Author's Note: Wow, fifty-five reviews in five chapters? That's kind of insane, but thanks a bunch. I had to delete Microsoft word off of my laptop because it was killing my disc space(which I need) so the formatting of these next few chapters might be tad whonky. I apologize in advance. Hah.
Cissy Black Malfoy- Don't worry, if I plan to take Rachel and Quinn to a romantic level, it won't be until much later, most likely in the sequel. For now, it's just a friendship and focusing on Rachel trying to heal.
Reillyt4- Don't worry, I plan to incoorperate some of the Glee Kid's reactions, maybe not all-but some. It will be there, but it'll probably be brief.
Hollie.14- I don't so much mind the fact that Shelby adopted Beth, it's more along the lines of the fact that she tried so damn hard to track down her daughter and then decides she wants nothing to do with her. It made no sense. Why bother?
Phases of obsession- Cool pen name by the way. :) Hah. I'm glad you like this so much and yes, Rachel is pretty brave-but then again, this is Rachel so I'm not very surprised. Hahah.
….
First period turned into second period as Rachel and Quinn sat silently in the girl's bathroom, the two making no effort to move at the sound of the bell. Quinn's head turned towards the brunette, studying her with a worried expression set on her face. Rachel swallowed hard, hands shaking.
"You want to just, hide out in here until lunch or something?"
Rachel nodded, throat sore and head spinning, despite the fact she'd only uttered a single word. In all honesty, she wanted to call her father's and tell them to get her, but she knew she couldn't. They needed to work and she needed to be at school. That, and she wasn't quite sure if she could speak again, let alone to them. If she did, she knew they'd start asking questions and she didn't want to answer them yet-not again, she wasn't ready.
She felt as if she'd taken one step forward and then ten steps back.
….
When the bell for lunch had rang through the slient reverie, both girl's jumped slightly and then turned to face one another, faces taking a crimson red color to them. Quinn let out a small sigh and stood up before reaching out her hand for Rachel to take. Rachel studied it for a moment, then looked at the blond and the sincerity her eyes held and slowly took her hand, pulling herself to her feet. She walked the few steps to the bathroom door and stopped in front of it, glancing back at Quinn who stood with a confused expression on her face.
Rachel felt her body tremble as she touched the handle, pulling the door open slowly and stepping out into the crowded hallway. Quinn sighed when she saw the brunette tense and instantly stepped forward, muttering something about heading off campus to eat which Rachel whole-heartedly agreed with, trying to shake off the anixety she felt as she headed to the blonde's car.
"Are you going to Glee?" Quinn asked as she slid lightly into the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition, bringing her small, baby blue, toyota carola to life. Rachel froze instantly. She hadn't given it much thought since her father's had brought it up that morning.
Quinn saw the hesitation in Rachel's eyes and quickly continued. She wasn't quite sure where the sincerity she felt right now, was coming from-but she chalked it up to baby hormones and moved on. "Please come," She found herself whispering as she pulled into a small restraunt, setting her car back in park and shifting so that she now faced the girl again.
Rachel looked over at Quinn and slowly nodded her head, chewing nervously on her bottom lip as she pushed open the passenger side door and stepped onto the concrete. Quinn quickly joined her at her side and gave her a small smile.
"Have you ever been here?" Quinn asked, as she glanced up at the large 'Salad works,' sign. Rachel only nodded again as she rung her hands together, clearing her throat. Quinn let out a small sigh of relief under her breath before motioning for them to head in. Rachel trudged behind, a thousand merciless thoughts running through her head.
She didn't really know why she'd agreed to come with Quinn, or why the girl was even bothering to be nice to her-the two had hated each other since they were freshmen in high school. But Rachel was oddly grateful for the comforting arora the blond had been throwing out at her, and Rachel could slowly feel herself opening up to the girl-despite the fact she wasn't speaking. She didn't have to speak, and that's why things with Quinn were so easy. She didn't make her speak, or ask too many questions, she knew when to stop pushing and just let things be and Rachel couldn't express how much she'd longed for that. Quinn was the only person she knew that wasn't pittying her or acting like she'd break.
When they'd gotten to their table and sat down, Quinn glanced at the girl-taking in her tousled, messy pony tail and tired expression with a small frown on her face. Sure, she and Rachel weren't the best of friends, or hell-friends at all, but despite everything, they were still team mates, and she felt for the girl who was going through so much and she hadn't even done a damn thing to anyone.
Suddenly Quinn felt guilty, extremely guilty for all the years she'd spent mercifully taunting the brunette and quickly felt tears springing to her eyes. She hadn't deserved it, Quinn thought silently. Nor did she deserve what she was dealing with now. Ever since Quinn had gotten pregnant, she had began to feel what it was like for Rachel, how horrible it was to see and hear people talk and whisper about her as if she didn't matter, to push her around. When Quinn was on the Cheerio's, she hadn't needed to worry about slushie facials, for the mere fact that she was the one who was giving them-but now, with the roles reversed, she'd often find herself cursing for even starting the trend.
She quickly shook away the guilt that was plaguing her as the waitress came to their table, asking what they'd like. Quinn froze, she had forgotten that Rachel wasn't speaking to anyone. Quickly holding up her index finger to tell the waitress to wait a minute, she leaned over and whispered into Rachel's ear who had soon pointed out something on the menu. Quinn smiled, took the menu from her hands and handed it to the waitress as she told her what they wanted. The waitress nodded, giving them a small smile before telling them she'd be back with their drinks momentarily and disappearing from their view and back into the kitchen. Rachel glanced over at Quinn, licking her lips as she swallowed the lump in her throat-throwing the blond an appreciative glance.
Quinn shrugged, pushing her hair back behind her ears. "It's fine."
No it's not, Rachel thought solemnly. It's not fine. Nothing is anymore.
….
The lunch continued in silence until they found their way back to the blonde's car, both unhappy about having to return to school. Quinn quickly turned to Rachel and swallowed the nervousness she'd suddenly felt before she opened her mouth. "Rachel," She paused, waiting until the brunette was looking at her. "I just...I know this might sound silly and it probably is, but I wanted to apologize."
Rachel looked at her in confusion, eyebrow arched as she pulled the hood of her sweater over her head. Quinn quickly continued. "I've taunted you since we were freshmen, and you don't deserve it. You never did and now-with everything going on, I understand first hand how cruel I was, and how cruel others can be and I'm just..." She paused, choking on a sob. "I'm so sorry."
Rachel nodded, giving her a slight smile of reassurance before Quinn nodded, sniffled and started the car. This was certainly weird, Rachel thought silently. All of this. She was grateful for the apology Quinn had thrown her way, but also knew it was unnecessary and slightly surprising. In the time she's know Quinn Fabray she's never apologized to Rachel for anything and Rachel couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't just apologizing for the taunting, but for what had happened recently as well.
….
2:30 had rolled around quicker then Rachel would've liked and as she stood outside of the music room door, she hesitated on turning around and running away. What was everyone going to say? Do? What would Mr. Schuster do now that he knew? Rachel sighed and tensed up immediately as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking back, the tenseness she'd felt quickly faded when she saw it was Quinn-motioning for them to head in but when Rachel didn't follow, Quinn stopped and turned back around.
"Rachel," She said, a hint of reassurance in her tone. "It's okay."
Sniffling, Rachel nodded and wiped away a stray tear with shaking hands before stepping into the room. Everyone had gone silent the moment she entered and she felt fear creep its way back into her body as she walked hesitantly over to Mr. Schuster and handed him a note. He nodded, before discreetely asking if she was doing any better. Rachel shrugged weakly and looked away towards the small crowd of students who sat on the chairs-waiting for her to come and join them. Mr. Schuster nodded to her and Rachel bit her lip as she found herself walking towards the rest of the Glee kids, body trembling with fear and anxiety.
She took a seat furthest away from everyone, not wanting to deal with their questions and hugged her knees to her chest, burrowing herself into her sweater. Mercedes was the first to stand up and walk towards her, despite the desperate plea in Rachel's eyes for her to just turn around and leave her alone. She watched as Mercede's crouched down in front of her, placing what was supposed to be a comforting hand over Rachel's which were wrapped tightly around her legs.
"Hey Diva." She whispered softly, throwing Rachel a small smile. Rachel said and did nothing. "I'm glad you're back. How are you feeling?" Mercede's and Rachel had never been best friends, but they were close-in fact, she was probably closest to Mercede's out of the girls. Rachel shrugged as she felt her eyes well up with tears. Mercede's sighed sadly and frowned.
"I'm here if you need anything, you know that-right?"
Rachel nodded, and watched as Mercede's flashed her another smile before taking her seat again. The rest of the Glee kids, with the exception of Quinn and Mercede's, had crowded around her rather quickly and Rachel couldn't help but feel smothered as they threw question after question at her before Puck and Finn declared a throw down on the bastard who did this to her. Rachel felt the tears she'd tried to hide back fall down her cheeks as the room quickly grew angry, threats of killing her attacker being thrown around and her quite cries soon turned into hysterical sobs as the room that was once angry and loud grew quite with fear and shock.
Mr. Schuster quickly headed towards Rachel, Quinn and Mercede's following as they directed everyone to back off. "Rachel?" Mr. Schuster's voice rang in her ears but almost immediately felt the tight, invisible band wrapping itself around her ribcage and cutting off her oxygen as she drew in gasps of air and shaking breaths followed by a loud sob that would errupt from her every now and then as she gripped onto her sweatshirt, shaking her head rapidly.
"Rachel." Mr. Schuster called again, worry evident in his voice.
"Rachel." This time the voice didn't belong to him, it belonged to Quinn and Rachel slowly found herself turning her head as she tried to look at the girl through blurry eyes. She felt someone on her arm, pulling her to her feet and gasped, but Quinn assured her that she was okay and explained she was taking her home. Rachel was barely aware of the fact she was now leaning against Quinn and Mercedes as they struggled to keep her upright and take her towards the car. Mr. Schuster followed behind, dialing her father's cell phone to inform them of what was going on. Rachel felt as if her knees were going to give out and her head was swimming, her ears ringing and she only cried harder as she slid into the passenger seat of Quinn's car for the third time that day.
The door was still open as Mr. Schuster hung up the phone and crouched down towards Rachel, placing a hand on her knee, not noticing the flinch from Rachel, as he told Quinn to take her to her house-that her father's would meet her there. Quinn nodded and Mercede's bid a small farewell to Rachel, telling her to hang in there before she shut the door and Quinn peeled out of the parking lot at high speed, hands shaking with fear as she slammed down on the gas pedal and flored the car. She didn't care about getting a ticket, about breaking the speed, she only cared about getting the heaving girl in her passenger's seat, home.
"You'll be okay, Rach." The words had fallen from Quinn's lips as she pulled into the driveway in record time, finding that her father's car wasn't there yet. Quinn sighed, trying to figure out how she would get the hysterical brunette into her house by herself. Slowly pulling herself out of the car, she headed around to the passenger's side and opened the door, leaning as best as her pregnant stomach would allow to reach and grab the brunette who was still gasping for breath as Rachel slid an arm around the blond.
Closing the door to her car behind her, Quinn instructed Rachel to hand her the house key and Rachel fumbled quite a bit through her bag before moments later, pulling it out and passing it off to the blond. "You'll be okay," Quinn repeated as she stuffed the key into the lock and turned it, popping the door to Rachel's house open sufficently before stepping in with Rachel still hanging against her.
"Quinn," Rachel found herself gasping out, eyes squeezing shut from the pain errupting through her small form. "C-Ca-Can't br-brea-breathe." Quinn's eyes went wide as she slowly led Rachel to the couch in the living room, setting her on the couch and then sitting down beside her.
"Rachel, look at me." Her eyes slowly, as if at a snail's pace, glanced over at Quinn and she shuddered when the blond rested her hands on her shoulders. "You're going to be fine, okay? Just breathe. In through your nose and out through your mouth, slowly."
Rachel shook her head, tears dripping like faucets from her eyes. "C-Can't." She managed, throat aching from having been silent for so long.
"Yes, you can. Just try it with me, alright?" Rachel sniffled and slowly inhaled a shaking breath, before letting it back out-slowly. She repeated the action a few more times as Quinn threw out a chorus of 'Good job's,' to her and Rachel began to calm-the pain subsiding until all she felt was pure exhaustion.
"Rachel," Quinn spoke, voice soft. "Why are you talking to me? I mean, why me and not anyone else? I don't get it." Rachel shrugged, her eyes heavy as she leaned back against the pillow. Quinn sighed in defeat but nodded her head despite it, standing up and throwing a blanket that was thrown over the couch, on top of Rachel.
"Get some sleep," She concluded. "I'll be here when you wake up and your fathers are on the way."
"Mom." She whispered, voice cracking. Quinn arched her eyebrow in confusion for a moment before Rachel continued, voice weak and raspy. "I wa-want m-my mom."
Quinn swallowed, running a hand through her hair before reassuring Rachel that she'd call her mother for her. Rachel nodded once more before slipping off into a deep sleep and Quinn fell back against the chair, exhaustion also running through her veins, as she felt her face crumble and a small sob escape her lips. She isn't sure if she's ever been so afraid in her life as she'd been only moments ago(not counting when she had found out she was pregnant) and ran a hand through her hair, tensing at the sound of Rachel's, father's voices filling the room.
She'd never met Rachel's fathers, but she's about 99 percent sure that Rachel had informed them of the taunting she'd endured for so long from the blond who now sat in her living room. As her father's entered, Quinn swallowed nervously and stood up, wiping her hands on her dress.
"I'm Quinn. Quinn Fabray, uh...Rachel's calmed down a lot, and she's sleeping right now. But she uhm, she wanted me to tell you that she wants her mother." The words fell out rather fast and she isn't sure if she had even managed to make one bit of sense, but as she watches the mens heads bob up and down, she knows she has.
"I'm Hiram," The older, african american man says, holding out his hand to the girl standing in his living room. Quinn shakes it hesitantly before turning towards the other man, who has introduced himself as Leroy, and shakes his hand as well.
"Thank you for bringing our daughter home and calming her down. I don't know how you did it, but thank you." Leroy whispered to the young girl who stood before him. Quinn nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Hiram had disappeared, and Quinn was assuming he was now on the phone with Rachel's mother.
"Of course," Quinn choked out. "I uh...should get going, just tell Rachel that if she needs me she can call." Leroy watched as the girl quickly grabbed her car keys off the coffee table in the living room before heading towards the door and he spoke up immediately.
"If you'd like to stay you may, I'm sure Rachel would be pleased that you were here when she woke up."
Quinn turned back to the man and bit her lip nervously, nodding her head as she headed back towards the chair she'd been sitting in before.
"Okay," She whispered in disbelief. "Th-Thank you."
Leroy nodded, and then turned his attention back to Hiram who had now reentered the room, phone in his hand. "Shelby's on her way." He spoke softly, glancing at his husband and then at the blond in the chair. Leroy flashed him a look that said he'd explain later and Hiram only nodded before glancing at his sleeping daughter on the couch with a small sigh.
As Quinn leaned back in the chair, eyes still locked on Rachel, she frowned.
This was all just one, big mess.