muffled by firm hand clasped across Rachel's mouth.
"So what are the signs of the potion working?" Quinn asked Brittany, still fighting Rachel who tried in vain, to pry Quinn's fingers from her mouth.
"Let's see." Brittany squinted at the page. "There's no specifics. Just that you should fall in love."
"So do you feel anything?" she asked looking up at girls.
"We don't know, well no... not sure." Quinn answered for them both.
Santana snickered again. "What, funny article." She explained at the dirty look Quinn gave her.
"Please, you read these for half naked models." Quinn snarled with an eye roll.
"We both do." Brittany confirmed.
"And how to reverse the effect, supposed effect?" Quinn corrected herself "You know just to be sure, in case of something weird happening." she felt her face heat up. "How to make it stop?"
"To break the spell one should kiss the other person."
"That's absurd!" Rachel exclaimed now free, as Quinn was too shocked to silence the girl.
"Are you sure you're not making it all up?"
"It's says so in the book, right here."
"It's sounds like it's from fairytale, the wrong fairytale, the one that and has no connection whatsoever with love potions." Rachel reasoned.
"Read it yourself if you don't believe me" Brittany said offering the book.
Quinn stared at the pages dumbfounded "So are you seriously saying that for potion to stop working and for us to stop bumping into each other."
Santana giggled.
"Grow up San!"
"We have to kiss?"
"You need to get laid, both of you" Santana grumbled throwing her magazine at them "Now, stop with this shit."
"Can we talk about amulets now?"