Chapter 11: Dawn

"Today, I want you to get better at improvising. I will call you up in pairs. I will then tell you a theme and you will have to act out a scene based on it. Try to not let the conversation stop."

Quinn was lost in thoughts. Her Drama teacher's words reached her ear but not her mind. She was way too busy thinking about her days in New York. She hadn't even realized how much she missed Rachel and Kurt until she talked to them again. They got her up-to-date on the newest New Directions gossip and Funny girl business. Blaine called every other hour and Santana rolled her eyes every time she heard the word fiancé. Quinn knew she was happy for Klaine though.

"Miss Fabray?"

"Yes?", she darted up.

"You don't want to let Mr Evans wait any longer, do you?"

"Mr Evans?"

Quinn was confused. Was Sam here? Why would he be at Yale?

"Quinn?", Nick asked.

"Oh right. Sorry."

Of course. Anna's boyfriend's last name was Evans too. She started smiling sheepishly.

She went up front.

"Your theme is Past Relationships." her teacher announced.

Oh perfect. She had had four relationships in her life. One of them is dating Rachel, another is the professor she got expelled, and then there is Puck and Sam. She did screw up pretty badly when it comes to Sam. He was so in love with her and she didn't even appreciate it but threw it all away to kiss one Finn Hudson.

"You kissed him, didn't you?", Nick asked her furiously.

She was confused for a second until she realized that he was acting. She tried to shake off all thoughts and to get into her role.

"I… I did. But it was a mistake. It didn't mean anything. Please. Give me one more chance."

"I can't believe you'd cheat on me. I thought I meant something to you. Do you even understand how much you mean to me?"

"Oh, I see that quite clearly. It took you about ten minutes to start moving on and make out with Santana. She is my BEST friend. Do you even know how much that hurts?"

Quinn was getting angrier, melting their acting exercise and what she had always wanted to tell Sam. It did hurt when he immediately moved on with Santana, and Mercedes, and Brittany, and that nurse. But she knew he was not to blame. The break-up was all her fault.

Nick just stood there staring at her not knowing what to say. Her drama teacher cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I don't know what else to say but that I am sorry. Cheating on you was the stupidest thing I have ever done. But I love you, Sam." She started tearing up. "I love you and I want to be with you. You. Not Finn or any of these guys. You." A tear rolled down her face.

"I think that's enough. Thank you, guys. Excellent work, Miss Fabray."

Quinn sat down next to Anna.

"Who's Sam?", her roommate whispered.

"He... He's nobody. I was just acting."

Anna looked at her questioningly but let it go.

Quinn was standing in her room, in front of her mirror. She was surprised how much of an effect that exercise had had on her. She hadn't thought about Sam ever since getting together with Puck. It had all come back to her though. All it needed was the memory to trigger her past self to return. She never talked to Sam after breaking up besides small talk. She did want closure but never really got the chance to talk to him.

She heard Anna knocking on her door.

"Hey Quinn, what are you up to?"

"Nothing much, I was planning to go to bed soon today."

"Well, that's lame." Anna said, mockingly.

Quinn raised her eyebrow.

"Uhm what?"

"You are going out tonight."

"Going where?"

"To a bar."

"With who?"

"Nick and me."

"I don't want to ruin your date night."

"Don't worry. Nick is bringing a friend too. Please don't let me down."

"Alright, I guess."

They picked out clothes and got ready right before Nick and his friend Liam picked them up.

When they arrived at the bar, Nick and Anna sat down on one couch, leaving the other to Quinn and Liam. They talked about classes, campus life and people. After they had a few drinks, Liam tried to put his arm around Quinn's shoulder. She flinched and spilled her drink.

"Woah, relax. I didn't do anything." Liam said.

"I'm sorry. I just freaked."

He smiled at her and wanted to put his arm back.

"Just so we are clear. I do have a boyfriend."

"What?", Liam shouted out, "Dude, you told me she's single."

"You told him what?" Quinn screamed at Nick.

"Calm down everybody." Anna said touching Quinn's arm.

"Well, would you mind explaining what exactly is going on?"

"I am trying, if you just let me finish, Quinn. After that whole drama last week, Nick and I wanted to cheer you up. Liam is a great guy and we wanted to set you up. I didn't know you had a boyfriend."

"Well, I do."

"Are you mad?"

"Not really." She smiled at Liam. "I hope we are ok?"

"Sure thing", he said. He looked oddly happy that Quinn rejected his offer and she caught him smiling at Nick just one second too long.

They continued having fun until it got too late and they decided to leave. Anna went with Nick, leaving Quinn to walk home by herself. When she walked past the building where the professors live, she saw a light burning in Mr July's office. She looked through the window and he noticed her. They just stared at each other. He opened the window.

"Do you want to come in? You look lost." He said, smiling the same smile he had on his face the first time he tried to seduce her.

I need to end this.

"Be right there" she said, hurrying inside.

When she entered the room, he put his hand around her waist but she immediately pushed him away.

"I am here to end this. We will never ever hook up again. I have a boyfriend. A guy who loves me. A guy who treats me right."

"Quinn, you tried to get me kicked out of this college before. It didn't work. I am back at work. You will have me grade your final exams. Believe me you do not want to end this."

"I do. Do you know how much you broke me? How much you hurt me? How much you disgust me? I don't ever want to look at you again."

"Well, that is unfortunate seeing that I am your history professor. You should really think this over. Is it worth it for one guy?"

"This is not about any guy. This is about me. When you first seduced me, I was in the worst place I have ever been. I lost contact to all the people I love and I was alone. Now, I am trying to mend my relationships. I am back with the people who know how to make me feel special while being myself."

"You are not special, Quinn. You are just another girl trying to make it in the world. What would make you special?"

"That I am part of something special."

"Which is?"

"You wouldn't understand. This is over. We are over. Try to make my life hell. I don't care. I am better off without you."

Quinn stormed out of the office. She ran over the campus. She knew exactly where she needed to go. Singing was always her favorite thing, not acting. She was a different singer than Rachel. She didn't sing every time she had the chance. She only sang when she felt the need or was alone. This time she needed to sing to get her feelings out. She ran on the stage in Yale's auditorium. She plugged her phone into a speaker and chose the song. She walked in the middle of the stage and began singing.

Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

She sang her heart out and tears were flowing down her face. Tears of joy for finally getting her life back on track, for finally reaching back out to the glee club. She knew she'd be back. Not only for Puck, but also for her. That place changed her, that place made her. That was where she belonged.

She held the last note.

When she finished, she breathed in and out. She heard clapping. She saw Anna, Nick and Liam standing at the top of the stairs.

"We were looking for you when we heard the music. I knew you could sing, but wow. That was amazing, Quinn. You do know Yale has a glee club right?" Anna winked at her.

Quinn went up to them and smiled. Maybe she could fit in here too.

Right before she went to bed, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Marley.

"Hey Quinn. We are having a spring concert at McKinley to finance our trip to Nationals. I would love if you'd stop by. Love, Marley."

Well, looks like she just got another reason to return home.